Should I have LOWER expectations with RCCL?

[Swampbabe]

Carnival does offer bathtubs on some ships on balcony rooms. Last summer we cruised on the Dream and had a standard balcony room and had a bathtub.

 

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Had a standard balcony on the Dream last June, no bathtub.:rolleyes: Were you in a spa balcony maybe? If so, that is not standard.

[ryano]

O....M.....G! No food available 24 hours day! The horror! :eek:

 

Actually as you already noted, there IS food available 24 hours a day through room service with a minimal fee of 4.95 for 5 hours.

 

I think you went on board looking for things to complain about and found them, however minuscule they may be.

 

Enjoy Holland America!

Edited March 31, 2014 by ryano

[George C]

Carnival did away with trays in the buffet, a while back. They have big platters, instead of plates.

 

Hal did away with them so did Celebetiy and most of the others ( very cool logon name )

[hgmizzou]

I am sorry. I really hate to "flame" anyone (I am not really directing this specifically at the OP - it's more of a general comment) but I am constantly amazed at the small things that people find to complain about.

 

Chocolates on pillows and robes??? Lobster night not on the "right night"??? Seriously??? I don't understand the entitled attitude of people today. This is a MASS MARKET CRUISE LINE. It is NOT the QE II.

 

I understand that everyone wants to feel spoiled on their vacation - I do too. But, that being said, I believe that the staff on most cruise ships do everything they can to make each and every person's vacation special (I know that there are some cases where this isn't true - but they are the exception not the rule).

 

I am of the opinion that a vacation is a blessing. Not every one has the opportunity to enjoy the ability to take a vacation - not to mention a cruise. If you can't find a way to enjoy yourself on a cruise - ANY CRUISE - I believe that speaks more about you as a person than it does about the cruise line (no matter which line it is). I would rather be in the smallest cabin on the oldest ship in any fleet than sitting at my desk.

 

There are "luxury" lines, but as many other's have said, you get what you pay for. You cannot expect to step on a mass market cruise ship and receive gold plated service and amenities (unless maybe you are staying in the highest suite category - and even then it is still not a luxury liner).

 

I am sorry you didn't enjoy yourself. For myself though, I can't imagine that I would ever let issues like these ruin my vacation.

[rhfish3]

Had a standard balcony on the Dream last June, no bathtub.:rolleyes: Were you in a spa balcony maybe? If so, that is not standard.

 

No a standard balcony

 

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[luv2travel06]

O....M.....G! No food available 24 hours day! The horror! :eek:

 

 

 

Actually as you already noted, there IS food available 24 hours a day through room service with a minimal fee of 4.95 for 5 hours.

 

 

 

I think you went on board looking for things to complain about and found them, however minuscule they may be.

 

 

 

Enjoy Holland America!

 

We just returned from the Navigator OTS oil spill cruise. We may switch from HAL to RC based on service we received. (We are willing to give them a pass on some issues we had that seemed to result from one in our party leaving the ship when they said it wouldn't sail.) More detailed review later. We booked a 10 day on the Legend while on board as they were offering 25% discount on future cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

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[BengelaCruisers]

yes, I should have done more research on the RC ships....but this was a last-minute vaca to get away from our military jobs. Just to put things in perspective, I'm a Program Manager for the Air Force, so I'm constantly looking at ways to save money/cut back, since that's what we are doing these days in the military....unfortunately, I couldn't turn my brain off from 'work-mode' and was probably overly critical....sigh...so much for trying to be ON vacation!

 

It sounds like the days of having Captain's party with passed trays of multiple drinks and appetizers, chocolates on the pillow each night, and full containers of soaps and shampoo in a large bathroom are all things of the past. Having not cruised since 2011, I was used to paying ~$100/nt per person, and when I paid MORE than that this year, I thought I was getting the same level of care/attention, but thanks to all your comments, I now understand that the current operating environment....that despite the cruise industry's continued bad press with broken engines, stomach flus, or rogue Captains, the prices are not going to get any lower in this economy.

 

I keep hearing Disney is amazing for adults. I may have to check that line out next. Just like I like moving around every few years to a new assignment/base, I like trying out new cruise lines, tour companies, ports, etc. I appreciate the comments about how the more loyal you are, the more you get, so for now, I'll just except that I won't get those preferred loyalty benefits!

