What Was Royal Caribbean Like Back in the Day?

[DkswartzFamily]

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.

 

 

That baked Alaska parade was incredible!!!! And the midnight chocolate buffets were the best!

[abhb]

That baked Alaska parade was incredible!!!! And the midnight chocolate buffets were the best!

 

 

 

They used to let you into the midnight buffet before it opened just to take pictures.

[ricka47]

Our first cruise was on the Sovereign in 1993. There were no specialty restaurants and no My Time then - just main and second seating. There were casual, semi-formal and formal evenings and the dress code was for the entire evening. So, after about 6 or so, most folks were dressed in the attire for the evening. You gave out tips on the last night and it was a big deal saying goodbye to everyone.

 

As noted above the late night buffets were amazing. But, I don't think that I ever ate anything at them as we always were too full to do so. There was an overall higher level of quality across the board in terms of food and service.

[Tom47]

Azamara and Celebrity still greet you with sparkling wine/mimosas upon boarding. Their MDR food is very good. Both are owned by RCI and grant reciprocal benefits. I only have done 1 RCI cruise and I have 1 more booked.

[starrlite]

I miss the midnight chocolate buffets, fabulous ice carvings and the specialty shot drinks at dinner! we collected so many of those colorful shot glasses...lol. Formal nights meant Formal...I so enjoyed seeing everyone dressed up. The food was much better then. :-)

[mikebz]

First cruise was in 2005. Midnight buffet and ice carvings were still there. I was "volunteered" to participate in the welcome aboard show. Miss the cruise in review. More people dressed for dinner, and the wait staff was more attentive. Remember giving the tips on the last day. Much less upselling back then. I really miss the temporary (Henna) tattoos. I also remember the "newspaper", but with multiple news channels available, it makes sense. As far as the islands go, you can get a better idea of what it was like in the past by going off on your own.

[ryano]

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.

 

My first RC cruise was in 2010 and I agree with you 100%. I dont remember a midnight buffet but I do remember beautiful ice carvings, better food and much better service.

 

My first Chops experience in 2011 was a WOW. My last one in 2015 was just a "meh".

[Laurin612]

My husband and I took a 12 day Alaskan cruise on Sun Viking for our honeymoon back in 1994. It was the first cruise for both of us. The Grand midnight buffet was amazing--so amazing that they opened up for photos 30 minutes before people were allowed to partake so you could take photos. Butter sculptures, chocolate sculptures, intricate bread sculptures, ice sculptures, ornate animals fashioned out of fruit and vegetables. It was really something! Some lifelong friends we met on that cruise took a video and set it to the tune of "Long Tall Glasses" and it was perfect! :D

 

Another thing we noticed on that cruise that cruising back then was decidedly an older person's game. It could have been because it was a 12 day cruise, but I'm not even exaggerating when I say that the only passengers on the ship under 60 were my husband and I and the couple we met, and we were all in our 20's. I am really good at "Name That Tune" games and I was out of luck on that cruise because the songs were mostly from the 1940's! :o

 

The service in the dining room was really amazing. Perhaps it was because Sun Viking was such a small ship, but the service was top notch and so was the food. We still fondly remember our waiters from that cruise--Prasan and Cecilio.

 

The maitre d' used to do a "show cooking" dessert like Cherries Jubilee or Bananas Foster that he would do throughout the dining room that was fairly impressive.

 

To answer your specific questions, in my opinion passengers were more well dressed and well behaved (but that could have been because they were all 60+). The atmosphere was pretty much the same. I would say the passenger interaction was less because, well, everyone else was 60+ and we were in our mid 20's. There were no two-tops and there was only early seating or late seating. We sat at a table with the other young couple and a great couple from Canada who were in their 60's.

 

We obviously did not visit Labadee on our Alaska cruise, but we did in 1997 on Majesty of the Seas. It was very primitive--not at all the way it is now!

Edited April 30, 2018 by Laurin612

[depplep]

Forgive me in case this was mentioned. Caviar in the champagne bar and snacks.

[TEXASMUNK]

Stroll down memory lane.....

Greetings upon boarding with Champagne

Escort to cabin

Used to print out a list of all those you were cruising with and cabin numbers (until Mr John Doe was not really with Mrs John Doe)

Coat and Tie for dinner

Tux on formal nights

Golf off the aft end of the ship

Skeet shooting

Dining was closer to 4 star than 1 1/2 star, like it is today

It was a Purser, not Guest Services

Many a time saw the Cruise Director standing on the pier getting his (at that time it was always a His, not a her) envelope from the tour operators and shores he had recommended.

 

The crew was almost exclusively from the Caribbean, today, it is worldwide.

One change I am so glad to see today!!!! And I mean this sincerely! Back then the passengers were almost always one ethnic group, today, it is truly a broad spectrum of the human race!

[ONECRUISER]

 

The crew was almost exclusively from the Caribbean, today, it is worldwide.

One change I am so glad to see today!!!! And I mean this sincerely! Back then the passengers were almost always one ethnic group, today, it is truly a broad spectrum of the human race!

Did the Skeet Shooting and agree Purser is missed. Passengers cruised back then were and refereed as the "Newlywed and Almost Dead". Wasn't off, no kids & no Families sailing back then... Sovereign first sailed had no Female Wait Staff in Main Dining or any Female Room Attendants. Of course back then Main Dining had 2 size tables, large or larger. Soda Pop was free with meals. Took full 2 hrs to eat with the extra courses served back then. Room Attendants had 8 rooms ea, would clean it 8 times a day, change sheets everyday. They didn't have the set Am and PM hrs like now. Royal ships didn't have any Balcony's, a 7 nite Deck 2 tiny Port Hole 122sq ft cabin was $3600+. Then in Oct 2018 sailing a 12nite Aft/Corner Balcony on Serenade that I reserved 1st day released. Total price(B4 C&A Disc) only $2968. Changes Good/Bad over the yrs at least I can afford to cruise lot more then in 1988...

[DanceGrandma]

our first cruise our son was 8years old and he will be 41 this September. Things were wonderful. The best food I ever had in my life. We were treated like royalty. We joked that the steward must be hiding under the bed because every time we left the cabin it was cleaned. We always had ice. Didn't need to ask for it. I remember the fruit and fresh flowers. We had pens paper and playing cards. I am glad I got to experience cruising when it was so special. I still love cruising but there have been lots of changes. I think the cruise employees are the best in the world and they still try to make it the best experience even though they have to work so hard with more and more responsibilities.