rccl--first and definately last time.

[retiredonthesea]

If I want a wine or a beer I just go down to my favorite casino here in Deadwood SD and get it for nothing, but when in New York City, Denver, ect I'll pay whatever the price--same with on a cruise-it's my choice to drink or not. Same with cruising--NCL suites can't be beat, but enjoy RCL and want to try other lines--didn't care for X, but there are plenty others that are on our list. If you don't like a certain one--just move on!!!

[DJ1VIKES]

Why is food always such a big issue when on a cruise. Yes, we all would like to have 5 star dining but to do that you have to pay the price. Most cruise ships have adquate meals and all the newer ships have many different venues to select from so finding something you like shouldn't be a problem. There is far too many other things to do on a cruise that eat!

 

As far as drinks go...I agree with some who said to check the prices at other vacation places. RCCL at least pours top shelf brands, unlike Princess where the brands were limited for the same price.

 

And what is it about chocolates on your pillow. Bring your own if they are so important to you.

 

All that said, sorry you had such a bad experience. Hope you will try other RCCL ships in the future, then you will have more to compare.

[Refined Rob]

I am a little amazed that as most of you are well travelled cruisers you do not use the service of the Cabin Steward to get you your drinks at the crew rate. We had our steward bring 10 - 15 bottles of beer to our cabin for $20.00 seems cheap to me :D

 

Rob

[Refined Rob]

And what is it about chocolates on your pillow. Bring your own if they are so important to you.

 

We had chocolates on our pillows every night. :rolleyes:

 

Rob

[erbunny]

With only 5 cruises in the last 2 years (4 RC, 1 X) DH and I don't have any way to compare to the old ways, or different lines. However, we had a great time on each of these cruises. The food was plenty good enough, even if not 5 star. We are planning a Princess cruise next, because of the itinerary, and hoping it will be as good as what we have experienced so far. I am very sorry the OP had such a bad experience. Sometimes there seems to be a "perfect storm " of bad things happening on a vacation, when someone else on the same cruise will post that they had a fabulous time. This was definitely true of our last cruise.

 

Best wishes for happy sailings on whatever line you take

[Ocean Boy]

If I want a wine or a beer I just go down to my favorite casino here in Deadwood SD and get it for nothing, but when in New York City, Denver, ect I'll pay whatever the price--same with on a cruise-it's my choice to drink or not. Same with cruising--NCL suites can't be beat, but enjoy RCL and want to try other lines--didn't care for X, but there are plenty others that are on our list. If you don't like a certain one--just move on!!!

 

I think that is exactly what the OP said he is doing.

[Ocean Boy]

If so, I think that's a cheap excuse. Plastic is unacceptable unless you are on a pool deck and even that is marginal. One of my most memorable evenings on my recent Silversea cruise was their BBQ on the pool deck. Cut glass stemware and crisp linens were part of the service. It was a true 'dining under the stars' experience, on a very small ship and we had rough seas the entire cruise with major movement. I didn't see plastic anywhere!

 

Comparing Royal Caribbean and Silversea is just...........just.............just................

 

 

I'm speechless.

 

Older Party,

 

Look what you've gone and done!:eek:.....:D:D

[BklynBorn47]

I'm glad to read different perspectives since my husband and I have never cruised RCCL before. 4 different lines in the 90s but this century only river cruises in Europe.

 

We're taking my daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandchildren on Navigator (Eastern Mediterranean) and are obviously hoping for a positive experience for them.

 

Fortunately, they're used to extended auto trips and campgrounds, so how bad can it be comparatively? Surely seeing Rome, Athens, Ephesus... at ages 9-15 will outweigh any food, ice cream or towel snafus. At least I hope so. There's Paris at the end too.

[wg6530]

I'm glad to read different perspectives since my husband and I have never cruised RCCL before. 4 different lines in the 90s but this century only river cruises in Europe.

 

We're taking my daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandchildren on Navigator (Eastern Mediterranean) and are obviously hoping for a positive experience for them.

 

Fortunately, they're used to extended auto trips and campgrounds, so how bad can it be comparatively? Surely seeing Rome, Athens, Ephesus... at ages 9-15 will outweigh any food, ice cream or towel snafus. At least I hope so. There's Paris at the end too.

 

I bet those kids won't care about plastic vs china. I imagine them skipping to the ice cream machine. Lucky grandchildren! Have a wonderful time.

