We live nearby but hadn’t cruised this ship since 2014. Booked it only 90 days out and ended up with an inside cabin as it was the only available Accessible. The deck 4 location was convenient to dining and Centrum. The ship was easy to board and mostly easy to get around even on Day 1. The staff are all pleasant and cheerful although not overly so. We enjoyed the cruise overall. The dining room staff and the food were excellent although the buffet in the MDR at breakfast and lunch was a bit ho-hum the menu items we tried were all good. Maybe because it’s an older ship the internet was slower than any prior Royal cruise I’ve experienced and the app and tv are not interactive so you cannot see your folio in real time. You can see the Daily Activities and deck plans and if you have restaurant reservations they show up in your calendar. Read Less

We are a retired couple who enjoy cruising to interesting places. We had never been on the Jewel, but have been on several ships within the fleet. On arriving in Dubai, we stayed for a few nights pre cruise. Our flight and transfers were very smooth, although we arranged this independently, not through the Company. Check in at the port was easy & quick. Passports are taken before embarkation, & returned during the cruise. Our cabin was extremely small, and unknown to us when booking, was an interconnecting room. We never take these rooms, but have to admit we didn’t hear anything from the next cabin on both sectors of the cruise...we did a b2b, and stayed in the same cabin. The balcony was a reasonable size & we sat there everyday, except when there was adverse weather ! It was most unusual for this part of the world, at the time we were cruising, to have so much mixed, unsettled weather, but it didn’t deter us from walking ashore. Some days it was cold in the morning, then later, it was too hot to sunbathe ! As we were coming to the end of the second cruise, the weather became more settled. We were looking forward to Bahrain, as we had never been there, but that was cancelled in the interest of security & safety, so not a problem. Doha, Qatar, was interesting. The free shuttle dropped us at the museum, in a car park, but after looking around, spotted a sign for the Corniche, which was within easy walking distance of being dropped off. It was a very pleasant walk, all on the flat, and we walked past the big oyster...a much visited monument ! There is also a lovely park at the museum, which we also walked around. Everything was clean & well maintained....throughout the majority of the ports where we stopped. The only port which was a bit disappointing was Khasab, but even there we found a good walk to the beach, which has potential, but has still to be developed ! We also walked to the fort, which is in the opposite direction from the beach. There really isn’t much in town, so taking the shuttle might not be worthwhile, but ..... Our favourite port is Muscat, Oman, which is kept beautifully clean & the palace is worth a visit. It is possible to walk there from the port, along the Corniche, but it is a fairly long walk, & in the heat, might prove too much for some. When we were there, the temperature was perfect for walking. Sir Bani Yas island is a tender port, and when we visited during the first cruise, the weather was very windy, but we managed to get ashore. We didn’t take any excursions ashore, instead walked about the area near the drop off point. To be honest, not much there in this area, except sun loungers, cabanas and food stops. The weather wasn’t warm enough to lie and sunbathe, so after walking around, stopped for a light lunch and walked back to the tender station to return to the ship. There is a section for suites & Pinnacles, and a golf cart type of vehicle transports those wishing to go to Al Reem beach, which is the private area for the aforementioned. The ship was well maintained, & all crew we encountered were delightful, pleasant & friendly. Our MDR servers for both cruises were lovely people. The food was hot, well presented, tasty and perfect portion size for us. We have absolutely no complaints about food, regardless where we ate. There was a good selection of food in the WJ and there is no excuse for people not to choose healthy options, of which there was plenty. The Diamond Lounge & the Concierge Lounges were well presented. It was good to see that the CL was for only Suites & Pinnacles, meaning that it was a pleasant place to sit in the evenings without being overcrowded. The D Lounge extended to part of the Vortex lounge, so there was plenty of space for all to sit. The crew in the lounges were lovely. Octavian in the CL was so professional & friendly. He was on his own, and remembered every drink passengers ordered, although always checked before serving, to make sure there was no change ! We didn’t know crew before we went on, but by the time we left, felt as if we had been in the company of dear friends ! Our SRA was good, & cleaned our room early. He knew we were early risers, so managed to clean our room before we returned from breakfast, which meant we didn’t have to rush to go off the ship. The crew in Chops were professional, helpful, kind and friendly. Breakfast was a pleasant experience, and our regular servers couldn’t have been nicer...Ana & Dickson. The HD, Tony, is a lovely person, as were all his team. Ganesh, F& B seemed to be omnipresent, & always greeted us with his enigmatic smile. There are too many people to mention individually, but all we encountered were a credit to the company. Only downside was that we had an issue with our internet for a few days, but it wasn’t to do with the ship, but the satellite signal where we were. Ariel, IT manager, tried to resolve the problem, but it was out-with his control. After a few days, the signal suddenly returned ! We liked the ship, & look forward to returning later, knowing we are going to meet pleasant crew. It is unlikely ships in this company will sail in the area after this year, for various reasons, so we are glad we managed to visit the ports again. Unfortunately there wasn’t a reserved sun lounging area for Gold card holders, but we always managed to find a spot to lie for an hour. We did notice some loungers were reserved for quite a while, but policing this is difficult, although on sea days, think the reserving of loungers could prove an issue. Some people put towels & items in their loungers, then went away, returning after a considerable period of time ! Our first experience on this ship proved to be very positive. This Captain always started his announcements by greeting passengers, & his fantastic crew, which was good. We are looking forward to our next cruise, especially when the itinerary is very port intensive, as we like to explore areas on foot. Finally....wish smoking was banned in the casino. It was really an awful place to be, so we avoided the area, but that meant we couldn’t go and enjoy a few moments on the slots. At least it saved us money !!! Read Less

