Symphony - terrible / no shows / Covid ?

[Ocean Boy]

26 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

6ft has been the standard number for 2 yrs now.  The problem is the the cruise line increased capacity and then we got hit with a very contagious covid variant.  

Look where that 6ft number has gotten us.

[bouhunter]

3 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Look where that 6ft number has gotten us.

😁  Yep.

[footzz]

3 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Look where that 6ft number has gotten us.

6ft apart or 6ft under?

[Wannacruise81]

3 minutes ago, bajathree said:

The problems I saw on Allure a few weeks ago is that some of the protocols don't make sense or work. While a mask was required while walking around indoors I rarely walked next to anyone closer than 6 feet while walking around like the promenade. Only a very few times did I ride in an elevator over the limited capacity. HOWEVER....places like casino where a mask wasn't even required were packed like sardines. The slots were packed and there was no sanitizing between players as it just wasn't possible. Even though the casino is considered a vaccinated only zone it's also a walkway from forward to aft on deck 4 on Oasis class and there were groups of unvaccinated kids I saw walking through the crowds. It was so crowded in the casino in the evening that there just wasn't anyway to even control it. I said that if anyone on this ship was going to get sick it would be here in the casino. So thats a good example how they go crazy on some protocols and then have holes in them like in the Casino. Going forward I really think that the cruise lines are going to have to figure a way to deal with it as people just aren't  comfortable...or possibly even safe in a packed shoulder to shoulder environment anymore. While they are restricting reservations into the shows for crowding reasons....they aren't restricting anything in the the casino.

It's also weird that they have a vaxed area and unvaxed area only for the MDR....but a unvaxed (child) can be near you at Sorrentos or cafe promenade. I've been on 3 royal caribbean cruises since the restart and each ship had their own protocols. 

[akeka]

18 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Look where that 6ft number has gotten us.

The problem isn't the 6 feet but the fact that no one (businesses or individuals) adheres to it anymore.

[bajathree]

30 minutes ago, Wannacruise81 said:

It's also weird that they have a vaxed area and unvaxed area only for the MDR....but a unvaxed (child) can be near you at Sorrentos or cafe promenade. I've been on 3 royal caribbean cruises since the restart and each ship had their own protocols. 

Capacity I believe is the issue. I was on Odyssey in Sept with only 1100 passengers and things ran VERY smoothly. There wasn't an area on the ship I went that I didn't feel uncomfortable. Things were very in control and protocols seemed to work well. Fast forward to the holiday sailings seeing these same ships hitting 80+% capacity and you can see what's happening. Our Dec 5th Allure sailing had 3450 passengers and I could easily see and feel the difference in how things were being run....it felt too crowded for still a pandemic time. Im sure the cruise lines cant keep these ships at limited capacity say 50% or under and survive...however I also see how when they are pushing the capacity how things change and now problems are now arising.

Edited December 26, 2021 by bajathree

[DirtyDawg]

I wonder haw many of these complaint threads we'd get here on CC if Symphony had closed it's casino for the cruise rather than cancelling the shows? 🤔

[Ocean Boy]

12 minutes ago, akeka said:

The problem isn't the 6 feet but the fact that no one (businesses or individuals) adheres to it anymore.

Six feet accomplished nothing at the beginning, before fatigue set in,  when people were pretty good about it.

[Ocean Boy]

5 minutes ago, DirtyDawg said:

I wonder haw many of these complaint threads we'd get here on CC if Symphony had closed it's casino for the cruise rather than cancelling the shows? 🤔

Lets see, casino contributes to RCI's bottom line and shows do not. Why speculate about a very unlikely event.☺

[DirtyDawg]

21 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Lets see, casino contributes to RCI's bottom line and shows do not. Why speculate about a very unlikely event.☺

But if they did close the casino there would be some really entertaining threads! 😄

 

 

 

 

[mek]

2 hours ago, danielwje1 said:

Not really. I completely understand people can test positive for Covid. Nothing I do can change that. I’m not expecting people to work while positive and it’s right to be testing and isolating those who are positive. It’s the right call to try and keep everyone safe than not test and have people working with Covid. Most of the deck 3 cabins near the dining room appear to be sealed off. I truly hope all those who tested positive are recovering and are well. 
 

However… 

 

All the advertising and messaging suggested to us we would have a relatively normal cruising experience. This isn’t normal but there is 0 recognition of that. I’ve learned in business if you are transparent with customers then they understand and it builds trust long term. It’s way better to be transparent than try to cover the issues up.

