Adventure of the Seas Review

4.0 / 5.0
2,220 reviews

First and most likely Last RC cruise

Review for the Southern Caribbean Cruise on Adventure of the Seas
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Lotsacruzin
6-10 Cruises • Age 50s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Apr 2017
Cabin: Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
Traveled with children

This was my 7th cruise overall, but first with Royal Caribbean (RC, for the sake of brevity). We chose RC because of their good reputation. We were extremely disappointed.

Initial Embarkation: Although there are assigned boarding times, RC does not enforce them. This resulted in very long lines to drop off luggage and check in. Also, the luggage handler requested a tip from each person in line. Assuming these are RC employees, I didn’t appreciate being harassed for a tip before even boarding the ship, especially when I knew I would be charged a mandatory tip for each day of the cruise.

Dining Service: Absolutely horrific the first night: We arrived promptly and were the first to sit in our waiter’s assigned area. Our server and assistant server were nowhere to be found. Nearly 20 minutes later, after repeated requests, someone finally brought us water. We had to ask for water refills, for our menus, and even had to ask “please take our order”. In the meantime, several tables that arrived AFTER us (same waiter/server) were already getting their appetizers. Service was unbearably slow. No one checked to see if we enjoyed our food or if there were problems, there were no exchanges of pleasantries – nothing. We were so unhappy with the poor service that we looked for a Maitre’d but could not find one during the meal or even after. On every other cruise I’ve been on, the Maitre’d stops at each table to welcome the guests and then periodically through the cruise checks in again. Not on this cruise. Not even once. We visited Guest Services as soon as we could and requested a new table (even offering to change seatings if necessary). They moved us to the same seating, a few tables away from our original table. Different server/assistant server, but close enough that our old waiter could glare at us. The service was very good the 2nd night, so we thought maybe the first had just been a fluke, but the following night and the rest of the cruise, it sank back down to average at best. Some additional tidbits: instead of placing small bread baskets on the table, the assistant server walked around with a tray and let each person choose a slice of bread or roll. But then she never came around again. You’re out of luck if you wanted more than one slice/roll, unless you think to take 2 the first time. Oh, and forget about having butter for that bread. They put a few pats on the table but once you’re out, good luck getting anyone to bring you more! The server and assistant server disappeared for lengths at a time.

Cabin Review

Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony

Cabin D1

Our cabin itself was nothing remarkable. It smelled musty but appeared clean. There was only a short (maybe 2 ½ feet wide) curtain to separate the couch/sofabed area from the main bed (would have preferred a curtain that covered at least half the width of the cabin for some privacy between the bed and sofabed). Our balcony was private and nice, though small. The suitcases fit under the bed (thankfully, as there was no other place to put them). Not much in the way of clothes storage but we made the best of it. The people in the cabin above us were very, very noisy and we got little sleep. We were told we could call security if they got too loud, but other than the first night (where it sounded like they ran back and forth all night long), they seemed to limit their movements to after 6am and before 11pm (which still robbed us of sleep because we are later risers). Unlike Disney and Princess, no chocolates are placed on the bed at turndown time, and towel animals are not every night (we got them 4 nights out of 7). Those are little things, but little things can make a difference.

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