Elevator Incident on Rhapsody of the Seas

[amybeth4]

Colleen, there were many "fun" threads last spring, huh? :) I assume you're talking to all the "cut back" threads. You could bring up the first page of the RCI boards and see about six threads just on the cutbacks alone. And within them, this one saying, "don't you get enough," that one saying, "you cruise for a piece of chocolate," and half saying, "I'm switching to Carnival!"

 

THEN we have the threads that took up the REST of the page...Diamonds are no longer allowed in the CL!??! Why should I be loyal? They're not loyal to ME!

 

What, now suite guests get reserved seating?!?!?! (Okay I'm not thrilled with this one and I've said my piece on it, haha.)

 

I wonder what the next big uproar will be. Maybe I'll start one when I get back from my 11/1 Liberty cruise. :)

[FireIce0010]

What's frustrating to me is that on every board I've visited, I'm seeing this same comment being made about that particular cruise line. It seems to be an industry wide trend if these boards are to be believed. I don't currently have a cruise booked, but figuring out which cruise line hasn't gone downhill in this economy is going to be tough.

 

 

Sure have. My cruise on the Westerdam this spring had cutbacks. Did it affect my cruise? No. Still found plenty to do and had a great time. I also paid less for this cruise than I did on my last Holland cruise. I paid less this year to cruise on the Freedom than I did on my last cruise with Royal. The cruise lines have been cutting prices to fill ships. When prices are cut, so are on board expenses.

[Ladylouwho]

Colleen, there were many "fun" threads last spring, huh? :) I assume you're talking to all the "cut back" threads. You could bring up the first page of the RCI boards and see about six threads just on the cutbacks alone. And within them, this one saying, "don't you get enough," that one saying, "you cruise for a piece of chocolate," and half saying, "I'm switching to Carnival!"

 

THEN we have the threads that took up the REST of the page...Diamonds are no longer allowed in the CL!??! Why should I be loyal? They're not loyal to ME!

 

What, now suite guests get reserved seating?!?!?! (Okay I'm not thrilled with this one and I've said my piece on it, haha.)

 

I wonder what the next big uproar will be. Maybe I'll start one when I get back from my 11/1 Liberty cruise. :)

 

Amybeth,

 

Actually it was the Viral Marketing/RC thing to which I was mainly referring. But the others got a little crazy as well.

 

Most of this stuff could easily be avoided if RCI would just stop tampering with a good thing, LOL!!!!!

 

Have fun on the Liberty. We just cruised her in July. Hope you get lots of sunshine and plenty of R & R.

 

Colleen

[hazence]

Yes, Colleen, I too enjoyed the debate on that thread.

 

I've been away a long time and now return to see all those Signatures have gone away. That's a good move.

 

Kudos to RCCL for getting on the right side of that issue.

[theshortchef]

Well, look for the uproar at the end of October when I post my personal opinion of how my upcoming cruise compares to my experiences with NCL. (Just saying NCL around here in a way other than the comparison one of the regulars here makes to a NY garbage barge incites some of the inmates.) We've really enjoyed our NCL cruises but couldn't work with their dates for the itinerary we wanted this fall. So far, booking process goes to NCL, boards go to NCL, website goes to NCL, alchohol policy to NCL, .... news at 11:00.

[struther1]

Well, look for the uproar at the end of October when I post my personal opinion of how my upcoming cruise compares to my experiences with NCL. (Just saying NCL around here in a way other than the comparison one of the regulars here makes to a NY garbage barge incites some of the inmates.) We've really enjoyed our NCL cruises but couldn't work with their dates for the itinerary we wanted this fall. So far, booking process goes to NCL, boards go to NCL, website goes to NCL, alchohol policy to NCL, .... news at 11:00.

Only cruised once on NCL but really enjoyed it. Don't know why we haven't cruised more on NCL except that we are now Diamond on RCCL and it just seems to make sense to stay with them. However if a great deal fell in my lap wouldn't hesitate for a second to cruise with NCL again.

