What Was Royal Caribbean Like Back in the Day?

[linkerbink]

Another thing I remember was that on that first sailing (Song of America, 1996), the fare for the third person in the cabin was $99! I think the first and second paid somewhere in the $400 range.

[Spurschick]

My first cruise was QE2 with midnight buffets and areas segregated by class you were sailing.

 

For RC I am another that misses the horse racing.

 

I also recall how when you booked a shore excursion through the cruise line you had a member of staff on every bus in case of any issues. They made sure all passengers were back on the buses at the designated times and did a round up of those that were time challenged:D

 

I also remember photographers being everywhere. They went on excursions and I also remember when (either coco cay or labadee from recollection) they had two members of staff dress up in tuxedoes with a "fake" bottle of champagne and glasses on a silver platter and wade into the sea to take pictures with swimmers.

 

Those were the fun days:D

Edited May 8, 2016 by Spurschick

[dcopps]

First cruise was on CCL SS Carnivale in the summer of 1983.

 

 

 

I had won the cruise for 2 in a drawing so as expected we had the smallest room on the ship. The toilet was in the shower.

 

 

 

They allowed visitor on the ship before sailing. When we got aboard, the Disco was packed with people our age. For about 2 hrs we danced and bought drinks for the ladies. Then came the announcement that all visitor must leave the ship. The bar cleared out and there wasn't much more than me and my friend. Evidently that was a tradition for the local folks.

 

 

 

The activities by the pool include a beer chugging contest. Who could drink a yard of beer the fastest. I don't remember if I won or not.

 

 

 

Skeet and golf off the back

 

 

 

Late one night we were looking over the railing and we could see the light from a door opening close to the waterline. Then about a dozen large bags of trash were tossed into the sea. I’m sure that was the normal way to dispose of trash. Thank god that has changed. We left a pretty big footprint.

 

 

 

 

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[monarch142]

My first was monarch of the seas in 1992 back then sovereign class were what oasis class are today.

The service I found was better than it is today on the larger ships. Though that's just my opinion.

I'll have to find the printed guest list you got for the voyage and post a picture of it on here for the newer cruisers.

I always loved the chocolates that you would get on your pillow in the evening too.

If I remember right you did get a sea pass card but you had a separate door key card to get in, I'm sure someone who sailed at that time will confirm this with me?

 

 

 

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[masim17]

Our first cruise was on the Song of America in, I think, 1989. I loved the talent show. One man sang "Danny Boy" and brought us to tears! A woman sang "This joint is jumpin" and that also brought us to tears, but not exactly the same. One man from out west actually brought these heavy ropes and twirled them! The masquerade party was something I knew nothing about. We met a woman who did b2b cruises and participated in each party with different costumes. On our cruise she was Scarlet O'Hara, complete with giant hoop dress and giant hat! I was impressed they could get all this in their luggage. Oh and the quest was done in one of the lounges and you played in groups of 6-8 people. The runners would just about run over the tables to be first with an item, just to get a keychain or pen! It was a blast. As others have said dining was more personal. By the end of the second night, all your preferences appeared at your table, and you did develop a relationship with your waiters. Loved the parades they had on the theme nights, especially American night when the staff sang America the Beautiful and had the words written in their hats! I did think that it was hard for the wait staff to do all of that in addition to serving. Most of all I miss the farewell show with the staff doing "If I were not upon the sea". Must have seen that ten times and never tired of it!

[Paulette3028]

Our first cruise was on the Song of America in, I think, 1989. I loved the talent show. One man sang "Danny Boy" and brought us to tears! A woman sang "This joint is jumpin" and that also brought us to tears, but not exactly the same. One man from out west actually brought these heavy ropes and twirled them!

 

 

Well the Talent Show of 1989 is Karoake now....lots of fun and talent nightly.

[TBone2K]

Not sure if it already came up, but one thing I'd like people to add is 20 years ago, do you remember how much your cruise cost? How long did it take to save up?

 

Just comparing to nowadays, yes things are different. Entry level cruises are relatively cheaper compared to people's incomes. So more people can afford to cruise. Also people are more willing to go into debt now for things like a vacation.

 

I have never been anywhere but RC, so can't compare, but I'll bet many of the experiences people have described are still available on the more expensive cruise lines nowadays.

