I Remember when RCL ............

[SelectSys]

On 1/3/2019 at 4:08 PM, linerode said:

I'm getting rather burned out on all the nickel and diming and loss of some of the grandeur of cruising on RC. Wondering which cruise line to try that would have some of the old perks and treatment. 

 

On 1/5/2019 at 5:22 AM, rusty nut said:

Yes, I remember. When you stepped aboard the ship, there was no question that you were an honored and valued guest, and you were treated as such. Now, you're just a paying customer, nothing more. I remember when cruising was a bit of a "high brow" affair. Nowadays, the ships are filled with all kinds of rude, disrespectful people with no regard for other passengers. I've never seen so much "trailer trash" on a ship in my life. I'm sure it's not just Royal.

Disappointing. The sad part is, it will never change.

 

You are both sailing on a mass market cruise line at incredibly affordable prices.  Perhaps upgrading to some of the luxury cruise lines will provide you with the experience you desire.  

 

I also note that RCI is starting to experiment with a "ship within a ship" concept were a more luxurious, high-end experience is available at a price.

[Chitoryubt]

I remember chocolate mints on the pillows after turndown service 🙂 (and also waking up with one stuck to my head). Still liked them though!

[shopper77]

Getting a pack of 4 postcards to send to friends.  I still have my set from the Empress.

 

Sheets were changed daily.

 

Pop (Soda) free with any dinner.

[voyager70]

33 minutes ago, Chitoryubt said:

I remember chocolate mints on the pillows after turndown service 🙂 (and also waking up with one stuck to my head). Still liked them though!

 

I loved the little chocolates.  Remember one time after a few too many drinks I plopped into bed without taking the chocolates off the bed.  Overnight they came unwrapped and got smeared into the sheets.  It looked like, well you can imagine.  I made sure to track down our cabin attendant the next morning before he made up our room to explain what happened.  He had a good laugh and said it happens quite a bit!

 

[Chitoryubt]

2 hours ago, voyager70 said:

 

I loved the little chocolates.  Remember one time after a few too many drinks I plopped into bed without taking the chocolates off the bed.  Overnight they came unwrapped and got smeared into the sheets.  It looked like, well you can imagine.  I made sure to track down our cabin attendant the next morning before he made up our room to explain what happened.  He had a good laugh and said it happens quite a bit!

 

That is EXACTLY what I was referring to!

[mtu_huskies]

First cruise was 2004.  Many changes have been said and some changes are good, some bad.

-daily printed one page newspaper with stories and sports scores in the library

-chocolates on the pillows

-5 course dinner, long dinners too

-noon captains announcement

-dining room waiters with the shot glasses

-removal of foods at windjammer like sushi or chips & guac so you’d pay at ship restaurants (Rita’s Cantina, Izumi etc.)

[Stevedan]

Several people mentioned the Oceanic of Home Lines.  Cruises many times on the Oceanic and nothing has ever come close.  We have enjoyed all of our cruises,but nothing was like the Oceanic.

[audome78]

On 12/31/2018 at 8:28 PM, Host Clarea said:

 

I don't see them routinely offered anymore, but I have seen them show up on the second and subsequent nights if requested.

We have requested them, and yes, they did show up on subsequent nights, but they seemed to be pre-made ( possibly frozen) and simply reheated. They were nothing like they used to be. We have stopped asking for them.

[HBE4]

17 hours ago, SelectSys said:

On 1/5/2019 at 8:22 AM, rusty nut said:

Yes, I remember. When you stepped aboard the ship, there was no question that you were an honored and valued guest, and you were treated as such. Now, you're just a paying customer, nothing more. I remember when cruising was a bit of a "high brow" affair. Nowadays, the ships are filled with all kinds of rude, disrespectful people with no regard for other passengers. I've never seen so much "trailer trash" on a ship in my life. I'm sure it's not just Royal.

Disappointing. The sad part is, it will never change.

 

You are both sailing on a mass market cruise line at incredibly affordable prices.  Perhaps upgrading to some of the luxury cruise lines will provide you with the experience you desire.  

 

I also note that RCI is starting to experiment with a "ship within a ship" concept were a more luxurious, high-end experience is available at a price

 

Someone had mentioned that they paid $2,700 per couple in 1985. In today's prices, that would be close tp $6,800. Out of curiosity, I checked to see what $6,800 would buy on an upscale line.

