Georgeny

19 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

That was in Rudi's, not the MDR.

Thank you 😊 

Thank you for taking the time to review your Enchanted sailing. We are booked for the 14 day NY to FLL reposition. On one of the posts you said something about there is a $10 charge for a second main in the MDR? Could you clarify that for me?

George in NY

So sad to see that these corporation owned cruise lines continue down the path of being the consumers. The old FCC system by Princess was great. Pay $100 each now get that back in OBC have low deposit etc. If not used in two years automatically refunded. Also bough this on a Princess cruise. Now just another scam that Princess uses vendor BS to claim innocence.

Reminds me of hospitals now. Last page of discharge instructions told me nearly that NO ONE, not Doctors, Nurses, technicians were an employee of the hospital. Bury everyone in a ton of loopholes.

Went to Bookstore that had a Starbucks in it. Tried to use a Starbucks gift card. Sorry we are not really Starbucks just a Starbucks entity so can't use gift card.

Again sad that cruise lines are resorting more to this BS. Yes many functions on ship have always been vendor, spa, jewelry, casino, and now apparently cruise sales. Personally we have cut back our cruising to one a year down from 4 or 5. Cruising becomes less " enchanting " every day. Next cruise is 14 day re-position Brooklyn to FLL on Enchantment in November. Our first return to Princess, perhaps our last we shall see.

George in NY - former cruisaholic

Lioness, Thank you for a great postings, especially the gambling honest information. My bride still spends much time in he casino brings about 1 to 2 grand to play away. I was once what might be considered a high roller by some before inflation. Gave it all up when land casinos ( pre-pandemic ) tightened up perks and did away with gambling hosts in some. Then as my IRS deductions changed to only being able to take standard deductions ) unable to take losses against winnings gave it up totally. I would spend a couple of hours on the floor lose say 5 grand. Have 2 grand in winnings hence a 3 grand loss. However still had to pay tax on 2 grand winnings. Annoyed me enough that I gave it all up. Now I bring $100 to play and good books and downloaded movies to spend my time on. Via my wife we do get casino offers that often save us a couple hundred on cabin and gives her a couple hundred OBC or free play. That's just fine.

Again thanks for a great ride 🙂  George in NY

19 hours ago, CJDepew said:

or the lasagna was just meh.

 

No matter what, I'm not going to let dining ruin my cruise. Looking on the bright side, I only had a couple of extra pounds to lose when I came home.

Their lasagna has always been yuck. The meat in it is more like dogfood than good beef.

6 hours ago, mjldvlks said:

Royal has no such security blanket. Destroy the product and I doubt the company will survive. Nobody has to take a cruise vacation. 

Well said and also a point I have made in past. Airlines will survive simply because the need to get from point A to B exists for many. The need to be on a cruise ship, not so much. Ocean liners don't exist, they were put business by airplanes. If someday someone invents a system to beam us up Scotty airlines will disappear. Once land resorts and cruise ships offer equal value, getting there fast thanks to nickel dime culture and service reductions, cruise ships will disappear.

Cruiselines are steeped in debt, there fault. The urge to be biggest, to have the most outrageous activities, do they really need those slides etc. The core business of service, food, and relaxation has developed into must be Disney at Sea.

Don't know if links to other sites are allowed here but will give it a try.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/09/22/photos-show-what-it-was-cruise-royal-caribbean-the-1980s

There are actually THREE subjects worth researching regarding to future plans of cruising. All existed and had plans to be put in place long before the pandemic.

SHIP in a SHIP - basically onboard class system regarding service and amenity.

ECONOMY of SIZE - basically bigger capacities create higher margins.

ALA-CARTE Dining - Shoreside style restaurants and pricing.

You are seeing huge ship capacity, special areas and amenities for people who can afford it. Speciality restaurants pricing increases, diminished MDR and casual dining free offerings and quality.

This is not a mystery. As prices for tickets climb so do onboard charges. The pandemic makes a believable excuse for this occurring now and so rapidly.

George in NY - cruising since 1985, once in the business on the peripheral. What will be interesting is that once the pent up travel desire and the pandemic reserve cash etc diminish what will happen in the industry. Whether these changes can be sustained in a real question. in U.S housing is becoming far more important and costly than the desire to cruise.

12 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Thanks for letting me know I am wrong! I have a post graduate degree, retired at 57, and cruise 1-2 times a month, usually on RCI. I must be clueless because I like the food on RCI and will continue to cruise on RCI every month. 

