We all like to have our holiday expectations realised. We work hard and want to relax. So why is it that the small things seem to annoy more than big issues? Probably because small things can be easily fixed or shouldn’t happen if staff are competent.

Niggly things on a supposedly professionally run cruise can annoy even more. Here are a few experienced over 28 days in our back-to-back cruises (10+18 days Singapore/Hong Kong to Brisbane) on (RC) Royal Caribbean’s MS Legend of the Seas commencing on 10 November 2015.

• As a back-to-back booking, made a year prior & unable to get the same cabin, we had to move staterooms in HK (6566 to 6090). Immediately on embarkation in Singapore we approached Guest Services to see if a continuous stateroom arrangement was possible. Answer “No!” We then asked if we could purchase an upgrade given the cruise wasn’t full. Without reference to reservations, the answer again was “No”. We felt a bit put back offering money to get convenience and to be curtly refused. When challenged the response was that “Miami handles bookings and we can’t do anything on-board.” Curious that NextCruise sales staff, who seriously push heavily incentivised future bookings throughout the cruise, can make bookings on-board for you. Also, a number of upgrades were spoken about by other guests during the cruise to accommodate other passenger’s complaints. We had offered to pay, not a freebee. Read more