How Has RCCL Changed In The Past Decade?

[firefox247]

I'm not a very avid cruiser, so I do not have a good reference for how things "used to be." That said, there are many on CC that say how RCCL (and cruising in general) used to be much better 10-15 years ago. Anyone willing to give me a rough overview of the changes they have noticed? I'm guessing some of the following are included, but feel free to outline others:

 

• Increased price of "gratuities"
  
• General downgrading of food in MDR and push to specialty dining
  
• More of a "class system" with suite passengers being heavily favored
  
• Removal of common areas that are now reserved for suites or others (secret balconies on Oasis class come to mind).
  

What else is there? Tell me about the good ol' days! :D

[Deptacon]

of course it has changed....the entire industry has seen massive growth and with that comes changes.

 

Everyone wants prices to stay flat for 20 years for some reason....well, its not going to happen.

[Clarea]

Price drops up to 72 hours before the cruise.

 

Ability to combine C&A quarterly coupon discount, balcony discount, OBC from booking on board, and OBC from shareholder benefit.

[SheehanDJ]

5 course meals - reduced to 3 now

Mints on the pillows - DW and I miss this a lot

Midnight buffet - It was pretty, but what a waste of food

Formal nights used to have Champaign and hor'devours in the centrum/promenade

Horse Racing on the pool deck on a sea day

[John&LaLa]

5 course meals - reduced to 3 now

Mints on the pillows - DW and I miss this a lot

Midnight buffet - It was pretty, but what a waste of food

Formal nights used to have Champaign and hor'devours in the centrum/promenade

Horse Racing on the pool deck on a sea day

 

I miss horse racing, but how do you count only 3 courses. What are the traditional 5 courses

[nbsjcruiser]

There have been plenty of changes since our first RCI cruise on the Explorer 12 years ago. Not many for the good I would argue.

 

On our first cruise in 2004, the service in the MDR was exceptional. I remember pouring my own wine at one point and the waiter's look was one of horror. He came right over and poured it for me. Not a big deal really but a sign of the level of service. Today I find the level of service in the MDR only so-so and its not the waiter's fault - they're just much more overworked now.

 

Certainly tips have gone up and continue to go up. I preferred the old way of tipping - you knew who got the money because you handed it to him/her.

 

The quality of food in the MDR is not in the same ballpark as it was 12 years ago - not even close. Our last few RCI cruises we've been terribly disappointed with the food in the MDR. Cold at times, bland. Gosh I remember those first few cruises on RCI just thinking the food was so good. Then along came the specialty restaurants and I remember at the time thinking, oh-oh I hope this doesn't mean a reduction in the quality of the food in the MDR as a means to push people to more expensive options. Sadly I think this is what happened and now we're seeing some of the same tactics in the specialty restaurants. Levels of food in there that you have to pay extra for.

 

Room's and service there is much the same - quite good.

 

Ship decor and design, quite good - among the best I would argue. In fact, it has gotten better over the years.

 

As the ships have become larger, the need to keep people on them and spending has increased thus the crappy itineraries that almost always include a 6 hr stop in Nassau. That's all fine and dandy on a short trip on the Majesty or something but an Eastern Cruise to me is not a stop in St Maarten, San Juan and then a 6 hr stop in Nassau, especially in the winter. I want to go somewhere warm and in February, Nassau is hit or miss with that.

[tofubeast]

I'm not knocking this post. It's just funny. I remember when I first joined CC in the early 00's and seeing the same kinds of posts. Of course, back then, people were reminiscing about cruising in the 70s and 80s and chatting about how things had gone downhill from there. Now we reminisce about cruising in the early 00s. ;)

[bouhunter]

Mints on the pillows - DW and I miss this a lot

 

Really??

[SheehanDJ]

I miss horse racing, but how do you count only 3 courses. What are the traditional 5 courses

 

Appetizer, Meal, Desert

 

Used to be Soup, Salad, Appetizer, Meal, Desert

 

You can make a 5 course meal now by ordering that way, but I remember our first cruise they were distinct courses with utensil changes.

[John&LaLa]

Appetizer, Meal, Desert

 

Used to be Soup, Salad, Appetizer, Meal, Desert

 

You can make a 5 course meal now by ordering that way, but I remember our first cruise they were distinct courses with utensil changes.

 

That's how I usually order. Sometimes two apps

Sometimes two entrees

Definitely two desserts

[George C]

10/15 years ago tipping was left to the passenger, there was a dress code that was enforced if you did not follow it you had dinner in WJ

[WeBCruisin]

I also miss the mints on the pillows as well as the nightly towel animals. Yes - they are minor things - but sometimes it's the little things - the attention to details - that makes it special.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[John&LaLa]

I also miss the mints on the pillows as well as the nightly towel animals. Yes - they are minor things - but sometimes it's the little things - the attention to details - that makes it special.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

We had towel animals every night on Enchantment. All you need to do is set expectations. We had our Grandson, so I asked for towel animals. Don't need them when just Laura and I

[mark290]

of course it has changed....the entire industry has seen massive growth and with that comes changes.

 

Everyone wants prices to stay flat for 20 years for some reason....well, its not going to happen.

 

Seems to me the OP was acknowledging the industry has changed.

The question was in what way? I did not see the OP mention price

increases or expecting prices to stay flat.

[lawgirl]

Here is what I miss compared to 2002/03

 

live music at dinner

More live music for longer hours at the pool

Midnight/chocolate buffet

Horse Racing at the pool

"yummy yummy for the tummy" cordials after dinner

Collector "swoozy" glasses that were REALLY nice

Much cheaper drinks

Concierge lounge included Diamonds

Tip at your discretion (I actually think we tipped more)

Combining my shareholder, onboard booking and loyalty discount

Nice libraries

Game rooms

Actual salads with dressing choices brought to table

 

There are probably more, but the thing I miss absolutely the most is....

