Serenade of the seas 7-29-23

[JGCRUISE0507]

Anyone just disembark Serenade of the Seas today? Any thoughts on the cruise experience? Just curious to know what others thought of the experience.

[sgmn]

Were you on Serenade? 

Would be interested to hear your thoughts if you were. 

[JGCRUISE0507]

I have sailed 4 times on this ship. The 1st back in 2003 when the ship was 3 weeks old. The service was not the greatest and the food had absolutely no taste. Remember this is my opinion and someone else onboard the cruise may feel differently. The ship looked amazing for 20 years. I wish the crew did better and the Chef actually tasted the food. I think this is the new norm of cruising, you felt nicked and dimed the entire cruise. I think it is back to Celebrity Cruises for now. Let me know if you have any questions.

[sgmn]

3 hours ago, JGCRUISE0507 said:

I have sailed 4 times on this ship. The 1st back in 2003 when the ship was 3 weeks old. The service was not the greatest and the food had absolutely no taste. Remember this is my opinion and someone else onboard the cruise may feel differently. The ship looked amazing for 20 years. I wish the crew did better and the Chef actually tasted the food. I think this is the new norm of cruising, you felt nicked and dimed the entire cruise. I think it is back to Celebrity Cruises for now. Let me know if you have any questions.

How was the entertainment? I know she doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the big ships. 

We're on her for 12 nights next month. I had a look at the reviews on Serenade after your post and they seem very mixed. 

Hopefully you marked down the food on the post cruise survey, things won't improve unless folk complain. 

[Ashland]

We were on Serenade September 2022 for Alaska and October 2022 for Panama Canal.

 

She's actually very well maintained. Wish the food in the WJ had been better but we managed.

[JGCRUISE0507]

The food was downright awful, no taste me and my friend commented that there is no chef on the ship. The ship was very well maintained she looked amazing for 20 years. I sailed Serenade of the seas 4 times the 1st time when she was 3 weeks old. The service was indifferent nothing special.

 

 

Edited August 4, 2023 by JGCRUISE0507

[retired dude]

we have enjoyed sailing on this ship several times out of tampa and have found that their specialty restaurant called "chops" has the best filet mignon we have ever been blessed to eat..Main dining room, just ok, but chops is worth the $ especially if you can book a package deal for at least three night. just sayin'....B&B in clearwater.

[Ashland]

19 hours ago, JGCRUISE0507 said:

The food was downright awful, no taste me and my friend commented that there is no chef on the ship. The ship was very well maintained she looked amazing for 20 years. I sailed Serenade of the seas 4 times the 1st time when she was 3 weeks old. The service was indifferent nothing special.

 

 

Yes, there was a chef onboard same one for both of our Serenade cruises...a Jamaican one for the WJ and not sure where he learned to cook but we were very disappointed.

 

We were expecting much better since this was the long Panama Canal itinerary. RCI really dropped the ball here. 

 

I had no trouble expressing my displeasure to him his staff our concierge and on our survey !!

 

RCI needs to improve the onboard food and hire some chefs that actually know how to cook. 

I will say it can be a hit or miss but that shouldn't be the case. One particular chef on Harmony 2022 was just amazing...I'm sure he was an anomaly and probably is gone.

[ONECRUISER]

On 8/4/2023 at 6:04 PM, Ashland said:

We were on Serenade September 2022 for Alaska and October 2022 for Panama Canal.

 

She's actually very well maintained. Wish the food in the WJ had been better but we managed.

Yes we were, and agree! On Serenade again for another 20 nites next months

[JGCRUISE0507]

Glad you agree. I also took Serenade of the Seas-Panama Canal back in October of 2009. She was amazing back then. I guess with all the cutbacks and Royal maybe putting all their resources on the newer ships, the smaller ships suffer. 

[Nado44]

On 8/3/2023 at 7:57 PM, JGCRUISE0507 said:

Anyone just disembark Serenade of the Seas today? Any thoughts on the cruise experience? Just curious to know what others thought of the experience.

 

I was on the same cruise. Overall, a good voyage. Ship sailed full. Other than a tropical downpour in Key West that lasted a few minutes, we had perfect weather and calm seas. RCL Oasis was with us at CocoCay.

 

Smoke filled casino was busy every night. Several dealers wore masks because they couldn't handle the excessive smoke. Portable fans were brought out too.

 

Room service trays and litter were frequently evident in the hallways. I remember wondering how wheelchair/scooter/walker users would navigate. We heard a unverified rumor that RCL may return to 2x/day housekeeping.

 

Production shows were good. Excellent talent. Stage design and costumes somewhat dated.

 

Bar service was consistently speedy.

 

Ship unexpectedly returned to Terminal 2 and not Terminal 6 where we embarked. Shuttles were provided to guests who parked at Terminal 6.

 

[JGCRUISE0507]

I heard that the shows are quite old but can't confirm for sure. It would have been nice to be informed about the changes of terminals beforehand my friend said they could have changed it last minute in the early morning but some heads up would have been nice. The ship felt full I think around 2,600. I will not make the mistake of sailing again in the summer or take a cruise less than 7 nights. I never felt the ship not once I agree with you it was incredibly smooth. I hope you enjoyed the cruise I see from your signature you go on a good amount of Celebrity Cruises. The are my favorite line. I went on my 1st cruise in December 1999 on the Celebrity Century, boy has cruising, and Celebrity changed. I am trying Holland America for 2nd time in October feel like I should try something different and see how I can compare Celebrity V Holland. 

