twangster

Think I saw a sign for 15.99 and 19.99 for the entire voyage one.

You don't worry or flinch when you log into the RC website and find no cruises listed for you when you have several booked You start running into the same people from here on multiple cruise forums Your morning ritual includes logging into the cruise planner every day You only use social media for cruise related purposes You know exactly how many nights you need to reach the next C&A level and this plays into your booking strategy 

I feel much better now, I am not alone.  
When washing your hands you ask yourself if you have reached 50 times yet today When the ship IS the destination  When a friend asks where you are going and all you know is the ship's name When you've memorized your C&A number When you talk to your travel agent more than some family When your travel agent has you on speed dial

When you can answer about 98% of the questions posted to this board.
Agree with @twangster...when the ship has become the destination.

I know my C&A number. It's like my social security number.

I feel much better now, I am not alone.  
When washing your hands you ask yourself if you have reached 50 times yet today When the ship IS the destination  When a friend asks where you are going and all you know is the ship's name When you've memorized your C&A number When you talk to your travel agent more than some family When your travel agent has you on speed dial

I feel much better now, I am not alone.  
When washing your hands you ask yourself if you have reached 50 times yet today When the ship IS the destination  When a friend asks where you are going and all you know is the ship's name When you've memorized your C&A number When you talk to your travel agent more than some family When your travel agent has you on speed dial

You try to teach your local bartender to mix labadoozie. You are little sad when you kids celebrate is 12 years birthday, You compare every expense to Alcohol package/cruise fair/shore excursions prices – “Oh this is a nice couch, but we can book 7 night cruise in a GS with the same price” . Your coworkers are tired to hear stories why cruise is the best vacation. You always have one window open on the Royal Caribbean blog site. You are checking every week if a relocation to Florida is available. You cannot sleep on the night before embarkation. You are one of the first people to arrive to the port, sometimes before the porters. You are trying to buy swimsuit in the middle of the winter. You know exactly what you are going to do with your yearly bonus. In the gym you listen to a podcast of someone a very fast talker instead of music like everyone else. You are not interested in Gold or Platinum jewelries only Diamonds     When you return from a few days out of office someone always ask you, again a cruise? You know periscope is not something you find only in a submarine  You develop resilience for bad designed cruise company web sites When you a see a washroom the words Washi Washi and a certain animation song comes to your head (and stays for long time) .. When you consider to adopt a pet you first think who can take care of it for at least a 7 night periods. You still believes in fairies (well at least in the upgrade ones)  
So say yourself, My name is ……  and I am Loyal to Royal

Learned through mistakes.  I did a 9 night cruise and went through one by one, day by day, "purchasing" each one individually, filling out my name and email address each time, 9 times.  When I found that shortcut I was like... Doh! 

The man behind this site is @Matt.  He has created many blogs for first timers to RCI:
What time to get to the port
What makes Royal Caribbean different
and so on.
If you go to the main page of RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com there is a search box in the upper right.  Just type in "first time" and you will see more blogs that he has written and possibly some podcasts as well. 
My only Disney experience is a long time ago but I sailed ten Carnival ships before switching over to Royal two years ago.  Disney is great, no argument there but also very expensive.  For me I love Royal and haven't looked back.  
Cheers!

Welcome!  And thank you for your service!
I'm on the same cruise... see you on board!
What cruise lines have you sailed with before?

I suspect the initial teething problems may be fixed but MSC needs to North Americanize the ship more culturally which will take a little longer.  They have more ships that will be home ported here so it will happen but that will be a slower learning curve for them. 

Changing topics for a moment, with 4 cruises in 12 months have you considered an annual travel insurance plan?  The one I just bought isn't calendar year (Jan - Jan) but from the month coverage begins and for 12 months after.  Sure beats buying insurance each time.    
While shopping the other day I came across a Canadian version.  If you purchase with coverage starting in Aug. '17 you would be covered through Aug. '18.
EDIT - Note - This thread was split from within an unrelated thread since it was getting far off topic.

The $7.95 is whole cruise.
Depending on your cell provider the on board [email protected] may be an option to consider.  It tends to be expensive per minute for voice.  Turn off data roaming.
If you get a call and you need to talk longer hang up, buy Voom at that point and call them back with a wifi call. 

visited NY for 1st time in july, saw lots of bums, wino's and litter filled streets but as hard as i tried i just couldn't find any hookers 

I sure hope it’s gone when we get back. Oh we’re on board the Serenade ?

The Millennium was the first in its class and she has three sister ships.  First launched in 2000 at 91,000 GT with a passenger capacity of 2,138 she isn’t a large ship by any stretch but she is well maintained.  
As I boarded the ship they offered sparkling wine and mimosa.  




The Martini Bar with it’s frozen bar top would become well visited on this cruise.  Despite it’s name it offers just about any kind of beverage.


I had booked a Suite GTY and was assigned an S1 Sky Suite.  There are two sky suites on Millennium class that are unique.  They are right beside the aft Penthouse Suites on port and starboard and they have an adjoining door inside the cabin to the penthouse.  They are designed to function as an extra bedroom for folks booking the Penthouse Suite who need a little more room for an extra guest.  When not needed in that capacity they become available as an S1 Sky suite.  As such these sky suites are decorated just like the Penthouse suites and are a little larger than the standard S1 Sky suites.












The Millennium offers a spacious pool deck with several hot tubs.




There are plenty of areas to take in the beauty of Alaska on this class of ship.




Aft there is an outdoor TV and seating area.