 

Thank you to everyone that took time to comment! I truly love that this forum is so active after all many years of success! In a few more years, when I am retired, I hope I can have as many cruise vacations in my signature block as some of you do :)

[BengelaCruisers]

If you notice, I never complained about the people working on the ship....I have yet to encounter a disgruntled worker on any cruise...I am simply debating new/updated corporate level policies that apparently came about in recent economic times.

 

I have nothing to say but GREAT things about Bogdan, the guest service attendant, who came up to my cabin after we complained the 3rd night in a row about the loud casino announcer that we could perfectly:eek: hear thru our floor each night between 10pm-1am. Unfortunately, he couldn't move us to another cabin because the ship was completely BOOKED! They even kicked 4 crewmembers off our cruise to give those rooms to paid customers.

 

The CORPORATION made a bad decision to overbook this cruise, making it impossible to move dissatisfied guests to any open cabins....yet, just like the airlines, they are cramming more people into smaller spaces to make a buck. In the end, they offered us a free dinner in a specialty restaurant. Of course, I asked to eat at the Chef's Table at $70/pp, but since they did not have the minimum number of 12,(apparently, nobody goes to the specialty restaurants these days! LOL), we opted to take a $100 OBC instead.

 

If I sound 'entitled' to some, just chalk it up to the fact that I was SLEEP DEPRIVED on vacation, when I came home and wrote this crabby review...which, in the end, was the one thing we wanted the most (not a tray or bathtub).

[Merion_Mom]

yes, I should have done more research on the RC ships....but this was a last-minute vaca to get away from our military jobs. Just to put things in perspective, I'm a Program Manager for the Air Force, so I'm constantly looking at ways to save money/cut back, since that's what we are doing these days in the military....unfortunately, I couldn't turn my brain off from 'work-mode' and was probably overly critical....sigh...so much for trying to be ON vacation!

 

It sounds like the days of having Captain's party with passed trays of multiple drinks and appetizers, chocolates on the pillow each night, and full containers of soaps and shampoo in a large bathroom are all things of the past. Having not cruised since 2011, I was used to paying ~$100/nt per person, and when I paid MORE than that this year, I thought I was getting the same level of care/attention, but thanks to all your comments, I now understand that the current operating environment....that despite the cruise industry's continued bad press with broken engines, stomach flus, or rogue Captains, the prices are not going to get any lower in this economy.

 

I keep hearing Disney is amazing for adults. I may have to check that line out next. Just like I like moving around every few years to a new assignment/base, I like trying out new cruise lines, tour companies, ports, etc. I appreciate the comments about how the more loyal you are, the more you get, so for now, I'll just except that I won't get those preferred loyalty benefits!

 

Thank you to everyone that took time to comment! I truly love that this forum is so active after all many years of success! In a few more years, when I am retired, I hope I can have as many cruise vacations in my signature block as some of you do :)

 

 

THANK YOU for this wonderful follow-up post!!!!!

 

:)

[Swampbabe]

No a standard balcony

 

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Interesting because the website says shower only, which matches my experience. Unless you like a bathtub that's one inch deep :cool::cool:

[Guest maddycat]

No robes in every cabin , just suites? Every cabin should have robes in my opinion.

 

That's your opinion. We're Diamond on RCI so robes are a perk for us. We always ask the cabin attendant to remove the robes. We prefer our own.

[Guest maddycat]

We're going on our first Royal cruise, also on the Explorer. There seems to have been varying cutbacks on all lines, We are trying to go with an open mind and hope this attitude will continue on board the ship, What I personally find truly alarming about your comments is about having to "beg" for a bar of soap! So I guess now I need to take a just in case bar of soap, along with my daily dose of chocolate, a pen and paper:rolleyes:

 

We have never had to beg or even ask for a bar of soap. The OP just had a poor/lazy cabin attendant.

[Spurschick]

Interesting because the website says shower only, which matches my experience. Unless you like a bathtub that's one inch deep :cool::cool:

 

Where's my like button?

That made me smile:D

[maggie416]

We're going on our first Royal cruise, also on the Explorer. There seems to have been varying cutbacks on all lines, We are trying to go with an open mind and hope this attitude will continue on board the ship, What I personally find truly alarming about your comments is about having to "beg" for a bar of soap! So I guess now I need to take a just in case bar of soap, along with my daily dose of chocolate, a pen and paper:rolleyes:

For the first time ever on a cruise we took a bar of soap because I read somewhere on this board there wasn't soap in the cabin! With all you have to pack, I wasn't too happy about this! So, had a bar of soap for the shower, but needed one for the sink!

