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Bloody Mary for 1st breakfast Irish Coffee for 2nd breakfast VRB (vodka redbull) for the lull Long island iced tea for 1st lunch pina colada for 2nd lunch (water... lots of water) Coconut mojito lava flow for the down time Wine with first dinner beer with 2nd dinner ask bartender to surprise me before entertainment (water.... lots of water.... and more water) old fashioned gatorade sleep.... shower... repeat. CHEERS! ?

Wake up-- I need my Diet Dr. Pepper.. They had it on Harmony in the Freestyle Machines.. If not ill drink a few glasses of coke Mid morning (1000ish) I gotta have a few Tito's Bloody Marys.. Around twoish.. I guess its Bud Light time until Dinner.. After dinner... Tito's Dirty Martinis or Tito's and Cranberry.. Depending on the night.. Maybe a few shots of Patron mixed in ? Last year I made the bright decision after a nap to start the Afternoon with Tito's and Red Bull.. Drank those up until dinnertime.. Around 11pm i lost my wings and crashed hard.. Couldn't find our cabin (should have listened to my wife).. lol ?

When the ship has the Bloody Mary bar set up in the atrium, they have a half-dozen or so ingredient options besides the choice of vodka. Jalapeños, bacon, possibly Old Bay, I forget what else. I saw the bacon and jalapeños that was just

So glad I’m not the only one starting my day with a little Baileys in my coffee!!

We were originally scheduled to be on her tomorrow for the 4-night. Lifted and shifted to Monday, November 8, 2021 We added the following 3-night to it to make it a full week.

This has definitely changed over the years. Started out with free drip coffee and whatever flavored water,tea,lemonade was offered. Then I started adding in a couple special occasion evening drinks. The last couple cruises I pre-purchased a coffee card so we could get specialty coffees every morning and started getting whatever I wanted to drink in moderation. My next cruise(God willing) to Alaska I made my first DBP purchase and I'm excited to get loose ?

Of course, there will be another one added, "I am so glad to be back cruising!"

After 2021 I should be Diamond which is exciting, but I don't think I'll start thinking about Pinnacle for 15 more years. Also what I like about the RC sales are how there could be a Super Sale 99% off and it may just be more than the sale that just ended at 20% off ?

To always have one in my hand. LOL

We always get the DBP, and I like to think we take advantage of it. Mostly we like not having the big bill at the end of the cruise. Sea days look like this: DH gets me coffee from the suite lounge in the morning, and I usually only have one cup a day, so no benefit there. Fresh squeezed OJ at breakfast (sometimes) Bottle of water Bloody Marys in the casino mid morning Bottle of water Water, soda, or lemonade at lunch A Lava Flow (or two) by the pool Bottle of water Jalapeno Grapefruit Daiquiri at the Schooner Bar with trivia Bottle of water Lemon drop in the suite lounge (no benefit again) Glass of wine at dinner Bottle of water

The short 4 night ones almost always leave on Monday. They do the Friday 3 night run and Monday 4 night run.

Can't say I've ever heard of that...sounds um...interesting....and really different! Sounds like a neat twist on a Bloody Mary.

JLMoran, I was thinking about your post and I wondered if each of those required a pre-meal cocktail? Bloody Mary, Mamosa, Beer, Gin and Tonic, Beer, Scotch and Soda.... you know the drill. I think I know the evening schedule. All of a sudden the DBP looks valuable.?

September 21, 2019.. Saying goodbye to all the lifelong friends we made on our journey.. As the crowd got smaller at the Riding Tide bar Our group became tighter.. It was hard to stop those invisible onion cutting ninjas.. It feels like when your parents came and picked you up from summer camp as kids lol Through sites like this and other social media you get to know your "cruise friends" in advance and some become friends in real life although we're scattered all over the globe.. At least we can skype and use FB Messenger to keep in touch.. Hell I speak with a few of our friends at least twice a month..

Well a little bit of good information. Looks like some conditional provisions have been met. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/crew-disembarkations-commercial-travel.html Currently Grandeur of the Seas is the only ship marked as "Red" Personally I see the timeline for stuff to be something to the effect of having all the facilities and such onboard and in order by the end of December, then being allowed to do some "test" sailings in early to mid January. Not sure from what I have read but I am thinking the CDC will require each ship to go through a test and do simulations where all crew have the ability to deal with the simulation directly and not just observe. Then the 60 day window starts which would kill everything till at least mid March if not further with the new administration in the drivers seat. Then again with the new admin in place I can see attempts at forcing nationwide shelter orders in place. IMHO that will cause a major revolt and some things could change even more drastically after that.

Afternoon drink by the pool.

