This was a really disappointing cruise, and we will likely not be sailing with Royal Caribbean again. It felt like the people on the cruise are overworked, or something... they did not treat us as though this was a special vacation or like they had any pride in their work. I felt like I was the one trying to cheer them up.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Admittedly, this was colored by the fact that we were mising ALL of our luggage, and we didn't know when we were going to get it... but I honestly don't remember any of the embarkation... there was literally nothing special about it. And it really felt like it was like running the gauntlet in terms of dodging the "extras" (drink package, dining package, etc)
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The buffet was really good, and the main dining room was good... although our table got moved after the first night (which felt a little awkward... did we do something wrong?) and we never really bonded with our primary waiter (our assistant waiter was awesome... bringing us the same bread/drinks for the kids every night, remembering us and enthusiastically greeting us), who was less than enthusiastic about the whole thing. Also, we bought the 3 night dining package and the Chef's table package, which were great (but not dining package isn't really worth it. The Chef's table definitely IS worth it), but the end result was that we didn't really eat in the main dining room very often. Also, I still don't know what "my time dining" is, and I never figured out the deal with Jade. The buffet was tasty, though, and the greeter in the morning was aweseome! Overall, the dining staff lacked any enthusiam and seemed like zombies, sluggishly picking up empty plates, really not engaging with people or trying to "go the extra mile". The Chef's table was expensive, but was really good, and made for a great experience.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Why isn't the Flowrider and Rock climbing open more than 3-4 hours/day? And why charge more for some classes (yoga, etc)... just allow everyone to do what they want... not everything has to have an extra charge. Pools were OK, but the chairs need to be monitored better for "saving", especially on Sea Days.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Overall, shows were great (stage shows), including (especially) the magician, quartet, juggler and the singers/dancers. The guy in the pub was great, too.
Children's Programs
1 out of 5
My kids never even went (11 and 13), which is saying something, because it was the thing they were looking forward to the most. The 11yo never went because there was nobody there at the open house, and no posting of what activities they were doing daily in the newsletter... and the room itself was really boring looking... just some empty space and some chairs; no computers or movies showing. And the "teen living room" was exactly that: a living room. Really nothing else there, very boring. Also, they need to post the activities for the day in the newsletter.
Service and Staff
2 out of 5
Our room steward was fantastic! The wait staff was really lethargic and did not engage with guests. Really disappointing.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
We had an adjoining cabin for our kids, which was perfect, although it meant we had to buy 2 cabins. But it was really nice.
Ship tip
Don't buy a dining package! And be prepared to pay for literally ANYTHING you want that is not part of the most basic needs.
We paid extra to "stay awhile", but our accounts got shut down pretty early, and there were really no amenities... it does not extend your vacation at all. And then getting off at 2pm was crazy, since people for the next cruise were getting on, and nobody seemed inclined to help us at all.
❤️ Freedom of the Seas!!! ❤️
I was thoroughly pleased with the service we received from the wait staff to our room attendant. On my cruise review, I made special comments for each so they'd receive special recognition. Are they over worked? Yeah, to make it the best vacation for us all! They work a min of 6 month contracts, 7 days a week, and try their best to deliver amazing service while we get spoiled as they watch and serve us. If they are sick, they still have to work. I know bc one of our servers wasn't feeling well and I could tell, but I didn't complain. If anything, I had empathy towards her. I mean, bless her heart! We even told our room attendant several days not to worry about cleaning our room to try and help give him a break. He insisted but we put out the "Do Not Disturb" sign several times so he couldn't 😜 Remember, several vacationers are hard to please and complain about everything. These workers don't get to see their families for months at a time, they aren't served the same food we often get to eat and half the time they don't get to enjoy the ports. Are they going to have a bad day here and there? Sure, but we all need to give a little bit of grace. Maybe slip them an extra tip 😬
What other ships have you been on and how long ago? I'm surprised that you were surprised, or disappointed, that you had to pay for the second cabin. Did you research this or did you have a travel agent? Did you get free airfare for your children? Or do you expect a free hotel room for your children?
We know the cruise experience was different 30 years ago but hard-working staff and your responsibilities to participate in making vacation enjoyable for the family haven't changed in that time. In fact now, there are so many more options. We have cruised on 4 different Cruise Lines and the experience on Freedom of the Seas has been at the top of the list. So much so that we will be on it for the fifth time in 2018. Our choice of cruising on Freedom of the Seas and on other ships in the Royal Caribbean line is based on experience. I would really like to hear to what, you are comparing your cruise.
You are correct in saying the crew works hard and that is true on any cruise ship of any modern cruise line. For some of them, this is how they are taking care of their family. They may come from places where the jobs are harder and the pay is less. So while you can't make their jobs easier, you can give extra cash tips to people who are doing extraordinary service and reward their extra hard work with extra cash. That's a win-win; you may get even better service with a smile and you'll know that you're providing an exceptional reward for people who have to work exceptionally hard.
what a shame you had no time to actually review the cruise or destinations.A cruise ship is a 24/7 operation and staff spread their working day differently than land based workers. It's unfair on them to focus on their tiredness rather than the results of their labors. Was anyone discourteous? Didn't provide the service. you expected? Give us a CRUISE REVIEW.
I love Freedom of the Seas and I have NEVER had any bad experiences with the crewmembers of any Royal Caribbean ship. They are top notch workers, attentive to detail, friendly, and have always gone out of their way to make sure that our cruise was amazing. I cannot say enough about them.
Did you enjoy the shows or activities, relax poolside? How was the food? Did you have fun on your island stops? Your only commenting on the staff. I'm sure the staff appreciated your concern.
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