We took our daughter who is 14 1/2 years old & our niece who's 17. Both at adult prices.
The cruise was advertised as being suitable for all ages inc children etc - how wrong !

The crossing was very very rough and half a day after passing the Azores we had to make a U turn back to the Azores due to a gentleman who suffered a heart attack. This obviously meant that the ship had to travel faster afterwards to make up lost time. The crossing then got even rougher. It calmed down a couple of day before St Maarten and the weather overall improved immensely.

The trouble was, that the cruise staff did nothing at all to provide any entertainment especially for the teenagers.
No disco's, no music, they were booted out of the Viking crown lounge after 10pm - even though it was Karaoke !, they said we were breaking maritime law. I asked which particular law at pursers and they was embarrassed by the comment made in the lounge and sent an apology.
During the daytime, again no activities !. Unless you like playing "hoops" like the sort available at any cheap toy shop for about £5, or you could fill the day buying so called "art". The daily cruise compass paper was just filled with advertisments so you could save 10% or 30% on whatever the offer was promoting. There was nothing actually interesting in it to read.
Everything is geared to coaxing you to spend- all day and night long.

The food was passable, often cold as well.
Even in the bad weather when the outdoor pool was closed, the kids weren't allowed into the indoor pool !

On the next to the last day the captain, hotel manager, engineer and cruise director held a public question and answer session in the atrium.
It was a public humiliation for them as passengers demanded answers to question regarding the lack of facilities and entertainment etc for the younger travellers.

We then found out that in the USA this cruise had been advertised as a over 55s cruise ! yet here all was welcome, what went wrong ?.

This was the first and most likely last time I will travel with RCI, and I believe I am not alone in this .

Oddly I would have said that RCI’s speciality was families and kids. It certainly was on my ‘Splendour’ (Med) and ‘Explorer’ (Carib) cruises. Maybe they were more family orientated destinations/cruises? You also went outside of the main summer School Holidays which I think makes a big difference to the passenger mix. (That's probably why they were aiming it at the over 55's). There was probably hundreds of kids in July and August onboard all RCI ships.

Interestingly when mass-market lines do something out of the ordinary, like a transatlantic crossing/repositioning cruise they often seem to lose the plot. The staff seem to thrive in the repetitive ‘comfort zone’ of one week circular cruises: “Its Wednesday, it must be Cozumel”.

The only cruise line that I have experienced who really knows how to fill consecutive sea-days with activities (for adults anyway) is Cunard. Their various entertainment and enrichment programmes are second to none. RCI activities can be a bit ‘Chav’ i.e. Bingo, Belly-Flop, Karaoke etc. Mind you their production (Dance) shows and Ice Shows (Voyager class) tend to be brilliant.

Yes, RCI are very guilty of the ‘hard sell’. There fares are very reasonable in America, but they spend the whole cruise trying to get you to open your wallet at very regular intervals. I do find it very relentless. More upscale lines seem to charge more but leave you alone.

Cruise ships are of course not designed for Winter Oceans, hence the bumpy ride. The only two ships that you want to be on in a storm is the QE2 or QM2.

I suppose the ship is no longer state-of-the-art, but did you like it? How was the cabin?

[ 11-11-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Why on earth market it as over 55s one side of the pond?

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Originally posted by PamM:
Malcolm, it was half-term week and Halloween.

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Oh, I forgot that fact Pam, and my Wife is a teacher!

Never the less, I assume November is not peak time for families cruising. No excuse what so ever for RCI, though.

[ 11-09-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

In case to take a cruise ship I shall take one doing alwaws the route by the Canary Island as this time are doing Millennium, SeaDream, Crystal among others. Even Madeira route is too North to guarantee a good crossing.

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Originally posted by Carlos Fernandez:
Thats why people with children should not make Transatalntic crossings, unless it is on Freedom of the Seas which I doubt will happend in the next 5 years.

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As for the "hard sell" as Malcolm likes to call it, this is in no way unique to RCI. NCL, Princess, Carnival, HAL, Celebrity, Cunard, and pretty much all but the luxury lines do it. I don't find RCI any worse or better than the others. Princess is probably one of the worst. On my last Princess cruise I would sometimes receive as many as 10 flyer's in my cabin mailbox each day, all advertising revenue producing "specials". I wondered how many trees Princess killed for these flyer's which no doubt 99.9% ended up in the trash. This was in addition to the usual revenue producing announcements several times throughout the day, and bargain basement tables selling crap everyday littering the atrium.

Ernie

[ 11-10-2006: Message edited by: eroller ]

Transats are not suitable for kids when the pax base is purely retirees etc ... but this certainly should not have been the case here and it was not a cheap repo either.

There is no reason for any TA here to have advised against this cruise, especially with it departing on day one of our autumn break; it would have far more sensible to promote it as a 'goodbye' to the UK season and as a family vacation to FL. It seems RCI did not tell its UK counterparts that it was to be designated an over 50s cruise. That is the problem.

