Name: Peter Marshall
Email: petermar@home.com
Age: Sixty-five
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 7
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Rhapsody
SailingDate: Aug.29 to Sept.5/98
Itinerary: Inside Passage Alaska
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 75
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 06 Sep 1998
Time: 19:59:29
Remote Name: 24.2.10.33
Remote User:

Comments

Embarkation and disembarking where a touch too chaotic. Luggage was not orderly, or well, sorted a lack of crowd control was annoying too. The ship
itself is magnificent - it's only a year old. The overall level of service was very satisfactory, especially in the dining room. The Head Waiter, Waiter and his
assistant, were polite, interested and quietly attentive. Food arrived swiftly, and always hot when applicable.

Some problems with a lack of reasonable, expected responses, from other staff though. They rarely initiated a good morning, good evening or like
greeting, and mostly only responded after we made the initial move. Service in the lounges and theatre, and on deck, was too pushy: we were often
asked three or four times if we wanted a drink, after making it clear that we didn't. Likewise, we were somewhat overwhelmed with the constant - in
brochures, in-cabin documentation, and at events, about the appropriateness of tipping staff, and about completing the cruise comment sheet at the end
of the voyage. In this regard it was annoying to have our waiter ask us to be sure to rate him excellent - good wasn't enough. We did rate him excellent,
because he was, but we didn't appreciate being asked to, and indicated so. Another annoyance was the failure of our cabin steward to offer even a
simple thank you for our CDN$75.00 tip for a seven day cruise. A no smoking policy would have helped, especially in the lounge areas.

The shows were of high quality, with some very talented performers. The theatre was comfortable, and good vision lines from every seat. The casino was
well stocked with a variety of games, but the slots didn't pay out as might be experienced in Gambling Casinos on land.

The ports of call were unexciting. Juneau was 55F and with torrential rain all day we were there. Skagway was drier with only showers, and Haines the
same. The highlight was cruising Glacier Bay - heavy overcast, but no rain. The park Rangers who came on board were excellent, both knowledgeable
and pleasant. Both my Wife and I live in British Columbia, so the tours, scenery, and such, were of no great interest to us. However, other passengers
who took the tours, were very impressed. Ketchikan, our last port of call offered the best shopping, and the most attractive lay-out. The sun appeared
there also, which no doubt helped our overall impression.

The cruise was good value for money. The usual problem though, which see the local merchants charging tourist prices, for what is mostly junk. However,
that's the same in every tourist situation. Both my Wife and I, plus the couple we travelled with, enjoyed our cruise with Royal Caribbean very much. We
would recommedn them to anyone planning to cruise.

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