 

I don’t want to know how many people are positive or hourly updates as some suggest. It just would have been nice if RC emailed us with a “what to expect” update (they must have known most of the shows were off) instead of having us get on the ship expecting a full service. The only email we got before the cruise was about delayed boarding for 2 hours. 
 

If we had known then we could have taken an informed decision if we wanted to board or not. If we boarded then it’s our choice and we would understand not to expect things. 

 

Perhaps RC shouldn’t be advertising this if they can’t deliver on it. Perhaps we shouldn’t have gone cruising during a pandemic. Perhaps we were naive to trust the messaging and adverting of a brand I have cruised with for over 20 years. Since RC are not communicating, I wanted to post here so people could know what’s going on onboard and take an informed decision themselves. 

 

Perhaps Royal should put a big "Buyer Beware"  notice when anyone books a cruise.

 

Yes, I put a lot of the blame on the cruise lines for overbooking and not enforcing protocols, but people also have to take responsibility for making wise decisions and using common sense when it comes to traveling during a pandemic.

 

I think all of us appreciate feedback from those on board so we can make informed decisions about cruising.  At this time the protocols are not acceptable to me and I'm one of those who goes on the Oasis class ships because of the entertainment options, but for someone like my son who never goes to shows and only wants to relax in the sun, the absence of shows would have no impact on the quality of his cruise.

 

I think Royal should step up to the plate and do something for those people who are unhappy, but I don't know how they determine exactly who they are.  ?????      I think it's unrealistic to assume everyone falls into that category.

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, bajathree said:

The problems I saw on Allure a few weeks ago is that some of the protocols don't make sense or work. While a mask was required while walking around indoors I rarely walked next to anyone closer than 6 feet while walking around like the promenade. Only a very few times did I ride in an elevator over the limited capacity. 

I was stopped from grabbing a couple of salt packets in the WJ so I didnt touch other salt packets, but every morning people are making their own coffee and touching both the carafe and the creamers. Hard surfaces would be more likely to hold germs than paper salt packets. Let's all touch the cheese and peppers shakers at the pizza place but dont touch a pat of butter at the WJ. 

 

Agree about a few times over the 5 limit in elevators. But they had someone not allowing people into the logo store onboard for fear of overcrowding. They arent consistent in what they do. I personally wasnt much worried. Just told myself dont let silly stuff aggravate you. Agree some things make no sense. 

[firefly333]

12 minutes ago, mek said:

I think Royal should step up to the plate and do something for those people who are unhappy, but I don't know how they determine exactly who they are.  ?????      I think it's unrealistic to assume everyone falls into that category.

The ship with the breakout got obc equal to 2 days of what they paid and 50% fcc toward what they paid.

 

Someone from explorer posted they too got obc equal to 2 days of what they paid for the 2 days of ports they too missed.

 

I think if people still are unhappy, it's not because rcl wasnt generous. Carnival is only giving $50 for missed ports. And I read it is $50 per cabin.

[Iamcruzin]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

Look where that 6ft number has gotten us.

The 6ft rule vanished on land as more became vaccinated.  Also the partitions disappeared as well has wiping everything down between customers at check out. People like myself who are fully vaccinated have pretty much returned pre covid life which isn't working with the new variant.  I have been living with a covid case in my home and still have no issue so either the vaccine is working or I'm asymptomatic.   DW had a cold this week that had worse symptoms than my son who has covid.

[tcneal]

49 minutes ago, DirtyDawg said:

But if they did close the casino there would be some really entertaining threads! 😄

 

 

 

 

FYI, they opened the craps table last night.  They opened half the table.  I never saw so many unhappy people that came up and couldn't play.  But they only had enough dealers to run half the table.

 

Saw multiple blow ups from adults over being told to pull up masks and don't stand too close to the dealers.

[little britain]

31 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

 

 

Agree about a few times over the 5 limit in elevators. But they had someone not allowing people into the logo store onboard for fear of overcrowding. They arent consistent in what they do. I personally wasnt much worried. Just told myself dont let silly stuff aggravate you. Agree some things make no sense. 

So people will happily sit in a packed aeroplane for 8 hours to reach the port with strangers who they have no idea if they are vaccinated or not..... but then refuse to get in a lift for 30 seconds with strangers who they know are double jabbed and have tested negative prior to boarding.  

[mek]

11 minutes ago, tcneal said:

FYI, they opened the craps table last night.  They opened half the table.  I never saw so many unhappy people that came up and couldn't play.  But they only had enough dealers to run half the table.

