We booked this cruise for the great ports of call that we're on offer. The itinerary was sete, toulon, corsica, palma de mallorca, ibiza, cartagena, valenica and back into Barcelona.
Embarkation was a breeze, the emuster drill is fantastic and saves a lot of time on the first day to do fun stuff around the ship.
Dining however seems to be where the ship is having problems. The windjammer ...
Food was absolutely dreadful, very poor and not a great selection we honestly struggled even in the buffet. We found the dining room staff were good but the guys seating us were aloof and often sent us to very poorly situated tables such as behind the wait staff table even though throughout the meal there were many tables beautifully situated, it really surprised us. In the buffet we found the ...
While the itinerary for this cruise is top notch, there is a lot that is really lacking luster. Everywhere you look on this ship, there is wear and tear - the carpets, the railings, the windows. It's a combination of cleaning (They have not been as diligent about cleaning the exterior windows it seems) and maintenance (fresh coats of paint needed everywhere). It's a weird thing to note but they ...
We opted for a suite (Deck 8) . What we learned the hard way is that some of those suites (ours) were right underneath the pool deck and Windjammer. THE NOISE coming through our ceiling was loud and very disturbing. The sounds of people walking, running and tables and chairs being dragged, and chopping and banging noise up till 3am. It sounded like we were living underneath a factory.
We paid ...
After researching cruise lines, ships, and itineraries, I chose this cruise as I was traveling with my 20-something daughter and wanted a younger-feeling crowd. In the end, that didn't matter as the only place on the ship where people gathered was the pool and karaoke. Otherwise, the crowd wasn't noticeable and there were just small interactions here & there.
Our stateroom was nice. Yes, it ...
NEVER purchase "the key"! We purchased it mainly to be able to disembark before anyone else but enjoyed reading that there's other perks. You get quick lunch in the dining room (steak) when you first get on board, you get wifi for 1 device, 1 scheduled IFly, and 1 scheduled North Star, oh and let's not forget the small plate of fruit delivered to your cabin.
We stood in line to disembark the ...
After several emails and messages telling us to make sure we were on time, we queued with thousands of others outside in the rain for more than an hour before boarding. No apology or even a mention from RCI, so I presume this is normal.
My suitcase was delivered to the cabin at 8.30pm, 7 hours after I left it with the check in team !! No apology or explanation, so maybe normal?
Our dinner ...
We have sailed with RCL OVER 20 times. Each ship has its wow factor but did not feel this on Odyssey. The same entertainment kept repeating. The Book (5 times, what was that all about?) 80s group Wild Boys (3 times) they were good but not everything likes 80s. There was a juggler who was brilliant and a magician who was mediocre. They had a show which was all about lasers? The main billed ...
This crusie is a bit tricky to review as RCL can't be held respobsible for COVID or the UK weather!!
The good bits and in fairness these were all excellent. Food, staff, room, entertainment, drinks all absolutely brilliant. Even the shore excursions were very good. We loved Giants Causeway in Ireland.
Now the tricky bit and my major disappointment with RCL.
This was a UK school ...
This was supposed to be canaries but was just Belfast and Liverpool.
This junior suite cabin is directly above the ladies public toilets on deck 5 so if you like to sleep before 2 or 3am don’t book this one.
All I could hear was toilets flushing continuously. Once people eventually went to bed I had the sound of a toilet filling up with water sloshing about until 8 or 9am! Guest services ...