Just off FOS 05/18/2015

[Sewkitty]

Departure process is the norm as with other cruise lines. Just remember to print out the complete ticket booklet and go through it page by page. Complete your paper documents that are included in the printed packet. Also remember to pre-fill out documents that are also online.

 

One problem I noticed the first day is that this is a very large ship....with elevators ONLY in the forward and aft of the ship. There is usually a wait for the elevators because of the amount of passengers and the size of the ship. Same for stairs either end of the ship except for a couple stairways from one deck to another in certain areas. Otherwise there is a LOT of walking no matter where you go. If you enjoy a show before or after dinner, be prepared to walk the length of a football field to get from one place to the other.

 

We are Crown & Anchor members and have also cruised on many other cruise lines in the past. DH and our friend, that is a Diamond member, have commented on how the "little things" are missing. The chocolates were a nice touch and how costly were they to give each night? We noticed there were no more nice amenities in the bathroom outside of a shampoo dispenser and 2 foul smelling bars of soap. Friend's comment "is that is what happens when financial experts step in." Squeezing every penny and fleecing the passengers after they have come aboard.

 

Activities used to have so many listed for each time period that a passenger had a hard time trying to decide what to do. Now there are big 'holes' in the activity schedule. Quite a few activities now cost $. Then when popular activities are held, they are located in small areas. Such as Trivia, which draws a big crowd, being held in the Schooner Bar. Karaoke being held in an area that draws such a large crowd it spills out into the area that needs to be free for others to walk by.

 

The liquor prices are the same as on land or a little more expensive. Spirits and beer are purchased directly from the company at a huge savings but yet the passengers are gouged with the pricing. I know the company needs to recoup the expense to build and operate these huge ships but do not inflate the alcohol prices to the point that DH and I only ordered occasionally.

 

The pool area is nice but passengers place towels on chairs/loungers around the pool starting at 7:30 AM. You never see those passengers again as they never occupy the saved chair/lounger. The Deck Patrol is of no help enforcing the 'saved' but unoccupied loungers.

 

The outside big screen is a waste as it is not fully utilized. Trivia is posted on it most of the day. Another suggestion, why not offer fairly recent movies on the in cabin television for those that would like to see a movie in comfort?

 

As for the food, I have to agree with another reviewer. Carnival food on long cruises is much better than RCI. (The Carnival menus on the 3-4 day cruises are much different than the longer cruises) Yes, the Carnival portions are smaller but you can always ask for another portion. The variety is good on both lines. On NCL, the buffet food was really hot and not lukewarm like on RCL. At the omelet station DH's eggs were always too well cooked and never over easy as requested. In the main dining room, it did not matter if you had early/late seating or my time dining. Both meals took approx. 2 hours. No quick meal service in the main dining room. I did note that on the bottom right corner of the evening menu, they had specialty items you could order for $ like in the specialty restaurants.

 

Sorry this is long winded, just typing as things popped into my little brain.

[Yorkvillain]

Wow, I don't think I have ever seen so many negative comments in one short-review like this before.

 

I'm so sorry you had a bad time. Was there anything you liked about the trip?

[Keith1010]

Thanks for your trip report.

 

Keith

[beerman2]

Hope your next cruise is better.

 

Cruise lines are no different than Corporate America these days, as most try cost cutting measures.

 

Drink prices yes they are high, but if you've ever since a show on cruising, they admit drinks Are a big part of the cruise industries profit margin .

[MaryL31]

Hmmm...just got off Freedom myself from the same cruise...Let's see...where to start? This is our 5th RCI cruise, and our second on Freedom. Though we have had difficulty getting an uncrowded elevator to step on in the past, this cruise it was noticeably different for us. No elevators issues whatsoever, except for the usual one we have noticed on all past cruises. Seems that early on, people are friendly and will step to the back of an elevator to make room, but toward the end of the cruise, this does not happen. Same story for every cruise.

 

Food? We ordered a second portion of whatever we wanted, and ordered a second appetizer when we did not care for the one we had. Lobster tail night, our waiter insisted on bringing me a second plate because I was the only one at the table that did not order both lobster AND prime rib. DH and DS both had 2 tails.

 

There was never a time when we didn't have 2 or more things we wanted to do at the same time, but happy, relaxed exhaustion kept us from accomplishing more. As for Trivia, yes, I will admit that the Schooner Bar does get crowded. That's why we get there early. have also seen this on other ships in the past.