[EVALUATOR]

Amybeth,

 

Actually it was the Viral Marketing/RC thing to which I was mainly referring. But the others got a little crazy as well.

 

Most of this stuff could easily be avoided if RCI would just stop tampering with a good thing, LOL!!!!!

 

Have fun on the Liberty. We just cruised her in July. Hope you get lots of sunshine and plenty of R & R.

 

Colleen

 

Yes, Colleen, I too enjoyed the debate on that thread.

 

I've been away a long time and now return to see all those Signatures have gone away. That's a good move.

 

Kudos to RCCL for getting on the right side of that issue.

The Federal Trade Commission didn't like it either. They issued new guidelines today on viral marketing.http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm

[bahrain_not_dubai!]

On the Marco Polo last year I was in the ship's main elevator when it stoped, again just slightly short of Deck 8. However, they had a telephone in the elevator, so I simply phoned and stated the problem. I was out in 15 minutes time. I think without the telephone, it would have been more difficult to get the problem noticed, esspicaly on a ship of the Marco Polo's age.

[amybeth4]

Amybeth,

 

Actually it was the Viral Marketing/RC thing to which I was mainly referring. But the others got a little crazy as well.

 

Most of this stuff could easily be avoided if RCI would just stop tampering with a good thing, LOL!!!!!

 

Have fun on the Liberty. We just cruised her in July. Hope you get lots of sunshine and plenty of R & R.

 

Colleen

 

Ahhhh. Got it!

 

Thanks for the well wishes. I'm a little nervous because I've convinced a friend, after 17 years, to FINALLY try her first cruise...and I'm hearing a good (bad) mix of positives and negatives about the Liberty. Especially when it comes to weeks that they're practically giving the rooms away. The interior price just dropped (for NY residents) to starting at $459!

 

But I'm looking forward to a Freedom class ship (FINALLY), drinking by the pool and playing all of the ship's dopey games!! :) Oh, and coming home and finally saying I'm platinum.

 

:)

[amybeth4]

Well, look for the uproar at the end of October when I post my personal opinion of how my upcoming cruise compares to my experiences with NCL. (Just saying NCL around here in a way other than the comparison one of the regulars here makes to a NY garbage barge incites some of the inmates.) We've really enjoyed our NCL cruises but couldn't work with their dates for the itinerary we wanted this fall. So far, booking process goes to NCL, boards go to NCL, website goes to NCL, alchohol policy to NCL, .... news at 11:00.

 

I hope you can post your review before 10/31. I'm looking very forward to reading your comparison and am leaving 10/31 for an 11/1 cruise and by the time I get back it might be buried...unless it's volatile... :)

 

(And I'm with you that damn alcohol policy...and RCI's website is pretty annoying!)

 

I sailed NCL once, but it was the Norway so that doesn't count...

[celle]

Solving traumatic situations like this with a drink is old-fashioned I know -perhaps we should have arranged for a year's counselling LOL LOL.:D:D

 

Completely off topic, but I have just read a well-sourced scientific report that concludes that those who have counselling do no better in the long run than those who do not. I'd go with the drink, too! :) And chocolate! ;)

[jallison8378]

The squeeky wheel gets the grease. Guess the OP didn't squeek.

 

I stopped reading at this comment; it is what immediately came to mind after reading the original post. The OP does, indeed, sound like a very sweet, easy-going person (not to mention a wonderful storyteller!), so it was probably not in her nature to barge off to customer relations and demand compensation for a relatively benign incident. However, because there are so many of these squeaky wheels demanding compensation for benign reasons nowadays, cruise lines/resorts/whatever don't go out of their way to compensate people who don't complain. It's a shame. The squeaky wheels always get the grease, and us reasonable people get nothing. I agree that a note or a phone call apologizing for the incident would have been adequate. I wouldn't expect anything more from a mass market line like Royal Caribbean.

