Just off the Symphony. Bar service and hours were unacceptable

[FrannyK]

19 hours ago, martini_guy said:

First off, I really liked most aspects of the ship in general. Booking on the newest/largest ship in the fleet I did expect it to be at least be to a certain standard. Eventually I would've settled for even an average standard. My first experience on the ship was going to the English pub to get a drink. My total wait was over 20 mins even though less than 10 people were in the bar. Other people in the bar told me they had to wait similar or longer. Throughout the whole trip bar service was extremely slow, and most bars closed at midnight or earlier which I've almost never heard of. Bartenders refused to tell me when they were closing and some bars just seemed to close at whim. After 3 nights I asked to get my drink package cancelled as it's clearly a scam as drinks are only available for 9-12 hours at best and they refused. I would like to start a class action suit against them. I will NEVER go on a Royal cruise again. The food is sub-par anyways but why have to deal with this $70/day drink scam when I have to spend 10 hours of waiting time per cruise just lining up for overpriced drinks?

We experienced a similar experience on the Anthem a couple of years ago.  The cruise actually started off with one bartender to 200 people in Two70.  It didn't get much better from there.  We are not night owls these days and enjoy a drink or two during the day and it was difficult to find a bar that was open inside the ship.  We ended up going outside to the pool to get drinks most of the time.  Since the advent of the drink package we have never been asked if we'd like a drink anywhere on any RCCL ship except in the MDR or specialty restaurants.  And there are scant bartenders when the bars are open.  We never purchase the drink package.  The difficulty getting a drink and the lessening food quality really has us rethinking our decision to stick with RCCL.  We are sailing on the Indy this coming weekend and giving it another try.

[martini_guy]

9 minutes ago, FrannyK said:

We experienced a similar experience on the Anthem a couple of years ago.  The cruise actually started off with one bartender to 200 people in Two70.  It didn't get much better from there.  We are not night owls these days and enjoy a drink or two during the day and it was difficult to find a bar that was open inside the ship.  We ended up going outside to the pool to get drinks most of the time.  Since the advent of the drink package we have never been asked if we'd like a drink anywhere on any RCCL ship except in the MDR or specialty restaurants.  And there are scant bartenders when the bars are open.  We never purchase the drink package.  The difficulty getting a drink and the lessening food quality really has us rethinking our decision to stick with RCCL.  We are sailing on the Indy this coming weekend and giving it another try.

That's too bad that you had issues as well. Not to be a Carnival schill, but I was on a Carnival cruise 3 weeks before this cruise and only saw one bar at the back of the ship that was closed at night and I go to bed after 2am most nights on cruises. Carnival's 24 hour pizza stand also serves beer.

[martini_guy]

9 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Maybe you should look at Carnival. I guess I’m one of those people that like to cruise to relax, not burn the midnight oil. 

Yeah Carnival is better for sure including for food quality. How is being forced to go to bed early because nothing else is open relaxing? It's more frustrating and infuriating than anything else. 

[BNBR]

2 hours ago, martini_guy said:

Even a cheap beer like Bud light is $7.99 on the ship. You can get them for $3 at any bar in the US, or $2 if there's a special.

 

The issue here is that they're intentionally shortening the hours to be unreasonably short. There should be more than the casino (cancer) bar open until 3am. Not one bar is open 17 hours. Most bars open at either 11am or 3pm. Boleros is often 3pm-1am.

 

You should like you work for Royal if you're making up all these facts.

 

Based on your facts, it sounds like pretty darn reasonable bar service to me.  I'm sorry you couldn't spend 17+ hours at the bar of your choice on any given day.  Maybe you would prefer a yacht charter where you can demand the crew make you drinks all 24 hours?

[BNBR]

15 minutes ago, martini_guy said:

Yeah Carnival is better for sure including for food quality. How is being forced to go to bed early because nothing else is open relaxing? It's more frustrating and infuriating than anything else. 

 

You aren't "forced" - they cater to their passengers.  They have it down to a science.  People simply aren't staying up late enough at the bars YOU demand they have open to justify keeping them staffed.  I'm sorry you couldn't have several full time bartenders at every bar, just waiting for you to come. Royal Caribbean is clearly unaware of how special you are.  Did you not email them ahead of the cruise to make that clear?

[UnorigionalName]

Recently off the symphony, did not have the experience you had.  Most waits were pretty short.  Plenty of bars around.  If there was an event and line was long at one, just walk like 50 yds to the next bar?  Maybe I was on a relatively dry cruise?

