Censored Posted January 17, 2023 Report Posted January 17, 2023 Frequent Royal cruisers are obviously a member of this blog. Just curious if anybody refers to Cruise Critic for up to date data? I believe it is the same company as TripAdvisor which I participate frequently on my land resort vacations. , and find that very helpful as I can contact the poster directly to find out more detail on the property they just reviewed. RoyalCaribbeanblog has been helpful getting answers in detail much better than the monday night Q&A which is the same old ...over and over again.... and obviously great for newbies. Quote
Traveler Posted January 17, 2023 Report Posted January 17, 2023 I think you will find there allot of good information , the problem, like in trip advisor people tend to add revue when they want to complain about something so as any site like that you need to read it with a grain of salt. I myself, go to read the CC royal Caribbean boards whenever I want to humor myself , when I want real good direct easy to find info about RCL cruises I always come to this site. Ryan79, wordell1, Censored and 1 other 4 Quote
wordell1 Posted January 17, 2023 Report Posted January 17, 2023 35 minutes ago, Traveler said: I think you will find there allot of good information , the problem, like in trip advisor people tend to add revue when they want to complain about something so as any site like that you need to read it with a grain of salt. I myself, go to read the CC royal Caribbean boards whenever I want to humor myself , when I want real good direct easy to find info about RCL cruises I always come to this site. I agree with this. I switched a few years ago and much prefer it here. Ryan79, Censored and Neesa 3 Quote
Censored Posted January 17, 2023 Author Report Posted January 17, 2023 1 hour ago, Traveler said: I think you will find there allot of good information , the problem, like in trip advisor people tend to add revue when they want to complain about something so as any site like that you need to read it with a grain of salt. I myself, go to read the CC royal Caribbean boards whenever I want to humor myself , when I want real good direct easy to find info about RCL cruises I always come to this site. True enough. I know exactly how to extrapolate from Trip Advisor. I always look at how many contributions the reviewer has posted. In most cases the extreme negative ones are only a "one off" reviewer. ( revenge post) Then I look at the extreme 5 star positive reviews... again , one off" reviewers. and not seasoned experienced travellers. So I try to find middle ground if its there. Apples to apples comparisons. I think mainstream cruise ships are all basically very very similar. Royal seems to have an edge with more "bang for your buck" meaning best value equation. Is it 5 star luxury? No. Not even in a sky suite. You have to go to the ultra luxury premium lines for that... and usually very few complaints. You get what you pay for.... seems to be true enough. Quote
jbrinkm Posted January 17, 2023 Report Posted January 17, 2023 I go back and forth. There are more people over there which means faster and more responses (not always helpful). I find the people and interactions better over here. Not as many belligerent responses just to stir up trouble. More helpful information over here. Lovetocruise2002, wordell1, Ryan79 and 1 other 4 Quote
ChessE4 Posted January 17, 2023 Report Posted January 17, 2023 I only go to other sites for non-Royal cruise information, such as reviews of other carriers. I look for trends, e.g., on one (other) line excursions get a lot of complaints about being overpriced. This site is best for actual information on Royal ships, cruises, policies, and practices. wordell1 1 Quote
jbrinkm Posted January 17, 2023 Report Posted January 17, 2023 I will say that I like being a part of both roll calls. Different people on each (at least to my knowledge!). Quote
teddy Posted January 17, 2023 Report Posted January 17, 2023 I only go there for one single board since we have a future cruise in Europe booked on a different line. Some of the people there are hard to take, but I've been able to ignore them and find the info I want. I've seen some names I recognize, which is neat. I like coming here for the social aspect as well as the information provided. The atmosphere here is really nice and there are people I'd like to meet in person. MaryS, WAAAYTOOO, Carlos A. and 1 other 4 Quote
Suzanne Elise Posted January 20, 2023 Report Posted January 20, 2023 Unbelievably I was able to find a review of my exact cabin on there! They seemed to have good info on each deck too. So I have always found trip advisor great for hotels. I feel like TA people are not real foodies so I take that with a grain of salt. Quote
FionaMG Posted January 20, 2023 Report Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/17/2023 at 6:09 PM, jbrinkm said: I go back and forth. There are more people over there which means faster and more responses (not always helpful). I find the people and interactions better over here. Not as many belligerent responses just to stir up trouble. More helpful information over here. This, exactly. Quote
FionaMG Posted January 20, 2023 Report Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/17/2023 at 7:56 PM, teddy said: I like coming here for the social aspect as well as the information provided. The atmosphere here is really nice and there are people I'd like to meet in person. Me too. Quote