 

As for the person who said, "it's all about values." Are you serious? People on this board are so self-righteous it is hilarious! I'm reminded of the thread a couple weeks ago about taking your kids out of school to cruise and all the Parents of the Century who chimed in to say the issue was "all about morals" or "all about values." So anyone who agrees with you has values, and anyone who disagrees doesn't? Is being judgmental a value these days? You people are parodies of yourselves.

 

OP, thanks for the story, and especially for the holier-than-thou responses and arguments you've elicited from the Cruise Critic "community". I've been thoroughly entertained. ;)

[Ladylouwho]

Well, look for the uproar at the end of October when I post my personal opinion of how my upcoming cruise compares to my experiences with NCL. (Just saying NCL around here in a way other than the comparison one of the regulars here makes to a NY garbage barge incites some of the inmates.) We've really enjoyed our NCL cruises but couldn't work with their dates for the itinerary we wanted this fall. So far, booking process goes to NCL, boards go to NCL, website goes to NCL, alchohol policy to NCL, .... news at 11:00.

 

Well my husband and I canceled a cruise on the Mariner of the Seas last May and booked our first NCL cruise on the Jade at the last minute. It was a 5 night cruise out of Southampton, England to Ireland RT. We were given $100 OBC just for using our American Express to pay for the cruise. They assigned us a personal cruise consultant the minute I put the cruise on hold online.

 

We decided to just do the specialty restaurants for dinner since they had many, so we ate somewhere different every night. The per restaurant fee varied from free to $10-$25 pp. But the cruise itself, for an aft balcony was only $519.00 pp and the $100 OBC.

 

We found the service to be excellent and the employees very friendly. The food in the specialty restaurants was very good, especially Cagneys, the Steak House, definitely as good or better than Chops. I personally prefer the Windjammer on RCI to the Garden Cafe on NCL for variety for breakfast and lunch but the buffet food was fine.

 

Our cabin steward was very nice, helpful and efficient. The cabin was a little smaller than the balcony cabins on RCI but I loved the layout of the bathroom. The sink was in the middle, with the shower on one side of the room with sliding door and the commode on the other side with a sliding privacy door.

 

Because we booked a balcony cabin we had priority with dinner reservations, although I don't know that we really needed it. There was a coffemaker in the cabin. Loved that! Also, the cabin fridge contained beer, wine and small bottles of liquor for purchase as well as soda, juice and water. I felt like they were treating us like the adults that we are!

 

We enjoyed the cruise. We were two of only a few hundred Americans on board (mostly Brits) so that was a little different. But we met some very nice and fun folks.

 

I would cruise NCL again, no problem.

 

The NCL and Carnival bashing that goes on here is ridiculous. Insecure folks protecting "their" cruise line. If people have had bad experiences on NCL or Carnival, fine, tell us about it. But neither Line is bad. They are just different. But they are more similar than different in my opinion. I have sailed Carnival once, the Conquest out of Galveston, Thanksgiving, 2007. We had a great time.

 

Just because someone enjoys another cruise line it doesn't mean they don't like RCI. I hope I get the chance to sail at least once on EVERY Cruise Line.

 

Colleen

[Ladylouwho]

 

you people are parodies of yourselves.

 

 

Good One! Love it! But don't be too judgmental now, lol!!!!

 

 

Colleen

[theshortchef]

I purposely avoided the thread about taking kids out of school for vacation since I was already knee deep in the community thrashings and was in shell shock after coming here from such friendly boards! Now that I'm feeling a little less horrified by the climate around here, I'll add my 2 cents that I took my kids out of school (prior to middle school) for vacation. One of my kids is in her 2nd year at Harvard Law and the other is starting law school next fall so it looks like it worked out ok. (So, there! :))

 

Amybeth, my very first cruise was on the Norway in the early 80's. Phyllis Diller was the entertainer on that sailing, that was sooo cool!