Our kids are a little older (9 and 12 on last sailing)....and they eat everything....but it isn't fair to the other diners to take kids to chef table...it really is an 'adult' experience. Our kids go to buffet when we do the chef's table and/or something like Johnny Rockets.....last time we were out the Genie stopped by the room with popcorn and watched a movie with them for a couple hours (without us even asking)

With the Refreshment Package, I always got the fresh squeezed orange juice at Windjammer at breakfast time. On Freedom of the Seas, I enjoyed watching them put the oranges into the that big juicer machine and getting the freshest tastiest orange juice ever. Never saw the juicers in action on the other cruises though, but I could tell the juice was freshly squeezed recently.

@Leroyr55This is the most important piece of advice anyone can give you when selecting a new ship to try. My thinking is that any cruise/ship is a great one as long as you do your research and set your expectations accordingly.

So when you board a ship, you get affected by the same magic spell as me? You know, the one that turns you into a hobbit? ?

Ah, that's definitely worthy of the list!

@WAAAYTOOOanswered your questions quite well, but she forgot the most important part! Congratulations on 50 years! You must be doing something right if she's put up with you that long. ?

We are also early diners and relatively light eaters. We always purchase the UDP. Unless 5:30 - 6:00 is too late for you (most specialty restaurants begin serving at 5:30 or 6:00), the UDP will work fine. My only concern for you would be the possibility that the repetitiveness of the menus at the somewhat limited choice of specialty restaurants on Radiance could be an issue on a 9 night itin. The nice thing about the UDP is that it includes both dinners and lunches whenever the specialties are open for lunch (usually on sea days). Also, realizing that on an Alaska itin you are often off the ship for lunchtime, it’s just a matter of what is most convenient for you. Here’s what I would recommend. If they are offering a 5 night dining plan, I recommend that. That would give you plenty of opportunities to utilize the specialties but also give you the flexibility to make alternate arrangements for some nights. Just remember that only the UDP offers the option of complementary lunches. Between the Main Dining Room, the Windjammer and other options around the ship, you will not go hungry on nights that you do not have specialty reservations. If they are only offering a 3 night dining package, I would get the UDP. It’s very nice to be able to board the ship and go to Chops for lunch on boarding day. I will note, however, that with the COVID restrictions (whatever they may turn out to be), lunch on boarding day at Chops may no longer be an option. ?? Enjoy your first cruise ! You’ve picked a wonderful way to start out !

One of the CDC's requirements are volunteers for test cruises. It's not clear how volunteers will be picked, but hypothetically, would you want to volunteer for a test cruise? Why or why not?

I'm sure like a lot of you, I love talking about cruise stuff. Most of the posts these days are depressing with the current situation. So I thought I'd start a fun post. There is the common question "Are drink packages worth it?". We mostly cruise with our kids so don't purchase it, but DH and I have gone on a couple cruises on our own. On our last cruise we purchased the package for the first time. We have also purchased it for our summer cruise...if it goes as it was a good price (comparing to the standard rate). It's not generally worth it for me price-wise, especially if our kids are on the cruise, but I do enjoy the freedom of grabbing drink and if the price is right, that alone is worth it. DH can break even or make it worth it financially. So I thought for fun...I'd start a post of "what is your day like on a cruise in terms of drinks"? Royal has such fun ones, plus the usual wines, beers, hard liquor. I'll go first (based on the one time we had the package) morning coffee with baileys - grab after breakfast and walk viewing the ocean with it afternoon fun drink by pool or schooner's bar with trivia - mai tai or blue lagoon or some cocktail afternoon ice coffee (maybe) bottled water dinner drink - try a new wine or mojito evening fun drink (usually after the show so I'm not running to the washroom lol) - try something new from menu, or Kraken colada, etc. How about others? Can be with or without the drink package...with our without the suite/diamond lounge (not us).

Just an update https://cruisepassenger.com.au/exclusive-australian-government-studies-ways-to-restart-cruise/

A bit of misinformation, I think. You can definitely change ships and port of origin. The thing that they seem to be a stickler on is that the itinerary must be "called" the same thing (eastern, southern, western) and must be the same number of days. You cannot shift to a holiday cruise if your original booking was not a holiday cruise. Good lulck

Navigator typically leaves on Monday. Check those sailings.

For me, my days are pretty consistent: Breakfast - Fresh-squeezed OJ and a grande cappuccino from the cafe One or two days of the trip I'll follow that up with a jalapeño bacon Bloody Mary Another cappuccino around mid-day On embarkation day and port days I always get a reposado or añejo margarita for sail-away On sea days I might get one beer around lunch time, if the ship has a decent import option; if not, I'll get a lighter drink like "She's a Geisha" (sold only at Izumi) On port days I always get two bottles of water when I leave the ship At dinner - 2 glasses of wine (either bottles I brought with me, or if I bought the DBP then slightly more-expensive options that are mostly covered it) After dinner - A glass of Bailey's on the rocks with a shot of espresso mixed in; kind of a reverse Irish coffee And then I'll be drinking bottled or ship's tap water around all of that through the day.

