Price was very cheap initially , however after all the extra charges might as well booked a nicer ship . Too many staff on their first deployment ( no experience ) NO LOBSTER night ,, unheard of !!! Rancid bacon at breakfast 30 % of staff unfriendly self serve ice cream was not and the server seemed intent on breaking the machine. put the ice cream part of the cone in my hand !! "can i get a napkin ?" pointed and grunted! A lot of broken equipment in spa . Room was very clean and room attendant excellent Head waiter and waiter excellent ... Assistant waiter new ,, never got a single drink order we asked for ( day 3 on we brought drinks to the dining room . Food quality ( heat ) poor , some nice tastes , however mostly cold food .. Our table mates sent their food back 4 times ... Selection was not great but adequate .. Left the dining room on 2 occasions headed buffet for hot food and better desert. Comedians great ,, dancing almost non existent .. no entertainment staff around for dancing music . Bridge crew smoking in non smoking areas ! Seems they have a few very very good crew trying to train newbies or crew that have been demoted. disembarking with no bags took 90 minutes. Summary it seems cheap , overall average price .. book a newer ship with better crews and better food . Read Less

I had an unexpected grande mal seizure waiting in medical to have a bite looked at. I received top notch and professional care and as an RN myself I can see when teams are organized well. Thanks to all for gokd care and a swift transport to hospital. Not how I wanted my first cruise to end but I can say with confidence these folks are ready for medical issues. Thank you. The parts of the cruise I do remember were lovely. Every employee was friendly and helpful and my nurse/physician team were nothing short of excellent. I didnt like walking by all the smokers on the top deck, but as far as complaints go that is all I can think of. We wanted for nothing and were very well cared for. The ice show was fantastic. Thanks to all especially Dr Jorge. I endorse this crew with all I have. Read Less

A weekend get away cruise for my Husband and I kid free! My husband pre checked in which you must do! We were on the ship in 5 minutes! We had an interior room which was great, I like the class shower doors, slept well with No windows and the room stayed cool. Plenty to do! Do not miss the Love and Marriage game show and comedy show if no kids. We did the sushi class, made 3 rolls! But have to eat there was stuffed! I hear a lot of complaints about the food not being good in the main dining room but we enjoyed it. Not a fan of Nassau just went and got a drink and souvenir and got back on ship. Did not pay for anything at Coca Cay enjoyed the beach and new pool, food was great, a lot of choices get the cheese sticks! Read Less

I seem to be one of the only people left in this world that have not been on a cruise and it was time for me to get away and enjoy some grown up time with my love. I had to get away from town so I would not think about work and I always wanted to see the crystal clear water. This ship was like a mini city on the inside! Absolutely beautiful with a team of crew members that worked together like a well oiled machine. I think I only encountered two that were not in a good mood, but I don’t know what’s going on in their lives right now so I can’t judge. Vincent took care of our room and made sure I had my extra pillows. He always had everything ready for us and would greet us with the most amazing smile. He will be going places some day. That is an amazing and kind soul. The wait staff at dinner was superb! We had the same table each night so we got to know our servers. The meals were more delicious then expected. The marriage show was funny followed by a an interesting comedy show. Great job Mariner Crew. I will definitely be back some day.... when I can afford the tickets. I have to be a good mom and bring my daughter (17 yr old) on the next one. Read Less

This was a must do cruise for us and been 4 years in the waiting! Why because of the itinerary all in one trip. Good parts, itinerary, cruise staff, food, drinks etc Bad parts, old ship, woeful musicians apart from the two bands that stood out performing every day & night. The shows in theatre were woeful at best the two guest entertainers were excellent! The ship should getting ready for another refurbishment but I doubt it, with it being a small ship it’s quite easy to get around lifts told you deck 5 when in fact deck 9 but we soon got used to it. Food onboard was acceptable in both buffet and main restaurant with staff being excellent. With smoking in the casino that only left four bars open at night! Trying to get away from the guitar & violinist was an issue they kept going to the one good bar, without being rude they were probably the worst in our 15 cruises I never seen them acknowledge each other never mind speak obviously talented people but what they played was awful, perhaps it wasn’t what they liked to play. The cabin was clean but dated without the usual bill on your tv. To end of complaints our charges on visa didn’t tally with the paper bill. Read Less

We wanted a short cheaper cruise for our Anniversary. We had some gift cards from work to apply to RC to bring the cost down. We had to call RC multiple times and took a month and after our cruise for the cards to be applied. The booking agent with RC was not the most helpful to work with and was at times rude. We had it noted in our booking it was our Anniversary the day we left yet no one from RC from the cabin steward to the dining room staff said Happy Anniversary until my husband went to the head waiter and told him. We didn't expect any gift or items but a verbal acknowledgement would have been nice since the phone customer support had it in the file when they asked after we had all the trouble with the gift cards being applied if we would like to purchase a bottle of champagne for our anniversary. The main entree food in the MDR was good overall with the exception of the fish which was overcooked and dry. The desserts were underwhelming as we have had much better on other cruise lines. The two best are the chocolate cake they have every night and the grand mariner souffle. We wanted to try the sky pad, lazer tag, ice skating, rock wall and flow rider. The sky pad we heard from another guest was going to be shut down by 5:30 the first day and not open the remainder of the cruise even though the itinerary said it would be open each day on their app. Sure enough it was closed for maintenance but didn't reflect that in their app. The lazer tag also had more times posted in the app than it was really open for so we were unable to try that. The Ice skating was pretty cool but also had limited availability and was fun to try. The ice show was great the best show we saw on the ship by ship staff. It was obvious they were stalling the first night for the comedy show but wouldn't announce that when the comedian didn't come on until 40 min into an hour scheduled show. The flow rider was fun but you could only go a minute or two per turn before waiting a half hour in line again. We liked that the ship never felt crowded or had trouble getting from one end to the other. The promenade was nice and the coffee drink cards well worth it. Other activities were on par with other ships. The comedian and ventriloquist were enjoyable. Overall we would cruise RC again if the price is right but to us it isn't worth the higher price when activities are unavailable more than half the cruise and the food is the same or other lines better. We did not try the specialty restaurants maybe the food is better there for the additional cost. The cabin was clean but smaller than ones we've had in the past but worked for us for a 4 day cruise. The only other negative was the $170 in extra credit card charges in addition to the end of cruise room statement we found on our credit card a few days after arriving home that RC says is credit card validation to ensure it's a valid card. Not sure I believe that they need to charge 5 charges ranging from $9-75 to validate a card. Read Less

Royal Caribbean gave us a wonderful experience for pur firdt time crusing. Getting on the ship extremely fast. I highly recommend people download the app and do early check in because that allows you to skip the long lines and wait times. We arrived and explodered and checked out almost everything. We met amazing people and the crew went beyond expectations for customer service. I feel as though those who complain are a bit high maintenance. Royal Caribbean goes beyond expectations to meet everyones needs. We had ocean view witg balcony. And i highly recommend it. We did the specialty dining everything was good but Giovanni's table. Not the best for a 5 star cruise. Windjammer has awesome lunch and dinner. Skip breakfast not very good there. Overall experience is a 5 star. Shore excursion were fun. Had to cancel last one due to poor weather. They did give a refund which they had automatically applied to our balance. One this i would recommend to save money is to purchase the beverage package. Going to the bar without it can add up quickly. Beer is about 10 dollars. Plus any girly blended drinks are 12 to 14 dollars. Its made a lot more sense to us to get it. Cause it also covers soft drinks, tea, smoothies and etc. Starbucks not included. We did comedy night the 1st night and the guys were funny. And has us laughing the whole time. Only 2 real downsides 1. They allow smoking near skybar. And also in the casino. Even for a large space it got to be a bit much and we had to aviod going to the casino after the 4th night. And 2. I wish they allowed more hot tubs and pools to be open 24 hrs. Most people on this cruise are older and i feel like we wouldnt need supervision. I feel like it would add a lot more romance and fun to those who want to each star gazing in the pools and hot tubs. Read Less

Outdated boat with outdated activities and entertainment, if you are over 75 you will have a decent time as the boat is small. The entire boat looks like the it is straight out of the 70’s... with outdated furniture and carpet. The bathrooms smelled like mold and mildew and using it just adds to the gross smell. The boat is past due for dry dock. I’m a bit surprised this is a Royal Caribbean boat. My stateroom shower uses shower curtains that never completely dry, with noticeable mildew growing on the surface. The fact that you have to touch the toilet lids to flush the toilet shows how outdated the boat is. The food was decent but could’ve been better for the prices we pay. The constant selling of drinks and packages became annoying and there was absolutely nothing to see in Bermuda. If you want an overpriced quick getaway on an old moldy outdated boat, this is the vacation for you. Read Less

