What Was Royal Caribbean Like Back in the Day?

[Grandprix]

Night and day differences. Attention to individuals was paramount. Today, everything on the mega-ships is to increase shareholder value. I still enjoy it, but the experience is utterly watered down.

[knittinggirl]

Ship shape dinner menu with three courses including dessert under 500 calories.

 

Sent from my KFTHWI using Tapatalk HD

[bigeagle12]

Now they try to entertain you and up-charge you .. instead of providing personal service and pampering.

[jsoenning]

This thread is why remembering the good old days where more was included seems to get you called out as negative when you point it out. Don't even have to go back 20 years, has changed much in ten.

 

I miss the filet mignon that was included with no up charge. Also agree that the waiters and room attendants had time due to less passengers to serve to make the experience more personalized. On our first our main server taught us magic tricks she knew.

 

Last dessert night buffets were Legend of the Seas and then a miniature version in the promenade on the last sea day on Freedom of the Seas.

 

Drink prices pre packages...miss those too...

 

Desserts were worth eating and fresh (not hard as a rock) baked cookies every day. I used to purposefully go take a picture of the ports after returning so I could eat a cookie on the way up to the pool deck and on the way back. Now I typically don't waste calories on dessert or cookies. I have a sweet tooth and miss chocolate desserts that don't taste like flavorless mush.

 

Soaps, shampoos and lotion in ocean view room in 2005.

 

We do enjoy the specialty restaurants of today and especially the wine pairing meals. There the desserts are what used to be standard in main dining.

Edited June 26, 2015 by jsoenning

[Aboat1]

Oh what a great thread! Here are my fondest memories.

 

You were met by an officer and assigned a crew member who would take you to your cabin as you drank the champagne they offered you.

 

Bands played on the pool deck. Burgers and dogs were available from an outside buffet complete with white table clothes.

 

Your last night in the MDR the executive staff was introduced and paraded down the center stairway. The parade of nations (Representing all the nations that the staff was from) was accompanied by the wait staff holding flaming baked Alaska. You had become close to your staff and often shed a tear or two saying good bye.

 

Over the years I had formal dresses made just for cruising! (great for kids dress up now!) Also wore what good jewelry I had!

 

Folks talked with each other and no one had their Kindle, I pad, Phone constantly by their sides.

 

Labadee was a tendered port! Sometimes not a great experience either!

 

At dinner you chose your sides. A dessert tray was presented at the end of you meal. Your waiter explained your choices in detail and you then made your choice.

 

I Think you had to have a travel agent......not sure!

 

Midnight buffet was magnificent and huge. It was open for one hour prior for just taking of pictures of the food!

 

Can't wait to read your memories!

[CruiseKeeper]

1993 - Song of America to Bermuda.

 

I don't remember towel animals back then. 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.

 

But boy did I love cruising!

 

They were the good old days when you could bring on your own liquor too. :D

[bay guy]

We started on Song of Norway in 1979.

 

Food was much better in preparation and they often brought the trays of vegetables around to you individually versus every dinner plate being complete when put on the table.

 

Waiters and section maitre ds really got to know you. Dinner often ended with them showing you little tricks or just talking so you got to know each other.

 

You got,to know the cruise,director and staff much better and the director was much more than a behind the scenes manager who just showed up at major events like they do now. They also recognized you when you came on your next cruise with them.

 

The smaller ships may not have had some of the amenities they do,today but they definitely helped promote those on board interacting much more with each other. By the end of the week, everyone would greet each other like friends passing on the street.

[jsoenning]

And believe it or not the Quest was more fun on the smaller ships because everyone participated in small teams vs a select few in an auditorium...

[norcalemt02]

My first cruise was on majesty 1996. When you first boarded the ship there were guides in tux and white gloves carried your bag and escorted you to your stateroom.

[Cheryl H]

I had forgotten about the escort to our room when boarding. I remember free soft drinks at dinner, and always 3 dressings to select from for salad. I miss the orange dressing.

 

I had forgotten about the live band on the pool deck too. Also there was real ice cream dipped on the pool deck, not the soft serve machine type.

 

I seem to remember at least one night there was butter brickle ice cream offered. Each night was different ice creams to select from. On a recent cruise, it seemed like it was vanilla every night. I'm not sure if that is still the case or not.

 

I agree that the desserts and food were so much better years ago, especially the seafood.

Edited June 26, 2015 by Cheryl H

[Realtor at Sea]

Our first cruise was on the Sun Viking in the mid '70s.

I remember the meals being finer with much more extensive menus.

Chocolates on your pillow every night.

Free soda.

Passengers always beautifully dressed.

Impressive shows.

Labadee in the mid-80s consisted of one barbecue, some native Haitians selling

handmade wares, a small area for children to play, rustic restrooms, a volleyball net or two and you tendered in to land.

Passenger lists.

Gifts on your bed.

Four page newspapers with stock quotes, sports scores and the headlines of the day.

Those were good times!

[Don Pedro]

I am amused at how we so fondly remember all the great things and forget the mattress that was about two inches thick and curved from excessive use. Cabin attendants had a store room full of egg-crate mattress toppers just to make them useable. Very few balconies were available back then. There were no DL or CL. Dining was only the MDR or WJ.

 

Embarkation was slow and most ports had a holding area were you sat until the ship was ready for boarding. Debarkation was a nightmare with none of today's organization. Guest were not allowed to sit in the theater or dining room. They sat on stairways, floors, luggage or where ever they could.

