Just off 3rd trip the Oasis. Total lack of wow

[Ocean Boy]

The suite lounge is for full suite guests regardless of loyalty level. D plus not in a GS or better are not allowed. Basically there is one loyalty lounge and one suite lounge.

 

Doesn't change my post at all:rolleyes:

 

It doesn't change LMaxwell's either.

[rt1092]

When did the Oasis class start offering a Farewell Show? I have been on both the Oasis and the Allure - there was never a farewell show. Also, in order to see the shows that you want to see, you can pre-book them, thus ensuring a seat. If memory serves me right, there is less scheduled entertainment on the last night, then there is on the other nights.

 

Well there was a "farewell family friendly" comedy show on this cruise in the Opal theater on the last night of the cruise last week. I was not on your cruise and evidently you weren't on mine.

[connes1]

Can children go to the new diamond lounge during cocktail hours?

[John&LaLa]

Can children go to the new diamond lounge during cocktail hours?

 

:eek::eek::eek:

[rolloman]

When they don't print drink prices, it is the guests fault.

 

When they shut down a new lounge for loyalty members and cram everyone into an impossibly small space, it is the guests fault.

 

OP, you are gaining no traction here. If you didn't like something on your cruise it's not Royal's fault. It's yours for expecting the same services you had in the past. That's not Royal's game anymore. Didn't you know that OP? Silly you.

 

You should have been staking out seats all day and refusing drinks. That's the way to have an enjoyable vacation, not by expecting consistent service standards...

 

I think the cheerleaders got new pom poms this week.

 

Well stated. Sadly, it seems to me this site now has more cruise line employee participants than actual passengers. One has to be prepared for a slug fest if they have some crazy idea of reporting back from a cruise and post negativity.

[connes1]

Well stated. Sadly, it seems to me this site now has more cruise line employee participants than actual passengers. One has to be prepared for a slug fest if they have some crazy idea of reporting back from a cruise and post negativity.

You know I recently thought the same thing. It seems that anytime somebody comments or has an opinion that may not be pro rccl that person is discredited. I thought one of three things...1. RCCL employees 2. Travel agents 3. Devout rccl fans who are crazy loyal. Unfortunately we will never really know.

[Paulxyz2004]

I wouldn't expect it on land either. But on the ship the costs/overhead are the same all over.

If you went into a bar and on one end of the the price for the same drink was $3 more than the other end. You would be perfectly happy with it. Or if one bartender charged more than another at the same bar.

 

Go ahead and shake your Pom Poms.

 

First the discussion was not about the same bar at the same time.

 

Yes I can easiyl see why a drink at one bar would be more expensive than the same drink at another one and I would be perfectly happy with it.

 

Just as a drink in a Hotel might be more expensive in the revolving rooftop bar than the same drink sown in the Lobby bar, I can sse different charges for different bars on a ship.

 

I never said this is the case on RCI, but I surely wouldn´t blink an eye if it were.

[Pesseh0729]

Well stated. Sadly, it seems to me this site now has more cruise line employee participants than actual passengers. One has to be prepared for a slug fest if they have some crazy idea of reporting back from a cruise and post negativity.

 

 

Things change over time. It's not unreasonable to expect the same service but over time everything will change including the service. Not sure the expectations the op or others might have, but maybe they are a little too high. I cruise to just get away and I enjoy the experience. As long as I have the premium drink package, my wife with me, good weather and food I'm good. I go in knowing what to expect and I know I'm not the only cruiser on the ship that needs to be satisfied no matter what status I am.

[Starry Eyes]

Well there was a "farewell family friendly" comedy show on this cruise in the Opal theater on the last night of the cruise last week. I was not on your cruise and evidently you weren't on mine.

 

So, a family-friendly comedy show was offered at an appropriate time for family-friendly early dining. That makes sense to me.

[Paulxyz2004]

You know I recently thought the same thing. It seems that anytime somebody comments or has an opinion that may not be pro rccl that person is discredited. I thought one of three things...1. RCCL employees 2. Travel agents 3. Devout rccl fans who are crazy loyal. Unfortunately we will never really know.

 

Well you are right we will never really know to full extend. I could add category 4. other cruiselines employees coming here to bash RCI 5. ex RCI employees to bash RCI 6. devout fans of other cruiselines who are crazy loyal;)

 

Anyway whilst you will never know I´ve met many of the regular posters from the RCI boards in Person and know their Profession. Yes many of them are TA´s but they don´t sell RCI exclusively, so there´s no reason for them to blindly promote RCI.