Just home after a cruise to the Portugal and the Canary islands departed from Southampton. Firstly, RCC never miss a trick to make money !! Always book a drinks package and a dining package - we did both and it was excellent value for money. Sea days = Hell days just too many people . The sundeck was just awful peop!e packed in like sardines roasting in the sun. No room between lounger and literally no room to move and angle to face the sun. Food - good quality and tasty in the main dinning room. The Italian was excellent the steak much, much better than Chops !! Chops - the maitre D would make a great team in a funeral parlour , no smiles and no finesse a rather lack lustre dinner . Wind jammer my least favourite restaurant on board like a canteen and an unpleasant experience defiantly not relaxing or fine dinining. Best bit.... The washy hand man always singing and always smiling. Our cabin - Deck Ten 1402 very clean, large balcony although we never got any sun on it. Bathroom very compact but useable . Towels were tiny and a bit thread beard. Staff - all without exception very nice, helpful and genuinely like to look after you. Would we go again with RCC - NO !!!! This cruise is not "select " or luxurious and the price reflects the calibre of their guest - We will stick to Regent Seven Seas in future. I have in all honesty never seen so many mobility scooters , tattoos and chavs in all my life. Read Less

First can't fault much about the ship it's self only the staff seem to look after the american Porto rican and costa rican guest well and ignore the European guest. Did not like how the suite guest were treated like royalty and us common guest look down on. The food had a great choice every service but the quality i have had better on smaller ships. The service was not as good and what put me off the most when sitting down to dinner in the evening all very posh until you asked for a coffee after your meal and it got served in a mug not a cup as on most ships very strange. The cabins were very nice and clean and comfortable only saw our cabin steward once the whole week. The entertainment very good and lots of choices. The main thing i dislike with the company at Miami was embarkation and the worse one was disembarkation was like a mass of people all fight and pushing to get off and we ordered an lyft taxi from the port waited over 2 hours for it to arrive they had sent 6 different cars to us all were stuck in a mess traffic jam into the port nightmare. A very expensive ship and the service i have had better of other cruise lines . I have done royal Caribbean now and would not do again ship to big and not for us Europeans. Read Less

