Lack of Communication

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 31

Review summary

We have been on a total of four cruises with three different carriers. This was by far the worst. We received very little information from the captain and staff as to what was going on. There was very little information on the TV as to location of the ship, expected arrival at next port, distance traveled etc. This was standard information on other cruise lines. We seldom heard from the captain and he did not even show up for the "Photos with the Captain" event. Instead, the assistant captain showed up. This trip was supposed to include a cruise past a glacier in Tracey Arm Fjord. In the middle of cruising this area, the ship abruptly turned around and headed back out of the channel. It was not until later that we found out that the captain had decided not to proceed up the channel due to ice conditions. We were told that an announcement to this affect was made below deck, but not on deck. Most of the people were on top deck to see the glacier, so we never heard this announcement. As a matter of fact, you could not hear the announcements on deck, in the restaurants, or in your state room. The only place that you heard the announcements were in the halls and common area below deck. Many people were complaining. One other problem was the show scheduling. Our dinner time was set at 8:30pm. We scheduled this trip in February, for the first part of June and that was the only dinner time available. The show scheduling was set up so that sometimes we could not make either show, without missing dinner. Some people left dinner early or came late, in order to at least catch part of the show. Royal Caribbean came highly recommended to us, but I would have to say as far as the Rhapsody of the Seas is concerned, I would not recommend it at all.

Ports of call

Skagway, Alaska

Juneau, Alaska

Victoria, British Columbia

Pros: Alaska Scenery

Cons: Lack of communication from the captain and staff

Recommends Rhapsody of the Seas? No.