What Was Royal Caribbean Like Back in the Day?

[Nado44]

This fun question is for the veteran cruisers who've sailed with Royal Caribbean for 20+ years. I would enjoy and appreciate hearing anecdotes or stories about what cruising with Royal Caribbean was like back then?

 

Some questions I have are: Were passengers more well-dressed and/or behaved? Was the general atmosphere more refined or even stately? Was there more passenger interaction? Were two-tops as popular then as they are today? What shipboard activities do you miss? What venues or customs have gone the way of the dinosaur? What was Labadee like in 1986?

[mduffy1834]

Our first cruise was on Monarch in May, 1997. As far as dinner goes, we were automatically assigned to a table of 8 and had a fantastic experience. Dinner was long, well organized, and the menu vast. On formal nights, two of the men were in tuxes - lots of tuxes back then. Women were in long gowns, nicely coifed. One thing I remember, and miss, is the nightly shot of the day in Royal Caribbean shot glasses or little metal goblets that you got to keep that waiters would carry around after the meal. Our table did partake in one every night. Don't think Labardee was around back then, but I could be wrong. We went southern route.

[Gwendy914]

Oh I can't wait to read more replies! What a great thread idea. :)

[truffles2]

When embarking, you were met with a glass of champagne and a staffer who escorted you to your cabin.

 

When you returned from breakfast (no matter how early), your cabin was made for the day! I really miss that.

[cruisinfanatic]

Yes, much more formal. My wife had a to die for dress with a train. Lots of compliments.

No more free soda in the dining room.

Haven't see horse racing in ages

no skeet shooting of the aft deck

Midnight buffets every night!

Mid night chocolate buffets in the dining room

Delicious deserts everywhere

No more farewell show "If I were not upon the sea" on Royal Caribbean

Food at the late night deck party

In 1995 Beer then $2.50

Frozen drinks $3.75

Whiskey Sour $3.25

Edited June 26, 2015 by SeaUs

[Summerknight]

Baked Alaska that was on fire that the waiters brought in on their heads. No female servers back in the day. The waiters always said the work was too rough for the women. My how times have changed.

 

There were no two tops when we began cruising in 1996.

 

The midnight buffet was truly amazing, but I was always to full to enjoy.

[Summerknight]

Oh....and waiters in the casino in the wee hours with trays of appetizers.

[M&M Hayden]

Our first cruise in '91 on Song of America stopped in Labadee.

There were no roller coasters, zip lines, blow up water things, no gas fired bbqs or even flush toilets (ladies toilets were the 'squat over the opening' type.

They didn't have cement sidewalks.

They did have a big tin garage that housed the native folks selling their stuff (not sure if it's the same building as it is now).

NO vehicles went on the road that goes up to the start of the zip line back then while ship passengers were on there. It was HEAVILY guarded.

They did have a few hammocks up, but otherwise you laid on your towel.

They had 1st aid stations (huts) at the beaches (a friend got stung by a jelly fish and got to visit the hut)

 

Also this we miss from cruises of the past is hitting golf balls off the back of the ship.

[JimAOk1945]

Nado44

 

Thanks so much for starting this wonderful thread. I'm looking forward to seeing the responses. We took our first RC cruise in 2011. I had no idea it was such a beautifully refined experience back in the day.

Edited June 26, 2015 by JimAOk1945

[Hannahsmum]

I remember Dining room Captains making Caesar Salad table side plus Cherries Jubilee. Those were the days!!!

[tommoore1]

 

DSLW misses the chocolate mints on our pillow every night, but I swear they were made of 50% wax!

 

 

[ATC cruiser]

I think the general population was better dressed and more well behaved 20+ years ago, not just cruisers

[WhenIsLobsterNight]

1. You had welcome aboard free drinks handed to you when you walked on the ship.

2. At breakfast you had free fresh squeezed orange juice, apple juice, pineapple juice and several other juices available for you free of charge in tiny little glasses.

3. Chocolates on the pillow at night.

4. The waitstaff at dinner was not slammed and overwhelmed with work. If you asked about their country and family, they would talk your ear off with a smile on their face.

5. You had a welcome back free gift in your room when you first got to your cabin.

6. "Horse racing" and horse race gambling by the pool deck several days a week.

7. Fitness classes were free of charge and you accumulated "ship shape dollars" that you could exchange for a free t-shirt at the end of the week.

8. The ships were smaller but more upscale.

9. People dressed up at dinner multiple nights a week in suits and dresses. Dinners were much formal than these days.

10. Flaming cherry jubilee was made at the table by the head waiter for dessert at least one night each sailing.

11. Drink prices were higher than land, but not nearly as absurd as they are these days.

12. The paper comment card at the end of the week was insanely important to the crew and they would talk about each time you saw them the last few days of the week. You would turn them in as you walked off the ship the last day and one person would win a free cruise for filling it out.

13. There use to be a passenger talent show during the week.

14. Extravagant midnight buffets each night of the sailing. The ice and butter carvings were amazing.

 

 

Those are the ones that popped in my head off the bat. I will share more as I think of them.

Edited June 26, 2015 by WhenIsLobsterNight

[Isaboo]

My husband and I honeymooned on the Monarch in 1994. Back then she was considered a HUGE ship, lol! We purchased s little box of mini souvenir menus, and I tried to scan this one in but the type came out pretty faint.

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/andreacm/media/menu.jpg.html

[dbali]

My first cruise on RCI was with my parents in the early 70's (1972?). We sailed on the Sun Viking.

 

-Dinner had more courses.

-Higher quality food.

-Flaming desserts.

-Midnight buffet.

