Is anyone else just totally over cruising? Rant on recent cruise (Independence), bad service, food, FLU

[aimcat]

So my fiancé and I just went on Indy out of Port Canaveral on the March 6 cruise. This would be my 9th cruise and my fiancé's first, but be both our last. I never thought I would feel like about cruising. I use to think it was the best vacation you could possibly do for the money, but no more. We planned this cruise very spur of the moment as we had to miss the one the month before due to getting Covid. With flights, hotel overnight at port, drink package, and everything else that goes into planning a vacation and cruise we were several thousand dollars into this. We were so excited and ready to have a fantastic week of vacation but it was nothing like that and all we got was literally the FLU and an absolute horrible experience and several thousand dollars feels like it was robbed. So here goes because I guess I want to think I am not the only one who feels this way.....

 

1. Pricing - we had a balcony room and with taxes and all it was almost 2800 dollars given it was booked 2 weeks prior to departure I just think that this first off is a complete rip off given the quality of rooms, size, etc....

2. Food - our food this trip was the worst I have ever had. We did the main dining, Johnny Rockets, and Buffet. All bland, tasteless, main dining room barely ever had anything on it we liked. NY strip was a sliver of meat, uncharged for lobster now, a cesar salad was a few pieces of lettuce and crouton, desserts were mediocre. 

3. Drinks - we paid 800 bucks for a drink package for 4 nights for us both to literally most of the time get some watered down cocktail and at least 2 times I saw bartenders literally put half a shot in my drink and had to ask for more and say something to them. 

4. Service - service was just so disappointing. Wait staff acted like they could care less even after giving them good tips the first night, at Johnny Rockets we literally sat one day waiting for food even just some fries for 35 mins...when she brought it she plopped it down and took off like dont bother me. Our room attendant had a major attitude as well and just brought us a card told us his name and took off again like dont bother me. Absolutely nothing like it use to be like you were treated like a king and queen...that is over. 

5. Room - our room was filthy - someone had popped apparently a confetti popper prior to us getting there by previous guests and it was still all over the floor, on desk, balcony everywhere. Room attendant came and half way cleaned up after we pointed it out. Our sheets has ripped spots and ragged worn spots in so many places along with just looking like they had been through it for way too long. Our bathroom had mildew spots in places and just looked run down. Def not a room worth 2700 bucks! 

6. Entertainment - lame...our comedian - so lame, the ice show just looked like a D rated high school performance honestly, karaoke was just a bunch of kids singing, never saw a live band on the ship when we were out and about, and missed Grease so couldnt tell you much about that.....

7. Excursions (blue lagoon and coco cay) - I was so excited about Blue Lagoon but it was just a huge disappointment..an almost hour boat ride on a hot smelly boat to go to a tiny island with just mediocre beach with tons of raging kids everywhere?! Coco I wanted to enjoy but was beginning of the end for us due to getting sick

8. CROWDS - OMG I have been on ships 3x the size of this one like Harmony and Symphony and never seen crowds like this one....everywhere a line or crowd, or being herded like cattle into and out of places. Never a chair for all the chair savers, so just move their crap out of the way for them to come back and give you a dirty look. Never a spot in a hot tub. Being herded into and out of areas for shore excursions. 

9. WE GOT THE FLU ON SHIP - Our morning getting off at Coco Cay we both brought up how we both felt unusually tired. So we instantly thought could we have Covid again ( we had just had it 3 weeks prior) and thought surely not. We are both healthy 40 year olds. We had done plenty of WASHY WASHY and hand sanitizing etc. We dont touch our faces or bite nails etc. By 12 at Coco we felt awful....tired, achy, miserable....so we go back to ship.....we go back to room, fall asleep....miss all that useful time to enjoy a good beach...we wake up at about 4 to find we are even worse. We know something is wrong....so we stay IN OUR ROOM all evening....no appetite.....got a pizza brought to room and some drinks which we couldnt really stomach. By the next morning the day of departure we were horrible....chills, sore throat all that....it was all we could do to get to airport and get home that day to find out when we got home and to doctor we were flu positive and STILL trying to get over it all today! 

