How Has RCCL Changed In The Past Decade?

[AmberTeka]

One change I think is that most of the people on Cruise Critic has sailed a lot. We know the low cost seasons. We know the Holidays, Summer Vacations....the frozen months are going to be more expensive.

 

that can cut costs if you are in a position to sail when you wish...within reason..in terms of Seasons. We learn that sometimes booking early saves a lot of money. Sometimes taking a last minute cruise...if you live close to ports....is a money saver indeed.

 

Deep cuts have been made to save money and keep fares reasonable.............but when you first book, with no discounts other than maybe living in Florida.........things get pricey quickly. We went through that with our daughter and her family. My husband and I can get Military rate. Senior Rate. Past Guest Rate. Florida Resident Rate. sometimes a casino rate. They get zilch. Two adults. one child. OUCH!! And we get an OV for them. ( We have one child. One grandchild. We are blessed that we can do this once a year.) You are talking a lot of money quickly.

PRINCESS of all the lines has given us the most discounts on getting a cabin for them. Not discounts, but costing less for the grandbaby.

 

Now on Carnival and Princess they can get past guest in the future. and Florida Resident. My daughter is a teacher and on HAL some cruises give one for that.

The Discounts we get for being loyal cruisers..........they do add up.

 

And like all of you.........The Food of yesterday ..........makes my mouth drool. But the Activities of today......I like more. I just like cruising. I have never had a bad one. Never. Again. Nice Thread. I enjoyed reading the comments very much.

Edited April 20, 2016 by AmberTeka

[traveling1969]

I certainly feel qualified to respond.

 

Our first cruise was in April 2005 on the Adventure of the Seas. There have been a few minor changes but for the most part, the cruise experience has remained pretty much the same. Unbelievably, prices are comparable to what we paid then. Yes, the large ships charge more but in my opinion, the experience warrants the price premium.

 

The food quality remains high and offerings are comparable. Drink prices are up a bit but are not out of line with land-based resort drink prices. In short, cruises were a great deal then and they are still a great deal now. Sure, combinability of discounts are restricted, staff cuts have had an impact on service but the changes have been small and have not made a significant difference in our cruise experience.

 

I think the cruise experience was great then, I think it's great now and hopefully it will continue to be great. But then again, my glass is always half full:).

 

Bon voyage to us all!

Edited April 20, 2016 by traveling1969

[lawgirl]

I was going through some old files today. We paid over $750 for an OV on Sovereign in 2002. We paid something like $580 for an OV on Enchantment last fall. I miss those things, too, but I can live with the changes if I can take more cruises!

 

That is crazy! I can't believe it is less now. You are right, a good value even with cutbacks. Our first cruise was in a SS on X. I am pretty sure it was way less money than the SS we had a few years ago on a sister ship.... But I don't have the receipts. I do agree that it seems that prices have not skyrocketed like some things, so I guess a decrease in extras keeps pricing competitive.

[lawgirl]

Lots of good responses here. How long ago were the towel animals changed? I didn't know I'd have to ask for them now. My wife really liked those in Allure in 2013.

 

To take this thread in another direction, years ago my parents and others always said that a cruise is a fantastic value compared to an all-inclusive. With all the cutbacks on cruises, is that statement still true? Did the AIs make similar cutbacks and we are right back where we started, or have the AIs reached value parity with cruising, especially if you have to buy a drink package on a boat?

 

We went to a Sandals, our first AI in 17 years, a few months ago. We had pretty much cruised exclusively for major vacations the past 14 years or so. We went to book a cruise, but given it was during winter/early spring break, and given we usually do a suite, the AI was similarly priced. Both were expensive, frankly, for a 7 night vacation. I should admit, however, that we booked a massive two room suite at Sandals with butler service. We could have booked a smaller room with no butler for a lot less.