-Games by the pool and winners got free beers. (kids couldn't play)

-Towel animals every night and chocolates on the pillows.

-Live bands on pool deck at sail away from each island and they didn't take a break every 30 minutes either.

-Overall it was a much more elegant experience than it is today.

[Paulette3028]

We started cruising in 2004....but I so wish they would bring back the 'horse racing' game -- we had it on our first Navigator cruise and it was terrific fun.

 

They gave out 'ship shape dollars' even if you took part in an aerobics class on the pool deck and for doing anything else athletic (even walking on the deck), if one of the activity staff saw you doing it. Then you turned them in for t-shirts the last night of the cruise. I visited the gym and got them on that cruise.

 

The buffets were phenomenal, but not something that I really miss....I do miss the chocolates on the pillows, but with all the things around the ship to eat, I don't miss the calories, since I could not stop eating them.

[depplep]

I remember a lot of this from 98 also. Much more dressed up, including me. Now I couldn't be bothered to go to the trouble. Is it because a lot of people have been there, done that? Or society just doesn't dress anymore? I remember the late buffets as well and the specialty desserts made tableside as well as pastas tossed in specialty sauces to order.

Edited June 26, 2015 by depplep
typo

[Beachin2]

First cruise was '91 Sun Viking Alaska:

 

- Table-side Fettuccine Alfredo & Caesar salad

- Flaming deserts that really flamed

- Sommeliers who really knew their wine

- Printed cruise passenger list with home towns

- Short "newspaper" delivered to your cabin each day

- Beds bolted to the deck

- No "my time" dining options - MDR was a dining "experience".

- Crew was allowed to party with the passengers ashore (some crazy memories there!).

- Midnight buffet was an extravaganza

- Ice carvings every day

Edited June 26, 2015 by Beachin2

[jebl]

My first cruise in 86 was on Nordic Prince, only 1200 pax. Every night had a country theme and the wait staff wore costumes to reflect that country. The menus also followed the theme. Waiters sometimes would parade around the dining room and the band would often participate. The window shades had scenes from the country of that night's theme. Also veggies were served to you with a choice of potatoes.

 

Pax interacted a lot more with each other and the staff. Cruising was a really special vacation. Now it is more like going to an amusement park.

 

I really miss the old days. Never felt nickel and dime either.

[depplep]

First cruise was '91 Sun Viking Alaska:

 

- Table-side Fettuccine Alfredo & Caesar salad

- Flaming deserts that really flamed

- Sommeliers who really knew their wine

- Printed cruise passenger list with home towns

- Short "newspaper" delivered to your cabin each day

- Beds bolted to the deck

- No "my time" dining options - MDR was a dining "experience".

- Crew was allowed to party with the passengers ashore (some crazy memories there!).

- Midnight buffet was an extravaganza

- Ice carvings every day

 

I forgot about the ice carvings. I miss that.

[cruisegirl1]

In addition to what others have posted,

 

You basically had one choice for your dinner – the main dining room. If you didn't want to go to the main dining in my think you can get a sandwich elsewhere. There was no specialty dining.

 

There were no balcony cabins. On some of the earlier ships that had balcony cabins, they were insanely expensive.

 

Speaking of expensive, it was several thousand dollars - 25 years ago - to take a five day cruise. 25 years ago, a few thousand dollars was a lot of $$

 

You were provided a list, that included home address and phone numbers, of all the passengers on board.

 

Ships were made of beautiful teakwood accents.

 

There were headliners on board that actually had recognizable names and were still popular.

 

You dressed as instructed.

 

I'm sure I can come up with a few more. If I do, I will post them. Cruising back then was truly a different kind of vacation. Not better or worse than today, just different.

 

Enjoy

 

M

[Cruisin MarcnFran]

Having the same wait staff in the dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday.

[volunteer cruiser]

Dressing up for dinner was the norm. I was not prepared with fancy evening gowns on my first cruise so I my second one in 1995, I took an all beaded and jeweled cocktail dress that I swear weighted 25 pounds. No way would I have gotten under 50 pound luggage limit on airlines.

 

Something I thought interesting each stateroom got a copy of the passenger list.

 

 

 

 

main dining room breakfast menu

 

 

main dining room lunch menu

[knittinggirl]

There were no two tops when we began cruising in 1996.

 

What's a two top?

 

 

 

 

Our first cruise was in 1996 for our 10th anniversary. A four night Bahamas. We cruised on the Sovereign of the Seas, and our TA mentioned way back when it was the largest ship.

 

We had our waiter, Lubo, for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. And he became like family. We still compare all others to Lubo.

 

I remember the midnight buffet, but we didn't participate.

 

More towel animals.

 

Chocolates on the Pillow

 

More room between tables in MDR.

 

Ice and Vegetable Carvings.

 

Better food, and no specialty restaurants (the reason for the food quality decline in MDR).

 

Newspaper available in Guest Relations

 

Tips were at our discretion, and we tipped their suggested amount in CASH!

 

We sailed on Holland America in 1999, and I remember saying that it compared in quality with Royal Caribbean.

 

Only balcony rooms were JS and up.

 

Ice automatically delivered, you didn't have to request it.

 

Oh, the staterooms are generally larger now.

[fenton04]

Off topic first cruise 1987 no soft serve but free hand dipped ice cream on lido deck. It was a costa ship and the crew was Italian. The waiters would bring the vegetables to you and start piling on your plate till you stopped them. A couple of times our table mates would get distracted and have a plate full of vegetables! Also postcards of the ship free at the pursers desk. Stationary was in the desk for those long letters to home.

Edited June 26, 2015 by fenton04