NEEDS A LOT OF IMPROVMENT

LOL!   I know this is 8 months old but I do love reading negative reviews like this.... It makes me happy when a whiner has a lousy time...

Alrighty, first and foremost, I've lived all over the world and ugly American is definitely attitude and disrespect many Americans have for tolerating, respecting and adhering to another country's culture.  Not all, but many. 

Second, I can assure you that you don't spend more money than any suite cruiser.  But, I'm not even sure why that matters. It's like you expect VIP privileges without getting a suite.   Those are their rules, not yours.  Regardless, who cares. 

Third and fourth, quit using CAPITAL letters!  As far as formal nights, I'll admit that I never understood why we should dress up especially in the middle of the hot and humid Caribbean.  But, again, their rules and I respect those who like to dress up. Now, I will dress a step above work casual but I would never wear shorts to formal nights unless we were just going to hit the Windjammer that night for dinner. 

Finally, as many others have stated,  go hop on another line and try something different.  On out last cruise, I endured 12 nights of some lady complaining about RCCL because they didn't have flowers on the dining room tables and how Holland was so wonderful because they had flowers. On the 11th night,  I told her to look at the good things on RCCL and if she can't get past flowers,  go cruise Holland.  With all due respect, you kind of sound like her and nobody,  ugly Americans or not, wants to cruise with a Debbie Downer.  

I was sorry to read that you had such a a bad experience.  there are plenty of other cruise lines  out there.  I suggest either celebrity or HAL.  I am hoping that your next cruise is m ore to your liking.  Most cruise lines are relaxing their dress code.  With the weight limitation s on airplanes, now it does make more sense. 

Bergeron9277, May... I would love to experience the world in which you live, so I could get a handle on the excessively pampered and entitled mindset that you operate within. (my needing to make assumptions here) I assume that in your world, everyone is in perfect physical condition, slender, never uses their salad fork with their main meal, and there is somehow a vacuum of children.

I am impressed at how you can state "BIG BIG FAT MEN IN SHORTS....BIG FAT WOMEN TOO IN THE DINING ROOM AT NITE ......HOW HORRIBLE IS THAT...." and still claim to be "ALWAYS POLITE". That is a level of deluded mentality to which I have yet to be exposed.

On my one and only cruise review, one question was 'what suggestions do I have that would improve the cruise.'

My answer was basically the same as yours... screen the passengers more closely... but my explanation was basically the opposite of yours... as the passengers whom I would love to not have on board, are those who harass the incredibly hardworking crew members, become offended at the slightest deviation from their everyday atmosphere, and spend their waking hours diligently searching for something to complain about... something to be unhappy about... anything to point a finger at out-of-ridicule so you can feel better about yourself for 45-75 seconds.

This statement is coming from a caring heart... caring for you. You cannot find contentment in the world, in possessions, in notoriety, cruises, delicious foods, massages, being served by others...

If you wish to feel wonderfully blessed, in your life, happy with every breath you take, embarrassed and appreciative of every single task that is done for you no matter how small... then spend four month in Haiti... surviving and helping others to survive.

When you arrive at the point where you give your last bite of food or last drink of clean water to someone else because you see that they need it more than you do... contentment will permeate you when you get back to your present life.

I see nothing wrong with national pride, but this is dealing with non-acceptance.

I do agree that Americans are not the only "ugly" people, though.

I think this applies well beyond being an american issue.  There is plenty of nationalism to go around.

I agree dress code is important and should be followed.  I wish everyone did so.  However, I'm not going to say it was a bad cruise because not all passengers agree with me.  Life is too short to let that short of thing ruin my cruise. 

RCCL is a mass market cruise line, lots of people who disagree with us about dress code are going to be on those ships.  You might want to consider a more upscale cruise line like Cunard to find a more rigorously enforced dress codes.  But you will end up paying 3X for the same sort of itinerary.  

Yes "Ugly Americans" is about attitude and not about our wardrobe.   Kind of like one of my favorite saying off the old TV show Sanford and Son "Beauty is only skin deep,  but bitch is to the bone"

And still the all caps ?

The "Ugly American" phrase refers to attitude, not appearance.

Namely, the non-acceptance of those that are different than ourselves.

DEAR SIR

A DRESS CODE IS IMPORTAT AND RULES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY EVERYONE...

ITS THE SAME WHEN YOU GET OFF IN A PORT WE SHOULD NOT FORGET WE REPERESENT OURSELVES AND THE COUNTRY THAT WE LIVE IN WHICH IS THE U.S.A.........

I HAVE HEARD COUNTRIES SAY UGLY AMERICANS...IT THAT WHAT WE WANT TO BE SAID..I DONT THINK SO....TAKE PRIDE IN OUR APPEARENCE

ITS NOT TOO HARD TO DO....