 

Saw multiple blow ups from adults over being told to pull up masks and don't stand too close to the dealers.

And isn't that where security should step up to the pate and make those people understand they obey the rules or they get put off at the next port?

[ericdetwiler]

On 12/25/2021 at 4:48 AM, DevonfromAcme said:

With all due respect, what did you expect?

 

You booked a gigantic ship AT CHRISTMAS (literally THE premium week of the entire year), during a pandemic.

 

I'm really not sure what you're asking, here. . .

 

Yes let's blame the customer for the experience... you all must watch Kitchen Nightmares and get confused.  

Edited December 26, 2021 by ericdetwiler

[ericdetwiler]

1 hour ago, tcneal said:

FYI, they opened the craps table last night.  They opened half the table.  I never saw so many unhappy people that came up and couldn't play.  But they only had enough dealers to run half the table.

 

Saw multiple blow ups from adults over being told to pull up masks and don't stand too close to the dealers.

Magical experience these policies have created  right?  ....spending $3000+ for a family vacation and getting this type of treatment is frustrating.

 

The Cruise lines are going to drive the customer base into the ground....

[bouhunter]

34 minutes ago, ericdetwiler said:

 

 

The Cruise lines are going to drive the customer base into the ground....

Hundreds of situations/locations to devise protocols for and monitor, limited number of employees half qualified to do the monitoring.  CDC breathing down their necks.  Media ready to pounce on every so called "outbreak".  It's a miracle they're doing as well as they are. 

 

Customers are lining up to go, no sign of them being "driven into the ground", whatever that means.

[tcneal]

2 hours ago, mek said:

And isn't that where security should step up to the pate and make those people understand they obey the rules or they get put off at the next port?

Yes they should.  And I feel bad for the dealers because this is not their fault.  When they got an influx of crew from the Vision of the Seas O don't think they got any dealers.

[tcneal]

27 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

Hundreds of situations/locations to devise protocols for and monitor, limited number of employees half qualified to do the monitoring.  CDC breathing down their necks.  Media ready to pounce on every so called "outbreak".  It's a miracle they're doing as well as they are. 

 

Customers are lining up to go, no sign of them being "driven into the ground", whatever that means.

I agree.  This is a no win situation.  The one area that is in RCL control is Capacity.  This is my 3rd sailing since restart and the protocols work much better with reduced capacity.  IMO, no ship should sail now with greater than 50% capacity.  Less potential cases.  Enough crew to handle outbreaks.

[cruisegirl1]

On 12/25/2021 at 4:48 AM, DevonfromAcme said:

With all due respect, what did you expect?

 

You booked a gigantic ship AT CHRISTMAS (literally THE premium week of the entire year), during a pandemic.

 

I'm really not sure what you're asking, here. . .

 

When passengers were booking this premium week, things were improving.  The company brass made videos about how great the ships will be and how wonderful to be part of the return to cruising.  They noted all the safety protocols and were proud to announce that the company will return to normal by the end of the year. 

 

Christmas week is generally a fantastic week to sail.  Passengers pay a premium to sail that week.  

 

Unless the OP booked in the  past few weeks, there was no way to expect what would happen.  I don't fault the  OP at all.  I'm sure most passengers on the ship are disappointed.  

 

Seasoned cruisers will return to cruising now or later.  Newer or first-time cruisers that have this type of experience will likely never return.

M 

[Starry Eyes]

1 hour ago, tcneal said:

I agree.  This is a no win situation.  The one area that is in RCL control is Capacity.  This is my 3rd sailing since restart and the protocols work much better with reduced capacity.  IMO, no ship should sail now with greater than 50% capacity.  Less potential cases.  Enough crew to handle outbreaks.

Sure.  Those protocols also worked better before omicron, too.  Bad timing, omicron!

[MrMarc]

5 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Look where that 6ft number has gotten us.

We can't.  It has never been followed by far too many people to even try to make that judgment.  It's the same with masks.  Where would we be if people had actually done these things from the very beginning?  We can never know.  But it also doesn't matter, because we can't go back.  It would be interesting to see what would happen if people actually all did these things, but realistically it's not going to happen. The protocols have never actually been enforced on the ships.  I think they are realizing that was a mistake and are trying to actually enforce them now.  I think you will be reading about people being quarantined and disembarked for mask protocol violations soon.  They are going to have to make examples out of a few to show they are finally serious about it.  This is a prediction, not an invitation to debate whether it's wrong or right.  What we think doesn't matter, only what the cruise lines decide to do matters.