I think RCL is still recovering from COVID. A lot of corners cut to limit costs and waste, which is understandable. Seemingly overworked staff with design flaws that impede navigating dining rooms and common areas.
Also, there are no "quiet areas" except for the chapel, which is entirely enclosed. Even in the room, you can hear the neighbors.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
A lot of people, but generally easy
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Too many people going to too few stations with limited variety. The coffee stations all went into a corner and hot water for tea had to be obtained on request. It often took longer to find a table and seats than it did to eat. The dining room hours for seated service were limited.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
It would have been more fun if it weren't so cold and windy. I did not have enough incentive to brave the cold to do most of them.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
This was the one saving grace. The shows were very well staged and the performers were outstanding.
Children's Programs
No kids
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
There were some leads who were more interested in micromanaging everyone (including passengers) than creating a good experience. The Windjammer had a someone who was clearly in a service lead position who made me put back food because "this section is not open yet", then told me to go to the overcrowded area of the buffet because "all of the food is the same over there." That last statement says a lot about the quality, which is a far cry from my past RCL experiences. Also, it seems like the dining room was a bit of a war zone, with the waiters having to fend for themselves entirely, navigating narrow spaces to move their carts and serve their tables. Part of it is a design flaw in the lay out. However, I think the staff are simply overworked and have limited bandwidth to create a relaxed and optimal experience.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The Promenade was nice, but they would close off main walkways to take pictures. In this day and age of smartphones and selfies, do we really need so many photographers? It seems like it is just another way for the cruise to make money onboard.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
It was small but efficient. We rearranged a few things because the table was always in the way and not functional for what we needed.
Ship tip
Come for the entertainment, with much lower expectations for everything else, unless this is your first cruise.
We're on Liberty right now, and I agree with design flaws in both the Windjammer and main dining (to say there are some tight areas is an understatement) but I've found the food and service to be excellent. We've had a touch of the micromanaging experience but nothing too significant.
I'm sure getting changed from a Bermuda cruise to the itinerary that you did was far from ideal as well.. sorry your experience wasn't better.
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