GJ_123

I agree it's a grey area, but it definitely verges on a scam. They clearly inflate the RRPs to make you think you are getting a good deal, which is quite cheeky. I almost bought a watch onboard which they claimed had an RRP of $650, yet on the Invicta site RRP was $200... so the $650 was completely invented! You have to remember on cruise ships there are no trading standards and they know plenty of people won't check, that's why the watch 'sales' still run. Always check the price online. Even with handbags etc. which they are claiming are 'tax free', always take a quick look online and I guarantee most of the time you'd be cheaper just getting it after the cruise.

It seems in some cases this is true, but my wife enquired about a Kate Spade bag on Symphony, and it seems we would have had to pay 21% tax onboard, and they give you a stamped letter to take to the customs desk at the airport and they can refund 'some' of the taxes, she said it would be between 10%-16% refunded. Really odd, surely it should just be tax free and that's it. Has anyone else experienced this? It seemed like too much of a faff so she didn't bother buying it.

This might be a difficult one, but I think the lifts on the ships are terrible just now. I don't remember it being as much of an issue years ago but going on the ships now it's really glaring how long you have to wait for a lift! I appreciate it would be a huge refurbishment to add more lifts, but honestly sometimes it's dreadful, especially when you have young kids in strollers. A couple of times we waited about 15 minutes for a lift on Symphony. On the Oasis Class ships we purposely try to get a cabin on Deck 6 so we don't always have to take the lift and are next to the Boardwalk. If more lifts wasn't possible, I don't know if a better system could be worked out. There seems to often be little consideration from other passengers if you were in the waiting area first, as soon as a lift comes everyone just charges towards it! I know this would mean changing peoples attitudes which is almost impossible, but maybe a better system could be implemented?

Making Johnny Rockets complimentary is a great idea.

Yeah, not drastically different to the European site. It’s not like you get a great exchange for Euros to Dollars just now! It just shows you though, RC placing a base price for this watch of $650 is ridiculous.

Yeah, that makes a lot more sense to me too. I understand often laws vary from state to state in the US. But yeah, the UK will have pretty strict trading standards. it’s actually pretty clever in a (little bit sinister) way from RC. Because as you mention, similarly to Texas there will be no laws at sea protecting the consumer. So it’s basically down to the consumer doing their research and plenty people won’t. Been interesting to learn for me too I didn’t know different states had different laws for that kind of thing.

@DoomSlayer RRP is the manufacturers recommended retail price, it is not individual to retailers. There is only one RRP set by the manufacturer. Could you imagine if everywhere could set different RRP’s for an iPhone for example, it would be chaos! For example, an iPhone Pro Max 1TB has an RRP of £1749. No retailer can change this or set their own, that’s the RRP and that’s it. I live in the UK, I guess it’s possible regulations are different here? To be honest I’ve never heard of MSRP, but it looks to me from a quick Google search it’s the same as RRP. I’ve attached a screenshot of the watch I bought online, you can see the €200 is scored out and it’s on sale for €115. On Odyssey, it was $280 supposedly down from $650… I just don’t understand where they could possibly have got $650 from, considering it will have never been sold on the Invicta site for more than €200? There is just no way it could ever have had a ‘value’ of $650. So to me it just seems deliberately misleading. A customer on the cruise is likely to look at the $650 and think woah I’ve got a great deal! It just doesn’t seem right to me. But yeah, the more I read from yourself and the other replies the more I understand Invicta could be to blame for this too. I thought it was a pretty high quality and respected brand but obviously not

@DoomSlayer if RC sold those watches you’ve posted there, I guarantee the RRP would be higher. The example I mentioned is only one instance I’ve seen. I’ve seen loads of examples where RC inflate the RRP by at least double. And what they are asking for onboard is 2 x or 3 x the price online.

@twangster the difference is, CostCo and Sam’s Club won’t inflate the RRP’s and deceive the customer, unlike what Royal Caribbean is doing with the watches. Listing a watch with a $650 RRP and giving you ‘up to 75% off’ and it’s only $275 RRP on the Invicta website is clearly deceitful and basically a scam. CostCo etc. wouldn’t be allowed to do this as it would be breaking the law. RC obviously can as it’s at sea and the same laws don’t apply.

@Xaa I’m not saying selling items for a high price is a scam. You’re correct that it’s up to the buyer to decide for themselves. But I think putting clearly inflated RRP’s on an item and making out the saving you are getting is significant is very misleading, and definitely verging on a scam. The $650 RRP on the watch I liked was clearly invented as the official RRP on their website was only $275. Where did RC even get that price from? @USFFrank you’re right, it’s definitely a staple of any cruise

@FSUFAN points 2.) and 3.) you've made I agree with massively!! I have worked out in the past I'd need to have 12 drinks a day on the drinks package for it to be worthwhile, there's no way I'd have 12 alcoholic drinks a day! There should be a lower package or they should bring back the beer package! I can't remember exactly what it was, something like 10 drinks (only beer) and it was reasonably priced if I remember. I quite liked it and it seemed like it was only something you could get onboard. The hard sell tactics at the Spa are a joke. I was recently on Symphony and got a massage, and after I literally had to sit there for 20 minutes being offered ridiculously priced treatments and products. The Spa is supposed to be a relaxing experience yet they put you through that stress. I understand this isn't the staffs fault. RC should change it so there's a disclaimer saying if you want to hear about other products or not. It's the same with my wife, she didn't go because she couldn't be bothered going through the hard sell. Things I would personally change: 1.) Windjammer times - I would make breakfast until 12pm and lunch start at 1pm (I don't get the bizarre 11:30am changeover). And for dinner I would keep Windjammer open until at least 11pm, if not midnight! RC offers shows/entertainment well past 10pm and when you get out there is often no where to eat. I understand you have the cafe and Sorrentos but I think you should be able to just get a meal in the buffet. I also think it's strange that they don't take into account many European cultures, where people won't eat in the evening until about 10pm. 9pm is far too early to close Windjammer. 2.) I think they need to look at costings for the ships which have the Starbucks kiosks. They need to either remove the 18% gratuity or lower the prices. I understand it's a real treat having a Starbucks onboard, but $30 for 4 coffees is insane! 3.) Costings of speciality restaurants. I personally think the cost of the specialty restaurants have been hiked to an insane amount. I first started sailing with RC around 2016 and I remember the cost of the restaurants were very reasonable and felt like a really good deal (after all, it's meant to be a surcharge...) but now the costs seem ridiculous and often don't feel that far off what you'd pay for a meal of that standard off the ship. Chops Grille is $65pp and that's not including the 18%? Far too expensive. 4.) Lack of juices around the ship - should be some juice options in Sorrentos and the cafe. I would even add a juice station to the Boardwalk on the Oasis class ships.