 

My first cruise was "only" in 2006. But I do remember chocolates on the pillows, a midnight buffet and a chocolate buffet. Also that I felt underdressed wearing a 2-piece suit on formal night and now I feel overdressed wearing the same type of suit.

[George C]

My 1st RCCL was in late 80's on Sovereign. Had tiny inside cabin but we had a blast this ship was so elegant at the time and also largest cruise ship anywhere at the time, loved having caviar in MDR, also Champagne bar also had caviar for a reasonable cost, food in MDR was very good, entertainment was great they had both Red Buttons and Al Martino on one of our cruises, we might travel now in a GS but loved my early cruises in a inside room on this ship, also got engaged on Sovereign in 1990.

[Paulette3028]

My first cruise was "only" in 2006....... Also that I felt underdressed wearing a 2-piece suit on formal night and now I feel overdressed wearing the same type of suit.

 

Happy about the change in dressing, are WE! Our first cruise was in 2004.

[masim17]

Does anyone remember "El Gaucho"? We saw him so many times on different ships. He put on a funny show.

[Clarea]

Does anyone remember "El Gaucho"? We saw him so many times on different ships. He put on a funny show.

Just saw him a couple of years ago.

[EMBFlyer]

Our first RCCL (that's what they were back then!) cruise was on the Sovereign in 1991. Incredible! The ship was beyond beautiful. The staff was amazing. The relationship you had with your dining room waiters was awesome! On that cruise our headliners were the Beatles tribute act Rain (who are touring today to fairly large venues) and Ben Vereen. Labadee was a tender port with a beach. We stayed in San Juan until 2 am. It was out of this world.

 

A few years later, we found ourselves on the Legend of the Seas during her inaugural season in Alaska. Beautiful ship with another outstanding crew. Our headliner that cruise was Captain and Tennille.

 

I remember back in the day, members of the Cruise Director's Staff were assigned to sit at dining room tables with the guests. I thought that was pretty cool.

 

The Royal Caribbean of today is nothing like it was 20 years ago.

[pharaoh]

My first RCI cruise was Sovereign of the Seas in 1994, I believe. I was 10 or 11.

 

I remember the flaming baked Alaska on the waiters heads, and the flaming cherries jubilee. I always looked forward to those, having seen them also on previous cruises.

 

Fresh squeezed juice in the MDR. Chocolates on the pillows at night. I remember being dragged by my dad to the midnight buffet, but all I remember are the awesome ice sculptures and the watermelon art.

 

People were really dressed up on the formal nights. Men would wear tuxedos, not just suit jackets and ties. I had a collection of horrible, itchy, big-collared floral dresses, matching my mom's of course. And tights! Ugh. You don't see 11 year olds dressed like that anymore [emoji16]

 

I remember ship shape dollars! In adventure ocean, whenever they caught us on an elevator, we would have to give back a ship shape dollar. We would cheat only occasionally and it was always a thrill to be using the elevator haha.

 

My first trip to Labadee was in 2002 and there was pretty much nothing there. The pier hadn't been built yet. I remember a rough, rocky beach with a lot of sea grass, and a banana boat.

[Philly Steve]

On our second cruise, 1995 aboard Monarch...

 

As others have pointed out, smoking in the MDR. People would light up between courses.

 

RCCL matchbook covers.

 

Cruise in Review video on glorious VHS tape.

 

We had a JS with a tiny balcony and we rarely opened our own door as our stateroom attendant would rush to open it for us. :)

 

Tube TVs in cabin, with a screen smaller than most laptops now.

 

I remember Ship Shape too! Who still has one of those yellow shirts?

Edited May 10, 2016 by Philly Steve

[cruiserone]

Our first trip was Song of America in 1986. There used to be a passenger list of all the families on the cruise and where they were from. I still have it! Sandwiches on the deck around 2PM. Everything was cash. The waiter used to cut your salad for you, they passed around the dressing dish with assorted salad dressings. Real butter in a cup, not foil wrapped pats. My daughter loved the different countries every night and the parades with sparklers (yikes). Your waiters and busboys (they used to be called that) were very involved with each person at the table. It was charming!

 

Ah, the good old days........

[truffles2]

. The waiter used to cut your salad for you, they passed around the dressing dish with assorted salad dressings.

 

Ah, the good old days........

