The worst part of sailing with Royal Caribbean is... you'll get addicted to cruising. I took my adult children on a Cruise in December to celebrate my retirement & and we're going again next January. They are hooked and love Royal Caribbean ❤️ ⚓️
We’re going on our 1st Cruise next year. To celebrate my retirement, with our daughter, that made us feel guilty when we told her , we were going on a cruise 😂😂😂🐨🐨🦘
The worst part of cruising Royal for me was traveling with my soon-to-be ex-husband. He either stayed in the stateroom and slept, or complained about everything the whole time. Now that he and his constant negativity will soon be behind me, I am looking forward to cruising Royal again this year. Cheers!
Love RCL, we have four cruises booked 2023-24. We book when children are supposed to be in school. Never a problem for us , we have six Grandchildren and one Great Grand. Love children, but not necessarily when we are on vacation.
I would like to see one bar on board that does not admit babies/kids/teens - drinking age only. I’d also like to see kids forbidden from actually sitting AT the bar. AT the bar should be adult only at all bars.
@@jimmygarcia101 I don’t want a child-free cruise. I want adult-only areas kept for adults. I want health/safety rules (like no diapers in pools and no little kids in hot tubs) enforced. I want parents to stop kids from running/shouting in hallways. I want those with littles to sit with other littles. I don’t think kids need to be spinning on barstools or eavesdropping on adult conversations in bars or making dance floors into playgrounds. I don’t dislike kids; I’m a mom, stepmom, grandmom. I want rules I can count on. I want an atmosphere I can count on.
I am CRAZY thrifty; so I have sailed with very little add-ons (a few none). For me the vacation is " not being home". The reason I love cruising is you can truly spend as much or as little as you want and still have a good time.
RCL needs to enforce its own rules, like: No reserving chairs. Dress codes. Adult-only areas. No diapers in pools and hot tubs, and no kids who need them in pools and hot tubs.
Years ago I remember kids under the age of 16 were not allowed in the hot tubs on any cruise ship. Somewhere that rule went away. On my last cruise on WONDER, small kids were swimming the in the hot tub (Some with floaties on) with no adults present. Even though Royal built a swim area, slides, and water park for kids majority of the kids still take over the main pool deck with parents just sitting and drinking on the sidelines. Even building a new family village on Icon I don't forsee this getting better. Rules for certain ares need to be made and enforced.
@@ProfGlitch I think you may change your mind when you see a 70 or 80 yr old obese man come into the MDR with a speedo on, ruin your appetite real quick. Luckily the staff made him go change due to dress code.
They NEED to enforce the reserving chair rule, its a disaster and the most frustrating part of RC. I love them, very loyal to royal but that drives me crazy.
I move their stuff after 1hr. If there gone to bad not gona ruin my cruise. I've never been confronted and if I were to get confronted I'd say beats me it was empty so go kick sand.
In my opinion, I think on Oasis class ships, it’s crazy to have to make a reservation for shows and hope you can get one because if not, you have to go on standby hoping you can get a seat! As much as it costs to cruise, everyone should have an opportunity to see the shows if they want. I get it, seating is limited but they should offer more shows to accommodate everyone 🤷🏻♂️
I appreciate everything that you have said. I picked a sailing Memorial Day week. There was a lot of young children and it was a slight turn off. Firstly, me and my husband Sailed Oasis of the Seas. The ship has plenty of shows and amenities to do. However, the turn off was when a mother and father had a 2 year old in the jacuzzi for too long and the toddler was throwing up like a water faucet. Then a 8 or 9 year old threw up in the adult pool. I understand that Royal Caribbean Markets to the families, but these children should’ve been in the children area and not the adult area.
@@thefox47545With virtual education being used universally now, there will be fewer children but not as few as there were prepandemic. I sailed all of last fall through June; there was an average of 1/3 of the passengers being under the age of 16 on my 15 cruises. But most were short-5-7 nights (and complementary for me so I didn’t complain much). The 14-night transatlantic had the fewest children that were old enough to be allowed to run around on their own. Happy cruising!
We did a transpacific sailing in October and it was FABULOUS!! Very few kids, lots to do on board, about 60% capacity so never any real line ups and no problem getting into any shows. I would really like them to be more consistent with some of the rules such as: - dress code in the main dining room --- I like casual sailing, but too casual means Windjammer (in my opinion) and that is rarely enforced. - no kids in the solarium --- I have seen pre-teens in that area and no one asked them to leave. Not a huge deal, but I do like to have an adult only space.
I agree. The longer cruises are much better because there are not a lot of children onboard. Children are fine when they are well behaved, but the last 10 cruises over the past six months amply demonstrated that parents are raising wild animals. Whenever I see children younger than 16 in the Solarium, I ask a crew member to have them leave. The Solarium was the major reason I started and continued to sail with RC. Happy cruising!
Do not mind the large ships, crowds are well managed EXCEPT elevators. Families are beginning to bring wagons in addition to strollers and overwhelming space. I do take stairs, but often sail with people who cannot take stairs, so very long waits. Big is fine, but infrastructure should increase in the post Oasis super ships. It's a perfect line for families (and we do that), but go to Celebrity with adults.
Transatlantic Odyssey of the Seas Oct 2022 - 112 kids and of that, 14 teenagers for 13 days. No jet lag coming home, great ports to visit, 8 sea days, no lines for shows, and my 15 year old daughter bumper cars with no waits. If you can do it, it is a fantastic trip. Great video and points made.
I am a grandma generally traveling solo and I love the family atmosphere. I love seeing the fun kids have but not having to take care of them. But I would never travel during school breaks. I dont want to be on an Oasis class with 2000 kids, just too many people. Since off season is cheaper and less crowded, that is when I sail.
My husband and I are Diamond on Royal. Their customer service is very good and their entertainment, especially on the large ships, is way beyond that of other cruise lines. I actually prefer the Oasis class ships. Although there are a lot of people it never feels crowded because, as you said, everyone is spread out doing different things at different times. I always make reservations for the shows as soon as they are available online, and one of us goes to the theater early to secure seats. I rarely have to wait in line for anything. I just took my granddaughter and her parents on the Harmony, and they were blown away by all the activities and the entertainment, especially the aqua show. It was summer break, lots of kids, but no issues. When we're alone, my husband and I cruise when school is in session and we go to the solarium. I am, however, disappointed in the quality of the food since they changed the menus.
Wrong! You can't make a reservation online, only on the ship. We went on Symphony from Miami B2B and had no chance to see water shows, so many problems around the ship and weather.
My main issue with RCL is the customer service is really, really terrible. RCL canceled our cruise and getting 100% of our paid cruise back was a "ROYAL" pain. It took a lot of calls and lots of time waiting for people on the phone. Other options were suggested but the options did not meet our needs. An RCL agent actually accused us of cancelling our cruise, when RCL did the cancelling. We were pretty loyal to Royal before, but we haven't been back since.
I remember when Royal Caribbean used to be a really elegant and classy cruise line in 80s, 90s and early 2000s, but they have gotten away from that to be a floating theme park.
Dude the 80s was 40+ years ago… Royal has to adapt to what the current generation of passengers wants… if you want to sail luxury, there are other lines for you. You do realize an entire generation was born, raised, and raised their own kids in the timeframe you’re referring to?
Up front - I am Diamond Status and heading for Diamond Plus. I Have several RC cruises booked for 23-24. My list of what I do not like: 1. The BIG ships. They are quite restricted into which ports they can go to because of their size. I like RC's older ships - including the four old Vision class ships. 2. Not having the newer soda and soft drink dispensing machines on all the RC ships. I can go to a little fast food spot in the middle of nowhere USA and they will have one of these machines. For some reason, known only to RC, they cannot seem to get these installed on all 26 of their ships. 3. Food is good on RC but it is a step down from Princess, HAL, or Celebrity (maybe 2 steps down from Celebrity). 4. Having to use room card to get pool and beach towels. Now for my list of things that I really like: 1. RC is not Carnival. 2. Perks at Diamond level are really nice - you can't argue with 4 free drinks per day. 3. Lots of variety in RC ships and cruise itinerary. 4. Crew and officers - always had a great experience and service from them. 5. Very competitive pricing in some locations and seasons; not always; but there are a lot of bargains to be had from RC.
I agree, I like the fact that drinks, the spa, and excursions are add ons. I want it to be my choice to pay for those things. One reason, our family won't book an all inclusive resort, it always include alcohol and none of us drink . . . the cruise is cheaper, even if you add the soda package or the upgraded milkshake package. And then we're not stuck at one hotel location, we get to see 3 or 4 destinations on the cruise.
We are RC fans too. We sailed on Harmony and didn’t have problems with crowds at all but our last sailing was on Symphony and it was unbearable. There was two days we couldn’t find a seat in the solarium. As big as it is that was crazy! We are booked on the Allure coming up and Oasis next year. We are praying for a Harmony experience and not a symphony. Thanks for you channel, we really like it!