Prior to sailing: We purchased "The Key" which was a very good investment for us both. I also pre-scheduled our excursions (2 directly from Royal Caribbean International and 2 from other vendors) and activities such as IFly and the North Star along with pre-booking our night to see Pixels and the Escape Room. I drafted a calendar of events, activities, and dinner times and places we wanted to do from prior cruise compasses with lots of time to add more while on the ship. Months prior to cruising, I signed us up for the Meet and Mingle Roll Call, and participated on the review boards for our particular cruise and met many nice and funny people. This is a great way to meet others prior to sailing. Thursday: Seattle, Washington - We flew into Seattle a day before the cruise and arrived early and dropped our bags off at "The State Hotel" just steps away from Pike Place Market. It was our first stop and we watched the fishing sailing through the air. The booths are endless - we saw crab legs as long as our arms, an abundance of flowers and many local crafts. Prior to returning to our hotel, we enjoyed dinner at "Pike Place Bar & Grill." The Steamed Manilla Clams and the Cod Fish and Chips dinner were delicious. Best fresh cod ever! Embarkation and Day of Sailing - Seattle, Washington: Due to the time change and going to bed early, my husband and I had morning coffee at the "The State Hotel" and explore more of the area. Our Lyft picked us up at the hotel and we arrived at the ship minutes later at the Port terminal (before 10:00 a.m.). As I was a disabled veteran he made sure we were dropped off close to the entry doors - the cost $16. Upon showing our Sea Passes - we were quickly ushered in the line for "Key" members and sat in the area to await a wheelchair for me. Time quickly flew and before we knew it - the activity director took us aboard the largest ship we have ever seen. This was the fastest and easiest embarkation we have ever experienced. Ovation of the Seas - She is a very beautiful ship with plenty to do and see. It would take weeks to accomplish all on her. Our balcony cabin was mid-ship on the 11th floor - 11180. Knowing it would not be ready until 1:00 p.m.; we went to Guest Relations and purchased the Wow Bands for $4.99. These bands are surely worth it as I used it often for unlocking our cabin door throughout the cruise saving time for searching for my Sea Pass which I left often in the light switch. Not only did Glen, our room attendant, kept our cabin neat and clean each day, he left multiple towel animals for us to enjoy. I took Traveler's Ginger Candy (Gin Gin Company) with me and only had to savor two of them during the cruise. I share most of the bag with others who were experiencing seasickness even wearing the patch. Friday: Day 1 - At noon, we went to the Main Dining to eat with other Key Members and enjoyed a Chops Grille luncheon. Hubby had the Colossal Shrimp Cocktail, Everything Crusted Tuna and the New York Cheesecake. I had the Caesars Salad with their signature dressing, Petite Filet Mignon with three dipping sauces and the New York Cheesecake. This meal was scrumptious! After eating lunch, we explore the ship unto our way to the cabin. The large towel I pre-purchased was in the room, but the Polar Bear Alaska Blanket for two was missing. I spoke to the attendant and he did not know if one could be found. This was distressing for me, as I had purchased it months ago. A few days later the Deck Supervisor found a brand new blanket and gave it to me - it surely made my day that the personnel on the ship took extra lengths to ensure our cruise would be delightful. We saw our Key envelopes and entered our passwords for the VOOM and notice that we had a letter stating our special departure times for each port. Our next stop was at the Sky Bar where we met our Cruisers from our Roll Call. It was great seeing who I had been conversing with online prior to sailing. Muster was at 3:15 and we made our way down to the Schooner Bar. Go a tad bit early for Muster to obtain a seat. Muster went flawlessly. At 6:00 p.m. while hubby was relaxing and watching out our balcony, I went to see and purchase the Alaska Survival Kit. Many store vendors had their selections out and I was able to purchase gifts for our kids. I preselected our "My Time Dining" for 7:00 p.m. and we went to eat at the Silk. This dinner was disappointing after having a fantastic luncheon with Chops Grille. Although we were seated quickly, it took a while to take our orders. Hubby and I ordered the Escargot that was swimming in butter and parsley. I love eating escargot but the Silk's mostly tasted like butter and was bland. Maybe Silk could try cooking the escargot with less butter, add garlic and mushrooms to it like they used to do in the early 2000s. The rest of the meal was neither remarkable nor memorable as the prime rib was overcooked. The service was sporadic and we miss the old days of the traditional MDR days with the greeting from the Head Waiter, Waiter and Assistant Waiter all of whom worked together. I believe the seating arrangement made it more difficult and all of these restaurant venues with "My Time Dining" made it more difficult for the wait staff and guests. I highly suggest two of the venues return to the traditional MDR. After dinner, we went to Comedy Night on Decks 4/5. The show was average and was disrupted many times by guests leaving. We sat in the handicap area and the attendant was a tad bit annoyed with us sitting there. I guess she did not see my cane nor my leg brace. Her sour demeanor was quickly forgotten. After the show, we stopped in the Royal Casino and the host gave us our gold coins to try our luck at the special slot machine. While hubby played Blackjack, I tried my hand at Roulette. We both had a good night and won some. We strolled Deck 5 and found the smoking area. We made friends there that we would see often throughout the cruise. By the time we got to our room our luggage had arrived and morning came fast. Thanks to other cruise reviews, I had most of our important items in our carry-on. Saturday: Day 2 - Cruising: After having morning coffee, hubby and I went up to Deck 16 and were excited to experience the North Star. Even though I do not like heights, this was an awesome experience. Hubby took many pictures and we were able to see far off in the distance including the entire ship. Upon standing in line, the attendant escorted to the elevator to take me to the doors of the North Star so I can experience it without struggling the stairs. Just a FYI there are many times in which the North Star does not cost the guest any extra monies and as a "Key" guest we were able to experience it without lines a 2nd time. Port Shopping Show - I went to the Port Shopping Show and learned the best places to visit for shopping form multiple beautiful gems to see and possibly buy. Bingo and Blackjack Qualifying Round - Oh my - had so much fun playing bingo and won an extra bingo shirt. I came so close to winning cash. Hubby went to the Blackjack Qualifying Round and placed for the tournament. Balcony and Deck 5: - Spent the afternoon relaxing and watching for whales and Orcas and saw many. It truly was an awesome experience. Formal Night - Hubby and I dressed to the max and it was such a delight. We went to the second seating at Silk. If we thought the first dinner was disappointing, this dinner was worse. I decided to try the Seafood with Linguini. It was terrible, the shrimp tasted old, clams cold and the bay scallops were still frozen. I pushed my plate aside and the waiter came and was told I was done. Another waiter stopped and asked if I wanted to try something else. Once again I stated I was no longer hungry and this time described the meal quietly as to not disturb the other guests. We saw him walk quickly to the Supervisor as we were leaving. Hubby told me to keep going as the Chef was now running behind us. We left the area, went to Sorrento's and ate pizza. Needlessly to say we miss MDR dining. After dinner, we went to the Comedy Show and it was great! So glad to try to see another comedy show. Afterwards we strolled the deck in the moonlight then changed clothes for the Casino and played a few rounds. Sunday: Day 3 - Alaska Inside Passage/Juneau - Once again we enjoyed a light breakfast at Two70 (Deck 5) of coffee, juice and Panini. We went to our Meet and Mingle in Vintages and were greeted by others who posted prior to cruising. Tony and his wife were experienced cruisers and were very friendly. Tony gave each us beautiful bracelets. Thanks Tony! We met families with children who were bored and suggested the Adventure Ocean program. Two families sought us out later and told us they had a hard time getting their children to leave. Juneau, Alaska - Due to the Key, we went to the Music Hall (Deck 3) at noon to await our departure for Juneau. Within minutes, we were off the ship and going down the gangway. Upon hitting the boardwalk, a Pedicab took us to the Mount Roberts Tramway in which we purchased our tickets to the Tram and to AJ Mine/Gastineau Mining Tour. We took the tram to the top and we were able to see Eagles and view the authentic Alaska Native Arts and purchased items in their gift shop. We took the Tram down and were met by our guide for our mining excursion. This was a quaint excursion as it was shared with one other couple. We saw this same mining company on the Discovery Channel. Our guide was a retired miner and kept us entertain while exploring the inside of the mine. We learned the history of the mine and it was quite an experience. Once outside the mine, two young guides taught us how to pan for gold and garnets of which we each found almost entire vial worth of both. This is a must see excursion which I found online. Upon returning to Port, hubby and I went shopping and I was able to collect my charms to add to my bracelet while looking at Gold Quartz jewelry, Korite (Ammolite), Tanzanite, an array of Northern Lights jewelry the rare Alexandrite collection and the Crown of Lite jewelry collection. If you are a coffee lover like us - visit the Heritage Coffee Roasting Company. The aromas are intoxicating. While most people were eating at Tracy's Crabshack and eating arm length crab legs, hubby and I had a delicious dinner at the Twisted Fish Company. Their clams in wine sauce, crab cakes and calamari were scrumptious! We went back to the ship by 8:00 p.m. and took our purchases to our room. Upon leaving our cabin, we saw the telephone message light blinking and quickly learned how our Klukwan Native Culture Excursion was canceled due to "lack of participation." Although the Shore Excursion Desk stated for us to come by and book another excursion I took time to look at the Royal IQ app and saw there were none that interest us. I searched Google and learned this excursion had closed for the season the week prior. This left a bad taste as you would think the Shore Excursion would verify all excursion to ensure none closed early for the season prior to the sailing. Needless to say, we went to Deck 5, met up with friends and were invited to join them for the Jeep excursion to the Yukon. Shortly there afterwards we went up to the top deck to take photos of the ever changing sculptures on the pier and watched the sail away at 9:00 p.m. A while later we stopped in at Schooners and listen to piano music, visit the Casino, ate late night pizza at Sorrento's, met more friends on Deck 5 and had an enjoyable night. Monday: Day 4 - Skagway, Alaska - Morning came quickly and we picked up breakfast at Two70 and sat in the Deck 5 lounge. Shortly thereafter, the four of us left the ship (with our passports) and we walked to town (take the tram and ride it as it is 1/2 mile hike). Before you know it, we were in the jeep driving towards the Yukon. Our GPS (jokingly our landmark book) did not take us directly to the Yukon, as it did not account for the road closure and detour. Before we knew it, we arrived at the Yukon Suspension Bridge. We took our time, crossed the bridge and saw its beauty. Afterwards we had lunch at their cafe of bison chili that was mouthwatering. I purchase bison chips, crackers and cheese to enjoy later. After an hour out we turned around and the road was already paved, and we were on our way to Carcass and saw the smallest desert. We stopped in Carcross for drinks, snacks, and some shopping (a nice small town with plenty to see and buy including readers). The ice cream was delicious. Within minutes, we saw a bear by the side of the road and took pictures. We saw so much wildlife on our way to Emerald Lake. So cool to see and many photo ops there too. Soon we arrived at Emerald Lake and the view was spectacular. We took our time traveling back to Skagway and came upon another bear - this one was very large standing in the middle of the road. After taking a few pictures, the bear retreated into the woods nearby. The four of us went shopping and picked up trinkets, postcards and the train charms for our bracelets. We were back on the ship by 5:00 p.m. in time to relax for dinner. Tonight we had reservations for the Solarium. This is a quaint dinner spot that is included in your cruise to partake if one so desired. Many people just ate from their buffet, but Hubby and I chose from their menu and their buffet. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very relaxing. The tables were nicely spaced and the wait staff made sure each guest was enjoying oneself. After dinner, I went to the Rossalite Gems show - these gems are beautiful!! Hubby and I watch the sunset and off to play at the Casino. Tuesday: Day 5 - Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier - hubby and woke up early and went to Two70 for coffee and carried our breakfast to the Deck 5 lounge where we could Glacier Watch. This did not occur ,as the Captain of the Ship was wise to turn us around when he saw how big the icebergs under the water were and was smart enough to put our safety first. Many understood but there were others who were angry until other guests explain that small iceberg on top of the water is much smaller than what is not seen under the water. The Captain took his time and the entire ship went whale watching with many to see. Prior to lunch, I went to the room to pick up my bingo shirts and daubers and purchase my bingo cards. I was awarded extra free bingo cards for each shirt and dauber and was given the B3 Blue Bingo Fish (which gave me an extra bingo card on day 3 - win a cruise bingo). No wins for me but came close and had an enjoyable time. After bingo, we went and saw the Love and Marriage Show - this show is a must to see and everyone seem to enjoy themselves. Afterwards I dropped off my bingo gear and was met by the 11th Deck Supervisor who surprised me with the Polar Bear Winter Blanket! Yeah!! Escape Room - this activity was pre-booked prior to cruising. Hubby and I never experienced and it was quite intriguing. There were 12 of us working together in which you collect clues, solve puzzles to escape and only had 1 hour to do so. Hubby found most of the locked boxes and we helped solved many of the puzzles to collect clues and were able to escape. This was a very fun activity and everyone should try it. I do know not all the ships have this activity but they should as it is a very enjoyable experience and does not take up much room to play it. Windjammer - Hubby and I went exploring another part of the ship and dropped our Custom Form off at Guest Relations. Unbelievable as there is still so much to see and experienced. Dinner was upon us and we decided to try the Windjammer. We were met with "Washy Washy" which sounded delightful in her singsong manner. A table was easily found and we went to look at the array of foods. Chad made me a delicious plate of my own ingredients for Lo Mein. I thought I was full until the dumped a fresh batch of French fries at a station nearby and off I went to get a small plate of them with Malt Vinegar. Oh my - I was in heaven!! The array of desserts will make your mouth water once again. Another familiar feature was seen in the Windjammer was see fruit carvings - the fish in the watermelon was totally spectacular! After dinner, we strolled the deck to walk off dinner prior to an evening out with hubby. I missed out as I fell asleep while waiting for hubby taking a shower. He went to the Casino with friends. So nice that I was able to catch up on my sleep which is hard to do on such a fun cruise. Wednesday: Day 6 - Cruising - Yep we had coffee from Two70 and taking breakfast away to Deck 5 lounge and relaxed watching the waves. Fab Abs class - OH MY! That was surely a work out! Off to the room to shower so I can enjoy the day. It was not long until it was our time to experience the IFly on Deck 16. IFly - The crew here are very safety conscious and thoroughly enjoys assisting guests with having a fun experience. First, you are asked if you have had any neck and upper back injuries as one cannot safely participate. Next, you are weighed in - thank goodness, they do not say one's weight aloud. Hubby could not participate, as he was a few pounds too heavy for his height, which he was fine with as I think he was more excited to see if I would go through with it. Lol. We watch a short safety video, learned our four hand signals and then suited up. Soon it was our turn to go to the gravity chamber. Since all of us listened and followed their instructions, we were able to fly higher with our instructor in which we spun upward. Such an exhilarating experience!! Bingo for a free cruise - Went to the room, picked up all my bingo gear and given 21 cards to play. So close with 1 number but did not win - maybe next time. It was so nice to see the young gentleman jump up, yell bingo, and win a cruise for 2 while on his honeymoon. Dog House - even with all the variety of food - a good beef hot dog and/or bratwurst with sauerkraut fits the lunch bill easily. Relaxing afternoon - hubby took a much needed nap and I went exploring the shops (be wise and leave your sea pass in the light switch like me - it saves you money - lol). I purchase a few small items and went to relax with friends. I woke hubby for dinner and dressed for our second formal dinner. American Icon Grill - this was chosen as Hubby refused to go back to Silk and he knew I wanted to eat lobster. Dinner service was extraordinary and so unlike what we experienced in the Silk. The Wait Staff were friendly and interactive with the guests. The waiter made dinner suggestions and knew the ingredients for the dishes. Our appetizers were delicious (hubby had the Caesar Salad and I tried the Escargot again - their style of cooking grows on you). Hubby selected the beef tenderloins and asked for rare and was super shocked it was cooked the way he wanted AND very tender. He was enjoying this dinner outing. The Waiter brought me two lobster tails and brought heated butter to the table. Oh my! The lobster melted in your mouth. After dinner, the Waiter cleared the table and knife scraped the tablecloth prior to dessert (an old MDR table method this was the only time seen done). Since this was the 50th year, a special cake with swirled lollipop stick came out with the desserts we selected. Hubby had apple pie ala mode nicely heated with a side of vanilla ice cream. I had the Molten Chocolate Cake that was quite delicious. Hubby and I had another stroll on deck and met up with our friends who had a very enjoyable experience too while dining in Wonderland. We share our dining experiences and discussed what we were going to do in Victoria. We all went to the Casino and knew bed was early as the time change went forward 1 hour - morning would arrive sooner. Thursday: Day 7 - Victoria, British Columbia including the Hop On Hop Off Tour - Hubby and I took the double decker bus to Victoria ($15 roundtrip per person) and saw many sights on our way and was dropped off at the Empress Hotel in time to purchase our tickets for the Hop On Hop Off bus which had a 90 minute tour if you stayed on it. My leg was sore so we chose the tour. The tour guide, Norm was very interesting and we learned about the Gold Rush, the history of Victoria, saw the tiniest through way that Mel Gibson took for Bird on the Wire, Craigdarroch Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, etc. We even saw peacocks and many deer throughout the tour. Once back to the Empress Hotel, we walk towards Irish Pub called the "Irish Times" for lunch. I advise you to be extra hungry as we ordered the O'Hagan's Platter. This platter is huge and contained Chicken wings, loaded fries, sweet potato fries and dry ribs. Hubby and I barely put a dent into it. This platter covered almost the entire table with barely any room for our drinks. We explored some of the shops and purchased a few items to take home. We took the Double Decker bus back to the cruise ship by 4:00 p.m. Both of us took showers and went to meet up with friends to share our Victoria experiences. Later that evening we ate dinner at Windjammer which was quite filling. We took our nightly stroll, headed back to our rooms to pack our luggage, and left it in the hallway for pick up. We went to the Casino, played a few rounds and turned in our remaining Chips and Tokens. Our last stop for the evening was a quick late night pizza at Sorrento's and I went to the library and printed out our plane tickets home. Friday - Day 8 - Vancouver, British Columbia - it is a sad day that this fantastic cruise was coming to an end. Since we had the "Key," hubby and I were treated to breakfast in the American Icon on Deck 4 prior to leaving on Deck 5 near Wonderland. We disembarked in easy and quick manner and our luggage was quickly secured. Our porter took our luggage throughout the terminal and escorted us outside the terminal by the Pacific Hotel where we would meet for the Sear to Air Post Tour Excursion with Landsea Tours. This is a 6-hour tour that included a drop off to the airport. Our tour guide was very interesting and we knew it had changes to it as the Gondola to the Suspension Bridge had been sabotaged a few weeks prior to the tour. Landsea Tours emailed us 2 days after the sabotaged to verify whether we want to continue with the tour as the Suspension Bridge was exchanged for a visit to Grouse Mountain Resort. We first crossed the Lions Gate Bridge and saw the massive entry lions. We took a brief trip to Shannon Falls and it was a breathtaking sight. Next, we went to the Britannia Mine Museum and this was exciting as we had the opportunity to learn how the rocks were broken down until fine sand and then sent to San Francisco to cultivate it for gold, silver, copper. We toured the underground mine and then toured the ground floor of the building learning about the different stages, how hard mining was, and the harsh life of the miners. We panned for a bit and found more gold and copper nuggets. We then took a brief trip to Horseshoe Bay for lunch and saw Howe Sound fjord. People were so friendly throughout the tour. Lastly, we traveled to Grouse Mountain. We took the Skyride Gondola up the mountain and arrived in time to witness the Lumberjack Show that was quite funny and impressive showcasing their skills. The lumberjacks interacted with the audience throughout the show. Vancouver Airport - Once the tour was complete we were dropped at the Airport doors for Westjet and assisted with our luggage. Our flight home late that evening was uneventful except how the Canadians can teach Americans a thing or two about the ease of flying international while disabled. As I was seen struggling trying to obtain luggage tags, a gentleman with Westjet quickly assisted us. Upon seeing me struggling with walking, he secured a wheelchair with a Westjet attendant for me. She took us through security. The Canadians operation for going through security is easily done as is how one travels throughout their airport. First, they swapped out my cane for one of theirs so I can go through scanner without the fear of falling. Next, security was already ready to scan my knee brace quickly and I was whisked away by the Westjet attendant to the appropriate gate. She made sure we reached our gate in a timely manner with time to spare. Unknowingly she reserved future wheel chairs for me for the remaining two connecting flights. Our first flight went from Vancouver to Toronto. Upon arrival, a Westjet attendant whisked me away in a wheelchair and took all the shortcuts to customs. We were there within minutes and a few questions later on our way to our next flight. We were quickly through security and once again, the cane swapping occurs. This was so cool as the disabled were treated with respect and not a hindrance as what I had incurred on the flights with American Air to Seattle. Each airline took care of their own passengers while the airport staff drove the trams to the multiple terminals. Upon our arrival at La Guardia airport, the wheelchair was there and we were quickly taken to the terminal for our last flight with Delta Air. We quickly obtained our luggage and hubby had us on our way home. We had an awesome time celebrating our 34th anniversary on the Ovation of the Seas (such a romantic setting for 2) and now must go back to the real world, but already planning our next cruise for 2. Or maybe with all our adult children to enjoy too OR just plan 2 more cruises??. Read Less

