MLH

You are a saint. Think of what an experience you are providing at the expense of your sanity.

Yes, if it is just the two of you, you could take the bus as well,a little cheaper, but requires a little more walking. We stayed at the Hilton Tapestry in Mestre. It was very close to plenty of resturants and grocery store.

The Margaritaville Catamaran tour. Very very loud and then they forced you to go to Margartiville at the Falmouth tour. When we refused to go in, they blocked the way back to the boat. We also did a Royal snorkeling tour in Aruba which was dangerous. People were crying in the water and couldnt get back into the boat due to people coming off. The water was very rough. The tour guide said dont go in front of the boat as the current will take you away. Was supposed to see a sunken boat but the water was so dark you couldn't see anything.

We did got into a taxi and he offered the a city tour including going up the mountain for 55 Euro total.

Thanks @SweetPea. Your response was far more in depth than the one I received. Maybe they are looking at it. I followed a blogger during covid who left for Virgin and said there was a world of difference on Virgin for employees. They are losing some great staff and many did not return after Covid. There are many reasons for the changes to Star Class and people are booking at high numbers so why change for a few people who complain. I am recently Pinnacle and find value in cruising. I traditionally sailed in suites and Star, but we just got back from an Explorer sailing with 12 people and we all had balconies. I was perfectly content and was treated better on the MDR than in CK. If I want the Suite experience I will gravitate to Celebrity or Viking even though they have no flowrider. My loyalty has been Royal but they are outpricing and underperforming in their suite programs.

@SweetPeaDid you hear back from your email response?

Wow. That sounds fabulous!

Thank you! I really do hope that enough complaints/issues things will change. I met Mark Tamis VP on the Presidents Cruise where I was sailing Star and brought up a minor issue the genie was having trying to wow us. He told us that the company would rather hear about it during the sailing when they can correct the issue. Sure enough within 2 minutes our genie called and told us our issue was resolved. Mark Tamis has left the company and his vision for Star has burned out a little. We have a sailing on Harmony Dec 3rd which is one of my last ones booked.

IKR. This is why I have stopped wasting my time filing surveys out unless there is a blatant issue. Maybe if enough of us say would not recommend,they would get the message.

Yes. They said thank you for your feedback,our operational teams will reviews this. lol

We just got back from Explorer out of Ravenna and 8 out of 12 ended up with Covid. My daughter and I had it prior to the sailing, so we more than likely would have gotten it. Not saying we got it on the ship,but with all the travel on planes, trains, busses, shuttles and crowds in Greece who knows????

