HAL fan goes Rogue…RCI star class review w/HAL comparisons

[mrspeck]

Quantum of the Seas - 5/4/2022 - 5 day Star Class Review

Prologue - Just a little bit of back story regarding our cruising history.  I give this information so that you know where my point of view is from when I judge this latest journey as our past experiences are what we have to compare to.  My wife and I have been cruising since January of 2009 when we spent our honeymoon on a Caribbean cruise on the then new Holland America MS Eurodam.  We have since completed our 17th cruise aboard RCI’s Quantum of the Seas.  This was our first Royal Caribbean experience that followed 12 Holland America cruises in Neptune and Penthouse/Pinnacle suites, 3 NCL cruises in Haven suites and 1 MSC Yacht Club experience.  The majority have been 7 day journey’s while the last is the 4th that was only 5days.

Embarkation- As we pulled up to the terminal (Pier 91 in Seattle) around 11:30am, we easily spotted the star suite signage.  In “royal” fashion we were greeted by a port agent and then swiftly met by our genie “Hailey”.  The two passed our luggage off to a luggage porter and off to the terminal we went. (Multiple porters had attempted to take our baggage at this point, but we held on to them until we’d met with the star suite staff…I’m not sure if it would have made any difference.) Inside the terminal we were met with very long lines, but magically we were escorted past the long lines to a short line of maybe three parties ahead of us.  Our genie apologized that we had to wait a whole minute or two before we were screened and off to our cabin.  We did have to have our passports, sea pass, negative Covid test and ArriveCAN documents reviewed and recorded.  We were in our cabin within 15 minutes of arrival at the port.  This was probably where having star class service was most appreciated, as there were horror stories of 4 to 5 hour waits in those lines that we bypassed to get onboard.  I’d also heard that the major issue was that people did not have there ArriveCAN completed and that slowed the process to a crawl.  So, if you are going to Canada, have your documents ready!  A note regarding cabin readiness…our genie said that normally we would not have had access to our suite until 1:30pm, but as the ship had been without passengers for the previous 21 days, everything was sparkling and ready.   I have never had a bad experience with embarkation on HAL when traveling in a suite, but HAL’s experience does lack compared to every other line we’ve experienced.   (Sometimes an escorted arrival has happened for a Pinnacle suite, but it doesn’t seem to be a sure thing.)

 

RCI for the win on this specific journey.

 

The Grand Loft Suite

We were greeted by a sparklingly clean cabin that was beautiful and comfortable.  The cabin has aged well on this 8-9 year old vessel.  The Duxiana bed was marvelous and kept us very comfortable as we slept.  I would have say the most comfortable bed I’ve experienced on any cruise.  The two restrooms were very attractive and clean and fully functional; however for a cabin at this price point a dual vanity and both shower and separate tub, should be a no brainer in the master bath.  There is plenty of wasted space with the open staircase that could have been forgone in favor of more bathroom square footage.  Another miss in the bath area was the lack of amenities beyond shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion.  All other lines that we have experienced suites on have included things such as mouthwash, q tips, cotton balls, pillow mist, eye balm, bath scrubbies, (bath salts with bath tubs), etc.  Just seemed a little on the cheap side when looking at all of the other amenities that star class includes.  The other downfall experienced with the cabin was the inability to use the balcony for a fair portion of the trip.  When we boarded, the balcony was spotless and we thought that we would spend a lot of time there.  We spent a couple hours there as we prepared to depart Seattle and opened our sail away champagne and then went off to dinner and show.  When we returned that evening we stepped out in the dark and spent a few moments before calling it a night and heading to bed.  As we stepped in and started walking we noted that we were leaving footprints everywhere we went.  The smoke stacks on the Quantum spew an amazing amount of soot and a very nice portion of that lands on the aft balconies.  On port days the cabin stewards would clean it, but that would only last until the ship was once again underway.  With all of the technologies out there, there has to be a better exhaust filtration system than what they are using.  We have had many aft balconies and have never experienced this before.  HAL Neptune and Pinnacle suites for the win!

 

The ship

The Quantum of the Seas is an absolute stunner!  I would rank it at the very top of the list of those we have experienced.  I never saw a single area that told me the vessel was nearing its 10th birthday.  The two story “Royal Esplenade” feels more like a shopping mall than a ship and the elevator shaft with the glass elevators feels like a large luxury hotel.  There is just so much space on this ship.  Now we were at only @ 50% capacity, so I’m sure it would feel a bit different when full, but it would still feel quite spacious.  I do really enjoy the decor of HAL’s newer ships, but this ship is beautiful!

Size wise I prefer HALs ships.  

Split decision on this one!

