Rhapsody of the Seas Review

3.5 / 5.0
1,502 reviews

Expensive, Chaotic, Huge Disappointment; not the RCCL I Know

Review for South America Cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas
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ThelmLou
10+ Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Dec 2015
Cabin: Large Interior Stateroom

We decided over a year ago to spend our New Year’s with RCCL on the Rhapsody of the Seas in Brazil with New Year’s Eve in Rio De Janeiro. We were in Cabin 8525 and finally landed at table 444 for early 7:30 Seating. I must say that of the 87 cruises we have taken with various cruise lines over the years, this was amongst the worst overall cruise experiences we have encountered, allow me to detail why:

• We purchased transfers from the Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Santos. We were not provided with any vouchers/tickets nor were we provided with written documentation as to where or how to meet the transfer personnel at GRU. We scoured the website and found nothing. Our travel agent inquired in late November and was informed by RCCL that we should meet at Terminal 1 – Arrivals. Unbeknownst to us in early December, GRU re-numbered their terminals and Terminal 1 was in-fact a separate domestic terminal from terminals 2 and 3 – the International terminals. This discrepancy became noticeable to us upon our arrival on December 25 (the day prior to meeting the transfer). From the Marriott Hotel at the airport we attempted to clarify but given the Christmas holiday this was difficult. The RCCL.BR website was silent on the matter so we noted the phone numbers listed.

The number for “Day of Assistance” was noted but proved on 12/26 to be inoperable and erroneous – mind you this is on the RCCL website. We sent e-mails to help desks listed and when we received a response the next morning we were told that there were no transfers for this cruise and we would need to find our own way to Santos. Two days later I received an e-mail from Florida RCCL indicating that we should meet at luggage claim (impossible because luggage claim is behind customs and immigration). We took the advice of the Hotel Concierge, who had been unsuccessful in contacting RCCL Brazil, and arrived at Terminal 2 arrivals where we thankfully met up with an RCCL transfer Representative. We sent his picture back to RCCL Brazil to show them that, in fact, transfers were being provided. This lack of updated and correct information caused undue stress, a sleepless Christmas night, and just started the whole experience off badly.

Cabin Review

Large Interior Stateroom

Cabin K

Very nice and spacious. In good repair and spotlessly clean

Port Reviews

Rio de Janeiro

Transfer to the beach

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