Rhapsody of the Seas Review

CYCLONE MARCIA RUINED OUR FIRST CRUISE

Review for Australia & New Zealand Cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas
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mandl2015
First Time Cruiser • Age 50s

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Sail Date: Feb 2015
Cabin: Owner's Suite

BACKGROUND. Following a family bereavement, we had the opportunity to celebrate our belated 25th wedding anniversary by ocean cruising for the first time. Because we inherited the tickets, we had no control over the choice of cruise line, ship or date. Despite lengthy and comprehensive research, we did not expect such a terrible experience.

PLANNING. We accepted that the planning process may be a steep learning curve. Firstly, it was slightly hindered by some Royal Caribbean (RC) administration staff in Guatemala who were lacking in current ship knowledge and who sounded fatigued and irritated by having to assist first timers from across the pond. Their website seemed geared primarily for US citizens and we were unable to create a Sea Pass onboard credit account online, having instead to do so at the embarkation terminal in Sydney, our city of residence. At the Overseas Passenger Terminal, there seemed to be a computer problem as RC staff members stood around doing nothing and serving no-one. Finally, we were taken through to present ourselves and our carry-on luggage for x-ray. Despite complying with and then showing terminal security staff a printout of RC’s approved criteria for walkie-talkies, the hand-held units (and their charger) were confiscated amidst a flurry of seemingly anti-terrorism protocols. Communication, people! [no pun intended] Security staff seemed ignorant of (and disinterested in) RC’s guidelines. We were handed a receipt and told we could retrieve them once the ship was underway.

TRAVEL TO EMBARKATION PORT. For several years, Towncars has been our preferred method of transport in Sydney. Customer service staff members always assist us promptly and the professional drivers are reliably punctual.

Cabin Review

Owner's Suite

Cabin OS

CABIN. The Owner's Suite was in a clean condition and adequate for a couple, with bathrobes inside the ample wardrobes. The sofa bed was just as comfortable as the main. The spacious bathroom sported a Jack and Jill basin, hairdryer, toilet and bidet plus a spa bath with separate glass shower cubicle. There was a television opposite the main bed plus one in the lounge/dining area. With a bit of persuasion, the user-friendly safe accommodated a 10.1 inch iPad tablet. Underneath was a mini-fridge which was a glorified chiller. The balcony housed two padded sun-lounges. The pre-paid items ordered by telephone a few weeks prior did not arrive in our suite until Stores was prompted to deliver them without delay by our helpful Concierge.

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