Voyager of the Seas 11/4/23 The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

[jean87510]

7 hours ago, luckybecky said:

 

Yes, it was nice! My daughter is a great travel buddy. We've done several trips together. 

 

I agree about the time at Chops. I checked the time on my photos to make sure I was right about that. As mentioned, it took half an hour just to get drinks. Apps arrived at 6:34pm, almost 45 minutes after we were seated. Entrees at 7:14pm, another 40 minutes later. We had arrived at the restaurant at 5:50pm, so that's a long time to get the entree on the table. Dessert came at 7:48pm so almost 2 full hours to the minute. By the time we finished dessert we had been there about 2 1/4 hours. That is a long time. I don't like being rushed through a meal, but this was too long even for me. 

It's a huge pet peeve with me with long dining times like this.  Especially when you start filling up on bread, drinking glasses of water and then of course trying to find a bathroom close to the restaurant during the meal and navigating with heels is a joy.  Our trick is to tell them we have something in an hour and it usually works.  

[footzz]

11 hours ago, luckybecky said:

Staff were not as friendly as on other ships. This was really quite noticeable to me. On many ships, we have had bar waiters learn our names and drink preferences on day one, or just crew in general being very friendly and helpful. 

This issue on the VOTS has recently been mentioned on other boards. Here's one example verbatim:

 

"I was disappointed with how we were treated by a lot of the crew. They seemed so burned out and over passengers. Some were outright rude. Like when I called and asked about the internet not working in my room. The crew member was instantly defensive and abrasive." 

Edited November 14, 2023 by footzz

[UPNYGuy]

Royal Caribbean just isn’t worth the ‘experience’ any longer. My travel agent spent six hours on the phone with them after they canceled the reservation and lost my deposit. I have really not found the food or service all that spectacular, unless staying in a GS or above (for service). 
 

my wife and I have two more cruises booked on Royal Caribbean, and after that it is back to MSC. 

[luckybecky]

8 hours ago, momof3cruisers said:

Thanks for all the info. Doing this cruise in Feb, directly after returning from the same itinerary on Carnival Breeze. I’m looking forward to what the differences will be. My daughter and I have also gone on a few trips with just the two of us. Always a great time to share and make memories.

 

We've also done a couple of cruises on the Breeze. I'd be interested to hear your opinion on how they compare.

[luckybecky]

7 hours ago, footzz said:

This issue on the VOTS has recently been mentioned on other boards. Here's one example verbatim:

 

"I was disappointed with how we were treated by a lot of the crew. They seemed so burned out and over passengers. Some were outright rude. Like when I called and asked about the internet not working in my room. The crew member was instantly defensive and abrasive." 

 

3 hours ago, UPNYGuy said:

Royal Caribbean just isn’t worth the ‘experience’ any longer. My travel agent spent six hours on the phone with them after they canceled the reservation and lost my deposit. I have really not found the food or service all that spectacular, unless staying in a GS or above (for service). 
 

my wife and I have two more cruises booked on Royal Caribbean, and after that it is back to MSC. 

 

It's a shame to read these comments. I was hoping maybe it was just us. Fortunately we didn't encounter rude behavior like the person quoted above, but we just noticed that the vibe from crew was definitely less outgoing, friendly, or helpful. Too bad. Like you, UPNYGuy, we aren't really going to be eager to sail RC again after this experience. I won't rule it out -- the cruise wasn't that bad and we did have a good time -- but it won't necessarily be at the top of our list. 

[footzz]

39 minutes ago, luckybecky said:

It's a shame to read these comments. I was hoping maybe it was just us. 

We've taken many cruises out of Galveston as well as other ports and, up to now, all of them have had great crews. With such a seemingly sudden change in the crew's demeanor, one can't help but wonder if there's been compulsory extensions of the crew contracts and/or a change in onboard management, such as the Staff Captain or Hotel Director. 

[UPNYGuy]

It is also worth noting that my wife and I can book a yacht club cabin on MSC for roughly the same price as a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean for the sailings that we prefer. Yacht club is a ship-within-a-ship, with Butler service, concierge service, private lounge, private restaurant, private pool, room service included, and upper level beverage package with minibar even included. I can book a yacht club interior cabin (which are ok sized) with all of these inclusions, for not too far off of what Royal Caribbean charges for just a balcony cabin with nothing.

