Ask Me About Awful RCI Radiance Cruise In Alaska

[acud]

Our recent and first cruise ever RCI Radiance, Seward to Vancouver was a disaster. Sewer odor in bathroom and balcony entire trip. Couldnt get fixed, couldnt get moved. Staff largely indifferent. Service poor in general, food mediocre. Watch out for new and unpublished 'convenience' charges when you use seapass to get $$ in casino. They havent worked out kinks in My Time dining -not a great experience. They lost some luggage, apparently they cant get bags from point a to b without issue. Windjammer not very good. Entertainment? None to speak of - very amatuer-ish and underwhelming. Couple bright spots: BearCreek fly-in fly-fishing excursion(Juneau)...worth every penny - saw dozens of bald eagles, seals, whales - caught lots of fish. Portofino restaurant on ship very good (Chops, so-so). Some (few and far between) cruise staff were very friendly and attentive. Ketchikan crab excursion good if you like dungeness crab. Seward Windsong lodge is a rip off and they tried to put us in a room that had spoiled meat in fridge - the bell staff couldnt even stand being in the room. Skip it, and its NYC price @ over $300/nite. Sealife cneter behind the scenes tour was good - basically they describe their succusseful animal and marine life rescue and return work. Orso in Anchorage was good, the Aurora show at the city center nearby had potential but was disappointing. 26 Glacier Cruise in Prince William Sound - saw maybe 3 glaciers due to fog and rain - didnt go into some arms as couldnt even see shore. Be advised that your booked excursions do not cancel for weather. Before you go - on any line - do realize SE Alaska is a RAIN FORREST. It rained each day, never saw the sun or the stars.

(We did homework for almost 9 months - and still had issues. Too bad as it is an awe inspiring place.)

[judynorth]

Sorry that your first cruise was such a disaster. I can identify. Our first cruise was to Alaska and it was also a disaster. We left 12 hours late, missed 2 of the 4 ports, didn't get to Sawyer Glaciers, and had to deal with an almost surly crew. However, a year later we were in Alaska again and had a wonderful cruise. What little we saw on the first cruise drew us back and I am so glad that that 1st disasterous cruise didn't ruin cruising or Alaska for us. Don't give up. It is worth another try!

[lovetocruise99]

I'm so sorry for your bad cruise. If I can offer one piece of advice it would be to try a cruise again sometime. It can take a few cruises to adjust to life onboard. My husband was not a happy camper on our first cruise (to Hawaii!) and pretty much grumbled about everything...the room (a mini-suite!), the buffet, the poor entertainers, short time in port, the motion (especially the motion) and the surly crew. In retrospect the cruise was a great one but at the time our expectations maybe weren't quite in line with reality. I'm not saying you didn't have issues on your cruise. I'm sure your points were valid and nothing can make up for bad weather. After a few cruises though you learn to not sweat the small stuff and have a great time no matter what's going on.

 

We were on the exact Alaska cruise in Mid-June and also noticed the sewer smell in the bathroom and on our balcony. I hate to tell you that pretty much all cruise ships have this smell in the bathrooms. It's disgusting and you never quite get used to it. We thought the food was also mediocre on Radiance compared to the Voyager class ships. Our specialty entertainers were superb though so I can't complain there. To us, the beauty and animals of Alaska made up for anything on the ship.

 

It's true that a cruise is what you make of it. Don't be afraid to try one again.

After about 13 or so cruises my husband now would cruise anywhere anytime. And he swore he would never go again after the first one.

