NS8VN

Exactly, I feel people almost always get the math wrong on the drink packages.  As you mention, assuming someone books their cruise well ahead and keep an eye on the Cruise Planner it is very likely they will get a sale package.  For reference I have seen it several times at $48pppn, so that's not even the biggest sale.  Now, if you are someone like me (or OP) who is choosing between the soda package or deluxe package (rather than deluxe package or no package) then we should factor in that it is between an $8.50 package or $48 package.  So now we can consider the deluxe package to actually be $40 (rounding for simplicity).  Now, coffee or fresh squeezed OJ?  So if we get a single glass of OJ and a single premium coffee, we are talking another $10.  Feel like some bottled water?  Three would be another $10.  Now we are looking at needing to buy $20 worth of drinks.  That's 2 mixed drinks or 3 beers (wine somewhere in between).
The point is not to encourage anybody to get a drink package they don't want, rather make sure you are factoring in the complete value of the package as it's much more than booze.  The Refreshment Package might make sense as well if all of those things sound good but the 2 drinks average per day still seems excessive to someone.  Just know that the 5-7 drink estimate people come up with is leaving a lot out of the equation.
As to the actual question of the thread: you can't just get a package for one day for the reason you can't just sign up for a week at the gym.  RCCL knows many people won't take full advantage of the package throughout their cruise, rather it is a convenience for them.  So those people essentially subsidize the package for those taking plenty of advantage.  Much like all the people signing up at a gym in January are subsidizing it for those still working out in March.  It's all a numbers game and RCCL has the numbers down to a science.

Anyone want to guess how long it will be before Jim Walker has this story prominently displayed on the front page of his website! 

seems a little bit over the top that you are blaming royal for getting ill. sugar free desserts to me don't sound like desserts :/

I guess.  But then again aren't spaghetti, lasagna, and ravioli all essentially the same thing served in different formats?

You're welcome, just know that the cruise line does not offer updates unless there is a problem so no news is good news.
The best place to look up tropical systems and where they might be heading is: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Welcome to the RCCLBlog forums and I hope you enjoy your first cruise!

What updates are you expecting?  There are no tropical systems near or looking to be near Miami, Nassau, or Coco Cay in the next week.
Is there something else going on that you are concerned will affect your cruise?

@FlowBro Ty What's with all the polls?

The same can be said about everything in life. If not for the guy in the $50K Sky Loft suite, maybe my regular balcony would cost more. Convoluted logic at best. Back to the original point, no one is forced to pay for anything they don’t want, except maybe the port fees LOL

The devices you mention will need to be connected to the wifi network and won't have a way to input a device code.  As such even if you can get it connected to the TV you will need to set up a wireless router to be able to pull this off.  @twangster has a writeup on how to accomplish this here:
 

That's fine...i'll bring my own straws and dispose of them once I'm finished...there will be a fight if they try and take my straws! ?
I've found 180 of them in a plastic container ?
https://www.boxed.com/product/648/twizzlers-180-twists?pf=3&gid=648&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_purpose=acquisition&utm_campaign=shopping-lowbid-georgia&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2p_2-8uG3QIVloWzCh2l9gvGEAQYBCABEgLvofD_BwE

I think someone was confused.  It's Disney Cruise Lines that has Pirate Night.
(However, toy swords are also banned on DCL)
The whip looks to me like it might have been purchased at a port of call and RCCL politely offered to store it for them until the end of the cruise.  I assume they were allowed to hold on to the hat and leather jacket, however.

Have we reached the point in the thread where it's time to circle back to Sorrento's?

I think someone was confused.  It's Disney Cruise Lines that has Pirate Night.
(However, toy swords are also banned on DCL)
The whip looks to me like it might have been purchased at a port of call and RCCL politely offered to store it for them until the end of the cruise.  I assume they were allowed to hold on to the hat and leather jacket, however.

Mandatory hamster union break.  They are all back on their wheels now.
This is how Royal IT powers the website:

First they came for my straws, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my plastic cups, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my ocean cruises, but by then the internet had also been shut off to save electricity so I could say nothing.
?

Not at all.  All cargo is offloaded by barges at the other tip of the island.   Concrete trucks come in this way.  Barge pulls up, ramp lowered onto island, truck drives off.  A road is there down the middle of the island.  The pier is designed for passengers, not cargo.   

I guess.  But then again aren't spaghetti, lasagna, and ravioli all essentially the same thing served in different formats?

The Italian - American New Yorker over here just died. ?
 
 

First they came for my straws, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my plastic cups, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my ocean cruises, but by then the internet had also been shut off to save electricity so I could say nothing.
?

First they came for my straws, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my plastic cups, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my ocean cruises, but by then the internet had also been shut off to save electricity so I could say nothing.
?

First they came for my straws, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my plastic cups, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my ocean cruises, but by then the internet had also been shut off to save electricity so I could say nothing.
?

First they came for my straws, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my plastic cups, and I said nothing.
Then they came for my ocean cruises, but by then the internet had also been shut off to save electricity so I could say nothing.
?

Who knew straws could lead to such drastic measures.
"We shall have straws or not cruise at all."
LOL!

I'm not sure about up there, but here in Colorado, miles from any ocean, local restaurants and bars have stopped providing straws.  Many are using re-usable straws, hard plastic or metal that get washed like the glasses and silverware are.  
The elimination of disposable straws isn't just a cruise ship thing, it's an international movement that has little to with being PC.

Remember that the reason it is such a big deal and such an uproar is that it so rarely happens so close to the set sail date.  If it frequently happened only 8 months before the sailing date it would have been met with "sorry this happened, it sucks, but it's fairly common" rather than outrage.  It is far more likely to happen over a year in advance, as the cruise line wants to cancel as few people as possible and the chartering company wants time to fill the ship.
I do encourage you to continue reading here and learn more about cruising before going, a lot of tips and knowledge are on this site and forum that can help things go smoothly.  Trip insurance is also worth considering.  A lot of things can happen and with a cruise any delays in travel can potentially scrub the entire trip.