Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas
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Till something happens – The worst cruise I ever was on, my husband had a episode and left us in New Zealand , cruise charged us $12000 on my credit card with no authorisation for 2 hours service, for medic, no money, no accommodation ..no care factor , mm most important no follow-up.. I used to love cruising..
Poor communication, poor service good luck getting your refund – Our cruise was to depart from Sydney on the 4th April 2024. It was cancelled and a different itinerary was provided on the departure date which was a poor alternative destination and not remotely what we wanted to do. We elected for a full refund and we are still chasing part of the cruise cost months later. Poor communication from royal. Lies… Read more
from the staff on the phone and it would seem they are not actually interested in helping us. I would stand clear because if something goes wrong they will not try very hard to resolve the matter.
The Worst company I have ever experienced !! – Everyone should be alert!! It is most stressful time we have experienced now. They cancelled our ship 1week before departure. They said they refunded us but we didn't receive as the card they sent was expired already. We called and emailed them more than 10 times to chase our money. We still haven't got them yet. Royal caribbean said they did… Read more
refund us but our bank confirmed that the money hasn't gone in. Very irresponsible system and no one to talk to when you need it most. I will never use the royal caribbean company again.
all about money – they have taken away lots of benifits for top tier members once on board you are nothing. Be careful trying to get a refund on a cruise deposit for reasons such as health issues you have no hope they are just money grabbers with no compassion at all they have lost me a once loyal cruier
Save your time and money – Worst experience ever. Inexperienced staff, some were rude and unfriendly. Poor quality meals at times, especially the beef. I had two live ants in my mocktail on the first day. Lack of seating in all areas, seemed overcrowded with too many people and not enough staff at the bars. Waiting times for service and use of the lifts was way too… Read more
long.
Sewerage smells were very bad in public toilets on many occasions.
Sub standard entertainment and only one show on the whole trip.
A waste of time and money
Never again – Worst holiday ever, so much money for Bogan of the Seas. We went on 30 Dec to Noumea and got off there and paid to fly home a few days later. We were too sober, not enough tattoos and have good taste in food so did not fit in. Biggest mistake I ever made. Revolting. Show details
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COMPLETE LACK OF CARE – I sustained a fractured wrist to my dominant hand slipping and falling due to water left on tiles during mopping on 23 January 2024. RC has basically refused to provide an Incident Report despite numerous requests. I received no special attention and even requesting having my hair washed was a challenge. No compensation or funds have been offered… Read more
for my pain, inconvenience or ongoing expenses during my recovery for at least six weeks. Contact with RC replied with a generic response mainly covering cruising information. This demonstrates no one actually reads emails sent to RC. Sadly my travel insurance apparently only covers expenses incurred while on the cruise and not after care. RC accepted the costs for onboard medical expenses but nothing for ongoing expenses. I have now written to the CEO and await a response.
NO ONE TO CONTACT – There is no email address to contact someone so you can have a proof. The phone numbers are not being answered for exisitng reservation. We haven't even started our cruise yet! Show details
Standards have slipped – Just completed 10 night cruise on Brilliance of the Seas to South Pacific islands Noumea / Vanuatu This was our 4th cruise with Royal Caribbean and will probably be our last. Was surprised at how far the standards have slipped in all areas of entertainment, food quality, customer service. Their main focus now is making money. By 7th day we were… Read more
looking forward to getting home which has never been the case on our total of 10 previous cruises. For the price Royal Caribbean charge compared to other cruise lines they no longer deliver value for money or an enjoyable experience. It is a shame as we throughly enjoyed our previous cruises with them. We completed a cruise with Carnival in June 2023 which was far more enjoyable and much cheaper with included cruise credit to spend on board. Would not recommend Royal Caribbean now to family, friends & work colleagues.
A Mixed Bag of Marvels and Mishaps – Summary: My 11-night Royal Caribbean cruise from Sydney to the South Pacific offered a beautiful ship, engaging activities, and some truly magnificent staff. However, several downsides, including cramped showers, misleading port advertising, and limited exploration time, prevent me from wholeheartedly recommending it. Detailed Review: The Ship:… Read more
1. Aesthetics: This vessel was a true engineering marvel, boasting stunning design and impressive amenities. 2. Onboarding: Seamless and efficient, taking under 15 minutes. 3. Room: Our uninterrupted ocean balcony room was a decent size for a couple, perfect for enjoying the view. 4. Activities: The cruise provided a plethora of engaging options for all ages and interests, ensuring none of us ever felt bored.
