function12

One of the things that was nice about the drink package was trying new drinks.  If you didn't like it.  You could always get something else and did not feel you are wasting your money.  We found a few new drinks we like and a few we would never try again.

@smokeybandit's link will definitely give you the basics, but be aware - the casino rewards program is complicated and there are lots of "unwritten" rules as we are currently discussing in another thread.
To answer your direct questions:
1.  You earn points on all games EXCEPT for live Texas Hold' Em and the coin slider things (don't know what they are called). 
2.  Points accumulate throughout the "casino" year, which runs from 1 April - 31 March.  On April 1 you go back to zero and start accumulating points for the next "applicable” casino year (which is really 2 years down the road).  Points that we are currently accumulating (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) are for the casino year that starts 1 April 2024 so whatever status you achieve by 3-31-24 will be applied from 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025.  Clear as mud, right ?
3.  All slots earn 1 point for every $5 play through; video poker earns 1 point for every $10 play through.  You earn points at the table games but the algorithm is voodoo.  Basically, the more you wager and the longer you play, the more points you accumulate.
How much money do you need ?  It depends on what game(s) you play, how much you plan on playing and how often you intend to cruise and gamble.  Some people seem to be able to get lots of points out of very little money, but that has never been my experience (unfortunately)...but I don't play slots, so that helps explain.  Table games are much less predictable for point accumulation than slots.
We cruise often so we are able to accumulate points relatively slowly and still achieve Prime status.  If you are only going to be cruising a few times a year then it is much more important to play big to achieve your status quickly.
The bottom line is...if you are a gambler and plan on gambling no matter what, casino status is a bonus.  If you are NOT a gambler and would otherwise not be in the casino, trying to achieve casino status is probably a mistake.  It's costly and it's well...gamblng....no assurance that you are going to win....probably won't win.  Good luck !!

I guess it depends on the ship. Vision’s Cruise Compass has a note to bring your card to Guest Services for the hole punch to ensure the RFID is not damaged. 

Two words - Brittney Griner

We won $500 last year.  It shows up as on on board credit and it took a couple of days for it to show.

We won $500 last year.  It shows up as on on board credit and it took a couple of days for it to show.

So here it is.... After our first time in Star class with the Genie, I will have to say it is going to be different going back to anything else. Our experience on Oasis was great but there were a couple things to comment on Sailing out of Port Miami. 
We flew in 2 days in advance and I'm glad we did. We had a winter storm almost wreak havoc on our flight but we were lucky. We stayed at the Hilton Downtown and had a good experience for the price. Only downfall is their elevator system and how it works. All other amenities were good, pool was awesome and warm as bath water.
Embarkation was a little disjoined, there was supposed to be a dedicated location with Individuals in Purple shirts, this wasn't visible and a cause for confusion. The stand wasn't set up until almost 10:30, which is the earliest you can check in, I was just anticipating a roped line with better signage. After this the processes of Embarkation was seamless. You have your luggage taken by Star Class porters and is "Delivered to your room"(more on that later). You enter the terminal with your genie and up to Suite security check-in. Then its onto the lounge for a brief stop and then onto the ship.
Luggage delivery.... That was a disappointment, at about 3pm we went back to the room and were going to get ready for sail away and supper following. We had no luggage, called the Genie and she was on it, then 5 minutes later nothing still, I finally walked down the hall and low and behold they were sitting like everyone luggage, in the Hallway, with our attached Purple Star Class Tags. Crisis averted but disappointing.
Best Sail away we have had! Suite deck is absolutely the place. Also we were blessed to board on the Port side which means we were able to sail to downtown, do the turntable, and sale all the way back out. That is how every sail away should go if I was in charge at Royal! 
Room was great and lived up to the Ultimate Panoramic Suite. Amenities were great, bed was comfortable, over abundance of Closet space for the Wife and myself. Products requested were in the room and never in short supply, Climate control and comfort was easy to adjust(need for keeping shades closed during day or lowest setting for cooling due to all the glass). Bathrooms were great to have 2, never bothered my wife when she was getting ready and could quick use one or the other. One disappointment that I would have with the bathrooms is the toilet paper. That had to be the absolute cheapest they could find. I swear you could 5 fold that stuff and still be able to trace words on a book through it. I understand that the plumbing on the ship is not meant for heavy duty trash down the toilet, but an upgrade to that paper would be nice. Was nice to be able to have a shower or bath if you wanted and fit(6'7" doesn't fit well into most tubes), shower for me with the rainfall worked awesome and didn't have to bend over to rinse off my head. hahaha
I was on the fence about the Genie and if we would utilize their services to what we would think would justify the added cost. I would say ours did have the added benefit. We were able to have her book or adjust times for reservation in restaurants and add more shows to our schedule(saw Aqua 80's twice and in exchange for Cats). It was nice being escorted on and off the ship, and having that luxury experience. She was able to have different items delivered for us to snack on(Playmakers nachos and wings, Tiramisu for a late evening desert, Tapas from Vintages, and chocolate covered strawberries) along with a nice gift that she had delivered to our room. **Pro note if you have to much food and you have a great bartender up on the suite deck, we would bring some of the food up to them and they would put it in the back area. That was a huge hit and gesture that they were really grateful for and didn't waste food.
We ate at All of the Specialty Restaurant's. Still our #1 favorite is 150 Central Park. Chefs table was also a great experience to have all the parings and explanations. Playmakers Campfire cookie is still awesome even though it didn't come in the skillet like before. Most under rated place is Port Side BBQ, the food was awesome and the 3 meat option could easily be split 2 ways. We were advised to book both Chefs and Hibachi ahead of time, but we just go with the flow and let the genie rearrange our schedule to make the times work. Plus we find it fun to sit with new people and interact.
Shows were great with the Genie having the best seats reserved. 3rd row dead center for the Aqua shows, middle of the Room for the Comedy show, and right against the railing for the Ice show. We could have our drinks messaged to her ahead of time and have them for the shows.
My wife also took advantage of the Starbucks drinks available to Star Class and had them delivered every morning to our room. .
Galley an Bridge tour was also something to see and take in. Cool to see behind the scenes.  
Debarkation was also awesome, we met her by the elevator bank, were able to bypass all floors and were walked off the ship. You then get handed off to a Suite dedicated person at the terminal, Genies can not go any further than up to security. We were taken directly to security/customs on the street level through the suite elevators and out to our Uber pickup location. We walked with all of our luggage, this gave us more time to pack and organize the last night.
Overall it was top notch. Going back once you are spoiled with this experience to anything less now isn't going to feel the same. 
The way we justified this was 3 years without a vacation, and we were originally booked on Wonder for January of '23 in a GS and I'm always looking for a better price. I stumbled onto this sailing and cabin by chance. Full disclosure this cruise booked was $10,928, our Wonder was only $1,000 cheaper and we would have had another $1,800 into it with the DBP and VOOM, Dining Package..... That is the one thing I will always look at now moving forward with a cruise for any room are the added costs and if it can justify going to Star Class.
 
