I'm honestly furious about how we're being treated on our cruise with Royal Caribbean out of Galveston right now. What was supposed to be a fun trip turned into one of the most stressful, uncomfortable and demeaning experiences we've ever had.
Our group includes a few full-time livestreamers — this is literally our job, and we made sure to clear everything with Royal Caribbean ahead of time. We followed every rule and were extremely respectful toward other guests. But from the moment we boarded, it felt like even our presence in a room wasn't welcome in the eyes of Royal Caribbean staff.
First, where it became clear that we were no longer appreciated customers on the cruise... Malicious viewer sends staff an out-of-context clip and the security team immediately took the bait without hesitation. Very unprofessional / amateur mistake that really should have been a red flag to stop and dig deeper into what was going on.
On the very first night, security stopped several of us and dragged us into their office like we'd done something criminal. They claimed they'd received "complaints from passengers," but when we pressed for details, their story changed — suddenly the narrative was they were sent video clip links by anonymous people who weren't even on the ship.
(Immediately we knew the reason security was detaining us. Any IRL streamer can confirm with certainty that every detail of this interaction is definitely a textbook "caller" created issue.)
Those clips security received came from trolls watching the livestream online who had taken a short, harmless moment out of context — a conversation outside a cabin door that had an upside-down pineapple (yes, the universal "swinger" symbol) and a sticker that literally said "knock if you're h*rny." Obviously, the people inside that cabin weren't offended; it was part of the joke. But instead of taking two minutes to verify that, security instead jumped straight to verbally berating us, and condemning us for knocking on the door. We were verbally scolded, threatened, given ultimatums and just all around intimidated and bullied by the Royal Caribbean security team. Basically we were treated like a bad dog who went to the bathroom on the carpet...
They took our information, intimidated us, and warned we'd be kicked off the ship and "reported to Mexican police" if they received another "complaint."... I cannot find the words to describe how absurd and humiliating this was. They never once spoke to the couple from that cabin, never checked the door, never confirmed who even sent those emails. Never considered our side of the story. Absolutely zero due diligence; and this is ultimately what set the tone for such a horrendous nightmare of an experience we're still in middle of with Royal Caribbean right now.
The training programs at Royal Caribbean need serious review and overhaul; it has failed to represent the Royal Caribbean brand, and its shareholders on a massive scale - and I can't stress how genuine that statement is. It was not hyperbole.
Second. Hostility and isolation.
After that, everything changed. Staff started treating us like we were radioactive. Every time we enter a room with our phones in-hand, as we always do (That is how we do our job lol.) we always go out of our way to ensure we're being respectful and mindful of other passengers. However, now every time upon entering a room, someone from Royal Caribbean staff almost always immediately approach us with attitude — directing us to move along, and scolding us loudly in front of other passengers.
This keeps happening so openly, with no discretion, to the point that other guests have been picking up on the tone and joining in.
As if it wasn't already enough getting the hostility from staff. Now everything is just compounding on itself over and over again. From being whispered about, stared at, and excluded from activities. It has felt like we're being herded away from everyone else, like animals
Third. Refusing service... record breaking levels of accommodations - or lacktherof...
As if that wasn't bad enough, the hostility spread to the various vendors within the ship interior. Myself and another streamer went to schedule a reservation for a simple haircut in one of the onboard salons; and we were flat-out told they "couldn't help us."
No explanation, nothing.
Moments later, the same stylists happily took in other passengers who walked in right after us. There's nothing to call this other than pure and simple blatant discrimination, and it was humiliating.
We weren't causing trouble. We weren't breaking rules. We're paying customers trying to enjoy our cruise. In fact, if counting all purchases we've made so far, beyond ticket value and drink packages, the amount the streamers have spent collectively from the vendors on the ship, likely puts our average spend at multiples above the typical Royal Caribbean passenger. Anyhow. By this point, the staff's misplaced bias has just spread so far, like an infection that it feels too far gone to resolve; nor is that ball in our court. I hope our awful experience helps save others from being subjected to such a dysfunctional and ineffective team that Royal Caribbean has stringed together for that ship. Hopefully this review reaches a decision makers desk and it triggers a review of all these issues; so that the team on this ship can get the overhaul it so critically needs.
