ryan.aubin

I haven't gone yet (going in July on the Seaside) but I have been following all reviews and comments on many other forums.  They all echo what @DocLC is saying.  The main complaints are lack of variety in buffets for dining, poor customer service.  The main takeaway I have so far, and my opinion is my own, is that you cannot compare it.  If you go, you will need to go with the mindset that you are not cruising a major NA line and that there will be marked differences.  That's not to say that it's going to be better than RC or worse.  Just different.  It's like someone cruising Freedom of the Seas and complaining that there is no Central Park or Aqua Theater.  You just cannot compare it.
I am pretty loyal to Royal.  I'm a huge fan of the Oasis class ships.  The reason why we are going this summer is part curiosity and part pricing.  We are staying in a YC suite and the price of it was less than a JS on any Oasis class ship.  However, hubby and I are going to go with the mindset that it will be a different cruise experience for us.
For yourself, you have to ask, are you open to a non-North American experience?  Are you open to different types and flavours of food?  Are you going to be upset if they don't offer you coffee at the end of dinner and that you might have to ask for it?  Are you expecting RC type entertainment or are you open to more of a European flair on stage (operas?)?  If yes, then consider it.  If no, then maybe stick with RC.  Do your research.  Know what you are getting into first.

Oh, and if you want a recent review of MSC Seaside, listen to the latest "bonus" episode of CruiseRadio's podcast. You can also go onto YouTube and search "JimZim MSC Seaside"; he gave a couple of video reviews and those link to a lengthy written review where he actually does make comparisons against the other domestic lines, including Royal. But take his review with a grain of salt, as some of his comments on the food and some other aspects left a few of us here thinking that some things he found dislikable would actually be totally fine for us.

All I can say regarding the internet reviews is that I see the same themes over and over again, across the entire lineup of ships. I agree that often the 'net is just a sounding board for those who are perpetually pissed off, but this is one case where I feel like if it sounds like a duck, walks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it's most likely a duck. I really want to be proved wrong, because they're so cost competitive and the ships look gorgeous, but I'm dubious about their chances. There are plenty of folks here with sailings on various MSC ships lined up for the coming year, and I'm going to be looking for those liveblogs or after-sailing reports with bated breath.

@ryan.aubin, I would love to hear your feedback after your cruise in March as I have to put in my final payment by April. 

I too am booked on MSC Seaside, March 31... I was going to go with a Royal option, but the Next Cruise changes, plus some of the drink package changes really just put up a red flag for me.   I just finished a 12nt Anthem that was quite nice, but I really think now is the time to spread my wings and check out what else is out there.  I never thought I'd choose another line, but RCI has convinced me to do so.  The status match, plus automatic 15% off your fare for first responders and teachers, plus OBC & drinks, and the already low fare... it was actually a really easy decision for me.  
 
I consider myself pretty easy to please, but I just don't like to feel as though I'm being taken advantage of, and as of late, I'd be lying if I said I had not felt that way with my friends at RCI.   I'll never dispute their incredible product, but some of the changes are just a wee bit difficult to swallow as a veteran cruiser.  
 
I guess I now get to see if the grass is truly greener.  :-) 

I too am booked on MSC Seaside, March 31... I was going to go with a Royal option, but the Next Cruise changes, plus some of the drink package changes really just put up a red flag for me.   I just finished a 12nt Anthem that was quite nice, but I really think now is the time to spread my wings and check out what else is out there.  I never thought I'd choose another line, but RCI has convinced me to do so.  The status match, plus automatic 15% off your fare for first responders and teachers, plus OBC & drinks, and the already low fare... it was actually a really easy decision for me.  
 
I consider myself pretty easy to please, but I just don't like to feel as though I'm being taken advantage of, and as of late, I'd be lying if I said I had not felt that way with my friends at RCI.   I'll never dispute their incredible product, but some of the changes are just a wee bit difficult to swallow as a veteran cruiser.  
 
I guess I now get to see if the grass is truly greener.  :-) 

I too am booked on MSC Seaside, March 31... I was going to go with a Royal option, but the Next Cruise changes, plus some of the drink package changes really just put up a red flag for me.   I just finished a 12nt Anthem that was quite nice, but I really think now is the time to spread my wings and check out what else is out there.  I never thought I'd choose another line, but RCI has convinced me to do so.  The status match, plus automatic 15% off your fare for first responders and teachers, plus OBC & drinks, and the already low fare... it was actually a really easy decision for me.  
 