Edited November 14, 2023 by UPNYGuy

[UPNYGuy]

2 hours ago, luckybecky said:

 Like you, UPNYGuy, we aren't really going to be eager to sail RC again after this experience. I won't rule it out -- the cruise wasn't that bad and we did have a good time -- but it won't necessarily be at the top of our list. 

that is really how I feel about RC. We have a sailing that goes to Labadee (can take or leave) and a decent Alaskan itinerary out of Vancouver for our liking. But it typically has to be an itinerary we like before we consider them. Even when booking these current cruises, I was looking at alternatives because we have had issues with them in the past. I booked, and had a major issue (RC cancelled the booking on my TA and lost the deposit and wasted her time).  

[Oceansaway17]

On 11/14/2023 at 8:56 AM, UPNYGuy said:

Royal Caribbean just isn’t worth the ‘experience’ any longer. My travel agent spent six hours on the phone with them after they canceled the reservation and lost my deposit. I have really not found the food or service all that spectacular, unless staying in a GS or above (for service). 
 

my wife and I have two more cruises booked on Royal Caribbean, and after that it is back to MSC. 

Yea my experience with Royal goes downhill when I am in an Oceanview room in front of ship.

on Allure, Anthem, and recently on Oasis I could hear loud thumping bass from bow of ship where steps go down to crew bar.

Was a nightmare dealing with guest services.

 

One of these days I might get brave and try MSC

[UPNYGuy]

3 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

One of these days I might get brave and try MSC

look at the prices of an interior yacht club cabin on the Meraviglia class and Seaside class. And remember that Yacht club is a ship-within-a-ship, with Butler service, concierge service, private lounge, private restaurant, private pool, room service included, and upper level beverage package with minibar even included. Plus, you board from a separate concierge lounge, and are escorted past lines at ports. 
 

Much superior experience. 

Edited November 15, 2023 by UPNYGuy
Adding info.

[Oceansaway17]

1 hour ago, UPNYGuy said:

look at the prices of an interior yacht club cabin on the Meraviglia class and Seaside class. And remember that Yacht club is a ship-within-a-ship, with Butler service, concierge service, private lounge, private restaurant, private pool, room service included, and upper level beverage package with minibar even included. Plus, you board from a separate concierge lounge, and are escorted past lines at ports. 
 

Much superior experience. 

Will do thanks

[UPNYGuy]

31 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

Will do thanks

you can get into an interior yacht club cabin for about $1600 per person for a week give or take a few $$. When all the inclusions are taken into consideration, it is a good value. Especially being I’ve seen Royal price some ocean views around $1000 for a week, with nothing included. 

[firefly333]

On 11/14/2023 at 11:39 AM, luckybecky said:

 

We've also done a couple of cruises on the Breeze. I'd be interested to hear your opinion on how they compare.

I did a b2b on the breeze (also vista) and thought dinner in Mdr on the breeze was not edible. My steak was all gristle. Other choices not good. On vista I ate in pay restaurants to get around this for dinner. After breeze is when I decided to switch back to rcl. Now prices on rcl out of pc are so crazy high I'm considering carnival again. I do prefer carnival pizza and guys burgers. Love their seafood place, and their lobster rolls are reasonable ala carte. 

 

Im on sister dream in jan and my friend who just got off dream said dream needs attention, needs some fixing up. Booked for the better ports out of Galveston. Idk this morning I'm thinking I'll be cruising a whole lot less. Rcl finally hit my limit wall on prices. I'm seeing a bunch of insides on older ships over $2k. ..crazy. 

[Oceansaway17]

3 hours ago, UPNYGuy said:

you can get into an interior yacht club cabin for about $1600 per person for a week give or take a few $$. When all the inclusions are taken into consideration, it is a good value. Especially being I’ve seen Royal price some ocean views around $1000 for a week, with nothing included. 

most folks who like MSC do so by going yacht club.

Now I wonder what it would be like if I did not go yacht club.

[UPNYGuy]

2 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

most folks who like MSC do so by going yacht club.

Now I wonder what it would be like if I did not go yacht club.