To put myself into the role of this reviewer, I don't see how one star is justified at all.  Based on the stated problems, and assuming the food and service were good to great, I would have given the cruise a 4 or 5 star rating.

[quote] ITS A BEAUTIFUL SHIP [/quote]

So without the ship and staff doing something really bad, I can't justify one star.

[quote]1. WE HAD NO NEWS FOR OVER 7 DAYS [/quote]

In the old days, before cabins had TVs, the ship staff would prepare a 2 to 8 page newspaper of brief stories from around the world, to include major sports, politics, natural disasters, etc.  Princess did a great job with that but I have no idea if they still do.  As this cruise was a transatlantic crossing, getting TV news at sea is a problem because the satellites have their signals focused on land masses.  So a newspaper would be a great idea for the ship to provide. 

I can understand some small dissatisfaction with the cruise over this issue. 

[quote]2. THE T.V. PROGRAMS WERE REPEATED OVER AND OVER DAY AFTER DAY..[/quote]

This one I'll never understand why people want a bunch of TV on a cruise but I guess everyone has different wants and expectations. 

[quote]3. TO GET A FRONT ROW SEAT IN THE THEATER THEY SAID 10M IN BEFORE  I WANT EVERY TIME 30 MIN BEFORE AND THERE WERE NONE

THE SEATS WERE RESERVED FOR PINACLE OR PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT SUITES...[/quote]

This one I don't get either.  We all like the customer appreciation perks we get from getting better cabins, frequent cruiser programs, etc.  I don't begrudge others for spending more money than me.

[quote]DRESS CODE HORRIBLE

BIG BIG FAT MEN IN SHORTS....BIG FAT WOMEN TOO IN THE DINING ROOM AT NITE ......HOW HORRIBLE IS THAT....[.quote]

Yeah, I wish people were more respectful of dress codes and that the lines enforced the dress codes better.  But I sure don't get worked up about it.  I understand the ship staff can only do so much to force people to dress nice.  Imagine the horrible reviews that would be generated by those turned away from MDR because they had shorts on. 

As to people's weight.  WOW!

That sure isn't a ship controlled issue so it isn't going to reduce my rating at all. 

So, again assuming good to great service and food, I give this one a 4.5

Usually I thank someone for posting their review but I can't bring myself to do so this time.  

A couple things... 

- You mention always being polite but throwing down a blanket insult "BIG BIG FAT MEN IN SHORTS....BIG FAT WOMEN TOO IN THE DINING ROOM AT NITE ......HOW HORRIBLE IS THAT...." is as far from polite as a person can get. This and other highly personalized and insulting comments have no place in a cruise review.

- Your use of CAPITAL letters throughout this review sends the "I AM YELLING AT YOU" message. Use of capitalization throughout a written Internet communication is far from polite.  (http://www.netmanners.com/426/courtesy-1/)

- You have 7+ cruises under your belt so at this point you should know the ropes  but it comes as a shock that you don't get much news and TV shows cycle repeatedly. If you want continuously updated news and your regularly scheduled TV programs, perhaps a staycation would be more to your liking. In 20 yrs of cruising, the best I hoped for on the television is that the ship would carry the Super Bowl game and maybe some news highlights. 

As others recommended, look for another cruise line for more a more refined experience, although I hate to break it to you but "BIG BIG FAT MEN" and "BIG FAT WOMEN" cruise on those lines as well.

With your demands of others clothing you may want to try one of the upper level cruise lines like HAL, Cunard or Celebrity.   On a  longer cruise like 14 nights or more not many kids if cruising when school is in season.

P.S.  The Cap Lock Key can turn off the all caps so it is easier for others to read.

DEAR SIR

IT WOULD NOT MATTER IF THE COMMENT WAS SIMILAR  ITS THE TRUTH

MAY BERGERON

I cruise CCL and I agree with her points she made. Some things just are not that good on a ship. Ive experienced what she has and so has everyone else. But.... The little setbacks never set me back from having a great time. Never....

As an experienced cruiser, I'm sure you ere aware of the issues that could come up on a long sea day cruise. Preparing for small set backs should be the norm.

Your concerns and points made were isolated to the whole cruise.

Let us know what went well for you and your friends. Surely one meal cannot give you an overview of all the food?

Please add to you review .

It's so much more difficult to read a review when it's all in capital letters.  Anyway. it's too bad that you had such a disappointing experience.  Like BDRebel said above, maybe you should consider a different cruise line, especially since you stated you spend more money than suite buyers. 

You had the same complaints on your last review. Perhaps you may want to look at a different line?

SIR

I AM ALWAYS POLITE BUT WHEN ASKED I TELL THE TRUTH....SORRY ABOUT THAT