We enjoy RC and children are not usually an issue for us. What irks me is when parents let the children run unsupervised. We have found complaining to the crew does not help. Crew should be able to handle children running amok.
when we cruise on royal Caribbean, my husband and I would pick the dates when the kids are still in school so we won’t have too much problems with over running children..
@@TSVitanza TS . try it you might like it! Prices cheaper, most kids under 4. lot less people feeling their packges of adult beverges)!!!!! and they still care that the littles are well behved . (Assuming because it reflects on how it refelects on them s prents plus they dress the prescoolers up so darn cute..and one more thing, they go to bed early)... so, I've ledy give myself awy, I m Senior. I cruised Carnival starting 2003 because of price and excursions. But with infltion, cost of gas and food and entertinment .ffor me it;s better del. Hope you find the niche yfor the lifsyle you like!
I really liked your video. And I like your method of providing argument and counter argument. You never take the "I know better" point of view. Excellent upload.
I'm divorced with no kids. I sail all the time ( 22 cruises ) on Oasis class with mixed groups of singles and couples. The whole kid issue is a problem ONLY for people who have never cruised the "Bigs" and don't know what they are talking about. The ships are so large and have so much space per person, Kids are never a problem. If you go to the waterslide pool in the middle of the afternoon on a sea day, YEAH, you're going to see kids. Or the Sorrento's Pizza or an arcade. But we like seeing kids and families having a blast. It can be fun to watch. It makes for a more fun environment and by 8 pm they are all knocked out and sound asleep. And their parents are too ! Then the NIGHTLIFE begins !
I wouldn't call it the WORST thing, let alone crack this list or stop me from cruising with Royal, but personally the main dining room has taken a hit with the new changes from quality to menu options. I understand the reasoning to shorten the options to assist with dining times but there's a reason why they ask you when you first sit down if you are in a time crunch due to a show/reservation.
Yes. My husband and I don't understand why people would eat at the MDR vs a quicker venue if they are in a rush due to a show, or why they'd book a show so close to their dining time to begin with. Part of what makes cruising special is our time in the MDR; the "dressing up" (a bit, anyway), the "fineness" of the dining venue, and mostly, the time spent together just catching up while sharing these mealtimes. (Must admit the lamb with "mint jelly" tasted boiled and bland, and we probably won't be getting that again.) Regardless, we're still planning future family cruises on Royal. 🏖🚢
Our last two RC cruises we found the main dining room to be very disappointing as far as menu and presentation. Several dinners were sent back and even breakfasts were way below expectations. Also, the perks offered at signing are way less than the competition.
Hi Matt, Great video as always - thank you! We have been on many Royal Caribbean sailings with large and small ships. We have found that on the Oasis class of ship, there is not enough seating in many of the venues (Music Hall, Comedy Club, etc.,) compared with some of the smaller classes of ships, such as Voyager. This leads to disappointment when trying to find entertainment and enjoy a cocktail or two, however no seating being available due to crowded venues. We have decided that while we enjoyed the Oasis experience, in future we will stick to the smaller ships and occasional Quantum class sailing. Thanks, James
I just came back from the Oasis of the Seas cruise that started on July 21st. First cruise with my kids (9 and 13), first cruise for me after 10 years (oddly enough, on the Oasis of the seas back then). Here's my view. The ship aged well. The crew is even better, IMHO, than it was back then. The personnal treatment at the dining room (waiter, assistant waiter) and the room attendant were incredible. BUT. Lines. Lines, lines, lines. Lines to get on the ship a mess at 10AM at Cape Liberty. Lines to get IN the Windjammer. Lines to get in the dining room, WITH RESERVATION, at 6h45-my-time-dining. Lines spanning the whole 5th deck to get out at Port Canaveral, lines that lasted for more than 2 hours to get on most of the expeditions (Pearl Island, etc) in Nassau. Lines to get off the ship went all around the running track on deck 5 to get out of the ship. Club 281 looked like a lot of fun for my teenage daughter, but it was jam-packed each day. It wasn't like that 10 years ago. Also, the pool deck is a mess now. My kids are quiet and need a pool (for my youngest) or a book (my oldest). The pool deck was too noisy for them. From that perspective, I might try Celebrity next time, even if they're not geared toward kids. The Oasis class has fallen, in my opinion.
I love RCCL, but I would argue that as much as I love the huge ships, the itineraries on them are limited. I was thinking about back to back on the Utopia, but I don’t want to be forced to go to Perfect Day twice. Even though the smaller ships offer more options in terms of itinerary (understandable), that is my least favourite thing.
We do back to back all the time. But because the second week would probably be the same as the first regarding shows and food as the first week, we change ships. It takes a bit of planning to coordinate getting off one ship and boarding another on the same day. but it works.
My first Royal Caribbean cruise was a couple of weeks ago. I had high expectations and maybe should’ve been more realistic. The food and service and entertainment were outstanding. Unfortunately they pack the passengers in like sardines and the whole ship is so loud. None of the venues are large enough to accommodate anybody for the activities. Couldn’t get into karaoke or trivia even 45 minutes early. Thank goodness I don’t frequent the main pool area because it was very crowded. The solarium was a godsend if you arrived first thing in the morning. The wind jammer is a place where nightmares are created.
@@pickard72 I was on oasis of the seas. Beautiful ship, but way too many people. I plan on going much smaller ships in the future or not sailing in the summer months again.
@@Jazzykatt23We agree with you on sailing on smaller ships in the future! We thought Adventure of the Seas was too large for us, but the ship was very nice and the service was very good, just way too crowded in places. We like the Brilliance and the Radiance more. And a LOT more children in the summer and over Spring Break. We generally cruise in early May and November. Unfortunately, RCL is building larger and larger new ships.
The shows can be tricky. I honestly think you should not be able to book things months in advance pre-cruise. So many people change plans closer to the time it is meaningless. I have used the standby line for the aqua show on Harmony and got in but there is no guarantee it will work. Only cruised with Royal twice, but they are overall my favorite line. So many things to do. Drink package is expensive relative to other lines so I don’t usually get that and just pay for drinks individually. Hard for me to get value out of the drink package. I simply don’t drink enough.
The added costs along with increasing prices of those add-ons (looking at you $188 for thrill water park!) are a big turn off. Thumbs down for having to scramble to book activities as well. I'm strongly considering canceling our 2024 cruise in favor of an all inclusive resort.
I looked into some inclusive resorts, the prices were decent but the airfare was nuts. The cruise ending up being cheaper for our family: cruise fare, flights with one night hotel, and excursions.
I think that Royal is one of the better ones for showing the true price early in the booking process. Yeah they still have headline rates but once you select a cruise you get the total price pretty quickly and it updates as you make selections.
@@DRSmigley It’s the price before gratuities and port taxes and fees for one person in an inside cabin they pick LOL. So just a couple of caveats. I have done that kind of cruise though twice on Harmony of the Seas and got very good deals. I went on a 7 day with my wife and got a rate of $400 each, it was about $1100 total for a week. The second time it was a 6 day with my son and we paid $328 for 6 days, it was around $950 total. The inside cabins on Oasis class are actually pretty big and pretty much all in the same area of the ship. I have no problem with those cabins at all and spend so little time in them I dont really care if there’s a balcony.
I see it quite differently. The price steadily rises as you go through the booking process. So, the first price i see never gives me hope tir an even somewhat vlose price to what i will pay, lol. Very sad.
I have been cruised about 6 times already through the years, my only expense has been the fare and gratuities, nothing more. It can be done, the food at MDR and buffet is already amazing.
We sailed on Allure, and the biggest problem we had was not so much the number of passengers on board or at the different venues, although that is a problem during embarkation and disembarkation, it was the difficulty in navigating throughout the ship. That and the tiny windjammer.
Agreed about the add-ons. My sister and I are not big drinkers, so drink package doesn't make sense for us. We generally use any "credit" for a beer or glass of wine every now and then. We are looking forward to accessing Diamond status free drinks on our next cruise (38 days from now). We do use the shore excursion via RCC. But I agree you can pick and choose those things you want to spend money on.
Royal is not likely to design and build any new smaller ships, along the lines of the Voyage or Vision class. That will become a problem at some point in the future.
I think you meant Radiance and Vision class. Voyager class have 4000 passengers. It is both funny and sad when one thinks of 2500ish passengers as a SMALL ship
I’ve sailed RC, Celebrity, and Disney. While Disney is definitely too notch in my book it’s way too expensive. I like that they don’t have refreshment packages and stuff but then again I don’t drink that much and neither does my wife. So it was kind of wasted on us(I’m not talking alcoholic I’m saying even soda and smoothies and stuff) we mainly drink water. I like how with RC you get to pick and choose what you want and it ends up being even cheaper than a Disney. They have a bigger ships with more amenities. RC in my mind is the best for the value that you get. We compared a 9 night RC cruise to a 7 night Disney cruise (same cabin and same month) and the cost difference for the two was crazy. It cost 3k more for the Disney cruise and we would have had to fly bc they don’t go out of our port in our state. Sorry I love Disney cruises but that’s just too expensive.