TwaltReview Posted November 14, 2024 Report Posted November 14, 2024 Do NOT SAIL WITH ROYAL!!! My heart aches as I recount my experience on the 3-day cruise to the Bahamas on 11/8/2024. The Allure of The Seas, a ship draped in beauty, promised so much more than it delivered. Arriving to find my bag damaged was just the beginning. It felt as though the staff were lost themselves, amidst the very ship they were meant to be guiding us through. I had poured my heart into planning a romantic surprise for my boyfriend—chocolate-covered strawberries, wine, and cheese awaiting our arrival. But as I walked into that room, my excitement turned to disappointment when the surprise was nowhere to be found. To make matters worse, when they finally presented the covered dishes, they carelessly placed them on a small table next to the couch, as if it were just an afterthought. The activities felt stifled, confined to cramped spaces that robbed us of the joy of participation. Wandering the ship became a frustrating endeavor, as I was misdirected time and again about the locations of shows and restaurants. Even the app, designed to simplify our journey, betrayed us with incorrect information about the comedy show’s venue. It felt surreal that the guests appeared more informed than the very staff meant to assist us. As for the food—my culinary expectations plummeted to the depths of disappointment. The buffet offerings lacked flavor and enthusiasm; my scrambled eggs were runny, and the smoked salmon was unappetizingly slimy. After an agonizing wait for dinner, drinks, and to place an order, I was presented with a vegetarian option that was little more than mushrooms in a sad marinara sauce, crusted with breadcrumbs. I couldn’t bring myself to eat it. When I asked for an alternative, it came in the form of mushy white fish, another culinary misstep. In the end, I was left with nothing but bread for dinner and later felt compelled to book a specialty restaurant, a decision that only felt like a desperate attempt to find something worth savoring. The cruise line seemingly forced us into a corner, where we had to pay out of pocket for decent meals after being disheartened by the dreadful complimentary fare. To top it off, my boyfriend and I were obligated to purchase the deluxe drink package—even though, due to medical reasons, I could not drink most of the items on the deluxe list, I was told I had to purchase. Only to sit next to a random couple that told me they were not force to both buy the $134 per person package. I made five calls to customer service upon returning home, each time feeling more frustrated than the last. I spoke with Bell ID# 1010646, who gave her hollow apologies, and the offer of a measly $55 to offset my $110 gratuity which felt like an insult. I was denied the right to speak to someone above her and Royal closed out my case. Lastly, the cruise took their full charges at the end of sailing and still placed a hold on my card, which may take up to 14 business days to clear. $1000 hold even though they have been paid in full! Of course when I called I received the same Customer Service Rep Bell ID#10106456 that offered me another apology with no resolve. It’s evident that Royal Caribbean is accustomed to complaints like mine; the lack of genuine care was palpable. Please spare yourself the heartache and the expense! Save your hard-earned money and precious time—choose a different cruise line and pursue an experience worthy of your dreams! WAYNO 1 Quote
SpeedNoodles Posted November 14, 2024 Report Posted November 14, 2024 1 hour ago, TwaltReview said: It’s evident that Royal Caribbean is accustomed to complaints like mine; the lack of genuine care was palpable. Please spare yourself the heartache and the expense! Save your hard-earned money and precious time—choose a different cruise line and pursue an experience worthy of your dreams! I'm sorry you had such a miserable time. All of my 15 cruises between 2001 and 2024, including on Allure, have been wonderful. PhillyLady, Hoppy2BHere, teddy and 2 others 5 Quote
smokeybandit Posted November 14, 2024 Report Posted November 14, 2024 Bazza, Hoppy2BHere, ScottD and 7 others 4 6 Quote
Southern Dan Posted November 14, 2024 Report Posted November 14, 2024 I wonder if any dancers were shaking their buttocks on the Allure? USCG Teacher, tjcruisers, PhillyLady and 2 others 1 3 1 Quote
Pattycruise Posted November 15, 2024 Report Posted November 15, 2024 5 hours ago, TwaltReview said: Do NOT SAIL WITH ROYAL!!! My heart aches as I recount my experience on the 3-day cruise to the Bahamas on 11/8/2024. The Allure of The Seas, a ship draped in beauty, promised so much more than it delivered. Arriving to find my bag damaged was just the beginning. It felt as though the staff were lost themselves, amidst the very ship they were meant to be guiding us through. I had poured my heart into planning a romantic surprise for my boyfriend—chocolate-covered strawberries, wine, and cheese awaiting our arrival. But as I walked into that room, my excitement turned to disappointment when the surprise was nowhere to be found. To make matters worse, when they finally presented the covered dishes, they carelessly placed them on a small table next to the couch, as if it were just an afterthought. The activities felt stifled, confined to cramped spaces that robbed us of the joy of participation. Wandering the ship became a frustrating endeavor, as I was misdirected time and again about the locations of shows and restaurants. Even the app, designed to simplify our journey, betrayed us with incorrect information about the comedy show’s venue. It felt surreal that the guests appeared more informed than the very staff meant to assist us. As for the food—my culinary expectations plummeted to the depths of disappointment. The buffet offerings lacked flavor and enthusiasm; my scrambled eggs were runny, and the smoked salmon was unappetizingly slimy. After an agonizing wait for dinner, drinks, and to place an order, I was presented with a vegetarian option that was little more than mushrooms in a sad marinara sauce, crusted with breadcrumbs. I couldn’t bring myself to eat it. When I asked for an alternative, it came in the form of mushy white fish, another culinary misstep. In the end, I was left with nothing but bread for dinner and later felt compelled to book a specialty restaurant, a decision that only felt like a desperate attempt to find something worth savoring. The cruise line seemingly forced us into a corner, where