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As mom always said when we were young be careful who you hang out with. Hanging out on the messag boards with Matt “Yolo Book It” Hochberg, Mrs Star Class @Lovetocruise2002, and “Upgrade Math” @WAAAYTOOO has led us to our first Star Class booking. We decided to go from our Grand Suite Up to the Aqua Theatre 2 bedroom November 2020 on Oasis. We’ll be bringing around my brother in law, his wife and their 2 kids. They better not decide to discontinue the Royal Genie program between now and then. #YoloBookIt

Hello Fellow Cruise Lovers out there. My wife and I went on a vacation of a lifetime and got a spectacular rate on the Liberty of the Seas Royal Suite #1640. Since we were with a group of our friends, we decided to go all around the ship and in our cabin and shot a music video. I hope you enjoy. If you have any questions about the experience or anything Royal Suite, I am happy to answer them. Cheers! YOLObookIT

Indeed. I first saw it as a kid and later took my own kids. Just unbelievable. As simple as it may be, Alaska is a destination I kept on putting off. Sun in the Caribbean seemed better than jackets in the North. When I finally said YOLO and booked it, after my trip I asked myself why? Why did I wait so long to visit Alaska?

Just got done dining at Eden Restaurant. Was a very interesting meal to say the least, in a good way. Eden Restaurant is located on the lower level of Eden. Access is via set of stairs from deck 5. Note there is a wheelchair lift for those that might need it. When being seated you'll pass by the open kitchen and offered a welcome beverage. The menu is divided into five courses, each course having two options. After ordering you're brought a small little taster. Appetizers Raindrops Descending Frost First Entree Blue Velvet During the meal are small little acts performed by the Edenist --Note, the pictures showing the acts are not in any proper order or within the proper course timeline.-- Second Entree Tidal Pool Cove Another random performance Also if you want to have a perforer get a bit more closer and personal with you they can be summed. Just hold the summoning stone and make eye contact. Yes, that is a real candle Third Entree Life After Death (Sorry about not having a picture perfect plating. The beef had been a touch under cooked and was "attacked" before the shot could be taken.) Mangalitsa Yet another performance Dessert time Looking Glass Forbidden Fruit In addition you also get Eden Restaurant's rendition of The Globe Overall if you like Wonderland give Eden Restaurant a try. Keep in mind the menu does seem a bit seafood heavy. So if you're not a big fan, might want to pass. Now me personally, I could go for another few rounds of the Descending Frost and maybe another Cove. Side note: Pleasant having a dining package and not being presented a receipt at the end of the meal. I'm sure if one desired to leave extra gratuity they could request one. Overall, have yet to get one with any beverage package purchase. --Note: At ~10:30 EDT this post was edited enhanced/edited pictures--

I went to Europe for the very first time last summer and the first thing I saw when I climbed out of the metro was Notre Dame. We sat at a cafe across the seine from the spire with our best friends and drank wine while waiting to climb to the top. We spent hours exploring the beautiful chapels inside. I’m heartbroken at the loss today of so much beauty and history. It took me 50 years to get to my bucket list trip to Paris and I’m so thankful we got to see this beautiful church. I laugh about the yolo trips but truly thankful for the ability to travel. We will be in debt but life is short! What places are you all so glad you yolo booked and saw it? Jane

My rule is half a normal suitcase for me, the other half for my daughter who is 5. My wife will have a full suitcase for all her crap (I have learned not to question anything she packs). I just make sure it weighs under the airline limit. We will each have a carry on In case luggage is lost.

Need I post more...

I'm going to Alaska, why push Perfect Day Coco Cay excursions on me in Alaska? I'm going to Hawaii. No where close to Coco Cay: I understand that nothing else but Perfect Day matters to Royal Caribbean, or is that "Perfect Day Royal Caribbean"? Next ship... "Perfect Day of the Seas"! I was looking forward to Ovation of the Seas but not sure how I'll feel sailing the newly named "Perfect Day Ovation" Will Michael Bayley rename himself to "Perfect Day Bayley"? Perhaps the Key should be renamed "Perfect Day Key". Should I get the Unlimited Dining Plan or wait for the "Perfect Day Unlimited Dining Plan"? Enough Perfect Day! Seriously thinking about cancelling my 3/4 night B2B on Navigator to Bahamas. Or should I say the "Perfect Day Bahamas". /rantover

Glad To Have Both Of You Along For The Trip!