 

I will post my review during the week before Halloween.

[Ladylouwho]

Completely off topic, but I have just read a well-sourced scientific report that concludes that those who have counselling do no better in the long run than those who do not. I'd go with the drink, too! :) And chocolate! ;)

 

Off Topic, Off Topic? We can't get Off Topic. We can ONLY talk about Elevators here.

 

Oh....and I vote for the alcohol and chocolate as well.

 

 

Colleen

[TEXASMUNK]

Thank you for the acknowledgement...yup, I am the NCL is a NYC garbage scow guy!

 

Not looking for any argument, just smiling that folks are allowed differing opinions! I respect yours!!!!

[Cruising89143]

Well, look for the uproar at the end of October when I post my personal opinion of how my upcoming cruise compares to my experiences with NCL. (Just saying NCL around here in a way other than the comparison one of the regulars here makes to a NY garbage barge incites some of the inmates.) We've really enjoyed our NCL cruises but couldn't work with their dates for the itinerary we wanted this fall. So far, booking process goes to NCL, boards go to NCL, website goes to NCL, alchohol policy to NCL, .... news at 11:00.

 

NCL is not bad. We took NCL to Alaska back in July. This was my fourth cruise on NCL but only the second recently. Like all cruise lines, they have both the good and bad. I like Freestyle which is why I was happy when RCI went to My Time Dining. IMO this is the future of cruising.

 

We ate all seven nights in the specialty dining rooms as the menus in the main dining rooms were not that inviting. The food in the specialty dining rooms were good with the exception of the Asian dining room. Since we were booked in a true suite, we had breakfast and lunch daily in Cagney's included. This was worth the price of a suite alone. Wish RCI would look at this. The food here was very good.

 

Entertainment was good but IMHO not up to RCI's standards. Very nice show lounge with good sight lines though. Crew was friendly and the ship clean and in good working order. Best embarkation yet as they greeted us curbside and escorted us to the private check in counter and onto the ship. Out of the cruise lines that I have cruised, NCL treats suite passsengers better than anyone.

 

I would cruise with them again. They actually rate second in my book after RCI and before HAL and Carnival.

[Ladylouwho]

I purposely avoided the thread about taking kids out of school for vacation since I was already knee deep in the community thrashings and was in shell shock after coming here from such friendly boards! Now that I'm feeling a little less horrified by the climate around here, I'll add my 2 cents that I took my kids out of school (prior to middle school) for vacation. One of my kids is in her 2nd year at Harvard Law and the other is starting law school next fall so it looks like it worked out ok. (So, there! :))

 

Amybeth, my very first cruise was on the Norway in the early 80's. Phyllis Diller was the entertainer on that sailing, that was sooo cool!

 

I will post my review during the week before Halloween.

 

I avoided that thread also. I have a Confession as well. We let our two youngest girls skip school last year. Our high schooler skipped the Friday before Thanksgiving and they had Thanksgiving week off. Our College aged daughter missed 3 days, GASP!!!!

 

We took them on a cruise to the Meditteranean on the Voyager of the Seas. They visited

Barcelona, Spain, Nice, France, Florence and Pisa, Italy, Rome, Italy, Naples, Sorrento and Positano, Italy and Palermo, Sicily. I guess visiting and learning about the Vatican,The Colliseum, and Pompeii among others, kind of outweighed a day or three of school in my book. Somehow I have no guilt about that.

 

I have guilt about other things mind you, but not that.

 

Oh and Chef, my oldest daughter is in her second year of Law School. So I guess I'm not a complete loser as a Mom. LOL!!!!

 

Although it was only her brains and determination that got her there nothing that we Parents did. We only get blamed for the bad stuff, right, no credit for the good? lol!

 

Colleen

[amybeth4]

Amybeth, my very first cruise was on the Norway in the early 80's. Phyllis Diller was the entertainer on that sailing, that was sooo cool!