We were looking for a 4 or 5 day cruise. The price was right and the itinerary (Costa Maya and Cozumel) was perfect. We had been in this ship in October 2016 and it has since been refurbished. IRoyal addressed many of our concerns over the last trip. Activities and entertainment on board was quite good. The food was way better. The new Cruise Director was 100 percent better than the last one. "Tornado" Tayna was everywhere along with her activities manager. Their team was exceptional. Plenty of things to do, The Gym however even though updated was still tight. The air needs to move in there and the update didn't address the stuffiness of the area. The rooms are nice, or Stateroom attendent was exceptional and so were our waiters.. Aside from meeting the dining room manager once, we never saw him again. The food though was very good as mentioned before. The rock climbing wall was put in and the pool area was updated. Plenty of room and chairs to catch a tan. We have one more booked on this ship out of Florida before it heads to New Orleans. For what was the largest ship in the world and now considered Royal's dinghy it still gets the job done. Fantastic vacation. Read Less

We chose to go on this cruise due to the ports. It was harder to get to than a Florida cruise flying to San Juan. The ship is beautiful. I love the 5th floor promenade floor The whole ship was very clean. the public washrooms were so clean someone must just stay there and clean all day. Our cabin was amazing. We had a 12th floor panoramic ocean view. With only 30 feet to the outside deck we did not even is the balcony and the view we had was second to none. The main dining room food and service was excellent. Louis was our waiter and really made the dining experience excellent. The ports were amazing and since we have cruises so many times it was nice to go somewhere new. Now for the negative- I was not thrilled at all with the entertainment. I did not like the big productions, the skating show was OK, the comedians where good but overall did not like the shows. (compared to MSC Seaside and others) The activities where OK but very focused on the Spanish clientele. it was really the other guests that made this cruise only a 3 out of 5. I estimate that more than 70-80% of the cruise was from Puerto Rico. More Spanish than English. We have done cruises with MSC where announcements are made in 6 languages and I did not find that as annoying as the "loud" shouting Spanish constantly announced. The buffet was OK but being on any kind of restrictive diet really limited what you can eat. My biggest pet peave. saving chairs. There are signs up saying you can't save chairs but no one polices it. Prime chairs had a towel and flip flop on the chair for over 6 hours (that we were watching) and no one every came to sit there. On Celebrity you don't sign out chairs but you also lose your chair if you are not sitting on it (with your towel) there is staff picking up towels all the time. There is really no saving chairs. I wish all cruise lines would adopt this. Read Less