Gee I only have a GED, cruised until recently but 30 days a year. But I did retire at 40, what took you so long? I have cruised RCL at lot and I am sure will again when the menu suits me more. All lines have cut back on food budget. Recent HA no different, no lobster at all now unless paid on MDR menu. But since RCL sails from Cape Liberty I would love to sail them again soon as they stop cutting everything from service to food.

Being an impressive post graduate degree and practically living at sea you will let me know won't you. I shall rely on your superior knowledge and abilities. Then again, as you said, you might just be clueless.

And so as happens on the boards, the conversation degenerates. LOL

George in NY - Leaving you the last pompous A word as I shall surely be to overwhelmed to reply. 

16 hours ago, jeh10641 said:

Hi, George,

Pelham and Larchmont (Mamaroneck High School '59). Seattle area since January 1975.

 

1959 sailing was part of a student tour of Europe for 55 days. Think "Grand Tour" of yore but on a budget. Nieuw Amsterdam had three classes then - first, cabin, tourist (seems like cruise lines are reverting back to that). We were in the middle class. It had a ROUND porthole about 15 inches in diameter, on a lower deck. The seas got so bad that the room attendant had to lower a steel covering over it and lock it in place for 2 or 3 days. The waves were over the porthole.

 

I was not yet 18 and on my own with 29 other kids who were either going to be high school seniors, or like me, were going to start college.

 

Jim 

Wow, now that is a class trip LOL! Yes definitely reverting back to class cruising and I think that is a darn shame! The beauty of then modern cruising in the 80's and 90's was that everyone received the same food, service, etc. The only difference was the actual cabin size and location. Two families we met and remain close to to this day and cruised many times together through the years were table mates. On land in reality we would have never come together being far different in financial and way of life those years. Now with the separate restaurants, my time dining, suite only areas, etc, this doesn't happen easy anymore. The other factor of course the number of passengers. doesn't promote the old " we are all on this special vacation together. "

I know you must miss Walters Hot Dogs 🙂

George in NY - Go Garnets class of 1968 

20 hours ago, jeh10641 said:

Hi, George,

Thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it. When i write a review, whether for a cruise or a book, I try to an honest appraisal based on my experience. I am not sure why negative reviews seem to dominate Cruise Critic's boards on RCCL food. Our experience, albeit only two lengthy trips 15 years apart, has been very positive. Fellow cruisers with whom I spoke on Anthem felt the food was very good but somewhat limited in selection. WEe felt there was more than enough choices for each meal.

 

We are displaced New Yorkers ourselves. My wife from the Bronx and I from Westchester County.

Jim

Jim,

We sailed the Liberty Seas in June after the RCL menu had just changed there. I wonder if your October Anthem cruise was the old menu or the new menu? I don't know if they staged the change.

Looking at your history of sailings you started cruising when I was 9 years old. I have to think that you were cruising with parents in 1959? The Dam ships use the same names over and over. I sailed the newer Nieuw Amsterdam October 2023, a whole different ship and experience I am sure.

I was raised in Rye, now in upper Westchester.

14 minutes ago, SUgwoz said:

Hopefully people going on their first cruise don't dedicate to reading reviews. I can see how people would go on a cruise with a negative mindset.  

 

Now when people have positive experiences it's looked at with a skeptical view, either it's an exception or they have different standards.  Enjoying a cruise offering is almost looked down upon these days. 

Can't agree with " enjoying a cruise offering is almost looked down upon " comment. Many cruise reviews if not most are very positive in many areas. Most cruise reviews are also very honest and honest cruise reviews will almost always pro and con areas, just like life. As with life one should take any review with as no more than a personal opinion and information to assist with selection.

Just bought a dryer, had to be this particular dryer due to depth size required. Reviewers praised the capacity and drying ability etc. Only con was the loudest end of cycle buzzer in the world and no off with fir same. I thought to myself how loud can the car thing be after all. I bought dryer, buzzer will knock you out of your chair from another floor and room. But I was at least prepared 😉

We've done well over 100 cruises over 40 years and still always read reviews of ships before booking. Can always learn from others experiences.

On 2/8/2024 at 3:36 PM, jeh10641 said:

As exemplified by this thread, food is very personal. My wife and I loved the MDR on Navigator OTS on our first cruise in 2008. We loved the MDR food on Anthem OTS in October 2023 (transatlantic). I left a review of Anthem on Cruise Critic where you see my entire multipage review.