I consider myself pretty easy to please, but I just don't like to feel as though I'm being taken advantage of, and as of late, I'd be lying if I said I had not felt that way with my friends at RCI.   I'll never dispute their incredible product, but some of the changes are just a wee bit difficult to swallow as a veteran cruiser.  
 
I guess I now get to see if the grass is truly greener.  :-) 

I too am booked on MSC Seaside, March 31... I was going to go with a Royal option, but the Next Cruise changes, plus some of the drink package changes really just put up a red flag for me.   I just finished a 12nt Anthem that was quite nice, but I really think now is the time to spread my wings and check out what else is out there.  I never thought I'd choose another line, but RCI has convinced me to do so.  The status match, plus automatic 15% off your fare for first responders and teachers, plus OBC & drinks, and the already low fare... it was actually a really easy decision for me.  
 
I consider myself pretty easy to please, but I just don't like to feel as though I'm being taken advantage of, and as of late, I'd be lying if I said I had not felt that way with my friends at RCI.   I'll never dispute their incredible product, but some of the changes are just a wee bit difficult to swallow as a veteran cruiser.  
 
I guess I now get to see if the grass is truly greener.  :-) 

Oh, I don't doubt there are blogs calling the ship shabby.  You'll always find blogs written by people with an axe to grind who will be negative about everything *cough*cruisecritic*cough.
Take exceptionally negative reviews with a big grain of salt, and try to read between the lines.  Can't please everybody, and sometimes people have legitimately bad experiences that the line could've handled better.  But sometimes they just had a bad day that was no fault of the cruise line and it colored their whole experience, and sometimes they're just miserable people who are impossible to please.

Zero.
If your cruise ends up being cancelled or shortened, RC has shown with other sailings affected by the hurricanes they have provided the option of refunds or future cruise credits.
I think what some of the responses boil down to is a response to an initial post that seemed a bit too alarmist.  I think there's plenty of posts you can find here where we have called Royal Caribbean out for poor decisions/ideas, but the fair thing to do is look at each situation holistically and on a separate basis. I think we can all understand your anxiety related to your cruise happening, but as you stated, Adventure is slated to return to regular service on October 7.
The bottom line is I believe your sailing will depart as scheduled, and odds are you will have a great sailing.  Your departure date is far enough into the future that the impact of Hurricane Maria and the issues at hand today will be likely resolved to a point that it has little to no impact on your vacation.

I can understand your frustration...you planned what looks like a great vacation and are eager to get it started, but things are kind of up in the air with what the situation will be like in a few weeks.
Your cruise is not for another 3-4 weeks.  A lot can change between now and then.  The Port of Key West has already reopened.  In Royal Caribbean's defense, I'm not sure what you want them to do that they reallistically can do.  They cannot predict what the state of affairs will be in a few weeks, nor can they give you any 100% reassurances that your cruise will or will not occur.
My advice is to take a step back, and not worry about things until you're much closer in.  Perhaps 1-2 weeks away you can start looking around at the state of the airport, hotels, and the port itself.  With a mid October cruise, you're just too far away to start worrying yourself over this.
That's just plain false.

{sarasm:ON} Great first post. {/sarcasm:OFF}   

Based the attached image, they are offering a cash refund for the shortened itinerary but not a cash refund if you don't show up. The 60% is a refundable onboard credit (meaning you get it back) in addition to 50% credit towards a future cruise. I honestly think that's a pretty good deal overall and much more than they needed to offer especially since the cruise hasn't been canceled.
Would I want to or being willing to sail to Puerto Rico for a 3 day cruise? No! But the cruise line could also only offer the 60%, too, so they're offering more than they are required.

I think this thread was supposed to be posted on Cruise Critic. 

Just the facts:
https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/CTC_Not_For_BR.pdf
To be clear, you can argue what is and isn't fair all you wish.  But if you want to preface something with "just the facts" then the fact is this is the document you agreed to abide by.  Fairness is subjective, not factual.

I have an update. 
 
I contacted our friends at the RC 800 number.   After a good ten minutes on hold, and without much of a black and white answer, she explained that I had opted to 'choose' the higher rate of OBC and that I was actually coming out ahead.  I want to preface my next few statements by saying, I would never speak down, or become angry with a call center representative.  I'm not entirely convinced at times they have even a notch in the lowest part of the totem pole.  I can say with 100% certainty every representative I've spoken to from RCI has been nothing but helpful and prompt.   So with knowing they have little sway with my issue...
 