Welcome any question or comments!!
 
 

Central Park



150 Central Park Tenderloin for 2

Our room view just out of Port Miami











Suite Lounge

View from Hilton Downtown Fitness Center

Bridge

Congrats to our friend @CHRIS WONG on being featured!
 

Fell asleep on my balcony after a long day with the tequila whistle lady at Senor Frogs in Cozumel -- at 1pm.
My wife left me there until about 4pm and the damage had been done -- I looked like Doug when they find him on the roof at the end of The Hangover (burnt to a crisp).  The last two days of my cruise were miserable lol
 

In peacetime maybe.
In 1943 the Queen Mary had 16,683 souls on board for a transatlantic crossing.  It remains the largest number of human beings ever carried on a vessel.  Several crossings were made by a couple of ships during the war that routinely had 15,000+ on board but the record is held by the QM.  

 

This is how I'm envisioning my upcoming Spring Break cruise.

Find a local dive shop around your home and go ask them.  Maybe even get fitted for a mask while you are there.  The are not too expensive and make a world of difference in your snorkeling experience.

Not a service animal. Fluffy needs to stay home. If you can't leave the animal then you don't need to be cruising. 
I was a working dog handler in the military and have worked with the service animals for the blind and my mother currently volunteers with the Paws for Passengers at the Reno Airport.
I am in healthcare now and I can't even count the number of times patients have asked me to write letters for them to take their animals with them. I have said no everytime.
I know what it takes to have to need these very specialized animals and to have to them trained. Service animals cost thousands of dollars in training and everyone that wants to take Fluffy with them to the store, Dr's office, to dinner, on the plane, or on a cruise, diminishes the real service animals and does a disservice to the disabled that truly need them.

My understanding is you can buy the ferry tickets at the ferry terminal.  I believe there are 3 different ferry lines and the all charge about the same and leave from the same area.

Thank you very much for everyone’s well wishes.  Despite the excellent care my mother in law received on Oasis and in the hospital ICU in Norfolk, she passed away this past Tuesday.  She was 79.
Edited to add a photo of MIL at Beach Club September 2021.
@Mattcould you please close this thread.

Welcome to suite cult life!

You can't use cash on board for anything but the casino or tips.  You can set up a cash account on the ship but you would have to go to guest services.  Give them your cash.  Then you would use your seapass card to make purchases again the cash account you set up.
Yes, there are ATMs on the ship.  I believe they are in the casino most of the time.  No sure what the current fee is.

A basic and informative video on how Casino Royale works onboard our ships!
 
I hope you guys find this information useful.
 
 

Unless you are in a suite.  Then it is free.

For anyone interested/concerned, as expected, no issues whatsoever at the port. They only look for name, date of test, & “negative.”
Got to PC around 10am with a 10:30 check-in time & sitting in the terminal in less than 15 minutes.

We did the Dolphin swim in Roatan too.  It was an awesome experience.

There's no consequences anymore!

My father always said, "adult family members can get along together for maybe a week when confined together. If they are truly a loving family,  maybe eight days!" 

We did the Dolphin swim in Roatan too.  It was an awesome experience.