I can’t say I’d recommend this cruise. I thought maybe because it was a holiday cruise it would be fun, but there were no decorations to be seen. Also, you could not watch the parade from your room. The staff was not friendly, the food was subpar for Royal standards. The environment was very depressing at times. This boat had a more older crowd than I expected. On the positives, Cococay was very nice. They did a great job. Also, my towel animals brought a smile to my face. Plus the band really seemed to enjoy their jobs.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Very seamless process. Took about 15 minutes.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
Food was the biggest disappointment. Very hit or miss. Some items were cold and inedible. Dinners were either missing some ingredients or not very good. No consistency or “love” put in presentations. Last Royal cruise the food was great.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
I believe this boat would be fun for families. I did not bring kids and found there was not a lot to do in the evening. The boat was a ghost town the first two days. Not one person at the Bamboo room, or the pub. The third day it picked up. They need more lively atmosphere.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The house band was excellent. That’s the reason for the rating, otherwise it kind of was a snooze fest. I caught a couple other shows that were ok. The 70’s show the first day was horrible. You could tell they were not into it at all. The cruise director was not very good.
Service and Staff
1 out of 5
This and the food can make or break a cruise. With the exception of a couple of people, the staff was unhappy. I don’t know if they were burnt out or what, but they didn’t look like they wanted to be there. The bartenders were miserable. The dining staff appeared to be inexperienced. (One didn’t even know where our table was to seat us). Very disappointing again.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
My fault for selecting an inside cabin. I should have upgraded to a window. That being said the location was good. My room servant was excellent. I got two towel animals. (Another couple I spoke to got not one. This speaks to the inconsistency on the boat. Also, while the room was small, it was the odor that got me. When we walked in it smelled like sewage. The smell persisted in the room the whole trip.
Ship tip
I would recommend for families only. Don’t expect friendly service, or good food. Also, bring your credit cards because Royal nickels and dimes you for everything
Despite what people say, it’s a safe port. I would recommend an excursion your first time there. Afterwards, you can walk around. Just know that some locals can be aggressive.
Very well done. The water can be cold in the swim bar, but it’s a lively environment and worth it. The food on the free part of the island is excellent.
I don’t understand how some people can say food and or service can make or break a cruise. We would be happy with tuna sandwiches and water all week. But again we are easy to please.
I think when they mention the parade it’s not a parade on the ship. They mean they weren’t able to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on the TV in their stateroom.
This was a Thanksgiving cruise, why would you expect Christmas decorations. Those are for December and Christmas cruises. You always need to leave your cabin to see a parade. Also not sure why you are upset that it was an older crowd, they obviously have the time off to take and enjoy this trip.
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