Serenade - not overly impressed

[blindrid]

Scenario: 

1) First RCL after about a dozen cruises on other lines.

2) OV cabin, deck 3 - friends had balcony, deck 7 - some of these opinions below were also shared by them.

3) 12 night including Christmas and New Years.

4) I typically avoid mega ships.

5) Bought beverage package

 

First of all, my opinion of cruises is “no such thing as a bad cruise, just some better than others”. To make this short, some comments:

1)  I was disappointed in the lack of comfortable bedding. They were horrible. 

2) MDR reasonably good. 

3) Service was good by most

4) Virtually impossible to get chairs near pool area, either level. Chair hogs with no RCL “towel police”.

5) As a Makers Mark drinker, it was in short, almost nonexistent supply. I heard some complaints about it when I inquired so I wasn’t alone.

6) Cruise Director - not impressed.

7) cabins were smaller than expected. Great storage though.

 

Anyway, I could go on but I believe you get my point. I’ve done other ships on a repeat basis but will not on Serenade regardless of it going into dry dock or not. For the price paid for a Holiday cruise, the value was not there.

 

anyway, my 2 cents - have a great day.

 

[flamingos]

Chair hogs are an issue on every ship I have been on, no matter what line.

[Brit-Cruiser]

We got off the Serenade the day you boarded. We were on there for 21 nights & we LOVED it. In contrast to you, we never had a problem getting a chair near the pool, no matter what time we needed one.  We also found Andrea the cruise director to be engaging & fun. We enjoyed his morning show immensely. 

It was our first time on the Serenade, but it certainly will not be our last. 

 

[blindrid]

To Flamingos: I’ve certainly been exposed to chair hogs but not to this extreme.

 

To Brit: I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was certainly not for me by comparison to other lines / ships. As mentioned, Andreas was certainly not my style bot to each their own. 😀😀

[Milwaukee Eight]

Serenade has drydock a year ago. Will be another 4 years before refresh. 

[Grandma Dazzles]

2 hours ago, blindrid said:

Scenario: 

1) First RCL after about a dozen cruises on other lines.

2) OV cabin, deck 3 - friends had balcony, deck 7 - some of these opinions below were also shared by them.

3) 12 night including Christmas and New Years.

4) I typically avoid mega ships.

5) Bought beverage package

 

First of all, my opinion of cruises is “no such thing as a bad cruise, just some better than others”. To make this short, some comments:

1)  I was disappointed in the lack of comfortable bedding. They were horrible. 

2) MDR reasonably good. 

3) Service was good by most

4) Virtually impossible to get chairs near pool area, either level. Chair hogs with no RCL “towel police”.

5) As a Makers Mark drinker, it was in short, almost nonexistent supply. I heard some complaints about it when I inquired so I wasn’t alone.

6) Cruise Director - not impressed.

7) cabins were smaller than expected. Great storage though.

 

Anyway, I could go on but I believe you get my point. I’ve done other ships on a repeat basis but will not on Serenade regardless of it going into dry dock or not. For the price paid for a Holiday cruise, the value was not there.

 

anyway, my 2 cents - have a great day.

 

Not quite understanding some of your “complaints/comments.”  You indicated you don’t normally cruise mega ships. Serenade is one of RC’s smallest ships; most don’t consider a mega ship.

 

You seem happy with with food and service- usually a big complaint area.

 

cabin was small, but good storage. Cabin sizes are published; not sure what you were expecting plus you thought storage was good.

 

Cruise director can be subjective; one person can love and one hate.

 

Chair hogs on every cruise; again others don’t have a problem.

 

Personally prefer larger ships than Serenade, but not really understanding what you were expecting.

Edited January 8, 2019 by Grandma Dazzles

[ONECRUISER]

4 hours ago, blindrid said:

Scenario: 

1) First RCL after about a dozen cruises on other lines.

2) OV cabin, deck 3 - friends had balcony, deck 7 - some of these opinions below were also shared by them.

3) 12 night including Christmas and New Years.

4) I typically avoid mega ships.

5) Bought beverage package

 

First of all, my opinion of cruises is “no such thing as a bad cruise, just some better than others”. To make this short, some comments:

1)  I was disappointed in the lack of comfortable bedding. They were horrible. 

2) MDR reasonably good. 

3) Service was good by most

4) Virtually impossible to get chairs near pool area, either level. Chair hogs with no RCL “towel police”.