[galavant3]

I'm glad to read different perspectives since my husband and I have never cruised RCCL before. 4 different lines in the 90s but this century only river cruises in Europe.

 

We're taking my daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandchildren on Navigator (Eastern Mediterranean) and are obviously hoping for a positive experience for them.

 

Fortunately, they're used to extended auto trips and campgrounds, so how bad can it be comparatively? Surely seeing Rome, Athens, Ephesus... at ages 9-15 will outweigh any food, ice cream or towel snafus. At least I hope so. There's Paris at the end too.

 

I really do believe that "happiness is a choice". I believe attitude is also.

 

I find it interesting that two people can be on the same ship, the same week and have completely different experiences. Your trip sounds like the trip of a lifetime and I'm guessing that those kids will remember it always.

[Paul65]

Comparing Royal Caribbean and Silversea is just...........just.............just................

 

 

I'm speechless.

 

Yeah, Silversea is overrated. Sure, the crisp linens and cut glass stemware were nice, but where do they hide their Flowrider? I couldn't find it anywhere! You'd think it would have been easy to find on such a small ship. The best part, though, was that i WON the sexy legs contest. All the other passengers just seemed to be staring at me and not joining in, though.

[galavant3]

. Princess was a step up for sure, but my recent Silversea cruise really showed me what the food experience can be on a cruise vacation.

 

Silversea should deliver a completely different product - in all areas. You pay a premium price for a premium product. My last cruise on RCCL cost $85 per person per night. I thought the value was exceptional. Next cruise is costing considerably more. My expectations are much higher. You cannot pay RCCL prices and expect a Silversea product. As nice as that would be...:)

 

As an aside, I have cruised Princess only once and I prefer Royal. To each his own.

[galavant3]

Yeah, Silversea is overrated. Sure, the crisp linens and cut glass stemware were nice, but where do they hide their Flowrider? I couldn't find it anywhere! You'd think it would have been easy to find on such a small ship. The best part, though, was that i WON the sexy legs contest. All the other passengers just seemed to be staring at me and not joining in, though.

 

Outstanding visual.

[lucymorgan]

Just returned from Brilliance of the Seas Dubai/Dubai sailing.

 

Our first two cruises have been with Princess January this year and January last year.

We certainly now know we were spoiled by Princess in all respects.

 

This latest cruise was definately 3* at tops and rccl are certainly off our future cruise list.

I did chat ---(whilst off ship)-- with one of their employees with 19 years service. He informed me of the drastic cut backs that have taken place these past 3/4 years.

 

Thanks lol 1944 for an interesting post. You have certainly stimulated some animated discussion, which I have found fascinating to read. We went on an RCI cruise (brilliance) in 2008 and will shortly go on another. I really appreciate reading about the different views.

[BMT]

I am a little amazed that as most of you are well travelled cruisers you do not use the service of the Cabin Steward to get you your drinks at the crew rate. We had our steward bring 10 - 15 bottles of beer to our cabin for $20.00 seems cheap to me :D

 

Rob

 

We had chocolates on our pillows every night. :rolleyes:

 

Rob

 

Rob - stop stirring the pot:D:D:D:D

 

(Fun though!! hehehe)

[nbsjcruiser]

We found the whole experience sub standard. A few things to start:

 

Food quality very poor and very sparse menu choice in Minstrel---Four times to get a steak that was ordered well done and on first three attempts "bled"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unable to order a salad without dressing. Why?????????

Choice of meals is very poor. "no" is too often the answer.!!!!!!!!

 

Too few waiters in Minstrel--those present rushing around-yes-like headless chickens-- thereby reducing the service---wrongly ordered meal produced to wrong person---necesary cutlery not provided until requested!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Windjammer food very poor quality. Queues for egg station. Queues for chips.

Toast so thin is rock hard. Ran out of bananas one day. Ran out of scones one day. Plastic crockery. ridiculous milk cartons!!!!!!!!!!! Cleanliness of tables--ugghh!!!!!!!!!!! And it is not 24 hours.

 

Cardboard cartons as cups in rooms---I can get these at my local KFC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

No mats on sunbeds. Pool far too small. That stupid towel system!!!!!!!!!!!

Ice cream station located too far from pool and cannot be accessed from pool without covering up.

 

Drink prices excessive. two glasses of wine at dinner buys the bottle at home!!!!!!!!!!

 

no bedtime chocs.