 

I remember all those good salad dressings. The fat free ones were excellent too. I especially liked "Florida Orange". Now they bring the salad already dressed with a "mystery" dressing:eek:

[George C]

Our first RCCL (that's what they were back then!) cruise was on the Sovereign in 1991. Incredible! The ship was beyond beautiful. The staff was amazing. The relationship you had with your dining room waiters was awesome! On that cruise our headliners were the Beatles tribute act Rain (who are touring today to fairly large venues) and Ben Vereen. Labadee was a tender port with a beach. We stayed in San Juan until 2 am. It was out of this world.

 

A few years later, we found ourselves on the Legend of the Seas during her inaugural season in Alaska. Beautiful ship with another outstanding crew. Our headliner that cruise was Captain and Tennille.

 

I remember back in the day, members of the Cruise Director's Staff were assigned to sit at dining room tables with the guests. I thought that was pretty cool.

 

The Royal Caribbean of today is nothing like it was 20 years ago.

 

We saw Captain and Tenille twice both on Thanksgiving cruises in 90's on RCCL

[cruisefrost]

First cruise Song of Norway 1986 and many RCL ships since. Sun Viking for Trans Atlantic and Panama canal cruises.I miss like a like of people that the good food and other things was not an up charge. Used to be all inclusive with the price of the cruise. One of the things we really liked about cruises compared to land vacations.

[Pipo]

Well, there's no need to go back to the 90s to compare and see the big changes. My first cruise on RCI was on 2013, and the following year I noticed many changes. The quality of food, room service, waiting staff, everything is on the 'cost reduction' path. I have a sailing on Harmony of the Seas next month, and honestly, I'm traveling there with very low expectations on the service.

After reading some posts, I can conclude now you have to spend on the luxury level to get what used to find on back on the 80's or 90's. Upscale lines like Celebrity or HAL, are what RCI used to be in the 2000s.

[ccotting]

My first cruise was as a child with my grandmother on P&O Orsova.

 

Firstly there were three classes, first, second and third. No mixing! There were locked doors in between. As children we managed to escape all of this and were little hellions moving in the crew corridors around everything. We knew all the children on board in the first few days.

 

First class you had your own bathroom. Second, some had a bathroom and some had to go down the corridor for a bath or to the loo. Third, well, you guessed it, it was all down the hall.

 

Streamers! I miss streamers. I doubt if many even know what they are. For the sail away a lovely gentleman in a waiter's style tux came around with a silver tray and these little paper coils of bright pretty colours that you tossed to everyone seeing you off on the pier. The whole space between the ship and pier was a kaleidoscope of bright colours in streams of thin paper.

 

Your guests could come aboard to inspect your room and settle you in. If you wanted, you arranged for a sail away drinks and nibblies.

 

You ate.... and ate.... Early morning the steward came to bring coffee/tea and porridge. Then you went down to proper breakfast at 8. It was a set time for breakfast. Tea and bikkies (tea and biscuits i.e. cookies) at 11. Full multi course lunch at 1.

 

Afternoon tea. Proper dinner at 8 pm. We always had an officer at the table. They ate with us every night. Ours was generally the ship's doctor. A genial soul.

 

As someone else mentioned, the dining room was it. No extra venues.

 

There was a nursery dining room and you had to be 12 to eat in the main dining room. I was 11 and a half and had to get special permission to join the grown ups. Hated the nursery dining room, it was filled with crabby babies, mommies and nannies (all equally crabby) and no matter how you asked the only eggs were soft boiled....

 

Midnight buffet ad nauseum as mentioned. Ice sculpture, butter sculpture.

 

Real skeet shooting (yes with real guns) off the top deck. I loved the horse racing with the wooden horses and there was betting but no casino.

 

Bingo you didn't pay for. So fun! I missed most of the evening entertainment being put to bed but Grandma had a good time.

 

Everything in cash. The purser stocked hoards of it and you lined up to change your dollars before each port. You had an on board account.

 

Cabins were more basic, even in first. Everyone dressed more formally. Drinks but less over indulgence I think compared to today.

 

The shop was more geared to your vacation experience with paperbacks and chocolate bars. Less about selling you everything.

 

Some things I miss, some things I don't. But overall there was less merchandising. I miss not being sold all the time. You did relax and you did feel part of a community not simply a wallet!

[mspink98]

Our cabin stewards used our nightgowns to fashion shapes out of them and lay them out on the bed at turn down. Kinda creepy I know, especially now that I think of it. I used to hide my nightgowns after that.