 

So there are probably a lot of things I missed in this but in other words I am over cruising....its just not fun and after all we went through on this trip I am done. Just wondering if anyone else feels this way and completely ripped off!? We took a beach trip last August and paid a fraction of the cost including flight, dinners, drinks, activities etc. 

 

Wondering others likeminded thoughts. 

[mugtech]

You bought last minute, paid a huge amount, got the overpriced drink package, bad choices and then you got the FLU. So your future wife won't be badgering you to take cruises.  Hope you enjoy whatever you do instead.

[karena1]

Never, have 19 booked through April 2025 and plan to book more.  We love to cruise.  Great value for the money and we really have no complaints.  Love the new Menus, service is always great, entertainment is so good.  Love cruising to the islands and going to our favorite beaches.  Cruising is in our hearts and souls.

 

[BecciBoo]

25 minutes ago, aimcat said:

Wondering others likeminded thoughts.

Oh boy!

[BecciBoo]

Until I can no longer move I will be cruising.  I am an OCD planner, plan very carefully, and I really believe we get the most for our money, even with the rise in fare and changes in food.  To each their own.  Hope you have great land vacations in future.  But as my moniker says, Keep calm and Cruise on baby!

[Tree_skier]

🍿

[Tree_skier]

Been on two since in the last 45 days.  Loved them both.  Service was great, food was very good and entertainment is as expected...  The ice show on every ship I have ever been on is very good.

 

Sounds to me like you overpaid for a last minute cruise during the busiest time of the year, with maximum number of kids onboard almost guaranteeing you were going to have a less than satisfactory experience.  

 

People don't post on this board generally because they "totally over cruising". If you are looking for a lot of validation to your complaints I suspect you're going to be disappointed. Other social media platforms might be more conducive to this sort of thing.  

Edited March 15, 2023 by Tree_skier

[Harrisonkid]

Sorry to hear that your experience was awful. I hope your next vacation is awesome 

[poocher]

I always discount any review that is ALL BAD. There wasn’t ONE thing good the entire trip?  Not one? No trip is all good or bad.  This is just ranting.

[jeh10641]

1 hour ago, aimcat said:

So my fiancé and I just went on Indy out of Port Canaveral on the March 6 cruise. This would be my 9th cruise and my fiancé's first, but be both our last. I never thought I would feel like about cruising. I use to think it was the best vacation you could possibly do for the money, but no more. We planned this cruise very spur of the moment as we had to miss the one the month before due to getting Covid. With flights, hotel overnight at port, drink package, and everything else that goes into planning a vacation and cruise we were several thousand dollars into this. We were so excited and ready to have a fantastic week of vacation but it was nothing like that and all we got was literally the FLU and an absolute horrible experience and several thousand dollars feels like it was robbed. So here goes because I guess I want to think I am not the only one who feels this way.....

 

1. Pricing - we had a balcony room and with taxes and all it was almost 2800 dollars given it was booked 2 weeks prior to departure I just think that this first off is a complete rip off given the quality of rooms, size, etc....

2. Food - our food this trip was the worst I have ever had. We did the main dining, Johnny Rockets, and Buffet. All bland, tasteless, main dining room barely ever had anything on it we liked. NY strip was a sliver of meat, uncharged for lobster now, a cesar salad was a few pieces of lettuce and crouton, desserts were mediocre. 

3. Drinks - we paid 800 bucks for a drink package for 4 nights for us both to literally most of the time get some watered down cocktail and at least 2 times I saw bartenders literally put half a shot in my drink and had to ask for more and say something to them. 

4. Service - service was just so disappointing. Wait staff acted like they could care less even after giving them good tips the first night, at Johnny Rockets we literally sat one day waiting for food even just some fries for 35 mins...when she brought it she plopped it down and took off like dont bother me. Our room attendant had a major attitude as well and just brought us a card told us his name and took off again like dont bother me. Absolutely nothing like it use to be like you were treated like a king and queen...that is over. 

