Is anyone else just totally over cruising? Rant on recent cruise (Independence), bad service, food, FLU

[rolloman]

On 3/15/2023 at 9:24 PM, BND said:

You chose to pay what you did.  You could have not gone.  Report room issues to your steward.   You chose to buy a drink package.  BTW, your experience is not others when it comes to getting drinks.   You didn't like the entertainment (that's a subjective opinion)  Excursions, also subjective as many love Blue Lagoon.  Crowds, um okay, sold out ship, correct?  And as for the flu, it's flu season and has absolutely nothing to do with the ship other than someone onboard probably had it (you know kind of like people at work and school pass illnesses around).  I guess you might get some sympathy if you weren't 100% negative about everything.  Short cruises, especially over weekends, or spring break are notorious for the partying.

 

So, here's my answer, PLEASE do not cruise again.   I don't get people who book a cruise at a specific price and then complain about the price.   No one is forcing you to cruise.

Not sure which post is more disturbing, the OP negativity or this heartless response.  

[Pandamonia]

I don't know what would be worse. 

 

Experiencing the cruise the OP posted about....

 

Or being stuck on a ship with some of the people on this thread. 

[At Sea At Peace]

O

28 minutes ago, Pandamonia said:

I don't know what would be worse. 

 

Experiencing the cruise the OP posted about....

 

Or being stuck on a ship with some of the people on this thread. 

 

Yep, all included, with the OP.  😁  We are all unique.

 

https://*****.com/A-S-A-P-CC

 

 

[Engineroom Snipe]

1 hour ago, Pandamonia said:

I don't know what would be worse. 

 

Experiencing the cruise the OP posted about....

 

Or being stuck on a ship with some of the people on this thread. 

 

Yes, we are the underworld cruisers hiding in interior deck three cabins, the steerage, hoping to ascend the C&A Society of the upper elites. We are always happy to venture forth onto the Lido deck and watch the sunrise appear on a new cruise day. We are on the bow, waiting for the theme song of the "Titanic" to be sung by Celine Dion.  😁

 

Be afraid, be very afraid of being stuck on a ship with my DW and I on an "Around the World Cruise in Eighty Days."     🤣😂😉🤣

[jeh10641]

16 hours ago, ibyte2eat said:

I've been tired of the RCL crap for some time.  Im a pinnicle level now and so Im invested and pretty much forced to cruise on RCL.  Since I started cruising in 1999, things have changed so much.  The staff is so incompetent.  I've learned to obtain 4 or 5 answers to the same question to get the right answer.  The reason is because they like to tell you things that make them look like they know what they're doing when they are clueless.  Since tips are automatically deducted now, crew is not as friendly as they once were.  Newbees are friendly though.  So, I always ask guest services to not charge tips to my seapass.  I tip with cash to good service.  Kids?  RCL is all in on Family cruising now and so you better like lots of noisy kids because parents rarely control their kids.  Parents with kids take over the dance floors in the evening and the adult games in the bars.  Yes, kids are allowed in the bars.  Eating with unsupervised kids is an experience.  I would love it if I were a kid - no rules.  Look at all the Amusement park stuff on top decks.  Don't go during spring and holiday breaks or during the summer.  Also, cruises lasting more than 7 days have less kids.  RCL is hush hushing C&A benifits, you have to ask for them on board if you want them.  They've discontinued top tier amenities and the ship tours and haven't told anyone.  You have to ask for upgraded toiletries, robes, cruise compass, free wash & fold bag, ice and arrival drink.  Actually, they will tell you that your drink is in the lounge along with your amenity.  Have you noticed the absence of C&A priority lines at checkin?  Have you ever gotten a free upgrade for C & A members if cabins aren't filled? (lately)  Notice how RCL brags about that perk, then 2 weeks before sailing, you get an email asking if you want to bid on an upgrade.  Cruising isn't as elegant on RCL as it once was.   You have to go to a more expensive cruise line for that.  I stick with RCL because Princess and Carninvals loyalty program sucks.  Celebrity only matches loyalty tiers to the diamond level.  Basically, we've cut our cruising down to 1 special one a year in Europe and one winter cruise.  With no expectations.  My bill at the end of the cruise is usually $10 or $20 because I never buy anything that RCL sells because since they're ripoffs.  I book with 3rd party excursions - they guarantee return on time excursions for less than RCL.  Signage is all wrong around the ship.  Posted operating hours are incorrect.   RCL's complete migration to the horrible app is their goal so that they don't have to deal with customer service.  Every use that thing?  Im an IT guy and Ill tell you, its bad and unreliable.  If a show is full and you try to reserve it doesn't tll you its full.  It just doesn't give an option to reserve.  The app tells you about half of what the cruise compass used to tell. The other half has been dissected and integrated into the endless pull down vague menus that it utilizes.  Anymore, I just use RCL for free food, C&A drinks, board, evening entertainment and transportation from port to port.  People look to me for cruising advice because they know I've cruised a lot.  I tell them, check around.  They are all about the same but RCL is most kid friendly of them all.  Remember, Kids Sail Free folks!  Ha ha.

