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Prepare to be....DISAPPOINTED!!

Yoitsbbg
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Yoitsbbg

Yoitsbbg

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Family and I sailed 2/19/2018 on the Independence of the Seas. SUPER disappointing! Hadn't been on RCCL in a while. We saw a little decline in 2016 when we went on Celebrity Solstice, but overall liked the cruise. RCCL, tho....WOW! I think Carnival just pulled ahead in the cruise wars game.

 

Service was BAD!

Main Dining Room Food - POOR! (see photos)

Ship Condition - Not Kept clean/Lights out

 

And the icing was our experience at Flow Rider....playing music with Profanity! (Killing in the Name of by Rage Against the Machine!) REALLY? With small Children around. (SEE VIDEO)

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cs1wy8dao3vt0tk/IMG_0932.jpg?dl=0

Wilted Grapes and Nasty Carrots in the Romeo & Juliet Dining Room

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vfg82bir8xqzste/IMG_0933.jpg?dl=0

Lights out in the Promenade

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yjchwg0z580uyot/IMG_1201.jpg?dl=0

Part Rotted Lettuce on a Salmon Plate in the Dining Room

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uafv9c3q2rc6egl/IMG_0956.jpg?dl=0

Can't even put a Banana Split in an Ice Cream Dish. Just Slapped together. That was $7+ !!

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ibs6lln5ce8yjoq/IMG_1189.m4v?dl=0

(Caution: PROFANITY IN VIDEO!)

 

(See my Review - Just Submitted to CC today). Details everything! (Posted my letter to Richard Fain, CEO)

 

RCCL needs to clean up their act. They have nice/big/fancy ships, but can't keep up! And the Profanity thing....ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA! APPALLING!

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Cruisegirl6 Great Review Rare

Cruisegirl6

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I am sorry you had a bad experience, but quite frankly, the Independence goes into dry dock next month. I avoid all ships that are going to dry dock within 12 months because I figured they let things "go" because they be fixed in dry dock, which isn't right but I can understand it.

 

Food- I have to say we never eat in the MDR, we find service and the food to be lacking in so many ways, we purchase the Ultimate Dining Package and dine at the specialty restaurants each night. I am not saying they are all excellent (our favorite is 150 Central Park and we find ourselves eating here at least 4 nights during our week long cruises) but they sure are so much better than what you get in the MDR. Maybe that is a way to go if you cruise RC again?

 

I been on 74 cruises so far and another coming up in April and October, I never experienced any bad service when it came to the staff/bartenders/cabin stewards, I am very picky and expect great service and never had a complaint, in fact, we would tip $25 to our favorites at the end of the cruise and also give an extra dollar per drink (we also purchase the Ultimate Drink Package). Maybe the crew is looking forward to their being off during dry dock??

 

The lettuce, I take it as being a garnish anyways, but if you aren't happy you always can ask for a fresh piece of lettuce and I assure you they would of given it to you. The banana I feel fits in the dish, its not hanging over the dish and where did you get that, I don't recall ever seeing a banana split, and sure would like to have one or two on my next cruise.

 

I understand where your coming from OP and sorry you went through this but next time try to avoid going on ships that are going right into dry dock and I assure you that you wouldn't have a problem regarding the ship not being cleaned.

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Wordell1

Wordell1

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Posted

All that is pretty minor in my opinion. Carrots and lettuce were garnish. Neon lights are not exactly as simple as replacing a bulb. The Rage song shouldn't have been played (or at least the non clean version) but a simple complaint to the cruise director probably would have kept it from happening again.

 

I'm not saying that any of the above complaints aren't legit, only that they seem pretty minor to me and not something I would allow to ruin my cruise.

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Icantgolf

Icantgolf

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Family and I sailed 2/19/2018 on the Independence of the Seas. SUPER disappointing! Hadn't been on RCCL in a while. We saw a little decline in 2016 when we went on Celebrity Solstice, but overall liked the cruise. RCCL, tho....WOW! I think Carnival just pulled ahead in the cruise wars game.

 

Service was BAD!

