Just off the Symphony. Bar service and hours were unacceptable

[gatour]

10 hours ago, martini_guy said:

Pool bar on my ship was not open at 9am on port days. I don't drink before 4pm anyways. 

In you original post you stated bars are only open 9 to 12 hours a day.  As Merion_mom pointed there was a bar open at 9am, in her case it was a pool bar.  In my experience recently it has been a pool bar open at 9am, but sometimes not, but there was a bar open somewhere on the ship at 9am, so now we are up to at least 15 hours a day.  As others have pointed out besides the casino there is usually a bar open later than Midnight.

 

As to the prices of drinks, you can't really compare ship board prices to the corner bar or in this case Buffalo Wild Wings.  They are into different segments of the hospitality industry.  You really need to compare the prices to places like resort hotels etc.  Drink prices are comparable in that case.

 

I am not sure what a class action lawsuit would be about.  Amount of time bars are open?  It is a private business they can set the hours as they wish.  For the price of drinks?  Again it is a private business, so again they can set the hours as they wish.  Speed of service?  Not a basis for a legal suit.

 

In general it sounds like you are happier with Carnival which is fine, differenct strokes for different folks.

[HBE4]

Being a night owl, I like to enjoy a late night drink or three. Never really had a issue on any ship as the casino bar and night club bars are usually open until 2:00 am, sometimes 3:00 am on a good night. And if the smoke is bothersome or the music too loud, just take your drinks to go and find a quiet spot.

 

I used to stock pile beer in my cabin fridge for a night cap on the balcony. But honestly, I'm usually too tired at 3:00 am from being up early in the morning that I'd fall sleep before it was finished.

 

Having said all that, there have been a few times where Schooner & the English pub closed early, around midnight. I could see where some people might be put off having to be forced to trek through the ship looking for a drink.

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention, last cruise on Liberty, I noticed that Sorrento's has a limited bar. They are always open until 2-3 am. Never noticed that before so I'm not sure if it's a new thing or if all ships have that.

 

Edited February 5, 2019 by HBE4

[Jarmo]

If you have a problem getting a drink on a cruise ship the problem lies with you.

[HBE4]

12 minutes ago, spookwife said:

 go to any  major league stadium and try and get a  beer for under $8 bucks.  or any major theme park.  

 

 

 

I Agree. Yankee Stadium, expect $9.75 for a Bud light. $14.00 for a Coors light brought to you in the stands, although that is for a 24 oz can, so it's really a beer-and-a-half.  Assuming you consider a Coors light a real beer but that's another discussion. . I can hardly wait to see what this years prices are going to be.

 

In fact, I can drink cheaper on the ship than I can in many of the bars around me.

 

[gsb]

24 oz = 2 beers

[mark290]

Not many interesting reads on cruise critic lately but this thread is worth

the price of admission. Not sure what is more hilarious, the OP or the people trying to reason with him.

[HBE4]

13 minutes ago, gsb said:

24 oz = 2 beers

 

Very true.  My bad for not doing an apples-to-apples comparison.  Coors light is also available on tap in 16 oz cups in select bars near our section. Not sure of the price as I don't drink Coors light unless someone is buying for me.

[SciFiGuy1960]

 

[John&LaLa]

42 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

Very true.  My bad for not doing an apples-to-apples comparison.  Coors light is also available on tap in 16 oz cups in select bars near our section. Not sure of the price as I don't drink Coors light unless someone is buying for me.

 

Bud Light on ship is in 16 oz. Bottle, so beer and a half can apply.

[martini_guy]

1 hour ago, HBE4 said:

Being a night owl, I like to enjoy a late night drink or three. Never really had a issue on any ship as the casino bar and night club bars are usually open until 2:00 am, sometimes 3:00 am on a good night. And if the smoke is bothersome or the music too loud, just take your drinks to go and find a quiet spot.

 

I used to stock pile beer in my cabin fridge for a night cap on the balcony. But honestly, I'm usually too tired at 3:00 am from being up early in the morning that I'd fall sleep before it was finished.

 

Having said all that, there have been a few times where Schooner & the English pub closed early, around midnight. I could see where some people might be put off having to be forced to trek through the ship looking for a drink.

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention, last cruise on Liberty, I noticed that Sorrento's has a limited bar. They are always open until 2-3 am. Never noticed that before so I'm not sure if it's a new thing or if all ships have that.

 

Yeah it's just too much work if I have stockpile drinks in my cabin fridge or to go to the smokey casino just to enjoy a drink after midnight-1am. I'll just go back to cruising with Carnival so I can go to any bar that I want until late.

[Ocean Boy]

10 minutes ago, martini_guy said:

Yeah it's just too much work if I have stockpile drinks in my cabin fridge or to go to the smokey casino just to enjoy a drink after midnight-1am. I'll just go back to cruising with Carnival so I can go to any bar that I want until late.

It is great that a cruise line exists that meets your needs. Obviously, RCI is doing that for most of us.

[Goofyfanatic]

I feel like the moth flying into the flame as I constantly come to this thread for a good laugh.