[LMaxwell]

I wouldn't expect to pay different prices at different bars within the same venue for the same drink. I wouldn't be happy about it, nor would I accept it. In fact, I'd probably forgo spending money if the establishment removes the prices from their menus because, to me, that is just the company playing games. I did not think expecting fairness in business practices to be such a contentious and disputed topic.

[rt1092]

So, a family-friendly comedy show was offered at an appropriate time for family-friendly early dining. That makes sense to me.

 

On other royal ships the farewell show is always scheduled between the 2 dinner seatings, as is the welcome aboard show. One show serves both seatings. On the oasis last week they had the show at 8:45. So you could in no way shape or form make the show and go to the late seating dinner.

Is this explained simply?

I guess from now on I should skip the last dinner, and the $100 in tips for the wait staff. And eat in the windjammer that night. I see this is what a lot of newer cruisers are doing lately.

[Midwestgal]

Gee maybe I should just stick to Carnival! I do expect more from Royal after hearing all of you for years telling me how superior it is .

 

Also , OP you can't jude a cruise line by one cruise ....Carnival & Norwigen, but then again after my first Royal cruise back in 2000 it's taken me almost 16 years to try it again. I hope I like it more than I did back then.

[ryano]

No cheerleader here. I think the OP has some legit gripes. It saddens me to hear stuff like this from seasoned cruisers. I haven't been on a ship in 3 years and I really hate to read of all the complaints of the downward spiral in service, food and overall cruise experience :(

 

If my cruise isn't up to my very minimal expectations I may start looking around. I certainly won't come here to voice my displeasure though. There are WAY too many people here that pile on you if you have anything negative to say at all :(

Edited February 8, 2015 by ryano

[Pesseh0729]

No cheerleader here. I think the OP has some legit gripes. It saddens me to hear stuff like this from seasoned cruisers. I haven't been on a ship in 3 years and I really hate to read of all the complaints of the downward spiral in service, food and overall cruise experience :(

 

If my cruise isn't up to my very minimal expectations I may start looking around. I certainly won't come here to voice my displeasure though. There are WAY too many people here that pile on you if you have anything negative to say at all :(

 

 

You should expect that people would express their opinions whether good or bad, but either opinion should be respected. Bad service to you might be good service to me. You may love the windjammer good and I may love it. Just a difference in opinions that's all.

[Diver2014]

Just get me on the darned ship! I really don't care about drink prices or diamond whatever, I just want to go on the Oasis. In 2 weeks, I'll be basking in the sunshine and enjoying a cocktail on deck and playing in the waters of the Caribbean while enjoying all the Oasis has to offer. Too bad some 'seasoned' cruisers expect to be pampered just because they've been on RCI cruises before. I imagine you can get personal attention on Silversea or Crystal Cruises. All the whining on Cruise Critic forums really turn me off.

[Sam.Seattle]

Okay... what a rant! My next comment is NOT directed at the OP. Just a thought....

1) The reward system may need to be re-vamp and expectations need to be re-set.

2) If there are 500+ diamond members on a ship, then there really is nothing to special about being a diamond member, right?

3) If the full suite guest is paying PREMIUM fares, then why not provide them premium service which is different and even better that Diamond?

4) At the end of the day, it is all about share holder value and profits for the stock holders. If I were counting the beans and looking to reward loyality, I would not target the folks who book the cheapest inside or discounted room and perhpas these are the same passengers who do not book ship shore excursions, gamble in the casino (not the penny slots). I would be looking at the repeat full fare suite customers and how do I get them back on board to spend lots of $$$$, not folks who fill the ship with the last minute discounted fares.

 

I LOVE RCL! Someday I will probably be one of those last minute indside dwelers.., But for now, if I pay full suite premium fares, I do feel the service recieved should be excellent! And, for some reason I have not been disapointed with RCL.

 

Last year on NOS, both the suite lounge and the Daimond Lounge were so over crowed, that we did not use either. Our absense was noted by the Concierge and he took great care to be sure we were happy. No, we did not have reserved seats in the lounge, nor would I expect them. We just quietly used another lounge and enjoyed our cruise.

Edited February 8, 2015 by Sam.Seattle

[CRUISEFAN0001]

There is no question that there are good and bad experiences on cruises.

