This is just crazy and so sorry for you all.
We did the Panama Canal (Serenade) from Los Angeles to Tampa last year just amazing.
We also have the (Explorer) which is a great Caribbean itinerary from Miami July 2024 that includes some of the ports that their trying to pass off to you as a PC cruise. Not the same at all.
Our May 2024 Icon cruise it's $169.99. Even though the Water Park cabanas are $1499.00 I booked one for my extended family of 4 adults and two kids.
Yes prices have gone up. In the past I paid $499.00 for my cabana and last time there April 2022 it was $699.00. I'll watch for a black Friday sale...fingers crossed.
There's a shared shuttle from port to TPA. They are right out side the terminal door and load up quickly. $10.00pp. We did this after our Panama Canal cruise and were at the airport long before our noon flight left.
We bring our extended family often (usually 3-4 suites) and those are usually the most costly. This also includes flights, hotels, transportation, meals etc. etc.
If it's not in your cabin ...just mention it to your cabin steward...he calls housekeeping and an assistant from there brings it. They know your steward is busy boarding day.
On this class of ship we've had some great SL service. When the SL is crowded we often sit in the VCL (near the door to the lounge) and our waiter serves us out there.
"Not been keeping the place up"... this is certainly not new information. This has been going on for several years. It's obvious Hilton has no concern for this property any longer.
Yes, there was a chef onboard same one for both of our Serenade cruises...a Jamaican one for the WJ and not sure where he learned to cook but we were very disappointed.
We were expecting much better since this was the long Panama Canal itinerary. RCI really dropped the ball here.
I had no trouble expressing my displeasure to him his staff our concierge and on our survey !!
RCI needs to improve the onboard food and hire some chefs that actually know how to cook.
I will say it can be a hit or miss but that shouldn't be the case. One particular chef on Harmony 2022 was just amazing...I'm sure he was an anomaly and probably is gone.
There hasn't been an RCI ship we've been on in the last few years that enforced this rule.
We also have no problem getting water and or a can of coke to take with us as we leave.
We were on Serenade September 2022 for Alaska and October 2022 for Panama Canal.
She's actually very well maintained. Wish the food in the WJ had been better but we managed.