Traveled on Allure in March. The ship was worn, lack of pool chairs was a problem. The expensive WiFi sucked. The food if I'm being honest was a B with an occasional A stand out dish and some that were Cs. The service was excellent. The ammenities and entertainment were amazing. It's a good family cruise, but don't expect amazing food or a small cruise experience. I would travel again but I'd pick a newer ship or even a voyager class.
Something else I would add about penalties. Buying travel insurance through a third party, not the cruiseline, for your entire vacation can provide protection in case a person has to cancel; varies by policy but insurance protection for emergency cancelations does exist.
The other thing I dislike is the bigger ships (more to do on board) I miss the easy accessible lower promenade deck. The new ships it's the running track, I love being close to the sea ... just sitting in the shade, having a drink and listening to the ocean. ❤
you are accurate. My husband and I took an eleven night cruise to Hawaii on the Radiance of the seas in September, 2022. There were hardly any children on board
I've never felt like I've missed out on something I wanted to do on a RCCL ship, but I make reservations as soon as I can. The only place that I think it's excessively crowded is the plaza where the shops are. I avoid that whole area at certain times of the day or when they are having a give-away. Having said that I love the RCCL huge ships! I enjoy going on them so much. I'm on Wonder of the Seas next February and I'm more excited for that cruise than I am for my Virgin Voyages cruise in November! RCCL does specialty restaurants so well that I purchased the unlimited specialty dining package for the February cruise. I also got They Key since it was on sale and includes the Wifi package. I also have a transatlantic on the Oasis of the Seas next year. I'm almost a Diamond!! YAY! All cruise lines have extra costs. The one that has the least extra costs (includes wifi, tips and most specialty dining) is Virgin Voyages and their cruise fares are very high.
Sailed on Odyssey a few weeks ago. Beautiful ship with a great crew. I was disappointed no one enforced the chair hog rule. Also the variety of food at the MDR and windjammer were not what they were on my previous 4 RC cruises..
My first cruise was on the Largest cruise ship in the world. The Monarch of the seas in 1991. Followed it up two years later on the new largest ship. The Majesty of the Seas. We thought they were huge. It was 2011 before we went on anything larger, the Voyager of the Seas. It was mammoth. So much fun. Retired now, and have 3 cruises booked, included 20 nights on a b2b on Explorer of the seas. The “drink of the day” in 1991 was $2.95
I love RCCL but my biggest gripe is that no matter what time(unless when they open) you go to Windjamner it seems theres always an issue finding a place to sit. 13 day cruise and I’ll bet 95% of the time there was no place to sit.
@@Jazzykatt23 there are a couple of other options but good point. Even the bfast was bad at the buffet. Fake eggs, fake bacon and overall lack of taste in everything. I guess that’s what you get when they have to cook for 7500 ppl
A reason I would consider not booking with them again is because they were allowing smoking all over the main pool deck on adventure this past week. So we couldn't even go topside at all without smelling cancer clouds. Majorly dampened the enjoyment of our cruise.
We are 2 cruises away from Diamond Plus. We know the cruises and ships. We are VERY DISAPPOINTED in the new menus. Taking away the 3 options in the MDR was a very bad decision decision.😢 decision
I dont have anything negative to say about Royal but there are a couple of things I wished they offered. 1. I wish Royal ships had self service laundry rooms like Carnival. This way I could just was my clothes mid trip instead of packing more socks and underwear. Also, it was be nice to iron my own shirts instead of sending them out to be pressed. 2. I wish Royal had more ships on the west coast. All the nicer ships are on the east coast...
I love your reviews and vlog posts, and used them to prepare for a RC cruise earlier this year (fantastic experience). Much appreciated! But I always remain a bit guarded since you only review Royal Caribbean, and not other cruise lines, so there are no comparisons or frame of reference other than RC. (Your logo even resembles RC!)
I genuinely didn't know about the show reservations before seeing this video. Looked on the app, and EVERYTHING is sold out. This wouldn't be such a big deal if they simply gave you a Timeline/calendar after booking showing when things become available. They should put this on the app as well. If you go to check-in prior to 45 days, it just says, "Check back closer to your sail date." No sign as to when, despite the dates already being established. Same with the shows. It's like they are intentionally trying to trip up first-time cruisers.
We went on our just cruise during school holidays. One would think it would have been terrible. Quite the contrary. The families were off doing their things, and we did our things, and we rarely crossed paths. All good. Harder to find space when dealing with a lot of seniors and retirees. I shouldn’t say that too loud since I am practically a senior now.
I kind of like the smaller ships when it just me and my wife. You tend to make friends and get to know people. The larger ships everyone gets lost in the crowd.
😢 So I watched another one of your blogs and you said "Book entertainment first thing you get on board. " Just found out you can book b4 boarding. Everything is already booked 18 days out😢
Love RCCL and as of right now, will not cruise with any other line. With that being said, not being able to do things on the ships because they get booked immediately are an issue. I love the big ships overall, especially the Solarium, maybe because of the “no kids” rule, though.
As a cruising parent, let me say clearly to new cruisers that the small Royal Caribbean ships are not the best choice for families with kids. On the other hand, the "big ships" that you list as the "worst" thing about cruising turns out to be the best. And in all honesty, even on the larger ships, there is still space to hide. I started my cruising career loving Carnival. I am now Loyal to Royal and happy to be.
No kids in Adult only areas. Especially during school vacations weeks. Kids not adults were sitting behind slot machines. Employees were afraid to address it when brought to thier attention by me.
@Royal Caribbean Blog Very good video, Matt! This helps to answer quite a few questions. Our family is considering Royal for our next cruise (most likely in 2025) and although the Oasis, Quantum and Icon class ships look awesome, we're concerned about the cluster factor -- as in, is it a legitimate issue or not, and is it worth it. We've only sailed on Carnival and they've been progressively bigger ships. In July, we sailed on Carnival Vista. It was the biggest ship we've been on and while we enjoyed most elements of it, the congestion in the public spaces and the food lines around the lido area were absolutely horrible. Getting around anywhere was a hassle. Maybe it's a design flaw, but it really has me questioning whether I want to sail ever again on super large ship. We're interested in the Radiance or Voyager class on Royal, but your take on the larger ships and how they're designed is making me consider them. Appreciate all you do!
Hate the need to schedule shows! Got closed out of the comedy show twice. Couldn’t reserve and did not get in on standby either time. Never did get to see it. That is my one complaint about the huge ships.
We went on a 10-day RC in early March, right before most of the spring breaks. There were so few kids on board that most of the kid’s programs were shut down. The staff we heard from were in a buzz that the very next sailing was going to have nearly 800 kids on board!
We just got off the harmony of the seas and the ship was sold out. We were never in a crowded area except one sea day for the main buffet and it moved quickly.
Pool being closed for days due to someone being nasty, activities that are broken or not open that you were looking forward to, feces stains on the carpet and bathroom walls of an expensive suite, snarky employees, the audacity of the staff to leave tip envelopes, a loud sales presentation by the masseuses after what was supposed to be a relaxing massage… the list goes on and on in our experience. Not to mention the minute you are on board you start to feel like you’re on a beach in Tijuana because everyone is trying to sell you something.
We went on our first cruise on RC in 2016! It was so much fun. I did my homework to learn as much as possible about cruising. We booked under a church group “Apostolics At Sea” on the Brilliance of the Sea. They had scheduled a lot of activities on board if you wanted to attend. My favorite was “Apostolics Have Talent”. Grand prize for the winner-Free cruise for 2 the next year. My balcony cabin was on the 8th level- great view and my favorite place for me time. Money well spent. The food was also good. The crew were always cleaning. We did encounter a storm were we had to forfeit our last destination but we just stayed inside. Still Royal Caribbean gets an A for our cruise!👍🏻
As a non-cruise person, I’m now looking to accompany my brother on a cruise. He is a lifelong hard worker and has always wanted to go. I love him enough to make the sacrifice and go with him. Thanks for sharing! 👍🏽👍🏽
RCL need to have a booking number for specialty restaurant so people can call in and use their own personal credit card without needing to book in a group. This booking number would give you 24 to 48 hours to get your table fully booked. I am celebrating my birthday in 2024 and we booked Chops 8 PM and within 4 1/2 hours later there was no more slots available for 8 PM when people started to try and book this therefore to, we had to move the reservation to 8:15 PM in order to accommodate all eight people at my table. Help from a Diamond plus member!
The last time I cruised with RC, I HAD to buy a drink package (I don't drink) because my roommate wanted a drink package. That's a terrible policy. I also experienced aggression from another passenger because I left my towel on a lounge chair while I retrieved my water bottle. She threw my bag and towel 2 rows behind the chair and took my chair! The folks that were sitting next to me told her I was coming back and she said she didn't care. I confronted her for throwing my bag and taking the chair, and she became VERY aggressive. In fact, she and her friends threatened and followed me around the ship! Security on the ship was a joke!