Overview: Royal Caribbean owes us a refund! The condition of the vessel and subtle changes made to cut costs has demonstrated that the company is more concerned with the bottom line that in pleasing its customers. Embarkation: We embarked at the Port of Galveston. TSA security seemed more rigorous than ever before. We were never before subjected to a full body pat down, even though my wife and I have knee and hip replacements. Royal Caribbean check-in was fast and efficient. Cabin: Since we booked quite late, we ended up in an interior cabin. While a tight fit as expected, we weren’t prepared for the shabby condition of the room. Carpets were dirty and worn, the mini-sofa was filthy, the refrigerator was missing shelving, and the bathroom was dirty. Our cabin attendant did his best, but it was just poor maintenance that was to blame. Windjammer: The buffet venue was dirty and worn. Chairs were ripped and tables scarred. Previous cruises on Royal Caribbean ships had folded flatware; not on Liberty. One had to obtain eating utensils individually which is much less sanitary. Condiments and cereal were in bulk rather than in individual packets. Overall Ship Condition: Liberty is scheduled for a yard period in 2021. It is certainly needed. I cannot help but believe that the crew isn’t trying very hard to maintain the ship in the interim. Wear is obvious everywhere you look. Carpets are worn and dirty, fitness equipment need repair and/or replacement, brightware is dirty, and there are signs of rust everywhere. Liberty is a tired old ship charging top dollar for the privilege of sailing in her. Fitness Center: Equipment is worn and in some cases inoperable. Jacks for headphones are broken; some individual TVs are not working. Weight equipment is old and in some cases not functional. When asked if there was a time limit for cardio equipment during peak times, I was told there was no limit. Guests could monopolize equipment as long as they desired. This never was the case in the past. During peak times there was a 20-30 minute limit, especially if someone was waiting. Dining: Food in the Windjammer was above average, but due to the large number of children on this cruise it was difficult to maneuver the various food stations at times. Many of the younger cruisers had minimal parental supervision so there was quite a bit of darting between adult guests. Eating lunch in the dining room was a recommended option. Meals in the Michelangelo dining room were tasty albeit small portions. Service was not fast nor efficient. However, the main complaint was the lack of a dress code enforcement. On designated formal nights guests were present wearing shorts and tee shirts! When this was brought to the attention of management, we were told that the dress code was “only a suggestion”. Other cruise line competitors actually enforce dress codes. This was a major issue with our party. RCL used to enforce dress codes. Very disturbing at best. Entertainment: RCL used to pride itself on quality entertainment. This was not the case this time. The “Headliners” were not very good nor was the production show. Liberty was showing ‘Saturday Night Fever” for a number of years. Different casts but the same show so was not very appealing after seeing it twice before. Other entertainment venues were average at best buy all were too loud for our tastes. Enrichment: Never a priority with RCL. There was no enrichment lectures except for the Q&A with the Captain and his staff. Debarkation: Our exit from the ship could have been better. We elected to “walk off” with our baggage. We were assigned a dining room location to wait for permission to leave. Because it was raining, we were all moved to the forward theater in a mass exodus where the crew was confused regarding debarkation. One final note: Some guests elected to walk off with very large suitcases. RCL had no restrictions. As they struggled with their bags, the entire group was made to wait thus increasing the time to leave the gangway and get through customs Read Less

My wife and I have been on this ship several times. We had a deck 9 balcony cabin which was good. Nice quiet cabin. The railing outside needed to be refinished. other wise as expected. On the first night did the Mystery Dinner. it was good. The meal in Giovannis was good. Nice start. Food in MDR seemed a bit cut back. Coffee every where was yuk. Not as good as before. Not as good as NCL in December. The selections just did not seem as good as previous RCCL cruises. The breakfast did have the waffle station back.Really like those freshly cooked waffles. Glad they were back. Did not do the shows as have done them before. The ice show was same as all year. this is normally good. So can't say anything bad about it. Just did not want to see it again. The bars were mostly good, but it seemed some usually available better liquor just was not available. Most of the crew was friendly. Usually in the buffet was where we ran into the "no look, no speak" staff. Food in buffet was usually good. Just a noisy location. My wife had birthday.Got this offer from SPA for a free gift. It was not. Only $$ off if one spends X amount of money in the spa. The wife was hacked. The ship was more noisy than normal over the PA at all venues. The buffet area was quite noisy. Quite a few kids on this cruise, but PA again was just loud. The quiet area was the cigar bar. A nice escape. Sadly scheduled to be removed. Maybe NCL is looking better. They still have cigar bars. Their specialty dinners are better. Would we go again on RCCL ? Yes, but getting close to a no go. Read Less

First up, a disclaimer. I’m more recently a solo cruiser and I choose cruises based on the ship (ambience etc), the itinerary, and mostly because I like to relax and read a book (thus quiet spaces are very important). I’m not really interested in active onboard activities (iFly, Dogems, Flowrider etc). Radiance of the Seas was my 9th cruise from Australia, and my 5th with RCI (after Voyager, Explorer, Rhapsody, Legend, and now Radiance). I wanted to travel on Radiance for two reasons; firstly, because I’d heard fantastic feedback on her, and secondly because she is going to be home-ported at my home city of Brisbane in November 2020. I also cruised on Carnival Spirit in May 2019 (which I never bothered reviewing) which is also moving to the new Brisbane Cruise Terminal in late 2020. The ship: I loved her. People have raved about the glass and lighting, and they are right. It is bright and airy. I love the fact that you can walk around the lido deck up to the front helicopter deck, and there are chairs and lounges on this level (5) to enjoy (unlike Carnival Spirit). Yes, she is an older ship, but the crew are doing an awesome job to keep her in condition. The only negative I would say is her lifts. There are two lots; one bank of three forward, and then a bank of five midships, starboard side adjacent to the Centrum. The latter were a real challenge as you had to run between each when they arrived (quite a distance). They have spectacular views of the outside, but they are a challenge. One of the comedians made a great joke about them in his performance, which brought a resounding cheer from the audience. As others have said, if you are dining in Windjammer and you need somewhere to sit, keep going aft to the “secret” location overlooking the stern. What was the Viking Crown Lounge on level 13 (now called the Star Lounge) is also a great daytime escape. The adults only Solarium is another great spot, although can get a bit hot and humid on occasions. I did a few of the speciality restaurants; Giovanni’s, Chops Grill and Izumi. All great. On day 1 you can sign up for a discounted three dining package for AUD$79, which is well worth it. I didn’t try Sumba (the Brazilian Restaurant), and I think it would struggle to attract numbers because it is tucked away on level 12 or 13 (can’t remember which). The Schooner Bar is one of the largest that I have seen on the RCI ships that I have cruised on (plenty of room) and I appreciated the Colony Club at the stern for a quiet space to take a break (except during the inevitable art auctions and bingo….) Entertainment: We were absolutely blessed to have the University of Wisconsin Blugold Marching Band with us on the cruise (https://www.blugoldmarchingband.com/). These folk performed a few times over the cruise and they were absolutely outstanding. My numbers may be wrong, but the band normally has around 450 members, however on this cruise, some 300 plus support staff and parents/guardians (around 400 all up). They are normally used to performing on US football fields, but whilst the restrictions of the Aurora Theatre were challenging, they did an awesome job. A shout-out to the parents, guardians and supervisors. To put this in context, these students are primarily aged between 18 and 21, and they have come from the US, where the legal minimum drinking age is 21. In Australia (where Radiance was home-ported at the time) our minimum drinking age is 18. You would have expected a few “challenges”, but I have to say that the young adults from the University of Wisconsin were exemplary in their behaviour. There were other entertainers as well, including an illusionist, comedian, singers, and entertainers, and whilst they were great, I have to say that they were out-performed by the Blugold Marching Band. Ports and excursions: I did a similar itinerary on Voyager a few years ago, as well as a more recent comprehensive self-drive tour of the South Island, so I wasn’t really interested in organised tours, plus I had friends to catch up with in Auckland. The Sounds (Milford, Dusky etc) are simply awesome. Although there was low cloud with limited visibility, it is a magical place. Congrats to RCI; the local guide that they engaged did an outstanding commentary all the way through. I didn’t do anything at Dunedin (I’ve been there a few times), choosing instead to take a nice walk around Port Chalmers. Nice place. There were two tender ports that I was really looking forward to exploring on foot. Akaroa was one, and it was a disaster. The ship moored at 7.30am around 2kms from the port of Akaroa, and there was another ship adjacent to us (Noordam). Radiance had four tenders running, and understandably they had to give priority to those who had booked shore tours through RCI. Four hours after tendering started my number was finally called, but all that meant was joining another queue just to get to the tender, which would have meant a departure of around 12.30pm, with a 45 minute transit to Akaroa, just in time to turn around and return to the ship. I gave up, and heard a few folk saying that the delays were exasperated by congestion at the wharf (3,500 pax from two ships) and massive delays queueing to return to Radiance. Clearly RCI had learned the lesson and at the last tender port, Bay of Islands, in addition to the four on-ship tender bats they had hired two additional tenders to get us on shore. Well done RCI. It made the whole process much more enjoyable. Would I cruise on her again? In a heartbeat. I love her mid-size and overall ambience. I’m already booked on her post-refit cruise from Singapore to Brisbane in early November this year. I’m so looking to welcoming her to her new summer home port of Brisbane. Read Less

