I don't know what's happened to RC, nor why! When we began cruising with you in 1995, we felt like royalty. After these last 2 cruises, we feel more like 2nd class citizens. Very little occurred on the pool deck; you used to provide DAILY entertainment up there. The RC singers and dancers were sub-par; hate to say that, but it's true. Cruise Director and his wife were never seen on the pool deck; don't know why. Excursion desk reps had little knowledge of Hawaii. Too much disorganization; very sad and displeased!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Heard embarking in Vancouver was a nightmare; however, for us it was well-organized and quick! Very pleased!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Food is always good; however, seemed to enjoy lunch in the Windjammer better than dinner in the Dining Room. Still, both very good.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
On our previous 7 cruises, there were DAILY activities occurring on the pool deck. Except for a "Sexy Man Contest," a rather lame trivia contest, and a line dancing lesson, nothing else occurred on the pool deck during this 11-day cruise. And what ever happened to the one-day BBQ on the pool deck and the Ice Sculpting?
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Outside entertainers (2 singers, 2 comedians, and 1 ventriloquist) were very good. As for the Royal Caribbean "Singers and Dancers" they were sub-par; very disappointed as on all our previous cruises they and the shows were excellent!
Children's Programs
traveled as a couple
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
As always, the food service and room attendant were excellent; however, a few of the bartenders on board were less than sociable. Most of the bartenders were wonderful; however, some acted as if you were bothering them; not acceptable!
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Always clean and well-maintained!
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Room has sufficient storage and seating/sleeping area. Shower leaves a lot to be desired (so tiny, as usual).
Ship tip
Make sure you always have a Photo ID before disembarking the ship!
Take the Big Island Aina Tour; they don't book this on board so you'll have to book it yourself. This is a small (there were only 6 of us) tour and our guide, Gil, was phenomenal! He got us to all the main attractions well before the large tour buses arrived; well organized tour and very personal!
We like to snorkel and the beach we went to was so rocky it was downright dangerous trying to get in and out of the water. I'd book a snorkeling excursion for this island.
@cbelc2, Were you on this same cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii? How many cruises have you been on? We've taken 8 cruises over the past 20+ years and we have seen a decline in cruising. I believe in giving honest reviews and it is more pleasurable to give a positive review than not. I always look at reviews before purchasing anything, vacations included. I gave this cruise the best review I could in hopes that (1) those considering this cruise at a different time would know what to expect and (2) I always hope the RC also take note so that areas that need remedying get the attention needed.
I really enjoyed the Radiance of the Seas and the shows. Maybe the cruise director didn't feel like swimming or being on the pool deck. I felt like Royalty!
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
