Is anyone else just totally over cruising? Rant on recent cruise (Independence), bad service, food, FLU

[garywatson]

3 hours ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

 

T I was not starving; we just made the decision then and there to go to the Windjammer after informing the Reservation area to cancel the rest of our week in MDR. I told them that our waiter could verify that the food was improperly cooked or inedible. That was 2 bad nights out of our first three. No need to complain or get mad and ruin the few special days my wife and I get to be together on vacation.

 

 

I would just suggest that people make a point to honestly and fairly report their positive and negative experiences when you get the post-cruise survey. If they get a large percentage of unhappy people related to food or anything else, they will find a way to improve it. 

[dwp10mm]

I agree with another poster who stated if your cruise enough you will eventually have a bad one.  But probably not everything.  On Oasis in December I experienced a few things I never had before.  Two extremely rude bartenders in the Solarium and the worst head waiter in 15 cruises.  This had to be his first, and probably his last contract.  He just didn't seem cut out for that job.  I would have complained to the head waiter, but he wasn't seen for all 7 days.  I found that odd.  The cruise director disappeared on day 2 as well, so it sounded like a bug was running through the staff that week.  If this was my first cruise it would have turned me off.  But I know that wasn't typical.  The rest of the cruise was amazing.  I could tell our cabin attendant was top notch and experienced.  I confirmed it with him when he said he has been doing it for 14 years.  Then found some amazing bartenders at Playmakers, Schooner and Trellis bar.  

 

On Harmony last month, things were much better.  We had the new menu that week and I thought the food was very good.  I do agree that the steaks were clearly cut much thinner than in the past.  Hard to get a good temperature on that.  Ironically, I found better steak at the Windjammer for lunch when we were in Curacoa.  It was probably some of the best Windjammer I had in a while, although honestly I don't eat a lot in there.  

 

Finally, I always find Freedom class ships feel more crowded than Oasis class.  We did a 4 day on Independence last August, but after most schools had gone back.  It did feel crowded.  But after doing a few 60% capacity before that, it was to be expected.  We also had some bad luck on that cruise.  My wife came down with covid two days after we got off.  It happens.  We haven't stopped cruising with 2 since then and 3 more booked.  The only thing that will slow me down is the rising prices.  May need to stretch them out a little more if prices keep rising.  Thus I try to book onboard and farther out to keep ahead.

[BND]

1 hour ago, BecciBoo said:

How in the world do they know it was FLU anyway?  Who does...ever.  Unless you give a sample to be tested it can be just a cold, no FLU shot anywhere will protect you from that or Noro.  A chance one takes if you step out your door.  Much ado about nothing, but it's their privilege to gripe.

 

I don't cruise to eat so that would never deter me.  I cruise for the fantastic feeling we get on the big blue and the fun we have, WE are in control of that, not the cruise line nor any other cruiser.

I will say, if you've ever actually had the flu, you will know the difference from a cold.  Vastly different, even with a flu shot, while you don't get very sick, it's still different than a cold.

[ajtaylor29]

Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.

We've done almost 20 cruises now and have loved every one of them! Some better than others of course.....But we don't cruise for the food, or for the chairs by the pool. We cruise for the ports, and for watching the ocean go by wherever we're sitting on the ship. We relax, we have fun, we drink too much sometimes (?!?), we have some great food and some not so great food, we love interacting with the staff (who are almost always super friendly and helpful), we love hanging in the casino.

We've been lucky to never get sick on a cruise, but it can happen to anyone, anywhere, we're aware of the risks with so many people on board. 

We go into each cruise with excitement and expectations for a great trip. A few disappointments or oops moments on a cruise do not ruin our week.

There are definitely people who just do not like cruising, and that's ok. Maybe that leaves a little more room on board for those of us who love it!

[aubreyc1988]

Sorry you had a bad time but I agree with most of the other posters in this thread. Lots of bad decisions and poor planning made this into a cruise you disliked. 

 

Also, you can get sick anywhere and I fail to understand why you are blaming Royal. If anything, blame your fellow passengers but Royal?!?! 

 

And wow, can't believe the comment on the ice show. Idk if you were expecting Nathan Chen to show up, but they are all really talented, working in less than ideal ice and space...even if they fall, I have never been to a bad ice show

 

The *only* thing I can sympathize with is the drink quality. I've been on 3 RCI cruises within the last 6 months and the drink quality has been so bad...very weak and just not well made on every ship I've been on recently. I could have 4 martinis on a RCI ship and barely feel a buzz. I had 2 martinis in Las Vegas last week and I was DRUNK. Same thing for when I drink at home. I do agree about them creating a better standard for the drinks, but the pricing is on par with land, maybe a little cheaper, as I was paying 15-20.00 per drink on land in Vegas. 