Main Dining Room Food - POOR! (see photos)

Ship Condition - Not Kept clean/Lights out

 

And the icing was our experience at Flow Rider....playing music with Profanity! (Killing in the Name of by Rage Against the Machine!) REALLY? With small Children around. (SEE VIDEO)

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cs1wy8dao3vt0tk/IMG_0932.jpg?dl=0

Wilted Grapes and Nasty Carrots in the Romeo & Juliet Dining Room

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vfg82bir8xqzste/IMG_0933.jpg?dl=0

Lights out in the Promenade

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yjchwg0z580uyot/IMG_1201.jpg?dl=0

Part Rotted Lettuce on a Salmon Plate in the Dining Room

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uafv9c3q2rc6egl/IMG_0956.jpg?dl=0

Can't even put a Banana Split in an Ice Cream Dish. Just Slapped together. That was $7+ !!

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ibs6lln5ce8yjoq/IMG_1189.m4v?dl=0

(Caution: PROFANITY IN VIDEO!)

 

(See my Review - Just Submitted to CC today). Details everything! (Posted my letter to Richard Fain, CEO)

 

RCCL needs to clean up their act. They have nice/big/fancy ships, but can't keep up! And the Profanity thing....ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA! APPALLING!

 

 

 

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, How was the play?

 

 

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ustasmom

ustasmom

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Posted

I really hate to say this, but I would post the video with the explicit music on their FB page. Teams that monitor social media are usually really quick to respond. I can battle for months behind the scenes. But if it gets to a point where I have to post to social media, they get the message really quickly.

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Canadianmama3

Canadianmama3

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Posted

Honestly these all seem like minor things. The light is really no big deal. The food you could have just said something. And one song with profanity is really not a big issue either. Kids do hear profanity everywhere. Don’t shelter your kids just tell them it’s not appropriate for them to say.

 

None of these should be cause to be disappointed in your cruise. You let them bug you too much. Relax.

 

 

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broberts Excellent Advice! Rare

broberts

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Posted
...

 

The lettuce, I take it as being a garnish anyways, but if you aren't happy you always can ask for a fresh piece of lettuce and I assure you they would of given it to you. The banana I feel fits in the dish, its not hanging over the dish and where did you get that, I don't recall ever seeing a banana split, and sure would like to have one or two on my next cruise.

 

I understand where your coming from OP and sorry you went through this but next time try to avoid going on ships that are going right into dry dock and I assure you that you wouldn't have a problem regarding the ship not being cleaned.

 

The unlit sign letters I too can understand and put down to being close to a dry dock visit. But it is unclear to me how a dry dock would fix issues related to rotting lettuce and dried out carrots.

 

Western food practices are that everything on a plate be edible, garnish included. Personally I like to eat garnish. But even if one doesn't, what was sitting on top of and hiding the rotting lettuce?

 

The fact that a kitchen would allow any spoiled food on a plate speaks of inattention to health and safety in the kitchen.

 

I've never thought that a serving dish altered the taste and enjoyment of ice cream. That complaint struck me as a bit silly.

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Paulxyz2004

Paulxyz2004

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Posted

OK,

thanks for the warning. :rolleyes:

 

I´ve had to look at the pics, read what you wanted to tell with and back to look at them several times. Really there´s nothing I would blink an eye about.

That banana split actually looks yummy. I would have been happy with it any day.

 

Sorry you felt let down. We are all different, but from your post I would have thoroughly enjoyed the ship.

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kevinyork

kevinyork

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I don’t really recognise these issues from our Sep 17 Cruise on Indy. Sure there were a couple of issues but they were amazing in reacting to and resolving them when brought to the attention. Maybe you should have done that to give them a chance to help rather than keep quiet and rush to be negative about them in your review and on this forum? I find the mark of an organisation is often how they deal with a problem.

 

 

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plo888

plo888

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Imo, in regards to the music, i would blame the flow rider staff. They are mostly young adults or in this case old teenagers. They are spending most of the day there and i guess at the very least have some input in music selection. Granted I dont approve of the music played in this case, but even good ole taylor swift got some inappropriateness in her music.

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champagne123

champagne123

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To each his own. What bothers some people, will not bother others. I do know that I, personally would not be spending my cruise taking pics of everything that is wrong with my cruise and posting them. I think we have all seen wilted lettuce and less than perfect veggies....light bulbs out...and I have to agree with the other poster that the banana split looks yummy to me. Anything less than perfect, I try to still have a great time. I move on from silly things and never allow anything to ruin my vacation. I'm sorry these things ruined your cruise. Hopefully your next one will be perfect!

