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One more thing concerning dinner in the MDR. We saw all kinds of style dress during the entire week. There were a lot of men in women in “Shorts” every night including the formal nights and it didn’t seem that anybody really cared. I’m pretty sure that there were people talking among themselves at their tables but oh well. There were polo shirts colored t-shirts, sneakers, sandals and all. Nobody was turned back. The only thing I didn’t see was tank tops, plain whit t-shirts or of course swim suit ware.

First let me start by saying I’m an avid Royal Caribbean cruiser and have been cruising with them since my first cruise in 2008. I have never cruised another cruise line and not because I don’t want to it’s just that I haven’t and I like what I like but I know I will once I hit that Diamond plus status. In reviews I give a grade of A,B,C,D,F like in school and some of you will be surprised at some of the grades I will give being a Royal Cruiser exclusively. Here we go. Check in Embarkation Miami… Easy Peasy! My check In Time was 11:30 but I got there at 10:30 and was on the ship by 10:45. Very quick and efficient- Grade A+ Junior Suite Cabin (9640) and stateroom Attendant… Cabins were ready promptly at 1:00. Cabin was spotless upon arrival. Junior Suites are quite roomy with a couch, chair and walk-in closet. Most ships have a cooler type fridge but this was the first time we had a real fridge that really got cold. That was a pleasant surprise. A couple of things I didn’t really like on Harmony was that they had what I called a piece of desk as compared to other ships that have more desk space. The balcony is huge but they only have a little round table out there. Other ships had a bigger round table if you wanted to eat breakfast out there or whatever. Also I prefer whole loungers and a chair rather than the chair and little footstool. And who came up with the half a door concept on the bathtub/Shower…… hated it but got use to it as week went on. Our cabin attendant named Urvashi we simply amazing. Very personable and really provided good service all week with fresh towels and ice twice a day. From day one great. Cabin - B+ Cabin Attendant- A+ Food: Windjammer Buffet: I believe the Windjammer food quality has gone down. The food at lunch was very lackluster with a limitless variety. You had your typical burger, hot dogs, fries and salad bar but no taco bar at this Windjammer. There was typically bbq chicken every day with mashed potatoes. There was Indian food every day. The Indian food was good the first day or two but I was tired of it after that. Breakfast was easily the best meal of the day in there although I never went there for Dinner. Very disappointed! Windjammer- D Main Dining Room…. Not a fan of these new menus. On the nights we ate there we would find ourselves ordering food in like w process of elimination. Sometimes I didn’t make a selection until the waiter came to take the order and I was still trying to decide. The food wasn’t like bad but it wasn’t all good neither. A lot of favorites are long gone from the menu. We have had much better on cruises over the years. Appetizer were good. Our waiter and assistant both suggested without really saying anything that we might not like Mexican night food so we ate elsewhere that night. We didn’t eat there on lobster night neither as a lobster tail is not a big must have food for us and being that now you can only get one and have to pay $16.99 for another… we passed. Hell I just started eating lobster about 5 years ago anyway. Deserts were a hit or miss. Our servers for the week were outstanding. We had MyTime Dining with a standard time of 5:30 every night at the same table for 4 so we didn’t have to wait in line for a table. We were changed from the first night and was a little disappointed because we really liked our servers Dee Dee and Ivan but at our new table we had Cathilyn and Frank and they were real good also. They even sang a song for us the last night! Food- C Servers - A+ Specialty Restaurants: Chops Steakhouse…. We always eat here one night on our cruises because we enjoy it. This time did not disappoint. Everyones steak was cooked at the ordered temperature and we ordered all the side items for the table and they were good. Appetizers and deserts were delicious. Sever was good. Food -A Server -A Izumi Hibachi…. Another one of our favorites and usually eat here one night also if the ship has it. We ate here rather than lobster night in the MDR. The food is the same like you would get at a Hibachi restaurant on land and the cooks performing the same little tricks you see everywhere as he cooks your food but we love it. Although we enjoy it , the best we ever had was at the restaurants in Okinawa Japan while over there in the military. He seasoned the food well and you get plenty for your money. Your waiter is there to just basically bring you your salad, drinks and desserts. Food- A Server - B Cook- B+ Hot Saki - A+ Solarium Bistro….. We chose to eat here for dinner over the Mexican Night in the MDR. It is a light Mediterranean buffet menu. Offered a grilled lemon chicken, a salmon dish, small lamb chops, side item starches and veggies and a salad bar. Everything is on the buffet was already dished out in small bowls and you were able to take as much as you want. You had plates at your table to dish your food out on. The food was tasty and seasoned well. The dinner atmosphere here is much different than the lunch time crowd and reservations are required even though there is no cost but you can make a reservation anytime as we did when we decided to go. It was not crowded at all. This is not the place to come for dinner if you are looking to pig out cause as I said it is a light fare. Food-B Server-B Sorrentos… We got a couple of slices of pizza one night and felt they were not as good as they use to be pre pandemic. Very thin and taste just ho hum. Grade- C- Cafe Promenade…. I go here just for coffee and Cafe Mochas early morning. Right next to it behind the same counter is Starbucks. I had the deluxe drink package so I would use Cafe Promenade as Starbucks is not included as part of the drink package but the Cafe Mochas and coffee at the Cafe Promenade is just as good IMO. Coffee is much better than windjammer or MDR. Coffee - B Cafe Mocha - A Excursions….. Did an island tour in Rotan with a stop at a place that gave you a history of making Chocolate and the history of Coconut. Rainy day in Rotan from the time we got there but did have a break from it for a while on the tour and it started back up again. Took us to a little Straw Market souvenir stop also. We were going to stop at a little area with small shops, bars and restaurants and when the tour guide asked us if we want to stop everyone on the bus said no and we went back to the port. It was a nasty day and most of the places seemed to be closed anyway. The places we rode through in Rotan seemed to be very dirty and it’s not a place that I would really want to come back to again. Tour - C Costa Maya…… Here we had made a reservation online to recant a golf cart through Red Shirt Golf