Edited March 16, 2023 by aubreyc1988

[The Fun Researcher]

I'm guessing the desire to impress the fiancé with "the cruising experience" also played into this.  It sets the bar extra high right from the start.  There is that desire to say... " See, this is what I was talking about!"  ...but unfortunately that leads to blown out expectations and a need for everything to be over the top perfect

[The Fun Researcher]

Duplicate, sorry

Edited March 16, 2023 by The Fun Researcher

[Starry Eyes]

1 hour ago, BND said:

I will say, if you've ever actually had the flu, you will know the difference from a cold.  Vastly different, even with a flu shot, while you don't get very sick, it's still different than a cold.

That’s true, of course, of classic cases of influenza.  Please remember that not everyone who becomes infected develops full blown symptoms of flu, probably due to partial immunity.  Some may have mild symptoms.  Up to 1/3 of infected people may be asymptomatic while infected, yet even they probably can spread the virus.  

 

People who are actively sick with the flu who  disembark with the crowd, use public transport, hang around the airport, etc were almost certainly spreading the flu.  Metaphorically speaking, when it comes to spreading the flu, the OP lives in a glass house and should not be casting any stones.

[Ret MP]

I find and have said that a person's attitude going into something has a lot to do with how you perceive things and how others (like the crew) perceive/treat you.  I'm sure there are some valid complaints.  But, if someone has built a reputation of being a complainer, the people that are supposed to provide great service will shy away and things will be overlooked.  

 

JFFT

[Starry Eyes]

10 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

I find and have said that a person's attitude going into something has a lot to do with how you perceive things and how others (like the crew) perceive/treat you.  I'm sure there are some valid complaints.  But, if someone has built a reputation of being a complainer, the people that are supposed to provide great service will shy away and things will be overlooked.  

 

JFFT

Speaking of attitude, writing a review while still suffering effects of the flu seems apt to increase the negativity of the review.

[ONECRUISER]

2 hours ago, BND said:

I will say, if you've ever actually had the flu, you will know the difference from a cold.  Vastly different, even with a flu shot, while you don't get very sick, it's still different than a cold.

Agree. Interesting we all had really bad cold's, worst one had in decades. Nope, turned out was the Flu. Daughter brought that home from trip to Disneyland(Tested +) and before it was CV returning from Cruise in Nov. Been tough Nov-Jan as the 4 of us all caught these spread out one by one. I really cant remember last time I was really sick, might been when had Noro in 2014...

Edited March 16, 2023 by ONECRUISER

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

2 hours ago, BND said:

I will say, if you've ever actually had the flu, you will know the difference from a cold.  Vastly different, even with a flu shot, while you don't get very sick, it's still different than a cold.

I wouldn't say that.  The first (and only) time I've been diagnosed with the flu, I had a stuffy head for 4-5 days.  I was going overseas the following week so decided to go to a "Minute Clinic" to get some meds clear things up before flying.  They tested me for flu and it came back positive.

[BND]

Just now, S.A.M.J.R. said:

I wouldn't say that.  The first (and only) time I've been diagnosed with the flu, I had a stuffy head for 4-5 days.  I was going overseas the following week so decided to go to a "Minute Clinic" to get some meds clear things up before flying.  They tested me for flu and it came back positive.

My entire family had the flu (4 of us) two years in a row when our boys were in elementary school before we started getting shots.  Aches, fever, lethargy, exhaustion, headache, cough for a full week.  That was full blown flu.  I've also had a "mild case" one time when vaccinated and low grade temp, and all the same symptoms, but milder but I could still tell it was the flu.  With a cold, I get a runny nose, cough, no temp and no body aches at all.  Very different illnesses.   You may have tested positive, but Flu symptoms are more than a stuffy head.   

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

4 minutes ago, BND said:

My entire family had the flu (4 of us) two years in a row when our boys were in elementary school before we started getting shots.  Aches, fever, lethargy, exhaustion, headache, cough for a full week.  That was full blown flu.  I've also had a "mild case" one time when vaccinated and low grade temp, and all the same symptoms, but milder but I could still tell it was the flu.  With a cold, I get a runny nose, cough, no temp and no body aches at all.  Very different illnesses.   You may have tested positive, but Flu symptoms are more than a stuffy head.   

All I'm saying is what my experience was.  I may have had a low grade temp, but not enough to knock me off of anything.  If you want to discount my experience and tell me I had other symptoms, I can't stop you.

[jcarter4551]

Wow, some poor chap is marrying a lifetime of negativity (kidding, sort of)

 

I think we all can agree that the quality of some things has declined, but I do believe Royal is the best bang for your buck (with advanced planning) if you think about quality of fellow guests, amenities, food, shows, drinks. 
 

With that said, my wife and I did a virgin cruise this past year and were blown away. And, we paid far less than you paid for a 5 night (all upscale dining included). While we will always sail Royal with our kids (going Saturday on Harmony), we will also likely only do Virgin if it’s just us two. I don’t think virgin is for many, but maybe try out another line. I wouldn’t just discount all cruising. 
 

But, if the price is a consideration, despite some of the issues caused by staffing and inflationary impacts, Royal is still a great cruise. 

