forkcreek

If you are looking for an Italian dining experience that you are used to, you will not find it at Jamie's. It is an English version designed to appeal to fancy tastes. Great is the antipasti board called a plabnk served with the meal. The garlic bread is a type of brown and serve roll which is split and garlic butter poured in. The tomato sauce is very thin and nearly tasteless. The pasta was under cooked, hard and just plain bad.The entrees we had were the lamb chops (which were over cooked and hard) and the eggplant parmasan (which was drowned in the poor tomato sauce).We cannot recall the sides. The portions were large.Both Giovanni's and Portofino offered a real Italian dining experience that was enjoyable. On the Symphony were were told a few times that Jamie's was being replaced.

Since 2008 at least, all the cruise lines have been trying to do more with less to improve their profit margins. While people who have never before sailed or do so very infrequently may not notice the downward slide, all others will.

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Many have mentioned that the cost of the Specialty Restaurants have recently gone up but not uniformly on every ship. I am especially interested in the Allure. Can anyone post those costs?

The larger and newer ships in the RCCL fleet have almost become amusement parks on the water. It is clear that the company business plan is to attract more familes who altho sail infrequently, spend significantly more onboard than the "frequent floaters." As such we prefer the older and smaller ships.

I empathize with what you're saying, however I think it's very apparent that the view of the ocean is almost zero in the boardwalk cabins far forward whether the Abyss is there or not even on Oasis and Allure. So if Boardwalk cabins are obstructed, then surely the Central Park balconies are obstructed too... those balconies have no view of the ocean as well so they are "obstructed" right? Are Radiance Class deck 7 balconies obstructed even though you're looking immediately down onto the white canopy cover of the lifeboats? Is the very best cabin of the entire ship... the Royal Family Suite on deck 6 afton Freedom Class ships... obstructed because you look directly onto the blue ceiling above the crew area and at the massive super structure of the ship without seeing the ocean for at least 50 feet any any direction?

 

There has to be some common sense involved, and there has to be an ounce of effort by the person booking to actually google the cabin number, check the deck plan and look at pictures/video on the web. :)

Unfortunately common sense is not a dominant characteristic of a large segment of the US population based on my 70+ years.

I found this youtube video of the very farthest forward Boardwalk deck 12 balcony, closest to Dazzles.

 

Here's another one (I estomate this to be from cabin 14301)

 

Here's another great video (stateroom 10703) so you can see how much the Abyss affects the view only 10-12 cabins back from the aft

Thanks. I still believe RCCL should tell passengers if a cabin has some obstruction because of the slide.

I believe RCCL should be clear that many of the BW cabins have an obstructed view and indeed label them as such.

To the cruise lines, with the money they make selling picture on so called formal nights, justifies them continuing Over the years we have seen an increasing number of passengers going to the MDR not dressed formally. We have also seen the number going to the buffet increasing not only on formal nights.

We believe that the Quality of food in the Windjammer and main dinning room often depends on the hotel director and/or head chef. We have been on b2b where with a change in either of these positions resulted in a change of quality/dinning experience. The specialty restaurants follow instructions from Miami HQ and are usually followed by on board staff.

Just a question about Premier Parking. We always used this facility when we cruise from Miami but last year we had to wait for a shuttle for more than an hour on both ends. Seems like they only had 1 shuttle running. I've read a few recent reviews and it seems like the shuttle is still a problem. Did you have any problems with long wait times for the shuttle? The shuttle has always had a wait but last year was the worst. Was thinking of parking elsewhere because of this. Appreciate your help. Thanks

Premier Parking shuttle bus ( seems only one) starts picking up at the last pier on the right as you enter. When that bus is full it returns to the lot, unloads then returns to the ships. Off Navigator on 2/3 which was nearly at the end of the ships docked, there was a 3 hour wait.