Cart Rentals for the 4 of us and we thought it was a great choice to take ourselves around in rather than taxi or ship excursion. They give you a map and a suggested list of places to go and point out the places not to go. We headed over to a beach area and hung out at The Krazy Lobster restaurant and beach resort (15 minute ride) We hung out there for most of the day. Not a bad beach area and the Krazy Lobster beach area had plenty of shade if you didn’t want to be out directly in the sun. They work in conjunction with with Red Shirt Golf Carts so we parked for free and had free margaritas for going there. We ordered a big plate of Nachos and I ordered a margarita. The margaritas here are good. We didn’t order lunch here though as they didn’t have what we wanted. There were lots of souvenir shops along the walkway area. We left there and drive to a suggested Mexican Restaurant for lunch (I’m sorry I forgot the name). The food, Margaritas, tequila shots and Sangria was very good. We really enjoyed this day! Costa Maya - A Cozumel….. Here rather than the the typical proverbial day at Mr. Sanchos or one of the other day resorts we decided to book an excursion through the ship to a Mayan Village and a tequila factory and tasting. The Mayan Village was fun and the Mayan tour guide were as well. We really enjoyed this with the telling of the history and all. Learned how to prepare and did prepare tamales also. At the tequila factory it started with a tequila drink along with a horse show outside. We then headed inside for a tour and history of tequila of how it’s made and the various techniques. This was followed by tequila tasting of 4 different tequilas and 4 different ready mixed tequila drinks! Afterwards we went back to the port area and walked around the many shops and then back to the ship. Excellent excursion! Cozumel- A Perfect Day at Coco Cay…… We enjoy Coco Cay each time we go. We get a beach bed on Chill Island but this trip could be the last time getting one as the price is $200 more on our next cruise there next year and I have limits on how much I will pay for things based on what I think it’s worth. I did the Jet Ski excursion which I do every-time I go because I like to Jet Ski. Lots of fun as usual but they have reduced the top speed over the years. In 2008 the first year I rode one there the top speed was 60mph now they top out at 40. At some other ports most still top out at 55-60. The food has remained constant over the years with burgers, hot dogs, bbq chicken, pasta salad, taco bar, deserts, and other side fixings. Water and basically same swat drinks like on the ship. Overall not a bad lunch for a beach day at no extra cost. You can use the drink package on Coco Cay but I think the drinks are made considerably weaker than on the ship. Maybe they purposely do this to prevent accidents on this beach day! I didn’t use the pools or pay for food so I can’t comment on that. I use to like the straw market when they had Bahamian people selling stuff. Now that Royal has taken that over there are better quality items for sale but for a much higher price and they don’t have a lot of the hand crafted things that the Bahamians use to sell. Coco Cay Grades: Island - A Food - B Beach Bed -A Alcohol Drinks - D Jet Skis - A Straw Market - F Ship Entertainment: Music…… On the Royal Promenade They had Hispanic Night, They had Country Night, They had 70’s Night, They had 90’s Night. There was a jazz band playing music there for about an hour one night. In the theater they had a Guy and lady sing Bruno Mars songs….. Not good, In another little club called Dazzles the had a band doing Earth Wind and Fire songs…… Nope! In the little club on ship the late night parties played mix of pop and R&B with old hits mainly from the 90’s. The club was ok but not some people danced a lot just sat around talking. The dance floor was never full. So what I’m getting to is that with the various nights of music they did not have a night of R&B and Hip Hop which I think is a shame since they catered to other musical genres. Royal really need to do better where that is concerned. I am a DJ and I could have hooked up to their systems and turned it out with just the playlists I have on my phone. Music Grade- D- Comedians……. Two black comedians for the week. I have never seen that on Royal before. One was Louis Johnson and he was good…. VERY funny. We actually went to see him a second time. The other whose name I forgot wasn’t as funny. I mean he had some moments but not as funny as Louis. Louis Johnson - A 2nd Comedian - C Shows: We had booked the show Grease for a 10:15 show but didn’t make it. Most people we overheard saying it was a great show but we knew if we went to a 10:15 show we would all probably be snoring as we stood in the back of the theater one night catching a glimpse of it and decided…. No. And I thought too that I have never even seen the movie because I have never had a desire to watch it. Wanted to go to The Quest but we forgot about it and realizes when it was too late. Other show grades Aqua Show - A Ice Skating Show - A The Love and Marriage game show… They need to change up the questions as they have been the same for years but it’s still funny also find a new way to choose the middle couple rather than the old Tarzan thin they do. Grade B- Cruise Director: Jeff (Whatever his last name is). We had him on a cruise before and he is the least visible Cruise Director we have ever seen. You only see him introducing a show or closing out a show or on TV. The Activity Manager and Activities crew members is mostly who you see around the ship. Most cruise directors will usually be a part of The Village People on the 70’s night party but not him. Speaking of 70’s night village people…. They have been doing that for years on every Royal ship withe the same 70’s music and really need to come up with a new act and different 70’s music. Cruise Director Grade - D Bar Service…. I didn’t experience slow Bar Service as I have been reading on reviews and complaints lately no matter where I was at on the ship. My main drink of choice is margaritas and they were made pretty consistent depending where you got them from. My favorite was in the Pub on the Promenade. My favorite bartender for the week was in the pub and his name was Albert. I tipped him well the first day and he made me nice drinks all week long. Very nice and friendly guy. I had more drinks prepared by him than any other place on the ship Drinks - B Bars - B+ Albert the bartender- A+ Disembarkation….. As easy peasy as embarkation. We did self assist with our luggage. We got in line at 6:35 and they started letting us off at 7:00. We were off the ship and through customs (Passport Face Recognition) at 7:10. Got a taxi at 7:20 and was at the airport by 7:35. This was the fastest I ever experienced. We had actually changed our original flight from 10:00 AM to a 1:30 flight just to ensure we make it on time and turns out we had way more than enough time! Grade - A+ As much as love Royal I never give an A grade because I haven’t been on a perfect one and there is always room for improvement so…….. Overall Cruise Experience B+