 

The Food

I was ready to love the food aboard the Quantum and will begin with a meal that ranks at the top of any meal we’ve experienced on land or sea.  We requested a last minute booking for Chef’s Table the morning of our last full day on board.  We were informed that there were not enough reservations and they would not be holding the regular dinner, but would be willing to offer the same experience at a table for two in Chops.  The meal was absolute excellence…from the expertly created dishes to superbly paired wine offerings.  Each course was on point culminating at a high point with a perfectly seared filet with truffle mashed potatoes.  The desert coarse was a bit gimmicky, but tasted fine.  (Actually couldn’t have ate all of it no matter how good it may have been as six courses is quite filling!). We had a server dedicated to us alone along with the Chef’s Table Chef who was cooking only for us that evening.  The chef actually delivered the food and explained each dish.  A wonderful experience!

 

Unfortunately we didn’t “love” the food during the rest of the trip.  We only dined at Coastal Kitchen, Chops, and Jamie’s.  Coastal kitchen was more than passable, but Chops and Jamie’s were more miss than hit.  Nothing was really special.  Food wasn’t always as warm as it should have been and more often than not needed to be self seasoned…especially the dishes in Jamie’s.  We also ordered breakfast in every morning.  It was never hot and rarely could be described as warm.  The in room dining staff received no help from insulated containers or metal covers as they do on some other lines…just a regular plate with a plastic cover.  Now, there was;however, never a shortage of food.  On top of regular meals our Genie was always having snacks delivered without request.  We eventually asked to have them back off from sending afternoon food to the suite.  We often received, sushi, vegetables, and chocolate covered strawberries (which we loved, but a dozen of them daily was just was too much.). On our final sea day which was Mother’s Day, we arrived to our suite in the afternoon to a large chocolate cake, a cheese plate and fruit plate.  Once again, just way too much for the two of us.  We each had a bite of cake and saved the fruit for the next morning.  The other high points for me were a couple of desserts…the key lime pie from chops and the lemon cheesecake from Jamie’s.  We did order a pizza one day which was delivered to our cabin.  It was middle of the road as far as cruise pizza.  

 

I would rate the Pinnacle Grill and Canelleto far above their RCI rivals.  Also Pizza is much better on HAL.  The Chef’s Table did however rank really high for us, but one meal doesn’t make an entire cruise experience.  

 

HAL for the win.

 

The RCI staff

The staff aboard the Quantum are absolute winners.  Always pleased to be of assistance and ready to do it with a smile and pleasant conversation.  They, as a whole, felt like a team who were working together to provide a great experience and at the same time enjoyed working with each other.  On a couple lines we’ve not experienced the same…where individually the staff members were pleasant but as a whole they seemed disjointed and almost at times working against each other.  So, to the entire staff of the Quantum, kudos!  

In comparison to my beloved HAL staff, still put them a bit ahead.  HAL for the win, but RCI for a close second.

 

Entertainment 

The Quantum offered plentiful and varied activities.  We enjoyed the live musical entertainment in the bars along with the shows in the theater.  We enjoyed a comedian

, juggler, and an Elton John Impersonator.  If you are bored on the ship you probably didn’t look very hard.  Entertainment onboard the Quantum was of coarse more varied than HAL but very comparable in quality.  For us the entertainment onboard HAL is more our speed.  For us the win goes to HAL, but that is very subjective and may change with whom I might be traveling with in the future.

 

 

The Star Class experience 

Our Genie, Hailey, is a sweetheart.  However; for us, just more than we require or enjoy.  She checked in many times each day, would escort us on and off the ship, escort us to reserved show seats, check on us during our dinners and solve any issues that would arise.  I most appreciated getting on the ship so expeditiously when the lines would have been at least four hours long without her, and having her to help me bypass the front desk line the last evening to cash in a casino ticket (at least another hour saved).  I did; however, tire of answering her messages that seemed to come way too often.  I guess I just don’t enjoy having someone dote on me to that extent.  

 

HAL really doesn’t have anything to compare to this service and many of the inclusions should be standard for HAL’s Pinnacle suites.

 

Here are the perks:

   • Exclusive Access to Royal Genie Service

• All Day Access to Coastal Kitchen*
• Complimentary Specialty Restaurants* (including Chef’s Table and à la carte dining)
• Complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package (for guests 21 years or older, or 18 and over where applicable by law)
• Complimentary Refreshment Package (for guests under legal drinking age)
• Still and Sparkling Water Replenished Daily
• Complimentary GratuitiesΔ
• Complimentary VOOM**, The Fastest Internet at Sea
• Expedited Boarding and Departure
• Best Seats in the House in Select Entertainment Venues
• Priority Entrance to Many Onboard Activities††
• Suite Lounge Access (complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails each evening)
• Access to Suite Sun Deck
• Royal Caribbean Plush Bathrobes for Use Onboard
• Complimentary Minibar stocked with Coca-Cola® Beverages and Water
• Complimentary Laundry and Pressing Services
• Luxury Mattress and Pillows
• Frette® Linens
• Luxury Bathroom Amenities
• Lavazza Espresso Coffee Maker

 

Would I do it again?

