kruzerci

Wow. I am not sure what to think. I definitely expected more based on how it was described as iconic and revolutionary. It’s essentially Oasis on steroids with some Edge class features and geared even more towards kids. I think the pools look great, it looks modernized, etc., but it leaves a lot to be desired for adults and young adults without kids. I think they missed a huge opportunity not incorporating a waterfront type deck like NCL and CCL have done. As others have said, it looks like a barge with an amusement park on top. I get that they are appealing to families, but I think they tipped the scale way too far towards kids on this one. Ugh.

I don’t know what kind of secrets you are looking for… you are Diamond and this is an older basic ship. My secret would be get to the pool very early if you want a chair- they added casitas all over deck 12 that you have to pay a fortune for, so there are even less chairs for everybody.

Can some of you not read? A TA could not help in this situation because you cannot use these certificates unless you are booked directly with the cruise line. That means NO TRAVEL AGENTS.

It is absurd that you bring that in public with you… lol.

It just is what it is. Same reason Carnival calls their buffet one thing and Royal calls it another.

Prior to covid, a couple of 4-5 night sailings in early December from Florida have been commonly chartered and subsequently cancelled every year. Generally Brilliance and Independence.

Been that way for a year on other ships. Freedom started last fall.

Been like that on Freedom since this time last year. Very annoying

Totally agree!

No, things rarely “improve” once they see the guest will accept a lower level of quality without much pushback.

I would love to know why they switched two ships in the same class. I don't think it has anything to do with new regulations, but it was an easy cover while they were swapping other ships!

Because its all about the "starting from" price, to get people who shouldn't be spending the money to spend the money. Then, getting them to spend more money onboard because vacation spending doesn't feel as real as gas pump and grocery store spending 😂.

You may be looking at very different aspects of the experience than somebody else. Have you been on Grandeur or Enchantment recently to discount or support the reviews? We have been on all classes of ships except Quantum since the restart and the issues noted by the OP seem to be consistent throughout the fleet. Some individuals have high expectations of food, others for entertainment, others of visible maintenance. Some spend money on cosmetics, some spend money on trips. Different strokes for different folks, but I don't think the person who hasn't sailed since before Covid has much skin the in the game on a thread about the decline in quality since Covid....

You’re getting a lot of pushback, but I agree with most of your points. We have done 35 cruises with Royal over 20+ years and there have been two distinct periods during which the quality diminished drastically- the 2008 financial crisis and COVID. I am sailing the cruises I had booked and a couple bargain sailings, but other than that I have moved to Celebrity and Virgin for most future cruises. Celebrity has dropped in quality also, however, is a premium experience to Royal.

Having been on both multiple times, I would be fine with the switch. Enchantment is actually a better ship for the Caribbean due to the huge pool deck that benefited from the stretch. Enchantment also has Boleros. The design of Vision and Radiance class ships are really very similar, with some tweaks and modernization for the Radiance class (Windjammer moved to back, Solarium moved to front). Overall, I think it is a wash. The design of Enchantment is 5 years older and the cabins slightly smaller and less balconies, however the Radiance class is just an evolution of the Vision class if you look at the deck plans and design.

I said practically, not completely. Largely, everything is the same, except they added more cabins, water slides, and changed up a couple venues. The decor, carpet, amenities, cabins, etc for the most part are unchanged. It is by far the most dated and least refreshed of the Voyager and Freedom class ships.

It is honestly very outdated and needs a refurb. It is practically untouched since she came out in 2007. The main areas for me that have an ick factor are the carpets and cabins. The carpeting in the hallways, elevators banks, and cabins are truly old, outdated, and gross. Not to mention things like the poolside movie screen has been non functional with a tarp over it since the ship returned to service.

Are you headed to Jamaica or Mexico?

Please keep us posted if you hear anything. My sister is onboard.

How is the weather today? Hope it improves. Are you going to make it to Mexico tomorrow or are they avoiding the storm?

This is false information. Explorer, Adventure, and Mariner all still have it. Only Voyager and Navigator added cabins here.