Georgeny

That makes sense!

We are boarding in FLL Saturday. My TA texted me this morning and emailed us notice from HA. "We wish to advise you of some changes to our scheduled itinerary. During our current voyage we experienced a technical issue with our portside Azipod propulsion system. While this in no way affects the safety of our guests or team members, which is our highest priority, it must be repaired before we can begin our next cruise. As a result, we will delay our departure from Fort Lauderdale to complete repair work until 8:00 AM on Monday, October 23. We have revised our itinerary to reschedule our call to Grand Turk and maintain our visit to Half Moon Cay. We will no longer visit San Juan, Puerto Rico on Tuesday, October 24 or St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. on Wednesday, October 25, and have added a call to Nassau, Bahamas on Tuesday. Our revised itinerary will be as follows: Date Destination Arrive Depart Saturday, October 21 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. Overnight Sunday, October 22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. Overnight Monday, October 23 At Sea 8:00 AM Tuesday, October 24 Nassau, Bahamas 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Wednesday, October 25 At Sea Thursday, October 26 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands 7:00 AM 1:00 PM Friday, October 27 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8:00 AM 2:00 PM Saturday, October 28 As a gesture of concern for their experience and gratitude for your understanding, each guest will receive $250.00 USD as a non-refundable onboard credit applied to their shipboard account. The onboard credit cannot be redeemed for cash or used in the casino but may be used toward all purchases in the bars, boutiques, and photo gallery, as well as spa treatments, specialty dining and shore excursions. Additionally, each guest will receive a Bonus Future Cruise Credit equivalent to 25% of the cruise fare paid on this voyage. The terms and conditions appear at the end of this letter."

I don't disagree for most part but add. Cruise reviews are different from many reviews as I find they highlight both good and bad rather than just overly criticize. I don't feel that mitigation of reviews is bad just that time frame is too long a period. Six months to a year would be reasonable. This are moving mechanical entities that overall performance is changeable by so many factors. Seasonable itinerary change, homeport change, and such can also drastically change a ship performance and feel. Therefore more recent reviews can be very telling. Read my overall review of our recent sailing of the Liberty, for example, is positive except for one area. dining and food quality. Recognizing that food is a very personal like or dislike I offer for what it is worth. However I also note that since in my 39 years of cruising over 100 cruises over multiple lines I have NEVER before been taken back by the actual type, prep, and quality of any menu! To me that says something about the state of RCL's changes.

The shame of this whole process is that no where do they tell want you are buying size wise. Only option and stated information is 12 or 24 pack. Well common sense pack of what, Evian, 500ml or 1 liter etc. You could call the line but from all my experiences they either can't tell you or give you incorrect information anyway.

12 Order summary Subtotal $22.99 Gratuities $4.13 Order total $27.12

The no name had a name of course but I didn't recognize it, was the " house " brand I imagine. We didn't pay for that was a Diamond Plus benefit.

Just off the Liberty of the Seas. You will be disappointed expecting liter bottles. It is Evian and they are 500ml or 16 oz small bottles. Very over priced no doubt! The water package is way overpriced except for the convenience of having the awaiting in the cabin. We also received 4 bottles of water that were complimentary for us, those were another brand same size, small. George in NY

Reading recent RCL reviews here on CruiseCritic I see good honest reviews that clearly demonstrate a downward trend in many areas. Depicting a far lower mark on the 5 circle overall review than what appears. Oasis for instance has not been receiving very many pluses in several areas yet Cruise Critic system draws its overall current review status from over 3,700 reviews most of which are well outdated. That obviously skews the overall rating versus a more current rating which should be far lower than the 4 star showing. I would suggest that overall status be based upon an established review time line of 6 months to a year to provide a more current overall rating. I would imagine this would hold for cruise line reviews. The Oasis we sailed last year service and dining wise is not the Oasis I am reading about recently. So our very good review of 2022 should not really be factored into what is the current status. George in NY