The Downsides:
1. Swimming Pool: Disappointingly, the two pools were much smaller than depicted in the photos. 2. Shower: The weak water pressure and cramped space made showering an unpleasant experience. Royal Caribbean, please take note! 3. Water Access: Requiring a separate package for bottled water seems unfair and potentially detrimental to passenger health. 4. Fiji Misrepresentation: Both Port Denarau and Suva fell far short of their advertised beauty, suffering from misleading photos, long wait times, and hygiene concerns. My recommendation? Skip Fiji unless you thoroughly research independent tours. 5. Limited Port Exploration: One day simply isn't enough to explore the beautiful islands like Lifou and New Caledonia. Royal Caribbean, please consider extended shore excursions or earlier tendering options.
The Highlights:
1. Windjammer Buffet: This was the undisputed star of the show! An incredible variety of delicious food catered to all dietary preferences, even leaving me with a happy 4kg weight gain (worth it!). 2. Staff: The crew was exceptional! Friendly, helpful, and always with a smile, they truly made the experience special. A big thank you to the entire team, especially the Windjammer staff who went above and beyond. 3. Lifou and New Caledonia: These islands were breathtakingly beautiful and offered glimpses of paradise. I highly recommend devoting more time to exploring them in the future.
Overall:
My Royal Caribbean cruise was a mixed bag. While the ship itself and certain aspects were fantastic, the weak shower, water access issue, and disappointing Fiji experience left me with mixed feelings. With some improvements, particularly regarding port exploration and resource availability, this cruise line could offer truly unforgettable journeys. So, while I can't fully recommend it right now, I believe it has the potential for greatness.
Cabin allocation – We are going on a family cruise but have been allocated our three balcony cabins on different floors and spread apart despite asking initially and repeatedly by phone and email since, for cabins near each other. They have not obliged and now sent a final seemingly automated response saying sorry but no changes will be made. It is still 3… Read more
months to go but the trip has lost its magic somewhat. This is the letter that I sent. Thankyou for your reply. You obviously care very little for your customer satisfaction nor happiness. This will probably not even be read by those who care nor matter. The joyous family holiday is already spoilt just by your company's lack of consideration in granting requests for families to be near each other. We had as mentioned a previous family trip together with you in Jan 2014 on the Mariner, but also in Feb 2013 on the Voyager and our sons together in Jan 2019 also on the Voyager with cabins together in all cases. We assumed you would do similar or as close to this time. We are all very dissatisfied and disappointed this time. We will not be travelling with you after this as your customer service has obviously dropped. We just wanted and assumed you would do your best to place families nearby each other. I think you could have done better with more consideration. I hope this is not a sign of what the cruise will bring, although by others reports this may be so.
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Excellent cruise well nearly – Barcalona/barcelona cruise 06/2017 Booking process was performed through agency so no real ideas as to this process Boarding and unboarding was really well performed on this trip The cruise and its itinerary was fantastic with beautiful destinations. But beware as some very long coach trips are involved on coaches without facilities on board… Read more
.Have taken this issue up with RCI as one gentlemen in front of me did not quite make it home dry ,hot days with lots of fluid intake(water) does not make a good combination?
Cabin was great and spotless as in previous cruise, but that is almost where the excellence stopped,
Meals in dining area were very average and very tepid at best to the point of not bothering to eat there as the effort of dressing up did not seem worth it. (Also Lots of T-shirts & shorts on display) , Chose to eat dinner in the windjammer, a first for us, which had more choice all round, and in the evenings there was no drama with seating as opposed to the dining area which had queues whether you booked or not.
Staff were sullen especially american staff , don't tip at your peril, some staff in dining areas seemed to move just enough to stop them falling over and were tethered to within 5 mtres of cleaning station, found myself continually sitting at uncleared tables, breakfast time especially.
Have unfortunately seen this repeated in many reviews of RCI lately they are beautiful crafts but that is not enough, also a theme of hand in pocket springs to mind, WIFI charges for my 9 days on this ship would have nearly exceeded by mobile bill for year, at a time when most places offer free WIFI.
$24 US a day is outrageous. 18% surcharge plus tax on every drink ! and don't tip at your peril .
RCI in the past was a cut above the rest and that is reflected in the fares etc but this is not good enough to be justified anymore, Have booked another cruise on behalf of a family member, but for reasons above and below really am starting to regret getting caught up in the moment.
P.S. do not book future cruise on board as I have done. Found the same cruise readily available and cheaper on return home ? I am considering canceling this cruise and loosing my deposit as I would still be better off have contacted RCI and at this moment no reply
Carribean Cruise June 2016 – Booking process and admission to cabin was extremely fast, well done. Accommodation in cabin roomy and always clean well looked after, all amenities really good. All dining venues were of a high class and food varied. One criticism, cost of alcohol reasonable but there was an 18% loading, hello this was over the top and lining the pockets of share… Read more
holders, I just drank less and next time will request no gratuities on drinks. The Carribbean cruise was great though.
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