I like RCL but I do groan about all the nickel and diming they do. I get that some people don’t want certain things and shouldn’t pay for them but I find myself gravitating to all inclusive fairs because they are simpler for me. I pay a little more so I don’t have to worry about being hit with a large bill at the end of my cruse. Those gratuities on all my drinks ( hard and soft) hurt at the end. I would rather pay one fare and be done. JMO
I just got off of the Allure of the Seas. Loaded with families,but I had no problem finding a more adult friendly area. I will echo the comments regarding the Solarium area. Signage says no one under age 16. Realising International laws on alcohol differ, this area could be changed to 18 and above and enforce it. I did see one instance where a crew member stepped up and requested a child leave the Schooner Bar,because the parents had left and he could no longer stay there.
I am loyal to Royal, Diamond Plus soon to be Pinnacle. But I have to agree with other posters on this chat, they need to enforce their own rules. Another major problem is that parents don’t teach their children how to behave in public, so they run in packs like wild animals, and wreaking havoc where ever they go. Children are fine when they are reasonably well behaved. Last cruise I saw a pack of children almost push an elderly couple down the stairs. Understanding that RC is courting new cruisers and families with these “kids sail free” sales to fill in behind us older cruisers as we basically die off, but that doesn’t excuse the need keep everyone safe and happy. One thing that a loyalty ambassador told me is that RC is having trouble finding enough crew to properly staff the mega ships they keep building. That may become a problem.
I agree the huge ships offer more to do, but what I found them to be money pits. Everything is pay to play or eat. We just returned from a really nice all inclusive in Mexico, we were sold. I dought we will return to cruising for a leisure vacation. Alaska , transatlantic yes but for a week in the Caribbean. Don’t think so.
A year ago I went on Harmony of the seas. NEVER AGAIN. It was packed with NOWHERE to go for quiet time. Our cabin overlooked their indoor mall so there was no quiet even in the cabin.
My main issue with RC is the crowding. I know they can’t do anything about that really, but it makes getting around the ship take a long time sometimes n
I don't see any of these things as negatives, but rather as simply good advice to have a more enjoyable cruise experience. I've never cruised on RCCL except for a comically bad experience 25 years ago on a converted car ferry called Viking Serenade, which thankfully is long gone. I am sailing on Allure on 1/5/24 for three days. If I like it I'll be back. If not-well-I can deal with anything for three days.
Why do they set up the loungers facing the track instead of the outside faces the water and inside faces the pool? Or at the very least not have them tied up so you can easily turn them. And on the Alaska cruise two weeks ago there were NO loungers on the aft of the ship while in port or while sailing, we had to find a stack of loungers that wasn't tied down and take them 1/4 length of the ship to be able to enjoy the views. That wasn't the only negative but it sure was puzzling.
On the WiFi/drinks being included or not, I do agree that there should be an opt out, or an option to purchase them together as a big package. I have never been on Princess but like the way they structure pricing with base rate, standard package bundle, premium package bundle.
My husband and I take RC cruises a lot. I like the family friendly cruises. You get an occasional screaming kid but honestly I will take that any day over spring break college students drunk partying and swearing. We once had a small group on a cruise who were really bad at the pool bar. Security intervened. The next day we found out they were packed up and kicked off the ship. I love that the policy was enforced. Going off season is the best if you don’t have kids but you may have a few days of poor weather.
My 11 year old son and I just sailed on the west coast to Mexico on Royal Carribean. We had a great time, but there are a few things I hope they somehow change soon. 1 - The West coast on has the Navigator. It is fairly small and not much to do. After two and a half days, we were a bit bored. They only had some ventriloquist for the entertainment and that's it. It only has a couple of stores and there just wasn't a lot that interested me and my son. 2 - The kids club was terrible for my son. He is 11 and was forced to play with a couple of 7 year olds pushing blocks on a table...that's it, thats all he did for 2 hours. Needless to say, I did not take him back the rest of the cruise. 3 - Kids, younger and older were running wild everywhere with no supervision. 4 - Families were stealing door magnets all through the cruise and nothing was done about it. It was obvious who did it because the ding dongs put the magnets all over their doors. With all of that said, we did have a great time, but uncertain if we will do another cruise with them again.
Hi Matt why does Royal Caribbean do reservations for the shows why not do first come first serve to avoid people not showing up then the stress of being placed on a wait list giving people stress there's a chance of missing the show why should someone who is literally there they should get the seats then if the late people don't need to stress rushing dinner or time at the pool so then they miss the show and are happy
Some of these issues can be resolved by booking a sky or star class suite. Totally different experience since there are practically no lines, more time to do things other than standing in line.
If I had to say my worse thing, is getting to and from the cruise XD. I live in Kansas and I'm 6.5. The flights are so tight with leg room. My knees are pressed so hard against the back of the seat in front of me. I actually bought knee pads just for flying XD
We've been on 5 oasis class cruises. People think the 6000 plus People on board would be a problem but We've found you don't even notice. Aside from decks 16 and 17 on sunny cruising days most people are dispersed throughout the large ship so you barely notice it. Also always book your shows, excursions and dinning when you book your cruise preferably at least 8 months in advance. As far as kids go you barely notice them except at the back of ship where flo riders and basketball courts etc are.
Nice overview ❤ I agree with your comments and the only thing I don't due is book a refundable cruise. Thanks Matt! Yes i am loyal to Royal (and Celebrity for the Panama Canal cruise)
The only thing I didn't like was on the 2nd sailing of Wonder in April '22 we saw the comedian once and 2 nights later we wanted to see them again. And we couldn't book, we waited in line and still couldn't get in.
Went on Allure of the Seas years ago and it never felt crowded. Hope that is the same with Icon of the Seas since we will be going on a cruise in February 2024. We took a cruise last February on a smaller ship Independence of the Seas and it felt crowded, there was always a line for ice cream😂, elevators were crowded, lines for dining even in the main dining room because people decided to come off schedule. Looking forward to the reviews of the Icon!
Sitting on deck 15 on Oasis of the Seas as I type this. Been on her three previous times but this sailing seems far more crowded than in the past. Four days before leaving RC called and advised they overbooked the cruise and asked if we could sail another time. (Big no) The elevators are packed, pool deck, every trivia contest, excursions sold out. The ship has to be at max capacity and it shows. It's frustrating.
The worst part of sailing with Royal Caribbean is... you'll get addicted to cruising. I took my adult children on a Cruise in December to celebrate my retirement & and we're going again next January. They are hooked and love Royal Caribbean ❤️ ⚓️
totally agree! I went on Spectrum of The Sea last February, and I am going again next February! Can't stop cruising.
My mom took the family on our first cruise last December and we're going again this month! Have fun!
We’re going on our 1st Cruise next year. To celebrate my retirement, with our daughter, that made us feel guilty when we told her , we were going on a cruise 😂😂😂🐨🐨🦘
Cause after my first last September, I’ve become a certified cruise snob😂😂😂😂😂😂
The worst part of cruising Royal for me was traveling with my soon-to-be ex-husband. He either stayed in the stateroom and slept, or complained about everything the whole time. Now that he and his constant negativity will soon be behind me, I am looking forward to cruising Royal again this year. Cheers!
Love RCL, we have four cruises booked 2023-24. We book when children are supposed to be in school. Never a problem for us , we have six Grandchildren and one Great Grand. Love children, but not necessarily when we are on vacation.
I would like to see one bar on board that does not admit babies/kids/teens - drinking age only. I’d also like to see kids forbidden from actually sitting AT the bar. AT the bar should be adult only at all bars.
They DO have those. On the Oasis class ships it's called the Solarium. 18 and over. It's a great space
@@ctlt-pg4tm Nope. They will tell you the pools and hot tubs are off limits to the under-16s, but that everything else (bar, Solarium Bistro) is OK
@@ctlt-pg4tm And Solarium is 16 and over, not 18.
Have you tried going on Virgin cruises, which is strictly adult only cruises?
@@jimmygarcia101 I don’t want a child-free cruise. I want adult-only areas kept for adults. I want health/safety rules (like no diapers in pools and no little kids in hot tubs) enforced. I want parents to stop kids from running/shouting in hallways. I want those with littles to sit with other littles. I don’t think kids need to be spinning on barstools or eavesdropping on adult conversations in bars or making dance floors into playgrounds. I don’t dislike kids; I’m a mom, stepmom, grandmom. I want rules I can count on. I want an atmosphere I can count on.
I am CRAZY thrifty; so I have sailed with very little add-ons (a few none). For me the vacation is " not being home". The reason I love cruising is you can truly spend as much or as little as you want and still have a good time.
RCL needs to enforce its own rules, like: No reserving chairs. Dress codes. Adult-only areas. No diapers in pools and hot tubs, and no kids who need them in pools and hot tubs.
I only cruise on RCL but I do agree with that
all except dress codes. enforce dress codes at their own peril.