It's all about the Travel Agent knowledge and ability! You receive nothing extra by booking online yourself other than the ability to be frustrated by line's service. As someone with 100 plus cruises since 1984, who also was a cruise only agent for few years after retiring from first career I will offer my thoughts. Use a TA but one that cruise themselves. Know that cruise lines that offer call us and we'll plan your cruise often merely are contracting out to an agency type operation. Never use third party group cruise booking agencies. They contract for group space but do not actually book you with line until final pay. Should that agency go out of business they have your money not the cruise line. The cruise line will not even know your name until that time or have a booking n your name. Always use a credit card when booing and check to be sure the charge was from the cruise line not the agency. That insures your reservation and money gets deposited to the line itself. ( That goes for many hotel discount sites as well )

Although they could not provide just a garden salad on day when not on menu, instead caesar salad without caesar dressing, thousand island was provided on side. I would hope that they could at least still comply with that type of request. They are looking to make their life easier not ours anymore.

Old saying amongst K-9 search Officers. If the Dog stops at your luggage, best hope he has to pee. 🙂

Some uninformed posts being presented on this subject. Yes Bermuda boards and searches cabins as they want. Yes US authorities do it as well but since we are getting off or not yet on that would be mainly unseen y US passengers. However you probably did see dogs being walked near by you or your luggage either coming to going. Marijuana is NOT legal in the united States. What how can that be, there's a pot shop on my block? " Marijuana is classified at the federal level as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that the government believes it to have no medical use and a high potential for abuse. Cultivating, distributing and possessing marijuana violates federal drug laws." Yes your state may have made it legal but technically a Federal Officer could arrest you coming out of that legal pot selling location for violating Federal Law. Bermuda and many countries have been arresting tourist people for drugs forever. "Three Gangs Totaling a Dozen Guests From MSC Seaside Arrested in Two Ports for Smuggling 66 Kilos of Cocaine" That was April of last year. If you search you will find hundreds of arrest of passengers in various countries. Did we already forget the basket ball played in Russia? When I travel I carry my prescription drugs in original containers. Bermuda once arrested a Doctor for possession of drugs, all prescription but not in prescription containers. THIS WAS 2011, the amount 3 grams in passenger safe. "The Bermuda Sun reports that yet another cruise passenger was arrested with a small amount of marijuana in his cabin. This arrest involved a 48 year old US tourist who was arrested after Customs officers from Bermuda entered his cabin. " In fact while at King's Wharf you were also within easy walking distance to Westgate Correction facility. While shopping at Kings Wharf Dockyard you might have noticed between shops a staircase to second floor that had sign Correction Department Administrative Office. Bermuda will arrest just as fast for a joint as they will for 22 kilos of cocaine.

If note in article they appeared in Court on the 8th. The Liberty of the Seas was on seaway on way home. He was still in Bermuda. Whether in custody or paying for hotel who knows but he was no longer on ship. I was, seas were calm.

Was not that he didn't want to, in fact he offered it if I would like. When he came with entree he was apologetic, looked crushed that he couldn't provide it. Frankly I think there was strict management in the kitchen area and probably a theme of keeping substitutions to the minimum. I can't blame waiters, let face it they want to please simply to get that 10 and an extra gratuity. No benefit for them not meeting your needs.

Watched it he does do a nice review. Radio personality voice is soothing lol

Same here, complaints also met, Miami makes the rules. Bs

for now but have to wonder before that is a past thing. Had lobster for formal dinner last night clearly said additional lobster $16.99 and I’ll say lobster was good but a small tail still. 4 bites for $16.99 I think not. one evening waiter offered baked potato to replace roasted potatoes. Came back with roasted said sorry no baked potato with this dish. One night only salad offered was ceasar I asked if I could have just garden salad with thousand island. He said all he could was give me ceasar with no dressing and thousand on side. That was fine but one tablespoon of dressing. Can you see where this is all going? No substitutions extra cost extra. I can read the handwriting. Packing day! Last supper tonight not a big sign anymore considering the food.

