Rhapsody review 12/5/04

First, let me state this review is based on my experiences aboard the ship and reflect my opinion only!! This was our first cruise.

We stayed at the Best Western the night before the cruise. Rate was a little high because of Dickens on the Strand, but we had a 2nd floor view of the sea.

We were also allowed to leave our car at the hotel for the week, saving us $60 in parking fees (they have a covered garage).

Left for the pier about 11:00, and walked right up to the check in desk. The employee at the counter told us this was the earliest that had embarked in a long time. We were on board by 11:45. Went to the Windjammer for buffet, as we were not allowed to our rooms til 13:00.

We took the cruise as a 20th annv gift, but also took our 2 teens (18 & 16), so we booked 2 interior rooms, rather than 1 larger room. Layout was adequate for the space, and we werent in them much anyway.

I thought the Rhapsody was beautiful-very classy, lovely public areas. I was very impressed with the lack of trash. With that many people on board, everything was picked up or cleared almost immediately. All of the crew was friendly, and worked very hard.

Capt Rolf was a hoot! Imagine Sean Connery in "Red October" with a norwegian accent. His daily updates were hilarious and philosophical.

I was a bit apprehensive after reading reviews here on the food, and other issues, but we had decided to keep an open mind, and form our own opinions.

For the amount of people served, we were impressed with the food service.

There was always plenty of variety, and for the most part, hot foods were hot, cold foods cold. (maybe a little spottier in the WJ than the Dining room)

The shows were good (loved Toxic Audio) and the musicians were great. (lots of variety whatever you liked to listen to)

Bingo sucked, but that had more to do with my cards and lack of luck! ; )

Ditto on the casino...

Ports- hated Key West. If we returned I would either stay aboard, or take a water excursion. Seemed it was only bars, and head shops.

Never having been to Grand C., I thought Costa Maya was great, but I like primitive. Spent a very relaxing day on the beach.

Cozumel was where we spent our honeymoon 20 years ago-boy, has it changed! (as have we ; )

Wasnt real comfortable with the aggressive natives trying to sell you things.

We did take the Playa Mia Palancar Reef snorkel- it was excellent. (esp for the price $44)

Disembarkation- was a breeze. Stayed on the 7th deck, so was one of the earlier called. From immigration to the taxi was maybe 45 minutes.

Complaints- well, of course I have to have at least one! It was the constant marketing being shoved down your throat at every moment on the ship. The port reviews were thinly veiled hawking of RCCL sanctioned shops. Then there were the photos ($16-19 ea), the extra charge for Dr Pepper (which is a Coke product, so I cant figure that out) the bingo, the horse races, the souvenir glasses (it was hard to get the drink of the day WITHOUT the souv. glass), the pushing of spa products with any treatment, the extra charge for exercise classes, etc,etc.It kind of cheapened my opinion of RCCL. And why not just add the crew tips in the total charge of the cruise?(Instead of shoving the envelopes and tipping video down your throat) Our stateroom attendant (Stephen-he was great) was so grateful, saying he got stiffed by most on our cruise. This is their salary, not a perk, and they work SO hard.

Would I do it again? In an instant! On rccl? You bet,based on what others have told me of their experiences on other lines. Sorry so lengthy, tried to touch on the main points.

What do you mean xtra charge for Dr. Pepper??? (which by the way is a pepsi product).....

Good review....I will be on the Rhapsody on the 9th!!!! I can't wait!

Thanks for the great review! We are going on Rhapsody in Feb for our first cruise.

FYI - Dr Pepper is not a Pepsi product or a Coke product (Coke makes Mr Pibb) Dr Pepper is usually distributed with Coke (if area does not have Mr Pibb) so it seems like it should be a Coke product. I'm surprised they charge extra for it but Texans love their Dr Pepper so I guess they figure they can charge for it and get away with it. Do they have Diet Dr Pepper? That is what I drink and I'm planning on bringing some with me.

Kellye

 

Capt Rolf was a hoot! Imagine Sean Connery in "Red October" with a norwegian accent. His daily updates were hilarious and philosophical.

 

Funny! That's exactly what I told my husband! And I LOVE Sean Connery!

Not that it really matters but Dr. Pepper is a Dr. Pepper/7Up product. In some markets Dr. Pepper is bottled by a bottling company that also has a Coke bottling agreement.