Years ago I remember kids under the age of 16 were not allowed in the hot tubs on any cruise ship. Somewhere that rule went away. On my last cruise on WONDER, small kids were swimming the in the hot tub (Some with floaties on) with no adults present. Even though Royal built a swim area, slides, and water park for kids majority of the kids still take over the main pool deck with parents just sitting and drinking on the sidelines. Even building a new family village on Icon I don't forsee this getting better. Rules for certain ares need to be made and enforced.
easier said than done on that.
@@ProfGlitch I think you may change your mind when you see a 70 or 80 yr old obese man come into the MDR with a speedo on, ruin your appetite real quick. Luckily the staff made him go change due to dress code.
They NEED to enforce the reserving chair rule, its a disaster and the most frustrating part of RC. I love them, very loyal to royal but that drives me crazy.
Just take the seats. Tell the people who say something is reserved to piss off. It’s first come first use seating at all areas.
I move towels or whatever is left behind without hesitation, and have never been confronted.
I move their stuff after 1hr. If there gone to bad not gona ruin my cruise. I've never been confronted and if I were to get confronted I'd say beats me it was empty so go kick sand.
In my opinion, I think on Oasis class ships, it’s crazy to have to make a reservation for shows and hope you can get one because if not, you have to go on standby hoping you can get a seat! As much as it costs to cruise, everyone should have an opportunity to see the shows if they want. I get it, seating is limited but they should offer more shows to accommodate everyone 🤷🏻♂️
They do have many opportunities to see all the shows. We never have a problem. We never have a problem being on standby.
Wow when i went on navigator of the seas from la, the show were walk in. No tickets needed at least for the free shows.
That sounds ridiculous n I love theatre n shows???
I appreciate everything that you have said. I picked a sailing Memorial Day week.
There was a lot of young children and it was a slight turn off. Firstly, me and my husband
Sailed Oasis of the Seas. The ship has plenty of shows and amenities to do. However, the turn
off was when a mother and father had a 2 year old in the jacuzzi for too long and the toddler was throwing
up like a water faucet. Then a 8 or 9 year old threw up in the adult pool. I understand that Royal Caribbean
Markets to the families, but these children should’ve been in the children area and not the adult area.
I booked my next cruise for the first week of October. I hope the kids are in school. They should be, right?
@@thefox47545With virtual education being used universally now, there will be fewer children but not as few as there were prepandemic. I sailed all of last fall through June; there was an average of 1/3 of the passengers being under the age of 16 on my 15 cruises. But most were short-5-7 nights (and complementary for me so I didn’t complain much). The 14-night transatlantic had the fewest children that were old enough to be allowed to run around on their own. Happy cruising!
Hopefully, children vomiting in a pool or hot tub is a rare occurrence.
Hopefully? No. Should NEVER happen. Selfish parents.
@@joeo7693
Virgin has adult only cruises. Dont tell me there are problems with that cruise line also?😅
We did a transpacific sailing in October and it was FABULOUS!! Very few kids, lots to do on board, about 60% capacity so never any real line ups and no problem getting into any shows.
I would really like them to be more consistent with some of the rules such as:
- dress code in the main dining room --- I like casual sailing, but too casual means Windjammer (in my opinion) and that is rarely enforced.
- no kids in the solarium --- I have seen pre-teens in that area and no one asked them to leave. Not a huge deal, but I do like to have an adult only space.
I agree. The longer cruises are much better because there are not a lot of children onboard. Children are fine when they are well behaved, but the last 10 cruises over the past six months amply demonstrated that parents are raising wild animals. Whenever I see children younger than 16 in the Solarium, I ask a crew member to have them leave. The Solarium was the major reason I started and continued to sail with RC. Happy cruising!
Do not mind the large ships, crowds are well managed EXCEPT elevators. Families are beginning to bring wagons in addition to strollers and overwhelming space. I do take stairs, but often sail with people who cannot take stairs, so very long waits. Big is fine, but infrastructure should increase in the post Oasis super ships. It's a perfect line for families (and we do that), but go to Celebrity with adults.
Transatlantic Odyssey of the Seas Oct 2022 - 112 kids and of that, 14 teenagers for 13 days. No jet lag coming home, great ports to visit, 8 sea days, no lines for shows, and my 15 year old daughter bumper cars with no waits. If you can do it, it is a fantastic trip. Great video and points made.
I am a grandma generally traveling solo and I love the family atmosphere. I love seeing the fun kids have but not having to take care of them. But I would never travel during school breaks. I dont want to be on an Oasis class with 2000 kids, just too many people. Since off season is cheaper and less crowded, that is when I sail.
My husband and I are Diamond on Royal. Their customer service is very good and their entertainment, especially on the large ships, is way beyond that of other cruise lines. I actually prefer the Oasis class ships. Although there are a lot of people it never feels crowded because, as you said, everyone is spread out doing different things at different times. I always make reservations for the shows as soon as they are available online, and one of us goes to the theater early to secure seats. I rarely have to wait in line for anything. I just took my granddaughter and her parents on the Harmony, and they were blown away by all the activities and the entertainment, especially the aqua show. It was summer break, lots of kids, but no issues. When we're alone, my husband and I cruise when school is in session and we go to the solarium. I am, however, disappointed in the quality of the food since they changed the menus.
Wrong! You can't make a reservation online, only on the ship. We went on Symphony from Miami B2B and had no chance to see water shows, so many problems around the ship and weather.
I made all our show and special dining reservations on line 30 days before the cruise. Not a problem
@@ludmilakowalow734 I made reservations 30 days ahead of cruise for shows and dining on line
My main issue with RCL is the customer service is really, really terrible. RCL canceled our cruise and getting 100% of our paid cruise back was a "ROYAL" pain. It took a lot of calls and lots of time waiting for people on the phone. Other options were suggested but the options did not meet our needs. An RCL agent actually accused us of cancelling our cruise, when RCL did the cancelling. We were pretty loyal to Royal before, but we haven't been back since.
I remember when Royal Caribbean used to be a really elegant and classy cruise line in 80s, 90s and early 2000s, but they have gotten away from that to be a floating theme park.
Dude the 80s was 40+ years ago… Royal has to adapt to what the current generation of passengers wants… if you want to sail luxury, there are other lines for you. You do realize an entire generation was born, raised, and raised their own kids in the timeframe you’re referring to?
It was like princess and is now like carnival.
@@ckckck12 Yes it was, a lot of things are on the decline nowadays.
@@nd4539 Stupid argument. They could stick to their original brand - there are PLENTY of people who want an upscale cruise.
@@CMV314and plenty of other options for them to cruise on
Up front - I am Diamond Status and heading for Diamond Plus. I Have several RC cruises booked for 23-24. My list of what I do not like: 1. The BIG ships. They are quite restricted into which ports they can go to because of their size. I like RC's older ships - including the four old Vision class ships. 2. Not having the newer soda and soft drink dispensing machines on all the RC ships. I can go to a little fast food spot in the middle of nowhere USA and they will have one of these machines. For some reason, known only to RC, they cannot seem to get these installed on all 26 of their ships. 3. Food is good on RC but it is a step down from Princess, HAL, or Celebrity (maybe 2 steps down from Celebrity). 4. Having to use room card to get pool and beach towels. Now for my list of things that I really like: 1. RC is not Carnival. 2. Perks at Diamond level are really nice - you can't argue with 4 free drinks per day. 3. Lots of variety in RC ships and cruise itinerary. 4. Crew and officers - always had a great experience and service from them. 5. Very competitive pricing in some locations and seasons; not always; but there are a lot of bargains to be had from RC.
I agree, I like the fact that drinks, the spa, and excursions are add ons. I want it to be my choice to pay for those things. One reason, our family won't book an all inclusive resort, it always include alcohol and none of us drink . . . the cruise is cheaper, even if you add the soda package or the upgraded milkshake package. And then we're not stuck at one hotel location, we get to see 3 or 4 destinations on the cruise.
Lack of enforcement, especially kids running down the halls.
We are RC fans too. We sailed on Harmony and didn’t have problems with crowds at all but our last sailing was on Symphony and it was unbearable. There was two days we couldn’t find a seat in the solarium. As big as it is that was crazy! We are booked on the Allure coming up and Oasis next year. We are praying for a Harmony experience and not a symphony. Thanks for you channel, we really like it!
We enjoy RC and children are not usually an issue for us. What irks me is when parents let the children run unsupervised. We have found complaining to the crew does not help. Crew should be able to handle children running amok.
based on the comments I have seen over the last year, I'm surprised that the drop in food quality, new MDR menu, didn't make this list.
when we cruise on royal Caribbean, my husband and I would pick the dates when the kids are still in school so we won’t have too much problems with over running children..
But it’d be fine if they’d just enforce the rules they already have!