5) As a Makers Mark drinker, it was in short, almost nonexistent supply. I heard some complaints about it when I inquired so I wasn’t alone.

6) Cruise Director - not impressed.

7) cabins were smaller than expected. Great storage though.

 

Anyway, I could go on but I believe you get my point. I’ve done other ships on a repeat basis but will not on Serenade regardless of it going into dry dock or not. For the price paid for a Holiday cruise, the value was not there.

 

anyway, my 2 cents - have a great day.

 

You didn't list faults that would change your mind if Serenade had a Dry Dock. Not that she is due any changes, got her Upgrades 6yrs ago and kept up well in my experience. Also a typical Dry Dock will not replace all Furniture or redecorate cabins. That is seldom ever done in a Ships career with the line. Though I didn't agree most your posting, except Main Dining, know my experiences are not same as yours. I've spent over 150+ nites on Serenade last 5yrs inc Oct- all of Nov, but everyone has right to theirs. The Bedding was replaced, Firm like I prefer but not rock hard as was. That's tough one when half would like Firm, half soft. WindJammer has better Food/choice for Dinner then most Main Dining I've experienced. Also Royal should not run out of Choice things. Either carry them cruises never running out, or don't carry that Brand. Thanks for sharing

Edited January 9, 2019 by ONECRUISER

[davekathy]

Thanks for sharing your opinion of the Serenade. 

[radarcruiser]

We were on Seranade in early December.  I agree with several of the OP's observations.  The food and service in the MDR was good.  Bar service was ok, but sometime slow in the R Bar.  The casino was smokier than most.  The entertainment was either horrible or non-existent.  One night we had a movie in the main theatre for the night's main event.  Andrea was either late or a no show for several events, including the sail away from St Kitts.  Little or no nightlife.  The Compass saved a lot of ink after 9pm. There was no band that was anywhere close to being appropriate for a Caribbean cruise.  It was like we had the leftover CD, entertainment and band.  We cruised on Seranade in Norway a couple of years ago and loved it, but this cruise convinced us to go bigger or on Celebrity. 

[pynnkar]

We sailed Serenede January 2, 2019 and found the majority of the entertainment very good!  Carlos, a singer/guitar player was excellent and filled the venue night after night with boisterous crowds singing along to his tunes!  Voytek, another entertainer, was a master on the guitar!  I wasn't as impressed with the 12 Bar Band, but that was more because they appeared bored most of the time, rather than enjoying their jobs... they were not bad musicians.  I also missed hearing the steel drums playing at Sail Away, but each port had their own musicians playing these drums so we got the flavour of the Caribbean!  Andreas, the cruise director, did not arrive late at any of the activities we attended and seemed to be enjoying himself. There were two different comedians on board and they were both entertaining. We are not interested in the production shows, having been to too many of them over the years... so cannot comment on those.  One other singer, played in Jersey Boys, was well liked by most of the guests... but talked too much about himself for my liking.  All in all, we found the entertainment very good!

[SRF]

I have run into the low supply of some particular alcohol.

 

If so, try to get to the Beverage Manager, Food and Beverage Manager (one step up), or the Hotel Manager.

 

They will take care of it.

 

Aug 2017, Grandeur ran out of cachaca for caipirinhas.   I talked to several people at the bars, including supervisors.  Nothing happened.  Even after port stops.

 

Aug 2018, I mentioned this to the Food and Beverage Manager.  He, and the Beverage Manager assured me it would not happen.  And then got back to me, that they had personally checked the stocks and they would not run out. But if they ran low, they would resupply at a port stop.

 

All in who you talk to.

[asalligo]

We were also on the cruise right after yours and this was also my first RCCL cruise after 7 on other lines. 

 

1)  I was disappointed in the lack of comfortable bedding. They were horrible. This was insane, worst bed I have ever slept on during a cruise. They have to fix this. 

4) Virtually impossible to get chairs near pool area, either level. Chair hogs with no RCL “towel police”. I noticed this also, but hardly ever sit by the pool. 

6) Cruise Director - not impressed. At first neither was I, but later in the week when he did the stargazing sessions and some of his talks in the theater, I think he became my new favorite cruise director. 

