Very bad experience

Item: Serenade of the Seas
Rating: 1
Author: Catiarj

Serenade of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern

Catiarj

Contributor Level: Third Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 32

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

10 Night Southern Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 23, 2016

Ship: Serenade of the Seas

Cabin type: Oceanview

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

I really wanted to have enjoyed this cruise. But there was no way. I was loyal to Royal Caribbean, but after this one, I will avoid them. In a nutshell, I felt like in a 3rd class ship. The boat was falling apart, filthy rooms, bathroom smelled like pee, the crew was overworked as always but this time they were aggressive and would confront you if you take a complaint to the service desk, pool was cloudy and under construction, water fountain unsanitary and a lot of times there were no cups, food choices very limited and bad quality, safe deposit and tv did not work, no shore excursions available, the specialty coffee was only offered in one location, shows were cheap, and the programming was sad and constantly trying to sell you something. To make matters even worse, when I complained to one of the crew members he said that he could "leave" me in one of the inhabited islands making me feel very unsafe in that boat. This was the absolutely worse vacation I have ever had, thanks to Royal Caribbean...Very sad.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

The restaurant was ok. The whindjammer was terrible - food was not tasty, presentation was disgusting, dirty, and a lot of times there were no cups or drinks.

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

If I could choose a crying one, I would. The programming was pitiful and constantly trying to sell you something. To give you a taste of it, the movie "Family Vacation" was featured 3 or 4 nights! It focused on sales and most of the programming was targeting a product for sale. We sailed during Christmas and New Years and the "holiday programming" was terrible.

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Pitiful. Out of 10 nights, only one good quality show. Every other night the shows were cheap. Looked like something put together by a school.

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

with some rare exceptions, the crew was unhappy. Rude and aggressive towards the guests. If you took any complains to the service desk, they would confront you and retaliate against you. i felt threaten and unsafe.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Again, if I had a choice of a crying one, I would pick it. The boat was not very well maintained, parts of the pools closed, a loose step leading to the top of the ship, the slider was closed for maintenance, pool under construction, food court unsanitary, rooms filthy, bathrooms smelling like pee and full of mold, the list goes on... to make it even worse, at 3am, the water coming out of the bathroom sink was completely yellow and the only place to get filtered water is in the top deck next to the Windjammer cafe

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5

Cabin was filthy, safe deposit did not work so I was stuck in the room for over 2 hours on the first day waiting for maintenance, bathroom smelled like pee and had mold, towels looked like floor rags (destroyed), furniture covered in dust, tv did not work.

Ship tip

Avoid it. That is the best advice.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

5 out of 5

Traveler Photos

waterslide closed when it was suppose to be open

food items with wrong label - this was a lobster salad with the wrong label

Issue getting back to ship. Boarding rail felt off

Reserved area. Available if you paid $250 extra per person

Sparkling wine to be distributed for New Year Eve unattended. No toast.

only drink fountain available in the ship, filthy and with no water at 1:30 am

During the entire trip there was no paper

9 Comments

Other reviews of this sailing

Never Again

beautiful trip