We were looking to have an all inclusive New Years Eve - this cruise was great for that. We enjoyed the excellent service. We live close to Galveston - and like the ability to simply drive down in the morning, park and board. We wouldn't fly across country for this cruise - but to take a few days off and let RCI treat us great - it is PERFECT.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We purchased The Key - and were moved to a short express lane with premium tier and suite guests.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Service was EXCELLENT at every meal. We enjoyed upgrading to Chops Steakhouse for one evening - glad we did it! Food was over the top and our service matched.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Attempted to use the Adult only pool, but it was too cold to swim or soak comfortably.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We truly enjoyed the ice skating show and the Broadway evening show in the main theater. We were VERY disappointed with the comedian - and chose not to go for the last night as his first evening performance was simply picking on a few people in the first few rows.
We would also be remiss if we didn't call out Kat the Piano Woman - she is awesome! We've cruised with her before on RCI and were thrilled to see her again and enjoyed the evening of piano bar entertainment!
Children's Programs
Didn't bring children on this trip
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Exactly what we expected on Royal Caribbean - excellent service from our cabin steward, Romeo, to our evening dining with Elmar and Wayan. Great hosts for our trip
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
First time on a ship with a mall or grand hallway - this is the original one from my simple research. We enjoyed sitting "outside" the pub and having a drink each afternoon. The parade on the last evening was interesting. We watched the balloon drop for New Years Eve on the closed circuit TV from the pool deck as it was way too many people in a small space for us - but again the crew planned for the poolside to have a live video feed - so it worked well for us
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Nice, typical, balcony cabin. Clean. I discovered the in room refrigerator had a broken door shelf and reported it to our cabin steward. He was unable to repair it during our cruise - since we only needed a few bottles of water cold, it didn't impact our use of the space.
Ship tip
Take advantage of the Main Dining Room for non-dinner meals to avoid some crowded times at the buffet on Deck 11.
We simply shopped around the port and had a drink - it was OK. We've been here before and didn't want much more than this experience. Be prepared to say, "no," and "no thank you!" often as the people outside of each store are very enthusiastic to invite you in to shop.
We purchased The Key - great way to have our bags closest to the exit. All was good except for a brief moment when passing through the facial recognition gates - we were traveling with an older uncle who has trouble hearing and seeing - as we waited for less than a minute after passing through the facial recognition portal, we were told, "He's an adult, move on!" While this is true, a few moments of a familiar voice and presence can keep someone from misunderstanding an instruction and potentially shutting down the smooth flow of the exiting passengers. So - my suggestion, have a plan to be behind anyone who needs a moment - as the team on land in Galveston is not prepared to allow you a few seconds to assist from in front.
*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.