We took this cruise mainly due to the fact that the package Royal Caribbean was offering two nights post cruise stay at the Atlantis the Palms in Dubai. It seemed like a nice way to end the cruise The ship is showing its age. Most days it was not possible to walk around deck 5 as there was always parts of the deck sectioned off for maintenance. There's nothing quite like the sound of an industrial sander removing rust while you are trying to get a bit of fresh air. Once again, I believe Royal Caribbean do not examine their passenger list and tailor the cruise accordingly. It would appear that he same activities, entertainment etc get rolled out despite who is on board. A prime example is this cruise which had most people over 50 on board. My wife and I liked to head up to deck 13 at night to relax in the lounge with a coffee before bed. However in the lounge there, they have piped disco music blaring out, even when it was empty. We asked if the volume could please be turned down but nothing ever happened. Another thing which I can't understand is their choice of staff to host the trivia events. You wouldn't expect a person who couldn't play the piano to give a recital, or expect someone who can't sing to be up on stage in a musical. So why have some young lady from Mexico trying to ask trivia questions, continually asking for our pardon as she doesn't speak english very well. Away from trivia, entertainment was poor. Only one headliner act for the whole week. A foursome singing soul music which although I personally like, was not to everyones taste. The singers and dancers tried their best was their shows were something more akin to a holiday camp. As for the cruise director Andrea, if I hadn't gone to a couple of the evening shows during the cruise I would never have seen him. Certainly not in the same league as Joff Eaton, Hello Clo or Luke Arrowsmith. Remember when cruise directors used to be seen mingling with the guests each day ? - I guess those days are gone. For dining, from what I can see most people now prefer not to visit the Main Dining Room and it's easy to understand why. Service is way too slow & the food always arrives cold. We tried it a couple of times with the same results so opted for the buffet for the remainder of the cruise. Also, this is the first Royal Caribbean cruise I have been on that didn't serve lobster any evening. RC should remember that for some people, a lobster night is a traditional part of the holiday.and will probably try another cruise line if this is done away with to save a few bucks Read Less

Embarkation was very easy. On the ship within 5 minutes of arrival. Cabin was clean as expected. Main dining room food was good, except some meals were sent back because they were served cold. Windjammer buffet was good. Shows were just average and there were no production shows. They did not have a Love and Marriage Game show which we have always found to be enjoyable. Service was excellent. We also like the fact that there were tables and chairs around the pool area, rather than all chaise lounges. Cruise Director was invisible on the entire cruise. I WILL NOW ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS: On the first night, we could not get hot water in shower and sink. The following morning we called maintenance and they said they would fix this problem. We left the cabin for the day and when we returned, there was a note advising us that the hot water problem was resolved. I tried the shower for a few seconds and it was hot. I then decided to take a shower. After about 1 minute in the shower, the water began sputtering and black slime came out and was all over me, from head to toe. I jumped out of the shower and tried to wash the slime off me at the sink only to find that it's water was also black slime. I toweled off the best I could and called maintenance to report the issue. They told me that it was normal to get black slime after the hot water was worked on. They said that I should let it run for 20 minutes and it would clear up. I asked why the plumber didn't do it or at least leave me a note. Their answer was that he couldn't spare the time. They didn't even apologize for my problem. I filed a complaint with customer service. The next day, my TV remote did not work. I called the room steward who came with another remote and that also didn't work. He called for an IT repairman. We left the cabin for the day and when we returned, the TV seemed to work. That evening, we put on the Tv and the remote stopped working. It wouldn't change channels, adjust volume and wouldn't shut off. We called maintenance and spoke to a machine who told me to leave a message, which I did. We couldn't go to sleep with the TV blasting so I tried to pull the plug, but the plug was behind a metal screen and required a screwdriver to open it up. We wound up trying to sleep with the TV blasting. The next morning the repairman came and said that the problem was with the TV set and he replaced it. These experiences put a real damper on our vacation. Other than these problems, I rate this cruise as Average. Read Less