 

I don't work for RCCL, I don't buy the drink package as I don't feel that I would drink enough to warrant the expense. You know what one of the factors that I use when coming up with the numbers...the fact that we are off the ship on Port Days and wouldn't be drinking on board!

 

You don't need to buy the package...I know that my wife and I are in the minority who don't.

 

As for the OP's original complaint about bars closing early, sorry I can't address that as I am in the Casino (where I have Prime status so my drinks are comped, another factor in my decision) until at least 2 am every night.

 

As for them comparing the cruise ship to Bdubs. Sorry to me that is an apples to oranges comparison. When I go to a bar or bar/restaurant it is to drink or drink/eat. I am not taking a cruise on a ship with all of its amenities to just drink. And to use a happy hour price is also ridiculous in your argument. ITS A SPECIAL...NOT THE NORMAL PRICE.

 

You are getting angst from posters because you are talking out of both sides of your mouth, for example, I can't find an open bar at breakfast time but then you say you don't drink to 4 PM.

 

If you do decide to try to sue (I thought you were from Canada but you sound like an American to me) I really hope that the Judge who gets to laugh the case out of court makes you pay the court costs for RCCL. It would just be another frivolous law suit on the docket.

 

In closing let me just say, CHEERS!

Edited February 5, 2019 by Goofyfanatic

[HicksRA]

38 minutes ago, martini_guy said:

 I'll just go back to cruising with Carnival so I can go to any bar that I want until late.

That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. 

[MTLCRUISER72]

1 hour ago, SciFiGuy1960 said:

 

 

14 minutes ago, HicksRA said:

That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. 

LOL

[Thorben-Hendrik]

3 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 

Why?  That's the sign of a great bartender.

 

One cruise, my beer of choice was a Mexican beer SOL which was only available in Bolero's . Every time I walked by - even if I wasn't looking for a drink - the bartender would shout out to me asking if I wanted one.

 

I find it very intrusive.... I like to make my own decisions! 👍

Do  not like to be "mothered" 🙄

[Thorben-Hendrik]

Just now, Thorben-Hendrik said:

the bartender would shout out to me asking if I wanted one.

I would for sure tell him to stop that! 😮

[Ocean Boy]

7 minutes ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

I find it very intrusive.... I like to make my own decisions! 👍

Do  not like to be "mothered" 🙄

To be clear,  when I would walk in he would acknowledge me, I would nod as in "yes", and he would make the drink. I know you find it hard to believe that I received great care from both Guest Services AND a bartender on the same RCI ship but it really happened.

[Sitzmark]

Funny, when we were on the Carnival Dream, the only bar I recall being open late was the lobby bar.  Because it was the only thing open late it would get so crowded that it was very difficult to get a drink  there also.  the Red frog bar would close around 5ish as I recall and the Blue Iguana shortly after.  The sunset bar would stay open a little later but definitely not into the night and there was no alcohol service at the pizzeria.  We never went into the Casino so I couldn't speak to the hours there.  I don't recall any of them being open real early, but I would say the pool bars typically opened by around 10:00.  Doesn't seem that different than what RCI does.

 

 

[Paulxyz2004]

On ‎2‎/‎4‎/‎2019 at 7:35 AM, 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?

 a class Action law suit because you couldn´t get into a drunken Stupor fast enough

Edited February 5, 2019 by Paulxyz2004

[Paulxyz2004]

1 hour ago, martini_guy said:

Yeah it's just too much work if I have stockpile drinks in my cabin fridge or to go to the smokey casino just to enjoy a drink after midnight-1am. I'll just go back to cruising with Carnival so I can go to any bar that I want until late.

 

That´s some great News.

[SRF]

18 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.

 

Not a resort.  Maybe at a corner bar, but a cruise ship is more like a resort.

 

Hmm, the pool bar has been open 9-10AM on the cruises I have been on.

[1 Buffett Fan]

2 hours ago, martini_guy said:

I'll just go back to cruising with Carnival so I can go to any bar that I want until late.

Please do.

[HBE4]

1 hour ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

I would for sure tell him to stop that! 😮

 

Yeah,  it did get old after awhile.

[martini_guy]

6 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Then why do you care if the pool bar didn't open until 9 AM?

I don't care.. someone was just lying that the pool bar was open at 7am.

[martini_guy]

1 hour ago, Sitzmark said:

Funny, when we were on the Carnival Dream, the only bar I recall being open late was the lobby bar.  Because it was the only thing open late it would get so crowded that it was very difficult to get a drink  there also.  the Red frog bar would close around 5ish as I recall and the Blue Iguana shortly after.  The sunset bar would stay open a little later but definitely not into the night and there was no alcohol service at the pizzeria.  We never went into the Casino so I couldn't speak to the hours there.  I don't recall any of them being open real early, but I would say the pool bars typically opened by around 10:00.  Doesn't seem that different than what RCI does.

 

 

On the Dream that bar at the back of the ship by the Pizza is open until 3am. I know because I would usually go to bed right when it closed.