To avoid becoming a diabetic, I have been on a very low carb diet. On RCCL ships, that I recall, all pastries are "no sugar added" and have a cake included. The cookies are generally sugar free. However both the pastries and the cookies are very high in Carbs and thus a no no for me ( and should be avoided by all diabetic sufferers).. I have written several times asking RCCL to provide real deserts that are appropriate for us concerned about diabetes, with many subsequent promises but little results.

Someone much wiser than me who has worked for RCCL coined a phrase: " The crews onboard the ships practice HOSPITALITY but the Executives in Miami practice HOSTILITY.

We were also on Navigator 1/29 to 2/3 and had dinner there on 1/4. First the guacamole used to be prepared table side and now it comes from the kichen. Despite allegations of fresh made, we are certain it was not and probably came from a large premade amount. Next, in previous Sabor visits when price fixed we could order a variety as long as only one maim entre: however, the numbers of allowed selections were severely limited. The fish tacos and burrito were virtually devoid of fish.The other dishes were OK but not of the memorable experiences we had before. The chips and salsa were the best of the entire dinner.The service was excellent. We might try Sabor again but with reluctance.

When you enter a RCCL casino, the strong smoke odor is pervasive. The numbers of people smoking but not gambling is significant to the point that they at times block access to slot areas especially at night. We have seen many times when the casino was crowded with smokers but few were gambling. On several ships we have been on people were smoking in the non smoking area, the casino manager was told and despite a promise to stop it, nothing was done. We like others we know have voted with our pocket books and avoid the casinos. By the way, we have known some managers for a long time and on occasion have had dinner with two. Both lamented that Casino revenue is DOWN since the casino became a primary indoor smoking area.

They sailed at over 105% capacity last year. As long as people keep paying they will keep raising the prices. Absolutely nothing to do with what other lines are charging.

I am not sure about this. As you know, the US RCCL web site does not show all vacant cabins, I have monitored numerous sailings on these other sites and often the vacancies are amazing. Also on our last three cruises, the three different cabin stewards told us that on every sailing the have a number of empty cabins,and that's how RCCL is able to assign them more to do

The inside cabins are very small ( aapprox 119 sq feet). and the doors will not be wide enough for a scooter that cannot be folded. The hallways are also narrow to the point that a parked scooter can restrict passage and be a danger. Like some one else said, get a handicapped designated cabin.

We try to board as close to 1PM as possible. We then proceed to our cabi, drop of any luggage we have and then go for lunch. By then we seldom find crowded sites and better service.

As others said as long as they are sailing full, prices go up... Then they are still cheaper then 30 years ago. A lot!

Then with the value of the dollar going up, prices should go down. Not the Case. As a RCCL frequent floater even more fascinating are the so called "SALES" when most sailings actually go up in cost. When added to other cut backs we are approaching a point of giving up on RCCL

The fact is that as the number of passengers buying drink packages increase the number of bar servers has decreased. It is impossible not to conclude that with reduced service, drink amounts are restricted and RCCL limits its financial costs.In addition, those remaining bar servers, not being stupid, are far more attentive to passengers who tip in cash. This to me raises the saying Caveat Emptor ( buyer beware).

Over the last several years, RCCL has had a business plan of expecting more with less. The reduction in service personnel has affected all aspects of their ships altho some area more than others. They will continue in this plan until passengers begin to answer back by not spending money they expect.

The OP is from the UK and usually the grats are included when booked there.

You are correct. Missed him being in the UK/EU. They operate under a different set of rules than in the US.

18% "gratuity" is added to the cost of all drink packages. On a few occasions we have seen the packages sold onboard at a discount but there seems to be no consistency.

If the card is not fully used on the ship it was bought, can it be used on any other ship and if so, does it have an expiration?

I think they will find plenty to do on this ship as well..boy crazy they are.. :rolleyes:

We have a grand suite and they have a junior suite next to us so they will have plenty of room.

Plenty of room. And they will be trolling

As I and others have noted through the years, a major problem with the chair hogs is the blatant refusal of RCCL to enforce its own rules on a consistent basis. In addition, RCCL has so reduced the numbers of pool personnel that the problem has been growing.