We booked this cruise last year whilst on Voyager of the Seas in Asia. At that time we were asked if we were celebrating anything special and advised that it would be our 25th wedding anniversary during the cruise. It was our intention to renew our wedding vows onboard and we mentioned this when booking our flights with our Travel Agent. RCI acknowledged this during this second booking contact. However it transpires that this is no longer offered by RCI and to renew your vows, you have to purchase from the Wedding Package range (minimum $5,000) Our main disappointment from this cruise was the complete lack of empathy or customer service when we challenged why RCI ask if you are celebrating something during the cruise and then choose to completely disregard the information provided. The colleague at Guest Services promised a bottle of wine and chocolate dipped strawberries when we advised that Princess Cruises gave us this when celebrating our anniversary with them. We got a bottle of red wine delivered to our cabin (which we gave to our waiters as we don't drink red wine). We are still waiting for our strawberries. We also had an issue with Photo Services due to an error with my wife's Seapass card not showing her Platinum status which affected the discount on our phot package. Even although it was obviously an RCI error, the Photo Services manager would not over-ride the decision on the till to only give one set of discount. No proactive initiative shown by the manager. Anyway on to the rest of the cruise, which was a very pleasant experience. Embarkation was very swift and without incident. We had special assistance booked and my wife had her mobility scooter with her which was a god-send, based on the size of the ship. Only issue with this, was the frequent rudeness of fellow passengers who barged into the lifts despite us being waiting longer. Ship is amazing and didn't feel crowded except first day during embarkation. Cabin was fine and our cabin Steward, Karen, arranged for our scooter to be stored in the hold overnight. No issues and we are pretty low maintenance guests. Food in Windjammer was OK for breakfast (our only meal taken there), but as usual bacon is atrocious and it's disappointing that there is no omelette station. We tended to use Sorrentos for pizzas at lunchtime and Café Promenade which were excellent. MDR was excellent with our Waiting team of Noel, Clifton and Head waiter Tony an absolute credit to RCI. Food was always good and I frequently had two starters with no questions asked. We did not use Specialty restaurants. Bar service was always very good with no issues. Surprised to see Newcastle Brown Ale on draught but good selection of beers and spirits. Entertainment was excellent although didn't see Mama Mia. Aquatheatre show and Ice show were amazing. Band in Dazzles, Great Ideas, were brilliant and could turn their hands to any musical genre. Enjoyed singing with them at the Live Karaoke night. As we had been to all the ports, we did not do port excursions, however I booked a Disembarkation excursion which included a transfer to Miami Airport with some sightseeing and shopping. This was cancelled with the most feeble of excuses (operational reasons), which the Excursions Desk felt was due to hurricane damage to the providers' tour buses!?! As a result, we booked an airport transfer onboard. This was nearly a disaster as all the buses were designated to go to Fort Lauderdale, not Miami. Eventually a gracious (not!) driver advised that he would do us paying passengers a favour by taking us to our airport which we had entered into a contract for anyway. He then refused to take my wife's mobility scooter, due to it's weight. Luckily me and a fellow passenger persuaded him to let us load it! Crazy customer service which cost him any chance of a tip. All in all a great experience, however I do feel RCI need to get a grip on their customer service to give customers a better service when things don't go quite right Read Less

I would have given Ovation more stars but right on the docks it started badly. My husband and I both have mobility issues. This was our 50th anniversary cruise and we almost weren't allowed on the ship! When we arrived at the port although we were scheduled for pier assistance, we had to walk a LOOOONG way to get there, you don't get to the wheelchairs till you are almost on the ramps! They checked our passports and set sail passes on the first floor of the pier and sent us up the elevator to check in. There were people just off the elevator who again looked at our set sail passes and told us to see a pier administrator. I asked why and where do I go. They did not say why but just said go straight ahead someone will help you. We went straight ahead, talked to yet another person who told us to go to the wheelchair area, who then sent us back to one of the check in desks. Long story short, after at least 6 different people who kept saying they didn't know what was going on, one lady said, "Oh, you can't get on the ship because you owe money!!!" She said we owed $179.62. Not only a strange amt but how could I have printed my set sail pass if I still owed money? Luckily, I had printed all my Paid in full receipts ...cruise, excursions and amenities After repeatedly saying we owed the money but having no idea why, they allowed us on the ship only after I signed papers that said I would settle this on the ship. They also copied all my paid in full receipts. then we went to wait for wheelchairs. When we finally got on the ship, we went directly to guest services to get this taken care of and no one knew what the amount "owed" was for, only that we owed it. They said they'd check it out and get back to me and leave a message on my phone....never happened. This went on for three days, each day a promised call never happened...finally one person at guest services, on the third day said I guarantee you will not be charged for this ...she signed a receipt and the charge did not appear on my bill. Not only was all this a pain, but we were unable to sign up for the escape room and Ifly on boarding because they were gone since we took so long checking in....total time checking in....we were at the pier at 1030a and rooms were open by the time we left GS...so it was after 130p. We got to our room and it was a very nice quiet room, about 15 ft off the elevators, . After unpacking, I went to wash my hands and heard a deep gurgling sound. The hubs thought it sounded like a clogged or blocked pipe. I didn't pay much attention since the toilet and sink worked the rest of the day. The next morning while I was taking a shower I realized the water wasn't going down and before I could get out, the water level had risen to the height of the bathroom door! Luckily it did not go into the room. They sent someone up to rod out the drains, followed by a team to clean and disinfect the bathroom. After that we had no problem with the room. The balcony was large, and comfortable...with 2 chairs and footrests and a small table. The blackout shades worked well and the bed was comfortable. Our room steward "V" (his name was very long and difficult to pronounce so he said just call me V) was great. Replaced the ice as needed, cleaned the room, even when we said don't bother and kept us supplied with towels and some towel animals. We did not use the MDR as we ate whenever we felt hungry. We used the Windjammer and the food was actually very good. Loved the soups but they were loaded with salt! Finding a seat however was another story. We also ate at Sorrento's Pizza...which was very good. They had antipasto type dishes and pizza. Cafe Promenade was not as good as on the Oasis class ships. Desserts, pastries and cakes on the whole, were not very good. But this was expected since they were no better on any other RCI ship I have been on. The casino was drab and smoke filled. It seemed that there were very few slot machines and the only ones paying or interesting enough to play were in the smoking section. I did hit a jackpot for $1180 and was very happy it was $20 under the taxable limit...they have signs all over the casino stating that there is a 30% tax on wins of $1200 or more!!! 30%...that's HUGE! As far as the excursions/ports....Loved Juneau and Skagway but transportation in Skagway left a lot to be desired. Whale watching and wild life excursion in Juneau was a big disappointment ...seeing only the water blow and a whale's back was not very exciting. We saw about 5 sea lions on one bouy ...the extent of the wildlife. The captain said he saw an eagle fly by. The excursion boat was old, smelly and the stairs were so steep they were very difficult to maneuver even for able bodied persons. Skagway was beautiful and the White Mountain Pass Railway is a must do. We used luggage valet through RCI and it was great! It was easy and free. We left our luggage outside our door on Friday night and never saw it again till we landed in Chicago. Disembarkation and airport transport was a joke really. We bought and paid for 2 ...then got an instruction sheet very late...after 8pm with instructions for everyone but those with transfers...all it said was Transfers booked with us? Please see below...but the "below" was not there...many people were in line at GS just after 8pm on Friday for help trying to figure out what to do. The next morning, we found our way to the wheel chair assistance area, I needed to use the restrooms and tried to go to the one near the W/C area..I was told I'd have to walk up or down one floor or take an elevator (you know how crowded they are when everyone is leaving the ship).They said the restroom was closed due to security reasons! WHY would they make the restroom close to the handicapped area unavailable?!?!?!? Stupidest thing ever!! Continuing on.....although our flight wasn't until 330pm...we were put on an early bus and had to wait at the airport for 6 hours!!!! They also, wanted to put us on a different bus but the bus driver was nowhere to be found...so they loaded us all up on yet another bus. Also there was no manifest of names for people who paid nor did anyone have a physical ticket. Honestly, anyone could have gotten in the transport line and boarded one of the buses for free. Where the buses leave you at the airport was VERY far from the check in area....a good 4 blocks...there were however, wheelchairs for those that needed them. The ship, on the whole, is beautiful and yes, I would go on it again. The hallways are very twisty, turny and not in a straight line like the Oasis class...this makes walking thru those hallways seem very long and for the first time ever I always had difficulty figuring out which direction was the front or back. Also, when the MDR, Windjammer and 270 are closed (they all seemed to be closed at the same time) , there is only free pizza or what is available in the cafe promenade (premade shrimp salad or ham & cheese sandwiches, the same everyday) available. They really need something else. They do have a hot dog hut but it was never opened when we went there. Fish & Ships, by the outdoor pool was never busy. I only saw one or two people there the whole cruise and it was not free. We LOVED both indoor pools but the hot tubs in the solarium were very tiny...and really WHY do people traveling in Alaska open the windows??? Makes for a rather cold indoor pool. Read Less

