My wife and I made our first cruise in several years on May 17, 2015, aboard the Freedom of the Seas. We are Emerald-level members and have enjoyed our past sailings. Things were remarkably different this time, however, and not all in a good way.

RC seems more intent on attracting new cruisers than keeping their past cruisers. Lots of Pixar characters (Shrek, etc.) all over the ship. When I asked one of the executive crew about this, he said they were making memories for their "future cruisers." OK, I get it, and I'm sure most of the kids will sail on RC with their own families... in 20 or 30 years. Meanwhile, we and the other repeat customers had to deal with the same old "love and marriage," "the quest," "the belly flop contest," etc. How many times can you watch the same thing? My wife and I didn't even bother to attend most of these. RC has been doing the same stuff for years. It is getting very OLD.

The biggest shock was drink prices, now $12 plus automatic gratuities. There must have been some serious alcohol inflation when I wasn't looking. Gone-- or well hidden-- were the daily specials. Read more