We have been loyal to Royal Caribbean since its inaugural sailing. We have sailed with them every year since and are now Diamond Members. We now tend to say, let's try another ship next time. I apologise in advance for all the negatives, there are a few positives in here somewhere.
We tend to prefer eating in the Windjammer in the evening, as we do not like to be told when we have to eat, 5.30pm (too early) or 8pm (too late). We used the King Lear dining room for the first three nights, however, we like to sit where we like, with or without whom we want to. We find the Windjammer food excellent, with a vast choice, although on saying that the food in the King Lear was much faster than in the past, and hot. Perhaps that's because it was half empty. We did try to book My Time dining for the rest of the cruise but were unhelpfully told it was full. So back to the Windjammer. We found all the staff very helpful and friendly except one particular barman in the Dog and Badger who was rude beyond description. Our cabin steward Surendra was fantastic, cleaning the room at least twice a day, we had a Level 10 Junior Suite.
The recommending tipping was vastly extortionate.. $27 dollars per day for all staff. As we ate in the Windjammer most nights we did not feel it necessary to tip the waiters in the King Lear. So we cancelled our tips at the beginning of the cruise, and gave tips to who we wanted at the end.
Surendra our Steward was brilliant, cleaned room three times a day. Throw on bed full of snags, about time for a refurb. Good view from balcony, very quiet.