 

Doesn't the daily planner show the closing time of all the bars? Can't you just use the app and find one that is open?

[cindivan]

We were on the Symphony over Christmas and didn’t have the same issues you had.   And we stayed up until 1am or later most nights.  And our “kids” even later and didn’t have issues at the late night dance venues (and yes the casino which I understand you don’t like).   We had great service at the wonderland bar (on our floor, so super handy), schooner bar, Irish pub. Shows were a little more tough but I thought they did a better job at shows than some cruises we have been on.   Labadee bar service was not fantastic but wouldn’t say bad.   Pool bar service was great if you were sitting near a bar.  Maybe not enough roaming servers, but nothing any of the 9 adults we were with who all got the drink package thought was unreasonable.   Bar service at the MDR was very good for us.     Maybe they had longer hours for a holiday cruise. 

 

Sorry you had a bad experience.   

Edited February 5, 2019 by cindivan

[jetta8300]

20 hours ago, martini_guy said:

First off, I really liked most aspects of the ship in general. Booking on the newest/largest ship in the fleet I did expect it to be at least be to a certain standard. Eventually I would've settled for even an average standard. My first experience on the ship was going to the English pub to get a drink. My total wait was over 20 mins even though less than 10 people were in the bar. Other people in the bar told me they had to wait similar or longer. Throughout the whole trip bar service was extremely slow, and most bars closed at midnight or earlier which I've almost never heard of. Bartenders refused to tell me when they were closing and some bars just seemed to close at whim. After 3 nights I asked to get my drink package cancelled as it's clearly a scam as drinks are only available for 9-12 hours at best and they refused. I would like to start a class action suit against them. I will NEVER go on a Royal cruise again. The food is sub-par anyways but why have to deal with this $70/day drink scam when I have to spend 10 hours of waiting time per cruise just lining up for overpriced drinks?

 

It has been like this on every single ship on every single cruise we have ever taken.  There are certain bars open late, but very few.  But there are one or two open, just not all.  We cruised the Norwegian breakaway and were excited about having a martini bar, and we never even saw it open once.  They have all of these venues all over the ship that are not open much, usually from like 5-10pm and that's it.  Most of the bars open during the day are- the lobby bar, and pool bars.  And then other bars open in the evening.  and late at night your dance club bars and some restaurant bars are open.

Edited February 5, 2019 by jetta8300

[gkbiiii]

I remember that the Martini Bar on Constellation, was fantastic.

[Iamcruzin]

11 hours ago, martini_guy said:

The Trellis and Schooner bars closed at midnight the night before every port day. The pool bars closed incredibly early. Usually they were close by after dinner. The English pub was never open much later than 1am. Boleros was open past 1am once. Casino bar was open until 2am but I don't like hanging out in a smoke filled room.

 

I guess this ship is more geared towards old people that don't like to stay up and enjoy life.

Every cruise line that I have sailed on since 1986 usually do not have pool bars open late unless there is an activity on deck. By closing these bars early passengers are forced to head to the inside venue where they will pass the casino, shops and tables full of merchandise that they are selling. 

[Iamcruzin]

3 hours ago, martini_guy said:

Even a cheap beer like Bud light is $7.99 on the ship. You can get them for $3 at any bar in the US, or $2 if there's a special.

 

 

Where are you getting these cheap beers in the US? I haven't seen prices like that since Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale 1979.

Edited February 5, 2019 by Iamcruzin

[frank808]

2 hours ago, martini_guy said:

You can get a bottle of beer any day at Buffalo Wild Wing for $3 which is in most major cities.

 

There were no bars open 17 hours a day on my cruise. On port days no bar was open between 3am and 11am, and the ones that were open to 3am didn't open before 3pm. I don't see how choosing to only drink at night usually after 4pm means that I have a problem.

 

You're both rude and a liar, I'm not sure why you choose to be both just to defend Royal. 

In the major city of Honolulu, Buffalo Wild Wings charges $8 for a draft Bud Light non happy hour.  Even happy hour is it $5.  

 

Just asking what Buffalo Wild Wings location charges $3 for a bud light non happy hour?

[martini_guy]

13 minutes ago, frank808 said:

In the major city of Honolulu, Buffalo Wild Wings charges $8 for a draft Bud Light non happy hour.  Even happy hour is it $5.  