Thank's for your review. Not that it matters but on the West Coast Dr Pepper is a 7UP product..go figure:confused: Another words you can't purchase DP on your Soda Card????

Thanks for your review:) We are going on this cruise for the first time 01/30/05.

So, am I understanding that you stopped at Costa Maya rather than Grand Cayman? I do not see our ship on the list to arrive at the port on the Grand Cayman Port Authority website, so wondered. I know the island has been overwhelmed with hurricane and earthquake damage...

Thanks!

Kathy

A whole informative review of a ship, and all we ask about is the Dr. Pepper!! :D But, I have to ask, is it extra on top of the soda card, or just mor expensive if you're buying a soda at a bar or meal?

Also, you were on the 7th deck. I am in one of the Royal Family Suites, but one on the 7th, not 8th deck. Are these named like the upstairs ones? Was there a lot of hallway noise because of all the foot traffic?

Complaints- well, of course I have to have at least one! It was the constant marketing being shoved down your throat at every moment on the ship. The port reviews were thinly veiled hawking of RCCL sanctioned shops. Then there were the photos ($16-19 ea), the extra charge for Dr Pepper (which is a Coke product, so I cant figure that out) the bingo, the horse races, the souvenir glasses (it was hard to get the drink of the day WITHOUT the souv. glass), the pushing of spa products with any treatment, the extra charge for exercise classes, etc,etc.It kind of cheapened my opinion of RCCL. And why not just add the crew tips in the total charge of the cruise?(Instead of shoving the envelopes and tipping video down your throat) Our stateroom attendant (Stephen-he was great) was so grateful, saying he got stiffed by most on our cruise. This is their salary, not a perk, and they work SO hard.

 

 

The souvenir glasses are great for other things when you get home. DW used ours for serving guacomole and other things at a family get together.

 

I think the reason the shopping guide pushes the RCCL sanctioned shops is to protect you, the ships passenger. They constantly say that if you purchase something at a sanctioned shop and something goes wrong with it, RCCL will back it.

 

The prizes in the horseraces are paid for by the passengers who participate. DW won $26 in one race. The winner of the owner's cup won $840.

 

On the bingo finale, the cash prize was $6,000. This was because so many participated in bingo throughout the week.

 

I agree that sometimes the it appears that there is a lot of marketing, but it is for the passengers.

Sorry, in KS Dr P is distributed with Coke products. And it was an extra charge on the soda card. Same price as other sodas if you had no card. My son did have the pass, and discovered this covered Shirley Temples, Rob Roys, etc, which was fun for him.

I did preface this review by saying it was MY opinion. If being bombarded with a sales pitch is your thing, or playing bingo, horse race, etc, THAT"S fine. It's just not my thing. I dont need any extra pieces of rccl crap at home- I have my memories and pix.

There was literature that said the port stores PAID a fee to rccl to be represented in the port talks. I think anything you buy at a foreign port is at your own risk- I dont need the cruise line pimping for the vendors.

We had a room right by the elevators, and hall noise was never a problem for us.

We had taken a white noise machine with us- listened to "waves" at night as well!

As for the port change, we were given a letter at check-in stating the change. There is a calendar on a G.C. website that has a ship itinerary.(katandbud-do you have link?) I will try to find it- we knew about 3 weeks ahead we would not port there by looking at the calendar. : ( Looks like only the larger ships are being let in.)

I think the most important thing is go with no expectations or prejudices,form your own opinions, doing your favorite things, and you will have a WONDERFUL time!!

Stillfrantic, the only suites with names are the Owner's Suites and Grand Suites. Royal Family Suites are not named and have no notation on the wall in the hall that they are anything special.

I use my souvenir glasses to serve frozen drinks at home. It's a little fanasy to fill the days between cruises!!

per their website

DR PEPPER, DR, PEPPER and RED FUSION are trademarks of Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. ©2003 Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.

Brands & Promotions

While the DPSU refreshment roster boasts Dr Pepper and

7 UP, our lineup also includes A&W, Sunkist, Slush Puppie and RC Cola brands, Squirt, Welch´s and Canada Dry.

Some one told us that Dr. Pepper was served in a can on the Rhapsody and not a fountain drink so it is not included in the soda card which was only for fountain drinks. Thus the extra charge for Dr. Pepper.