Allen2 Posted December 17, 2022 Report Share Posted December 17, 2022 We just got off the Vision of the Seas - 10 days followed by 11 days. To put these comments in perspective, we have been on 35 RCL cruises and know what to expect. Most areas of the ship were acceptable or better, but the food and service were abysmal! We also know how to complain in private and in a manner seeking results. We discussed issues with four tiers of management, but with no results until day eight of the second cruise! At that point service was impeccable! Dining room issues included: no assigned waiter (told he had back issues, but led to believe Covid), cold food, burned chicken entree, missed courses, wrong entree delivered several times, table not cleared after courses, raw fish entree, incredibly slow service - and many other issues. The Windjammer often had only one side open, dramatically slowing service, along with quality issues. The one bright spot for us was Chops, but we also talked to a husband and wife who waited 35 minutes after seating without having their order taken; they left, although we do not know if they attempted to resolve the issue. Many diners were not pleased with dining room service - and were openly discussing. One surprising bright spot was room service, which was always on time with correct orders! Is this a "one off", or has anyone else experience such a disaster on the Vision? cruisellama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 17, 2022 Report Share Posted December 17, 2022 Seems concernedly similar to reports on Explorer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorCruiser Posted December 17, 2022 Report Share Posted December 17, 2022 Is there still an issue with staff volume across the fleet ? Seems like numbers should be back up to close to pre pandemic by now ? Blulady and cruisellama 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen2 Posted December 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2022 23 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said: Is there still an issue with staff volume across the fleet ? Seems like numbers should be back up to close to pre pandemic by now ? Nobody on Vision would admit to staffing issues, but the fact that there was nobody to cover for the missing waiter seems to indicate staffing issues. The assistant waiter was brand new and untrained, but did his very best. Others helped out, but service really suffered. Also, not enough tables were open during dining room lunches to properly handle the volume, which suggests the same issue. cruisellama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted December 18, 2022 Report Share Posted December 18, 2022 Could it be that we're getting to the point of post restart contracts ending and there's some catching up to do there with relief? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 18, 2022 Report Share Posted December 18, 2022 13 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: Could it be that we're getting to the point of post restart contracts ending and there's some catching up to do there with relief? Long term contract crew came back in numbers but I suspect a lot of newer, low level crew couldn't go without working for months and found other work leaving the industry. Royal did massive recruiting efforts as we have seen. Not everyone will be suited to a life on a ship away from home and family. Some of those new recruits won't come back for a second contract. It's always been that way but now with the so many new first timers that attrition is more impactful. With more at the same time not coming back that leads to more first timers giving it a shot and the cycle repeats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryAA Posted December 18, 2022 Report Share Posted December 18, 2022 5 hours ago, twangster said: Seems concernedly similar to reports on Explorer. I’m currently on the Explorer and service in the MDR has been slow. Our waiter is doing his best but he has way too many tables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorCruiser Posted December 18, 2022 Report Share Posted December 18, 2022 So basically nothing in the service Industry will ever be the same. Man I miss 2019 Allen2, khynzelman, WAAAYTOOO and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steverk Posted December 18, 2022 Report Share Posted December 18, 2022 9 hours ago, GatorCruiser said: So basically nothing in the service Industry will ever be the same. Man I miss 2019 Forever is a very long time. I'm sure things will improve over the next year or two. I'm just finishing a cruise on Allure. The service has been outstanding. Best I've ever had. GatorCruiser and FloatyBoaty 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChessE4 Posted December 18, 2022 Report Share Posted December 18, 2022 Food quality on Vision late Oct Barcelona was fine. MTD had issues one night with a reservation line being 30 min late Staff were new but gracious. Missed bread one night and coffee another. That seems normal when you don't have same staff each night. Chops lunch was exceptional. WJ staff attentive but last dinner was not as advertised. Overall, 8 out of 10. Usually we experience 9 or 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 25, 2022 Report Share Posted December 25, 2022 We are considering a 10 night casino comp on Vision (which I would upgrade to a JS. No way would I spend 10 days in an inside !) in April but am somewhat concerned about the ship’s condition (both physical and service). Anything more to discuss re: Vision before we make a decision ? 10 days comp sounds pretty appealing but I don’t want to spend 10 miserable days on a crap ship. We have never sailed on Vision but are very familiar with Vision class, in general. Anyone else on Vision on April 22 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2022 Report Share Posted December 25, 2022 2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: We are considering a 10 night casino comp on Vision (which I would upgrade to a JS. No way would I spend 10 days in an inside !) in April but am somewhat concerned about the ship’s condition (both physical and service). Anything more to discuss re: Vision before we make a decision ? 10 days comp sounds pretty appealing but I don’t want to spend 10 miserable days on a crap ship. We have never sailed on Vision but are very familiar with Vision class, in general. Anyone else on Vision on April 22 ? The last I sailed her was in 2019 a few months before the shutdown. I enjoyed Vision. Since you've sailed this class we don't need to go over what it doesn't have compared to newer ships. At the time I sailed her they were keeping her well maintained. Izumi/Giovanni's/Chops so unlike some sisters she has the primary specialty venues. Vision was the last one built in this class so the newest. Compares most closely with Rhapsody. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 25, 2022 Report Share Posted December 25, 2022 1 hour ago, twangster said: The last I sailed her was in 2019 a few months before the shutdown. I enjoyed Vision. Since you've sailed this class we don't need to go over what it doesn't have compared to newer ships. At the time I sailed her they were keeping her well maintained. Izumi/Giovanni's/Chops so unlike some sisters she has the primary specialty venues. Vision was the last one built in this class so the newest. Compares most closely with Rhapsody. Glad to hear this since the deed is now done. Since you must book your onboard-earned comps within 7 days in order to keep your free play, we had to book both of the ones we earned on our 12-18 sailing during our 12-22 sailing. We did so, this morning at NC. Dan chose a 5 night Feb 5 Grandeur sailing which will align with our already-booked Feb 11 SY sailing (1 night stay-over gap S2S). I chose the 10 night April 21 Vision sailing which aligns with nothing but hey - a 10 night comp cruise ! I can’t tell you how great it feels to just be able to KEEP booking cruises without concern for vacation limitations or worrying about last-minute (or ANY for that matter) airline expenses. Retirement (in FL) is AWESOME fireclan, Ampurp85, CharmMicah68 and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted December 25, 2022 Report Share Posted December 25, 2022 Every time I read this thread title all I can think of is WAAAYTOOO and CharmMicah68 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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