7 Things Royal Caribbean Have Quietly Taken Away

Royal Caribbean is among the many prime cruise traces on the earth (maybe probably the most well-known of all) and is beloved by hundreds of thousands of passengers.

Nonetheless, over time, some perks and providers have been swept softly underneath the rug.

For those who’re a frequent Royal Caribbean traveler, you could’ve already seen just a few of those modifications. However even when you haven’t cruised with them in recent times, it’s price being conscious of those modifications.

From housekeeping methods to eating choices, a few of them make sense to me, whereas others depart me puzzled, and I believe it’s the identical for different loyal passengers as effectively.

On this article, we are going to see eight issues Royal Caribbean has quietly taken away. Let’s see when you’ve seen!

1. Complimentary Room Service

What as soon as was a serious perk of cruising with Royal Caribbean, free meals supply service, is now a paid choice.

Now, most leeway service orders include a flat service payment of $7.95 per order plus an 18% gratuity (no matter how a lot you order).

The one exception is the complimentary continental breakfast, which stays free for visitors.

This nonetheless permits for some comfort within the lazy mornings. Nonetheless, the extra fees for different meals and snacks have disenchanted many loyal cruisers.

So, as a substitute of having fun with late-night snacks or meals at no additional price, visitors are inspired to contemplate eating in the primary eating places or buffets.

2. Limitless Lobster Tails on Formal Nights

Lobster on the formal evening was one of the vital anticipated occasions on Royal Caribbean cruises.

It was a really luxurious perk, and years in the past, you may bask in an infinite variety of lobster tails at no further price.

Sadly, Royal Caribbean has scaled again this providing. Whereas lobster remains to be out there throughout formal nights on choose itineraries, it’s now restricted to a single portion per visitor. That mentioned, a second entrée remains to be a free-of-charge choice.

As for these wanting further servings of lobster, an additional payment applies (often $16.99 plus an 18% gratuity for every one).

Am I stunned? Not a lot; on this case, I believe it’s an comprehensible alternative, contemplating the price of lobsters.

3. Day by day Housekeeping

Day by day housekeeping has all the time been an enormous a part of the Royal Caribbean expertise. Usually, the cruise line used to supply this service twice a day.

They’d ensure that your room was tidied up and refreshed as soon as within the morning and as soon as extra within the night.

Sadly, the coverage has lately moved towards decreasing this service to as soon as a day on many ships.

I’ve seen complaints from a number of passengers on social media, however I consider it’s a change that doesn’t impression the standard of the cruise.

It’s fascinating to notice that suites nonetheless profit from the twice-a-day housekeeping service, plus some different outstanding advantages.

4. Free Midnight Buffets

The midnight buffet was a signature function of Royal Caribbean, it provided cruisers a late-night feast. It was a beautiful expertise, with fantastically offered dishes and indulgent shows of finger meals.

Unhappy to say, this beloved custom has been phased out too. As we speak, you possibly can nonetheless discover late-night snacks at cafés, however the grand buffet occasion is now not a part of the journey.

On this case, I’m sorry that it’s gone. I believe it was a very nice factor and it may have stayed even only for a single evening.

Cruise traces are likely to say that it’s to cut back meals waste, however as you possibly can think about, it is usually to cut back bills.

5. Loyalty Program Advantages

For those who’ve traveled with Royal Caribbean, you most likely know the Crown and Anchor Society, their standard loyalty program.

It provides perks like reductions, precedence providers, small items, and unique experiences. Nonetheless, over time, a few of these advantages had been decreased or taken away.

For instance, free web was changed with only a smaller low cost when you purchase one of many web packages.

Reductions on onboard procuring and eating have additionally seen an enormous decline. These days, Gold, Platinum, and Emerald members obtain a ten% low cost solely on purchases of $25 or extra.

6. Signature Leisure Reveals

Royal Caribbean ships actually provided world-class leisure by their cruises.

You would have skilled Broadway-style productions and jaw-dropping exhibits. In recent times, a few of these signature performances have been decreased or eliminated fully on sure sailings.

One of the vital notable modifications is the termination of all DreamWorks-related programming. Again within the day, visitors may take pleasure in meet-and-greets with characters like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar’s Alex the Lion.

Themed parades and character breakfasts made the cruise particularly magical for households. Nonetheless, in 2019, Royal Caribbean ended this partnership.

Simply let me add that, regardless of this modification, all cruise ships nonetheless provide incredible in-house leisure choices (and for my part, Royal Caribbean provides the very best exhibits at sea of all of the cruise traces.).

7. Free Specialty Eating

Over the lengthy years of operation, Royal Caribbean made many modifications to the eating choices out there to passengers.

They eliminated some specialty corners from buffets and phased out a few eating places right here and there.

For example, the “Jade” part within the Windjammer buffet (which provided Asian-inspired dishes and limitless sushi rolls) is now not out there. As a substitute, there’s now an onboard specialty sushi restaurant, and it’s not freed from cost.

Is it price paying for them? It relies upon; if in case you have any doubts, I recommend you check out the article on issues you need to by no means purchase on a cruise and issues which can be as a substitute price spending your cash on.

BONUS POINT: In-Particular person Muster Drills

Earlier than 2021, all Royal Caribbean ships had an in-person muster drill.

For those who’ve by no means been on a cruise, it’s the place passengers collect at their assigned stations to overview security procedures as a gaggle.

Though a longstanding custom, and truly a needed one, it often felt inconvenient and crowded.

As a contemporary strategy, Royal Caribbean cruise ships have switched to what’s referred to as “e-muster drills.” Now, as a visitor, you possibly can full the protection briefing individually by your room’s TV or cell gadget after which examine in at your assigned muster station.

In all probability, this may be the one change that nobody is disenchanted to listen to about.