My husband and I decided on this cruise because it was so culturally immersive. We left out of shanghai and embarkation and disembarkation was a breeze. Make sure you write out the name of the cruise port in Chinese if your taking a taxi there because the drivers don’t know English. Also make sure they use the taxi meter so your not over charged. We got a balcony cabin and the room was super spacious and larger than other regular balcony rooms in other ships. We had cabin 9160 and it was awesome. The entertainment and announcements were all done in both English and Chinese and they did an awesome job. The ports were all amazing and it was the first time this ship had gone to Vladivostok and Kyoto so we had an awesome send off from the locals on the pier. All the staff onboard were awesome and super friendly. Everyone speaks English on board as well as most can also speak Chinese. The food was so yummy and the menu was huge every night! I would defiantly cruise again on this ship! The shows were well rehearsed and better than the ships in the Caribbean. The only thing was the shopping wasn’t the greatest on board. It was all super high end shops. The pools and hot tubs were never ever busy and super easy to find a chair. They do not have walking waiters by the pool or shows for drinks so be aware. There is no bingo on board either if that’s your thing. This ship is so different from the ships in the Caribbean but everything was great! There is always lots of activities to do presented in both English and Chinese. The ship never felt crowded even in the windjammer! They have a great variety of both western food and Chinese food which is awesome to give new things a try. Kyoto Japan was our favourite port of call so if you go make sure you get the motor coach into the city with royal! Vladivostok was really pretty and the locals were all very nice. You cannot go ashore without a visa or booking a tour directly with the ship so we booked a tour. Fukuoka japan was great too but the prices of merchandise was higher here. We also did explore dazaifu and you get free time to shop! Great tour! Read Less

Walt Okon =Review of GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS on 5- 14 September 2019 in room Grand Suite #8016 Grand Suite # 8016 is located on the eighth deck, port side (Left Side) of the ship. 1/3 of the way from the bow of the ship. Stateroom Attendant was Dominic Moses. He was excellent in all respects. This room was perfectly clean and set up for us. We use sanitizer wipes on everything and inside every drawer. There was no dust anywhere. Temperature control: the system worked perfectly, best control of any room I every had. The mini refrigerator keeps everything very cold. Lighting: Excellent on the complete lighting system and controls. Balcony: Large with table and four chairs and two excellent lounge chairs. Bed: King size with luxurious bedding. The mattress was good but did have the middle high point. We had good sleep every night. Storage: Three large hanging closets and 16 drawers. Lots of storage. The only concern was noise from the ninth deck (pool deck) when they moved furniture, the noise was unbearable. Crew Staff: All very friendly and all were excellent. I cannot say enough excellent things about them. Food: Royal Caribbean food quality has diminished in the past five years because Royal in buying bulk frozen foods that are just cook. Example; hash brown potatoes come in the perfect size and portion that are just fried and served. These and many others are not fresh, but frozen stock. Now York stake and prime rib is so thin the quality taste is not possible. Frozen prepackaged items are served with excellent presentation; but the fresh taste is not there. Royal food quality had been diminished over the years. This is due to Royal Caribbean corporation doing mass food buys/contracts. The corporation is buying food in mass like McDonalds. Cooks can only do their best with the food supplies provided by the corporation. Clam Chowder was soupy and tasteless – worst clam chowder ever. Crab Cake tasted more of bread consistency than crab. Minestrone soup at lunch in Gatsby served with the soup spilled over the cup and down into the serving dish -poor presentation. Dining Room: Great Gatsby main dining is on deck 4 and 5. The staff of head waiters, waiter, and assistant waiters have maintained this restaurant with grandeur and excellence. Dress is formal on formal nights and Smart casual at all other times. Head waiters, waiter, and assistant waiters were all excellent to outstanding. Food quality is only fair to good (3 stars at best). Again, this is due to Royal Caribbean corporation doing mass food buys/contracts. Cooks can only do their best with the food supplies provided by the corporation. Specialty Restaurant: Chop Grill. We had an excellent and very pleasant breakfast in the Chop Grill every morning. Fine dining, perfectly clean lining and dining setting every time. Waiters all excellent. They were very attentive and receptive to all special dining request. Excellent food preparation and presentation. Some frozen prepackaged items are served with excellent presentation; but the fresh taste is not there. Crown & Anchor: Diane Megumi, Loyalty Ambassador Miss Diane Megumi was the Loyalty Ambassador on this cruise. She made herself available and attentive to every question and need. She is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the Royal programs and knows how to provide solutions quickly. I personally brought a new first-time cruiser couple to her and she quickly enabled them as Crown & Anchor members. Concierge Lounge: Dudley Jean, Concierge Concierge Club Lounge is on Deck 11 is a private club lounge with a very advantageous view is the ship and ocean. It is a sound proof room enabling quiet conversations. It is managed by Concierge Dudley Jean and two attentive bar waiters. The ambience is excellent. Continental breakfast and special coffee were not always set up and ready in the lounge daily at 7:00 AM. Diamond Lounge: Ilona Tsyhaniuk, Diamond Concierge The Diamond Lounge is open to Royal Diamond member only and on this Grandeur of the Seas trip 5-14 Sep2019 is managed by Concierge Ilona Tsyhaniuk. She is excellent and is the best concierge I have had on Royal. She has been the most responsive to all needs and questions. The presentation of snacks and refreshments is very well done always looking fresh and inviting. The only and big problem is that the Diamond lounge is not a room that is quiet. It is only a participation space. The wall does not reach the ceiling and the noise from the South Pacific Lounge is unbelievable loud some time making conversation impossible. Guest Services: Adelaida Contreras, Senior Guest Services Officer provided service quickly and efficiently. Her personality and smile made us comfortable as she fixed a problem on the first hour we were on the ship. Salon & Spa appointments: On 12 September 2019, Mrs Go-Okon had a spa appointment for 11:15 AM. Mrs. Go-Okon arrived at 11:10 AM early for the appointment. The Spa front desk person told her to sit down and wait even though there were no other customers. But, the desk receptionist, services two other white woman while ignoring her and not calling her back after she finished with the white customers. Was Mrs Go-Okon being ignored because she is Asian? After being ignored and waiting twenty minutes, Mrs Go-Okon went to the desk again explained she has an appointment at 11:15 AM. The new receptionist said she would get some one. She cam back in five minutes and brought Mrs Go-Okon into a treatment room. The Spa treatment started at 11:50 AM which is 35 minutes scheduled appointment of 11:15 AM. Mrs Go-Okon is stating, “I felt DISCRIMINATED upon because of the way I was TREATED!!” Special Staff Recognition: Becknar Bermudes, Royal Caribbean Dance Instructor is an excellent dance teacher. She is always smiling, friendly before and after sessions with guests. She is genial, kind, and patient in all things and a shining star representing Royal Caribbean. She is one of the hardest working staff personnel I have seen. She is everywhere, helping everyone. Sarah Jane Ete, Windjammer Attendant is outstanding in serving her guests. She is quick to server the needs of the guests as she constantly observing their needs and how she can be helpful. She has a maturity about her in the Hotel management and serving field. She has excellent communications skills and is easy to talk sharing thoughts and ideas. Dickerson Lacsamana, Assistant Maitre d’ is an outstanding leader and manager. We have observed him for nine days and it is evident the entire restaurant staff look to him for leadership and guidance. Resolving problems and guiding staff with a gentile smile is an attribute that is in high demand. Recommend Royal Caribbean consider him for promotion into leadership position with complexity. Keith Sepulveda, Receptionist and hand sanitizer at the entry of the Windjammer Café’. This lady was an outstanding smiling welcome to the Windjammer. She brought smiles to our face every day. In fact, we looked forward to seeing her. She deserves recognition. Over-All Rating Outstanding. It is the friendlest Royal ship. I recommend it Walt Okon, Springfield, Virginia Read Less