 

I will post my review during the week before Halloween.

 

Phyllis Diller!?!! How FUN! No one seems to book headline acts anymore...it stinks! Fred Travelina was on some cruise I was on...I THINK it was the Grand Princess, but it MIGHT have been the Grandeur, both back in the 90s. (They all run into each other at this point.) He wasn't particularly funny but it's still fun to see someone that's an actual minor celebrity. Friends of mine once had Joan Rivers on their cruise.

 

I'm glad you'll be reviewing before 10/31! Have a great cruise and make sure you step over all the garbage.

[Ladylouwho]

Ahhhh. Got it!

 

Thanks for the well wishes. I'm a little nervous because I've convinced a friend, after 17 years, to FINALLY try her first cruise...and I'm hearing a good (bad) mix of positives and negatives about the Liberty. Especially when it comes to weeks that they're practically giving the rooms away. The interior price just dropped (for NY residents) to starting at $459!

 

But I'm looking forward to a Freedom class ship (FINALLY), drinking by the pool and playing all of the ship's dopey games!! :) Oh, and coming home and finally saying I'm platinum.

 

:)

Amybeth,

Pretty cool for your friend to take her first cruise on a Freedom Class Ship. You will have fun on the Liberty. That is a great rate!!!!! We paid @$1,200.00 pp for an inside for my daughter and her friend on our July sailing on the Liberty. You lucky folks who can sail in the off season get the deals.

 

Liberty has her good and bad points. Mostly good, and if your sailing isn't full all the better. Like I said, I hope you get great warm, sunny weather. That will make the cruise that much nicer.

 

 

Colleen

[Captain Jake]

 

I stopped reading at this comment; it is what immediately came to mind after reading the original post. The OP does, indeed, sound like a very sweet, easy-going person (not to mention a wonderful storyteller!), so it was probably not in her nature to barge off to customer relations and demand compensation for a relatively benign incident. However, because there are so many of these squeaky wheels demanding compensation for benign reasons nowadays, cruise lines/resorts/whatever don't go out of their way to compensate people who don't complain. It's a shame. The squeaky wheels always get the grease, and us reasonable people get nothing. I agree that a note or a phone call apologizing for the incident would have been adequate. I wouldn't expect anything more from a mass market line like Royal Caribbean.

 

As for the person who said, "it's all about values." Are you serious? People on this board are so self-righteous it is hilarious! I'm reminded of the thread a couple weeks ago about taking your kids out of school to cruise and all the Parents of the Century who chimed in to say the issue was "all about morals" or "all about values." So anyone who agrees with you has values, and anyone who disagrees doesn't? Is being judgmental a value these days? You people are parodies of yourselves.

 

OP, thanks for the story, and especially for the holier-than-thou responses and arguments you've elicited from the Cruise Critic "community". I've been thoroughly entertained. ;)

 

Thank You for returning the favor

:cj

[luckyprincess]

struther1,

I absolutely agree, that is why I have never used it. And I KNOW I am on some ignore lists and that makes me HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!

 

Colleen

I'm SURE I am, too! Lol - ok by me - my list grew after my jeans/shorts poll!:eek::p

[luckyprincess]

I appreciate this post and agree with your thoughts. I've been on these boards a very short time and been asked to leave probably a half dozen times!!! That seems to be one of the several standby attacks when someone doesn't think just like some of the people on here. Due to scheduling we are taking our first cruise on RCCL instead of repeating with NCL which we've been very happy with. And darn, the NCL boards are friendly, informative, and just plain fun. I do hope the cruise experience is better than the board experience.

If you don't like being told to leave why don't you just leave then?;) Jk:D

[Ladylouwho]

I'm SURE I am, too! Lol - ok by me - my list grew after my jeans/shorts poll!:eek::p

 

Ah...but luckyprincess, the entertainment value in that thread was priceless, lol

 

 

 

Colleen