 

The really dressy formal nights. For years I have been buying gowns and DH own a tux with tons of great cuff links.... Fewer and fewer dress up truly formally, which is one of my favorite things about cruising. Where else can you dress to the nines. but with X no longer having true formal nights, I think RCI will be next is getting rid of it...not sure what I will do with all the gowns I bought!

[rummenroman]

My first cruise was in 2004.

 

I loved the pomp of the whole event. It allowed me to feel like I was rich and famous for a week. I saw things I never thought I would see. Who knew that burning booze with some bananas table side would taste so good, and it was a heck of a show too.

 

The best way I describe cruising from then to now is, Saxon 5th Avenue (then) to Macy's (now).

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Appetizer, Meal, Desert

 

Used to be Soup, Salad, Appetizer, Meal, Desert

 

You can make a 5 course meal now by ordering that way, but I remember our first cruise they were distinct courses with utensil changes.

 

I usually do a 4 course.

 

I am no expert on the utensil situation, but I seem to recall there being enough utensils for a 5 course meal. No utensil changes, however. I could be wrong.

[George C]

Almost every thing being talked about is happening to all major cruise lines, not just RCCL

[nbsjcruiser]

We had towel animals every night on Enchantment. All you need to do is set expectations. We had our Grandson, so I asked for towel animals. Don't need them when just Laura and I

 

I'm kinda "meh" when it comes to towel animals. I think from now on I'll tell the room steward not to bother. Might save her 5 mins. The first few times it was neat and funny, now its a waste of his/her time.

[actuarian]

My first cruise was in 2004.

 

The best way I describe cruising from then to now is, Saxon 5th Avenue (then) to Macy's (now).

 

I thought it was Norman 5th Avenue.

[payitforward]

Here is what I miss compared to 2002/03

 

live music at dinner

More live music for longer hours at the pool

Midnight/chocolate buffet

Horse Racing at the pool

"yummy yummy for the tummy" cordials after dinner

Collector "swoozy" glasses that were REALLY nice

Much cheaper drinks

Concierge lounge included Diamonds

Tip at your discretion (I actually think we tipped more)

Combining my shareholder, onboard booking and loyalty discount

Nice libraries

Game rooms

Actual salads with dressing choices brought to table

 

There are probably more, but the thing I miss absolutely the most is....

 

The really dressy formal nights. For years I have been buying gowns and DH own a tux with tons of great cuff links.... Fewer and fewer dress up truly formally, which is one of my favorite things about cruising. Where else can you dress to the nines. but with X no longer having true formal nights, I think RCI will be next is getting rid of it...not sure what I will do with all the gowns I bought!

 

 

I am right there with you! Formal nights are one of my favorite things about cruising. I also miss the personalized service - the waiters who always called you by name, and spent time at your table telling jokes or doing tricks, and the bartenders who knew your name and were pouring your drink by the time you made it to the bar.

[John&LaLa]

I usually do a 4 course.

 

I am no expert on the utensil situation, but I seem to recall there being enough utensils for a 5 course meal. No utensil changes, however. I could be wrong.

 

And now you can be an expert. I think i use the cake fork for my app :o

 

[Roseflyer]

Everyone seems focused on what is worse, so I'll make some comments on what is better. I think cruising is better because there are many more things to do on the ship. My first cruise on RCCL was Vision of the Seas back when it was brand new to Alaska in 1999. To a degree, the ship was a bit boring back then.

 

Nowadays there are many more activities. Cruise ships 20 years ago had bars, theaters, lounges, libraries, casinos, and the pool/spa area and that was about it. There weren't activities other than kids things for those who want to be physically active. Now we have skydiving, rock climbing, surfing, mini golf, etc. There also weren't aerial acrobat shows, ice skating shows, etc. The ships were lower key with things like shuffle board and chess. Cruises are much more interesting now due to all the ship upgrades and overall the experience is more interesting for those in the 10-50 year old bracket.

 

Some are nostalgic for years of better food and service. That now comes with a price, but some appreciate the food choice options with optional dining venues. Personally I think cruising is much more exciting now and more interesting for the whole family. My biggest complaint is that Royal tends to have fewer and fewer itineraries with more than three stops on a week long cruise. The emphasis on ports has been reduced and the advertising is now focused on the ship. This is more of an emphasis on Royal since they focus on big ships with innovation. Competitors like Holland America have most of their cruises still having four on Caribbean cruises where a cruise going to the same place has three on Royal.

Edited April 18, 2016 by Roseflyer

[BillOh]

I'm not a very avid cruiser, so I do not have a good reference for how things "used to be." That said, there are many on CC that say how RCCL (and cruising in general) used to be much better 10-15 years ago. Anyone willing to give me a rough overview of the changes they have noticed? I'm guessing some of the following are included, but feel free to outline others:

 

• Increased price of "gratuities"
  
• General downgrading of food in MDR and push to specialty dining
  
• More of a "class system" with suite passengers being heavily favored
  
• Removal of common areas that are now reserved for suites or others (secret balconies on Oasis class come to mind).
  

What else is there? Tell me about the good ol' days! :D

 

Great time, the 10th anniversary of my first cruise is just days away, so I'll read with interest and comment back.

 

I'm glad I saw the big Midnight buffets with all the pomp and circrumstance before they did away with that.

[blueblock]

I thought it was Norman 5th Avenue.

 

Seems to me Fifth Avenue has more Angles than Saxons OR Norman.