Recieved the same email after I gave them poor ratings. Here is my repsonse. I would be happy to respond to you! When the program first started in 2015, I was very excited. I normally sail in suites and after I booked a Celebrity Suite and saw the differences in the suite program I was glad to see that Royal Caribbean was enhancing its program. Sailing on the Oasis Class ships and seeing the Genies and talking to Star Class guests, I knew I would have to try it. Since then, I have sailed Star pre and post pandemic on the following sailings: Oasis 4/18 Harmony 5/19 Harmony 9/18 Oasis 1/22 Quantum 5/22 Allure 5/23 Harmony 12/23 We also had to cancel 3 Star after the pandemic due to Covid issues and itinerary changes due to countries not allowing visitors. There are several things that have changed that I have noticed and really feel the program has been declined. The whole VIP experience has been diminished. At first I thought it suffered due to the pandemic and upstart. But my last 2 STAR classes after full occupancy and the ramp up has not gotten back to the pre pandemic VIP service. Things that are great! 1. Speciality Restaurants Just after the pandemic when the restart happened, food was different but it is now back! Food is so personal, but all in all the Speciality restaurants have been superb. 2. The Staff Once again the staff after the restart has been great. 3.The Ships Always great. 4.Entertainment So much to do all the time! Things to improve the experience. 1. Training for port side employees/turn around staff, logistically dealing with luggage. Allure First and foremost, on my last cruise we had to wait for quite a while in Galveston for our Shoreside genie to show up when we arrived. There were 3 star class families waiting. When we were all checked in and then brought upstairs to wait for the genie and were directed to plastic chairs along the wall versus the roomy and comfortable lounge area. This doesn't exude a VIP personal experience when you are crammed in the elevator with all the other Star Class families. We then boarded and were informed our room would not be ready until 1:00 since they had to do maintenance on the room. Then at 1:00 when the room was open, we had no luggage, although the hallway to the AQ suite was lined with luggage. My husband and the genie then had to hunt it down after we contacted her. We had 2 pieces that were tagged for Star Class. Quantum/Seattle, We were informed at the port that our genie was no longer available, no reason other than unfit for duty. Finally Muhammad the Suite concierge came to escort us on board. Once again, rooms would not be ready until 1:30. Luggage was nowhere to be found and the hallway was once filled with bags. I finally found them stuck in a corner in the crew area and was asked not to retrieve them. Harmony, Once again, no early access to the room, no luggage delivery until after 3 pm. 2. Pay attention to the surveys. We had a new genie on Harmony which did not work out well. I felt he was inflexible and we were to be on his schedule. He questioned my husband's attire one evening and asked why he didn't have a jacket. We sat in our reserved area and were told by another genie that those were hers and we had to move. Our genie was no where to be found. For this reason on my next pre cruise surveys I specifically asked for an experienced genie. I then got a brand new one, and then she was unfit for duty and got another new genie the day of boarding. He was very flummoxed and basically said you have sailed with us so much so you know the ship and dropped us off in the bar to wait for lunch at Chops. Not a great first impression, but he did get much better through the week once things calmed down and then he became unfit for duty and we had a new genie. My last Allure sailing I requested not to have a genie I have had before. They were great the first time we sailed with them, but would like to have a new experience. We ended up with the one we specifically asked not to have. It was still a great experience with a great genie. The first few Star Class sailings, the gifts were very personalized! I still use the Mother Teresa sayings on the coffee mugs and think fondly of my time on board. A lovely journal and crystal pen sits on my office desk. A very nice commemorative University of Georgia book is on my bookshelf. The genie got these ideas from my survey. Now the gifts tend to be things picked up at the gift shop. An insulated coffee mug, a royal Caribbean hat and a bracelet. The sentiment is nice, but nothing special. I am not sure if the genies allocation of gift budget has been reduced or if they don't have time to personalize gifts. 3. Amenities changing/pre cruise purchases This may be a cost cutting/overbooking issue but several of the amenities that were included are no longer included. No more thermal suite day pass, no more cupcake class, no more sushi class, charging for Chef's table when the wines included are included in the drink package, no reserving seats outside of production shows ie rising tide bar during a parade or dance party, having to prepay for Hibachi and Chef's table only to receive OBC once onboard. No more skip the lines. Had to go to guest services to get change and the Guest Services officer had me wait in the long line to get my change. I wasn't sure if that was something the genie could do or not. No more suite parties with the Officers, ie sailaway from the helipad, suite lounge tapas,, or Chops appetizers. Those were always fun and great ways to meet other guests. The Flowrider is no longer every 4th person during nonpeak times, instead you are assigned an 8AM time slot for an hour with other Star Class families. 8AM is very early for someone to be up and go out on the flowrider. Additionally, there is much confusion, as another STAR class family's genie told them they could skip the line at the Flowrider with the wristband. During the private session, other Star Class families brought their non Star families to the flowrider. This reduced the time per person on the flowrider. No more table cloths when dining en suite. We had Tapas one evening in our room and ordered a drink since I forgot to include it. It took 1:15 minutes to show up. I would have gladly gone and gotten it if they would have told me it would be that long. 4. Noise/ Staying in an AQUA suite or back facing Star Loft or Royal loft on Oasis Class is loud! Every morning while trying to enjoy coffee and the view we heard maintenance of hammering, sanding etc which was rather distracting. Other times, boardwalk and sport court music was always present. After staying in a Grand Loft on Quantum, and hearing the ocean versus music and maintenance was nice. 5. Supply chain issues, Post pandemic some ships had some of my favorite liquors/beverages but it is hit or miss. Some ships have them some do not. No Cava at vintages, Zacapa rum or my husbands scotch. There isn't much consistency on what's available. Royal Caribbean has a great product full of innovation and great loyalty benefits. Did I enjoy my last Star sailings? Yes ! All in all I cannot recommend that people book STAR due the the very high costs at this time and reduced amenities and decline in program from inception. I would suggest other suite types that are more reasonable.

Does Harmony have them for StarClass?

There is also a bus from Tronchetto City center of Venice if you are staying closer. We stayed in Mestre and it was a bus ride to the Shuttle center. Just got back yesterday. It is a 3 hour communte that goes slowly on back roads.

Note this on your survery!!!!!!! We never get our luggage since after covid. From now on when sailing on Star, we will be carrying it on board and send a photo of us to corporate hauling our own luggage. I think it gets lumped in with all other luggage and put off to the side and the stewards don't recognize the tags. For non star sailings, I have found that when I print the tags with the colors verus the hand written ones at the port they get there a little sooner.

Thanks. More ammunition for December if they are doing the every 3 or 4th person durin gnon peak hours. When we first started sailing Star the thermal suite was included for the week. I thought who would want to do that and lo and behold after one session, I was hooked. Now you have to ask for a single day pass. They don't offer it unless you ask.

My husband never asks. lol I just say we got a good deal. Enough for him. I think he is afraid to ask. My new excuse is Delta is changing its Medallion program so I have to pay off all the cruises we have booked.

We rented a car from PBI to Everglades. Florida does not have drop off fees for other locations. We flew out of FLL coming back.

Criminals could not attack RCL because no one knows how it works in the company, so hackers would have a hard time too.

I think the term Groupie is appropriate

Not popular opinion but I think they should stop Star Class on those 3/4day cruises. There simply is not enough time to squeeze everything in from restaurants to shows. We did STAR once on a 4 day and it was not as enjoyable, everything was rushed and had that been my first experience, I would not have probably booked anymore. The genies are going to be running ragged. I talked to a concierge on my Alaska trip and told her she would be an excellent genie. She said no way. It is one of the most stressful jobs on the ship.

You had a great day in Seattle with weather! Hopefully it will improve for you.

We got back August 20th. We had rain a few days and it was overcast. Very foggy and we could not get into one of the glaciers. But the Hubbard was the clearest it has been all season. It is hit or miss on the weather as my friend got back right before I left and she was in shorts and sunny the whole time.

Love She's a geisha drink! I have standing orders for them when I sail Star Class.

Maybe you can teach Sorrentos how to make pizza!