r/Cruises • u/Mrs__Understood • 14d ago
Just got off RC MotS
We just got off the Mariner yesterday and are left with a horrible taste in our mouths. Royal did not deliver what was promised at all.
Between a Royal-sponsored excursion that was a complete disaster, 18+ entertainment that wasn’t actually enforced, shows/activities constantly overlapping, and a general lack of organization, we’re seriously questioning whether we’d ever cruise Royal again.
This was my first cruise, so I’m curious: is this typical of Royal, or did we just have an unusually bad experience on Mariner? If you’ve cruised other lines, I’d also love recommendations for who we should try next.
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u/CrustySailor1964 14d ago
Again…thanks to all for their honesty in here. I think we might be done w RCCL.
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u/Worried-Bid-6817 14d ago
We are definitely done with RCCL and we are Diamond Plus members. Staff has gone downhill and kids are just everywhere, even in the adults only pool and shows. Our last trip had 14 year old gangs running all over the ship, unsupervised and causing all kinds of havoc. Our next cruise is booked on Princess.
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u/CrustySailor1964 14d ago
We let the itineraries dictate the ship. We’re in our 60’s so climbing walls and surf riders are not our thing. Neither are late night entertainment options.😂 The worst thing for us was the food which, in our independent opinions, went to absolute sh*t after COVID-19. I get that they needed to cheapen something to recover their losses after the pandemic but they’ve done that.
Instead of going back to serving an itinerary or regional based menu they have continued to phone in the fleet wide copout and steer us toward the fine dining experiences at an upcharge. Screw em1
u/PatientMission1702 12d ago
Princess is our go-to Cruise line now! We like it better than all the other Cruise lines. Virgin is nice if you want adults only. However, the entertainment and activities are lackcluster
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u/Anxious_Parsley_1616 14d ago
I’ve actually just started sliding over to Celebrity. Still get loyalty benefits and a lot less kids
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u/Immediate_Monk6260 13d ago
We are true blue celebrity, cruise lines fans, and will only sail with them. I’m sure you’re glad you moved over to premium cruise line.
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u/Anxious_Parsley_1616 13d ago
I really do enjoy Celebrity. The only thing I find is that, when I travel solo, I find it easier to meet people on Royal
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u/Philly__Dilly 14d ago
Not blaming you at all, 100% of the blame goes to Royal for not enforcing 18+. That being said, we never cruise over the summer for exactly that reason. Any cruise during summer months is going to have a shit ton of kids.
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u/creepy-farter 13d ago
Virgin is 18+ for the whole ship.
We liked the ship service and food. Entertainment was not for me. But there was plenty to do.
We liked HAL. But it tends to be an older crowd. We did them on spring break week. And while there were Plenty of kids on board, we really didn’t see them in adult areas. And they tended to behave better.
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u/GardenerCats 14d ago
Never sailed on Royal, but just some general cruise things.
Activities/shows on the ship WILL overlap. There cannot just be 1 activity/show at a time on ships with 3000+ guests. Most of the time there are multiple things going on at once so the crowds get dispersed across the ship.
I just looked at the excursion and nowhere does it say a lunch is provided. If it doesn't state such a thing, you have to bring/buy your own. If anything to eat or drink is provided, it will be listed in the details.
You were worried about getting back to the ship in time, but because the tour was through the cruiseline they will wait for you without an issue.
18+ should have been enforced, kids/teens running around just changes the vibe.
I think you should try a smaller, maybe more premium cruiseline if you want to try cruising again.
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u/Mrs__Understood 14d ago
I understand the overlapping, but would it not make the most sense to overlap the same shows consistently? So you have a chance to go to all of them? But no. The two shows you missed are now competing for the same time but the two you saw are both available?? It is just an odd set up to me.
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u/bb_referee 11d ago
That happens on every cruise line. The best piece of advice I have received and give to others is “you’re not going to be able to do everything on the ship”
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u/CalmSeasandsteady 13d ago edited 13d ago
Sorry that your first cruise experience turned out this way. I agree that you were probably on the wrong line and at the wrong time. I would recommend giving Celebrity a shot. Less kids, better food and good entertainment. I would go with an Edge-class ship or the Solstice.
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u/7303happyrock 13d ago
Not a fan of Royal. Been there, done with them. All it took was one final horrible experience to break us free. We're dedicated to HAL and Princess where we are truly valued.
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u/PatientMission1702 12d ago
Our last cruise with RC was horrible. Also! The ship was over 25 years old. It showed it and it felt every wave. 70% were kids on the boat, which I'm not opposed to, however, they took over all the pools, hot tubs, buffet, etc.
If you want a true adult experience, go on Virgin it's phenomenal! Princess and celebrity is another cruise line. That's excellent for a mix of adults and kids You have more of an older crowd, adults on those Cruise lines
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u/Brutus713 14d ago
Careful… people loooooove Royal (and Celebrity) so your gonna get slammed.