[maren91]

Our recent and first cruise ever RCI Radiance, Seward to Vancouver was a disaster. Sewer odor in bathroom and balcony entire trip. Couldnt get fixed, couldnt get moved. Staff largely indifferent. Service poor in general, food mediocre. Watch out for new and unpublished 'convenience' charges when you use seapass to get $$ in casino. They havent worked out kinks in My Time dining -not a great experience. They lost some luggage, apparently they cant get bags from point a to b without issue. Windjammer not very good. Entertainment? None to speak of - very amatuer-ish and underwhelming. Couple bright spots: BearCreek fly-in fly-fishing excursion(Juneau)...worth every penny - saw dozens of bald eagles, seals, whales - caught lots of fish. Portofino restaurant on ship very good (Chops, so-so). Some (few and far between) cruise staff were very friendly and attentive. Ketchikan crab excursion good if you like dungeness crab. Seward Windsong lodge is a rip off and they tried to put us in a room that had spoiled meat in fridge - the bell staff couldnt even stand being in the room. Skip it, and its NYC price @ over $300/nite. Sealife cneter behind the scenes tour was good - basically they describe their succusseful animal and marine life rescue and return work. Orso in Anchorage was good, the Aurora show at the city center nearby had potential but was disappointing. 26 Glacier Cruise in Prince William Sound - saw maybe 3 glaciers due to fog and rain - didnt go into some arms as couldnt even see shore. Be advised that your booked excursions do not cancel for weather. Before you go - on any line - do realize SE Alaska is a RAIN FORREST. It rained each day, never saw the sun or the stars.

(We did homework for almost 9 months - and still had issues. Too bad as it is an awe inspiring place.)

 

Sounds awful, we are off to the Radiance in a few weeks so I'm crossing my fingers. That sewer smell is awful and as the previous poster stated I have a feeling it is like that with most cruise lines. I have smelled it at sometime or another on every cruise I have been on.

[SFAM]

Sounds awful, we are off to the Radiance in a few weeks so I'm crossing my fingers. That sewer smell is awful and as the previous poster stated I have a feeling it is like that with most cruise lines. I have smelled it at sometime or another on every cruise I have been on.

 

Hmmm, I've only done one cruise (HAL Amsterdam last year the whole cruise to Alaska was wonderful), but we never even had a hint of smell like this. I'm almost thinking of bringing something to close the drains just in case.

[Toyz711]

Hmmm, I've only done one cruise (HAL Amsterdam last year the whole cruise to Alaska was wonderful), but we never even had a hint of smell like this. I'm almost thinking of bringing something to close the drains just in case.

 

 

it's not always your drain...

have you been around an RV...no matter how much chemicals you put in the holding tank, there's a smell?

ships use a vacuum system for flushing, it's a fragile system...people flush something they shouldn't and the whole system, for that section, can have troubles. sometimes the smell is as you walk down a certain hallway...maybe they had a problem on the last cruise? sometimes it's as you are outside (the holding tank getting full) or on one side of the ship(the wind is blowing just right).

you have a ship holding the waste of 2,000 plus people...at times there are going to an stink somewhere. i have never had a problem in a cabin, but have gotten a whiff when on the top decks.

[lauren0309]

As far as the smell in the bathrooms, we always bring a hanging air freshener and keep it in there the length of the cruise. Your bathroom will smell like roses!

[labeachcomber]

As far as the smell in the bathrooms, we always bring a hanging air freshener and keep it in there the length of the cruise. Your bathroom will smell like roses!

 

Totally agree. In fact, I bring one of those cheap 99 cent pop-up air fresheners with the gel. Open it up all the way, and it'll smell like "Apple Cinammon". (Couldn't find the "Ocean Breeze" scent this time...)

[thinfool]

I have a feeling it is like that with most cruise lines. I have smelled it at sometime or another on every cruise I have been on.

 

You folks might want to try HAL, Princess or Carnival.

 

Except for the brief time that maintenance was needed because some ignorant or inconsiderate soul tried to flush one of their towel animals down the drain, we have never had a bad smell on a daily basis. :D

[wrp96]

I've never had a bad smell on any of my cruises - all on RCCL.

 

But typically when sewer problems occur on any ship it is because a passenger has put something in the toilets that they weren't supposed to. That then messes it up for other people in the same area. Oh, and no line is exempt from sewer problems.

 

Still a sewer problem wouldn't be fun no matter the reason why it happened.

[Coral]

My Radiance cruise to Alaska was my least favorite cruise. I just didn't think RCCL did "Alaska well" - they just didn't have their act together. Princess has so much more experience in Alaska and it shows (I understand HAL does also).

[Italy52]

You folks might want to try HAL, Princess or Carnival.