5. Room - our room was filthy - someone had popped apparently a confetti popper prior to us getting there by previous guests and it was still all over the floor, on desk, balcony everywhere. Room attendant came and half way cleaned up after we pointed it out. Our sheets has ripped spots and ragged worn spots in so many places along with just looking like they had been through it for way too long. Our bathroom had mildew spots in places and just looked run down. Def not a room worth 2700 bucks! 

6. Entertainment - lame...our comedian - so lame, the ice show just looked like a D rated high school performance honestly, karaoke was just a bunch of kids singing, never saw a live band on the ship when we were out and about, and missed Grease so couldnt tell you much about that.....

7. Excursions (blue lagoon and coco cay) - I was so excited about Blue Lagoon but it was just a huge disappointment..an almost hour boat ride on a hot smelly boat to go to a tiny island with just mediocre beach with tons of raging kids everywhere?! Coco I wanted to enjoy but was beginning of the end for us due to getting sick

8. CROWDS - OMG I have been on ships 3x the size of this one like Harmony and Symphony and never seen crowds like this one....everywhere a line or crowd, or being herded like cattle into and out of places. Never a chair for all the chair savers, so just move their crap out of the way for them to come back and give you a dirty look. Never a spot in a hot tub. Being herded into and out of areas for shore excursions. 

9. WE GOT THE FLU ON SHIP - Our morning getting off at Coco Cay we both brought up how we both felt unusually tired. So we instantly thought could we have Covid again ( we had just had it 3 weeks prior) and thought surely not. We are both healthy 40 year olds. We had done plenty of WASHY WASHY and hand sanitizing etc. We dont touch our faces or bite nails etc. By 12 at Coco we felt awful....tired, achy, miserable....so we go back to ship.....we go back to room, fall asleep....miss all that useful time to enjoy a good beach...we wake up at about 4 to find we are even worse. We know something is wrong....so we stay IN OUR ROOM all evening....no appetite.....got a pizza brought to room and some drinks which we couldnt really stomach. By the next morning the day of departure we were horrible....chills, sore throat all that....it was all we could do to get to airport and get home that day to find out when we got home and to doctor we were flu positive and STILL trying to get over it all today! 

 

So there are probably a lot of things I missed in this but in other words I am over cruising....its just not fun and after all we went through on this trip I am done. Just wondering if anyone else feels this way and completely ripped off!? We took a beach trip last August and paid a fraction of the cost including flight, dinners, drinks, activities etc. 

 

Wondering others likeminded thoughts. 

 

1 hour ago, aimcat said:

So my fiancé and I just went on Indy out of Port Canaveral on the March 6 cruise. This would be my 9th cruise and my fiancé's first, but be both our last. I never thought I would feel like about cruising. I use to think it was the best vacation you could possibly do for the money, but no more. We planned this cruise very spur of the moment as we had to miss the one the month before due to getting Covid. With flights, hotel overnight at port, drink package, and everything else that goes into planning a vacation and cruise we were several thousand dollars into this. We were so excited and ready to have a fantastic week of vacation but it was nothing like that and all we got was literally the FLU and an absolute horrible experience and several thousand dollars feels like it was robbed. So here goes because I guess I want to think I am not the only one who feels this way.....

 

1. Pricing - we had a balcony room and with taxes and all it was almost 2800 dollars given it was booked 2 weeks prior to departure I just think that this first off is a complete rip off given the quality of rooms, size, etc....

2. Food - our food this trip was the worst I have ever had. We did the main dining, Johnny Rockets, and Buffet. All bland, tasteless, main dining room barely ever had anything on it we liked. NY strip was a sliver of meat, uncharged for lobster now, a cesar salad was a few pieces of lettuce and crouton, desserts were mediocre. 

3. Drinks - we paid 800 bucks for a drink package for 4 nights for us both to literally most of the time get some watered down cocktail and at least 2 times I saw bartenders literally put half a shot in my drink and had to ask for more and say something to them. 

4. Service - service was just so disappointing. Wait staff acted like they could care less even after giving them good tips the first night, at Johnny Rockets we literally sat one day waiting for food even just some fries for 35 mins...when she brought it she plopped it down and took off like dont bother me. Our room attendant had a major attitude as well and just brought us a card told us his name and took off again like dont bother me. Absolutely nothing like it use to be like you were treated like a king and queen...that is over. 