This is my 30th RCCL cruise, of the fifty over 35 years and I am at the Diamond + level. I selected this cruise via a "discounted" Casino Royale cruise certificate. My main focus will be on the casino. Explorer of the Seas has one baccarat table, two three card poker tables, two Ultimate Texas Hold'em tables, several blackjack tables, two roulette tables and on ten seat poker table. Minimum bets start at $10. The slot machines are a mixture of MANY old style slot machines, and "Asian" themed slots and a few video poker machines. The Explorer of the Seas is scheduled to be renovated in the early 2020, before it sails to European ports. THE CASINO NEEDS A TOTAL OVERHAUL. The casino staff were cordial, bar and waiters were prompt in providing beverages to the passengers playing in the Casino Royale. Now on to the rest of the review: Embarkment was at Terminal F, in Miami, FL, and if you ever sailed through RCCL's new Terminal A in Miami, FL, you thought you were back in the dark ages. It takes less than 15 minutes to go through check in and security in Terminal A and get onto the ship. Terminal F had lines for Security to check you passport and cruise documents, then it was up to the second floor to get into another line for you to check in, have them take you picture and get you sign and sail card. Then to another line to finally get on the ship, it took approximate 45 minutes. First day Windjammer Buffet: Crowded, but that was to be expected, standard buffet food, good but not great. Stateroom: Interior room, 7305 which had a window to view the promenade which was the open area in the center of the ship that had the guest services, shops and bars. Nice room, my stateroom steward, Anant was very friendly and attentive, he fulfilled my several requests promptly. Main Dining Room: It appears the RCCL fleet has standardized its memus, as the Sunday menu, was exactly that same as on the Oasis OTS in December and Allure OTS in November 2019. Food was good, and service was prompt and courteous. As this was a casino cruise, I did not do any shore excursions or see any shows. The ship overall, was in good shape, but you could see that it needed to be refurbished, In the Diamond Club, the chairs were somewhat worn, as well as other seating throughout the ship. Pools: There is a Solarium pool and whirlpools for adults only which was nice, The main pools, split on the port and starboard side had plenty of lounges for sun bathing. The smoke area was adequate for the dwindling number of smokers. Drinks are very expensive, so if you tend to over indulge on the adult beverages, the pre cruise discounted beverage package if you buy it only is about $55 + the 18% tips, so if you drink 5 alcoholic drinks per day, its a push, more than 5 per day it might be worth the purchase. I did not eat in any of the specialty restaurants, however, for what I heard at the Diamond Club passengers, the quality has done down hill. Overall it was a good cruise, not a great cruise, compared to the quality of the food and services on the mega ships. The problem is that every time you experience an exceptional cruise, that sets the standard for the next cruise, to be either met or exceeded. Read Less

We love cruising and have cruised 4 times in the past 3 years! This was my first time on the Mariner of the seas and I was excited for my small children to experience the Perfect Day at CocoCay. This cruise fell short of my expectations and truly left a lot to be desired. Boarding was easy and painless. It only took about 20 minutes from the parking lot to the ship. For this review, I will begin with the pools. There are 2 pools on the main deck surrounded by 4 large hot tubs. There is not a designated pool/water play area for children on this ship as opposed to some of their other ships. Children bombarded the hot tubs and made them nearly impossible to enjoy. Drunk adults were in the hot tubs with the children and it was cringeworthy. The boat has a solarium for adults with 2 hot tubs and 1 pool but children were consistently passing through this area running, yelling etc. to reach the main pool via the aft elevators. On prior cruises, the lifeguard would ask that they leave the area but the people on this boat could care less. Lunch in the windjammer was a madhouse on the first day. People were touching the food and putting it back. There was hair on my food and to be fair, it could have come from the patrons or the staff. I lost my appetite and did not eat there again. The sky pad was fun when it was open. It did close quite a few times even though the app said it was open during the cruise and I’m not sure why. The slides are okay for kids 48 inches or taller. Also, there is a small climbing apparatus for kids that should be replaced for a wade pool or some sort to keep them entertained and away from vacationing adults. The rooms were well taken care of by the staff and they entered 3 times a day to replace towels, make the beds, replace used water glasses etc. The dining room staff is amazing! They make us feel special and remembered little things about us. Ours called us by name and that is very nice. The shows they prepared for us were boring to me. It reminded me of a high school talent show. It was not entertaining. The cruise director really tried his hardest but neither he or the comedians were funny. The kids fell asleep and we left early. The most fun they had were in adventure ocean. Otherwise, the itinerary missed the mark. The ice skating show began but stopped abruptly. They took an intermission and then began again. The boat also had Bingo, a casino, NFL games on the big tv outside, and Laser tag while the ship docked in Nassau. I wish they had laser tag again during the forced sea day. This ship was scheduled to dock in Nassau, Bahamas and then dock again on Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay. The “Perfect Day at CocoCay” was cancelled. The announcement that we heard said that the Ship failed to dock but the staff said that it does happen sometimes and the ship just doesn’t go there. Hundreds of passengers were upset and asking if they will receive compensation and were told that they would not. The sea day was boring, cold, and quiet. Royal Caribbean has to do a better job entertaining the guests in the event that the ship cannot dock. It took more than 2 hours to revamp the itinerary and the first activity wasn’t scheduled until after 1pm. We learned that the second port was cancelled before 8am. The guest services crew was rude, even when I asked them a question unrelated to the itinerary (I was changing credit cards for shopping). The lady took a deep breath and mumbles under her breath. Future cruising on this ship or any other Royal Caribbean ship is a no go for us. I had no idea that they sometimes do not go where they promise to and in the future, we will steer clear!! Read Less

Booked this New Year 11 night southern caribbean cruise for our anniversary, how dissppointing to find the ship overpacked from the 2900 capacity to over 3300 souls, it was bedlam with large groups of overseas visitors rude loud noisy, and gangs of feral teenage kids roaming the bars and lounges each evening. Worse still was the workmen who set up on embarkation day to remove and refit the huge tv on pool deck - without customers being given any notification of this work, so all week they welded banged worked closed off the pool area, even welding and working into the night, causing distress for people in cabins below this deck. totally unacceptable. Then the food, ok in the main dining but more like a rushed cattle market than fine dining, and the Windjammer was horrible, dirty tables, (if you could ever get one for the large groups hogging them morning and lunch), poor food choice, cold food, coming back from shore to find theyd closed the windjammer food and little or nothing to eat between 3-4.30 Been on other lines and never ever had this before! The only positive thing was the cabin was good, clean and well maintained by our steward. we chose RCL this time because our first ever cruise was with Majesty in the 90s and we enjoyed it, but wow have they changed, dumbed down to mass market family appeal and constant upselling. Will not choose them again. Read Less