If you do not like RCCL cruises then change your cruise line. Screw the benefits, they not all that great anyway.

[Mum2Mercury]

23 hours ago, twinmommy08 said:

I actually thought the Blue Lagoon was fun. It wasn’t an hour boat ride, so that a bit of an exaggeration.

I enjoyed Blue Lagoon too.  We visited on our very first cruise, and I did find the boat ride kinda long, but -- being inexperienced -- I hadn't yet realized some excursions require fairly lengthy transportation. 

10 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I could be wrong as west coast seems to have bargains more so than other ports. .. but $99 .. I havent seen a cruise for $99 .. I did allure last dec and it was not cheaper. And got sick onboard the whole 2nd week. I dont know if you get casino offers but $99 also isnt close to typical imo. 

No, we're on the East Coast, and we've never had a casino offer.  It was, however, a last-minute deal and an inside guarantee.  You're totally right that $99 isn't typical, but we jumped on it right away!  Had a great time on Independence.  

8 hours ago, cruiselvr04 said:

Interesting…we don’t shop because we don’t collect junk anymore and neither do Millennials or Gen Z.  They are more about experience than stuff.  I think that’s what you’re seeing.  

I've never been into vacation shopping, but I'm neither a Millennial nor a Gen Z.  

[jeh10641]

My first Royal cruise was in 2008 on Navigator from Barcelona to Tampa in November. I think there were less than 20 kids. My second Royal cruise will be in Oct. 2023. I am a Three-star Mariner on HAL but the deal on Anthem was less $100/day/person for a "spacious forward facing" cabin. It is now 55-60% higher (and no longer available). I usually book large inside cabins.

 

We were not big fans of Royal's specialty dining in 2008 so by passed that on three HAL cruises (none less than 11 nights) until December 2021 on Rotterdam. That specialty dining was awesome! I have two specialty venues booked for our Oct. 2023 transatlantic on Anthem.  Much as I would love to sail on HAL this time, dollars won out over perks.

[PhillyFan33579]

8 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Oh gosh no....never say the "never" word.  We did...and have been Pinnies for a couple of years now.  😉 

 

Though...so ironic, now we want to do other lines.  😄 

So why not cruise on other lines? I cruise most frequently on RCI, but I also cruise at least once a year on Celebrity. I also plan to try other cruise lines once I stop getting free casino offers, which  have significantly increased over the last six months. Loyalty perks (currently D+) will not keep me loyal to a cruise line, but free cruises (not including taxes and port fees) will keep me cruising with RCI for the foreseeable future. 

[taglovestocruise]

4 hours ago, rolloman said:

Not sure which post is more disturbing, the OP negativity or this heartless response.  

Her heartless response is ..................... right on .  Listened to a group who complained about the cruise for 10 minutes straight in Vintages, I got up and left, they continued.

[taglovestocruise]

1 hour ago, jeh10641 said:

My first Royal cruise was in 2008 on Navigator from Barcelona to Tampa in November. I think there were less than 20 kids. My second Royal cruise will be in Oct. 2023. I am a Three-star Mariner on HAL but the deal on Anthem was less $100/day/person for a "spacious forward facing" cabin. It is now 55-60% higher (and no longer available). I usually book large inside cabins.