 

There is a far simpler way of looking at threads like this:

 

If a cruise line makes 99% of all passengers happy, then on an Oasis class ship there will still be 60-63 people unhappy. Those tend to be the threads you read about - often called the "venting threads".

 

For the other 6200+ folks that had a WOW, great, or satisfactory cruise, only a small number of those folks tend to take the time to share those situations.

 

This paints a misleading picture of course, as it is impossible to make every single person happy among any large group. It's a goal, not a realistic result.

 

Nonetheless, it is unfortunate that anyone has a poor experience.

[Starry Eyes]

On other royal ships the farewell show is always scheduled between the 2 dinner seatings, as is the welcome aboard show. One show serves both seatings. On the oasis last week they had the show at 8:45. So you could in no way shape or form make the show and go to the late seating dinner.

Is this explained simply?

I guess from now on I should skip the last dinner, and the $100 in tips for the wait staff. And eat in the windjammer that night. I see this is what a lot of newer cruisers are doing lately.

 

Yes, I think it easily explained (Oasis 101, so you likely already know the answer, too). Shows on Oasis Class ships are handled differently from older (tradional) class of ships. Traditional: two showings of a different show each night taking place in a venue large enough to hold about half the guests at each showing. The larger capacity of the Oasis Class a blessing if they can spread people around in multiple venues, none of which are large enough to handle half the guests all at once. So, there are multiple shows at different times in different venues on different nights. One party selects the ice show one night while another party selects the production show. Some venues are small and intimate (like the comedy club) so everybody cannot get to attend. Somebody might have to re-arrange their dinner plans to snag a reservation for that show...or don't re-arrange if dinner timing is more important than comedy club.

 

Speculation here: maybe surveys said indicated that some guests were unhappy that they did not get reservatioms at the comedy club. Some people with children may have indicated on the survey they wanted a family friendly comedy show. somebody else may have stated on the survey that there were too few choices for entertainment on the last night. In response, perhaps management tried out a family friendly comedy show. If you wanted to see the show, fill out the survey to suggest they have more showings. Or not, since you do not plan to sail the ship again.

 

Or alternatively, forget the niggest ships and instead go on ships that continue to offer the traditional show-of-the -night format designed to work for early and late seatings. Sadly, since both CL and DL seats fill up fast on many sailings, that may not solve your lounges full at 5:10 pm issue, but it should help with the shows.

 

My tips are always prepaid or added to my on board account. so no matter where or when I eat dinner that last night (or any other night), my servers get their tips. If my table is empty, it is because we wanted to eat somewhere or sometime else, not because we are skipping out on tipping. if I want to add an additional tip without attending MDR dinner the last night, I go to guest services and complete a form. Why do you think it is different for those newer cruisers you see lately?

Edited February 8, 2015 by Starry Eyes

[WupperAV]

It's kind of like me. I hauled meat to all the gambling hells in Vegas and saw all the dregs and grime + the old ladies with their blackened hands from handling silver dollars. I won't go back to Vegas but I'm not rude to them either.

[griffy116]

We have never had a bad experience on a Royal ship simply because we are so happy, happy, happy to be able to be on a beautiful ship enjoying a relaxing vacation. That being said, I don't drink enough to warrant buying the drink package and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the prices to be the same from bar to bar on the ship. I don't think it's unreasonable for a ship that knows ahead of sailing how many D, D+ cruisers they will have onboard to better accommodate them and show their appreciation to their loyalty. I seldom darken the place in spite of the fact that we are all D status, but if I did, I would expect to be able to be in a pleasant environment. I'm perfectly satisfied with the food in the MDR so for 5 of us, paying $39 each for a specialty restaurant isn't going to happen. It's not 5-Star restaurant, but I don't have to cook it, serve it or clean up afterwards. I've never had anything but wonderful treatment from our dining room staff or room steward. I'm MORE than disappointed that recently, the advantage of booking as a D member had little to no advantage over a person booking a cruise with Royal for the first time. My status will stay the same, and after our cruise that is already booked, we'll be trying out other cruise lines. When I discussed with C&A, they admitted that the price was basically the same when you weigh the OBC against the D discount, since they don't combine any discounts. They pointed out the 3 free drinks per night, etc that is loaded on my SeaPass card instead of receiving a coupon book, as their generous nod to our loyalty. I think it's going to eventually bite them in the butt, but so far, the cheerleaders don't seem to be discouraged so maybe they're right...just not as far as I'm concerned.