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Yoitsbbg

Yoitsbbg

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I apologize as my post was vague as I just also posted a "review" with CC. It was actually a copy of the letter which I penned to Richard Fain, the CEO for RCCL. And I only picked out more noticeable things...I didn't harp on the little things.

 

#1 - We had called RCCL prior to our cruise for arrangement for our son in the Teen club. I was assured things would be available for him. When we got on board, no one knew of the him or the accommodations nor could they "bend." It took a day and half and going to guest services to straighten it all out. Not the best way to start your cruise.

 

#2 - After we left Port Everglades, my sons and I went to the back of the sports deck to find a pile of emesis (Puke!) against the wall across from the Flow Rider Check in Area. No one was attending to it. It simply had 4 posts and rope around it. Nothing covering it, NADA! Gross...and sure health violation.

 

#3 - Cabin Steward made the couch bed/rollaway daily, but didn't put them away (ie: Left as a bed the entire cruise). Most stewards would make/unmake daily. Never saw our Steward to request otherwise.

 

#4 - Stains to furniture. Torn furniture in Public areas

 

#5 - Was served a French Onion Soup in Main Dining room that had Cheese that was hard/cracking (Not cheesy). Asked the waiter for a new one and she argued with me that that was the way it was made. REALLY? After going back and forth, she got me a new one.

 

#6 - Ice cream (as noted). It was from Ben and Jerry's in the promenade. It tasted fine, but ice cream got all over bc not in a bowl. STUPID!

 

#7 - Lights (as noted). For those that posted....I had NO IDEA the ship was going into dry dock in a few weeks. Didn't find out until the 2nd day of the cruise

 

#8 - Service across the board was just BAD. Watered down drinks, poor dining room service, staff pushing their way thru people. (Instead of "excuse me") Staff pushing carts yelling "move to side". Cruise ship staff used to be NICE! What happened to common courtesies/manners?

 

#9 - Broken grates on hot tub edges

 

#10 - Ship in general just not clean

 

#11 - Last night of the cruise, they shut everything down at MIDNIGHT!! (ie - going to everyone in Casino that was closing at midnight). That's the first that has ever happened. We were IN PORT at 3am. REALLY?

 

#12 - Tagged bags for disembarkation and tags were removed from both our bags. One bag was found in a different number and another bag was at luggage services. Took 30-40 min to find.

 

#13 - Left from Terminal 18, arrived back at Terminal 29. No one indicated this prior so couldn't park closer to where ship came in. Had to shuttle everyone back. Just DISORGANIZED.

 

#14 - Food quality used to be decent on RCCL and it was really no better than cafeteria food. I think the Windjammer was actually better than the main DR.

 

Some of you commented on the carrots being a garnish...WHO CARES! It's gross to look at. Those carrots were OLD. Would you want your food sitting on Rotting lettuce? Independence of the Seas recently had a Norovirus outbreak...now I know why!!

 

The only pluses were Chops...food and service was good as well as the Bartender in the Wine bar. That's about it.

 

OH...and the Flow Rider. Yes....Killing in the Name Of IS a great song. But not for a family friendly ship with 4,5 6 year old kids around. It was a little harder to hear when the water was running, but a little girl had gotten hurt and they shut it off to tend to her, hence why you heard it clearly. Just unacceptable for a venue like that. Yes, our kids WILL hear it....but do they have to in that environment, no. That's not what I paid for.

 

YO

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Yoitsbbg

Yoitsbbg

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To each his own. What bothers some people, will not bother others. I do know that I, personally would not be spending my cruise taking pics of everything that is wrong with my cruise and posting them. I think we have all seen wilted lettuce and less than perfect veggies....light bulbs out...and I have to agree with the other poster that the banana split looks yummy to me. Anything less than perfect, I try to still have a great time. I move on from silly things and never allow anything to ruin my vacation. I'm sorry these things ruined your cruise. Hopefully your next one will be perfect!

 

I actually didn't start taking photos until after the argument with our waiter about our soup. (And that was evening of Day 2 of the cruise). Didn't intend to, but bad stuff just kept rolling. You can complain all you want, but sometimes a photo is worth a thousand words.

 

We made the best of our cruise and had a good time with our friends, but...just totally disappointed in RCCL, If this is the caliber of your vacation, so be it....everyone has standards...and RCCL didn't even come close to living up to mine.

 

YO

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