@TN_mom5 ’s experience was not like ours. Which shows the inconsistency, possibly pockets of problem locations. There were definitely issues which affected cruisers - significantly.
We were Deck 2 Forward, having been reassigned from a reportedly routinely noisy cabin on a Deck 2 Aft. We might have found our sweet spot for cabins. It seemed a surprise to our steward that our cabin did not have keys or CC gifts. (We were notified of the change the one full day before boarding).
I had a dreaded crew door across the hall, which did not keep being slammed and was often propped open (you could feel heat from that area). That ship gets hot in its guts. (I wonder if it was having aircon problems, too?)
Our thermostat was set on the lowest setting - and never again touched (I would adjust it last April on a Magic cruise to the Bahamas). I needed more than the comforter to stay warm enough while sleeping. (But imagine my sister was on the warm side). I made sure we closed the curtains during the day to block out heat. (A tip to future cruisers). This was an oceanview.
As for mold and smells, I wonder how much the flooding on Deck 8 is a cause - and wasn’t properly cleaned before laying new carpeting?
We had to figure out a plan for getting our food more quickly at dinner. We were first seating, two adults, who weren’t prepared for a long meal. The tables around us had children and got adult drinks. If we could get to our table and place our order, we were able to eat and be done. Otherwise, it was a long wait. And we are not prepared to do late dining. We had the most attentive Head Server I can remember in 20 cruises. I think our assistant server was overwhelmed. Our server was up to par.
As a Coke drinker, I was surprised (shocked, perhaps) to see the Pool Deck machines taped off. But they left Cabanas open for soda machine access. I don’t know if it was all night. But I did not have to go without. They ran out of English muffins in Cabanas by the end of the cruise - but seemed to serve them on disembarkation morning in the MDR. I guess they miscalculated the amount of Benedicts that we would eaten.
At least they had Mickey waffles and toppings all week. And CHURRO Mickey waffles one morning. My first ones. Yum! They put them by some Mexican breakfast items - NOT where the waffles usually are.
I never used the pools, it saw a few kids getting to have private time under the Funnel Vision movie one night (Private because no one else joined them.) With attentive lifeguards. I was tempted to join them.
My long-term memory of issues (for us):
It started at the port. When you reached the front of the line outside, they let you in to a cool, massive - and EMPTY area set up with queues. There were workers waiting for guests to get checked in. This was over an hour since the first PAT time. It made no sense.
My sister was loading the washer. For whatever reason, a worker stepped in to help her (she doesn’t need help). She had swiped her card - and he swiped it again, removing two of her washer credits. She went to guest services to have it credited back to the proper # of credits used. GS worker did not credit a washer - she credited dryerS (they are specific credits). The machine in the laundry room has an option to credit you, but it wouldn’t work. In the end, all credits were used, but each interaction was frustrating.
No keys at the room when all around had theirs. No CC gifts. No problem. But GS services said there were no more gifts, then they would arrive in a few hours, then by 9 pm. Then I stepped in - they were promised by the following day - and they did. (I am not a hard-noser). But why say you don’t have enough? You know it’s a full ship, with X number of CC members. (I think it was the same GS worker in all situations).
And then alcohol pick-up at the end of the cruise. Left my sister in line. Forty minutes later, breakfast had been served and she was still waiting for them to find people’s items. They did not follow a system that should have been established years ago. Reports are some people’s items were never found. There’s a mess.
I’ll probably forget the excellent Palo server and experience (it is up to pre-Covid food and service quality). I was able to get ice cream and drinks, pizza and a funnel vision late-night movie (with beautiful weather). Fun fireworks on Pirate Night. Movies in a theater. Adult Trivia in O’Gill’s. (I may not know music from the 2000>, but it was great seeing the enthusiastic turnout of younger people to enjoy music of their lifetime). On an 8-night cruise, they managed to offer a variety of categories, with no repeated question sets, several times each day by many of the entertainment staff - and only One Disney-focused session (those are tough).
I expect them to have issues after Drydock and on Maiden Voyages - not because they SHOULD, but because they DO have a history of it. Not only them, cruise lines in general. After spending a Billion dollars on a new ship, they want to get it out sailing, recouping their expense. And we cruisers jump onboard.
We, personally, got a great rate and our experience was worth it (knowing that Disney is expensive). But if I had paid Verandah prices with the issues those in some of the most expensive rooms encountered, I would have been very sad. Well, no A/C at any price would have turned me off for a long time.
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