I explained to her that, as a previous poster mentioned, I received the exact same line from the NextCruise representative.  Not only did I receive it my most recent cruise, I've received it every time before.  It's as if it's a go to sales line.  
 
Firstly, I did not come out ahead.  I booked onboard NotS in December '16 to take advantage of the 150 per room OBC.  At the time, the only promo RC was offering was an additional $25 OBC.  Right or wrong, I always book an interior room, with the intention of upgrading later.  When the 200 per room OBC offer, plus the balcony at a wash to what I'd already reserved was available, I jumped on it.  To me, based on what I'd been repeatedly told, I should be at 350 OBC per room.  Had I known I could, and presumably would, lose my NextCruise OBC when upgrading, I would have taken the NextCruise OBC on my previous cruise, and then walked into this 200 OBC when I upgraded.   So to say I 'came out ahead' is, to me, a little disingenuous at best and to say the transparency is a little lacking would be an understatement.   In a nice way, I tried to explain my position to the call center representative, prefacing that I knew she couldn't do much about it.  She conceded there was not much she could do, but completely appreciated my position.  (FYI: 'I appreciate your position' is one of my favorite passive call center lines :-D )
 
So where do I go from here?
 
Let's just put it all out there: my vacation isn't ruined, I'm not going to go on some Facebook crusade that will only make me look unstable, and I'm certainly not going to bebop over to another 'cruise website' and start a petition to withhold gratuities from wait staff and cabin crew.  I'm going to be just fine and have a wonderful time, and no doubt I'll eventually sail RC again.  However, to say I'm disappointed with this outcome would be a mild understatement.   I feel that since my last cruise on Navigator in December, I've had several 'disappointed' moments in RC courtesy of policy & fee changes.  I'm not their highest level C&A member, I don't cruise more than twice a year, most times only once.  I am, by no means, a Royal Caribbean VIP.   And yet I've always been treated by the staff as a VIP.  With my whopping 54 cruise points I've had a lot of fantastic experiences on RC ships.  People ask why I never go to another line and my answer is always the same:  I don't need to.  
 
I'll report back and let you know how my 3/31/18 sailing on MSC Seaside is.  Loyalty match, included drinks, included internet, included 100 pp OBC for less than the comparable RC cruise from Miami that day.   I guess I shall see if the grass is truly greener.  
 

As always, thanks for the help!

I would be lying if I said I didn't think this was a money grab.  I have been loyal to Royal Caribbean since the very start, never wanting or needing to cruise with another line.   I know the argument can be made that it is simple to walk to *insert dining venue here* and get your breakfast and take it back to your room.   That's not the point, the point is there is a perceived value in cruising, and by slowly eliminating all of these values, aren't they becoming less of a value and more of an expense?   I fully understand the bottom dollar, and I can appreciate all of the suite benefits, and specialized offerings Royal offers.  But to me, this feels like just one more thing that now has an additional fee outside of my cruise fare, and when will it stop?  
 
To roll this out in 12 days seems very ill-timed at best.  I sail on Allure in 45 days and I have the 12 night Anthem scheduled for December for my annual Christmas vacation.  I love Royal Caribbean but the disappointment is very real for me as a consumer who gets to choose where his discretionary dollars are spent.   I think it's time I start exploring what the other lines do and do no offer, and what their value is.  

I would be lying if I said I didn't think this was a money grab.  I have been loyal to Royal Caribbean since the very start, never wanting or needing to cruise with another line.   I know the argument can be made that it is simple to walk to *insert dining venue here* and get your breakfast and take it back to your room.   That's not the point, the point is there is a perceived value in cruising, and by slowly eliminating all of these values, aren't they becoming less of a value and more of an expense?   I fully understand the bottom dollar, and I can appreciate all of the suite benefits, and specialized offerings Royal offers.  But to me, this feels like just one more thing that now has an additional fee outside of my cruise fare, and when will it stop?  
 
To roll this out in 12 days seems very ill-timed at best.  I sail on Allure in 45 days and I have the 12 night Anthem scheduled for December for my annual Christmas vacation.  I love Royal Caribbean but the disappointment is very real for me as a consumer who gets to choose where his discretionary dollars are spent.   I think it's time I start exploring what the other lines do and do no offer, and what their value is.  