@@TSVitanza TS . try it you might like it! Prices cheaper, most kids under 4. lot less people feeling their packges of adult beverges)!!!!! and they still care that the littles are well behved . (Assuming because it reflects on how it refelects on them s prents plus they dress the prescoolers up so darn cute..and one more thing, they go to bed early)... so, I've ledy give myself awy, I m Senior. I cruised Carnival starting 2003 because of price and excursions. But with infltion, cost of gas and food and entertinment .ffor me it;s better del. Hope you find the niche yfor the lifsyle you like!
I apolige the"a" key went out on my laptop, so hard to read.
I’d like to see one area of each dining room for babies/younger kids.
I really liked your video. And I like your method of providing argument and counter argument. You never take the "I know better" point of view. Excellent upload.
Where can you find that?
I'm divorced with no kids. I sail all the time ( 22 cruises ) on Oasis class with mixed groups of singles and couples. The whole kid issue is a problem ONLY for people who have never cruised the "Bigs" and don't know what they are talking about. The ships are so large and have so much space per person, Kids are never a problem. If you go to the waterslide pool in the middle of the afternoon on a sea day, YEAH, you're going to see kids. Or the Sorrento's Pizza or an arcade. But we like seeing kids and families having a blast. It can be fun to watch. It makes for a more fun environment and by 8 pm they are all knocked out and sound asleep. And their parents are too ! Then the NIGHTLIFE begins !
I wouldn't call it the WORST thing, let alone crack this list or stop me from cruising with Royal, but personally the main dining room has taken a hit with the new changes from quality to menu options. I understand the reasoning to shorten the options to assist with dining times but there's a reason why they ask you when you first sit down if you are in a time crunch due to a show/reservation.
Yes. My husband and I don't understand why people would eat at the MDR vs a quicker venue if they are in a rush due to a show, or why they'd book a show so close to their dining time to begin with. Part of what makes cruising special is our time in the MDR; the "dressing up" (a bit, anyway), the "fineness" of the dining venue, and mostly, the time spent together just catching up while sharing these mealtimes. (Must admit the lamb with "mint jelly" tasted boiled and bland, and we probably won't be getting that again.) Regardless, we're still planning future family cruises on Royal. 🏖🚢
Our last two RC cruises we found the main dining room to be very disappointing as far as menu and presentation. Several dinners were sent back and even breakfasts were way below expectations. Also, the perks offered at signing are way less than the competition.
I've been on three cruises with royal in the last 15 months and and each time the food has gotten worse. So next September I'm going on Holland. 🎉
We last cruised just before the menu changes, and were still able to get to the early show, without being rushed.
Agreed. And the food is served cold. Very disappointing.
Hi Matt,
Great video as always - thank you!
We have been on many Royal Caribbean sailings with large and small ships.
We have found that on the Oasis class of ship, there is not enough seating in many of the venues (Music Hall, Comedy Club, etc.,) compared with some of the smaller classes of ships, such as Voyager. This leads to disappointment when trying to find entertainment and enjoy a cocktail or two, however no seating being available due to crowded venues.
We have decided that while we enjoyed the Oasis experience, in future we will stick to the smaller ships and occasional Quantum class sailing.
Thanks, James
I just came back from the Oasis of the Seas cruise that started on July 21st. First cruise with my kids (9 and 13), first cruise for me after 10 years (oddly enough, on the Oasis of the seas back then).
Here's my view. The ship aged well. The crew is even better, IMHO, than it was back then. The personnal treatment at the dining room (waiter, assistant waiter) and the room attendant were incredible.
BUT.
Lines.
Lines, lines, lines. Lines to get on the ship a mess at 10AM at Cape Liberty. Lines to get IN the Windjammer. Lines to get in the dining room, WITH RESERVATION, at 6h45-my-time-dining. Lines spanning the whole 5th deck to get out at Port Canaveral, lines that lasted for more than 2 hours to get on most of the expeditions (Pearl Island, etc) in Nassau. Lines to get off the ship went all around the running track on deck 5 to get out of the ship. Club 281 looked like a lot of fun for my teenage daughter, but it was jam-packed each day. It wasn't like that 10 years ago. Also, the pool deck is a mess now.
My kids are quiet and need a pool (for my youngest) or a book (my oldest). The pool deck was too noisy for them. From that perspective, I might try Celebrity next time, even if they're not geared toward kids. The Oasis class has fallen, in my opinion.
I love RCCL, but I would argue that as much as I love the huge ships, the itineraries on them are limited. I was thinking about back to back on the Utopia, but I don’t want to be forced to go to Perfect Day twice. Even though the smaller ships offer more options in terms of itinerary (understandable), that is my least favourite thing.
Don’t take grandeur of the seas if you have children cuz there is nothing to do on that 30 year old ship
Yes! This is exactly why I haven't booked Utopia yet.
We do back to back all the time. But because the second week would probably be the same as the first regarding shows and food as the first week, we change ships. It takes a bit of planning to coordinate getting off one ship and boarding another on the same day. but it works.
Agree the itinerary here on Quantum of the Seas is limited and not very good imo. We used to travel Voyager prior Covid and much better entertainment
My first Royal Caribbean cruise was a couple of weeks ago. I had high expectations and maybe should’ve been more realistic. The food and service and entertainment were outstanding. Unfortunately they pack the passengers in like sardines and the whole ship is so loud. None of the venues are large enough to accommodate anybody for the activities. Couldn’t get into karaoke or trivia even 45 minutes early. Thank goodness I don’t frequent the main pool area because it was very crowded. The solarium was a godsend if you arrived first thing in the morning. The wind jammer is a place where nightmares are created.
Which ship were you on?? I may want to avoid it...
@@pickard72 I was on oasis of the seas. Beautiful ship, but way too many people. I plan on going much smaller ships in the future or not sailing in the summer months again.
@@Jazzykatt23We agree with you on sailing on smaller ships in the future! We thought Adventure of the Seas was too large for us, but the ship was very nice and the service was very good, just way too crowded in places. We like the Brilliance and the Radiance more. And a LOT more children in the summer and over Spring Break. We generally cruise in early May and November. Unfortunately, RCL is building larger and larger new ships.
The shows can be tricky. I honestly think you should not be able to book things months in advance pre-cruise. So many people change plans closer to the time it is meaningless. I have used the standby line for the aqua show on Harmony and got in but there is no guarantee it will work. Only cruised with Royal twice, but they are overall my favorite line. So many things to do. Drink package is expensive relative to other lines so I don’t usually get that and just pay for drinks individually. Hard for me to get value out of the drink package. I simply don’t drink enough.
The added costs along with increasing prices of those add-ons (looking at you $188 for thrill water park!) are a big turn off. Thumbs down for having to scramble to book activities as well. I'm strongly considering canceling our 2024 cruise in favor of an all inclusive resort.
I just got back from their cruise. I don't drink but the price of their drink package is insane. ...
I looked into some inclusive resorts, the prices were decent but the airfare was nuts. The cruise ending up being cheaper for our family: cruise fare, flights with one night hotel, and excursions.
I think that Royal is one of the better ones for showing the true price early in the booking process. Yeah they still have headline rates but once you select a cruise you get the total price pretty quickly and it updates as you make selections.
That said, the "from" price you see when searching cruises is almost never the actual lowest price once you start the booking process.
Did you check the prices today? It's almost double
@@DRSmigley It’s the price before gratuities and port taxes and fees for one person in an inside cabin they pick LOL. So just a couple of caveats.
I have done that kind of cruise though twice on Harmony of the Seas and got very good deals. I went on a 7 day with my wife and got a rate of $400 each, it was about $1100 total for a week. The second time it was a 6 day with my son and we paid $328 for 6 days, it was around $950 total. The inside cabins on Oasis class are actually pretty big and pretty much all in the same area of the ship. I have no problem with those cabins at all and spend so little time in them I dont really care if there’s a balcony.
@@davva360 Exactly. It's like when the phone company says their plan is $24.99 for unlimited data and then the bill ends up being $47.36
I see it quite differently. The price steadily rises as you go through the booking process. So, the first price i see never gives me hope tir an even somewhat vlose price to what i will pay, lol. Very sad.
I have been cruised about 6 times already through the years, my only expense has been the fare and gratuities, nothing more. It can be done, the food at MDR and buffet is already amazing.
We sailed on Allure, and the biggest problem we had was not so much the number of passengers on board or at the different venues, although that is a problem during embarkation and disembarkation, it was the difficulty in navigating throughout the ship. That and the tiny windjammer.
Agreed about the add-ons. My sister and I are not big drinkers, so drink package doesn't make sense for us. We generally use any "credit" for a beer or glass of wine every now and then. We are looking forward to accessing Diamond status free drinks on our next cruise (38 days from now). We do use the shore excursion via RCC. But I agree you can pick and choose those things you want to spend money on.
Bonus with booking in “off”-seasons (schools in session) is that prices are usually a little cheaper
Royal is not likely to design and build any new smaller ships, along the lines of the Voyage or Vision class. That will become a problem at some point in the future.
On recent presidents cruise, Michael Bayley actually hinted at some smaller ships being built soon.
I think you meant Radiance and Vision class. Voyager class have 4000 passengers.