I could go on but no point really. It was a very cheap nasty cruise. And there is no way I would sail with this lot again

 

Our favorite line is RCL which is not to say we are cheerleaders for RCL. I hate when people do that. I would like to offer a few of my observations however.

 

We haven't cruised RCL since 2008 although our next 2 cruises are booked with them. After our Radiance cruise in 2008 we felt RCL was getting predicable for us and so we decided to try a couple other lines to see how the other half lives. We tried both Princess and Carnival and we've heard almost the same comments from people on both of those lines. Cutbacks, food quality not as good (we experienced some of this ourselves), service cutbacks and so on. I'm not defending RCL because you have a right to your opinion but what I am saying is that many long term cruisers on the mass market lines are seeing similar things.

 

For us, I will be very interested in seeing how RCL stacks up. We haven't been on RCL since before the economic downturn and so I will be very keen to make observations based on my past experiences.

[GALATEA]

Hi Firefly----All the people I spoke with, and there were many and from many countries , were very dissapointed. For some people this was their very first cruise and they were well put off cruising.

 

I put my post on here to see the reaction because we were extremely shocked to endure the experience. It was not what we had expected. My question to the long serving employee of rccl was:

Is this typical of rccl standards, or is it the particular ship, or is it the itinary? His reply I have already stated.

 

We made the best of our holiday but I still have one concern.

Having started our cruise vacations with Princess have we been spoiled. I hope not because of course different routes do come into the eqation.

 

 

Sorry you had a bad experience and I hope your venting has made you feel better. Did you contact RCCL about it? Did you get a survey before you left? Hopefully your experience is an isolated one

Yes sure completed the survey. Also when settling my account I advised quest relations to send two of their staff on a Princess cruise as a learning experience.

When food was unavailable--yes--I asked for the chef in charge--asked why he did not order enough bananas--why did he not make more scones when stocks were getting low--really they did not seem concerned.

lOL 1944. I am sailing on Brilliance Dubi India on 9th April.& had read many good reports on this ship before booking.yours however has now put a dampener on my cruise.especialy about food ,& clealiness.However I have cruised with RCCL.before & found no reason to complain.Because of the month in which we can holiday.August.& where we whish to cruise means we are restricted to which lines go there.SO last year we were on Pacific Prinsess,& your remarks on food and service aplied to this ship also,& yes we also had to cover up not for ice cream,as there was none on offer,buffet was chaotic at all times,yet this experiance will not put me off sailing with them again.I do hope you wrote to RCCL.People who have mentioned tip's I give to who & what I feel is appropriate.We have also saild P.&O.When & who you sail with next I do hope you have a better time.

[BMT]

Actually, it is JUST the Brilliance.

 

We have been on the Brilliance many times. Still run as all the others, although registed in the UK. There is NO special Brilliance operation in the UK:D:D:D

 

There are differences on cruises in Europe. The operation on the Indie is aimed at UK cruisers - used to be called 'immersion' cruises. The Adventure out of Malaga is aimed more at the Spanish trade. I believe the smoking rules are different also out of Spain.

 

We have had different experiences on Brilliance over the years. Sometimes its great and other times :( - but this happens on other ships also.

 

jc - if you are around - hi to you both - hope you are both well.

[Refined Rob]

Rob - stop stirring the pot:D:D:D:D

 

(Fun though!! hehehe)

 

Hi gorgeous ladies, me stir the pot never.

 

We are going to miss you this Christmas, unless you want to fly out to Dubai.

 

This thread is really interesting, comparing different cruise lines is exactly what the forum is about. I have sailed on many different lines, but keep out of saying which I prefer as I think it is very subjective and can change even within the same cruise line.

 

Do what we always do, if anything is not right for you on the cruise complain to the right person and not moan to everyone else. We wanted the ice rink to ourselves for an hour, we asked and we were given it. The only thing that no cruise line has let us have is a barbeque on the balcony. ;)

 

BMT, missing you ladies.

