Watch Out for Hidden Charges

PROS: This is a beautiful ship. New, well appointed, huge.  Our stateroom (11528) was spacious. View from balcony spectacular.

Embarkation was swift if you use online check in. I advise booking meals, shore excursions and on board activities well in advance. Especially of you desire a specific day/time for specialty restaurant. Chops Grille was fantastic.

CONS: While I understand the need for RCL to attempt to up sell they were relentless in offering. Every activity and meal we were bombarded with offers for galley tours and other activities. All at an additional cost.  Also, we were traveling with a friend who required a motorized scooter. Cabin attendants were constantly in the passageways with cleaning carts and supplies. This made it difficult for him to navigate especially if other passengers were there at the same time. Only Walmart has more carts blocking the aisles. The entertainment was geared primarily to millennials and alternate lifestyle passengers. "We Will Rock You" is vulgar and suggestive. Shops on board are primarily watches, liquor and jewelry.

All went well until departure. While leaving the ship I was separated from my group and sent to Guest Services. They told me my CC was  declined for a "portion" of room charges. Turns out that for some reason they decided to split the charges into two which triggered a fraud denial on my card. I had to call the card company and get card reinstated, all while my traveling companions were going through customs. When I asked why they would do such a thing, the representative said "It is just how we do it". When I asked why RCL waited until I was leaving the ship to notify me the rep said that I should have checked to account info in my stateroom. Difficult to do while waiting in a departure location at the direction of the cruise line. Poor service and annoying. I recommend that you visit guest services just prior to departure. After arriving at the airport I received an email with "final" charges. RCL had charged me an additional $12.36 for "mini bar". We did not use any of the items in the  stateroom. When I called RCL customer service they suggested that we had consumed the bottled water in the stateroom. We did not. In fact we purchased our own water at the Dockyard Pharmacy in Bermuda. Their brand is "Evian" ours was Dasani. I recommend that you not leave empty water bottles in your stateroom. I finally got RCL to agree to credit my card but I am still waiting to see the credit.

Overall a  good cruise but be aware of what they are doing with your onboard account. I will likely not cruise with RCL again. Too many other choices to put up with this level of service.