 

We were not big fans of Royal's specialty dining in 2008 so by passed that on three HAL cruises (none less than 11 nights) until December 2021 on Rotterdam. That specialty dining was awesome! I have two specialty venues booked for our Oct. 2023 transatlantic on Anthem.  Much as I would love to sail on HAL this time, dollars won out over perks.

And the cheap dollar amount is what brings the families with kids. 

[Tree_skier]

I'm so over cruising I only have 7 more booked over the next 2 years. 😉 

[BND]

4 hours ago, Pandamonia said:

I don't know what would be worse. 

 

Experiencing the cruise the OP posted about....

 

Or being stuck on a ship with some of the people on this thread. 

Um, okay.  You're one of "those"  lol

 

You didn't even say what exactly you mean by your post.  

Edited March 24, 2023 by BND

[BND]

5 hours ago, rolloman said:

Not sure which post is more disturbing, the OP negativity or this heartless response.  

Heartless?  People need to take responsibility for what they do and grow up.  No one made him take this cruise or pay what he did.

Edited March 24, 2023 by BND

[BND]

5 hours ago, rolloman said:

Not sure which post is more disturbing, the OP negativity or this heartless response.  

BTW, others said basically the same thing.  Why focus on my post?  Do you not think people need to take responsibility for their decisions?

[FlGoodShips]

To the original author/poster..."aimcat"

Nobody forced you to pay those prices. You chose. Right?

So don't cruise anymore..try finding a vacation cheaper. I doubt it.

More cabins, food and drinks for the rest of us.

Yay. 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. I believe we for the most part agree that the loyalty perks are not worth our money for a less than satisfying experience whether air,land or sea. My first Royal was in the early 1980s. Im not married to any company no matter their perks. 

[Pandamonia]

9 hours ago, BND said:

Um, okay.  You're one of "those"  lol

 

You didn't even say what exactly you mean by your post.  

 

Maybe i just dont agree with some of the people on this forum such as you and others like you which seem to think Royal can do no wrong and its the person booking the holidays fault. 

 

Fact is this. 

 

Food can suck.

Service can suck

Royal can price gauge pretty bad whilst also delivering terrible experiences and poor value

Some staff SUCK. 

Some ships suck. (old, tatty rooms, dirty)

Some itineraries suck 

How royal deals with some things suck. 

Singers can REALLY suck and dont get me started on some of the comedians.

Even the headline acts can suck. 

 

Royal is in control of ALL of the above. None of these are the persons fault who booked. 

 

Experiences will vary on the same ship and it does not make it the persons fault. Royal has a responsibility to deliver consistent quality and service and they often fail but still expect to be paid the same as if they didnt. 

 

Maybe if the average Royal customer had a higher standard of taste and expectation then royal wouldnt have felt it could get away with ever constant fall in standards in the MDR or think it can get away with charging 200$ to sit on a cabana on deck for a day. (some of you suckers over the pond are paying it... because on Euro sailings they are empty!)

 

Fact is that Royal clientele used to look down on the average carnival passenger... well they aint looking down any more.... Royal is the new carnival. 

Edited March 24, 2023 by Pandamonia

[Engineroom Snipe]

Ouch!  😬

[BND]

31 minutes ago, Pandamonia said:

 

Maybe i just dont agree with some of the people on this forum such as you and others like you which seem to think Royal can do no wrong and its the person booking the holidays fault. 

 

Fact is this. 

 

Food can suck.

Service can suck

Royal can price gauge pretty bad whilst also delivering terrible experiences and poor value

Some staff SUCK. 

Some ships suck. (old, tatty rooms, dirty)

Some itineraries suck 

How royal deals with some things suck. 

Singers can REALLY suck and dont get me started on some of the comedians.

Even the headline acts can suck. 

 

Royal is in control of ALL of the above. None of these are the persons fault who booked. 

