Serenade of the Seas Review

The decline of Royal Caribbean

Review for the Southern Caribbean Cruise on Serenade of the Seas
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lightning425
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Feb 2017

I have done the majority of my cruises on Royal Caribbean. While I have noticed over the years a cut back in some frills, like free tote bags, I felt that the core quality had been maintained. Unfortunately, that is no longer true. The food offered in the main dining room was low cost options often poorly prepared. One night, the menu was a pasta dish, pizza, tilapia and pork. The only beef choice was on the part of the menu which does not vary night to night. Last year that option was a steak. Now it is sliders. The pork option was ordered by one person at our table. It was so dried out, he couldn't eat it. The person at the next table had the same experience. Another night, I ordered Steak Diane. It was so full of fat and gristle, I gave up. At breakfast, people used to circulate to offer coffee refills. Now you have to go the the drink station, wait your turn, and be given a cup of coffee. Refills require the same process.

We attended the second seating in the theater. Most nights the theater was 50% empty. Singing acrobats and unfunny comedians will do that.

One night, I tried the cinema. The sound didn't work.

Cabin Review

Port Reviews

Barbados

We took a $5/person cab ride to The Boathouse. For $20/person, we got a lounge, umbrella, drink, and snorkeling equipment and boat ride to a site where there were turtles and tropical fish. Best bargain in the Caribbean.

St. Lucia

We had read that vendors made Reduit beach unpleasant. We took a cab to Rodney beach. No vendors bothered us. Two lounges and an umbrella were $20.

Aruba

Did sightseeing in town

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