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Very bad experience

Serenade of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 38

Overall rating:

1 out of 5
Serenade of the Seas

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
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9 Comments

jilesgulf    7 years ago

Went on Serenade & didn't experience any of the things you say you did. Crew was very friendly, room was fine, good food in dining room. Going on her again next Jan.
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meganduggxn    7 years ago

sorry to hear that! i don't understand how they could be doing construction, during your stay? or why the service was bad? it's seems unreal. no shore excursions wouldn't make since, there had to have been a very big reason why. of course this is your opinion but some of it needs to be backed up because it doesn't make sense
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ryanaubin    7 years ago

... it is almost like she just went around hunting for things to take pictures of. And those pictures with her watch, those were just extremely charming. I hope this person never cruises royal again because if I ever saw her I'd have to speak up. She's must truly be miserable in real life, or live in a museum...
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cruisetiludrop    7 years ago

i was on serenade in Jan. i thought it was fine. many good points and I'd ho again any time.
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kmlopez    7 years ago

It's a shame there doesn't seem to be anything positive in your review or your photos. Did you even take any photos of the sights on your vacation? It couldn't have been all that bad. The ship is scheduled to dry dock in November. I'm sure the aging of the pool and water slide and such will be updated at that time.
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Cruiseguy80    7 years ago

I feel I have to respond as this review makes zero sense. No shore excursions??? How can that be? Many excursions are available at every Royal port. Or just no shore excursions you were willing to pay for??? Food limited? Royal has pretty much the same menu on every ship on every itinerary. Pool cloudy?? AND under construction? If it's being worked on , what difference does it make if it's cloudy? You can't go in anyways! And how is a water fountain unsanitary?? Unless there is trash in it. And no cups? Water fountains don't use cups. You just drink out of it! Sounds like if gold came out of toilet, you would complain about that too!
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scifiguy56    7 years ago

What ship and what date did you take this cruise?
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TERRI1962    7 years ago

No doubt ... Gross ... Step your game up Royal dam that's bad. 

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cruisetiludrop    7 years ago

were you wearing a kickme sign?
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