7) cabins were smaller than expected. Great storage though. Exactly

 

I thought that the production stage shows were the worst that I have ever seen on a cruise, but they had many acts flown in to supplement. The Serenade has the same disease that the Carnival Dream has, all the venues are also walkways or open to hallways. I really hate that. The Buffet was the best I have had on a cruise so far. Whole suckling pig on the carving station at lunch!  

[ONECRUISER]

24 minutes ago, asalligo said:

We were also on the cruise right after yours and this was also my first RCCL cruise after 7 on other lines. 

 

1)  I was disappointed in the lack of comfortable bedding. They were horrible. This was insane, worst bed I have ever slept on during a cruise. They have to fix this. 

4) Virtually impossible to get chairs near pool area, either level. Chair hogs with no RCL “towel police”. I noticed this also, but hardly ever sit by the pool. 

6) Cruise Director - not impressed. At first neither was I, but later in the week when he did the stargazing sessions and some of his talks in the theater, I think he became my new favorite cruise director. 

7) cabins were smaller than expected. Great storage though. Exactly

 

I thought that the production stage shows were the worst that I have ever seen on a cruise, but they had many acts flown in to supplement. The Serenade has the same disease that the Carnival Dream has, all the venues are also walkways or open to hallways. I really hate that. The Buffet was the best I have had on a cruise so far. Whole suckling pig on the carving station at lunch!  

Production show's had some great performers on Serenade last 4yrs but this last group is defiantly a B-Group. At first thought well they just got on board or maybe an off nite. But just did a B2B2B watching them first week then last and hadn't improved, singers and dancers. OK just not great.. Yes, been passing that along myself that Serenade Dinner's in WindJammer are now some of best I've had, Selection, Taste and Presentation. Even Lunches which can be bland have improved including the Pizza's...

Edited January 14, 2019 by ONECRUISER

[BillieJeanKaraokeKing]

I wouldn't let this put you off, to be honest.

 

You can get good or bad beds anywhere, that's just down to luck and personal preference.

 

On the cruise director, I thought our IOTS one last November was dire, but the one the previous year very good. Others would have thought the other way round, so again down to luck and personal preference.

 

And again, plenty of us have beer and shorts preferences that ain't going to be readily available, but regardless we can all generally find something which will suffice from the decent range of options, surely (aka try something different).

 

So basically saying these are all things which could go "wrong" on any ship, anywhere, and for me are things you just learn to workaround and don't let it affect your holiday at all.

[SargassoPirate]

On 1/12/2019 at 11:45 AM, pynnkar said:

We sailed Serenede January 2, 2019 and found the majority of the entertainment very good!  Carlos, a singer/guitar player was excellent and filled the venue night after night with boisterous crowds singing along to his tunes!  Voytek, another entertainer, was a master on the guitar!  I wasn't as impressed with the 12 Bar Band, but that was more because they appeared bored most of the time, rather than enjoying their jobs... they were not bad musicians.  I also missed hearing the steel drums playing at Sail Away, but each port had their own musicians playing these drums so we got the flavour of the Caribbean!  Andreas, the cruise director, did not arrive late at any of the activities we attended and seemed to be enjoying himself. There were two different comedians on board and they were both entertaining. We are not interested in the production shows, having been to too many of them over the years... so cannot comment on those.  One other singer, played in Jersey Boys, was well liked by most of the guests... but talked too much about himself for my liking.  All in all, we found the entertainment very good!

On the same cruise as well - Ditto what you said.  Plus, we found the 12 Bar Band over-amplified in the Centrum. We scooted through there with our ears plugged whenever they were playing.  WORST cruise for chair hogs I've ever seen. The hogs were out in full force by 7 or 8 every morning with no pool attendants in sight. MDR dress "suggestions" and "recommendation" meaningless without enforcement at the door.  Some men looked like they were dressed for dining at Golden Corral - shorts, T shirts or wifebeaters, flip flops/shower shoes, and ballcaps, most evenings and even on formal nights. Lax enforcement of fire safety also with mobility devices parked in the corridors and stairwell lobbies overnight. Smoke from the smoking lounge/casino migrated into the Centrum and the theater. 

 

We have really noticed the quality slippage on Royal the past few years and our next three cruises are on Princess, Viking Ocean, and HAL (our first on Viking - no kids, no casino, no formal nights)

 

It is hard, though, to beat the D+ benefits on RCI, but anymore they don't outweigh the mass market constant upsell vibe from Royal.