Not “mean”. Just “truth”. ?

Day 3 My daughter went to part of both AO sessions and loved it. Yesterday after lunch we watched the sexiest man contest at the pool so today after lunch my daughter wanted to run down to the pool to see if there was another contest. I was about to tell her there wasn’t but it turns out there was a belly flop contest. We sat on the edge of the pool and cheered people on. After that it was adventure ocean time and then finally relax time for an hour. At 4 we picked Delilah back up and went To use the private key hour to climb the rock wall. My daughter was the only one that wanted to try it and she got really high. She was too scared to come down though so the guy had to go up and get her to come down. She was too scared to just let go. We spent a lot of time walking from place to place. AO is on one end of the ship and food is on the other. We also spent a lot of time waiting at elevators. My husband discovered that there was no 13th floor so that helped the elevator waits. We’re on 12, AO is on 14, we just walk there now. We saw hairspray at night, it was amazing, my favorite show so far.

I'm on Ovation May 13 for her first trip to Alaska. Keep an eye in the live blog section on these message boards as we get closer.

Let me pose an alternative thought for you. One of the reasons we love to cruise is we feel like it is the one vacation we can over pack. We start with if we are flying to the port then the restriction is really just what airline we're on and it's baggage costs. We enjoy unpacking one time when we fist get our room. Then changing depending on the activities and ports from there on out. We consider the evenings our date nights so we probably dress up a little more than we would normally do. So yes we over pack but we think that is part of the fun. Enjoy your cruise. There is no right or wrong answer as long as you have fun.

For anyone's first cruise it's hard NOT to overpack. Fifty cruises later and I still pack things I never wear, just fewer of them. In some ways packing for a European land vacation where you'll ride trains and use taxis can be harder to pack for. Several big suitcases for a family and it will take two elevator rides at many hotels. As long as your luggage is within weight limits for your airline don't put too much energy into thinking about. Enjoy your cruise!

This is pretty much the same way I pack, I wear slack and shirts multiple times to cut down on what is needed. As stated, if something were to get dirty or a stain, we will use the laundry service.

I've figured out that shoes are a menace. They're heavy and difficult to pack. I've been able to reduce my footwear to one pair dress shoes that will work with suits and slacks for dinner. A pair of tennis shoes, and a pair of sandals. I wear Chaco sandals which can be used at the beach or walking around just as well. For 7 nights I'll bring my suit or a jacket for formal nights, two pair of pants, and 5 shirts. If I wear a shirt with a suit/jacket then I figure it's clean enough to wear again. Shorts/tees/swimsuits are all small and easy to pack so I don't worry about over packing on them much. We'll also use the bag-of-laundry deal on day 4 or 5 if needed for tees and socks and what-not.

"Hi, were checking into Hotel Cadiz, we have a reservation. I know we are early but wanted to see if it's possible our room might be ready?"

You mean you’ll “Sea” yourself out

More like Pier Pressure ? ........ I'll see myself out

I gamble a lot and have never received a free cruise. Guess I better move up to the nickle slots! ??

Agreed.

He's young - might still happen in his lifetime - just remind him to not hold his breath.

We cruise June 9th. I really hope this doesn't cause any issues. This is our first cruise and I've pretty much been counting the seconds since I booked it over a year ago. 54 days to go!!!

I’ve been really thinking Alaska looks so amazing and I keep grabbing the Caribbean because I freeze all winter. I will have to remember this! Especially with the glaciers melting..... of course then I started thinking about Iceland and Russian cruises.....arghhh...so many places! Jane

It won't cause motion. That's the luck of sea swell. One azipod can't run at full speed. That takes a few knots off her top speed. It should have no other effect in terms rocking or motion, simply slowing her down a bit.

Can anyone do this? I’m also sick to death of the perfect day tv commercials! Pleeeaaase stop lol!! Jane

I’ve never had a bad Genie. They are all very good at their jobs. You will love it !

Two out of three isn't bad...

Sorry, but I think that thing is hideous. I don't use any of them so it's no problem for me but....really ? UGH

Thank you both. @Matt love the podcast also! I've found a wealth of information. I wish I had found this site before my first cruise. I'm definitely going to be posting a review after I get back!

Solarium at night Nice being trusted with towels and not worrying about being possibility of being charge $25 for one...

On Ovation Pixels is the only bookable show. It does not have a broadway show like Oasis or Freedom class. All main theater entertainment will be first come, first seated.