 

For me cruising is better than ever.

[Nado44]

What's a two top?

 

 

 

MDR table for two. Short for two topper.

[QuickieGlenn]

Ours was the Song Of Norway on our honeymoon in 91

I thought the ship was huge. Did not like dressing up and most of our tablemates argued all the time. But when the head waiter noticed my wife was not eating, he asked her if she would like something else to eat, he had garlic spaghetti made for her on nights when she did not like what was on the menu. To me that was classy. I do not think you would get that service today. We purchased towels and sweatshirts with the logo's on them, they were high quality stuff that lasted for years not the stuff they sell on board now.

[ccletzgo]

horse races, ice carvings and the only "expenses" on sea pass were bar, bingo, pictures, gift ship and excursions. You could buy a bottle of liquor in the gift shop and take it back to your cabin.:D I DONT miss the 2" mattresses and the L bedding configuration on the old ships..

Edited June 27, 2015 by ccletzgo

[Isaboo]

I just noticed in your signature that you sailed the Monarch in May 1994. We were on the May 22nd sailing for our honeymoon! I thought that passenger list thingy looked familiar. I have one stashed away among my honeymoon keepsakes. :)

 

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

 

[Nado44]

The passenger list and menus from Monarch are amazing to see! Thanks for sharing.

[twocc's]

We started cruising in 1964 (not with Royal Caribbean) and you bring back a lot of good memories. Thanks for the thread.

 

Charles and Connie

[F27TW]

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

 

 

 

That was a throwback to the old ocean liner days .. the passenger lists.

 

Though .. nowadays .. esp on the shorter getaway party cruises ... I'm sure alotta people who are cruising with "another" may not want it publicized! ;):eek::p

[CORKY_Q]

OMG, I had forgotten the "L" shaped bed configuration. They did what they could to make those wee cabins bigger.:)

[cruisinghawg]

I remember driving over the bridge in Miami to embark on the SS Norway and the first ship to greet us was the Sovereign of the Seas. I remember standing on the deck of the Norway and just watching the SOS, then turning to DW I said that is next. We loved the first cruise on Norway but we fell in love with cruising the next year on the Sovereign.

 

The people you meet have been the most lasting memory for us. The couple we sat with on the Norway have cruised with us for 25 years now. They are some of our most cherished friends, in fact they just left our house for a great visit. Another couple we met on the Song on Norway 2 years later formed the

3rd part of our group. We have done birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, funerals, and most everything in between. This continues to this day with the meet and mingle, SO SIGN UP!!! You could meet people that will become your best friend.

[F27TW]

I remember driving over the bridge in Miami to embark on the SS Norway and the first ship to greet us was the Sovereign of the Seas. I remember standing on the deck of the Norway and just watching the SOS, then turning to DW I said that is next. We loved the first cruise on Norway but we fell in love with cruising the next year on the Sovereign.

 

The people you meet have been the most lasting memory for us. The couple we sat with on the Norway have cruised with us for 25 years now. They are some of our most cherished friends, in fact they just left our house for a great visit. Another couple we met on the Song on Norway 2 years later formed the

3rd part of our group. We have done birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, funerals, and most everything in between. This continues to this day with the meet and mingle, SO SIGN UP!!! You could meet people that will become your best friend.

 

 

Im curious ... when you were on Norway (which I know was a long large ship and a former ocean liner) .. how did the Sovereign compare as you looked over at it ? I know the length was similar .. but did Sovereign seem a lot larger ?

Edited June 27, 2015 by F27TW

[h20skibum]

We were on the SS Norway as our first cruise in 1980. At the time, it was the largest ship.

 

This thread brings back a lot of memories of that time. In fact, just looked at some slides from that cruise over the last couple of months. (I know, the younger crowd will ask what slides are. And no, they are not the same as the things they are putting on Harmony).

 

What most forget is the price you paid back then vs. the price you pay now. As a percentage of disposable income, that was probably our most expensive cruise.

 

I'm sure the crew does not miss taking care of all the teak they had back then.

[LMaxwell]

I remember deck side ice cream sundae parties, sailaway parties with balloons and streamers, out of this world foodporn style midnight buffets in the MDR, printed passenger list, the decks of cards everyone got. Those hole punched key cards. Skeet shooting, tendering in everywhere it seemed like, horse races, ice carvings done pool side, formal nights everyone was dressed (and it was actually worth dressing for), chicken wings on free room service menu. I'm sure I've got the ticket pamphlets that the docs came in still. Shipshape dollars and those yellow t-shirt, daily news papers with highlights around the world.

 

Does anyone remember first and second seating for breakfast and lunch!

 

I remember when the ships were all registered in Norway and flew Norwegian flags and all senior marine officers were from the region.

 

I'd swear I remember a ships hostess too...

Edited June 27, 2015 by LMaxwell

[jayblue]

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?

 

Suddenly, I feel very old.

 

My first ship is retiring next year. Balconies? We thought we were doing something if we had a room with an ocean view. And let's not forget the movie theatre in the belly of the ship. They played edited versions of Hollywood misses. We always had first seating at dinner because second ended an hour before the midnight buffet. My favorite was the Grand Gala midnight buffet because we walked through and took pictures first. Entertainment was walking around the ship in choppy waters without falling and then going outside for pictures with our 35mm cameras. Calls from the ship? That took great effort and a whole lotta money.

 

Whew! We have come a long way, baby!