 

Just asking what Buffalo Wild Wings location charges $3 for a bud light non happy hour?

So you chose the most expensive market in the US. Congrats on cherry picking extremes to try and prove something.

[martini_guy]

39 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

Every cruise line that I have sailed on since 1986 usually do not have pool bars open late unless there is an activity on deck. By closing these bars early passengers are forced to head to the inside venue where they will pass the casino, shops and tables full of merchandise that they are selling. 

Every modern Carnival ship has the back deck bar open till 4am or so. I'm not sure about your point with shops. Royal Caribbean shops all close very early usually 11pm or so. 

[frank808]

Just now, martini_guy said:

So you chose the most expensive market in the US. Congrats on cherry picking extremes to try and prove something.

I am not cherry picking as you call it.  I live in Honolulu.  You did quote

 

16 minutes ago, frank808 said:

You can get a bottle of beer any day at Buffalo Wild Wing for $3 which is in most major cities.

 

You are the one being so defensive and I was asking an honest question.

[martini_guy]

4 minutes ago, frank808 said:

I am not cherry picking as you call it.  I live in Honolulu.  You did quote

 

 

You are the one being so defensive and I was asking an honest question.

I'm in Canada and could say a head of lettuce is $2 in Canada but in arctic Canada one would be $20. You're doing the same thing since you choose to live in a remote area.

[Iamcruzin]

14 minutes ago, martini_guy said:

I'm in Canada and could say a head of lettuce is $2 in Canada but in arctic Canada one would be $20. You're doing the same thing since you choose to live in a remote area.

 You said, "Even a cheap beer like Bud light is $7.99 on the ship. You can get them for $3 at any bar in the US, or $2 if there's a special".

Any bar in the US?  I don't think so. I live in NY it's far from remote and there is plenty of competition. 

Edited February 5, 2019 by Iamcruzin

[John&LaLa]

Why all the talk of beer. 🤔

Are you not a martini drinker. 😉

[martini_guy]

1 minute ago, John&LaLa said:

Why all the talk of beer. 🤔

Are you not a martini drinker. 😉

Good point! A martini is $13 on the ship.. unfortunately I had 5+ occasions this week where I either had a bartender that didn't know how to make a proper martini, or claimed they didn't have the "ingredients". Insane when I ask for a basic martini and I see both vodka and vermouth on the shelf.

[frank808]

16 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

 You said, "Even a cheap beer like Bud light is $7.99 on the ship. You can get them for $3 at any bar in the US, or $2 if there's a special".

Any bar in the US?  I don't think so. I live in NY it's far from remote and there is plenty of competition. 

According to OP you are cherry picking to prove a point.  I wonder what BWW charges for a Bud Light in San Francisco?

 

32 minutes ago, martini_guy said:

So you chose the most expensive market in the US. Congrats on cherry picking extremes to try and prove something.

 

[martini_guy]

2 minutes ago, frank808 said:

According to OP you are cherry picking to prove a point.  I wonder what BWW charges for a Bud Light in San Francisco?

 

 

I actually work in Daly City for Tesla just outside SF 1 week out of every 8 (SF doesn't actually have a BWW). It's $3 from 4-6pm. Glad you helped me prove my point.

[frank808]

6 minutes ago, martini_guy said:

I actually work in Daly City for Tesla just outside SF 1 week out of every 8 (SF doesn't actually have a BWW). It's $3 from 4-6pm. Glad you helped me prove my point.

I didn't ask for Daly city but thank you.  $3 for a very limited time period during Happy Hour.  What is it regularly? 

Edited February 5, 2019 by frank808

[Iamcruzin]

55 minutes ago, frank808 said:

According to OP you are cherry picking to prove a point.  I wonder what BWW charges for a Bud Light in San Francisco?

 

 

 

55 minutes ago, frank808 said:

According to OP you are cherry picking to prove a point.  I wonder what BWW charges for a Bud Light in San Francisco?

 

 

He said "any bar" how is that cherry picking? I really want to know because at this point the OP has driven me to drink.

Edited February 5, 2019 by Iamcruzin

[mugtech]

This thread reminds me of how happy I am to not drink alcohol.  Good to know I will never see OP on a RCL ship.

[Iamcruzin]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

Why all the talk of beer. 🤔

Are you not a martini drinker. 😉

Any $3 beers in Cocoa Beach these days or do I have to get into a time machine?