Rhapsody is a bombastic name for this ship.
Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
Contributor Level:
Cruise Director
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 11
Helpful Votes: 411
7 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip)
Sail date: November 30, 2019
Ship: Rhapsody of the Seas
Cabin type: Suite
Cabin number: 8594
Traveled as: Large Group
Reviewed: 4 years ago
Review summary
The term rhapsody is typically associated with the creation of positive emotion. Our time on board Rhapsody of the Seas failed to produce that, but the cruise did provide us with unforgettable memories due to the incredible itinerary. The capability of this smaller ship makes it a viable option for otherwise inaccessible interesting ports.Embarkation
Curbside to ship in about 20 minutes!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
This was the first cruise in which food quality caused me to leave the main dining. The first dinner I had in the main dining room (an escargot starter and salmon main course) fell short of typical RCI quality. Both food temperature and taste were marginal at best. The second dinner was even worse, though. A dry hunk of chicken with minimal filling was offered as Chicken Cordon Bleu. The relatively flavorless dish was on par with the salmon dish I previously tried, but the temperature and consistency of the chicken suggested that it was not readily prepared. The french fries accompanying the chicken seemed stale and even the peas and carrots were not hot and seemingly undercooked.
This led me to the Windjammer for most meals during the cruise. There, the variety and taste of food was neither horrible, nor spectacular. Staff did well with made-to-order omelettes during breakfast, though sometimes the wait was 25-30 minutes.
Onboard Activities
Rhapsody offers little in the way of exciting activities, but if you've read my previous reviews you know that I appreciate simplicity and an opportunity for relaxation is a worthwhile activity in and of itself. The Solarium on Rhapsody is the best one that I have experienced and ideal for this. In addition to an attached bar, there is a small cafe and beverage station within the glass enclosed, quiet area. Unfortunately, the Solarium pool was unbearably cold. Surprisingly, though, this did not cause overcrowding of the hot tubs- which seemed to always have an open seat.
Entertainment
We typically like to watch the live music performers, but there was no one that stood out on Rhapsody. One group did well while performing in the Centrum, but a later performance on deck was just okay.
We went to one show in the theater, which seemed to be designed with pauses welcoming obligatory clapping despite a negligible performance. It was reminiscent of being at a grade school production and providing praise for trying hard.
Service and Staff
Our stateroom attendant, Rafael, was excellent! It seemed we couldn't leave the room for a few minutes without it being cleaned thoroughly. Stephany, our assistant waitress in the main dining room, also deserves specific mention. Despite aforementioned issues with food quality, the service she provided during my two trips to the main dining room was exemplary.
Unfortunately, other than these two individuals, service was simply acceptable. More times than not, we had to track someone down and ask for things that were obviously needed. The requests were usually met with a prompt resolution, but on a few occasions it seemed that we were bothering the staff by asking for service. Compared to previous cruises, very little proactive service was provided.
Ship Quality
Rhapsody is starting to show her age. There are paint patches in places, exterior rust, and trim pieces that are broken.
Cabin / Stateroom
Junior Suite 8594 is not as large as this category stateroom on the larger, more modern ships, but nonetheless well arranged to provide comfort and adequate space for 4 folks to sit and chat with an acceptable amount of storage space. Stateroom attendant Rafael ensured that the room was thoroughly cleaned multiple times daily without being prompted. While it does have an obstructed view, the protruding steel forms a private balcony nook that we actually enjoyed.
Ship tip
Deck 8 starboard aft has a small staircase that goes up one level directly into the spa & fitness center.
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Ports of call
We enjoy spending the night before cruising in Tampa. There is ample opportunities for interesting dinner and drinks with affordable hotels that offer Park N Cruise options.
We booked Playa Mia privately and took a cab to the resort. Cab fare wasn't cheap, though. While the package was inclusive, this seemed like a better option for families. Without kids, I think we would opt for Mr. Sancho's. We were disappointed at the exorbitant cost of real items at the port, as well as the presence of phony gems presented as genuine.
The Cave Tubing and Jungle Trek tour was an incredible experience. Though we typically book excursion directly, this one took up nearly all of our time in port and I would highly suggest going through RCI for this excursion in case of unforeseen circumstances. Perhaps due to a time constraint, this was the first and only Diamonds International visit that resulted in a fair deal without much haggling.
Coxen Hole, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras
Honduras is an interesting port. Much to see was away from the port and I would also suggest an RCI sponsored excursion if visiting Honduras. We did end up with a little bit of time remaining, so we met a local named Eddie who walked with us to a neighborhood near the port to explain some of the local culture. After trying some of the local food, Eddie took us to a hole-in-the-wall bar near the port where we had some local beers much cheaper than at the port. It was a cool experience.
We did the Port Pass in Costa Maya and were pleasantly surprised by the value. In addition to getting a few drinks included, there was a reserved pool area to relax in the port. We also got a rather commercialized tequila tour, interactive chocolate tour, and got to walk through the aviary that goes around the port. No real deals on buying items at the port here, though.
Disembarkation
Unorganized and unprofessional. We waited over two hours in line after getting off the ship. A staff member asked an obviously handicapped person to wait while other able bodies folks went ahead in line. Also found that our luggage was broken after witnessing a forklift drop some on the dock, but no one volunteered to tell us that.
Traveler Photos