Embarkation was great, we were on the ship 5 minutes after entering the terminal. The refurbished part of the ship is great, it’s a shame they didn’t update the staterooms. Ours was quite shabby with stained and faded sofas, old net curtains which didn’t meet in the middle and filthy curtain liners. Come on RCI. Our cabin was kept clean though, so no problems there, it just felt grubby because it was tatty. The food in Windjammers and the MDR was very good, plenty of choice. We had the lovely Amit and Heman (Table 755) looking after us, who were so lovely, friendly and helpful. We had My Time dining and had the same table and time every night. The shows in the theatre were very good, but the last couple of nights they changed the time to 7pm or 9pm, which was no good with our dinner time, so missed 2 shows. Grease was ok, but they had a few hiccups. Both the ice shows were great. I don’t think the groups/bands were as good this year, but that’s just my personal opinion. Bar service was generally good, but they could do with more staff in Boleros, as most days there was only one serving and if they had to go and get more bottles it was left unmanned. Quite a bit of queuing most of the time. Katerina, the waitress was brilliant there, friendly and smiling. All the ports of call were great, as was getting on and off the ship each time. We had the usual kids running around and playing in the lifts, but that’s down to the parents who obviously didn’t care. I was a bit worried after reading previous reviews about getting a seat anywhere, but we always managed to find a seat in Windjammers and a sun lounger every day. The bars were quite busy and if we couldn’t get a seat in one we always found one in another (except the Schooner bar, which was always rammed). I do wish everyone would wash their hands in the restaurants, as every day we saw people just walking straight in and we have to go and use the tongs they have used. Instead of the lovely singing waiters singing to wash your hands as you go in, they should be making people do it who walk straight by. Great cruise, lovely ports of call, glorious weather and no real complaints, only the tatty stateroom. Cannot wait until the next cruise. Read Less

This was one of the sails that was shorten due to hurricane Dorian. We were bummed but we completely understood it had to be done for everyone's safety. After much discussion my husband and I decided not to cancel our trip and let me tell you, I am very glad we saw it through. Though we couldn’t go to Haiti or Jamaica, Cozumel, Mexico was still an outstanding experience! We did two excursions: one was a semi-sub where we saw various fish including barracudas and rays and the another was the Jose’ Cuervo Experience where we learned proper tequila tasting techniques and how to make margaritas. We probably spent way too much money there but it was fun and worth it. As far as the ship, there was plenty to do and places to go, like the pools, hot tubs, indoor park, casino, etc. There were also amazing shows like Ocean Aria and Blue Planet! I loved eating at the Windjammer and we even took our food up to our ocean-view balcony one morning. The main dining places were great too with an array of choices and unlimited supply. The waiting staff couldn’t have been better. They all were so personable and remembered our names after only one day. We requested the same seating area the rest of the nights because of it. Same with room cleaning and the bartenders. Outstanding service! This brings me to my one complaint. During dinner for the first three nights they had taken several photos of me and my husband. The photographers worked very quickly so every time we had tried to ask how to get our photos they were already at another table. “Oh well,” we thought. Maybe some photo previews or at least a flyer on how to purchase them will be sent to our room, we had reasoned. On our last night we had planned to ask before they took our photos again, only there were no photographers there that time. Hindsight, we should have gone to guest services but foolishly we assumed at that point that we would get an email about the photos. We’ve now come to find out that there is no way to purchase photos post cruise which is extremely disappointing considering we were celebrating five years married. We accept some fault but it would have been nice and less confusing to have been notified how to purchase our photos by one of the photographers. This is only our second cruise and our first was with Carnival. We didn’t like Carnival nearly as much as RC but at least they had no problem informing us during dinner how to purchase our photos. Overall, this was a great cruise and due to the graciousness of the company, we now have extra money saved from our remaining three days that were canceled as well as some credit towards a future cruise. Allure of the Seas is definitely a ship I would consider again. Read Less

We booked this originally when we were supposed to go to Havana. When that got cancelled, we should have taken our money back when offered instead of taking the half price cruise. Big mistake. With the hurricane coming, they ended up changing out itinerary again. Despite this, they wouldn't let us cancel. We were stuck going to the Bahamas, the very same place getting devastated by the hurricane... The ship itself is the oldest in the fleet. We were willing to take it to Havana, but it is unsuitable for any other journey in my opinion. The amenities are few and far between. The one tiny pool was full on the one day we were "cruising" (I will get to this later) despite the ship being half full. The food was not up to the standards I've come to expect from Royal in both the windjammer and the fancy dinners. Now onto the worst experience part: Day 1: We get on the ship easily enough, get some drinks, go to the windjammer. Here is where the fun begins. We were accosted 2 times to buy their steak house dinner in a matter of 10 mins while trying to enjoy our lunch. I don't know about you, but I like to be left alone when eating my meals. Moving along to later that afternoon. We are in our tiny cabin resting and we finally get our find our bags which were delivered to the wrong room. My wife goes to take a shower and the bathroom floods. I go to the front desk to ask for help and to possibly move to another cabin (since the cruise was half full). They call maintence which responds quickly enough, but we were told that they were still waiting on passengers. "We don't know if we will have any open rooms". The cruise was half full, they knew it was going to be half full. We didn't ask for an upgrade, just a lateral move. They never followed up. At dinner, the food was underwhelming and we were accosted a third time that day to reserve their steakhouse dinner. We still hadn't left port that night because we were loading supplies for the Bahamas. Fine with us. We were happy they were making an effort to provide aide. If we only knew what that meant for the passengers. That night in the AM the ship was rocking and rolling on the waves as they went full speed to the Bahamas. I don't get seasick, but that is difficult to sleep through. Day 2: We are anchored outside the Grand Bahama Island the whole day offloading supplies. This is causing the whole ship to shake as they gun the engines to keep us straight. So we were really "cruising" at all. It was blazing hot and the pool was packed full. No wind to enjoy from a moving ship. The other passengers were all malcontent as well from being forced on this ship causing a very tense atmosphere. Thank god their spa was run by a third party because it was the only enjoyable hour of the cruise. At lunch, for the fourth time we are accosted by the steakhouse. My wife polietly said, thanks, but we already know about this, we are not interested. The guy starts to walk away and then turns around to give us another pitch! I with my mouth full of food, put my hand up to stop him. He decided this was a very rude action and made a snide comment about waving at him. That just the icing on the cake. It confirmed to us that not even the crew wanted any part of this cruise. Dinner was okay (besides the shaking mentioned earlier) but they were missing ingredients for my wife's entree and they didn't seem to know about it or care to inform her before she ordered it. The show was good, but since everyone was malcontent, the crowd was very lifeless. Day 3: Port of Nassau We were not interested in getting any excursions due to the hurricane so we got off the ship briefly to call home. This is the only time the pool was empty, so we were able to enjoy a relaxing swim. Dinner was actually good for once. We didn't really take offense to anything that day because we grew used to the standards of this non-vacation. We did order an excursion in Miami that would take up part of the day and drop us right at the terminal to fly away. Of course this was cancelled, leaving us 8 hrs of nothing to do in Miami. Once again, we were just used to the awfulness. Customer Service: We logged our complaints with their customer service line. They didn't care. Just told us, nothing we can do. Well there is something we can do, and that is not book a cruise with Royal again who don't care about their customers or their experience. Read Less

Overall, we had a great cruise out of Venice on 8/31/19. We had a great itinerary including Kotor, Corfu, Athens, Mykonos, and Keflonia. Unfortunately we were not able to get into Mykonos due to high winds and seas, but the crew was able to turn the day around to a nice day at sea, scrambling to fill in our recreation and entertainment needs. All the other stops were as advertised, offering many different things to do and see. We only availed ourselves of one of the tours on Argostoli to the beach. We were able to find plenty to do on our own and ended up having a great time and seeing some great places in a beautiful country. The ship is old, and shows some of it, though the crew does an outstanding job of keeping it clean and up to date. The food was for the most part good, and plenty was offered. The dining rooms were very nice, well run, and staffed by professionals who worked hard and long to make us happy. The show lounges were fair to middling, and while my wife enjoyed the shows, I made my escape to the casino to try my luck. Entertainment on board was varied and plentiful with lots to do and see, so if you were bored, it had to be your own fault. The entertainment director was all over and made sure we had fun. We especially enjoyed the Diamond lounge with their attentive staff with plentiful drinks and goodies. The only major complaints we had were with the schooner lounge and the centrum area. For some reason, the entertainers there mistake volume for quality in music. The piano player in the schooner was quite good, but not at 120dB. Same goes for the centrum. It's too loud to enjoy yourself or to converse with anyone near. I realize that "if the music's too loud, you're too old", but i love music as much as anyone, but I also enjoy a good conversation without blowing out my throat. Bad music is bad, either loud or soft, good music does not need to be broadcast at earsplitting levels. Read Less