we had to pay out of pocket for decent meals after being disheartened by the dreadful complimentary fare. To top it off, my boyfriend and I were obligated to purchase the deluxe drink package—even though, due to medical reasons, I could not drink most of the items on the deluxe list, I was told I had to purchase. Only to sit next to a random couple that told me they were not force to both buy the $134 per person package. I made five calls to customer service upon returning home, each time feeling more frustrated than the last. I spoke with Bell ID# 1010646, who gave her hollow apologies, and the offer of a measly $55 to offset my $110 gratuity which felt like an insult. I was denied the right to speak to someone above her and Royal closed out my case. Lastly, the cruise took their full charges at the end of sailing and still placed a hold on my card, which may take up to 14 business days to clear. $1000 hold even though they have been paid in full! Of course when I called I received the same Customer Service Rep Bell ID#10106456 that offered me another apology with no resolve. It’s evident that Royal Caribbean is accustomed to complaints like mine; the lack of genuine care was palpable. Please spare yourself the heartache and the expense! Save your hard-earned money and precious time—choose a different cruise line and pursue an experience worthy of your dreams! My very first cruise I left the ship super mad about my experience after spending a ton of $ for my family of 6 to sail. I took my frustration and educated f because I did love the cruise, just not the things I wasn’t aware of. this discussion group is great to learn all the things you need to do you shouldn’t have the majority of the bad experiences you had. 1. complaints need to be addressed onboard. Honestly I think you are lucky you were offered anything back. 2. You can ask for the head waiter to make your complaints about food and ask for more or substitutions or sides from one plate to be added to your plate to make the meal meet your needs. 3. It’s known on these boards that you can call in and buy one deluxe beverage package and the other person can get the refreshment package. ( discussed in these boards) 4. Gratuities can need removed onboard if you so choose. (Discussed in these boards) 5. The pending charges are mentioned in your precise documents as well as in the app and in the compass and they do go up with the more you charge onboard. You’ll be lucky if those pending charges fall off in 2 weeks (another topic that’s been discussed in these boards) 5. use of the app to learn where things on are the ship -click on the ship and look at deck plans) is quite useful as are the wonders onboard. You really do need to know how to orientate yourself or you’ll be walking in the wrong direction for a large part of your sailing. Typically windjammer and main dining are aft, and theater and gym are forward. Once you’ve figured out where elevators are in relation to your cabin it makes all the difference. When facing forward in a ship say PS…port/starboard…port is in your left and starboard is on your right. Also something I just learned, after 60+ sailings in Royal if facing forward you can find the ladies room on your right, because the ladies are “always right “. This would work in most Royal ships and decks but not all, sent without proof reading-forgive the errors FloatyBoaty 1 Quote
PhillyLady Posted November 15, 2024 Report Posted November 15, 2024 I am not sure who you expect to be agreeing with you. This is a website for folks who often sail on RC, and who are great fans. Someone like me who has been cruising for fifty plus years on multiple cruise lines in multiple countries pays absolutely no attention to reviews from newbies, especially when they are sailing only on a tiny three night getaway, which is really not representative of all the diverse cruise experiences RC offers. I agree with others that if you tried to learn more about the cruise details in advance then you might have had different expectations and experiences. I am not sure why you think complaining to RC was supposed to resolve anything, since nothing really went wrong--disliking the food is not a valid reason for a refund. Ha-ha, when I was a little girl cruising the only food I would eat sometimes would be soup and canned fruit cocktail--you can bet my parents lost money on me! No one forced you to buy a drink package--I rarely drink alcohol, so husband orders all drinks a la carte, and we just pay the bill at the end, usually not too expensive for just one person having one or two drinks each night. I, personally, consider it "cheap" to remove the gratuities and would never dream of doing so. In the past we tipped in cash in big amounts with lots of envelopes! Yes, I like the RC blog a lot because most writers here genuinely love RC and cruising, and ask great questions--CC does feature a lot more complainers and often it just wears me out reading them all! Ryan79 and Southern Waters 2 Quote
Southern Dan Posted November 15, 2024 Report Posted November 15, 2024 Maybe one day TwaltReview will be back...maybe. Quote
Ryan79 Posted November 15, 2024 Report Posted November 15, 2024 1 hour ago, GatorCruiser said: Hit and run ? Sounds like it was AI written for sure USCG Teacher and Southern Waters 2 Quote
Cakemeister Posted November 15, 2024 Report Posted November 15, 2024 I wonder what ChatGPT prompt was used to create that. Quote
Southern Waters Posted November 15, 2024 Report Posted November 15, 2024 I agree that it seems fake, maybe AI or Chat GPT. The writing style was a bit too dramatic ("my culinary expectations plummeted to the depths of disappointment"). Come on! WAAAYTOOO and Southern Dan 1 1 Quote
SPS Posted November 15, 2024 Report Posted November 15, 2024 2 hours ago, Southern Waters said: ("my culinary expectations plummeted to the depths of disappointment") WAAAYTOOO, teddy, Southern Dan and 2 others 1 4 Quote
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