[JasonV1]

This is what I have posted in the past.

 

I'm not yet Diamond (but will be after my March cruise) so I can't comment there. To be honest, I'd rather have the free drink coupons and the freedom to go where I want. I tend to seek out bars where I can people watch or sit somewhere quiet (depends on the mood) and the Diamond lounge doesn't sound like an idea spot for either.

 

I was on this same cruise and my only real complaint was that not everyone knew how the drink packages work if a card is not activated for purchases (they have to be activated). I posted about this week while on my Jamaica excursion, just to see if it was common knowledge.

 

I thought MDR food was similar to what I had seen in the past, even when compared to a cruise on the Explorer a month ago. I enjoyed excellent service at the Park Cafe multiple times a day, although not right at closing.

 

When I get my survey I'll comment that all people who sell drink packages should be aware of the need for the cards to be activated for purchase, since this happened to me without my knowledge (to my daughters account).

 

I'll also comment that while I had ChoiceAir, I was not given the appropriate bag tags for earlier departure. The form where you specify a departure time specifically says not to fill it out if you have ChoiceAir, and I got the same tags as everyone else around me (saw them on the stateroom attendants cart). I had to make a special trip to Guest Services to get the tags I needed, and even then the customs delay caused me to cut things much closer than normal.

 

I had awesome bar service across the entire ship, although I had the select package so I can't say about the pricing discrepancies. Depending on the liquor chosen in a given drink I can see prices changing, but I don't think they should otherwise on the same ship. FWIW, the Champagne bar menu and MDR wine list did have prices but some other bar menus did not.

 

I will also (again) comment that the Park Cafe needs a more organized system for waiting in line. It seemed like the sandwich line went a different day each day. I noted this on my Oasis cruise in summer of 2013, and it hasn't changed.

 

There is no question that there are good and bad experiences on cruises.

 

There is a far simpler way of looking at threads like this:

 

If a cruise line makes 99% of all passengers happy, then on an Oasis class ship there will still be 60-63 people unhappy. Those tend to be the threads you read about - often called the "venting threads".

 

For the other 6200+ folks that had a WOW, great, or satisfactory cruise, only a small number of those folks tend to take the time to share those situations.

 

This paints a misleading picture of course, as it is impossible to make every single person happy among any large group. It's a goal, not a realistic result.

 

Nonetheless, it is unfortunate that anyone has a poor experience.

[1ParticularHbr]

All the whining on Cruise Critic forums really turn me off.

 

Some folks just take the "critic" part of Cruise Critic way too literally ;)

[Pesseh0729]

Okay... what a rant! My next comment is NOT directed at the OP. Just a thought....

1) The reward system may need to be re-vamp and expectations need to be re-set.

2) If there are 500+ diamond members on a ship, then there really is nothing to special about being a diamond member, right?

3) If the full suite guest is paying PREMIUM fares, then why not provide them premium service which is different and even better that Diamond?

4) At the end of the day, it is all about share holder value and profits for the stock holders. If I were counting the beans and looking to reward loyality, I would not target the folks who book the cheapest inside or discounted room and perhpas these are the same passengers who do not book ship shore excursions, gamble in the casino (not the penny slots). I would be looking at the repeat full fare suite customers and how do I get them back on board to spend lots of $$$$, not folks who fill the ship with the last minute discounted fares.

 

I LOVE RCL! Someday I will probably be one of those last minute indside dwelers.., But for now, if I pay full suite premium fares, I do feel the service recieved should be excellent! And, for some reason I have not been disapointed with RCL.

 

Last year on NOS, both the suite lounge and the Daimond Lounge were so over crowed, that we did not use either. Our absense was noted by the Concierge and he took great care to be sure we were happy. No, we did not have reserved seats in the lounge, nor would I expect them. We just quietly used another lounge and enjoyed our cruise.

 

 

The people who book the inside rooms don't spend any money and aren't as loyal as everyone else? Hmmm ok

[Sam.Seattle]

The people who book the inside rooms don't spend any money and aren't as loyal as everyone else? Hmmm ok

Perhaps a bit of of an assumption, but I would bet that a person in an inside cabin will not spend either in total or in addtion as much as suite passenger. I would be interesting to see the hard numbers.

 

Loyality is not at question... The question is how much money is made from some of the past customers that expect lots of perks based soley on loyality.