BennyandBo

And it wasn’t an accusation. It was a genuine question. I don't understand the mindset of endlessly defending anyone or anything that is not a blood relative. Politicians, Corporations, Religions, Celebrities. Everyone and everything is not perfect and open to be questioned and criticized. Was trying to assess and understand your motivation.

As you have pointed out in the past. The past few years have been a first in many ways. These cut backs come from the world shutting down for 2 years. That was extreme. So the cuts are extreme. I don't think you can just write off bad reviews as a there always has been, always will be. This is a new and unique situation.

Your kidding yourself. They can keep the prices up long term and will. You are in denial.

I don't see a benefit from a bad reputation, cancelations, guest complaints etc. And the reviews of specialty restaurants have been bad the past few weeks as well. Plus there is a limit to how many they can handle a day and make a profit off of. What I don't get is what is in this for you? Why do you argue the other side of everyone's (not just my) negative thoughts. How come this company can do no wrong in your eyes? I genuinely don't understand it. Not being smart. I truly don't get why it bothers you so much? Is it a money thing? You have stock? Or is it cult like loyalty and they can do no wrong?

I'm OK with price increase in the sense that everything is doubling so no choice. And you are 100% wrong if you think they can't double rates and maintain bookings. Look at 2024 prices. Look at extras. Photo package just doubled, beach club, cabanas, water park. All at or very close to double. And again you miss my point. There is a difference between charging more and taking things away. It's like raising automatic gratuities and cutting housekeeping to once a day. Well, if those of you who say cuts are everywhere and it's just life now. I say cut the automatic gratuities once you board and give half as much in cash tips. Hey, cuts are everywhere right. Royal is obsessed with there bottom line more then customer satisfaction, so I might have to be obsessed with my bottom line on tipping.

The point in the video was they sent everything back. I think they even said something like 7 times one meal. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th no better. By mid cruise (12 night Trans Atlantic) they gave up. There was just no point because it never made a difference.

If I can get one on board I'll do it. I always wanted to make a travel video and just got a cheap go pro type mini camera. I won't show my face. Nobody needs to see my sagging everything. LOL. And yes, the video really was brutal. Not there M. O.

I'm more OK with doubling prices, than with cut backs. On land it's different. You have options. Your not stuck after night one, for six more nights of the same issues. I noticed last week. Red Robin prices went up but burger and fries size and quality stayed the same. Outback steakhouse prices up but food was so small I left hungry. First time I didn't need a container for leftovers. So they are now off the list. Charge me what you need to, but then give me the same amount and quality as before. Literally half are managing it, half are not. But on land your not committed to a week of it pre paid in advance. That's just how I see it.

Multiple publications have had articles on that fact. Honestly, which I've read would require research. But at least a half a dozen in the past two months. Probably more. Many were travel industry specific. And one was a blog. RCblog I think?

I'm really trying on the hope front. Even more so working on ideas. Like I believe food in hot dish pans in the WJ are more likely to be hot. And I'm OK with that more often than the MDR. Many wouldn't be as flexible as me on that. I actually like the WindJammer even in evenings. So I'm OK with making some plan B stuff. The only thing that bothers me is Royals endless cut backs have put me in that kinda situation in the first place. The cut backs and quality problems are real, I have no doubt. They put the damper out there, not me. But I'm willing to work at where and what I eat to pull it out of the fire and make the most out of things.

All cash tips are kept by the person you give them to.

No. I'm not the one with an agenda. Half the reviews and video reviews with bad sad looking food in them in living color are negative. That's more in just sheer volume than a random coincidence. It's obviously an ongoing problem. Why is that hard to except..

I'm gonna have to call Royal Caribbean Cheerleader bs on this. Come on, food temp is not subjective. Why is it so hard to except the food has gone downhill?

"Bottom line they sail full" tells you nothing. More than 50% of new bookings are first time cruisers. They have no way of knowing what they are in for. Most don't read or watch reviews. The one's that do are usually at the very least non refundable deposit paid before investigating much of anything.

Last month is irrelevant. I'm talking up to date trip reports. More like how did they handle clean up (if any) last week.

But you do not have to tip extra. The 18 percent is fine. And if you are not using the main dining room and want to remove your automatic gratuities (providing you didn’t pre pay before the trip) you can do so at guest services for any reason at any time or by calling guest services from your cabin. Or maybe if you have bad service etc.

Anyone seen any specific Caribbean beaches doing daily clean up / removing of it?

Wow. How did you get that? Royal Caribbean could go belly up tomorrow and I would not give a rats. I don't "like" any you tubers. I'm not a sycophant to any thing or anyone. My point is (again) I'm more inclined to believe this bad review because there is nothing for them to gain from it. Only to loose. One less cruise line would mean less videos to make money of. And they don't sell travel as agents as far as I know. They have nothing to gain, but potentially loose long term with harsh honest reviews. So all logic points to the negatives they mentioned as being genuine.

Oh, I have no problem complaining. LOL. Only difference is in a restaurant you don't pre pay and if it's bad you don't go back six more nights in a row. Time will tell I guess.

Oh the thing about negative reviews from you tubers like Ben and David is this is there bread and butter. Giving negative reviews that could help end a cruise line would not be a good thing for them long term. So I really think it has to be bad for them to go in that direction. Also, I'm not a fan of the cheerleader you tube Royal Caribbean blog type stuff. They want business and and bookings. Plus the money made from the online blog/vlog end. I don't feel you ever get a truly objective review from them. It's not in their best interest.

Hey, for me I'm trying really hard to keep an open mind. But honestly it shouldn't be this much work. Food is subjective yes. But the amount of complaints and bad reviews by sheer volume is really very hard to ignore. The main problem is there is no do over. On land if one meal stinks, you move on to the next place. On a cruise they already have your money and you cannot go down road to another restaurant. The cut backs in quality,variety, and service feels like a bait and switch to those who have paid in full with expectations based on past reviews of things that seem to have gone away or gone downhill over the past six months.

Starts off kinda OK, but by the end it's brutal. Royal has got to up there game. And soon. This is Carnival 2003 all over again. The bad food rep will stick for a long long time.

Bad food, bad service. I'm really concerned about next month.

Prices drop??? LOL. I don't think you have to worry about that too much anymore.

I think BirdTravels was just using eggs as one example of many. Everything (especially food) is up 50% minimum from last year. It makes perfect sense for future cruise prices to double. Possibly triple. But for those of us who booked and paid a year ago for this year, it's not our problem. Even though they can't force it on us, I would be willing to pay a last minute $50 food surcharge. Who knew bird flu / egg situation was going to happen. What I won't do is stay quiet for petty cut backs that put a damper on my trip. It's not like I can get in the car a drive down road for better meal. But yes, so this doesn't happen next year. Change prices and charge enough to cover 2024/2025 costs. Don't sell trips now for next year for less than you need to provide quality without endless cut backs. I don't see the 2024 rates as outrageous. Food costs have doubled. Makes sense the cruise rates do the same.