Voyager of the Seas Review

4.5 / 5.0
1,492 reviews

OK for family fun but...

Review for Asia Cruise on Voyager of the Seas
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Ronniegiants
6-10 Cruises • Age 80s

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Sail Date: Apr 2015
Traveled with children

When selecting a cruise you need to know what it offers and what you want from it. We chose this cruise with Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas as a trip with our grand children (11 and 8). As such it turned out to be just what we wanted. If we were travelling by ourselves it would not have been. Big and glitzy, with 10 pools, climbing wall, ice rink, wave rider, mini golf, basketball court, games arcade, cartoon character parades and picture opportunities there was plenty for the kids to do on the alternate/shore sea days although the children's programs were quote "boring". The shows were good, the food plentiful and varied and good quality. And the stateroom attendants and waiters (we had our time booking) were, as is the norm, outstanding. In fact one of the highlights of the trip was their care for and interaction with the children. In short, the ship has been planned with family in mind – lots for kids and adolescents and plenty of bars, party atmosphere and a large casino for adults if they are that way inclined.

There were negatives however. Long queues – 45 minutes at times on customer relations and shore excursions desks, the line to leave the ship at Nha Trang and Nagasaki went up four decks despite the fact that those who responded to the request to wait in public areas filled those areas as well. Three hours to disembark (and one hour to rejoin the ship) in a port when the ship is only in that port (Nagasaki) for 8 hours is unacceptable. There was little information made available to the increasingly frustrated passengers and staff (“I don’t know why it is taking so long or how long it will be so you will just have to wait!”). Overall the organisation at best was poor and at worse chaotic and the old saying about an inability to organise a p…up in a brewery often came to mind! And this ship had just over 3000 passengers! What’s it going to be like on the 5000 monsters being built?

Having been on eight previous cruises we know about high on board costs but this one (our first with RC) wins first prize. $US15 each for the grand children to do a cake decorating session. They returned in 15 minutes with a cup cake smeared with icing and some sugary spots on them. If that’s not exploitation I don’t know what is! Then there is the bottled wine I can buy at home for $US8 selling for $US34 plus the obligatory 18% service charge. If we went on the ship’s shore excursion to the Peace Park and Atom bomb museum at Nagasaki it would have cost us $US375. When we eventually were able to disembark we did the same trip (minus a guide) using a taxi to and from and buying our own entry tickets and it cost us the equivalent of $US58. And what about the kids’ menu in the dining room which offers drinks but when you order them “but you have to pay extra for drinks from the menu” and of course with the additional 18% service charge!!!

Cabin Review

Port Reviews

Singapore

A very good embarkation port with plenty to do while awaiting your cruise. The city itself, the activities on Sentosa, the Zoo plus the ease to go into Malaysia if you wish give plenty of options. Becoming more expensive though.

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