Should call them "Pirates of the Caribbean "

Radiance of the Seas Cruise Review to South Pacific - Australia

Gazali

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 2

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

16 Night Australia Top End (Sydney To Perth)

Sail date: February 09, 2017

Ship: Radiance of the Seas

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 4584

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

We were first time cruisers and only did the back to back because of the itinerary.
Back to back was Australia top end & New Zealand, was sick and tired of constant up selling, the put the drinks prices up mid cruise by around 12% probably due to the bars being almost empty after 10.30pm.
Took ages to get onboard & kicked off at 8.15am.
Excursions were vastly overpriced.
Food in the windjammer wasn't bad but main dining room was basically the same food with a different name, the waiters constantly hassled you to leave good survey results as it would cost them money in their salaries.
Cabin boy challenged us as to why we had opted out of automatic gratuities as they had given him a list of "offending cabins" as apparently they work for an agency that only pays them a pittance & RCI seem to think that on top of the £000's you pay them for your holiday you have to also pay their staff!
Ship was ok but could do with a tidy up.
Cabins ok, shower not bad.
Tendering to ages to get onshore if you had not booked a trip with them.
Would we cruise again- maybe, would we go with RCI- definately not!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Ship tip

Don't bother.

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Ports of call

Sydney, Australia

5 out of 5

Brisbane, Australia

5 out of 5

Yorkey's Knob (Cairns), Australia

3 out of 5

Darwin, Australia

3 out of 5

Benoa, Bali, Indonesia

1 out of 5

Port Hedland, Australia

1 out of 5

Geraldton, Australia

3 out of 5

Fremantle (Perth), Australia

5 out of 5

17 Comments

kknorr0320 7 years ago

It's 6 of one, half dozen of the other. Royal has already stated they will get rid of gratuities in Australia, and add them in to the price.

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steve1956 7 years ago

All i say is. I'm Glad to be a Australian.

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unplugged 7 years ago

Your ignorance of all things American is showing. Tipping is provided in only a few service industries. For instance, restaurants, bellhops, and luggage handlers. What are you referring to when you state "their wages are so low"? Really, you have no understanding to be able to criticize the gratuities in the U.S. Your total lack of understanding makes you appear to be just an ugly Australian.

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steve1956 7 years ago

These tipping has always been in the U.S policy because their wages are so low . & there expect extra for everything. But i look at it overall, what a con job. even if you pay your Gratuties , they still want more. day after day , a big joke it is.. Yes i know about what Indonesians get paid i do travel to Bali a lot , & i do look after them in their country. Its a pity this happens on most cruise ships. I say, work , & earn your money , we do.

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unplugged 7 years ago

Obviously, there is a gulf between an understanding of the common policy of tipping on cruise ships in the Americas vs Europe. Since this has not been explained sufficiently by the cruise lines, the only alternative is to simply charge the standard tipping rate in the cruise price. That would provide cruise staff with a living wage, while adjusting for the fact that Europeans do not tip.

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LF3727124 7 years ago

I agree it's up to the cruise line to check all employees are being paid enough and not being exploited which is what I feel when asked to tip someone who is just doing their job. Like Steve 1956 said we would all be extremely well off if we were getting paid tips on top of our wages, surely it's the employer at fault. By the way I do tip for good service while on holiday but us Brits don't expect to be tipped ourselves while doing an honest days work.

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HeatherEric 7 years ago

Ok, like it or not the cruise lines change a auto tip system to pay their people. Most of them are from the Philippines or Indonesia. Call it exploration if you want but these workers get about $2000 a month. Considering that under their contract they are working 7 days a week and an average 12 hours or more shift. Do the math it's pennies for hour. If you opt out of auto pay expect to get poor service. Want to get better service? Don't be a cheap ass.

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unplugged 7 years ago

Our progressive politics have resulted in California (not the U.S.) being ranked #6 in the world. Australia is ranked #13, so don't get so cocky.

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steve1956 7 years ago

Typical comment. You carry on tipping in your country. We dont in our country thats why we are well off country. We are the smart ones. Only tip to the people in real need. The Poor. If you dont get a reason wage thats your problem.

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unplugged 7 years ago

Clearly, you don't comprehend the concept of tipping. Just because you're an idiot, I don't blame all Australians. (Or whatever Godforsaken country you are from.)

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steve1956 7 years ago

All they do is do their job, What they are suppose to. Dont deserve any extra. If i got Tipped for doing my job , i would be a millionaire. Get real mate. I Pity you americans. think you know all .F..k All

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unplugged 7 years ago

Really? You stiffed the cabin attendant (they are not called "boy") because Royal didn't pay them enough, and you wanted to teach them a lesson? You don't deserve to cruise. Educate yourself before you cruise the next time. Or, better yet, don't cruise again.

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kknorr0320 7 years ago

Royal is getting rid of tipping on Australian cruises and raising the prices to compensate.

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steve1956 7 years ago

Anyone is entitled to cruise, and people are entitled to comment on what they experienced .So you, do your thing in the States, & we will be much better off. Typical American. A Clown like there Leader.

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britter960 7 years ago

You simply sound like the type of person who should not be cruising, and I'm guessing has many complaints about any restaurant or business that you deal with. The things that you are complaining about are common on all cruise lines and many of the assumptions you are making are way off base. Next time, stay home, you will be happier and the cruise line will be mush better off.

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steve1956 7 years ago

Dont pay Gratuites. your trip will be worthwhile. The staff are only doing their jobs so dont tip them. U.S thing tipping not around Australian waters. All up to you. i never do.

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kknorr0320 7 years ago

All cruiselines do these exact same things.

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