BAYONNE easier than going to NY but a BIG mistake so sorry I took this cruise' 1 bar of soap in cabin. No tissues towards end of cruise. Towels thread bare. Sheets & pillow cases used & ripped Put bath towels under pillows to plump them up Mattress uncomfortable & next door cabin when they closed the door hard, my room shook No one cared..I got "I'm sorry" from main office for every complaint I had.& 15% off next cruise… NEVER on RC again. Wasted time on the phone pouring my heart out & absolutely nothing was done about all the tipping I did to get things that should have come w/the cabin. RC got so cheap even w/food. My table had 3 lobster tails one night for dinner..they were inferior..& the size of my little finger. A gal in Customer Service could not even remember my name...called me Cheryl..then Rouse & sent me to the wrong cabin 3x. Even the final statement I got someone elses. Read Less

Service was excellent in all venues. Cabin was roomy with good hanging space and shower had glass door which was good. We found the cabin to be very noisy though with thumping on the walls and a lot of noise coming from level 13 above us. Food very basic and repetitive in dining rooms although our Waiter Pattima was excellent. Even though the ship was fully booked, it never felt crowded. Easy to find your way around. We had the deluxe drinks package with internet which was really good and the service there was excellent. We found the activities were more suited to families than Senior couples. Entertainment was good in Main Theatre. Paul O'Shea in Schooners was always good but you had to get there early to get a seat. Overall a relaxing cruise but not a lot of activities for 60+ agegroup especially if you are a couple travelling alone. After 3 RCCL cruises we will probably try Princess for next cruise. Read Less

The ship is new and beautiful. It holds 5 thousand passengers , so long lines everywhere, dinning, games embarkation and disembarkation. We were travelling during X'mas holiday so the ship was entirely sold out with 12 hundred kids on board. It was impossible to find a quiet place. The ship is catered to the Asian market and there are lots of Chinese dishes in the buffet and the main dinning room. We had one lunch in Jamie's kitchen. It is quite expensive and I don't think it is much better than the main dinning room. This was our second time on RCL and really enjoyed their nightly entertainments.It was a step above HAL. Okinawa is a nice place to shop and walk around. The 2 ports in Philipines Vigan and Subic Bay is totally waste of time. The ship is catered to younger passengers with lots of activities like rock climbing, surfing bumper car. If you want to have a relaxing cruise, then this ship is not for you Read Less

We did the same cruise this time last year and are quite experienced cruisers, diamond plus. The ship is still quite attractive. Good points—- The Diamond and Concierge club benefits are still good and both hosts efficient The food is acceptable althoughMDR lunches a bit boring. Windjammer probably better for lunch. Breakfasts were good in MDR. The Filipino, Indonesian and Indian staff are great and are the best thing about this cruise line. Bad points—- The internet is slow. The activities and entertainment have gone very far downhill. There were very few headline acts on this or the previous back to back cruise we did to NZ and few were very good. Some nights there were no theatre shows, too many had old production shows which we have seen previously. One night the only show was a Love and Marriage game show. Usually the theatre was sparsely attended. The cruise director was poor, gabbled and spoke too fast. Some of her assistants doing trivia were also difficult to understand. Whether the decline in activities and entertainment were the fault of the CD or the Company cutting costs I know not. Embarkation and Disembarkation were great thanks to ship and Sydney terminal staff. Read Less

This is my 27th RCCL cruise and I am at the Diamond Plus level. I am a "loyalist", as such as the cruise line tries to raise the bar of quality of food, service and entertainment. Those levels are expected on the next cruise and the next cruise, etc. Embarkment: Traveling via RCCL arranged bus transfers from Fort Lauderdale to Miami, the ride was smooth and we arrived at Terminal A, we were on the ship in about 15 minutes, it was amazing. as we arrived about 1 pm our balcony stateroom was ready. Starboard, 10724. Stateroom: Nice, but due to the size of the ship my wife had to rent a Special Needs Group handicap scooter. Our cabin steward, Edgar was terrific and he fulfilled our every request. Windjammer Buffet: Good quality food, but the steam shop round was tough and chewy. and for some reason, they do not serve "creamy" cold slaw. Promenade Cafe: this 24 hour cafe still serves sandwiches on a roll that lacks adequate meat, if you think one or two slices of meat a sandwich, on a small club roll. Main Dining Room for Breakfast: Excellent food for breakfast, it has a limited ala carte menu for being a sit down and being serviced, but it also has a buffet. Main Dining Room for lunch: Good service and a nice ala carte menu,EXCEPT for its turkey club sandwich, which consisted of three pieces of barely toasted bread, with one slice of turkey, one sliver of a slice of avacado, one half leaf of leaf if lettuce and two pieces of bacon. I told the waiter "you call this a club sandwich" a dining room floor supervisor came over and said I could request more turkey. I told him, it the cook knew how to make a decent sandwich, I should not have to request additional meat. We tried the MDR for lunch and I had the steak and fries, and it was served rare not medium rare as requested and fries. No more MDR dining room lunches. Main Dining Room for Dinner: EXCELLENT service for MDR deck three and our table waiter Romando and assistant table waiter Vikash. Every meal was excellent, but it cracks me up as on the Allure OTS which is the Oasis OTS sister ship, the menu is the same on WEDNESDAY, they feature braised beef short ribs, excellent but serving the menus on the same night across the fleet for each night is a bit much! Casino Royale: Standard, slots, a lot of "asian" themed slots, and table games with a $10 minimum. The casino staff as always was friendly, and waiters were plentiful. Park Cafe: Limited lunch selection the day we had lunch it was salads top round beef and a variety of deserts, not too crowded in the Central Park area. Entertainment: The headliner Ronn Lucas was excellent, the One Sky a Cique de sol' knock was okay and the 90 minute "CATS" was a little boring and my wife and I did not get the premise of the show. Did not do the comedy club, the band was great. Debarkment: Fast, we were off the ship by 8:30 am and at Fort Lauderdale airport by 9:30am. OVERALL: It was a very relaxing cruise, as this was a Christmas break week 12/15 to 12/22/2019 week, the ship had a lot of families and children. The pool as never really that crowded. We stated on the ship as the ports of call were the been there done that! I am a cigar smoke and noted the smoke area on the pool deck 15 is shrinking.. Read Less