JEH10641

First allow me to compliment you on one of the most comprehensive reviews I have ever read, thank you. I am happy that you were happy with the food offerings, maybe transatlantic was better? I am afraid though reading the reviews before and after your happiness with the food is the exception not the rule.

Though it is obvious that in the area of food there are a wide range of opinions currently the thoughts that the RCL food quality and menu selection have been diminished seems to be a constant note now.

Again, enjoyed reading your review and thank you for taking the time to encompass so much information.   George in NY

27 minutes ago, mjldvlks said:

Earlier in our cruising life, 10+ years ago,  in discussions like this there almost inevitably be a comment from someone that the food on the ships was no better than “banquet food.”  Frankly, I didn’t see that as substantial criticism. I have seen some pretty fine banquet food.
 

The last two cruises I have been on, however (Odyssey TA last fall and Anthem a week ago) couldn’t meet even that level. With all due respect to the lunch ladies (who do remarkable things with meager resources) I don’t think the food on either of those ships was any better than school cafeteria quality.

 

I firmly believe we are in the midst of an effort to eliminate complimentary food options. 

Through my 40 years of cruising I have seen lines makes some real mistakes in understanding their passenger reason for enjoying cruising. One of the more recent years that many will remember was, I think they called it " Dynamic Dining." Most passengers called it : Disaster Dining!" Where many small venue dining rooms whose venues never changed in each. That on the Quantum of The Seas. They had two other large ships scheduled to convert but postponed then cancelled the changes.

Cruisecritic article can be found here. https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/dynamic-dining-everything-you-need-to-know#

The interesting part of it is that it took two years for RCL to figure it out, that people hated it for the most part. And that they eve retrofitted two more ships to start DD before someone figuring it out. Reminds me of that show Undercover Boss where the guy running the company actually goes and works at one of their outlets and is shocked at what he runs actually does run.

22 hours ago, BND said:

While the food isn't what it was 5 years ago, it has improved greatly since restart.  We just got off Wonder 8 days ago after a b2b and we found the food better.  I don't love the lack of basic choices though.  I will say, I tried to ask for just a garden salad one night at dinner and the waiter looked at me and said, it's not on the menu, we can't do that.  Um, in Oct/Nov on Jewel, they gladly did it for me several times and acted like it was completely normal.  And, I originally hadn't even asked but when I said I didn't like any of the appetizers, it was offered.  We need consistency.

Had the same experience on the Liberty of The Seas in October. Asked for a just plain garden salad and it was like I had asked for the moon. After conferring with another waiter our waiter offered he could only deliver a Caesar salad without the dressing. That or nada! Even a dive diner can come up with a plain salad for goodness sake. Most nights they had Caesar or some strange combo salad and my just a plain salad was done but with varied leafy combinations. Geez only a darn salad and they can't even do that?

Yes a cruise is not only the food but food is a large part of it. Service is another large part. Another facet now lost is new and interesting friends made through the evening dinners. My Time, which is really their time mostly, and separate speciality venues has pretty much negated that facet as well. We have close friends for over 30 years man at the MDR evening table through the years. Now table mates here one day gone another. Huge pass number ships do not promote such growth of friendship.

George in NY

15 hours ago, mjldvlks said:

I note that several posts have referenced specialty restaurants as evidence of the quality of on-board food.  That seems to me to be is a tacit admission good food is no longer included in the cruise fare. 

I agree, means exactly that. You can also note that lobster is about gone most lines except as a paid item on the MDR menu. The fact that you have extra charge items on the regular MDR menu now shows the direction that they are all going. Charged for food just like at home. This is nothing new, was the plan long before the pandemic. As was SIP in a SHIP ( class separation via $$$ ) and ECONOMY of SIZE ( more people carried one ship higher margins ).

The fact that you have fares Regular, PLUS, MORE PLUS no matter the name it really stands for STEERAGE, 2nd CLASS, 1st CLASS. Packages, then comes included packages with some fares, just a way to get there.

My thoughts are more toward who will pay all this once the post pandemic urge to travel slows. So many in United States having problems in housing and with inflation how many will have exorbinant costs of cruising?

George in NY

On 1/29/2024 at 4:22 PM, AmericanMom said:

The popcorn from The Pitstop was $3.45 each. 

