cusematt4

Lol. Unbelievable. They are told to smile and be happy or else they use their job. Try talking to these people and not being so oblivious to the conditions of those us and you’ll find out the real truth that isn’t what they are told to do or say. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to be able to enjoy our cruises that we so look forward to and love.

Well said @cruising sister. This is just about humanity and decency. I am not inquiring about anyone’s wage just merely stating how hard these people work and go above and beyond for us. With the sacrifices they make for rcl and its guests, it would be nice for them to have the ability to keep in touch with their families without a charge while away for so many months.

I am a good person. My business is making sure those who care for me and those I care about have humane conditions in the day and age we live in. If their conditions and wages aren’t changing it would be nice if they can at least have an ability to keep in touch with their family. I am not asking for anything that would impact you or the life you so fortunately get to live in America.

🫥😶

I’m amazed so many people could care less about these going above and beyond for us making our cruises the vacations we love and so look forward to. I’m not asking people tip more than what’s recommended (although I do and hope others do when deserved), but rather just for some basic perks to make their lives just a tad more bearable by being able to keep in touch with their family given the technology advancements (speed, capabilities and cost) over the past few years.

Because they are desperate for money and are taken advantage of my cruise lines without international law/regulation. All I’m stating is that if cruise lines aren’t going to pay their employees more than $100/month plus gratuities, it would be nice for basic internet access (at least video or audio calls) to be able to talk with their family that they are away from for so long. Me stopping to cruise wouldn’t do anything. Us collectively as regular cruisers could indeed make a difference. Just cause this is how it’s been doesn’t mean it has to be this way forever. if wages are what they are, technology has come such a long way and it would be nice to give crew a few hours a week a month to talk to family, even if during off hours when guest internet usage is low. It’s the least they can do that wouldn’t cost the cruise lines much. NCL already gives their crew unlimited free access to social media, where crew can talk with their family rather than just via WhatsApp text.

Full WhatsApp access would be awesome. But several crew members said it is strictly limited to texting - no ability to voice or video call through the app for crew. WhatsApp calling would even be a huge win imo to be able to hear from and speak with their family.

I was thinking this too. But one idea could be to give them access to a few hours of free internet a week to call family between 11pm and 7am when passenger usage is low and many crew are “off.”

I am 40 and have traveled the world. I again am truly appalled by the ridiculing and backlash I’m getting for merely being saddened that the crew are paid a bare minimum wage without tips, while being disappointed they can’t at least be provided limited wifi to keep in touch with those they sacrifice for 8 months a year. I thought that we could express our feelings and concerns here, whether good, bad or constructive.

That is within their allocated 10 hours a day that is meant for sleep. Crew members who get 10s earn a few extra hours off a week I’ve been told.

Oh. Also it’s a little absurd the staff have to pay for their required to wear uniforms. If rcl is making them wear these outfits, it would be nice for them to at least provide them. Just very disappointed in and upset about a company that goes above and beyond for its customers and is otherwise such an impressive high quality inspirational company.

Great point, ha. I gave fellow cruisers the benefit of doubt of hoping we could agree on basic communication for staff when away from their families for so long, with no days off. Silly me I guess for hoping we could all agree on a bare minimum standard of treatment and communication for those away from home making astronomically below minimum wage.

I will continue to cruise rcl cause they provide an awesome product. But I just wish they could have their staff basic perks to keep in touch with family. Me boycotting them won’t do anything but us collectively could truly make a difference for something so simple that would go a long way for so many. Im baffled that asking for crew to have access to basic wifi is so controversial.

I am by no means saying I know everything about everyone’s wages and working conditions. This is far from what I am saying or trying to post about. All I am saying is that a regular customer, I wish my favorite company would give their crew access to call their family via the technology they have. And to be in line with other cruise lines who give their staff unlimited access to make calls and video calls to family via social media, the least they could do for the 6-8 month at a time sacrifices they make away from their family at home. I truly didn’t think staying that I wish RCL could give their crew access to basic social media and wifi would be or is in any way controversial.

I confirmed the ip address blocking for crew to access guest wifi with a few different crew members. Registered devices upon their sign on are blocked from accessing guest wifi. Just cause it’s better now than 10 years ago by crew not having to buy calling cards in port to call home via a pay phone does not in my opinion justify rcl charging crew to access wifi with the slave-like wages they pay. My friend doesn’t work for NCL. I do not have any friends who work for any cruise line and am merely a diamond plus member voicing my concerns and disappointment. I learned from an ncl crew member that they get access to social media and calling via wifi for free, unlimited. I am not trying to say anything controversial. Just that given this day and age we live in with technology and starlink wifi, plus the perks other crew at other cruise lines get to keep in touch with family, I wish RCL could be a follower let alone a leader in providing crew free access to keep in touch with family via calls or video calls. I love DCL and just wish they could improve on this area for the best and hardest working crew.