Liberty of the seas out of Bayonne 9 night Bermuda and Dominican Republic. At sea two nights heading home. george in ny

No bacon in this WJ that I have seen. Pork sausage and chicken sausage links.

On liberty as I write day 7 of 9 night. Everything good accept mdr food. This was served as PRIME RIB medium ! Appeared as bottom of shoe well grilled for mountain climbing! Have turned away several meals this trip having never had to do so before. Local diner far superior and they aren’t great Will not sail Rcl again until menu changes. Dining staff service excellent just apologetic said Miami dictates menu for all ships now and must be same , same what c..p

We were advised by cruise director that patient was flown to Florida by helicopter. We were also advised 45 passengers and 10 crew answered the initial call for blood donors. Don’t forget anything you need b cause ship prices, never inexpensive, are outrageous! Had to laugh t-shirts which were outside store 2 for $40 actually increased to now 2 for $45 another first. Can’t wait to see the traditional last day sea prices if discounted or rather ssd again. Lol BTW an aside. Saw many mixed reviews of new menus prior to sailing. Our thoughts on day 6 absolutely hate new menu and food preparation. Even when item sounds like something I would like upon arrival turns out not be be anything like description. Have sent two entrees back. Something I have never had to do in over 100 cruises multiple lines. This is starting to feel like a good way to diet, cruising RCL george in NY

On liberty seas right now. Ordered 12 pack water before we left. It was 22.99 plus 4.13 tax total 27.13 Outrageous but convenient. They have 24 pack which would double it I would think. bottles are Avian 500 ml or 16.9 fl only ounces. Small bottles. Also receives 4 complimentary diamond plus bottles by system you have to call to establish freebies. In our case 4 water and 1 bottle wine from their list. We set that years ago and it stays that way until you call rcl to change preferences. Those bottles were True Water I guess 12 ounces. Drank those I don’t recall. Someone should check Princess and see if they still are like $6 used to be and were big bottles. But that was at least 5 years ago. george in ny on liberty seas June 5 ps call for b+ blood this morning numerous donors responded. Currently in labadee Haiti helicopter has landed and is stationary at this time. No idea exactly why but obviously medical emergency. We hope for satisfactory result for whomever affected!!!

On liberty seas right now. Ordered 12 pack water before we left. It was 22.99 plus 4.13 tax total 27.13 Outrageous but convenient. They have 24 pack which would double it I would think. bottles are Avian 500 ml or 16.9 fl only ounces. Small bottles. Also receives 4 complimentary diamond plus bottles by system you have to call to establish freebies. In our case 4 water and 1 bottle wine from their list. We set that years ago and it stays that way until you call rcl to change preferences. Those bottles were True Water I guess 12 ounces. Drank those I don’t recall. Someone should check Princess and see if they still are like $6 used to be and were big bottles. But that was at least 5 years ago. george in ny on liberty seas June 5 ps call for b+ blood this morning numerous donors responded. Currently in labadee Haiti helicopter has landed and is stationary at this time. No idea exactly why but obviously medical emergency. We hope for satisfactory result for whomever affected!!!

Have to laugh every time I see a cruise commercial of a couple dining on a huge balcony area and being served by a smiling server. Let me know when someone finds that balcony and level of balcony service. Cruise ads are so mis-leading almost always showing top suite rooms etc. Forty years of cruising closest I ever got to that was on the Celebrity Zenith, Royal Suite. That came with a butler who did actually set the inside dining table with linen etc and served a full ordered breakfast. There was no balcony then. That said I really have no complaint of today's room service. I can live with continental for free and 7.95 for eggs etc. Prefer to get call when breakfast is coming, first makes sure wide awake and ready, second makes me check that I haven't left do not disturb sign on door. If you do you will not get order, they will not knock. Also doesn't leave delivery person holding a heavy tray waiting for me to get a robe on and such. George in NY

That you for a good commentary and the unique drink review, I enjoyed it. George in NY