It is both funny and sad when one thinks of 2500ish passengers as a SMALL ship
I’ve sailed RC, Celebrity, and Disney. While Disney is definitely too notch in my book it’s way too expensive. I like that they don’t have refreshment packages and stuff but then again I don’t drink that much and neither does my wife. So it was kind of wasted on us(I’m not talking alcoholic I’m saying even soda and smoothies and stuff) we mainly drink water. I like how with RC you get to pick and choose what you want and it ends up being even cheaper than a Disney. They have a bigger ships with more amenities. RC in my mind is the best for the value that you get. We compared a 9 night RC cruise to a 7 night Disney cruise (same cabin and same month) and the cost difference for the two was crazy. It cost 3k more for the Disney cruise and we would have had to fly bc they don’t go out of our port in our state. Sorry I love Disney cruises but that’s just too expensive.
❤
Traveled on Allure in March. The ship was worn, lack of pool chairs was a problem. The expensive WiFi sucked. The food if I'm being honest was a B with an occasional A stand out dish and some that were Cs. The service was excellent. The ammenities and entertainment were amazing. It's a good family cruise, but don't expect amazing food or a small cruise experience. I would travel again but I'd pick a newer ship or even a voyager class.
Something else I would add about penalties. Buying travel insurance through a third party, not the cruiseline, for your entire vacation can provide protection in case a person has to cancel; varies by policy but insurance protection for emergency cancelations does exist.
That's a cruise industry thing, not just a Royal thing
The other thing I dislike is the bigger ships (more to do on board) I miss the easy accessible lower promenade deck. The new ships it's the running track, I love being close to the sea ... just sitting in the shade, having a drink and listening to the ocean. ❤
you are accurate. My husband and I took an eleven night cruise to Hawaii on the
Radiance of the seas in September, 2022. There were hardly any children on board
I've never felt like I've missed out on something I wanted to do on a RCCL ship, but I make reservations as soon as I can. The only place that I think it's excessively crowded is the plaza where the shops are. I avoid that whole area at certain times of the day or when they are having a give-away. Having said that I love the RCCL huge ships! I enjoy going on them so much. I'm on Wonder of the Seas next February and I'm more excited for that cruise than I am for my Virgin Voyages cruise in November! RCCL does specialty restaurants so well that I purchased the unlimited specialty dining package for the February cruise. I also got They Key since it was on sale and includes the Wifi package. I also have a transatlantic on the Oasis of the Seas next year. I'm almost a Diamond!! YAY! All cruise lines have extra costs. The one that has the least extra costs (includes wifi, tips and most specialty dining) is Virgin Voyages and their cruise fares are very high.
The only time we ever felt the crowds on Oasis class ships was at muster. Now that's not a problem anymore.
BTW thanks for posting your blogs; they are really helpful in booking cruises and some things worth watching out for.
Sailed on Odyssey a few weeks ago. Beautiful ship with a great crew. I was disappointed no one enforced the chair hog rule. Also the variety of food at the MDR and windjammer were not what they were on my previous 4 RC cruises..
My first cruise was on the Largest cruise ship in the world. The Monarch of the seas in 1991. Followed it up two years later on the new largest ship. The Majesty of the Seas. We thought they were huge. It was 2011 before we went on anything larger, the Voyager of the Seas. It was mammoth. So much fun. Retired now, and have 3 cruises booked, included 20 nights on a b2b on Explorer of the seas. The “drink of the day” in 1991 was $2.95
I love RCCL but my biggest gripe is that no matter what time(unless when they open) you go to Windjamner it seems theres always an issue finding a place to sit. 13 day cruise and I’ll bet 95% of the time there was no place to sit.
Why would you ever go to windjammer. The food was borderline inedible. Schools cafeteria food has more flavor.
@@ericfunkman-ez4xb opinions are just that opinions. Not everything is good not everything is bad! Thanks for adding your opinion!
@@ericfunkman-ez4xb where else would you go eat breakfast and lunch. Not everybody wants to take the time to go to the dining room during the day.
I felt the same way. I thought the food was fine, but we could never find seating so had to take it to our cabin most days.
@@Jazzykatt23 there are a couple of other options but good point. Even the bfast was bad at the buffet. Fake eggs, fake bacon and overall lack of taste in everything. I guess that’s what you get when they have to cook for 7500 ppl
A reason I would consider not booking with them again is because they were allowing smoking all over the main pool deck on adventure this past week. So we couldn't even go topside at all without smelling cancer clouds. Majorly dampened the enjoyment of our cruise.
We are 2 cruises away from Diamond Plus. We know the cruises and ships. We are VERY DISAPPOINTED in the new menus. Taking away the 3 options in the MDR was a very bad decision decision.😢 decision
Yeah I do wish RC had adults only sailings because I still enjoy the activities they have on their ships
That's not going to happen! You should try sailing on Virgin; it's adults only.
Love RC! I have cruised all the Oasis class and love them. Booked for Oct 2024 on the Icon, and cruising in November on Symphony of the seas.
I dont have anything negative to say about Royal but there are a couple of things I wished they offered.
1. I wish Royal ships had self service laundry rooms like Carnival. This way I could just was my clothes mid trip instead of packing more socks and underwear. Also, it was be nice to iron my own shirts instead of sending them out to be pressed.
2. I wish Royal had more ships on the west coast. All the nicer ships are on the east coast...
I love your reviews and vlog posts, and used them to prepare for a RC cruise earlier this year (fantastic experience). Much appreciated! But I always remain a bit guarded since you only review Royal Caribbean, and not other cruise lines, so there are no comparisons or frame of reference other than RC. (Your logo even resembles RC!)
I genuinely didn't know about the show reservations before seeing this video. Looked on the app, and EVERYTHING is sold out. This wouldn't be such a big deal if they simply gave you a Timeline/calendar after booking showing when things become available. They should put this on the app as well. If you go to check-in prior to 45 days, it just says, "Check back closer to your sail date." No sign as to when, despite the dates already being established. Same with the shows. It's like they are intentionally trying to trip up first-time cruisers.
I love RC and have never had a bad cruise with them!
Was on the Harmony of the Seas and the only time it felt crowded was on the pool deck in the middle of the day.
We went on our just cruise during school holidays. One would think it would have been terrible. Quite the contrary. The families were off doing their things, and we did our things, and we rarely crossed paths. All good. Harder to find space when dealing with a lot of seniors and retirees. I shouldn’t say that too loud since I am practically a senior now.
YES to all. And it hasn't stopped me. My favorite line, but not my only one to try.
I kind of like the smaller ships when it just me and my wife. You tend to make friends and get to know people. The larger ships everyone gets lost in the crowd.
😢 So I watched another one of your blogs and you said "Book entertainment first thing you get on board. " Just found out you can book b4 boarding. Everything is already booked 18 days out😢
Love RCCL and as of right now, will not cruise with any other line. With that being said, not being able to do things on the ships because they get booked immediately are an issue. I love the big ships overall, especially the Solarium, maybe because of the “no kids” rule, though.
As a cruising parent, let me say clearly to new cruisers that the small Royal Caribbean ships are not the best choice for families with kids. On the other hand, the "big ships" that you list as the "worst" thing about cruising turns out to be the best. And in all honesty, even on the larger ships, there is still space to hide. I started my cruising career loving Carnival. I am now Loyal to Royal and happy to be.
No kids in Adult only areas. Especially during school vacations weeks. Kids not adults were sitting behind slot machines. Employees were afraid to address it when brought to thier attention by me.
@Royal Caribbean Blog Very good video, Matt! This helps to answer quite a few questions. Our family is considering Royal for our next cruise (most likely in 2025) and although the Oasis, Quantum and Icon class ships look awesome, we're concerned about the cluster factor -- as in, is it a legitimate issue or not, and is it worth it. We've only sailed on Carnival and they've been progressively bigger ships. In July, we sailed on Carnival Vista. It was the biggest ship we've been on and while we enjoyed most elements of it, the congestion in the public spaces and the food lines around the lido area were absolutely horrible. Getting around anywhere was a hassle. Maybe it's a design flaw, but it really has me questioning whether I want to sail ever again on super large ship. We're interested in the Radiance or Voyager class on Royal, but your take on the larger ships and how they're designed is making me consider them. Appreciate all you do!
It’s disappointing that they’re only focusing on big ships. I loved the small fleet and even the medium fleet like the radiance class.
My favorite will always probably be Voyager class. For me, it’s the sweet spot!
The issues with the shows filling up fast is making me nervous for my sailing in Dec. 😬 I've cruised with NCL in the past, and it was never an issue.
Hate the need to schedule shows! Got closed out of the comedy show twice. Couldn’t reserve and did not get in on standby either time. Never did get to see it. That is my one complaint about the huge ships.
We went on a 10-day RC in early March, right before most of the spring breaks. There were so few kids on board that most of the kid’s programs were shut down. The staff we heard from were in a buzz that the very next sailing was going to have nearly 800 kids on board!