I would be lying if I said I didn't think this was a money grab.  I have been loyal to Royal Caribbean since the very start, never wanting or needing to cruise with another line.   I know the argument can be made that it is simple to walk to *insert dining venue here* and get your breakfast and take it back to your room.   That's not the point, the point is there is a perceived value in cruising, and by slowly eliminating all of these values, aren't they becoming less of a value and more of an expense?   I fully understand the bottom dollar, and I can appreciate all of the suite benefits, and specialized offerings Royal offers.  But to me, this feels like just one more thing that now has an additional fee outside of my cruise fare, and when will it stop?  
 
To roll this out in 12 days seems very ill-timed at best.  I sail on Allure in 45 days and I have the 12 night Anthem scheduled for December for my annual Christmas vacation.  I love Royal Caribbean but the disappointment is very real for me as a consumer who gets to choose where his discretionary dollars are spent.   I think it's time I start exploring what the other lines do and do no offer, and what their value is.  

I think your experience sums up what a vast majority of cruisers have done too. Room service was something that they used sparingly, but it was nice to know it was there.
 
Of course, if you feel strongly about the change, let RC know.  Dynamic Dining was canceled based on guest feedback, room service policies can garner a change too.

In 39 nights at sea iv only ordered room service once. Because I stay in inside rooms and would rather eat at a table it's not really my thing.
But I'm still disappointed, that was a nice perk, I used to bring it up when trying to sell people on cruises.
I'm sure it was allot of work and not cost effective but it was a feature, and a good one.

I would be lying if I said I didn't think this was a money grab.  I have been loyal to Royal Caribbean since the very start, never wanting or needing to cruise with another line.   I know the argument can be made that it is simple to walk to *insert dining venue here* and get your breakfast and take it back to your room.   That's not the point, the point is there is a perceived value in cruising, and by slowly eliminating all of these values, aren't they becoming less of a value and more of an expense?   I fully understand the bottom dollar, and I can appreciate all of the suite benefits, and specialized offerings Royal offers.  But to me, this feels like just one more thing that now has an additional fee outside of my cruise fare, and when will it stop?  
 
To roll this out in 12 days seems very ill-timed at best.  I sail on Allure in 45 days and I have the 12 night Anthem scheduled for December for my annual Christmas vacation.  I love Royal Caribbean but the disappointment is very real for me as a consumer who gets to choose where his discretionary dollars are spent.   I think it's time I start exploring what the other lines do and do no offer, and what their value is.  

So I did the Navigator 9 day from Miami that visits Curacao, Aurba, and Bonaire.  I have to say, of all the ports of call I've been to, Bonaire was simply incredible.  I cannot give a high enough recommendation to Renee Snorkel Trips.   Renee is a former marine biologist who relocated to Bonaire 25 years ago. Her knowledge is simply second to none.  I certainly won't get into the pro's and con's of booking an excursion through RCI or through places like Shore Excursioneer, but I will tell you what we were looking for.  
 
1.  Something unique
2.  Something not packed full of our other shipmates 
3.  Something affordable 
 
I stumbled upon her website about 2 months prior to sailing.  Her website says she does small groups, and the cost for a two hour trip is 40 dollars, equipment and beverages included.  I'm sold.  
 
When she says small groups, she means it.  It was my sister, my dad, and a couple from the ship from Toronto.   We drove about ½ mile down the street from the ship and just parked on the road and she said that this was our first stop.  I thought it was somewhat strange, but when I tell you that you will encounter more fish than you have ever seen in your life, I'm not exaggerating.  The only fair comparison I can make is that it was like snorkeling in a fully stocked aquarium.  Renee points out all of the different varieties of fish, including several octopus.   The water was calm, and crystal clear.   Renee ventured to say at the first stop we saw between 150-200 different species of fish all at a depth of 4-7 feet. 
 
The second stop is the Bonaire Marine EcoPark which offers the deeper of the two stops, and it allows you to see the vast schools of fish swim through the coral.  This stop is about 5 minutes in the opposite direction of the first stop.  
 
I hate to be 'that guy' that gushes... but out of the 12+ sailings I've done, Renee offered the best excursion I've come across.  To give you an idea of how impressed I was, outside of the 120 dollars it cost for the three of us to go, we tipped her another 120 dollars because of how friendly, and knowledgeable she was as a tour guide.  
 
http://www.reneesnorkeltrips.com