5. Room - our room was filthy - someone had popped apparently a confetti popper prior to us getting there by previous guests and it was still all over the floor, on desk, balcony everywhere. Room attendant came and half way cleaned up after we pointed it out. Our sheets has ripped spots and ragged worn spots in so many places along with just looking like they had been through it for way too long. Our bathroom had mildew spots in places and just looked run down. Def not a room worth 2700 bucks! 

6. Entertainment - lame...our comedian - so lame, the ice show just looked like a D rated high school performance honestly, karaoke was just a bunch of kids singing, never saw a live band on the ship when we were out and about, and missed Grease so couldnt tell you much about that.....

7. Excursions (blue lagoon and coco cay) - I was so excited about Blue Lagoon but it was just a huge disappointment..an almost hour boat ride on a hot smelly boat to go to a tiny island with just mediocre beach with tons of raging kids everywhere?! Coco I wanted to enjoy but was beginning of the end for us due to getting sick

8. CROWDS - OMG I have been on ships 3x the size of this one like Harmony and Symphony and never seen crowds like this one....everywhere a line or crowd, or being herded like cattle into and out of places. Never a chair for all the chair savers, so just move their crap out of the way for them to come back and give you a dirty look. Never a spot in a hot tub. Being herded into and out of areas for shore excursions. 

9. WE GOT THE FLU ON SHIP - Our morning getting off at Coco Cay we both brought up how we both felt unusually tired. So we instantly thought could we have Covid again ( we had just had it 3 weeks prior) and thought surely not. We are both healthy 40 year olds. We had done plenty of WASHY WASHY and hand sanitizing etc. We dont touch our faces or bite nails etc. By 12 at Coco we felt awful....tired, achy, miserable....so we go back to ship.....we go back to room, fall asleep....miss all that useful time to enjoy a good beach...we wake up at about 4 to find we are even worse. We know something is wrong....so we stay IN OUR ROOM all evening....no appetite.....got a pizza brought to room and some drinks which we couldnt really stomach. By the next morning the day of departure we were horrible....chills, sore throat all that....it was all we could do to get to airport and get home that day to find out when we got home and to doctor we were flu positive and STILL trying to get over it all today! 

 

So there are probably a lot of things I missed in this but in other words I am over cruising....its just not fun and after all we went through on this trip I am done. Just wondering if anyone else feels this way and completely ripped off!? We took a beach trip last August and paid a fraction of the cost including flight, dinners, drinks, activities etc. 

 

Wondering others likeminded thoughts. 

Hello, aimcat,

Did you get your flu shots last fall? Your experiences could have happened on a land-based vacation too. Depending on where you live, flights may be necessary for a land vacation. Airfares have been greatly inflated for the last 6 months or so. Especially last-minute fares.

Most cruise bloggers do not recommend booking a cruise two weeks before it leaves. You might get lower prices but that is not a guarantee. We always book as far our as we can. Our next cruise in October, 2023 was booked in April, 2022. That cabin today is about 60% higher and is not available now.

$800 for a 4-day drink package? That is a lot of booze for that short period of time. Maybe that contributed to your woes?

Were you cruising during "Spring Break" time for schools? Cruise ships at that time usually sail at more than 100% of capacity because of kids staying in cabins with parents. Do not give up on cruising. Just plan better next time.

[happy cruzer]

Short spring break cruise at the last minute.  and got the FLU.  Perfect storm.

 

Give it some time and do a longer cruise when kids are in school.

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, aimcat said:

Wondering others likeminded thoughts. 

Would you have felt any differently if you paid 1/3 what you did (which you could have if you planned further out)?

[allyfree]

I agree with a fair bit of this, actually ... don't know that I'm over cruising but I think I'm about done with RCCL ... their standards are certainly slipping in terms of attention to detail, staff quality and what is now almost "fast" food in the MDR

[time4u2go]

15 minutes ago, allyfree said:

I agree with a fair bit of this, actually ... don't know that I'm over cruising but I think I'm about done with RCCL ... their standards are certainly slipping in terms of attention to detail, staff quality and what is now almost "fast" food in the MDR

That's pretty much where I am also.