 

Great review and photo's!!! Someone will have to explain to me WHY a cruise line charges so much for popcorn, in fact why they charge at all? To me a real " we just don't care " to the customers that all paid big ( getting bigger every minute ) bucks to sail. RCL has been doing it for years....

On 1/11/2024 at 11:27 PM, twonpcb said:

I know this is a very touchy subject but I have seen several posts regarding how Royal’s food quality has gone south recently.  My husband and I were on a Celebrity cruise last January to Antarctica and we found the food superb.

 

Can anyone expound on this?  We have not cruised Royal since before the pandemic.

 

 

We sailed Liberty of the Seas in June 2023. If I told you what I thought of Main Dining food and service in the words I would like to use this would not be posted. WORSE food ever on a cruise, couple that with added charges like $28 or some such for a good steak or a lobster we were totally disappointed. We decided to stop crusing RCL until we see some notable improvements noted on boards and reviews. Instead we sailed Holland America in October, noted that many cuts as well but food at least was far superior to RCL. Normally we would have sailed RCL from Bayonne for holidays but decided to stay home rather than be so disappointed but food and service. Let's not even get into recent pricing, nickel and dime onboard policies, constant gratuity increases, and service downsizing.

After over 100 cruise over 30 years all lines really disappointed in what cruising has become. Ill attached a picture of the prime rib served me. Looked at tasted like a sole from a shoe. Waiter and assistant couldn't;t even tell you what menu offered or what something on your plate was. So sad, we loved cruising, now, will cruise again but not like before.

George in NY 

Teddie, Thank you for your quick but well written summary so far. We sailed Liberty in June and were sadly disappointed by RCL food and various service cutbacks. Because of that we are not booking RCL currently but we do watch and wait there hopefully eventual improvements. Just sailed Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam in October and the food was so better than RCL we haven't missed them yet. Sadly even on HA the service though good was few and far between. Dining staff really had little clue. I think all lines are having real problems getting and training staff.

Thanks again  George IN NY

Will look forward to whatever you to decide to add about this cruise.

Ship?

Just used it, Luggage Direct, on Nieuw Amsterdam, FFL to LGA, $25 a bag. We were happy to see the service offered as in past years we used with no problem. However a cautionary tale. First flight must be after 11:30 am ours was 11:31so okay. Signed up onboard required by like 3rd day. Noted that although boarding pass was correct the luggage tag listed a flight # that had been changed long before and new flight # was provided. Went to guest services and inquired, desk person took to Supervisor who alleged checked and said was not a problem airline would correct! WRONG !

We arrived in NY at 2:50 pm in NY no luggage. Delta new terminal had luggage claim office right by luggage. Quickly checked and advised our luggage would be arriving at 6pm. They took information and advised that Delta would deliver it to my home the next morning, a Sunday. I had doubts but what can you do. Delta was great, provided me texts and tracking of our luggage and at 10 am courier called said he was at the door, AND YEAH so was my luggage, and on a Sunday.

Technically worked out well even better since delivered right to our door. But concerns, and time to  claim lost luggage while car service arriving for us was an adrenalin moment. Fortunately even car service was delayed due to traffic accident delays so no wait time charges needed.

Would I use it again , probably yes if the paperwork was all correct. If paperwork was wrong or questionable on ship I would do it the old fashioned way.

George in NY for what it is worth !

On 10/24/2023 at 3:59 PM, Crew News said:

Embarkation Day ended with a visit to the Lido Market Late Snack for a bowl of potato chips.  Of immediate note to me, as well as the Asst Lido Manager, was the average diner age at least 20 years younger than the Panama Canal passengers.  There was even a line at the NY Pizza that I had not witnessed over the past 16 days.  One entire side of the Lido was filled, and I later learned that 300 meals were served which is significantly higher than the 40 that I was used to seeing. 

 

The first day of the second cruise segment began and ended in Fort Lauderdale with the Nieuw Amsterdam still undergoing repairs.  Breakfast in the Lido Market was a stark contrast to the repositioning segment.  Passengers consumed their meal and departed.  I saw only one book reader occupying a table after their breakfast dishes were cleared and very few diners in search of tables.  With a younger demographic, plates were piled high with bacon, waffles, eggs, pastries, etc. while the yogurt line not busy.  On a personal level, I quickly found a table for the first time in 16 days.

