We are platinum members with RC and have been cruising with them for over 20 years. I feel that what used to be a fairly luxurious cruise experience has deteriorated into a very mediocre vacation. We regularly encountered meal offerings were frankly inedible (think hash brown potatoes with a shoe leather consistency or seriously undercooked main entries) and much of what used to be standard fare, for example options ranging from orange juice to some seafood dinner courses, now requires a substantial surcharge.

The new business model seems to provide passengers with a very average cruise experience unless they are prepared to pay substantially more each day for upgraded drinks, meals and services. I actually do not mind paying more, what I find unacceptable is the mediocre baseline experience.

Regarding service, I have noted that the ship's staff used to go out of their way to provide exceptional service. On recent RC cruises I strongly sensed that some of the staff consider their passenger's as annoyances. I must say that our cabin steward was extremely good. Read more