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Originally posted by PamM:

There is no reason for any TA here to have advised against this cruise, especially with it departing on day one of our autumn break; it

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Things may be different in the UK, but I can't imagine any travel agent (at least not a good one) recommending a long transatlantic repositioning cruise as something suitable for young children or as a cruise that would have lots of kids onboard. The contrary is quite true. These repositioning cruises generally happen in the fall and spring when most kids in the US are in school. In addition they are usually 14 days or longer and kids here don't have breaks that long. Most parents would never take their kids out of school for such an extended period either. I've sailed on several transatlantic crossings (some repositioning and some not) on a variety of lines and in every case I've found them absent of large quantities of children. It's one reason I love them plus all the sea days.

In regards to activities, I'm not sure what you expect? If the weather is poor outside there is only so much you can do. Bingo, lectures, napkin folding, movie, dance class, art auction, wine tasting, and not much else. If the weather is poor for several days in a row then the activities can become repetitious. RCI and most mass-market lines do offer a canned experience and most do it quite well including RCI. The repositioning cruises happen only a couple times a year so it's not something they are overly experienced at. They are also not going to spend extra on entertainment as these cruises sell at rock bottom prices to begin with. The yield is just not worthy of spending a lot of time and money on a special entertainment program. I would pick Cunard if you want a line that is experienced at crossings. I think most kids would become very bored on any long crossing regardless of the cruise line. With no ports and nothing but the sea to look at most kids would not consider it a "fun" time. For me it's heaven, but I'm not a teenager or young child.

As said before, this 'long' transatlantic repo was no longer than her other sailings ex UK & over *our* Autumn break. Why does it matter if US kids are in school? This ship could easily have been filled with UK families. Why advertise to the UK as a normal cruise and purely becasue the US kids are in school advertise for over 50s in the US.. they cocked up, simple. Marketing in the US could have been ignored on this trip altogether, and a fun family vacation advertised here.

Most parents would never take their kids out of school for such an extended period either. I've sailed on several transatlantic crossings (some repositioning and some not) on a variety of lines and in every case I've found them absent of large quantities of children. It's one reason I love them plus all the sea days.

It doesn't come into the equation, US kids not required. I find it sad that people who sailed and enjoyed many cruises as children now seem to love the absence of them aboard, even scorn their existence.

There is a teen room, as Glynn said, a disco would have been nice! Just the normal run through..which cruises over the summer have enjoyed.

If the weather is poor for several days in a row then the activities can become repetitious. RCI and most mass-market lines do offer a canned experience and most do it quite well including RCI.

They didn't on this trip, they messed up.. not even a teen disco?

The repositioning cruises happen only a couple times a year so it's not something they are overly experienced at.

Well they should be, they have done enough of them, and I have no idea why a 14 night repo is any different to a 14 night cruise.

They are also not going to spend extra on entertainment as these cruises sell at rock bottom prices to begin with.

It was not rock bottom, and no-one asked for anything extra.. just the usual, which it appears had been put to bed with over 50s that no-one knew about, but the crew aboard and the US arm of RCI.

An average cruise is all that was asked for.. with the usual entertainment. This is obviously too much for RCI to provide as a 14 night cruise across the pond is so different to a 14 night cruise anywhere else.

So "sea days" cannot be an excuse, as explicitly is stated that no destination is needed.

children are put in age groups, and I checked for both the youngest "Aqua Babies 6 -18 months" and the oldest : "Guests 15-17 years", and there are facilities for both these groups (and so I expect if for the extreme ends also for the middle ones) on "Legend of the Seas", without restrictions or "*"

So, it seems RCI didn't deliver what they promised, and certainly during a school holiday. If the failure is indeed attributed to the not knowing or not understanding this, while only noting that there is no US schoolholiday with All Saints, it seems this is the second instance of americocentrism on the hand of RCI in a week. It doesn't bode well if they really want to expand over the us borders.

I can't quite understand the growing anti-child ressentment, not only in things cruising, but this is a debate which is going on and off in other (english) news media.

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Originally posted by mike sa:
I would disagree that RCI is inexperienced in doing repositioning cruises across the Atlantic

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Yes, RCI has had some transatlantic experience just like every other mass-market line now sailing to Europe. That does not make them an expert. These repositioning cruises are not the norm for them and frankly they are just a means of getting the ship to the markets that really make money for them. In the US repositionings are sold at rock bottom prices as they are hard to fill. One reason is they don't attract the usual mix of families like on a typical cruise. They are just not appealing. As many have stated on here before, once a mass-market line deviates from their typical canned experience, the product quickly falls apart. This is not just with RCI but any mass-market line. You don't hear many complaints about long repositioning cruises not being "family friendly" as frankly there are not many large family groups onboard. I have yet to sail on a transatlantic crossing where there were even a small amount of kids of any age. I gave all the reasons why in a previous post.

If RCI went as far to advertise this in the UK as a cruise which would attract a lot of children, then they were wrong. Any travel agent with some experience could have told you otherwise regardless of what RCI advertises. As for what RCI promotes on their typical website, some of it is probably embellished and this goes for any cruise line. They all hype up the experience even if the actual product doesn't always deliver what is promised. I think this goes for any product advertising. Buyer beware as they say.

