Serenade of the Seas Review
RCI continues to decline in many areas.
Rating by category
Additional details
This was the annual repositioning cruise of whatever Radiance class ship is sailing the Boston - Canadian Maritimes route - this year the Serenade. The cruise leaves Boston and then spends 12 days doing a southern Caribbean cruise before winding up in its Florida winter port - Ft Lauderdale this year.
I am a Pinnacle member of RCI and sail with them frequently as RCI is one of the only lines with "single friendly" rates, and because of the advantageous offered by the Concierge Club and other perks offered to me aboard.
Unfortunately RCI continues its slide to the bottom of the cruise lines of the world. As I came on the Cruise Critic website to write this review, I first noted CC's listing of the "best" cruise ships/lines. In at least ten different categories, with 10 "best" ships listed for each category - RCI didn't even have ONE ship placed. The annual Berlitz Cruise Guide - the acknowledged leader in their field, has every year placed RCI at the BOTTOM of their list for food. Each year it appears that RCI revels in their ranking as the worst out there, by continuing to cut in every area, and most especially in food.
Cabin Review
Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony
Standard balcony cabin although this one had a slightly larger balcony than the norm.
Port Reviews
St. Thomas
poor - especially Crown Bay where RCI docks - probably to save on port fees, but passengers have to pay more to get to town
St. Lucia
again RCI docks in the "boonies" - not downtown
Curacao
again rather than dock downtown RCI docks outside the downtown area and everyone has to walk almost a mile into town, while other lines dock downtown