Where do I begin? My wife and I just returned from a six night sailing on Adventure of the Seas. This was her 12th cruise and my 10th. We've sailed NCL, RCI, Carnival and Celebrity. Of all the ships we've been on, Adventure is my favorite without a doubt. We booked this trip when we were on Enchantment last September. I was excited about trying a Vision class ship because it has all the amenities of the Freedom class ships but is slightly smaller. Adventure, as far as I'm concerned, is nearly perfect. It's beautiful and in great condition inside and out. We stayed at the Newark airport Doubletree which was ideal. Uber to the port cost us a total of $16.00 and it simply could not have been easier. We walked out of the Uber, through the terminal and were on the ship within 10 minutes. I thought Port Canaveral was easy but Bayonne is even more so. I figured out a few cruises ago that wearing swim trunks onto the ship means I can jump on the slides and the Flow Rider while everyone else is in the Windjammer. I got to spend nearly an hour by myself flow riding in the back of the ship before lunch! (I'm 50, BTW!) We had My Time Dining with a reservation each night at 5:15. Our MDR servers were Danny and Rudolfo - both terrific - and we enjoyed them more and more as the week went on. Food was very good. RCI's food isn't our favorite but it's very tasty and of course, I left more than full every night! Nicole at the check-in stand was delightful and started the dinner experience off on the right note every night. There was only one formal night on the cruise and although we brought clothes for it, we didn't feel like changing so we opted for dinner that night in the Windjammer. Speaking of the Windjammer, I have to say it was spacious and very well organized. I was a bit surprised that it closed relatively early each night but pizza and other tasty things were available 24/7 on the Promenade (another feature of the ship we loved). Overall, the Windjammer exceeded my expectations and the staff there was very accommodating. They have packed the space tight with tables and it was often crowded. Still, it was well organized. We happened to go upstairs one night only to stumble upon the chocolate fountain and dessert bar. They never advertised it but I guess we just got lucky. I probably consumed 5000 extra calories that night! I did use the fitness center each day and was pleased that it opened on time daily. Unlike other ships, it was never packed and the machines were in good condition. Our stateroom was 9307 and Kevin, our attendant, did an excellent job taking care of us. We seldom ran into him but he knew our names when we did. We have grown accustomed to interior cabins because the cost savings allow us to cruise more often. The room was cool and dark when we needed it to be. There isn't a lot of space but it had everything we needed. The bathroom was tiny but also provided us with everything we needed. Overall, we were very pleased with the room and our towel animals! Entertainment was very good. The singers were better than most and the variety of shows was strong. There were two comedians on the ship - one early and one late in the cruise. We attended the family friendly shows but not the adult versions because for us, that gets old quickly. The one show I did not care for was Impact. They are three dancers/singers who do a high energy show. The audience seemed to love them but that kind of entertainment just isn't my thing. The Adventure of the Seas band was excellent. Our ports of call were St. John, Bar Harbor and Halifax. In St. John we did the pink hop on hop off bus which was great. It was just enough and the drivers/narrators were excellent. Honestly, we weren't taken with the city but the cooler temperatures and length of our 90 minute tour were ideal. Bar Harbor is fantastic - but crowded. It was the only one of the three ports where we were with another ship - the Queen Mary 2. It made for a lot of people in a small space. We took an Olley's Trolley tour to the top of Mount Cadillac and the views were spectacular. The driver/narrator was excellent there as well. Some people raved about the tender boats and others complained because they were too big and it took a long time to board. For us, it wasn't an issue. I don't really mind tendering. It's an adventure in itself. We did schedule a RCI excursion to Peggy's Cove in Halifax. It was a 3.5 hour tour - most of which was spent on the bus. Our tour guide was excellent but with only 55 minutes to spend exploring Peggy's Cove (charming but a place I don't need to visit again) it was a long morning. The weather was nearly perfect with 65 degree temps throughout the entire voyage. The two things that surprised me about Adventure were no outdoor seating in the Windjammer and a greater degree of smoking on the pool deck in addition to the casino. However, overall, Adventure, with it's interior and exterior beauty, spectacular venues and outstanding staff made for one of our best cruises yet. Unlike many other ships on which we've sailed, the CD, Drew, was low key and excellent. So often CD's tend to be spotlight hungry and over the top. Drew was neither. Disembarkation was easier than embarkation! We prefer self assist and left our stateroom (sadly) at 7:16 a.m. We were off the ship in five minutes and at the Newark airport before 8:00 a.m.! Honestly, the ease and simplicity of the on and off process at Bayonne makes me want to find other sailings from the port. And it didn't hurt that we sailed passed the Statue of Liberty and under the Verrazzano bridge! All in all, I highly recommend Adventure of the Seas. I would sail her again tomorrow and will most certainly look for other cruises on Vision class ships. Read Less

We were the cruise that no one was really sure we would be able to even take because of Hurricane Dorian! Royal Caribbean was AMAZING at communicating with us and letting us know the advantages of hanging in there with them and assured our safety so we decided to go ahead keep our reservation and take the cruise. This ship is the nicest ship we have ever had the pleasure of taking, We have taken many cruises on many different lines. We are now have Platinum Status on RC so we are trying to continue growing our reward level on this RCI ships and family. We absolutely LOVED every single part of this ship! The Rooms were the largest and spacious and beautiful. The ship is immaculate, the food was excellent, and the service was awesome! I cannot tell you how pleased I was with my experience! Royal Caribbean knocked it out of the park with this Ship and this Cruise. There really were so many differences to this cruise and this ship than so many others. It was just a way different class of ship than so many others! Read Less

This was our second time on the Majesty of the Seas , so we knew what to expect. What we did not expect was 2 FREE days added to the back end of our cruise, Because of hurricane Dorian 2 extra days were added to the back end of our five day cruise, I have to say the the captain was on the P A system sometimes twice a day letting us know that because of the hurricane RCCL would stay out 2 days longer than planned and there would be NO added cost to passengers and Drink packages and internet packages would also be extended at NO extra charge. The only thing I wondered was the room attendants and waitstaff would be shafted on 2 days of gratuities because of our FREE days?? The ship is small and compact with easy access to everything, There are literally No steps so mobility issues are no problem, Food was good and drinks were a bit expensive if you don't have the drink package ($17 for a Mojito at the pool bar) Shows and entertainment were typical for a cruise ship and even the extra days there were production shows and performers. Overall Nice cruise , the only downside was downtime in the cabin the TV was TERRIBLE There were almost NO movies or TV shows , Everything was taped loops and cartoons or sports that most people don't follow. Royal you really need to improve your stateroom entertainment.. Read Less

Booking a cruise during hurricane season, one would have to understand that there may be changes to itineraries. Our Itinerary was changed the day before sailing from Fort Lauderdale from Eastern Caribbean to the Western Caribbean due to the impending tropical storm in the Eastern Caribbean. On the fourth night of our seven day cruise, we were told that our cruise would be extended 3 days due to the Tropical Storm being upgraded to a Hurricane. Royal Caribbean was right on top of the situation. Never once, did we feel uninformed or in any way in danger. We were confident that they had our safety and comfort at the forefront. Staff was eager to help - questions were answered politely and completely, and assistance was offered so that guests could contact family and airlines to change travel arrangements. Our bed was very comfortable. Television stations were very limited. Luckily we had access to the weather channel, but no movies were available without a fee. Didn't miss it, as there was so much entertainment around the ship. More about that later. There are no outlets for our phone chargers near our bed, so charging our phone at the desk was a little inconvenient. My husband and I used the gym quite a bit. Plenty of equipment of all kinds available with no wait. Walking and jogging track was nice - chairs around the track overlooking the ocean gave us a nice rest. We ate in the dining room most nights, food was good, but not exceptional. Our waiter and his assistant were very, very attentive. I left a lot on my plate one evening and our waiter insisted that he bring me something else. I realize that this is normally done, but his attitude made me feel as though he really wanted me to be satisfied, and I was. The dining room service is exceptional. We have been on seven cruises, and we rate Royal Caribbean the best in this category. Buffet layout was awesome. No lines or crowds as there were stations with different foods. Again, service was exceptional in the buffet. Cheerful, warm staff were eager to help us find a table and bring us beverages without a long wait. The entertainment on this ship was absolutely wonderful. Mama Mia was presented, a show no one should miss! The talent among these singers and dancers is extraordinary. We had two comedy shows, one adult and one family oriented. We enjoyed each one immensely. Diving show was great. A word about the cruise director - he was professional, informative and entertaining without drawing attention to himself. Some of the cruise directors we have come in contact with in the past, seem to make it "all about themselves".. he was a gem. Royal Caribbean is lucky to have him! We could find music and dancing every evening to fit our tastes. Part of the exemplary entertainment aboard the Allure. A huge ship, never felt crowed, could find peace and quiet if we wanted. Pool area had plenty of lounge chairs, and a the "adults only" area was a nice change. No children running around or in the hot tubs there! We noticed, however, a great children's pool area. The atmosphere was one of pure enjoyment at every turn. A great ship, and an even greater cruise. My husband and I look forward to sailing on the Allure again. We highly recommend it!! Read Less