Why the growing "child resentment"? Easy, take one cruise with 900 or so children or a long flight in July surrounded by unruly kids and the reasons will quickly become apparent. I have no desire to be surrounded by hoards of kids with most having no adult supervision on my hard earned vacation time. Frankly my time is too precious to be spoiled. Am I saying all kids are bad? Absolutely not. Some are great but in large quantities on ships they easily get out of hand. Worse than the kids are the parents of whom many acquire a sense of entitlement onboard ship. Suddenly they feel they are no longer required to supervise their precious little angels and it becomes the ship's problem. These are probably the same parents who rely on public schools to raise their kids. I've always wondered why you need a license to own a dog or cat but none is required to have children??

I started cruising as a child so I can appreciate why cruising can be a fun family vacation and enjoyable for kids. This being said, I don't know if even I would have enjoyed a long transatlantic crossing as a teenager with few ports. Frankly it might have been boring for me. I was never a fan of the "organized" kids activities anyway. I was more independent. When I sailed as a child ships did not have elaborate kids facilities like they do today, and not even TV's in the cabins. The entertainment was basic and usually kids were few and far between. Cruises back then were not mainstream like they are now. Somehow I survived and even enjoyed myself. Today I think kids suffer from sensory overload. If they are not stimulated and entertained 24/7 they quickly become bored and then the trouble begins.

Enough about kids. I don't plan on defending my preference for "adult cruises" again.

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Originally posted by eroller:

As many have stated on here before, once a mass-market line deviates from their typical canned experience, the product quickly falls apart. This is not just with RCI but any mass-market line.

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Oceania's November Regatta crossing is becoming an institution in a short time. Oceania is far from mass market. Many of the passengers are on the 3rd time. 6 of my 2005 crossing mates are booked in 2006 and 2007. Oceania has a full understanding of crossers vs. cruisers. Since the senior staff actually takes time to talk with the passengers activities can be added very quickly.

One CT member crossed on the Brilliance of the Seas last November and noted no change in the cruise format from the 7 day bus tour.

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Originally posted by eroller:
I started cruising as a child so I can appreciate why cruising can be a fun family vacation and enjoyable for kids. This being said, I don't know if even I would have enjoyed a long transatlantic crossing as a teenager with few ports. Frankly it might have been boring for me. I was never a fan of the "organized" kids activities anyway. I was more independent. When I sailed as a child ships did not have elaborate kids facilities like they do today, and not even TV's in the cabins. The entertainment was basic and usually kids were few and far between. Cruises back then were not mainstream like they are now. Somehow I survived and even enjoyed myself.

Ernie

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I too cruised as a child and had a great time, and went to few kiddie activities.

On the Olympia, one sister was 14. She and a few of her friends stormed the captain's office complaining that there was not enough to do. Teens were too old for the kiddie activities, yet not allowed in the bars at night. The CD gave them the Mycenean Lounge with music during the afternoons.

The Canberra 1973 season as the Big Red Boat was a disaster. I was on her then and the staff was used to compliant British children, not miniature George Costanzas and Darlene Connor's

[ 11-11-2006: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

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Originally posted by glynn:
Thomson cruise, just to see how it should be done and I know Thomson is at the lower end of the cruise ratings but they really do know how to do it !.

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Different strokes for different folks. I've heard Thompson compared to "Butlins at sea". To each his own. Just make sure the toilettes work before you book! Sounds like you are better off with a UK based cruise line.

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Originally posted by glynn:

The simple fact is that RCI say "The vacation of a lifetime" and its not. They failed to deliver.

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Gosh, I think the websites of any cruise line will spout off some rubbish like "a vacation of a lifetime". I wouldn't believe everything you read or you will be disappointed no matter what line you sail on. I have sailed on many different cruise lines and all have failed to deliver in one way or another over the years. It's a fact of life. In every case the cruise lines have redeemed themselves on subsequent cruises. What I have learned is no cruise line is 100% consistent. Different ships, passengers, crews, and itineraries make for different experiences even on the same cruise line. Some are just better than others, yet I have never had a truly horrible experience in 60+ cruises.

As for the "Butlins at sea" comment, I have not sailed Thompson nor do I plan to. I don't find the ships or the demographic appealing. The comment actually comes from reader reviews I have read about the line.

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Originally posted by eroller:
I've heard Thompson compared to "Butlins at sea".

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Although cruising is often perceived as a sophisticated vacation (to us Brits anyway), many aspects of mass-market cruising have a ‘Butlin’s Holiday Camp’ feel about them.

The Camps had ‘Red Coats’ to entertain the guests, the cruise lines have the Cruise Director’s team. RCI, NCL and Carnival etc. offer ‘Belly Flop’, ‘Knobbly Knees’ competitions and ‘Bingo’ etc. which really is not so different from what Butletin’s offered.