 

Except for the brief time that maintenance was needed because some ignorant or inconsiderate soul tried to flush one of their towel animals down the drain, we have never had a bad smell on a daily basis. :D

 

We were on HAL's Zuiderdam and had the smell, I really don't think that its specific to any one cruise line.

[celle]

My Radiance cruise to Alaska was my least favorite cruise. I just didn't think RCCL did "Alaska well" - they just didn't have their act together. Princess has so much more experience in Alaska and it shows (I understand HAL does also).

 

We did Alaska on Radiance of the Seas last year. Great trip. Couldn't fault them on anything.

[NancyIL]

My Radiance cruise to Alaska was my least favorite cruise. I just didn't think RCCL did "Alaska well" - they just didn't have their act together. Princess has so much more experience in Alaska and it shows (I understand HAL does also).

I loved our NB Coral Princess cruise last year, and our NB cruise on HAL Veendam last week was great, too. I noticed a sewer smell when walking down some hallways on the Veendam, although I never noticed it in our cabin.

 

Having crummy weather will certainly affect one's opinion of any cruise. We were fortunate to have had very little rain on our Alaska cruise - although Hubbard Glacier was very foggy, and we saw more clouds than sunny skies. I'm writing this while in Anchorage, and I'm crossing my fingers for more of the same as we go on a PWS cruise tomorrow and to Denali on Wednesday.

[Coral]

I loved our NB Coral Princess cruise last year, and our NB cruise on HAL Veendam last week was great, too. I noticed a sewer smell when walking down some hallways on the Veendam, although I never noticed it in our cabin.

 

Having crummy weather will certainly affect one's opinion of any cruise. We were fortunate to have had very little rain on our Alaska cruise - although Hubbard Glacier was very foggy, and we saw more clouds than sunny skies. I'm writing this while in Anchorage, and I'm crossing my fingers for more of the same as we go on a PWS cruise tomorrow and to Denali on Wednesday.

 

Glad your HAL cruise was good. Hope you have good weather for the rest of your trip!

 

I think one can get sewage smell on any of the ships, unfortunately.

 

Even if our weather would have been great, I still think RCCL did a poor job in Alaska. I have friends who did a family reunion this summer on the ship and thought the same thing.

[mochuck]

I still think RCCL did a poor job in Alaska.

 

What does that mean?

[LisaH]

We have never had a sewer smell in our cabin either on any cruise. I hope we never do. The air freshener ideas are good ones for future reference.

 

Thanks!

[dlbaqua]

when we had that sewer smell on Carnival's Ecstacy, my husband who is in water & sewer utility maintenance, covered the shower drain, he said that was the source of the smell and had an explanation that I can't remember but it worked. The only problem is our room steward would unblock the drain every time we left the room!

[gertz]

Sounds awful, we are off to the Radiance in a few weeks so I'm crossing my fingers. That sewer smell is awful and as the previous poster stated I have a feeling it is like that with most cruise lines. I have smelled it at sometime or another on every cruise I have been on.

 

DON'T AGREE.

 

We have done a number of cruises and have never had a sewer smell in our cabin. We have certainly had some problems but have always gotten them handled. If your cabin attendant does not get the problem fixed after a couple of tries go to the person in charge. It will get fixed.

 

For the OP or any cruiser two things we thing are essential. Research before your cruise and if there is a problem on the cruise get it handled or figure a way to live with it. But for crying out loud don't let it spoil your cruise. I think you probably did, sorry.:mad:

 

Said it before. Never had a bad cruise, some better than others, but never a bad one.