And finally, how Royal Caribbean failed...
Royal Caribbean completely failed to handle this situation responsibly. Instead of investigating or verifying facts, they chose to believe anonymous trolls sitting behind computer screens somewhere in the world. They allowed those trolls to control how we were treated onboard.
Their staff and security ignored basic fairness, humiliated us publicly, and denied us the same respect and service every other paying guest received. It was unprofessional, unethical, and deeply disappointing.
Royal Caribbean's own Guest Conduct Policy says guests will be treated respectfully and fairly. That promise was completely broken on this trip.
I would like a genuine apology from the crew onboard and from corporate as well - made to myself and my community.
The cruise out of of galveston texas
I PLANNED THIS CRUISE WITH MY FAMILY LAST YEAR AND THE MAJORITY VOTED ON GOING ON ROYAL CARRIBEAN. MY GRANDKIDS AGES 10,13,14 HAD NEVER BEEN ON A CRUISE SO THEY WERE VERY EXCITED. THE LAST 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE CRUISE I SHOPPED FOR THEIR CRUISE ATTIRE, THEY EVEN HAD FANCY DRESSES FOR THE ELEGANT NIGHT. WE ALL WAS SO EXCITED JUST TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN HOW THIS TRIP TURNED OUT. THE MORNING OF THE 25TH WE LOADED UP AND HEADED TO PORT CANAVERAL, I THINK WE ARRIVED AROUND 2PM. WE DECIDED TO PULL UP AND UNLOAD AND THEN PARK. WE PULLED UP UNLOADED, I COUNTED THE BAGS AND MY SISTER COUNTED THE BAGS THEY WERE ALL THERE. WE DROVE INTO GARAGE AND PARKED AND I MYSELF WENT INTO THE TRUNK TO DOUBLECHECK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS TAKENT OUT AND IT WAS. WE PROCEDED TO GET ON THE SHIP. ME AND THE REST OF MY FAMILIES ARE PAST CRUISERS SO WE KNOW IT TAKES A FEW HOURS FOR LUGGAGE TO ARRIVE AT THE CABINS. WE MET UP WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY (14 OF US) ATE AND JUST WALKED AROUND. WE WENT TO OUR ROOMS AROUND 5, MY SISTER SAW OUR LUGGAGE SITTING DOWN THE HALL SO SHE TOLD THE STEWARD WHICH ONES WAS OURS. MY DAUGHTER CALLED OUR ROOM AND SAID DO YOU ALL HAVE YOUR LUGGAGE AND WE SAID YES WE JUST GOT IT. I TOLD HER IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME. SHE WENT TO THE SERVICE DESK AND WAS TOLD THEY GUARANTEE LUGGAGE WITHING 90 MINUTES OF BOARDING BUT SOMETIMES THE TAGS COME OFF OR SOMEONE PICKS UP THE WRONG BAG. SO WE DECIDED TO GIVE IT MORE TIME. WHEN SHE WENT BACK TO HER ROOM HER AND HER OLDEST DAUGHTERS LUGGAGE WAS THERE, BUT NOTHING FOR THE TWO YOUNGEST ONES.