 

It will get you into the lowest price 300 sq ft suite on Regents  Seven Sea Spendor (Dev 2020 sailing) and include all drinks (including room minibar), shore excursions, specialty restaurants, gratuities, wifi.

 

Sounds like quite the deal for those looking to escape the nickle-and-dimeing and return to the glory days of yesteryear.  I don't mean this as a put down, just that the option is still out there.

 

 

[gatour]

On 1/6/2019 at 8:35 AM, Groucho said:

In my opinion, the Viking Crown was dead on the Oasis Class because of all the other options the ships offered.  Converting that space to Costal Kitchen and the Suite Lounge was a very good move and a better use of that space.

I disagree.  The Viking Crown lounge was the ONLY place to have a drink in and indoor lounge and still enjoy the ocean go by.  My wife even mentioned this, after doing two Enchantment cruises late last year, after doing a series of Oasis class cruises.  Enchantment had plenty of places to enjoy watching the ocean go by, whereas the Oasis class now has none.

 

While we currently have no cruises booked, my wife suggested we should stay away from Oasis class in the future for this reason.  While not a complete ban just a reason why we will mix it up in the future

[katiel53]

On 12/31/2018 at 12:54 PM, nelblu said:

I remember, when:

 

Streamers when departing on cruise.

Family members allowed and seeing you off.

Horse racing on pool deck, but replaced by casinos.

No Broadway or other shows, but staff provided the entertainment.

No diamond lounges.  When DL introduced, only wine, soda & water available.  Plus some minor chips/pretzels instead of the hors d'ovres.

Not necessarily on RCL, but on "Oceanic" had to pay for the loungers, but it made up for the wonderful quantity and quality of food..

No stabilizers and no promenades.

 

Just a few, but overall, I take what is being offered today.

 

 

My first cruise was on Oceanic and even before we were off the ship, we knew we wanted to go again.  We debarked on Saturday and Monday we were at the Travel Agency booking another cruise, but on Doric,

 

For Royal Caribbean I remember when:

All meals were served in the dining room and we always sat at the same table.

 

People were dressed up every night.

 

Bon Voyage parties with family/friends allowed to be onboard made it so much more exciting.

 

Small cabins with no balconies except for those in suites.

 

Drinks in the bars were cash and the price was $1 per drink.

 

Dinner at the Captain's table--how we were asked is still a mystery.

 

Kids getting drunk drinking Long Island Iced Teas before their parents knew what was in them.  Parents would ask the teens what they were drinking and the kids said iced tea.

 

No kids clubs.

 

Food that was great every night and it wasn't necessary to go to specialty restaurants as there weren't any.

 

OMG  I could go on and on.  I started sailing in the early 80's as a young adult so I've been cruising forever and there have been many changes, and not all have been bad.  I can't imagine cruising now without a balcony or not being able to go to specialty restaurants with the ambiance that was never on any of my cruises in the dining room.  Service was also better as it was more personal and we, as passengers, were there for the crew to totally wait on us, which was their job as opposed to servicing the cabin, serving food etc. with a larger number of passengers as their responsibility.

[katiel53]

On 1/1/2019 at 12:30 AM, MaiseyM said:

Do you think RCI could hold a 'throw back' cruise and do a lot of these things, knowing that prices won't go back (i.e .normal drink prices...).   I bet they could gather a crowd holding one cruise of throw backs and invite everyone to old memories that they can still legally pull off.  

Carnival does that with its' Journeys cruises.  Midnight buffet as well as the horse racing and a few other things.  I wish Royal Caribbean did these especially as they are longer cruises and are divided into two segments, at least the one I did was, so we could just book one 10 day segment.  I would be happy with just one 10 day cruise with those amenities.

[trivia addict]

Does anyone remember the little metallic cordial glasses that came with an after dinner cordial? You got to keep them, but of course, you paid for the cordial. Useless, but fun to see what the color would be each night!

We had them on our two cruises in Europe in the early 2000’s. I don’t think they do these any more....

[CelticMCO]

What you would not have seen... 

 

Ships within ships; RCL is actually late to the party on this one.  NCL and Carnival basically have areas that you rarely/never have to mingle with "general pop"; loyalty out / pay as you go in...  

