Not as bad as Carnival but they're working their way in that direction.

Explorer of the Seas Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage

Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 50

Overall rating:

2 out of 5
Verified Review
Explorer of the Seas

7 Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier (Seattle Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 24, 2016

Ship: Explorer of the Seas

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 1350

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

It seemed like they were prohibited from writing things down they ALWAYS came back minutes after we ordered anything, food or drinks, and asked for our orders again. Room service always called us back about every order and they still couldn't get it right.
 

Every meal had some kind of problem. Arriving at our scheduled time we still had to wait 35 minutes for them to get drinks and a bread basket on the table. The waiter warned us that prime rib would only come raw or very well done. We ordered medium rare and got raw -really. We sent it back and then we got very well done -just like he warned. 

Room service was especially bad -food was always cold, they always left something out, like coffee and creamer for coffee, silverware, and they didn't stick to the schedule a single time within the hour. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then, but they didn't get it even approximately right a single time.

Our photos from the ship got lost and they wasted hours of our time waiting for them to restore them -and it never happened.


We paid a rich price for a drink package that we thought would include everything -even though it was called the premium package, it didn't cover some premium+ cocktails, which was understandable, but it didn't cover a simple can of coke. Cups were ok but we couldn't get a single can even though several other people walked up and got them. Most drink orders were botched, wrong drink, no ice when we wanted it or with ice when we asked to hold it.


An excursion was canceled at the last minute because of weather and then another, almost identical excursion, was offered -for $25 more -it was not canceled for the weather.

 

The other passengers we met were great but that didn't make up for RC's lack of a plan or system to deliver good service. The room was large and nicely furnished and housekeeping was good but the toilet kept flooding the bathroom. Thank god for the high threshold.

They should rename the ship, "Willy-Nilly of the Seas."

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5
everything was too crowded and there were never enough tables or seats.

Entertainment

1 out of 5
too crowded to get into any venue

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
good size. toilet repeatedly got clogged and instead of shutting off the water he kept adding more and flooded several times. We heard that this happened with several other suites too.

Ports of call

Seattle, Washington

5 out of 5

Cruise Inside Passage, Alaska

5 out of 5

Juneau, Alaska

5 out of 5

Skagway, Alaska

5 out of 5

Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska

5 out of 5

Victoria, British Columbia

5 out of 5
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5 Comments

candidave    8 years ago

We were on this ship 6/17/16. We loved it. Our servers bent over backwards for all at our table. Room service was great. It came faster then they said. And grilled sandwich came hot and tea very hot. We were very well rested and pampered by then end of the week

shipmate13    8 years ago

Sounds like you took a different Cruise from the rest. We are going on this ship in less than 3 weeks. We keep an open mind, don't let others comments become Debbie downers for us and never rate a ship by the food. There are a few thousand people on it, we know it won't be perfect and don't care. Been on the Oasis. It was a good ship they all are. Sorry yours was not to par for your expectations. Good luck on your next adventure at sea.

RoyalIsLoyal    8 years ago

So sorry RCI wasn't that nice for you. I went on the ship 2 years ago and liked it more than a Disney cruise

mendoza1152    8 years ago

I have read similar bad food and service previously but was hoping that RC would have their problems ironed out by now. Sorry your vacation was not up to what should be expected. Sure hope RC gets the message.

Bushwaker2013    8 years ago

Wow , sounds like an awful time , sorry RCCL didn't step up to the plate for you. We where on this ship 10-12 years ago , it went fabulous for us and our kids.

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