WE ALL WENT TO DINNER AND WHEN MY DAUGHTER WENT BACK TO THE ROOM AROUND 8:00 STILL NO BAGS, SHE AND I WENT TO THE SERVICE DESK AND THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF LUGGAGE BEHIND THE COUNTER, WE WERE ASKED IF ANY OF IT WAS OURS AND IT WAS NOT. WE TOLD THEM WE HAD TWO BAGS STILL MISSING. EVERYONE ELSE IN THE FAMILY GROUP HAD THEIRS. THEY ASKED ME TO DESCRIBE THE LUGGAGE AND I DID, WE WERE TOLD THEY KNOW FOR SURE THE LUGGAGE WAS ON THE BOAT AND LATER THAT NIGHT THE CREW WOULD SWEEP THE 9TH FLOOR FOR ANY LUGGAGE THAT MAY STILL BE IN THE HALLWAYS. WE ASKED THEM AT THAT TIME CAN THEY MAKE SOME TYPE OF ANNOUNCEMENT FOR GUESTS TO PLEASE CHECK THEIR CABINS FOR LUGGAGE THAT THEY MAY HAVE PICKED UP BY MISTAKE.WE WERE TOLD NO THEY COULD NOT DO THAT BUT THEY WILL PUT NOTES ON DOORS ASKING FOR GUESTS TO CHECK. WHAT ELSE COULD WE DO. WE TRIED TO ENJOY OURSELF ANYWAY, WE ASKED THE STAFF DID THEY HAVE EXTRA TOOTHBRUSHES SINCE THE GIFT SHOP DIDNT HAVE ANY. THEY GAVE THE KIDS A LITTLE PACKAGE WITH TOOTHBRUSH, TOOTHPASTE, LOTION, AND SHAMPOO.
WE WOKE UP FEELING POSITIVE ONLY TO FIND STILL NO LUGGAGE AND NO NOTES WERE SENT TO THE GUESTS, MY DAUGHTER AT THIS TIME HAD GOTTEN REALLY STRESSED OVER THIS AND TO ADD TO THAT THE TOOTHBRUSHES THEY WERE GIVEN MUST HAVE BEEN OLD BECAUSE WHILE THEY WERE BRUSHING THEIR TEETH THE BRISTLES STARTED FALLING AWAY FROM THE TOOTHBRUSH SO I WENT BACK TO THE DESK WITH HER, MY DAUGHTER WAS ON THE 9TH FLOOR AND RECEIVED NO NOTE, WE ASKED ABOUT THE NOTES AND WAS TOLD OH THEY WILL GO OUT LATER, WE SAID YOU TOLD US LAST NIGHT THE NOTES WOULD GO OUT. I AGAIN EXPLAINED THEY DONT HAVE ANYTHING, TODAY IS A SEA DAY AND THEY STILL HAVE ON THE SAME CLOTHES AND UNDERGARMENTS. ALL THEY KEPT SAYING IS THEY HAVE A PROTOCOL THEY HAVE TO GO BY. I AGAIN EXPLAINED TO THE LADY THEY DONT HAVE ANYTHING AND SHE SAID DONT YELL AT ME, I SAID CAN YOU GO GET SOMEONE ELSE FOR US TO SPEAK TO, SHE WENT AND GOT SOMEONE ELSE WE EXPLAINED THE WHOLE STORY AGAIN AND HE SAID WE HAVE A PROTOCAL WE HAVE TO FOLLOW, I ASKED WHAT IS THE PROTOCAL, HE SAID WE WILL SEND OUT THE NOTE TO THE GUESTS ON THE 9TH FLOOR AND TONIGHT WE WILL HAVE THE STAFF CHECK ALL THE EMPTY ROOMS. THAT MAKES ABSOLUTLY NO SENSE TO ME BUT AGAIN WHAT CAN WE DO. MY DAUGHTER STARTED CRYING AND I SAID TO THE MAN, CAN THEY HAVE SOME MORE TOOTH BRUSHES AND THE 13 IS ON HER PERIOD ALL HER SANITARY STUFF WAS IN HER BAG, SHE HAD ALREADY USED WHAT SHE HAD IN HER PURSE. THIS MAN CAME BACK WITH 1 PAD AND 1 TAMPON. I SAID SIR ARE YOU SERIOUS SHE WILL NEED MORE THAN ONE, AND HE CAME BACK WITH 2 PADS. AND THEN TOLD ME I MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING IN THE GIFT SHOP, I SAID THEY DONT SELL UNDERWEAR IN THE GIFT SHOP, ARE YOU CRAZY! HE SAID I DONT KNOW IF THEY DO, I SAID THEY DONT. AT THIS POINT I WAS LIVID I SAID WELL CAN YOU AT LEAST HAVE LAUNDRY WASH THE CLOTHES THEY WORE ON THE BOAT, HE SAID IT WILL TAKE 24 HOURS. I SAID 24 HOURS TO WASH TWO OUTFITS, IN THE MORNING WE WILL BE GETTING OFF THE BOAT, I WENT BACK TO MY CABIN AND WASHED THE UNDERWEAR AND HAD TO DRY THEM WITH A BLOW DRYER. HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO, MY DAUGHTER ASKED DOES THE SHIP HAVE CAMERAS AND WE WERE TOLD THIS SHIP WAS NOT ONE OF THE BEST SO THEY ARE NOT THAT ADVANCED. I SAID WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT? I AGAIN SAID THEY DONT HAVE CLEAN UNDERWEAR, THE YOUNGEST HAD ON HER OLDER SISTER SHORTS AND SHIRT THAT WAS OF COURSE TOOO BIG. I AGAIN ASKED IF YOU DONT FIND THE LUGGAGE WHAT CAN WE DO, HE JUST SAID WE WILL FIND IT.