We went on this cruise to help a good friend of ours celebrate her Birthday. We managed to keep it a secret and totally surprised her and it was awesome. The cruise was wonderful and we had a really great time. I love the fact that we can now drive home in a few hours from all ports in Florida. Royal Caribbean has been our main cruise line since 1999. The ships are always very clean and nicely decorated for any occasion. This one was decorated for Christmas and it was beautiful. Royal Caribbean never ceases to amaze me with the entertainment or excursions they are always top notch. Food is always very good weather you eat in the windjammer cafeteria or the main dining room. They also have specialty dining which we frequent quite often. Services are always great as they always seem to have a very nice crew. I have never been disappointed in a Royal Caribbean Cruise and look forward to others we have booked. . Read Less

I booked this cruise for two main reasons: to obtain a ship's model to add to my collection; to experience this ship before she's re-positioned prior to being sold. I'd been aboard one of her sisters, Sovereign of the Seas, like 25 years ago or more. My ex-wife was aboard her 10 years ago and thought highly of her. My reasons had nothing to do with the itinerary--it was all about the ship. Although I'd spent time in both ports before, I did have a fine time shopping for cigars. On this one I was solo, traveling with a couple of friends including a married guy going solo. Embarkation was almost as smooth and easy as on MSC, light years beyond Carnival and NCL. Love her size and decor. The Centrum, while a dated concept now, is simply stunning. The dining rooms are understated elegant, the bars are themed and full of details. Although she's showing her age, like an elderly queen, she wears it well. Bumps, wear and tear, nicks, gashes, dents appear everywhere--carpet tears are fixed instantly. She's easy to navigate, even with the elevators that don't go where you need it and those "Tween Decks." Service is fine, unobtrusive and friendly without pushing. I was used to seeing and hearing the cruise director around ships, but on this one, she only appeared on TV and to introduce the theatrical acts. I didn't miss her. Although I noticed the length of the line at Guest Relations I had nothing to complain about and my bill was exactly as I expected. My favorites: Chen in the MDR, Sylvester at the Sky Cigar Bar and Raquel my cabin attendant. I chose my cabin based on the deck plan's indicating an exit directly to the Deck 7 smoking area outside my door. Nope. It was a hatch marked "Crew Only." It's a corner oceanview stateroom, turned sideways--perpendicular to the rest of them. With the two beds joined there's no room, so they turn the beds so the shelf below the window becomes the headboard. Lying down you're facing the wall with a lovely tropical painting instead of your television. If you want to read in bed, tough luck. Your reading light is on the right-hand wall across the bed. Alternative is your desk light, a stretch. I had to figure out that people could see into my cabin from the Promenade Deck. It took me two nights to figure out how to close the blinds. I slept like a newborn. Please take my comments about dining with a pinch of sea salt. I'm no gourmet. I'm no "foodie." I know about cooking. I have always lived to eat, rather than to eat to live. I have an educated palate. I have enjoyed many dishes from many cuisines. I would rather spend my money enjoying a "Chef's Table" or a special brunch with a galley tour than spend it going on some shore excursion. Which I did on this cruise. I shot a ton of video and photos of food. Good, bad and indifferent, it's just plain FUN to experiment and experience all kinds of food and drink. This is one of the values of cruising. You can ALWAYS find at least one thing you can tolerate in the MDR or the buffet. They are willing to cook steak medium rare, but forget it with hamburgers except at Johnny Rocket's ripoff joint. The best food to be found in the buffet and occasionally on the menu is the Indian cuisine. Authentic! Spicy! The desserts were mostly good. Flan was okay. Lava cake was excellent. Creme brulee was superb. Chocolate desserts were better than on the Liberty of the Seas. Pizza was okay, lacked a whole-wheat option. Compass Deli was pretty good, excellent fish soup! It's a quiet place, underused. Chef's Table was ably presented and uniformly good to great. Highlights: the filet mignon, lobster salad and the The World--a magnificent dessert made with Valrhona Chocolate. Lowlight: scallop carpaccio lacked flavor and needed that vinaigrette.. Service was wonderful in each venue especially after changing my dining time and table. Entertainment was mostly good. Although I skipped most of the performances in the Chorus Line, I was talked into attending the "adult" comedy show. After five minutes of listening to a middle-aged white guy making weird noises with his nose and lips, I walked out. Not funny to me. How could he call himself an "adult" comic without even saying "f____?" On the other hand, the live music was GREAT! There was a really good Caribbean band playing reggae and island stuff up in the Sky Bar area, and a terrific Latin band with a hot chick singer playing rock covers and great salsa. Activities? Like...what? Not into bingo or Trivia. Belly Flop? I'm only near the pool to smoke a cigar in the covered smoking section. Casino? Never. Organized Activities run counter to my way of being. Nassau and Key West are always interesting to me--for about an hour. This time I get off of the ship and headed straight to Greycliff, a true landmark in New Providence. Instead of spending my hard-earned pension in the restaurant, I spent it in the cigar shop. What a great place to watch people making tobacco art! They are really good at making wonderful cigars in a variety of shapes and sizes. I bought three Cubans (Partagas, Cohiba, Punch) three "Double Espresso" toros--their fullest bodied variety. Those three cigars could have bought me one luxurious lunch. Also had my traditional conch salad at a forgettable place on the waterfront. In Key West, I stopped in one of the best cigar shops there, bought myself an Oliva V Melanio and a Modus II cigar tool--a lovely thing! Also stopped in to buy a new Panama hat and fudge at Mallory Square, inside that old warehouse. Disembarking was a breeze, quick, easy and problem-free. A good time was had by all. Would I go again? And again? And again? You betcha! A bad day at sea is better than the best day on land. Read Less

