Background: This was our eleventh cruise, the fifth with Royal Caribbean.
Embarkation: The process was long and frustrating. Some guests were not prepared to go through a security check and this delayed boarding. When we did board, the cabins were closed off and not made available until 1 PM. Guests and their carry-on luggage were crowded into the Windjammer restaurant.
Sanitation: During my first visit to the Windjammer restaurant I noticed the lack of hand sanitizers available for guests. When I brought this to one of the restaurant supervisors, I was informed that no longer were hand sanitizers being used. Guests were supposed to wash their hands prior to entering the various restaurants. On past cruises with RCL as well as other cruise lines hand sanitizers were evident in all restaurant venues, upon boarding or leaving the ship, near elevators, etc. Predictably, I became ill with a gastrointestinal illness, even when I used my own hand sanitizer as well as washing my hands constantly. Fortunately, I did not become sick until the last day of the cruise. However, the trip home was not very comfortable.