We just got off the harmony of the seas and the ship was sold out. We were never in a crowded area except one sea day for the main buffet and it moved quickly.
Pool being closed for days due to someone being nasty, activities that are broken or not open that you were looking forward to, feces stains on the carpet and bathroom walls of an expensive suite, snarky employees, the audacity of the staff to leave tip envelopes, a loud sales presentation by the masseuses after what was supposed to be a relaxing massage… the list goes on and on in our experience. Not to mention the minute you are on board you start to feel like you’re on a beach in Tijuana because everyone is trying to sell you something.
We went on our first cruise on RC in 2016! It was so much fun. I did my homework to learn as much as possible about cruising. We booked under a church group “Apostolics At Sea” on the Brilliance of the Sea. They had scheduled a lot of activities on board if you wanted to attend. My favorite was “Apostolics Have Talent”. Grand prize for the winner-Free cruise for 2 the next year. My balcony cabin was on the 8th level- great view and my favorite place for me time. Money well spent. The food was also good. The crew were always cleaning. We did encounter a storm were we had to forfeit our last destination but we just stayed inside. Still Royal Caribbean gets an A for our cruise!👍🏻
As a non-cruise person, I’m now looking to accompany my brother on a cruise. He is a lifelong hard worker and has always wanted to go.
I love him enough to make the sacrifice and go with him.
Thanks for sharing! 👍🏽👍🏽
RCL need to have a booking number for specialty restaurant so people can call in and use their own personal credit card without needing to book in a group. This booking number would give you 24 to 48 hours to get your table fully booked. I am celebrating my birthday in 2024 and we booked Chops 8 PM and within 4 1/2 hours later there was no more slots available for 8 PM when people started to try and book this therefore to, we had to move the reservation to 8:15 PM in order to accommodate all eight people at my table. Help from a Diamond plus member!
The last time I cruised with RC, I HAD to buy a drink package (I don't drink) because my roommate wanted a drink package. That's a terrible policy. I also experienced aggression from another passenger because I left my towel on a lounge chair while I retrieved my water bottle. She threw my bag and towel 2 rows behind the chair and took my chair! The folks that were sitting next to me told her I was coming back and she said she didn't care. I confronted her for throwing my bag and taking the chair, and she became VERY aggressive. In fact, she and her friends threatened and followed me around the ship! Security on the ship was a joke!
I like RCL but I do groan about all the nickel and diming they do. I get that some people don’t want certain things and shouldn’t pay for them but I find myself gravitating to all inclusive fairs because they are simpler for me. I pay a little more so I don’t have to worry about being hit with a large bill at the end of my cruse. Those gratuities on all my drinks ( hard and soft) hurt at the end. I would rather pay one fare and be done. JMO
I’ve sailed on Oasis and Harmony, sold out spring break cruises. Never once felt crowded.
I just got off of the Allure of the Seas. Loaded with families,but I had no problem finding a more adult friendly area. I will echo the comments regarding the Solarium area. Signage says no one under age 16. Realising International laws on alcohol differ, this area could be changed to 18 and above and enforce it. I did see one instance where a crew member stepped up and requested a child leave the Schooner Bar,because the parents had left and he could no longer stay there.
Well done Matt 👍
Thanks!
I am loyal to Royal, Diamond Plus soon to be Pinnacle. But I have to agree with other posters on this chat, they need to enforce their own rules. Another major problem is that parents don’t teach their children how to behave in public, so they run in packs like wild animals, and wreaking havoc where ever they go. Children are fine when they are reasonably well behaved. Last cruise I saw a pack of children almost push an elderly couple down the stairs. Understanding that RC is courting new cruisers and families with these “kids sail free” sales to fill in behind us older cruisers as we basically die off, but that doesn’t excuse the need keep everyone safe and happy.
One thing that a loyalty ambassador told me is that RC is having trouble finding enough crew to properly staff the mega ships they keep building. That may become a problem.
I agree the huge ships offer more to do, but what I found them to be money pits. Everything is pay to play or eat. We just returned from a really nice all inclusive in Mexico, we were sold. I dought we will return to cruising for a leisure vacation. Alaska , transatlantic yes but for a week in the Caribbean. Don’t think so.
A year ago I went on Harmony of the seas. NEVER AGAIN. It was packed with NOWHERE to go for quiet time. Our cabin overlooked their indoor mall so there was no quiet even in the cabin.
My main issue with RC is the crowding. I know they can’t do anything about that really, but it makes getting around the ship take a long time sometimes n
Where was it crowded?
I don't see any of these things as negatives, but rather as simply good advice to have a more enjoyable cruise experience. I've never cruised on RCCL except for a comically bad experience 25 years ago on a converted car ferry called Viking Serenade, which thankfully is long gone. I am sailing on Allure on 1/5/24 for three days. If I like it I'll be back. If not-well-I can deal with anything for three days.
I always book way out (Year +) and just pay the deposit. I pay the rest when everything is due. So the worst I loose a % of that.
Why do they set up the loungers facing the track instead of the outside faces the water and inside faces the pool? Or at the very least not have them tied up so you can easily turn them. And on the Alaska cruise two weeks ago there were NO loungers on the aft of the ship while in port or while sailing, we had to find a stack of loungers that wasn't tied down and take them 1/4 length of the ship to be able to enjoy the views. That wasn't the only negative but it sure was puzzling.
On the WiFi/drinks being included or not, I do agree that there should be an opt out, or an option to purchase them together as a big package. I have never been on Princess but like the way they structure pricing with base rate, standard package bundle, premium package bundle.
My husband and I take RC cruises a lot. I like the family friendly cruises. You get an occasional screaming kid but honestly I will take that any day over spring break college students drunk partying and swearing. We once had a small group on a cruise who were really bad at the pool bar. Security intervened. The next day we found out they were packed up and kicked off the ship. I love that the policy was enforced. Going off season is the best if you don’t have kids but you may have a few days of poor weather.
My 11 year old son and I just sailed on the west coast to Mexico on Royal Carribean. We had a great time, but there are a few things I hope they somehow change soon.
1 - The West coast on has the Navigator. It is fairly small and not much to do. After two and a half days, we were a bit bored. They only had some ventriloquist for the entertainment and that's it. It only has a couple of stores and there just wasn't a lot that interested me and my son.
2 - The kids club was terrible for my son. He is 11 and was forced to play with a couple of 7 year olds pushing blocks on a table...that's it, thats all he did for 2 hours. Needless to say, I did not take him back the rest of the cruise.
3 - Kids, younger and older were running wild everywhere with no supervision.
4 - Families were stealing door magnets all through the cruise and nothing was done about it. It was obvious who did it because the ding dongs put the magnets all over their doors.
With all of that said, we did have a great time, but uncertain if we will do another cruise with them again.
Hi Matt why does Royal Caribbean do reservations for the shows why not do first come first serve to avoid people not showing up then the stress of being placed on a wait list giving people stress there's a chance of missing the show why should someone who is literally there they should get the seats then if the late people don't need to stress rushing dinner or time at the pool so then they miss the show and are happy
I’m taking my grown daughter on the Bermuda cruise next month. My 3rd RCL cruise!
Some of these issues can be resolved by booking a sky or star class suite. Totally different experience since there are practically no lines, more time to do things other than standing in line.
If I had to say my worse thing, is getting to and from the cruise XD. I live in Kansas and I'm 6.5. The flights are so tight with leg room. My knees are pressed so hard against the back of the seat in front of me. I actually bought knee pads just for flying XD
We've been on 5 oasis class cruises. People think the 6000 plus People on board would be a problem but We've found you don't even notice. Aside from decks 16 and 17 on sunny cruising days most people are dispersed throughout the large ship so you barely notice it.
Also always book your shows, excursions and dinning when you book your cruise preferably at least 8 months in advance.
As far as kids go you barely notice them except at the back of ship where flo riders and basketball courts etc are.
Nice overview ❤ I agree with your comments and the only thing I don't due is book a refundable cruise. Thanks Matt! Yes i am loyal to Royal (and Celebrity for the Panama Canal cruise)
The only thing I didn't like was on the 2nd sailing of Wonder in April '22 we saw the comedian once and 2 nights later we wanted to see them again. And we couldn't book, we waited in line and still couldn't get in.
Went on Allure of the Seas years ago and it never felt crowded. Hope that is the same with Icon of the Seas since we will be going on a cruise in February 2024. We took a cruise last February on a smaller ship Independence of the Seas and it felt crowded, there was always a line for ice cream😂, elevators were crowded, lines for dining even in the main dining room because people decided to come off schedule. Looking forward to the reviews of the Icon!
Sitting on deck 15 on Oasis of the Seas as I type this. Been on her three previous times but this sailing seems far more crowded than in the past. Four days before leaving RC called and advised they overbooked the cruise and asked if we could sail another time. (Big no) The elevators are packed, pool deck, every trivia contest, excursions sold out. The ship has to be at max capacity and it shows. It's frustrating.