DW and I have plenty of non yacht club cruises on MSC. We like them just fine, especially on the Fantasia and Musica classes. We just prefer the Yacht Club on the Meraviglia and Seaside classes. Our two favorite cruises on MSC were not in the yacht club. 
 

But we also don’t like feeling like we are vacationing with 5,000 other people. Which is we go Y/C when we get a chance. 

[bayou cruiser]

I am considering booking this ship for my next cruise, so I really appreciate your review.  We sailed the Voyager out of San Juan last year for the itentiary.  We had done the same itentiary on the Freedom before and loved it.  While our Voyager sailing with a port every day was awesome and had no complaints about the ship or crew, it was less than enjoyable due to the passengers onboard, just a very rude, demanding and messy dynamic.  I do know that the crew did enjoy the seven days with a port stop each day because it gave them more time off.  I don't think they were excited about the move to Galveston.   We've never done a five day cruise before but we're going to give it a try and hope for the best.

[Oceansaway17]

2 hours ago, UPNYGuy said:

DW and I have plenty of non yacht club cruises on MSC. We like them just fine, especially on the Fantasia and Musica classes. We just prefer the Yacht Club on the Meraviglia and Seaside classes. Our two favorite cruises on MSC were not in the yacht club. 
 

But we also don’t like feeling like we are vacationing with 5,000 other people. Which is we go Y/C when we get a chance. 

Good to know. I have yacht is great

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Enjoyed your review and especially the food pictures lol which I always love.  We were blessed to sail in your ship years ago and have been sailing with Royal for decades. Always enjoy the wonderful memories and I thank you for taking the time to give such detail. All the best.

[neverbeenhere]

I'm happy to see that MSC has a "salesperson" visiting the Royal forum.

 

I'm not a food photographer, but your photos did the job.

[gkbiiii]

I was on this cruise, with my Hosted MyVegas Group Cruise.  This was my first cruise as a new Diamond Plus, sadly a once grand ship, is left to become total crap.  I was on Explorer last year, it was the best Royal ship experience I've had, this is among the worst. The food in all venues was sub-par, including both Specialty Dining venues, Chop's & Gulevanes. The buffet made MSC look good, as did the Main Dining Room. 

 

The Chef had Head Waiter, call my cabin, to invite me for Lobster Dinner on last day.  It was nice of them and I asked them, "what do you recommend as an appraiser or salad course," their response was, "we recommend you go straight to the main course, the lobster."  Yea, that just about sums it up!

[UPNYGuy]

On 11/16/2023 at 4:47 PM, neverbeenhere said:

I'm happy to see that MSC has a "salesperson" visiting the Royal forum.

 

I'm not a food photographer, but your photos did the job.

not an MSC salesperson. I’ve cruised on Royal, MSC, HAL, Oceania, Carnival, and NCL. DW and I find Royal to offer consistency in *being* inconsistent. We also find the food to be dreck, and find the experience on board to not be to our liking. Why would we do that when we can and most always do sail other lines? 
 

 

Edited November 18, 2023 by UPNYGuy

[Saab4444]

On 11/16/2023 at 12:36 AM, UPNYGuy said:

DW and I have plenty of non yacht club cruises on MSC. We like them just fine, especially on the Fantasia and Musica classes. We just prefer the Yacht Club on the Meraviglia and Seaside classes. Our two favorite cruises on MSC were not in the yacht club. 
 

But we also don’t like feeling like we are vacationing with 5,000 other people. Which is we go Y/C when we get a chance. 

The big MSC ships are very nice but the crowds outside Yacht Club are insane. Booking Yacht Club does not make sense for me because for this money I can go on a real luxury ship. An inside cabin in that area does not count for me as a reasonable option.

[UPNYGuy]

1 hour ago, Saab4444 said:

The big MSC ships are very nice but the crowds outside Yacht Club are insane. Booking Yacht Club does not make sense for me because for this money I can go on a real luxury ship. An inside cabin in that area does not count for me as a reasonable option.

to each their own I guess. My wife and I actually like the area outside of the yacht club, and like the big ship features when we want them, but small ship ambiance and service inside the YC. 

[1girl3boys]

I was suppose to be on this cruise 😭.  I had to miss because I got shingles.  Instead of enjoying the cruise I was in bed most of the time.  Looks like you had a great time though.