 

This day was our CC Meet & Greet and as promised by the Events Coordinator, Maria, there were at least nine ship officers present, that included the ship’s Captain and new Hotel General Manager, Mark Pells.  Sadly, and based so many people taking advantage of the free shopping mall shuttles, the officer contingent outnumbered the CC roll call members. I seized the opportunity gather information.  After nearly seven years on the Nieuw Amsterdam, Captain Jeroen von Donselaar will be moving to the Eurodam next March, He shared some of the upgrades coming in the December 2023 drydock:  All new Crow’s Nest windows, remodeled Fitness Center, add Rolling Stone, new carpeting and furniture, air conditioning and heating upgrades, azipod replacement, and Starlink upgrade are planned.

 

The table selection at 12:30 PM in the Lido Market for lunch was unlimited with so many passengers off the ship and shopping in Fort Lauderdale.  There could have been no more than 50 people present while I was there.  I learned that at 1:30 PM, the returning mall shoppers filled every Lido Market table.

 

My second dinner in the MDR was efficient and completed in 50 minutes, perhaps, because of the smaller portions.  I remained still amazed at the big changes since my May cruise on this same ship.  The only identifiable change that I can identify is the  new MDR Maitre’d, Damien. 

 

The magician/comedian, Fred Moore, was quite good and very funny.

 

The Late Lido Market Snack was filled with more diners than Embarkation Day and required more crew members to clean the tables.

 

More later.

I'll just make a few quick comments here. We were on the 7 day Caribbean sailing aka the cruise to Fort Lauderdale. Sadly though many good points we are disturbed by how far down HA has dropped. After recent RCL sailings we had hoped The HA would still have any of the older facets in place but no! Just all the main cruise lines much has changed. We had sailed the N Amsterdam in 2017 pre pandemic. This sailing was our 6th HA sailing through the years. We found it differs now little from recent RCL Liberty of the Seas sailings and Oasis of The Seas. This was our 4th sailing post pandemic.

Cruising today is so far different than when we started in 1984. Since then we have filed over 100 cruises so there are vast differences for decades of cruising. Holland America is no different now than the others, reduced staff, higher and more onboard costs etc.

We had a good cruise with friends yes but just like all the lines little things disappeared. Choc on pillows ( two days I think ) drink servers that had no clue and were few are far a part. It was work to get a cocktail in lounges pre-dinner. No lobster at all unless paid. Waiter and assistant cordial hard working but nothing like before. Served me wrong dinner 3 times during cruise ( late seating ). No recommendations , in one case I asked what something was and they had no idea. Just like all the lines now take full order including dessert at one time. Yes many things very small, some might say petty, but really that was what cruise were all about, those great little things. One shining light was our cabin Steward, barely seen everything always as requested. Staff are a cruise, food is a cruise, service is a cruise or else why open yourself to possible high seas rocking etc. 

The good, though no lobster nights included the food that was still superior to what RCL is now serving. Room service was great! Buffet and Dive In good. Frankly NY pizza HA should be sued calling that offering pizza much less NY pizza.

Yes good cruise despite FLL dock days, a little rocking. no food to be served on private island due to windy conditions, bath drainage problems but a disappointment for what was hoped might be the line to be better than most and was not! I remember when Carnival took over direct supervision and it was said HA will be no different to what was HA. Really, we sail Carnival too, much like a Carnival ship.

PS: the direct luggage program, room to destination airport at $25 a bag. We arrived in NY yesterday at LGA 2:30 our luggage didn't! I will say Delta was right on it tracking. Delivered it to me home's door at 10 am this morning. It hadn't arrived at LGA until after 6pm. Was home eating traditional real pizza by then.

George in NY

20 hours ago, SumoCitrus said:

 

 

45 Degrees!!!!

 

😳🤢

Look Up Costa Concordia!

Not unusual, been in this situation myself through the years. Have to do the math and see whether the deal you received booking early is better or worse than dollars saved using FCC. Pretty much standard practice. The only difference that I note in practice is that FCC only good for year. Every time we had one it was for two years but those were pre-pandemic.

If someone finds out what the discrepancy is between $250 pp and $450 pp is please post. I an thinking that those onboard getting $450 based on cruise length with and additional $250 for back to back pax based on 7 day.

I would suggest that a nice touch would be an open bar while in FLL overnights. Especially since you probably have to pay tax on drinks while in port, Or FREE wifi or something days at sea? Me I would rather the free wi-fi days at sea myself.

George in NY