WE SENT TO BED ANOTHER NIGHT HOPEFUL THAT IN THE MORNING THE LUGGAGE WILL SHOW UP.
OF COURSE THE NEXT MORNING NOTHING, WE WENT TO DESK EARLY BEFORE GETTING OFF AND WAS TOLD AGAIN TO LOOK AT THE LUGGAGE BEHIND THE COUNTER TO SEE IF ANY OF THAT WAS OURS IT WAS NOT. I SAID WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP, THE GUY SAID HOUSEKEEPING WILL LOOK IN CLOSETS AND UNDER BEDS WHEN THEY CLEAN THE ROOMS. WE GOT OFF THE BOAT AND HAD TO GO DIRECTLY TO SHOP FOR CLOTHES AND SHOES AND UNDERGARMENTS. WE WERE SO DISCOURAGED WE DIDNT EVEN STAY OFF THE BOAT LONG. THIS WAS MORE MONEY WE HAD TO SPEND RATHER THAN BUYING SOUVENIERS. WE GOT BACK ON THE BOAT AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE DESK. THEY HAD ALREADY ASKED ME WHAT THE LUGGAGE LOOKS LIKE, I TOLD THEM AND THEY ASKED DID I HAVE A PICTURE AND I SAID WHY WOULD I. I SAID IT IS DRESS UP NIGHT AND THEY HAVE NOTHING FORMAL TO WEAR, MY DAUGHTER JUST WALKED AWAY FROM THE COUNTER, THE GUY WENT TO THE BACK AND GOT TWO ADULT SIZE ROYAL CARRIBEAN SHIRTS AND GAVE THEM TO ME AND SAID THEY COULD WEAR THIS, I WAS INSULTED. I SAID FIRST OF ALL THESE ARE ADULT SHIRTS AND THIS CERTAINLY DOESNT REPLACE WHAT THEY HAD TO WEAR FOR THE ELEGANT NIGHT. THEY AGAIN SAY THEY ARE JUST FOLLOWING PROTOCAL. MY SISTER GOT A FEW SAFTY PENS AND RIGGED UP SOME OUTFITS FROM THEIR MOMS EXTRA CLOTHES. AFTER DINNER WE WENT BACK TO DESK AND ASKED WHAT OTHER ACTION CAN WE TAKE BECAUSE NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE AND WE ARE OUT OF A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE OF THEIR CARELESSNESS. THEY THEN GAVE MY DAUGHTER A CLAIM FORM AND TOLD HER TO FILL IT OUT. I FILLED IT OUT SINCE I AM THE ONE THAT BOUGHT THE LUGGAGE AND THE CLOTHES. THEY HAD SHOES, CHARGERS, ONE HAS ECZEMA SO EXPENSIVE CREAM WAS IN ONE OF THE BAGS, ONE HAD THEIR PHONE IN THE BAG. AT LEAST 9 OUTFITS BECAUSE I BOUGHT THEM OUTFITS TO WEAR TO DINNER AS WELL.THE GUY PULLS ME TO THE SIDE AND SAID DID YOU CHECK YOUR CLOSET? I SAID WHAT! WHY WOULD IT BE IN MY CLOSET I AM ON ANOTHER FLOOR, HE SAID MAYBE THE STAFF PUT THE BAGS IN THE CLOSET. I SAID THAT DOESNT MAKE ANY SENSE BUT I WILL GO CHECK THEIR CLOSET AND UNDER THE BED AND GO TO MY FLOOR AND CHECK MY CABIN. I CAME BACK AND I SAID THERE IS NOTHING THERE AND HE SAID WE JUST HAVE TO ASK, HE THEN SAID DID YOU RENT A CAR OR DRIVE YOUR OWN? I