 

Experiences will vary on the same ship and it does not make it the persons fault. Royal has a responsibility to deliver consistent quality and service and they often fail but still expect to be paid the same as if they didnt. 

 

Maybe if the average Royal customer had a higher standard of taste and expectation then royal wouldnt have felt it could get away with ever constant fall in standards in the MDR or think it can get away with charging 200$ to sit on a cabana on deck for a day. (some of you suckers over the pond are paying it... because on Euro sailings they are empty!)

 

Fact is that Royal clientele used to look down on the average carnival passenger... well they aint looking down any more.... Royal is the new carnival. 

WOW.  I never said they can do no wrong, but saying EVERYTHING was wrong doesn't carry any weight.  As you said, SOME!.  OP said ALL.  

 

BTW, do you think someone who books at a specific price and then complains about the price isn't at fault for booking at that price?

Edited March 24, 2023 by BND

[Pandamonia]

1 minute ago, BND said:

WOW.  I never said they can do no wrong, but saying EVERYTHING was wrong doesn't carry any weight.  As you said, SOME!.  OP said ALL.  

 

Well in fairness to the OP. When they had that experience i would just round up and call it a disaster cruise. 

 

These 3 and 4 day booze cruises are a blatant cash grab and a terrible idea other than maximum revenue. They have a very bad reputation every time they do them and eventually they always stop because of the inherent problems caused such as:

 

Staff burnout

Trashed rooms

Trashed ships

excessive drinking

bad reviews and brand tarnishing 

Eventual lawsuits 

 

The issue is that people can go wild for 3 or 4 days which causes all of the above. It also lowers the entry price point dragging unsavoury clientele on to the ship who would normally not be able to spend 7 or 14 days on a ship. 

 

The problem is that Royals C Suite are like crack heads addicted to easy money. Every idea that increases revenue per person per day must be a good one.... until it isnt and the damage is done. 

 

Royal has enjoyed a rather unique position in the market for a while due to its ship classes but others have caught up and will soon compete far more for the same clients. 

 

Add in the days of easy money are over Royal might find its self with a ton of debt and a load of empty rooms. Its already sailing with empty inside cabins on many cruises rather than discount them. This is always a sure fire sign of hidden issues with passenger numbers

[smokeybandit]

I was just on a cruise where an AC leak got the room carpet wet. Housekeeping fixed the issue quickly and cleaned up the mess with nearly zero impact to us.

 

And on top, gave some unprovoked FCC on top of that.

 

Can't get much better service than that

[bajathree]

11 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

So why not cruise on other lines? I cruise most frequently on RCI, but I also cruise at least once a year on Celebrity. I also plan to try other cruise lines once I stop getting free casino offers, which  have significantly increased over the last six months. Loyalty perks (currently D+) will not keep me loyal to a cruise line, but free cruises (not including taxes and port fees) will keep me cruising with RCI for the foreseeable future. 

There is actually a website out there where you can upload any comp cruise offers you have and other cruise lines will bid against them with their own offers. I haven't used it myself but know other people who successfully have to trade their current offers for other cruise lines.

Edited March 24, 2023 by bajathree

[HappyTexan44]

6 minutes ago, bajathree said:

There is actually a website out there where you can upload any comp cruise offers you have and other cruise lines will bid against they with their own offers. I haven't used it myself but know other people who successfully have to trade their current offers for other cruise lines.

 

Curious.  Could someone use their original cruise offer after using the other cruise lines offer?   

 

 

[island lady]

18 hours ago, orville99 said:

DW can’t fly long distances any more, so we are a bit land locked other than by train.

 

I hear ya.  That is why we are trying to pack it in with the long desired "bucket list" trips while we still can.  Good friends Gary and Mary (Cruise Wizard) are finding the same thing now...won't do the longer flights.  

 

After that, will stick to local cruises within easy driving distance.  Actually the highways these days scare me more than flights.  😮  I like the train idea.  🙂 

[island lady]

13 hours ago, jeh10641 said:

If you do not like RCCL cruises then change your cruise line. Screw the benefits, they not all that great anyway.

 

Noooo really?  Say it ain't so!  😄