I'm not sure if this is something people are aware of or not. But the Invicta watches 'up to 75% off' sale is a bit of a scam and something everyone should be wary of. Last year on Odyssey I seen a watch I liked and asked how much it was, it was $280 down from an RRP of $650. Great deal right? But a quick check online on the Invicta Europe store I could get the same watch for £85! That included a 10% off code. And the RRP was in fact something like £220, nothing close to $650! I understand there plenty of regulations you can get around at sea, but even this seems a bit cheeky of Royal Caribbean. There must be loads of people being scammed every day into thinking they are getting a good deal because of inflated RRP's. My advice is if you like any of the watches onboard, check the price online, and I can almost guarantee you are as well just buying it when you get home.

@ManhattanWilliam We recently sailed on Symphony. We had a very nice time overall but I agree we had a similar experience with a lot of the stuff you've mentioned. The buffet selection was very repetitive and the worst I've seen on RC. They didn't have the 'theme' night at the buffet on this one either which I thought was disappointing, at least it made things feel a bit more interesting if you regularly go to the buffet which we did. They also removed the hot pudding selection which I thought was a bit odd. We were on Odyssey last year and the hot puddings were delicious! I also noticed the no juice at cafe/Sorrentos, strange decision to only have water available! I don't know if you found this but it was the worst queues I've ever seen at the cafe/Sorrentos (and I don't even think the ship was that busy!). I wonder if it's because the cafe has a poor system as most people are only queuing for tea/coffee but when someone walks down for a sandwich or fruit they are accused of cutting the line! I agree also with the timings. They need to look at dining options more closely when they are offering shows/entertainment. I think it's a joke the buffet closes at 9pm. It should be open till about 11pm! 11am even seems a bit stingy for the breakfast to end, and it doesn't help that everyone piles in about 10:30am and the place is so busy. Also why does lunch start at 11:30am? There are a lot of things RC needs to look at.

@Bowen We recently sailed on Symphony and I agree I noticed some similar things to what you've mentioned. The buffet selection was reduced greatly and very repetitive. They didn't have the 'theme' night at the buffet on this one which I thought was disappointing. They also did away with the hot pudding selection which I thought was a bit odd. We experienced the same thing with the cafe/Sorrentos, worst queues I've ever seen and I don't even think the ship was that busy! I wonder if it's because the cafe has a poor system as most people are only queuing for tea/coffee but when someone walks down for a sandwich or fruit they are accused of cutting the line! I think they could work out a better system. We also had a great time but I do agree there was a feeling of some cutbacks. I agree, it makes you wonder what's next. I am sure Windjammer used to close later too but from reading the replies I must be mistaken! I find it really puzzling that it closes at 9pm. In a lot of European cultures people don't have dinner till like 9pm or even 10pm! I'm surprised it's not open till like 11pm.

Thanks for all the replies, very helpful

Hi all, we are shortly going on a 7-night cruise and wondered if anyone knows if the 'wash and fold' service is available for this length of cruise? We have had it on an 8-night one but I wasn't sure if there is a cut-off. It's really handy and much cheaper than the laundry service so I really hope they are doing it. Any info would be appreciated!

Thanks for the replies everyone. Hopefully it comes through soon.

Has anyone received their prime annual cruise certificate yet? No sign of mine yet. I was told by 2 different people on the casino line it would be within the first 2 weeks of April...

Thanks so much @WAAAYTOOO and @Ampurp85! Yeah, I think just in general it's too vague. You almost feel they do this on purpose! To be honest I wouldn't even have known about Prime/Rewards Certificates/Free annual cruises unless a guest told me about it all when I was on Wonder. The last cruise I was on I was speaking to another guest on the last day and he told me he had around 2400 points... He had no idea the benefits that another 100 points would bring him and it was a no-brainer that he go and get the points. It just seems like it isn't advertised well enough on board.

Thank you @AshleyDillo and @Ampurp85 . We were told by the casino host on board that you could book any time after the 31st March, which I see now is a bit misleading and something we will keep in mind for the future. I think we will just change our plans as you both point out 23rd will be very tight! Something else I wondered, if a cabin is currently booked on a cruise for 4 people, is it easy enough to change a guest? From looking on Google it seems to say that it's fine as long as it's not the lead passenger being changed? But I hoped either of you could confirm. I'm guessing it might incur a penalty but hopefully it's not much.

@AshleyDillo Do you know when the certificate for the free annual cruise is typically issued? I have Prime status and want to use my free annual cruise for a sailing on 23rd April this year, and I'm concerned how tight it's going to be. I can see from previous years people speak about not getting the certificate until the 19th April! I'm really hoping it's not that long. I was told on the casino line it would be within the first 2 weeks of April. Can anyone confirm this from previous years?