SAID WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE, HE THEN PROCEEDED TO GET ME TO TRY TO RETRACE MY STEPS WHEN I DROPPED THE LUGGAGE OFF. I TOLD HIM I HAVE DROPPED OFF LUGGAGE BEFORE AND BOTH MY SISTER AND I COUNTED THE LUGGAGE AND IT ALL WAS THERE. HE THEN SAID THEY CALLED THE PIER AND NO LUGGAGE WAS LEFT BEHIND. AT THIS POINT I SAID I PREPAID MY GRATUITIES AND I WANT THEM PUT BACK ON MY CARD. SHE SAID ALL OF IT, I SAID I PREPAID FOR BOTH ROOMS. AND I JUST WANT MY $320 BACK FOR THEIR ROOM FOR OUR INCONVIENCE. SHE SAID OK, I SAID DO I NEED TO FILL OUT ANYTHING? SHE SAID NO I WILL TAKE CARE OF IT, YOU WILL SEE IT BACK ON YOUR CREDIT CARD WITHIN 10 DAYS.
I DIDNT GO BACK UP THERE, MY DAUGHTER SAID THEY TOLD HER WHEN SHE GOT HOME TO FILE THE CLAIM, SHE SAID SHE DID IT AND HAS NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. ONE OF THE STAFF I SPOKE TO TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER LOST ANY LUGGAGE SO THEY ARE NOT SURE HOW TO HANDLE, WE LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND THEY CERTAINLY HAVE LOST LUGGAGE EVEN A FEW GUESTS WHO OVERHEARD SAID THEY HAVE LOST LUGGAGE BEFORE, EVEN THE LAST NIGHT WE STILL SAW UNCLAIMED LUGGAGE SITTING BEHIND THE COUNTER. I WILL NEVER CRUISE WITH THEM AGAIN, THEY ACTED LIKE WE WERE JUST TRYING TO GET OVER ON THEM. WE ARE TAKING ABOUT CHILDRENS CLOTHES. I HAVE WAITED THE TEN DAYS AND CALLED TODAY AND TOLD $80 IS BEING PROCESSED FOR A REFUND. I EXPLAINED TO THE LADY I REQUESTED $320 AND IT IS ALREADY 10 DAYS, SHE SAID I WILL NEED TO CALL MY TRAVEL AGENT. FOR MY INCONVIENCE I NOW WANT ALL OF MY GRATUTIES, IF YOU CANT GET THEM FOR ME I WILL CALL MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND GET IT BACK. THIS WAS THE WORST TRIP EVER, THEY KEPT CALLING MY DAUGHTERS ROOM ASKING DID YOU FIND YOUR LUGGAGE? IT WAS JUST FRUSTRATING BY FAR, I AM STILL IRRIATED BY IT,, THEY MADE LITTLE TO NO ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. I DONT THINK THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR PROTOCAL IS. AND I WILL NEVER CRUISE WITH THEM AGAIN, AND YOU GOT THE STAFF DOWNRATING THEIR OWN SHIP. WE COULDNT ENJOY OURSELVES KNOWING SOMEONE HAD THAT LUGGAGE AND MONEY WE SAVED TO SPEND ON GIFTS FOR THE FAMILY WHO COULDNT COME WE GOTTA BUY CLOTHES AND SHOES. WAS TOLD I WOULD BE REIMBURSED MY GRATUTIES BACK AND STILL WAITING