NEVER AGAIN

Item: Liberty of the Seas
Rating: 1
Author: sisterbigger

Liberty of the Seas Cruise Review to Bermuda

sisterbigger

Contributor Level: Third Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 58

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

Verified Review

5 Night Bermuda (Cape Liberty Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 03, 2015

Ship: Liberty of the Seas

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 7131

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 9 years ago

Review summary

This was my 11th cruise with Royal Caribbean, but last one was 15 years ago. I will NEVER cruise with this line again. My family and I had all prepaid gratuities and prepaid drink packages. Once these bartenders started to realize that we were prepaid and would NOT be giving additional tips for every drink, they began treating us as subhuman. From that point on, we were the "low lives" of the ship. We had to beg for drinks, for service. Yet the people next to us that were paying and tipping for each drink got the superior service that we shouldve received. We saved for 5 years for this trip, and being that its always been an all inclusive experience, I didn't think we needed to save hundreds more to be able to eat anywhere but the disgusting buffet. The food in there should never have passed inspection. So I thought let's go to one of their restaurants. NOPE. Between me and my family, another hundred. OK, lets go to Johnny Rockets, I have such great memories of that place. NOPE, more money. This ship was divided into two classes......the "I have money to piss away" class, and the "I busted my ass working two jobs for five years and don't have extra to spend" class. NEVER again. They could offer me a free cruise and I would never step foot onto one of their ships again. This was my entire family's first cruise, and for years I built up their excitement, and anticipation, all to have their hopes destroyed within hours of boarding and seeing that unless I took out a small loan, we wouldn't be enjoying the cruise as expected.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Ship tip

GO ON ANOTHER CRUISE LINE

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

3 out of 5

22 Comments

lornab 9 years ago

We'll be there and having a fantastic time : )

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red61051 9 years ago

we are also going on the Liberty leaving on the 13th of November. looking forward to a great time.

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BUNsX5Fraovh4lKDt41nniDpo 9 years ago

Sorry but we have probably done 20 cruises over several years with RC on many different ships and any problem we have had(which have been few) were taken care of quickly and professionally. Good attitude helps.

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iluvit 9 years ago

Maybe so, but we are no talking about "professionals" here. These are people from mostly 3rd world countries who sign up to work on ship to make A LOT of money.

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rendezvoussam 9 years ago

A truly professional bartender should give an equal service to anyone required their service. Inclusive drinks packages included tips, If the bartender expect more this is pure greed. "Greed is the roots of all evil"

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iluvit 9 years ago

Try to look at it from the bartender's perspective: who would you wait on first, the guy with the tip included or the tip included plus extra? Every bartender will serve his regular tippers first, even on land. Seeing as every dollar we give them is equal to about 5-10 bucks in their country it's understandable. We bring a band of 50 ones and use them around the ship, for the porters, etc.

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Deejay43 9 years ago

Our two experiences with RC were somewhat disappointing but not to the degree that you described here. We find their ships much too big so HAL is now our cruise line of choice.

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pollyrivera 9 years ago

we pre pay everything and even tip a little extra for outstanding service. Never been treated badly. Could have been negative attitude overrode good service? Some people are never happy. Your cruise is what you make it...same as any other vacation you may take.

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widallas 9 years ago

Even if you don't have the package and just buy a drink, I believe they add the gratuities. We always budget in a few extra dollars a day to tip...if hubby and I each have a drink, it's an extra dollar, and not even every time. If we have a good bartender we tip well and often...pays for itself in good service. The cruise lines do make too much...the bartenders? Not so much.

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tonybigdog 9 years ago

I've been on 4 cruises with RC and 2 with Carnival. Now we go on one a year with RC. We usually eat breakfast & lunch in Windjammer (unless we are in port) and formal for dinner. I have never had poor quality food on any ship. We also get the drink packages (they pay for themselves with 4-5 drinks per day unless you drink beer then its about 7) and are always treated well. I agreed to throw in an extra dollar or 2 occasionally. RC will always be my choice. 25 days to go & booking the next one onboard, woohoo!!

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irvinemom1 9 years ago

We have been on several RC cruises and our experiences have also been totally opposite of the one described. We have 2 planned in the next 16 months and can't wait for them! It's all about the positive attitude. Some people are just too particular! Relax and enjoy it! The service and everything about RC is top notch.

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rendezvoussam 9 years ago

*just a side note, all drinks packages prices are inclusive of tips.

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kraglanddowell 9 years ago

sorry you had such a bad experience, I LOVE Royal and had a BAD experience on Carinval but sometimes things aren't always da best, just be blessed you could take your family on a trip we went through the same thing with Carinval but I would never say never....

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mattward 9 years ago

We go on our 10th cruise with RC next week. We always get the Premium drink package... The BIGGEST mistake people make is in thinking they do NOT have to tip bartenders, sure you don't have to but then you suffer for your own actions. A $5 bill at the beginning of the cruise goes a LONG way, and you just give a $5 here and there and the bartenders will take care of you. We have NEVER gone thirsty on any cruise.

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carolgrimaneliswatt 9 years ago

We have taken many cruises with RC and every one was excellent ... We have 2 more booked and no ... We are not rich ..

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andr 9 years ago

well said.😎

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rendezvoussam 9 years ago

Unfortunately for the last decade throughout the cruise industry they have cut back and reduced the quality and quantity of services. Most services were free are now either omitted of charged extras. Their business strategy is to cut quality keep prices competitive to attract new cruisers. When I encountered issues whilst cruising, I always insisted speaking to the line manager and be assertive and expect improvement. Regardless wealth, if you paid the fare everyone should be treated equal, and expect a reasonable service.

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cruisepeepsoninstagram 9 years ago

Try NCL it will cost you less for the cruise itself and then you can use the money you saved on the cruise fare to budget for onboard activities to enjoy.

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cruisepeepsoninstagram 9 years ago

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that whether you have the drink package or not they automatically add the tip, meaning that the people next to you were giving an additional tip on top of what was included. Anyone has the opportunity to give an additional tip, but pre paid package or not they include the tip, I understand your frustration, but this is pretty much standard now on every cruise

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marthatx 9 years ago

true, but speak out is necessary. We don't need smiles and nice words. we need good service!.we dont have to hide the true, we make those companies rich, we need good service in return.

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lornab 9 years ago

Keep in mind that 'negative breeds negative'...I can honestly say that all 8 cruises I've taken with Royal have been a wonderful success and I find many of the reviews very puzzling. I'll be on the Nov 13th cruise and I expect it to be a great experience for our whole family! Don't let the haters influence your holiday and IF you should happen to get a tough piece of meat (or less than desired service etc) alert the source and ask for something else. Constructive criticism instead of public humiliation always wins. Enjoy!!

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marthatx 9 years ago

Thanks for sharing this bad experience. we are going next month but we will watch out. probably will be the last one for us too. There is more ways to spend our vacation and our money without places and companies eres where we are mistreated.

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