 

Comparing apples to apples, suite to suite, the cruise and Sandals were simlar cost. I would say that the experience at Sandals was in many ways better.... The pool and beach were not crowded. The resort in general felt uncrowned (though fully booked). The drinks were certainly varied and they had really good brands. We had liquor and champagne/wine/beer plus mixers in our room, refilled regularly. Service at Sandals was better than a cruise... As an example, our butler brought us drinks and lunch at the beach, reserved the best tables at restaurants, decorated our table with flowers, had a jacuzzi bubble bath drawn for us, left candles in the room one night.....overall, service was just attentive and very, very friendly.

 

The room was way better at Sandals. Very nice and absolutely huge. That is to be expected I guess.

 

But, the food on a cruise is markedly better and frankly the entertainment and activity options are way, way better on a cruise. Plus you get to see new places everyday on a cruise. and service is good.... Just not quite as good as Sandals.

 

We decided in the future we will alternate. We already booked a cruise for this fall, and a Sandals for late winter! And we are going to add in some land tours too... Hopefully Italy, then Africa. I still love to cruise, but the AI, frankly, was better than I expected and I was pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed a lazy beach vacation.

[TEXASMUNK]

Compared to the 70's...but things are relative. With the massive drop in fuel costs, RCI could afford to spend $2-3 per person per day on food. Today, it is no better than your local buffet (ie, luby's).

And yes, the passenger base has gotten crude. Ill mannered persons on elevators, ill mannered person at self disembarkation. Foul mouthed people that have no care who hears them.

But, we still find it a great value and have found our own ways to kick back and relax.

[tonyweir]

Our first cruise was on the Majesty in 95. Near the end of the cruise we got a booklet with all the names, hometown and country on everyone on that sailing. I wish I kept it.

 

 

I make a scrapbook for every cruise. I have the one from 1986 and 1987 that have those passenger lists as well as all the Cruise Compass and dinng room menus. It's fun to look back on those memories.

[Paulette3028]

 

And like all of you.........The Food of yesterday ..........makes my mouth drool. But the Activities of today......I like more. I just like cruising. I have never had a bad one. Never. Again. Nice Thread. I enjoyed reading the comments very much.

 

We went to a Sandals, our first AI in 17 years, a few months ago. We had pretty much cruised exclusively for major vacations the past 14 years or so. We went to book a cruise, but given it was during winter/early spring break, and given we usually do a suite, the AI was similarly priced. Both were expensive, frankly, for a 7 night vacation. I should admit, however, that we booked a massive two room suite at Sandals with butler service. We could have booked a smaller room with no butler for a lot less.

 

Comparing apples to apples, suite to suite, the cruise and Sandals were simlar cost. I would say that the experience at Sandals was in many ways better.... The pool and beach were not crowded. The resort in general felt uncrowned (though fully booked). The drinks were certainly varied and they had really good brands. We had liquor and champagne/wine/beer plus mixers in our room, refilled regularly. Service at Sandals was better than a cruise... As an example, our butler brought us drinks and lunch at the beach, reserved the best tables at restaurants, decorated our table with flowers, had a jacuzzi bubble bath drawn for us, left candles in the room one night.....overall, service was just attentive and very, very friendly.

 

The room was way better at Sandals. Very nice and absolutely huge. That is to be expected I guess.

 

But, the food on a cruise is markedly better and frankly the entertainment and activity options are way, way better on a cruise. Plus you get to see new places everyday on a cruise. and service is good.... Just not quite as good as Sandals.

 

We decided in the future we will alternate. We already booked a cruise for this fall, and a Sandals for late winter! And we are going to add in some land tours too... Hopefully Italy, then Africa. I still love to cruise, but the AI, frankly, was better than I expected and I was pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed a lazy beach vacation.

 

I guess it all depends upon what you want......and I find it interesting that at the AI resort, lawgirl comments that "the food on a cruise is markedly better" because I would not have expected to hear that. But one thing is for sure, the entertainment that Royal provides, and probably other cruise lines (although we have only cruised on Royal) is very good and I don't have to take a taxi to get to it. There are activities to do all day or all evening/into night.....with the added benefit of visiting a different locale several days if not every day during the vacation.