[aimcat]

Guess I am in the minority here. And yes I would have felt the same if I had paid 400 or 4000.

[resetjet]

Cruise enough and you will have a bad cruise. Sickness is a big part of that and it sucks.  I wouldnt give it up. Take a break and reboot.

[LINDAE3213]

I've done about 25 cruises between royal and celebrity...they serve a purpose but I don't get wow'd anymore.  

  It helps that we live in NJ and can  take a vacation via cruise without heading to the airport. We take plenty of land vacations too..monument valley,  san francisco, baseball trips throughout the USA  to balance out cruising.

 

   If we want to get away...I will price out a cruise  vs a land trip (airfare plus airport parking plus  hotel plus rental car if needed and then add in food costs),  and cruising tends to be a lower price even with adding in cruise parking and tips etc or even airfare to fly to a cruise.     I barely drink  a glass of wine per week  so I don't buy a drink package. 

I'm going on Anthem end of this month....totally bored with that ship and it's itinerary...been on it  many times now..probably 4 or 5  .but a week with my sister,  no cooking or cleaning or work at the office and I'm good...going to chill and be grateful.  

[LINDAE3213]

Forgot to add.... anthem  is costing almost 4k for a balcony room...we booked 4 weeks ago...needed to wait til sister had clearance from a medical procedure.  I know it's a lot but sometimes timing matters more than cost.  The Nov 9 night repo cruise with husband is cheaper but the ship is Jewel so it's all relative.  

[joeyancho]

In part, I can agree with the OP.  Food, which used to be such an amazing part of cruising certainly has gone downhill on Royal Caribbean.  Not just in the MDR.  In every venue from the Promenade Cafe all the way to room service. We have booked a Princess cruise in hopes that it is better. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[not-enough-cruising]

“4 day cruise” enough said 

[Sunshine3601]

32 minutes ago, aimcat said:

Guess I am in the minority here. And yes I would have felt the same if I had paid 400 or 4000.

Sorry you had such a bad cruise experience. 

 Flu and other stomach bugs are definitely going around.   Hopefully you didn't pass it on to anyone else while flying, etc.

Spring breakers are full bloom everywhere.

I have not had any of the experiences you had on our last 6 cruises last year and hope we have another great week in 10 days.

4 day cruises are usually party cruises especially during spring break.  Vibe is much different than 7 or more night cruises.

[BND]

You chose to pay what you did.  You could have not gone.  Report room issues to your steward.   You chose to buy a drink package.  BTW, your experience is not others when it comes to getting drinks.   You didn't like the entertainment (that's a subjective opinion)  Excursions, also subjective as many love Blue Lagoon.  Crowds, um okay, sold out ship, correct?  And as for the flu, it's flu season and has absolutely nothing to do with the ship other than someone onboard probably had it (you know kind of like people at work and school pass illnesses around).  I guess you might get some sympathy if you weren't 100% negative about everything.  Short cruises, especially over weekends, or spring break are notorious for the partying.

 

So, here's my answer, PLEASE do not cruise again.   I don't get people who book a cruise at a specific price and then complain about the price.   No one is forcing you to cruise.

[John&LaLa]

Sorry, having a blast on Oasis right now

[ONECRUISER]

2 hours ago, karena1 said:

Never, have 19 booked through April 2025 and plan to book more.  We love to cruise.  Great value for the money and we really have no complaints.  Love the new Menus, service is always great, entertainment is so good.  Love cruising to the islands and going to our favorite beaches.  Cruising is in our hearts and souls.

 

Got that right! Did 56nites in 2022 on couple the Cleanest Ships been on. Then add to it no more Masking or testing every week...Have B4B and B3B scheduled with 74nites just this Fall. Included in my Booked Cruises 3 full Panama Canal's, one 18n Hawaii RT, a Florida to Boston Repo and a 16nite Xmas/New Years(my first). With price Hotels, Amusement Parks, Gas and Travel in general get more Bang for my Buck on Cruising

[smokeybandit]

Posting over the top rants on cruise critic. A cure-all for anything that ails you.