Just needed a getaway and this was convenient. Friendly and accommodating staff. Main dining experience was quite good, however the Chops Grille was a disappointment. Can get the same food in the main dining. This Chops Grille is small, noisy, too many mistakes with order. Save your money. Windjammer staff were pleasant, food was just okay. The casino - HEY RCI! Smoke extractors - not scrubbers. The smoke needs to be moved out of the ship fast enough that smoke does not stink up the surrounding areas. One thing we really enjoy on all of our cruises are the trivia games. Great competition, lots of interaction with crew and guests. The big shock is the $75 for the soda package. I do not drink that much soda in a month or more and it is an outrage. (Price gouging) Water is better for me. Did not get off the boat in CoCo Cay, although we were pleased to see the changes made there since our last visit. Did get off in Nassau. :( It is dirty and have to run a gauntlet of vendors who are in your face, bordering on aggressive, but they back off if you ask them to. Read Less

We got a great price on a Junior Suite 7714 on Dec 5 2019. Boarding was a breeze and we even left 5 minutes early from Galveston. Galveston port is rather dumpy, dated and not the most friendliest elderly staff at check in. Crew was simply fantastic - especially the main dining room team on the 4th deck. Seems to this Diamond member of RCCL Crown and Anchor that the food is improving and offers a great selection including great Veg options. Cruise events were really good but the Saturday Night Fever production was Broadway style and brought the entire theatre to its feet at the end......Well done Tony (played by Chris Hansen). Cabin certainly showing its age and drapes had holes in them. Bedding was comfortable thankfully. The carpet and balcony areas need a good scrub / replacement ....rust showing all over the exterior at the rear of the boat. LOVED the adventure in Roatan Honduras and Costa Maya Mexico. You can have Cozumel and certainly won't get off in any future cruise going to this port. Kinda dumb that you have to go thru a security check then a metal detector for the port security then do it all over again further down the pier when you board the ship. We had over 1,000 people jamming the exits near the 4 pm boarding time.....Sadly caused by 4 four ships sharing the same facilities. Read Less

This was my 15th cruise across several cruise lines and I have always wanted to try one of the Oasis class mega ships. At first I was concerned about too many people being on board but that was really not a problem as there are so many places to go. Definitely make reservations for the shows and dinner times. We did the anytime dining but having a specific reservation time certainly helps out. The staff was friendly, caring and helpful. All of the shows were spectacular, especially the aqua show in the huge pool aft of boardwalk. Book that one early in the cruise as it was cancelled several times during the week (weather & high winds). Mama Mia was really fun and had the packed house standing, dancing and singing along with the cast. I will say it was a great experience and will certainly do another of the Oasis class ships in the future! Read Less

Wanted try something different other than Grandeur in December. The service on the ship was excellent. This is something we have grown to expect on RCCL. Our cabin attendant was excellent. Joseph was not very talkative but he was prompt and pleasant for his service. The dinning room service very good. The heat waiter actually changed tables for us to allow another couple at our table to make 10 people. The service could have been a little quicker but because we had mutual friends at the table it did not bother us that much. The virtual balcony was really neat. We got to see the outside at the reduced rate. Very clever. The entertainment was very good. The three special shows are not to be missed, even if you may have seen them one or more times before. There were a couple nights without a show in the main theater, but the bars and lounges were available, but we are not really drinkers. Although we were not pressured to buy drinks during any performance. The Diamond Plus lounge was excellent, but the Diamond lounge was crowded and noisy. RCCL needs to do something about the lounge conditions. The meals were a disappointment. The dinning room food was average or less than average at best. The presentation of the food on the plate was lacking greatly. The Windgammer was crowded at lunch and there was little variance every day of what was served. Even the Windgammer was busy at night, maybe because of the poor food in the main dinning room. The one Specialty spot we did visit was Chops. The service was wonderful, but even there the food was just ok. The specialties were expensive, but they were all over the ship offering special pricing. Parking at the Bayonne was $22 per day. Agh! All this being said, we re-booked for next year same time. There was so much to do, and see the Anthem will bring us back Read Less

Anthem sails out of Bayonne and we live in NJ so it was an easy ride. After exploring parking optons to try to control costs, we parked at the port which was an excessive $22 a day. (Other local parking lots seem cheaper until you add in Bayonne City taxes, etc. Then the difference is minimal.) Embrakation was pretty fast and well organized though we did not notice the Diamond line which would have been faster had we seen it. Our agent was a bit chatty and I was anxious to get o the ship, but she was nice and helpful. The ship has a Promenade called the Eplanade. Unlike other 'streets' in RCCL ships, this one feels less open and spacious, in part due to a midline pub and other features, which my traveling companion did not like. A level above the Esplanade olong the sides are more restuarants and facilities such as the shore excursions desk, Izumi, etc. The shops and cafes are typical of RCCL. But at each end of the Esplanade the ship continues , not with cabins, but with more walking areas and facilites, with the theater at one end and 270 at theother. 270 is a high tech lounge which, we were told, cost RCCL $37 million. It features an acrobatic/light/sound show but also hosts activities, concerts and a wonderful silent party for those with sensory issues or those just wanting a new experience. Guests are given headphones and the lights are low. You control the sound of the music as you dance. Wonderful!! Our cabin was on Deck 12. That particular deck has some interior cabins which are more square than long, and we were in one of them. We were very comfortable for the entire 12 days. We did miss the clothes line in the shower, but the square shape felt big and we had ample room for all of our things. Because of the layout, we each had our own closet, which was great. The virtual window was a real bonus. We were able to see live feed from outside of the ship without paying for a window, and we were able to shot it off to keep the sunrise from waking us....best of both worlds. All other features, food, facilities, guest services, staff attentiveness, etc. were typical for what we expect from RCCL, and add up to the reason this was our 17th RCCL cruise. One highlight was a specialty resturant called Wonderland. We are on a budget and rarely visit specialty restaurants. We did go to Izumi once on another ship, but other then that, we enjoy the included food well enough. I had seen information about Wonderland and decided to treat us. By booking and paying online well before boarding we saved quite a bit of money, but it was still not inexpensive. I am so glad we splurged! What a geat experience. Wonderland is not for the picky eater, and I wouldn't take children or meat-and-potatoes friends. Each course is unique and some are spicy. But the experience was fascinating and delightful to me. There are lots of reviews about it online if you want details. It was a one time event for me but I am very happy to have had the experience. The shows, Spectra's Cabaret and The Gift, were a bit quirkey for me, and people seem to either love them or walk out confused, as I did...except for WE WILL ROCK YOU which we loved! Anthem is big, and we liked it, but we prefer Allure. Anthem lacks features we likem such as an ice skating rink and show, which was replaced by a roller rink with bumper cars, and there are no parades on the Esplanade. But it has many unique features that make exploring it fun such as it's interactive and fluid art and many robotic features. We are looking forward to sailing on her sister ship, Odyssey, in 2021 through the Mediterranean. Read Less