Marg

[Guest maddycat]

For the first time ever on a cruise we took a bar of soap because I read somewhere on this board there wasn't soap in the cabin! With all you have to pack, I wasn't too happy about this! So, had a bar of soap for the shower, but needed one for the sink!

Marg

 

Did you ask your cabin attendant for soap? That's what I would have done.

 

When we first meet our cabin attendant, I hand him a list of extras that we would like (pillows, egg crate, tissues, drinking glasses, hangers, etc.). Everything is always delivered to our cabin with in a couple of hours.

[steveru621]

What am I missing here? 15 cruises and I can't remember ever having to ask for a bar of soap. It's standard equipment?

[Ripley's Lady]

You might better enjoy a week on a larger Royal Caribbean ship like Oasis or Allure or even the Freedom class with their phenomenal athletics, ice skating and mini golf, wave pools, and even zip lines on Oasis and Allure of the Seas. Research your next ship carefully and you may be more pleased. On another topic, the Oasis ships have AMAZING ENTERTAINMENT every night of the week.

 

If something is wrong - writing a note to Guest Services or the Hotel Director should solve a problem. Good luck choosing a more simpatico ship for your next vacation!

[Kat in CA]

We just came home yesterday from our first RCCL cruise on Jewel of the Seas in the Southern Caribbean. I found some aspects of the cruise very good-- the views of the ocean from many places on the ship, the lively Centrum area, nice wide promenade deck, an open heliport. But I must say I was underwhelmed a bit by RCCL. The cabin was pretty sparse: no amenities to speak of........well, we did get TP and soap and unidentified something in a dispenser in the shower. No shampoo, conditioner or lotion. No robes. Old fashioned TV. Our cabin attendant was a bit grumpy, and we joked about how we had better clean up before leaving the room or he would be angry at us. Our cabin was over a crew area and we were kept awake by the loud clanging of a metal door closing.We found the buffet to be just tolerable, with most dishes pasta or potato based with mayo or cheap sauce. Nothing made to order there. My Time Dining was easy to make a reservation for table for 2. Very crowded dining room. Friendly waiters (almost too much so--we would rather not be called "you guys"). Food just so so, nothing memorable.

After our week on the Jewel, we walked our bags over to the Celebrity Summit for a consecutive cruise to different ports. Our experience on that ship was much better-- great service, tasty meals, classy atmosphere, good cabin amenities.

Both cruises cost about the same. If I was traveling with children or teens: RCCL all the way; they had good facilities for their enjoyment. If I was a real party animal or a dance enthusiast: RCCL.

For good food, service, cabin: Celebrity. I enjoyed the entertainment on the Summit much more. The aerialists added great interest to the shows. Room service much better on Celebrity with hot breakfast items like egg white omelets and waffles.

People are all different and look for different experiences on a cruise. I think the key is to try a few lines and stick with the one that makes you happiest.

 

 

It was interesting to compare the two lines week by week.

[Merion_Mom]

By the way, I just got off the Sapphire Princess.

 

There was no soap in my bathroom. I had to ask the next day. :)

[goodycruising]

 

It was interesting to compare the two lines week by week.

 

That is a good comparison time frame! I find that as time goes on you forget some things and to go one cruise to another and for similar prices, similar size ships, very interesting! We are going on Celebrity later this year, and really looking forward to it. We have loved Radiance, which is same class as Jewel I see. Our experiences were different to what you found on Jewel, but then in 3 trips on Radiance every trip has been very different. Thanks!

[EmpressofPurple]

I am sorry. I really hate to "flame" anyone (I am not really directing this specifically at the OP - it's more of a general comment) but I am constantly amazed at the small things that people find to complain about.

 

Chocolates on pillows and robes??? Lobster night not on the "right night"??? Seriously??? I don't understand the entitled attitude of people today. This is a MASS MARKET CRUISE LINE. It is NOT the QE II.

 

I understand that everyone wants to feel spoiled on their vacation - I do too. But, that being said, I believe that the staff on most cruise ships do everything they can to make each and every person's vacation special (I know that there are some cases where this isn't true - but they are the exception not the rule).

 

I am of the opinion that a vacation is a blessing. Not every one has the opportunity to enjoy the ability to take a vacation - not to mention a cruise. If you can't find a way to enjoy yourself on a cruise - ANY CRUISE - I believe that speaks more about you as a person than it does about the cruise line (no matter which line it is). I would rather be in the smallest cabin on the oldest ship in any fleet than sitting at my desk.