Would I cruise with RCI and the Quantum again?  Definitely!  The quantum is absolutely beautiful and feature filled.  

 

Would I book Star Class again?

Definitely would not book Star class on the Quantum or any sister ship due to the aft only Star class suites.  I enjoy time on a private balcony and the smoke stacks ruin the aft of this ship for me.  If I were to book quantum again it will be a grand suite or owners suite…No aft lofts.  Would I book Star class on another class ship or if the smoke stack issue was resolved?…maybe…if the price was right, but I would not seek it out .  Please do not take this as a negative toward our genie Hailey.  She absolutely did everything her position requires plus…it is just a higher level of service than we enjoy.  

 

In the end HAL is still home and I can’t wait to board the Zuiderdam again in August!

[Btimmer]

Thanks for your post as we are also going rogue on the Quantum on 5/16.  We'll do it from the perspective of nearly 700 days on HAL most recently a month on the Zuiderdam in January, 2022 on a SD-FLL Panama Canal Round trip cruise.  We'll be in a balcony cabin midship although on HAL we typically only book an aft inside cabin as we're never there.  The rate was too good to pass up. We've done Alaska many times so the ports are not of as much interest as what the ship is like.  We have sailed on the Harmony of the Seas a few years ago and actually liked the ship.

 

I'll also do my review after we return.

[mrspeck]

10 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

Thanks for your post as we are also going rogue on the Quantum on 5/16.  We'll do it from the perspective of nearly 700 days on HAL most recently a month on the Zuiderdam in January, 2022 on a SD-FLL Panama Canal Round trip cruise.  We'll be in a balcony cabin midship although on HAL we typically only book an aft inside cabin as we're never there.  The rate was too good to pass up. We've done Alaska many times so the ports are not of as much interest as what the ship is like.  We have sailed on the Harmony of the Seas a few years ago and actually liked the ship.

 

I'll also do my review after we return.

I’ll be very curious to hear your thoughts!  Enjoy the trip!

[Aquahound]

Thank you for your report.  I'll be on Quantum next week.  That class of RCI ships is absolutely amazing.  Did you do any of the onboard excursions......North Star, Flowrider,  IFly, bumper cars, etc?  While on the surface those may sound like gimmicks, they're surprisingly fun.  

 

I'm a lot like you in that I do not want that much attention from the genie.  Star Class is better on Oasis Class, imo, due to the location of the suites.  Otherwise, I recommend Sky Class.  

[mrspeck]

6 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

Thank you for your report.  I'll be on Quantum next week.  That class of RCI ships is absolutely amazing.  Did you do any of the onboard excursions......North Star, Flowrider,  IFly, bumper cars, etc?  While on the surface those may sound like gimmicks, they're surprisingly fun.  

 

I'm a lot like you in that I do not want that much attention from the genie.  Star Class is better on Oasis Class, imo, due to the location of the suites.  Otherwise, I recommend Sky Class.  

We did not try those excursions…we kept meaning to do North Star, but time got away.  Due to back issues, the others weren’t options.

[Btimmer]

On our trip, we've only signed up for the Buchart Gardens/Castle tour as the flowers ought to be very pretty this time of year. 

[mrspeck]

32 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

On our trip, we've only signed up for the Buchart Gardens/Castle tour as the flowers ought to be very pretty this time of year. 

In Victoria we walked down to fisherman’s warf and then to Pendry Inn and Tea House.  It was Mother’s Day and my wife got to have tea.  It was excellent.  …and a beautiful old inn also!

[FlaMariner]

Great post....It's always healthy and good for us HAL folks to venture "off the reservation" to keep up with what's out there and also (as in our case) re-affirm HAL.

 

We did our first Princess cruise in March and we quickly learned that it was not for us.......We are at home on HAL.

 

 

[Heartgrove]

7 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

Great post....It's always healthy and good for us HAL folks to venture "off the reservation" to keep up with what's out there and also (as in our case) re-affirm HAL.

 

We did our first Princess cruise in March and we quickly learned that it was not for us.......We are at home on HAL.

 

 

 

Same with us. We did a Viking Ocean cruise last July but were less than impressed. There is a lot of hype that they fail to deliver on. Since then we have been on two HAL cruises that we also felt at home on.