 

GERTZ

Princess Elite

Next Tahitian 9/17 Vancouver to Honolulu

Coral 4/12 FLL to LA

Island 8/17/09 Back to Alaska w/grandson:D

[antmintj]

We, too, were on the Radiance the same time as the OP and agree with everything that was said. We have sailed RCI a few times in the past & we have never had a sewage odor in or near our room, bathroom or on deck UNTIL THIS CRUISE. The odor was not mild. It was VERY STRONG, especially on the balcony on the starboard side. It never dissipated & made the use of a balcony in this place of such awe-inspiring scenery TOTALLY UNUSABLE. Complaints went unheeded for the most part--with extra cleaning in the bathroom about as good as they could manage. There is no excuse for this--- & with all due respect to another poster, hanging an air freshener in the bathroom would not have done the trick by a long shot! In fact, I am appalled that many of these posters think the smell of raw human sewage is acceptable anywhere, anytime---and I know first hand that cruise ships do not have to smell like a cesspool...and they never had until this cruise! That we should have to "grin & bear it" JUST because we were in Alaska is incomprehensible to me.

 

Poor dining room service for My Time dining was also a low-light. Shows were amaturish productions.

 

Highlight was Portofino's. Would have eaten there every night if we could afford it. Chops was mediocre at best not worth the extra $ IMO.

 

Many new employees on the ship could have been part of the problem. Overheard many saying "this is only my second day."

 

Sorry it could not have been a better on-board experience. We have been loyal RCI cruisers over the past 10 years & had saved & planned for a very long time for this "once in a lifetime trip." There will be no other $9000+ trips (including airfare, excursions & 3 days on land) to Alaska for us!

[judynorth]

Sorry it could not have been a better on-board experience. We have been loyal RCI cruisers over the past 10 years & had saved & planned for a very long time for this "once in a lifetime trip." There will be no other $9000+ trips (including airfare, excursions & 3 days on land) to Alaska for us!

 

Wow! It sounds like you are blaming Alaska for your horrible cruise experience! Choose another line and try again. Alaska has so much to offer that I would hate for anyone to miss out because of a bad experience.

[Boxer Lover]

We were on the Radiance southbound cruise in June. We had a balconey on starboard side and we never smelled any bad odor. We had a great cruise with no complaints with the Radiance.

[antmintj]

Wow! It sounds like you are blaming Alaska for your horrible cruise experience! Choose another line and try again. Alaska has so much to offer that I would hate for anyone to miss out because of a bad experience.

 

Didn't mean to sound like it's Alaska's "fault" for anything. Only meant that we could not afford to do this trip again since it was very expensive. Alaska was awe-inspiring (rain or shine) and would never hesitate to recommend the trip to anyone. We had a terrible on-board experience and nothing more.

 

Also, to the poster who suggested we "research" our trip and find a way to get things corrected on board before we leave: We "researched" this trip for the better part of 10 months. As for finding a way to get things corrected on board, (begining from day 1 on board & in no particular order) room steward, maintenance, head of maintenance, director of hospitality, uncountable telephone calls, customer relations desk... shall I go on?

[SFAM]

Didn't mean to sound like it's Alaska's "fault" for anything. Only meant that we could not afford to do this trip again since it was very expensive. Alaska was awe-inspiring (rain or shine) and would never hesitate to recommend the trip to anyone. We had a terrible on-board experience and nothing more.

 

Also, to the poster who suggested we "research" our trip and find a way to get things corrected on board before we leave: We "researched" this trip for the better part of 10 months. As for finding a way to get things corrected on board, (begining from day 1 on board & in no particular order) room steward, maintenance, head of maintenance, director of hospitality, uncountable telephone calls, customer relations desk... shall I go on?

 

Wow, this sounds fairly horrible. Have you thought about writing the company since you've gotten back? Sounds like this really did impact your enjoyment to the point that you should be asking for some sort of refund, or at least an honest apology from them.

[Snookum]

I have read a couple other places about this smell on Radiance. Our Alaska vacation is coming up soon on the Radiance and I was concerned after hearing this. I told my TA and she called RCC and they told her (which of course they would) they weren't aware of any such odor and all things like that reported to them were handled right away. Now after reading this again I worry. My family takes RCC most of the time because we are diamond members and I have never had anything like this happen. We have been to Alaska on Serenade twice and it was great so thought sister ship will be too. Well now my expectations can only go up after the smelly news and the weather reports so that's a good thing. Please try cruising again don't make a decision on one cruise, normally they are great and they are our favorite way to vacation. Gee I'm on port side so maybe I won't notice any balcony odor. Good luck on future cruising!;)