 

LOL! Had that happen in 1995 on Sovereign also. My reaction went from "aww" to "eew!" in about 20 seconds. Especially when I realized I had left it in the nightstand drawer and it somehow still made it's way into the bed. :eek:

[Truluv]

Ccotting: I do remember the streamers, from my 1970s cruise! Very festive!

 

I also remember the bathroom being the shower stall, with a big step-over lip at the door of the bathroom to keep water sloshing into the cabin. You'd wipe down the toilet, walls, sink etc. after showering, since there wasn't a separate shower stall. That wasn't quite as festive.

 

And remember the rocking and rolling, pre-stabilizers? On an early November Celebration cruise out of New Orleans, we were on the edges of a hurricane. The ship put out a big bowel of Dramamine at the pursar's desk, and there were paper bags (like the airline bags) at every stairwell for people who were seasick.

 

The ship was tendering in Cozumel. We were loaded onto a giant pontoon boat to go on excursion. We pulled away from the ship, and the pontoon boat started rolling in heavy seas. People were vomiting everywhere, and we were soaked with salt water. I looked around, and realized there were no life preservers! Whoever was driving the pontoon was hidden in a cabin, and there was no crew evident. People were hanging onto the benches for dear life. It wasn't long before the pontoon boat turned around to take us back to the ship. It took a huge number of Celebration's crew members to capture and tie off the the boat so we could get back onboard. Went to shower off all the salt water, and then enjoyed the rest of the day...didn't threaten to sue anyone, which shows how times have changed LOL.

Edited May 11, 2016 by Truluv

[Philly Steve]

Ccotting, thanks for the post. I enjoyed the "time travel." :)

[land lover]

My first cruise was as a child with my grandmother on P&O Orsova.

 

Firstly there were three classes, first, second and third. No mixing! There were locked doors in between. As children we managed to escape all of this and were little hellions moving in the crew corridors around everything. We knew all the children on board in the first few days.

 

First class you had your own bathroom. Second, some had a bathroom and some had to go down the corridor for a bath or to the loo. Third, well, you guessed it, it was all down the hall.

 

Streamers! I miss streamers. I doubt if many even know what they are. For the sail away a lovely gentleman in a waiter's style tux came around with a silver tray and these little paper coils of bright pretty colours that you tossed to everyone seeing you off on the pier. The whole space between the ship and pier was a kaleidoscope of bright colours in streams of thin paper.

 

Your guests could come aboard to inspect your room and settle you in. If you wanted, you arranged for a sail away drinks and nibblies.

 

You ate.... and ate.... Early morning the steward came to bring coffee/tea and porridge. Then you went down to proper breakfast at 8. It was a set time for breakfast. Tea and bikkies (tea and biscuits i.e. cookies) at 11. Full multi course lunch at 1.

 

Afternoon tea. Proper dinner at 8 pm. We always had an officer at the table. They ate with us every night. Ours was generally the ship's doctor. A genial soul.

 

As someone else mentioned, the dining room was it. No extra venues.

 

There was a nursery dining room and you had to be 12 to eat in the main dining room. I was 11 and a half and had to get special permission to join the grown ups. Hated the nursery dining room, it was filled with crabby babies, mommies and nannies (all equally crabby) and no matter how you asked the only eggs were soft boiled....

 

Midnight buffet ad nauseum as mentioned. Ice sculpture, butter sculpture.

 

Real skeet shooting (yes with real guns) off the top deck. I loved the horse racing with the wooden horses and there was betting but no casino.

 

Bingo you didn't pay for. So fun! I missed most of the evening entertainment being put to bed but Grandma had a good time.

 

Everything in cash. The purser stocked hoards of it and you lined up to change your dollars before each port. You had an on board account.

 

Cabins were more basic, even in first. Everyone dressed more formally. Drinks but less over indulgence I think compared to today.

 

The shop was more geared to your vacation experience with paperbacks and chocolate bars. Less about selling you everything.

 

Some things I miss, some things I don't. But overall there was less merchandising. I miss not being sold all the time. You did relax and you did feel part of a community not simply a wallet!

 

 

I still have 2 packs of streamers..maybe i should sell them on e-bay......

Edited May 11, 2016 by land lover

[truffles2]

I remember having streamers on our first few cruises in the mid nineties.