No drink package necessary for me. I grab red stripes from either the Suite lounge, Diamond Lounge or casino bar for 7 straight days. By day 7 I swear off alcohol until the next voyage & I replace beer with the Peloton at home.

Typical day for me: 8-10 bottles of water (or equivalent amount of Vitamin Water from Freestyle machines) 2-3 soda package cups filled with Powerade Zero 2-3 soda package cups filled with diet soda of some sort 5-6 glasses of iced tea at lunch/dinner (it's not great iced tea, but it meets the need) 1-2 cups of coffee (might be more if the coffee on a particular trip is unusually good) 1-2 glasses of juice at breakfast A glass of scotch in either the Suite Lounge or Diamond Lounge A couple glasses of wine with dinner Whatever freebies or near freebies are offered at a liquor tasting, art auction, or Mimosa special in the casino on a sea day

What time of the year are you going to Nassau ? I would caution you that for me, at least, it is too cold to get into the water in Nassau during the winter months. Many are hardier than I so maybe you could do it. I cannot. For beach time, it's great...but not in the water...at least, for me.

Sunset from Mallory Square isn't bad either.

Challenge accepted!??

Naturally it is wise to consider what other countries are doing. The extreme CDC requirements for America are a direct reflection of the American response to the virus in general. Those same American protocols should not be required in regions that have responded very differently to the virus. Industry and government public health agencies need to work closely together and adapt as the virus ebbs and flows. The American shutdown of the cruise industry is directly attributable to the actions of the American people. We did this to ourselves. Australians responded very differently to the pandemic and they shouldn't be bound to American style protocols. On one end of the spectrum is the American model to restart cruising. The other end of the spectrum is restarting cruising like there was never a pandemic. Somewhere in between the two extremes is the right approach for Australia.

Yes there will be a cruise industry after the pandemic in my opinion. I don't see the entire industry disappearing. The pandemic has caused massive disruptions to many lives, economies and industries around the world. Like there have been airlines that have disappeared we have seen some cruise lines disappear. The impact to the cruise industry may not be over yet. Only time will tell but the sting isn't over, the virus didn't disappear on Nov. 4th as some projected it would.

I'm going to go with @WAAAYTOOO on this one as well. Not likely they will be able to hold the entire event in your suite. That would be like asking for them to hold the sushi making class or guacamole class in your suite. I'm not even sure they have enough manpower to do that, especially during the dinner hours. Have you considered perhaps leaving your kids in Adventure Ocean for a few hours and head to Chef's Table without them?

Unless they are going to significantly raise single drink prices. I have been my cost analysis on $12 drinks because that is the amount the packages covers and is the basic drink price. If single drink prices go to $15, then a higher price package might make more sense.

Me too. Radiance (Alaska 8/21). ?

I enjoyed the blog also but it did not include my top saying: "I'm only _______ cruises from Pinnacle" My other favorite saying is: "Some day they will call me Super Steve!!"

I saw a new high for the Deluxe Beverage Package today. It is $84 pp/pd on an 8 day sailing on Allure in January. I have always thought the DBP was a good value, even at $52 or so, but I cannot imagine getting my money's worth at $84. I like the freedom to be able to grab a fun drink anywhere on board and I do drink a lot of bottled water, but I cannot figure out a way to break even (or even come close) at $84 per day. We are in a GS, so I will get extra exercise popping up to the 17th floor unless the price comes down.

We, more than once, commented that the Navy folks had all the luck - cruising all the time... while she waited at home and I rode around in vehicles that were not particularly water-friendly! I (we) appreciate the many folks who affirm our crazy life. Many have served - we'll remember that over the next several days. There were a lot who were in harms way more often than I. I give thanks for all of them - many of whom post to this blog.??

HeWhoWaits, thanks for the congrats. She lived through 20 + moves (Army, retired) so it was more her patience than me doing something right!?️

100% no hesitation!

Sgtrum---I would really be interested in this as a volunteer with over 56 cruises with RCI and 40 years a health care worker, risk manager and safety officer.

As a florida resident, its easy to get to any of the 4 cruise ports here for me, so I would volunteer in a heartbeat

All they have to is ask,being diamond plus we are experienced cruisers and we may be able to offer suggestions

Y Most lunches you can just walk right in.. We did this with Sabor and Jamies You can make all of your reservations at any specialty restaurant the day of embarkation. Absolutely! We had apps at 150 CP, Dinner at Chops, and dessert at Jamies ? Yes Johnny Rockets is included ? Don't forget to try Izumi Hibachi!

After all this time find out there's a thread for this? Thanks for all the help to everyone and @Matt for creating a great blog, YouTube channel and community.