 

Thanks,

Jonathan 

[Ashland]

48 minutes ago, Nado44 said:

 

I was on the same cruise. Overall, a good voyage. Ship sailed full. Other than a tropical downpour in Key West that lasted a few minutes, we had perfect weather and calm seas. RCL Oasis was with us at CocoCay.

 

Smoke filled casino was busy every night. Several dealers wore masks because they couldn't handle the excessive smoke. Portable fans were brought out too.

 

Room service trays and litter were frequently evident in the hallways. I remember wondering how wheelchair/scooter/walker users would navigate. We heard a unverified rumor that RCL may return to 2x/day housekeeping.

 

Production shows were good. Excellent talent. Stage design and costumes somewhat dated.

 

Bar service was consistently speedy.

 

Ship unexpectedly returned to Terminal 2 and not Terminal 6 where we embarked. Shuttles were provided to guests who parked at Terminal 6.

 

When's everyone going to understand to "NOT" leave their room service trays in the hallway!!

[CruisinNole]

14 hours ago, Nado44 said:

Ship unexpectedly returned to Terminal 2 and not Terminal 6 where we embarked. Shuttles were provided to guests who parked at Terminal 6.

 

That happens frequently. We use valet parking so the car is brought to the correct terminal.

[RogerDodger247]

On 8/7/2023 at 9:46 AM, CruisinNole said:

That happens frequently. We use valet parking so the car is brought to the correct terminal.

Yup, looks like it happens a lot.  Just happened to me on the Aug. 12 sailing.  Left from Terminal 3 and returned to Terminal 2 so no big deal.  They may not tell you beforehand (we got officially notified on Day 4 out 5) but this is planned well in advance.  I knew this was coming by checking the cruise schedules on the Port Tampa Bay web site.  Worth a look if you are parking at the port.

 

 

On 8/3/2023 at 7:57 PM, JGCRUISE0507 said:

Anyone just disembark Serenade of the Seas today? Any thoughts on the cruise experience? Just curious to know what others thought of the experience.

Just off the Aug. 12-17 sailing.  My first time on a Radiance class after only sailing Mariner (once) and a bunch of trips on Freedom, Oasis and Quantum class ships.  I have to say, the ship is in great shape and I enjoyed my time on her.

 

As for the food, not much to say that hasn't been covered elsewhere.  The new MDR menus were disappointing and the food quality was very average.  Not sure if the quality was just Serenade or if this is the new standard but there was a definite drop off since my last cruise on Oasis in 2022.  The jerk pork chop on Caribbean Night was quite possibly the worst thing I've ever had in the MDR.  Even with a steak knife it was tough to get through.

 

[sunonfire]

On 8/7/2023 at 9:46 AM, CruisinNole said:

That happens frequently. We use valet parking so the car is brought to the correct terminal.

I had asked the same question. I received numerous responses and they said the same thing.

[boltnut55]

I'll be on Serenade in October, so it's disappointing to hear about the food, BUT I was on NCL in Dec for 14 night Panama Canal and recently again on NCL for B2B Alaska, and each cruise, everything was too salty, so I had to preorder low sodium at the MDR every night.  "No taste" might be a good change for me 😁

[deliver42]

The food problem isn't just the Serenade. There are multipul threads on here about the lack of quality in the MDR.

[JGCRUISE0507]

I been reading that all well.

[kruzerci]

Just returned recently but not the 7/29 sailing. I would recommend going in with very low expectations. I unfortunately have been on this ship a couple of times this year (due to being non refundable bookings or I would have cancelled after the first) and both experiences were pretty poor in terms of onboard experience (entertainment, cabins, and maintenance) and food. Very limited food options and what is available is frankly very poor quality.  
 

We relaxed but they probably tied for the worst cruises we have ever been on. 
 

Not saying this to be a buzzkill, but if you go in with low expectations maybe you will be more prepared and happier. 

[Julma]

Did anyone try the specialty restaurants?  Hopefully they are better.  

[retired dude]

8 minutes ago, Julma said:

Did anyone try the specialty restaurants?  Hopefully they are better.  

chops has amazing filets, medium rare, the goat cheese salad is superb....food in md room has dropped off just like everyone is saying and i dont look for any improvement any time soon...We love this ship as we are close to the tampa terminal, but sailing on her during the summer is a mistake..four and five day cruises are a mess..

[zimmerman]

If you’re a proper foodie, you’ll be disappointed.

 

If you eat to survive, you’ll love it.

 

after reading this forum for the last couple of months, I’m terrified of what to expect for our upcoming cruise.

 

then again, there were similar horror stories ahead of our cruise last summer.

 

this will only be our third cruise and whilst I’ve found the food on the previous two adequate and ‘you’ll never go hungry’ it’s far from top quality or even fine dining (as many seem to suggest). I’ve come back for a third time, so it’s definitely not terrible (or hasn’t been), but people obviously have very different reference points and/or expectations and/or tastes.

[zimmerman]

I’ve eaten in chops 4 times.

 

the fillet is about as average as you can get.

 

it’s amazing compared to the MDR but if that’s the filet I got in my local butcher or restaurant, I’d never buy it again.

[pcur]

On 8/6/2023 at 4:35 PM, Ashland said:

When's everyone going to understand to "NOT" leave their room service trays in the hallway!!

Like, never, most likely.  Especially, now that the cabin is serviced once a day. 

 

I think most passengers don't want 12-18 hour old leftovers sitting around in their room, especially if it's an ocean view or inside cabin.  

 

I haven't a clue about what the answer to this one is................