 

I felt that the crowd control was much improved on this sailing as compared to what I have seen in the past, and was surprised to read your review. Almost sounds like we were on 2 different ships. I suggest you stick to whatever cruise lines you normally sail whom you do not think are ripping you off. It will leave more room for those of us who enjoy this amazing ship!

[tthomp06]

FYI......sometimes negative reviews a written by employees of the. competition........Just saying.

 

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forums mobile app

[Thetrail]

Departure process is the norm as with other cruise lines. Just remember to print out the complete ticket booklet and go through it page by page. Complete your paper documents that are included in the printed packet. Also remember to pre-fill out documents that are also online.

 

One problem I noticed the first day is that this is a very large ship....with elevators ONLY in the forward and aft of the ship. There is usually a wait for the elevators because of the amount of passengers and the size of the ship. Same for stairs either end of the ship except for a couple stairways from one deck to another in certain areas. Otherwise there is a LOT of walking no matter where you go. If you enjoy a show before or after dinner, be prepared to walk the length of a football field to get from one place to the other.

 

We are Crown & Anchor members and have also cruised on many other cruise lines in the past. DH and our friend, that is a Diamond member, have commented on how the "little things" are missing. The chocolates were a nice touch and how costly were they to give each night? We noticed there were no more nice amenities in the bathroom outside of a shampoo dispenser and 2 foul smelling bars of soap. Friend's comment "is that is what happens when financial experts step in." Squeezing every penny and fleecing the passengers after they have come aboard.

 

Activities used to have so many listed for each time period that a passenger had a hard time trying to decide what to do. Now there are big 'holes' in the activity schedule. Quite a few activities now cost $. Then when popular activities are held, they are located in small areas. Such as Trivia, which draws a big crowd, being held in the Schooner Bar. Karaoke being held in an area that draws such a large crowd it spills out into the area that needs to be free for others to walk by.

 

The liquor prices are the same as on land or a little more expensive. Spirits and beer are purchased directly from the company at a huge savings but yet the passengers are gouged with the pricing. I know the company needs to recoup the expense to build and operate these huge ships but do not inflate the alcohol prices to the point that DH and I only ordered occasionally.

 

The pool area is nice but passengers place towels on chairs/loungers around the pool starting at 7:30 AM. You never see those passengers again as they never occupy the saved chair/lounger. The Deck Patrol is of no help enforcing the 'saved' but unoccupied loungers.

 

The outside big screen is a waste as it is not fully utilized. Trivia is posted on it most of the day. Another suggestion, why not offer fairly recent movies on the in cabin television for those that would like to see a movie in comfort?

 

As for the food, I have to agree with another reviewer. Carnival food on long cruises is much better than RCI. (The Carnival menus on the 3-4 day cruises are much different than the longer cruises) Yes, the Carnival portions are smaller but you can always ask for another portion. The variety is good on both lines. On NCL, the buffet food was really hot and not lukewarm like on RCL. At the omelet station DH's eggs were always too well cooked and never over easy as requested. In the main dining room, it did not matter if you had early/late seating or my time dining. Both meals took approx. 2 hours. No quick meal service in the main dining room. I did note that on the bottom right corner of the evening menu, they had specialty items you could order for $ like in the specialty restaurants.

 

Sorry this is long winded, just typing as things popped into my little brain.

Just sailed FOS and had the exact opposite experience and comments that you have made. Had soap, shampoo,conditioner, body lotion. Main dining room we were in and out in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Chocolate on the pillows, honestly, who cares. Food in the MDR was very good all week IMHO. Windjammer eggs and omelets were cooked to perfection for us. Elevators and stairs were never crowded after the first day.All in all thought it was a wonderful cruise.:) Edited May 27, 2014 by Thetrail

[MaryL31]

Sounds like that could be the case here...this poster is writing about changes (no chocolate) that took place years ago. Drink prices, BTW, were generally about average...Campari and Club (my drink) and 7 and 7 (DH's drink) were both $7. Of course, martini's and the like were more expensive. Same as anywhere on land.

[leahlovescruising]

On the sailing as well and also opposite thoughts of OP for the most part BUT vacations can vary greatly from one person to the next.

 

We actually found elevators not crowded with very little wait. In fact, when you think there would be waits, like after the dreamworks parade, we walked right on. We also never had more than an hour in the dining room (we ate between 5:30-6).