 

Rob

[CGTNORMANDIE]

I see sooooo many complaints on here about drink prices being high. Can anyone from anywhere in the world please come on here and post a vacation destination, which is what the ship is, where drink prices match what you pay at home retail? I live in a ski town and the prices on the ships are actually lower than when I go out and drink here in town. Last time I was at Disney/Epcot the beers were quite pricey. Go to a football/baseball stadium and you'll be paying a ridiculous price for a beer. I don't understand why so many people lose their minds about drink prices onboard. There is a markup, sometimes more significant than others anytime you order a drink anywhere outside your home. Relax and if it bothers you don't drink till you get home. Ok, rant is over, I think I need a drink:D Take care all, Jim

 

Many of the folks who are complaining about drink prices remember back when the prices at sea were very reasonable. Then Carnival Cruise Corp discovered that they could raise the prices and build new ships with the proceeds...it has been all downhill since then. I was looking at an old Chandris wine list from the 1980's the other day. Mixed drinks were 35 cents...a bottle of Dom Perignon was $10.00...LOL. The cruise company does not have to pay duty and can buy directly from the distiller. The average cost to RCI for a bottle of rum is currently $2.00 and change...and that will make 20 drinks! You do the math and you will see why a lot of folks complain about booze costs. It seems that these cruise companies have gone from the hospitality business into the high corporate airline business where the motto is..."Full greed ahead" and "Whatever the market will bear". The day is fast approacing where the corporate managers will find that they have to please the customers before they can please the share holders.

[temple1]

Thanks lol 1944 for an interesting post. You have certainly stimulated some animated discussion, which I have found fascinating to read. We went on an RCI cruise (brilliance) in 2008 and will shortly go on another. I really appreciate reading about the different views.

 

You are correct - this has been a very interesting discussion. The OP presented her concerns and reasons the cruise did not meet her expectations. Others have chipped in with their experiences good and bad on various cruise lines, as Refined Rob pointed out - this is what the forum should be about.

 

RefinedRob - So you're saying I need to live the GrillMaster at home???

[johneeo]

It seems that these cruise companies have gone from the hospitality business into the high corporate airline business where the motto is..."Full greed ahead" and "Whatever the market will bear". The day is fast approacing where the corporate managers will find that they have to please the customers before they can please the share holders.

 

It is a free and competetive market. That is how capitalism works. If the consumers' demands are not met, the consumers will go elsewhere.

[Refined Rob]

So you're saying I need to live the GrillMaster at home???

 

Yes, sorry, they say it was a fire hazard. (must have seen me cook) :eek:

 

Rob

[hollon]

We found the whole experience sub standard. A few things to start:

 

Food quality very poor and very sparse menu choice in Minstrel---Four times to get a steak that was ordered well done and on first three attempts "bled"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unable to order a salad without dressing. Why?????????

Choice of meals is very poor. "no" is too often the answer.!!!!!!!!

 

Too few waiters in Minstrel--those present rushing around-yes-like headless chickens-- thereby reducing the service---wrongly ordered meal produced to wrong person---necesary cutlery not provided until requested!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Windjammer food very poor quality. Queues for egg station. Queues for chips.

Toast so thin is rock hard. Ran out of bananas one day. Ran out of scones one day. Plastic crockery. ridiculous milk cartons!!!!!!!!!!! Cleanliness of tables--ugghh!!!!!!!!!!! And it is not 24 hours.

 

Cardboard cartons as cups in rooms---I can get these at my local KFC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

No mats on sunbeds. Pool far too small. That stupid towel system!!!!!!!!!!!

Ice cream station located too far from pool and cannot be accessed from pool without covering up.

 

Drink prices excessive. two glasses of wine at dinner buys the bottle at home!!!!!!!!!!

 

no bedtime chocs.

I could go on but no point really. It was a very cheap nasty cruise. And there is no way I would sail with this lot again

I hate the fact that you're going to give up on rccl ships, maybe try allure/oasis, it will be something totally different. I will be on my first princess (diamond) ship to alaska this may) i guess switching to princess from rccl (on this cruise) will be a little scary. I know I'll enjoy the cruise though. Just a thought!

[xpcdoojk]

We have been on the Brilliance many times. Still run as all the others, although registed in the UK. There is NO special Brilliance operation in the UK:D:D:D

 

There are differences on cruises in Europe. The operation on the Indie is aimed at UK cruisers - used to be called 'immersion' cruises. The Adventure out of Malaga is aimed more at the Spanish trade. I believe the smoking rules are different also out of Spain.

 

We have had different experiences on Brilliance over the years. Sometimes its great and other times :( - but this happens on other ships also.

 

jc - if you are around - hi to you both - hope you are both well.

 

Of course we are around and doing well! We may be taking the Liberty fall 2012 TA. You should join us! Tell your amazing mother hello.

 

JC