Just off the Symphony. Bar service and hours were unacceptable

[Snit13]

On 2/4/2019 at 11:06 AM, martini_guy said:

 

 

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

Could be we have been there and done that.  Hope you live to get old.

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, martini_guy said:

On Carnival there's always a dozen people at least hanging around the pool aft deck bar at 3am.

 

Yes in Florida everyone orders a couple of drinks right before 2 to take them to 2:30 at least.

Royal isn't Carnival. 20yrs ago all Royal's Pools and Pool Deck bars closed by 9-10pm. Now at least one Pool open late, few more Bars open late. Even though Royal now has included younger, party, Family cruises, it's still not like Carnival's. Many choices in Cruise Lines, have to find which fits likes and lifestyles

[amyhphoto]

On 2/5/2019 at 11:24 AM, martini_guy said:

 I'll just go back to cruising with Carnival 

 The reason most of us will never sail Carnival. Once was enough for me, what a huge mistake. 

[martini_guy]

2 minutes ago, amyhphoto said:

 The reason most of us will never sail Carnival. Once was enough for me, what a huge mistake. 

The Carnival ship in your signature is a very old ship. You also seem to like old person ships based on the ones you took before that so I don't doubt that you weren't happy.

[rt1092]

On 2/4/2019 at 7:26 PM, 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.

I have to chuckle at this one. The largest revenue producer is Alcohol. Do you think Royal might be worried if they stayed open later, they might get into a higher tax bracket? LOL 

[Jarmo]

On Indy, Labyrinth/Raven (RIP) had last call as late as 3:30/4.  Have seen VCL open until 3ish on Grandeur/Vision.

[mcatmcat]

The reason why I think twice before getting the refreshment package is bc of the long lines everywhere in the ship with the exception of the bar near the pool but I wasnt there most of the time. And forget about boleros OMG so slow

[Ralphinsc]

10 hours ago, martini_guy said:

The Carnival ship in your signature is a very old ship. You also seem to like old person ships based on the ones you took before that so I don't doubt that you weren't happy.

 

The Valor was less than five years launched when they sailed on it. And it had just undergone extensive refurbishment in 2008.

[Fluffy Rabbit]

I agree with the OP, never have what I want, I went to the theatre at 2am and there was no show, I wanted to get off the ship but was not allowed as we were not in port, its just not on.  Seriously though the OP is just laughing at us I'm sure as we get angry at his comments.  So glad I'm a happy go lucky kind of person, enjoy cruising everyone

[LMaxwell]

Who would have imagined that in conjunction with selling unlimited booze packages the service would become noticeably worse than prior years? 

[ScottVV]

4 Cruises under my belt (NCL, Carnival, and RC) and never had an issue getting a drink at anytime, anywhere...  Guess I'm lucky that way....?  If you're ordering a Martini at a Pool Bar, you're doing something wrong anyhow...  Leave those drinks to pre and post dinner bars where the clientele and bartenders are more your speed - and believe me, I've never heard or seen a bartender turn someone away for not knowing how to make a Martini....

[LMaxwell]

1 minute ago, ScottVV said:

4 Cruises under my belt (NCL, Carnival, and RC) and never had an issue getting a drink at anytime, anywhere...  Guess I'm lucky that way....?  If you're ordering a Martini at a Pool Bar, you're doing something wrong anyhow...  Leave those drinks to pre and post dinner bars where the clientele and bartenders are more your speed - and believe me, I've never heard or seen a bartender turn someone away for not knowing how to make a Martini....

 

Years ago you didn't have to move an inch to get a drink, they'd come around offering you every 5 minutes.  It was actually a bit TOO much.  But it has swung way the other way now.  You can spend hours on the pool deck and maybe you'll have a server come by during the day, possibly.  

[ScottVV]

48 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

 

Years ago you didn't have to move an inch to get a drink, they'd come around offering you every 5 minutes.  It was actually a bit TOO much.  But it has swung way the other way now.  You can spend hours on the pool deck and maybe you'll have a server come by during the day, possibly.  

 

I do agree to an extent..  When the pool gets crazy busy, the servers are sorta few and far between, and from what I have seen and experienced, they are doing the best they can..   You know, just as I do, the servers are treated rude, they are yelled at, screamed at, etc., and they are just trying to do their job - but in the society we live in now, the "I want it NOW!" and my personal favorite, "I'm more important then you!!" crowd - supply just can't and will never hold up to the demand...  But you can always get up and get your drink just as easy..  I think people have become too lazy and feel entitled just because they paid thousands of dollars to be on the cruise - and they feel they can treat anyone how they want, when at the end of the day, they are just there to do their jobs....  Just my 2 cents.

