DIRTY TIRED SHIP, avoid like the Plaque

From the moment we arrived, it was clear most Crew were uninterested. We were told as we exited the gangway into the atrium, your rooms are ready…they were not (not a big deal but the start of the worst Cruise experience we have ever encountered)

We have been sailing with RCCL since 1985, our first Ship being Song Of Norway,we are Diamond Plus members regularly sailing with this Cruise line, so we are not making our comments based on no knowledge of general standards expected from RCCL.

Windjammer (the casual dining venue open for new arrivals) was unclean, tables were dirty, staff were very slow in cleaning them up, Hot food was actually cold, we are busy seemed the stock excuse/reason when we questioned staff why…the hand sanitisers (1st day) were actually empty!…Our room when ready was FILTHY, no other word for it, we complained, eventually got a n Officer responsible for deck operations to come and see it, he agreed it was well below standard and had it deep cleaned (the detrius was NOT from the last Cruise, it looked as though it had been accumulating for MONTHS) our bathrooms stank of sewerage ALL THREE DAYS, nothing was done to sort that out. The bed did not have a mattress cover and was as hard as iron…perhaps because (unlike most other Cruise lines) the mattress was not on a Box, but simply on a sheet of metal!…The Royal Family Suite was the accomodation category, so if this is how RCCL look after Suite guests, God help the rest.NO Sweet Dreams chocolate at Turn Down, No famous towel animals during Cruise.

Our serveres at Dinner on 1st night were very good, shame the food wasn't. We tried CHOPS, their speciality restaurant on night 2, again the server was good, the food however was not up to the standard of other RCCL Chops Grills. 3rd night dining experience was POOR…not one evening was there a fillet or Lobster choice (without extra charge) whereas there always used to be.

The adult pool in Spa was dirty, there was excrement in it on 2 seperate occasions.

The Private island experience was very disappointing, there are NO no smoking areas, so non smokers (who I assume make up the majority these days) were subject to smoke from people using sun beds upwind, let alone those sitting next to you. The beach was poor and the Sea was full of natural detritus, unlike Castaway Cay (Disneys island) but similar to Labadee, RCCL previous island.

Trying to get service for soft drinks was impossible except by going to The Bar and waiting there…however, if you wanted alcohol, the waiters were frequent and plentiful (one wonders why)

Do not book a room on Deck 8…you will be kept awake until 2am by noise from above.

Disembarkation was poor, compared to other Cruise lines at Port Canaveral, we took the carry off option and were still held up for 45 minutes…why? who knows, perhaps RCCL wanted to ensure we had a DISNEY experience, standing in line waiting, however, they should know Disney Cruise Line does not have a long wait line to get off….perhaps the line was caused by all the disgruntled guests trying to get off as quick as possible, who knows!

My advice is, IF you want a good 3 day cruise to the Bahamas…use another ship, this really was a nightmare experience and one we are not in a hurry to repeat.