 

If someone dared bring a dog on board for "Emotional Support" (or low blood sugar or anything other than really being blind or just having returned from a War Zone with real PTSD) they would have been laughed off the ship... 

 

Morbidly obese tattoo covered rabble who shuffle from buffet to the nearest bar for their bakers dozen plus drinks/UBP (all before 5 pm)…

 

Non stop upsells, entire families staring at Iphones, people wondering if they can drink the water onboard, power strips and people actually worried about the plug in ports on the TV's in the rooms...

 

No one complaining about Nassau...         

[The Fun Researcher]

Please RCCL, DON'T DO THE "SHIP WITHIN A SHIP" THING!  Losing large portions or decks of a ship, including pools and such because passengers are in some "xyz" class will keep me from cruising on that ship.

 

Suite privileges that exist now on the various ships are about the max I'm good with.

 

This is my opinion.  YMMV

 

Dan

[Clarea]

3 hours ago, trivia addict said:

Does anyone remember the little metallic cordial glasses that came with an after dinner cordial? You got to keep them, but of course, you paid for the cordial. Useless, but fun to see what the color would be each night!

We had them on our two cruises in Europe in the early 2000’s. I don’t think they do these any more....

 

Yes, we have a collection.

[TinkBellaMom]

We so enjoyed the Royal Crown Lounge on Oasis.  We loved going up there in the evening just to have a drink and watch the ocean go by.  One cruise we went up there and a group of the performers did a little impromptu performance.  It truly was one of our favorite cursing memories.

Also, on our Med cruise on the Jewel they still used the little scraper for crumbs.

[vacationlover_mn]

4 hours ago, TinkBellaMom said:

We so enjoyed the Royal Crown Lounge on Oasis.  We loved going up there in the evening just to have a drink and watch the ocean go by.  One cruise we went up there and a group of the performers did a little impromptu performance.  It truly was one of our favorite cursing memories.

Also, on our Med cruise on the Jewel they still used the little scraper for crumbs.

I also really miss having a crown lodge open to me on most ships 😞

[friendofg]

Had their staff members wear numbers instead of name tags. (They're not all good memories...)

 

Had a theme night in the MDR every night.

 

Had costume contests.

 

Enforced the MDR dress code.

 

Had a midnight buffet every night, including a grand and a chocolate buffet on two of the nights.

 

Encouraged dancing under the stars on the pool deck every night.

[clean1owner]

10 hours ago, TinkBellaMom said:

We so enjoyed the Royal Crown Lounge on Oasis.  We loved going up there in the evening just to have a drink and watch the ocean go by.  One cruise we went up there and a group of the performers did a little impromptu performance.  It truly was one of our favorite cursing memories.

Also, on our Med cruise on the Jewel they still used the little scraper for crumbs.

 

 

We had a family cruise on Majesty, and one of the nights there was a Teen Party poolside. While the Cousins went to the party, all of us Parents went up to the Viking Crown Lounge to observe the activities. Watching the boys strut around trying to impress the girls, and all the other teenager games going on was some of the best entertainment on the trip!

[SRF]

On 1/7/2019 at 4:38 AM, audome78 said:

We have requested them, and yes, they did show up on subsequent nights, but they seemed to be pre-made ( possibly frozen) and simply reheated. They were nothing like they used to be. We have stopped asking for them.

 

Why would that stock something frozen, that might not be asked for?

 

More likely they make them during the day, after someone asks for them.   And recipes or ingredients may have changed.

[SRF]

On 1/7/2019 at 5:45 PM, katiel53 said:

Dinner at the Captain's table--how we were asked is still a mystery.

 

This still happens.  We were invited to dinner with the Staff Captain on our Aug 2017 cruise.

[Baron Barracuda]

Miss being able to get a (free) big, juicy burger grilled medium rare.

[Lovincruisin1321]

A cruiser posted on another thread that for those of us that cruised in the 90's and 80's, we need to dial down our expectations.

 

This is pertaining to Royal, Holland, Princess and Celebrity.....

 

Is this true?    What changes have you seen in the last 10 years?

 

MDR Changes?

Not as many dining in MDR?   

Windjammer Food a little plainer?

Stateroom attendant not as attentive or better?

Quailty of Food?

More of a hassle with mega ships and using apps to schedule dining, theater, etc?

 

[Clarea]

Running thread:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2618386-i-remember-when-rcl/