Maureen

Age: 42
Occupation:
Number of Cruises:
Cruise Line: RCCL
Name of Ship: Legend of the Seas
Sailing Date: June 13th, 2003
Itinerary: Alaska

We were very disappointed in some of the things that occurred on this cruise. It was a family cruise, three B suites booked almost a year in advance. We embarked in Vancouver at the Ballyntine pier which is in an "industrial" area and difficult to access from the downtown area. Embarkation was a MESS. It took two hours and was very stressing. Even though we had suites and were repeat passengers there were no separate check-ins until the last stage. SARS checks were being done since some passengers were from Asia or Toronto. Once on board there was a buffet lunch.

Ship: Very pretty ship, not on the scale of Voyager but spacious and open.

Our first problem was with our dining. We were a family of 11 and were divided between three tables. It was so messed up! They even had my four year old daughter at another table. My parents were at different tables. The Dining room manager was very rude when we asked for this to be straightened out. We were told they would "try" and to check back after 4:30. No promises. We had booked a year in advance but it did not seem to matter. They kept telling us that they could not guarantee a change. I laughed and said that someone on my four year old's table would have to butter her bread for her! Only after my sister (a diamond repeat passenger) bumped into the Head Housekeeper did we get any action. It was finally resolved at 5 p.m.

The B suites were very roomy. Ours was extremely worn down. There were worn spots on the carpet, stains on the couch, bedspread, etc. Our room steward was very distant to the point of being rude. When you said "good morning" he would just glare. If he was talking with another staff member and you needed something he would act annoyed. On the final day while packing he knocked on our door and said he had to clean our rooms. I asked for 30 minutes so we could finish. He said "I'll give you 20". The room got cleaned but to just a minimum. The glass doors were never wiped down, etc.

Our waiter and asst. waiter were very nice but they had too many tables and were stressed. The food was average to mediocre. The Windjammer buffet was a joke. The breakfasts were powdered eggs, etc. On one day in port there was no dining room service for lunch and the Windjammer could not handle the crowds. Room service was adequate but they never got the order right and would have to go back and forth (no silverware, no ketchup, etc).

Activities on the ship were fun. The casino and shows were enjoyable and the kids program was great. Lots of activities and fun for the kids.

Our biggest disappointment was the so called "cruising of Hubbard Glacier Bay". On our daily activities sheet it announced we would be sailing the "majestic" Hubbard Bay glaciers from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on our last full day of the cruise. EVERYONE in my family woke up at 6:30 a.m. to be ready to sit on our balconies and watch the beautiful glaciers go by. The ship got about seven miles from the opening to the glacier bay and STOPPED. A Holland America ship that was behind us cruised right into the bay and we just sat there. Hundreds of passengers complained and misinformation circulated. We were told that we would enter after the Holland America ship left, etc. We NEVER went in. The ship simply continued on the way to Seaward. The Purser's desk was flooded with angry passengers. Later that day a pre-printed form was put on our doors explaining that because it was sea lion "pupping" months the ship was going to "respect" that and would not go within 500 meters of the glaciers. Well, we did not go within SEVEN MILES of the glaciers and it was finally disclosed that RCCL KNEW this weeks before our cruise but still put in the daily schedule that we would be sailing the glacier bay. They knowingly misinformed passengers. If I had known we were not going to see the Glaciers I would have booked a glacier helicopter tour for my kids. I also would not have woken up at 6:30 a.m on the last day of my vacation! It was a total scam.

Disembarking in Seaward was much more organized and our transfers to Anchorage were very enjoyable. But I will never cruise RCCL again because I feel that the service and misinformation were really shameful.

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