Was with famliy for a birthday. Was hoping for a relaxing time with fmily and make new friends. Ship was okay... looked nothing like the Carnival Dream that was sailing next to use. Cabin felt small... Dining was above average... shows were average... service was pitiful any question I asked was like pulling teeth from these people... love cozumel ( Sanchos is a must) .. costa maya got me sick... very skipable. Met some great people on this cruise, however not the crowd I was hoping for, I was hoping for a party vibe or younger livley crowd... the on board club had it moment but never past mid night :(, come to find out its not even a dj... its a pre made mix playing the whole time. I would not recommend this cruise to others. Its okay for families and to relax but for a vacation its lack-luster. Read Less

I'm loyal to Royal and wanted to do a Panama Canal cruise. I have been on about 40 cruises with Royal and this was by far the worst cruise I've been on. 1) Embarkation was delayed due to an unknown issue and the communication was non existent. The disembarkation from the ship was fine but waiting for an hour for our luggage to arrive at the airport was frustration 2) The ship is old but in general pretty good shape. 3) The cabin was fine and the room attendant did good job 4) Service in the main dining room was good but the food was poor, overcooked and mostly tasteless. It did get better as the cruise went on. Food in the Windjammer was poor, selection was very limited and seating cramped. Two meals at Chops were at best average. Rack of Lamb was tough, overcooked but the filet was good. 5) Entertainment was repetitive and of less than normal standard quality 6) Shore excursions were fine and entertaining 7) Thank God for Reynoldo the server in the Diamond lounge he was magnificent and kept the glasses full 8) We have 7 more cruises booked and hope this cruise was an fluke Read Less

Hello again - unlike previous posts about Royal Caribbean and the BIG ships (i.e. Oasis) this one has a little bit of a brighter side since the renovation. I hope i can answer everyone's questions. I will begin by saying we were on the Oasis in March 2019, and had the opportunity of boarding again Dec 1, 2019 (2 weeks into her maiden voyage since the big renovation). PROS Lets start with the renovations, the New Restaurant El Loco Fresh is on Deck 15 Aft – Serving pre-cooked wrapped in foil burritos (Steak and Chicken) beans, salsa, chips etc. On a scale of 1 – 10 I would give this a solid 8 for lunches or quick snack to hold you over. There is no charge at this venue. Check it out when you get on board. The Bionic Bar? Eh! Ok its cool to watch a Robot make your drink but honestly all I heard were passengers saying their drinks were a bit light on the Alcohol. But I am sure it’s a preference. Still cool to watch – located on the promenade deck by the elevators across from customer service counter. The On Air Bar has now been replaced with a Karaoke bar, to be honest I didn’t frequent this venue but it’s the same bar – different name – new venue The Belrose Bar (Across for the Karaoke) is a latin themed bar Lots of fun and the bartenders are extraordinary. Windjammer – well they changed up the venue a bit so you might want to read up on this, The Hand Washing stations (with the jell) have now been replaced with Water Hand washing stations, and there is an employee at the station ensuring a good wash. They also changed the Entrance and Exits – Which I think was a brilliant idea. So when you go into the windjammer you will enter on Deck 16 walk towards the windows overseeing the pool decks – at this point turn left or right and you will see the washing stations. Once you finished in the Windjammer you will exit the doors that Used to be the Entrance. Now for some passengers this was too much for them and they were complaining – the overall change is – you are walking the same path no additional footsteps. They also removed the Aft Food Serving stations in the Windjammer and opened up more seating – Great Idea as we didn’t have much of a wait to find an open table. Food hasn’t changed – however there was one evening it was all Asian themed – I don’t mind Asian Food – But there wasn’t much more to offset if that’s what you didn’t want. The Service level from the state-room attendants on down improved quite dramatically since departing our cruise in March 2019. Now I am sure it wasn’t because of all my previous post about service levels on big ships – I can however speculate that RCCL upped the Workers because of the Renovation and it being a 20th anniversary of the ship and 50th Anniversary for the Cruise line. I absolutely hope not – but that is my theory. Let’s hope they don’t move anyone, because as I aforementioned the service levels improved dramatically for the best. The new Slides on the Pool deck are pretty awesome – It looked like a great ride from top deck down to the pool deck – Pretty extraordinary feat of engineering. Smokers – The smoking area has shrunk a bit and sit-down table have been replaced with Small wood tables and (uncomfortable) wood stools. I get it folks – smokers are looked down upon – but are weakness is no different than any other society crutch. In any case it is what it is, Along with that they have increased the pool chairs and include little cabanas on the top deck – Very nice addition to those who are sun worshipers. Get there early! Casino – Machines - For those of you who like the casinos – I can assure you on a couple things – Machines are TIGHT – your best time of playing is the first day of sailing and the second to last day. If you win good money on the first night take the money and run. Also RCCL has incorporated new technology using your sea pass card – now you simply sit at a machine and if you need additional monies to play you tap your sea pass card and authorize funds transfer to your Room. Although the concept is good be aware there is no way to track what your spending until you review your invoice and this could be costly especially if your not keeping track. Card tables – We love to play 3 card poker but the minimum bet on the table after all bets down was $70 a hand – I get it your gambling but $70 a hand is a bit steep, not to mention there were only 2 card tables and we only had the opportunity to sit one time in 7 days. You would think that the popularity of the game would prompt more tables. But Hey – what do I know! The only CONS I still see on the Big Ship Casino Betting is a bit on the high end - but much like anything if people keep coming they won’t change much. The ability to use your sea pass card to charge to your room IMO is promoting gabling addictions and there is no way to see what your balance is until its too late. Need to work on the disembarking it’s still a bit chaotic Customer Service Counter is extremely - extremely slow I spent an hour in line and 80% of the people in front of me had complaints about the WIFI Internet - I still maintain they should have their own service area for this. The specially restaurants are bit over priced IMO and there is not much difference with the food from one restaurant to another The advantage of being a Diamond or above member doesn’t mean much anymore – I think RCCL can do more with their loyalty program The Shows are somewhat Eh! Seems like the same old routine Read Less