When I disembarked in Miami in Feb I really had no idea what to do, as it had been so long since I'd been on any cruise. I only had one carry on, there was nobody directing anyone where to go, and, for some reason, I happened to just get off at a time where there was nobody in front of me to follow. I just sort of followed my instincts and walked in the direction that made sense. Eventually, I saw the 2 employees standing near this contraption - they motioned me over, signaled to me to take off my hat and look at it, and then waved me off. They seriously said no words to me, I didn't even know what they were doing! I kept looking for the customs agent to show my passport to, so I just kept wandering toward the exit doors. Since I didn't see anyone, I walked out of the doors, half expecting some official to tackle me on the way out for not going through customs. It wasn't until I'd read the message boards later that I realized what had happened. The entire confusing (to me) process took less than 5 minutes from the gangway to curb. Terminal A has permanently spoiled me forever.

I would have too say the Vatican in Rome, Florence, Venice and Istanbul(Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque).

Hmmm....this doesn't sound good at all. I haven't tried to have my 2 cruises repriced yet. I was going to give it a little time and let the rush die down. If this turns out to be the new "norm" then I will just cancel my B2B Star Class cruises on Anthem. I will take the hit on the cancellation penalty and reassess whether we will continue to be loyal to Royal. I'll let you know what happens when I ask Michelle to reprice the 2 I was planning on using for my annual cruise(s).

Hi , Well did not got an email but on the offer site I saw today that the annual offer became available @Sweety you should also checked. So I called and I have some bad news and good news , The good news , the 90 roles dose not exist I guess as I could book June 2019 cruise , the bad news that the upgrade discount might have changed. I have a free balcony and I tried to get a Junior suite or ocean view , for Junior suite it was + 2000 $ and for ocean view + 1000 $ which mean if I deduct the cabin cost almost 0 discount , if I am not deducting its around 60% discount which is nice. Maybe they change it now that they reduce from the upgrade room only the stated value, which is 750 $ for inside and 1000$ for balcony. Decided to upgrade only to a boardwalk balcony from the Park view I had (+30 $ to get Johnny rocket meal and two Soda package ? ) now at least I secured it and I have to decide if I want to upgrade to the JS or not

No you're not. That's a good idea. I personally don't use straws, as I tend not to get ice in my drinks. Working in the food service industry for so many years, I've seen the inside of too many ice machines! ?

Isn't that why you have a Genie??

I booked our Prime cruises for this year months ago and have been paying on them ever since. I will reprice them using the certificates. We are doing the B2B Star Class on Anthem again.

Following. I love being on this ship. We did a B2B.

The beauty of having a travel agent gets us an extra $50 O.B.C. and a bottle of wine and a specialty dinner. All of that is in addition to R.C. on board credit. If you don`t have a T.A. then get one. No cost to you. And a good T.A. at a reputable company is so beneficial. If you booked thru royal just get a T.A. and transfer the reservation over.

We tip in either Australian or US dollars when we cruise out of Sydney, it just depends what currency we have with us.

I think that might be called a World Cruise, which is also on my bucket list, the DW and Daughter still look at me like I'm crazy. Right now 100-150 straight days on a ship seems like a blast, but maybe in reality it isn't.

Agree. Saving my old unused ones, maybe they'll be in demand on eBay...

Food can be purchased there. I opted not to eat because nothing really appealed to me that day (I left the island by on the first boat out and I typically don't eat until 3 or 4pm anyway). I didn't think prices were unreasonable, but I couldn't give you an actual number because my memory is just crap. The hammocks seemed to be available to everyone - nobody was monitoring that part of the beach looking for wristbands or anything, so I'm sure you can use them no matter what encounter you book there.

Someone at Royal must be reading this forum... my cruise planners for multiple cruises have been fixed. No more Perfect Day Alaska, Perfect Day Hawaii or Perfect Day Panama Canal.

Spoke too soon... Some $45 dollar towles are left in the room...

We were at wedding where all the men in the Bridal Party, plus Father of the Bride wore kilts -- it looked great!! Also, one of the guests wore a kilt, but had to be careful -- he was a tall guy, & his kilt was a leeetle short -- Ladies, you know what it's like trying to sit gracefully in a short skirt & not flash anyone ? -- well, he had the same problem.....

Gamble a lot.

Think it ends up being StudioB