 

There are "luxury" lines, but as many other's have said, you get what you pay for. You cannot expect to step on a mass market cruise ship and receive gold plated service and amenities (unless maybe you are staying in the highest suite category - and even then it is still not a luxury liner).

 

I am sorry you didn't enjoy yourself. For myself though, I can't imagine that I would ever let issues like these ruin my vacation.

 

I hate to say this, but this kind of critical post is not really helpful. Clearly this person has experienced (or heard about) this level of service in the past, not just on the elite lines, but about cruising in general.

 

Many of us have seen service changes over the years; some of us have adjusted, some have moved on to locations that still offer these amenities.

 

I do NOT view "any" vacation or "any" cruise as a "blessing" - I realize cruising is largely what you make of it, and if you nit-pick every little detail you won't have much fun... but I refuse to pretend that poor service is good service, mediocre food is delicious, or lousy entertainment is fun. (Fortunately I have rarely encountered any of this on rci... but if I did, I wouldn't say "I won't let this ruin my vacation" - I'd say, "this is poor service," or "this is not good food." In other words, I would tell the truth.)

 

So, o.p., I wouldn't say you should expect less, but do research current cruising offerings, and do be realistic about what you expect to find on the different lines. I did have a great time on my one Disney cruise (at those prices, I would hope so!) -and have a great time on your next, well-researched rci cruise!! :-)

 

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[NemoCrownie]

i hate to say this, but this kind of critical post is not really helpful. Clearly this person has experienced (or heard about) this level of service in the past, not just on the elite lines, but about cruising in general.

 

Many of us have seen service changes over the years; some of us have adjusted, some have moved on to locations that still offer these amenities.

 

I do not view "any" vacation or "any" cruise as a "blessing" - i realize cruising is largely what you make of it, and if you nit-pick every little detail you won't have much fun... But i refuse to pretend that poor service is good service, mediocre food is delicious, or lousy entertainment is fun. (fortunately i have rarely encountered any of this on rci... But if i did, i wouldn't say "i won't let this ruin my vacation" - i'd say, "this is poor service," or "this is not good food." in other words, i would tell the truth.)

 

so, o.p., i wouldn't say you should expect less, but do research current cruising offerings, and do be realistic about what you expect to find on the different lines. I did have a great time on my one disney cruise (at those prices, i would hope so!) -and have a great time on your next, well-researched rci cruise!! :-)

 

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LIKE and I agree with you!

[iheartbda]

THANK YOU for this wonderful follow-up post!!!!!

 

:)

Yes, it was a nice follow-up post but there are some things in the follow-up, follow-up that I question.

 

It's been my experience on every cruise we've taken that there was a sign at guest services saying the ship was fully booked. That usually means there were no cabins for people who might want to change for some reason. The OP said corporation made a bad decision to overbook the cruise and "like airlines, are cramming more people into a smaller space."

 

 

I didn't think it was possible to overbook since there are only so many "souls" a ship can hold. I don't think they keep in reserve a certain amount of cabins for people who are dissatisfied for some reason or another. Empty cabins are lost revenue so their goal is to sail full. They may or may not have some cabins in reserve but those are usually for some really serious problem. There have been passengers whose cabin was nearly uninhabitable but there was nowhere to move them.

 

 

Another point, they kicked off four crew to give those rooms to paid customers?:confused:

 

 

By the way, I just got off the Sapphire Princess.

 

There was no soap in my bathroom. I had to ask the next day. :)

Traitor.:p:D

I've cruised Princess as well.:D

Taking the train to NYC so I will, once again, wave to you as I go by.

[Midwestgal]

I've just never understood the robe thing.

 

Why should any cruise line provide clothing for people. And just to lounge around your cabin in? Just don't get it.

 

For me they're always too hot for the Caribbean, too small from shrinkage and uncomfortable. ???:confused: Guess I'm just clueless.:D

 

Asked for them a couple times when we first started cruising...and they were happy to oblige, no matter what status we were, but after that..isch.

We all like different things. I like to put a robe on after I shower and start getting ready .

[royalcruz]

For the first time ever on a cruise we took a bar of soap because I read somewhere on this board there wasn't soap in the cabin! With all you have to pack, I wasn't too happy about this! So, had a bar of soap for the shower, but needed one for the sink!

Marg

 

If I recall correctly, you can reach the sink from the shower!:D:D:D