Hi All, I absolutely love Royal Caribbean. It is my favorite cruise line and company. We are Diamond Plus members. We’ve made incredible memories and have had the best of vacations with Royal Caribbean. I know that across the cruise industry, working conditions are very tough with no days off for 6-8 months, in addition to long hours at all hours of the day. In addition, I know that most crew earn just about nothing for a salary and solely rely on gratuities, although they make the sacrifice as they earn more than they otherwise would in their home countries. What’s upsetting is to learn how RCL treats its employees worse than other cruise lines, with fewer “privileges.” One of our favorite employees on the wonder hasn’t had a straight more than 7 hours ”off” from working in 4 months. This person is one of many. This means that this person along with others hasn’t been able to get a straight uninterrupted more than 6.5 hours of sleep in 4 months. What is also incredibly upsetting is how despite Starlink wifi and the many millions RCL must make from it each month across its fleet with most passengers purchasing it, staff still are unable to easily keep in touch with the with family without access to this basic necessity. Aside from standard messaging on WhatsApp, staff on RCL need to pay for all other access to wifi, including the ability to call or video call on any app or FaceTime. Normally RCL staff are CHARGED 3.99 per hour of internet. Over the holidays, they couldn’t even be given free internet to talk with family but were charged 1.99 an hour during the hours of 11pm-7am when most should be getting their limited sleep. So of the $100 of salary Royal Caribbean pays most of its crew each week (before tips), $2 per hour of wifi is charged for access to basic internet to keep in touch with family they are away from for 8 months at a time. Whats even crazier is that I learned crew ip addresses are blocked from guest wifi. Someone tried to give a crew member access to my wifi account to call home but this person stated that crew ip addresses are blocked from accessing guest wifi. I love this company. But other cruise lines such as NCL give crew free internet for calls, FaceTime, texts and social media at a bare minimum. Virgin is an extreme with free wifi for all. Other cruise lines give at least basic internet for calls for free to staff. Why can’t rcl do the same for what makes their company the amazing one it is - their staff and crew, the hardest working and most friendly people I’ve ever met. Is there any way at all we could sign a petition or do something across the cruisecritic RCL forum for RCL to provide free internet to its employees at a bare minimum, in line with other major lines? I am not trying to start a debate or anything controversial, I am just sad and appalled that RCL charges its crew for basic wifi, especially during the holiday season, without an ability to talk by phone or video call to family, given the day and age we live in.

Apologies. Meant that we were on allure in 2014 and are on wonder now. Thanks!

Hi all - icon pricing for next year understandably seems to be 2-4x the price of other ships for the same week, regardless of what week. Based on prior new ship and class launches, is it likely it’ll remain 2-4x more expensive than all other ships and sailings throughout the first year? At what point does it become more in line with other large new ships? Is utopia likely to be more than double other ships for comparable sailings for its first year, or is that less likely since it isn’t a new class?

Hi all, We weee on wonder in 2014 and are on the wonder now. The wonder is by far our favorite ship with the best live music and entertainment. It is also by far the most modern ship. We are contemplating a short cruise on the Allure but are concerned it hasn’t been renovated and that it will be very outdated from when we last sailed on her in 2014 without any royal amplifications or renovations. Has anyone been on the Allure of the Seas recently? Is the entertainment different from 2014? Is it still a god ship, especially for a short cruise? Thank you very much.

Hi all, I am very familiar with icon and can’t wait to sail on her. I know it’s the first newly designed ship since the Oasis class. Someone asked what does and could the icon have that the wonder doesn’t. Besidea the new design, jazz club, the pearl, dueling pianos, an indoor aqua theater instead of outdoor, and Surfside instead of boardwalk - are there other new venues and features that distinguish it from wonder? Thanks.

Hi all - we traditionally do late seating dining but are going with my time to be able to dine at different times based on schedules. Are we able to make my time dining reservations in advance if we know what time we would want to dine each night? We have times in mind and would prefer not to put our names down and wait. Thank you.

Thanks. I was also told from someone onboard this is the case. I’m hoping this freestyle unscripted ice show is just a temporary replacement and am curious if ice games will be coming back.

Thanks. Hopefully it’s something that is slowly being rolled out and will come to us soon.

Hi All, The Royal Caribbean app is showing a freestyle ice show called Bladez instead of the choreographed show Ice Games. The description states that it is a show for the cast to show off their moves to their favorite songs. Does anyone know if any why Royal Caribbean would have done away with their highly acclaimed ice games show? This unscripted show is not in addition to the normal ice show. Thank you.

Thank you very much.