Radiance of the Seas. I am booked from LA to Tampa in October 2024

JS and above

IM usually looking at the app on my phone but I do occasionally look at it on my tablet. I haven’t in a while so I thought I’d look and the app works just fine on my IPad.

It has overrated IMO!

I’m on Harmony in 8 days and they have a Bruno Mars Cover Band listed.

All of this sounds like to much trouble to me!

I cruise on Harmony in 9 days and we didn’t get the full entertainment schedule until we were under 30 days.

I never understand the reasoning that the filet is better at one of the other. They don’t order from different suppliers. They are using filets from the same boxes. Unless Giovanni’s is adding different seasonings the filets are the same.

Exactly. My first cruise was on Sovereign of the Seas back in 2008. If I would have went by the many negative reviews of that ship back then I probably wouldn’t be cruising today.

At those prices they should have an open bar even if you don’t have the drink package!

So now while booking your cruise you will be able to purchase your drink package at that time!

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/09/28/spotted-royal-caribbean-adds-option-buy-drink-packages-when-purchasing-your-cruise?fbclid=IwAR0tL2035hr4O2TJDtKt9ni3eg20mll270AkcZjhVm37P5_2I1Y-2wdDVZk_aem_AWq0MpMPf5_b8u-CmB4JETLD9BdL8BcEKfu5uFdGqcBnL-TipxV2YQcBsFyrismGhfA&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

We leave the light on in the bathroom and close the door. On most ships there is a big enough space between the bottom of the door and the floor to work as like a night light.

I will be cruising on Harmony out of Miami in 23 days and Lobster Tails is on the menu on Royal Night for no extra cost for one. Any additional you get will cost you $16.99. Also yes there is a themed night each night except the 1st and last night which is just called Welcome Aboard Night and Bon Voyage night.

No

Just because people have the drink package does not mean they are getting “Hammered” everyday all day. There are plenty of people that get “Hammered” after a couple of drinks or two or three beers. In my 15 years of cruising I haven’t been on a cruise where there were a ship full of rowdy, “Hammered”, out of control people. I don’t care what cruise line you are on or at all inclusive resorts, if there is alcohol there will be some people that get “Hammered”. If you are trying to avoid that then you may want to try to find another way to vacation.

If you not a party person and don’t want that atmosphere then then just don’t book it! It’s been advertised for what it is….Coco Cay is what it is now… A big entertainment and amusement complex!

Same Here!

When I did an excursion to Dunn River Falls which is in Ocho Rios it took about 50 minutes to get there. We left at 8:30 got to the falls and had a quick lunch stop on the way back and was back at the port by 2:30. When we were there on Oasis, a Disney Ship (The Magic) pulled in about 15 minutes after us.

Whew Lawd……I have been on here since 2010 and this topic has always been a popcorn eating good funny read everytime it comes up Now if we could get a good ole smoking on the balcony post started it would make my day! 😂

Yes Free Loungers and Umbrellas Yes Free Food and there are bars and you Drink package can be used

I don’t remember but I do remember that the room was in that new section that was added when the ship was stretched.

I cruised on Enchantment once in an Oceanview and it had one.