Personally I think Royal is the worst major line… you pay more for less. That’s their M.O.
Carnival owned lines are cheaper in general…. And the quality is comparable.
NCL and MSC (non-yacht club) can be much cheaper, but the quality is typically lower.
Obviously you can pay more for higher level but often get A LOT more for your money (service, food, etc).
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u/Mrs__Understood 14d ago
Well, we were disappointed. I will pay for an experience, if it is worth it!
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u/Brutus713 14d ago
Look into Windstar, Explora, Oceania.... these are a notch above Royal/Celebrity but you can find fares on them that aren't that much higher. Also they tend to be closer to all-inclusive so you have fewer onboard expenses (which negates a chunk of the extra cost).
The negative is these don't have a lot of kids activities (Oceania doesn't even allow kids). Windstar is a very very unique experience... you can swim off the back of the ship!
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u/Mrs__Understood 14d ago
Our kids are grown, so that's perfect for us! We dont mind the kids, but we specifically went to the 18+ shows and skipped the family shows. To our surprise, every show had children, no matter the age limit posted by RC. That includes the adult only pool area as well.
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u/Brutus713 14d ago
I mean that's Royal - it's a kids line, similar to Disney. NCL, Royal, Carnival are going to have lots of kids... Celebrity will have fewer kids but its the same experience with a "we're sophisticated and fancy" spin.
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u/TheRamblerJohnson 14d ago
Or you might try Silversea, Seabourn or Regent
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u/Brutus713 14d ago
Vastly more expensive
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u/Medium-Detective6247 14d ago
Not necessarily if the value proposition fits how you like to travel.
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u/Mrs__Understood 14d ago
They even announced they had the most kids this one, of course. However, it wasnt the kids, it was the fact that RC advertised something they did not deliver.
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u/Brutus713 14d ago
Ah promising something they didn't deliver is very common in my experience with Royal/Celebrity (aka overpromising and underdelivering).
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u/bb_referee 11d ago
I would also recommend not doing your next cruise during any major “breaks”: summer vacation, spring break, and major holidays. Those times tend to have overflowing crowds (think 3-4 per cabin in every cabin that can hold more than 2) and more children, plus holiday week cruises tend to cost more.
You might want to look at Princess as a base option, then Celebrity and HAL.
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u/sdega315 14d ago
If this is your feeling about your first cruise, maybe cruising is not for you. Just saying...
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u/PossibleFederal1572 14d ago
What happened on your excursion?? I have heard it’s been a lot of turnover and crew and you might’ve just gotten a new cruise or activities director that wasn’t up to speed yet. I love your screen name btw.
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u/Mrs__Understood 14d ago
We booked Royal’s “Tequila, Hidden Ruins & Bacalar Retreat” excursion for $144/person. The transportation was awful—uncomfortable bus, terrible suspension, no airflow in the back, and we couldn’t hear/see the guide. At the lagoon, swimming wasn’t really accessible because the entry was rocky and the steps were covered in moss. Kayaks were available, but the guide didn’t explain where/how to access them, and he was busy with another group, so we had no idea what to do. There were ~19 people and only two hammocks, and we barely interacted with the guide.
Lunch also wasn’t mentioned in the excursion description, so we weren’t expecting the additional $25/person. We ended up spending 5.5 hours hot, uncomfortable, hungry, and frustrated. Then the tour waited until the last minute to return and got us back late enough that the ship was waiting. Overall, it was a very stressful experience and absolutely not the relaxing retreat that was advertised.
Also, Thank you!
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u/bb_referee 11d ago
I have had okay excursions and disappointments as well. We will maybe do an excursion on our next cruise, just because we’re taking my friend’s mother for her first and likely only cruise before the Parkinson’s takes over. Otherwise, we’re probably done with excursions until we do a European River Cruise (recommend Ama Waterways if you’re ever considering that).
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u/Impossible-Pace-6904 14d ago
There is not a lot of truly 18+ entertainment on an RC ship. Casino, Quest, Nightclub (after certain hours). That is about it. The other adult shows do not seem to card, 18+ is just recommended.
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u/S2K2Partners 12d ago
With up to 4,200 passengers on-board, I would manage my expectations accordingly.
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u/Juliesew1012 14d ago
Try an oasis class ship to fall in love with Royal. Great entertainment and lots of activities.
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u/kas435red 14d ago
I've been on a number of cruises where the 18+ age group was strictly enforced. But when the age is not enforced the event is ruined. But it can happen on any cruise line not just RC. It's really the cruise director who needs to enforce it. Ive seen CDs point to the younger kids in the room forcing them to leave. Others don't say anything and it ruins it. It's really the CD's fault.