 

I'll post a review soon. The ONLY bad part of my trip was the NORO that started 6 hours after getting home.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

The liquor prices are the same as on land or a little more expensive. Spirits and beer are purchased directly from the company at a huge savings but yet the passengers are gouged with the pricing. I know the company needs to recoup the expense to build and operate these huge ships but do not inflate the alcohol prices to the point that DH and I only ordered occasionally.

I don't understand this complaint. If the prices are the same as on line or a "little" more expensive, does that mean you get "gouged" on land also? :confused:

[ryano]

Did you enjoy ANYTHING? :confused:

[dorisis]

The only thing I miss is the candy on my pillow. Maybe they should make that Diamond perk.

Edited May 27, 2014 by dorisis

[villager70]

Sorry you had a bad trip.

 

We were on her two weeks before and had a wonderful cruise. All lines have cut a few corners now but had sailed Freedom before and booked again 12-7. We had a great dining room experience, also ate at chops and really didn't have any bad experiences We always weigh the bad and the good like any other vacation and in our 40 cruises the good always comes out on top. Bob

[matj2000]

People on this site get so defensive against anyone who has the slightest negative comments about RC.

Then they go into "attack mode" , just to convince themselves that RC can "do no wrong".

The OP had some issues on her trip and she is expressing them.

I have had plenty off issues with RC so I understand her frustration...

[ryano]

People on this site get so defensive against anyone who has the slightest negative comments about RC.

 

...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uhhh no :rolleyes: MOST OF US expect when someone writes a review for it to at least contain SOMETHING positive instead of being a whine fest :rolleyes:

 

Where in anything here did you see someone attack her? Bottom line is you didnt. You just had to get your daily snide remark in about the people of this site. Pretty typical of you

Edited May 27, 2014 by ryano

[Big_G]

Wow, I don't think I have ever seen so many negative comments in one short-review like this before.

 

I'm so sorry you had a bad time. Was there anything you liked about the trip?

 

Especially for a trip they haven't taken yet.

 

People on this site get so defensive against anyone who has the slightest negative comments about RC.

 

Then they go into "attack mode" , just to convince themselves that RC can "do no wrong".

 

The OP had some issues on her trip and she is expressing them.

 

I have had plenty off issues with RC so I understand her frustration...

 

 

Expressing an opposing opinion shouldn't be considered attack mode. You've also been around long enough to realize, if the critique had been balanced, they probably wouldn't have been rebuffed. If anyone thinks the drink prices are gouging then let me know where you live so I can move there. ;)

Edited May 27, 2014 by Big_G

[matj2000]

Uhhh no :rolleyes: MOST OF US expect when someone writes a review for it to at least contain SOMETHING positive instead of being a whine fest :rolleyes:

 

 

There is not a rule or "unwritten rule" that states you need to make both + & - comments about a trip..

She was just going with what came to mind...

[matj2000]

Especially for a trip they haven't taken yet.

 

 

Is there something I'm missing?

Don't understand this comment..

[Big_G]

Is there something I'm missing?

 

Don't understand this comment..

 

Just off FOS 05/18/2015

[matj2000]

Just off FOS 05/18/2015

 

Next Year!!!!!!!!!!

Either a typo, or she is predicting her trip....

[orville99]

Just off FOS 05/18/2015

 

Obviously a typo:rolleyes:

[Big_G]

Obviously a typo:rolleyes:

 

Thanks, I guess I should have put a little smiley face after it so I didn't get the rolling eyes in response. :D

Edited May 27, 2014 by Big_G

[mike45orlando]

We were on this cruise and the week prior and both were perfect except colder beer please!!!!

[Irene7]

FYI......sometimes negative reviews a written by employees of the. competition........Just saying.

 

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forums mobile app

 

Don't you just love those Phantom reviews!

[SmokeOnTheWater71]

This PX. talks about drink prices when I bought booz for the airlines in the 70s you paid 1.50 for a drink the little bottle cost the airline .08 cents then in the hotel we bought vodka for 4.00 a bottle sold it for 32.00 dollars and recently we bought crown royal for 28.00 dollars sold the bottle for 120.00 that was a golf course some guys wanted to by the whole bottle for the day don't get me started on food prices.maybe rc should lower the price of food and drinks and raise the cruise price then they wouldn't have anybody on their ships.