Edited March 12, 2019 by ScottVV
:-)

[theotherchad]

Full disclosure: I skipped to the end after the first couple of pages of posts attacking the OP, making fun of the OP and calling the OP an alcoholic (Including citing their own personal drinking habits as a reasonable guide).

 

Look, the guy had a real issue. Personally, I do like to stay up late on cruises and I enjoy adult beverages while doing so, and I would be irritated if the primary bars on the ship, including the pub and the Schooner Bar were closing at midnight every night. In addition, the 20 minute wait is not acceptable on land or sea. The complaint was a reasonable one. 

 

I think there are reasonable counterpoints to be made to the OP, such as, "I think you're right to complain, but good luck with that lawsuit, dude" or perhaps, as one poster asked, "did you complain through official channels" (which he did, at least to the head bartender in one establishment), but the personal attacks and snide comments are rude and unbecoming. 

 

Cruisecritic can be such a great place to get info and share experiences, and sometimes just to vent when you've had a bad experience, but the personal attacks are uncalled for. I hope CC starts banning posters who pull this garbage. 

[LMaxwell]

23 hours ago, ScottVV said:

 

I do agree to an extent..  When the pool gets crazy busy, the servers are sorta few and far between, and from what I have seen and experienced, they are doing the best they can..   You know, just as I do, the servers are treated rude, they are yelled at, screamed at, etc., and they are just trying to do their job - but in the society we live in now, the "I want it NOW!" and my personal favorite, "I'm more important then you!!" crowd - supply just can't and will never hold up to the demand...  But you can always get up and get your drink just as easy..  I think people have become too lazy and feel entitled just because they paid thousands of dollars to be on the cruise - and they feel they can treat anyone how they want, when at the end of the day, they are just there to do their jobs....  Just my 2 cents.

 

Have you seen the brochures?  For thousands of dollars they advertise being lazy.  I do expect decent service for a vacation that costs more than a mortgage payment.  This ain't exactly staying at the Motel6 and nuking frozen dinners. 

 

You can't just get up and get a drink from pool bar, always, many times it is 15+ minute wait and you do have people wave cash because they are"more important than you" and just jump the line. 

 

It's bad service.  

 

The billion dollar profit, non-tax paying organization needs to be white knighted by paying guests who demand the cruise line charge more for everything. 

 

And that is why we have popcorn and cotton candy for a charge when tableside preparation and presentation of dinner with a sommelier used to be included.  The company figured out people were stupid enough to pay.  And the same people claim they have to charge for popcorn so the ship stays clean, lol. 

 

[Sitzmark]

5 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

And the same people claim they have to charge for popcorn so the ship stays clean, lol. 

 

 

Our Disney cruise was the cleanest of our cruise history, the popcorn was free and tasty. 

[ScottVV]

20 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

 

You can't just get up and get a drink from pool bar, always, many times it is 15+ minute wait and you do have people wave cash because they are"more important than you" and just jump the line. 

 

 

Yes, you can..  You just need to have patients.. You're on vacation.  I've never waited that long for a drink, so I guess I'm lucky in that respect.  I'm sorry you're having such bad experiences on yours...   Those people who wave cash are just ignorant IMHO, so wave away and pay more to get your drink a bit quicker... Me on the other hand, don't care..  I'm on vacation and can care less :-)  Happy Cruise'n!'! 

[Ralphinsc]

4 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

 

Have you seen the brochures?  For thousands of dollars they advertise being lazy.  I do expect decent service for a vacation that costs more than a mortgage payment.  This ain't exactly staying at the Motel6 and nuking frozen dinners. 

 

You can't just get up and get a drink from pool bar, always, many times it is 15+ minute wait and you do have people wave cash because they are"more important than you" and just jump the line. 

 

It's bad service.  

 

The billion dollar profit, non-tax paying organization needs to be white knighted by paying guests who demand the cruise line charge more for everything. 

 

And that is why we have popcorn and cotton candy for a charge when tableside preparation and presentation of dinner with a sommelier used to be included.  The company figured out people were stupid enough to pay.  And the same people claim they have to charge for popcorn so the ship stays clean, lol. 

 

 

1. My cruise costs much more than my mortgage payment. 

2. Cash is not an accepted form of payment for drinks on a cruise. Maybe as a tip, but you definitely aren't paying as you go.

3. Adjusted for inflation, the cost of a cruise today is a small fraction of what cruises costs in your "glory days" 

and.....

4. There are still many options available to get the service you lament no longer having. Don't be surprised if that service level also comes with the inflation adjusted pricing that you have magically forgotten about. If you want to be waited on hand and foot, it can be arranged at the price point those who previously experienced that level of service paid.

 

Silversea, Viking, and Regent are all just a phonecall away....

Edited March 13, 2019 by Ralphinsc