[queenfrostine22]

cruising during spring break or the summer season is a guarantee that there will be big crowds, long lines, kids(little &  big) and a lot of drinking. it's to be expected. try cruising in the off season which is never really off anymore  but, it is a little less hectic. 

As for the alcohol, I have always been happy with the pours. but we tip with every drink so I do think the servers keep them coming heavy. 

The ship is not brand new. there will be wear and tear. I have only ever had 1 room attendant who was less than great. He did the minimum required. I have never come across him again.

Sorry for the bad experience. Sometimes one bad thing can make everything seem less shiny.

[orville99]

Have 24 booked between now and April 2025, and we plan on hating them all so much that the first chance we have we will book another dozen or so so we can continue to hate cruising far into the future.😁😇

[gerif]

31 minutes ago, BND said:

My entire family had the flu (4 of us) two years in a row when our boys were in elementary school before we started getting shots.  Aches, fever, lethargy, exhaustion, headache, cough for a full week.  That was full blown flu.  I've also had a "mild case" one time when vaccinated and low grade temp, and all the same symptoms, but milder but I could still tell it was the flu.  With a cold, I get a runny nose, cough, no temp and no body aches at all.  Very different illnesses.   You may have tested positive, but Flu symptoms are more than a stuffy head.   

I’ve had the flu, Covid and, of course, your basic cold. With the flu I was sick as a dog but my case of Covid (verified with a test) totally mimicked a regular cold. No fever, aches, cough or anything. Just a runny nose and slight sore throat.  The only reason I bothered to test was because I had a vet appointment and they asked if you had flown recently and had any sort of symptoms, both of which I had. 

[HappyTexan44]

That room sounds disgusting.    It obviously wasn't cleaned, and also likely where you got the flu.   

I'd have demanded new clean sheets, and sat there while watching the room being cleaned.   

 

And some people wondered why I said I'd bring a bottle of H2O2 onboard to sanitize the rooms first thing.  

[poocher]

2 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

That room sounds disgusting.    It obviously wasn't cleaned, and also likely where you got the flu.   

I'd have demanded new clean sheets, and sat there while watching the room being cleaned.   

 

And some people wondered why I said I'd bring a bottle of H2O2 onboard to sanitize the rooms first thing.  

And it could also be hyperbole!  I’ve never had a filthy cabin.

[Starry Eyes]

1 hour ago, poocher said:

And it could also be hyperbole!  I’ve never had a filthy cabin.

I have not seen a filthy cabin nor have I seen Royal use a torn or worn sheet.

 

On the other hand I can easily imagine a certain type of guest celebrating the first day of their four night cruise with confetti poppers then later complaining about the lingering bits of confetti.  (How else does a poster know it was a confetti popper vs loose confetti?)  I can certainly imagine sheets being torn and requiring replacement during a cruise.

[HappyTexan44]

Tears in the sheets and confetti on the floor are facts not opinions.  "Filthy" might be hyperbole, but either there were tears on the sheets and confetti, or the OP was lying.  Assuming the OP wasn't lying, filthy seems like as good word.  

[Magicat]

1 hour ago, poocher said:

And it could also be hyperbole!  I’ve never had a filthy cabin.

We have not experienced a dirty cabin, but friends of ours did.  Seems like the sheets were not changed on change over day.  The sheets were stained with sweat (their description). I will see if I can find the pictures they sent. 

Even before Covid when Noro was the fashionable pathogen, we wiped our room down with Lysol wipes.  A wipe in each hand and go through the cabin touching surfaces and handles like we would naturally.  Did this before we unpacked our carryons.  

[alfaeric]

53 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Tears in the sheets and confetti on the floor are facts not opinions.  "Filthy" might be hyperbole, but either there were tears on the sheets and confetti, or the OP was lying.  Assuming the OP wasn't lying, filthy seems like as good word.  

"Factually" that could be a single thread of the confetti and a slightly worn edge of a sheet, too.  Not that either are a good thing, but they are not filthy deal breakers either.  

 

Unless there are pictures to demonstrate the actual filthiness, I would take it all as hyperbole.  We've been on 9x more cruises than the OP, and have not experienced any thing like that.  I've been on cruises just after people have called a ship a disaster, and had real problems seeing the things they claimed made the ship a problem.  Some of the worst I've seen was the rust that you and I saw on underside of deck 11 on the Radiance a couple of weeks ago (you were just down the hall from us on Deck 10).  And while bad, I also know it was a real pain to paint- the ship needing to go to dry dock.

 

It's fine that it was the straw for the OP, again, I'm totally for people finding the tiniest things to stop cruising- need to do whatever we can to get the prices low.  The OP getting a balcony at 3x what I would consider a nominal rate for one is a real problem for those of us who are obsessed with cruising.   People need to have better limits than just going at all costs.

[chiguy67]

Let’s look on the bright side, they didn’t complain about:

 

Lobster

Chair Hogs

RoyalUp

Children in the Solarium

Smoking in the Casino

MRD attire

 

I’m sure I left out a few others 😆 😝 😂 

Edited March 16, 2023 by chiguy67