For an Alaskan cruise they offer towels and fleece blankets.







There is also an indoor solarium which would be very popular on this cruise.  It’s adult only except between 4-6pm when kids are allowed.  That’s a good thing because the outdoor pools and hot tubs were just warm, certainly not hot.  I tried an outdoor hot tub once on this cruise.  Just once.  From that point on I used the solarium.




Forward on deck 11 is the multi-purpose Cosmos lounge with excellent views forward.



Leaving the lounge you can head to the outside deck area.










Mille has dry docked a few times over the years and has some very nice decor.




Like RCI ships there are specialty restaurants.



Luminae is a suite only restaurant and where I would eat almost all of my meals.




Blu is the restaurant for Aqua class guests


Somehow I made a wrong turn and found the gym

Despite being 17 years old it a very nice ship.  It’s not brand new and it doesn’t have an ice rink or zip lines or bumper cars but it was perfect for Alaska.



While we were still tied up in the Seward port a Humpback whale came into the port and began feeding.





The Windjammer like buffet area is the Oceanview Cafe and Grill and it has an aft bar and seating area called the Oceanview Bar.





Heading out of port and into the ocean just after 10pm we were treated to an awesome sunset as we headed South towards our next day at Hubbard Glacier.



On board the Millie was a naturalist.  At evening talks in the main theater he would explain what to look for tomorrow and what to expect.  On this sailing we also had Captain Dave and his wife from the Aleutian Ballad.  This crab boat was one of those featured in the early seasons of the “The Deadliest Catch”.  He has since converted that boat in an excursion for cruise ships passengers.  He was an amazing guest speaker and his talks in the main theater became must see events.  Even the informal Q & A session with his wife in the Cosmos lounge was great.
What an amazing first day.  A fantastic train ride followed by boarding and seeing whales right from the ship before we even left port.  Then a spectacular 10pm sunset.  As RCI likes to tweet, on this cruise I would find myself frequently in Section O, Row M, Seat G many times. 

With today's sale some of my cruise Voom pricing has dropped and it's all over the place.  
All prices below are in the cruise planner for Surf & Stream per day.  None have the discount banner graphic so you don't know what percentage off the new pricing is based on.  
Anthem January $15.99
Liberty February $13.99
Serenade March $15.99
Explorer June $12.59
Symphony October $11.99
Someone in IT in Miramar must have brought a bottle of Bailey's to work today for the coffee.

Yeah too much snow in Charleston.
(Former Myrtle Beach resident)

Carnival starts their drink packages on day 2 out of Galveston but I think RCI starts normally.  They have to serve from bottles with a Texas tag on them (TX duty paid).  Because of this they don't have all liquors and liqueurs available.  Beer & wine has to be approved under TABC.  Not all wines and beers could be.  So day 1 tends to be like "well drinks".  Once 12 miles out they put the TX bottles away and start normal selections.  

The Diamond discount isn't as attractive as the 20% pre-cruise discount unless you wait until day 2 to buy it.
My new strategy will often be waiting until day 2 to purchase Voom.
Day 1 at port I have cell phone coverage and can tether a PC if needed.  If we leave port ~ 4pm then it's just 8 hours until midnight. Dinner and the Welcome Aboard show consume much of those 8 hours so waiting to purchase until day 2 has negligible effect. 
7 Nights
On board - 7 * $19.99 = $139.93 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $116.94
Pre-cruise - 7 * $15.99 = $111.93
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  6 * $19.99 = $119.94 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $96.95
9 Nights
On board - 9 * $19.99 = $179.91 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $156.92
Pre-cruise - 9 * $15.99 = $143.91
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  8 * $19.99 = $159.92 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $136.93
12 Nights
On board - 12 * $19.99 = $239.88 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $216.89
On board Day 2 -  11 * $19.99 = $219.89 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $196.90
Best buy - Pre-cruise - 12 * $15.99 = $191.88
 
Diamond discount is effectively between 9.6% and 28.8% based on cruise length.  Longer cruise yield less effective discount.
For Platinum and Emerald with 15% off on board prices the result is pretty close to the same - best buy is to wait until day 2. 
For anything longer than 7 nights the Platinum and Emerald discount is better than the Diamond discount.  For 12 night cruises the Gold discount is better than Diamond discount.  
Waiting to day 3 will yield even higher savings.
Length of Cruise       Effective Diamond Voom Discount
            4                                         28.8%
            5                                          23%
            6                                         19.2%
            7                                         16.4%
            8                                         14.4%
            9                                         12.8%
           10                                        11.5%
           11                                        10.5%
           12                                         9.6%
Gold on board Voom discount 10%
Platinum/Emerald on board Voom discount 15%
Typical cruise planner advance purchase discount 20%
 

The Diamond discount isn't as attractive as the 20% pre-cruise discount unless you wait until day 2 to buy it.
My new strategy will often be waiting until day 2 to purchase Voom.
Day 1 at port I have cell phone coverage and can tether a PC if needed.  If we leave port ~ 4pm then it's just 8 hours until midnight. Dinner and the Welcome Aboard show consume much of those 8 hours so waiting to purchase until day 2 has negligible effect. 
7 Nights
On board - 7 * $19.99 = $139.93 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $116.94
Pre-cruise - 7 * $15.99 = $111.93
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  6 * $19.99 = $119.94 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $96.95
9 Nights
On board - 9 * $19.99 = $179.91 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $156.92
Pre-cruise - 9 * $15.99 = $143.91
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  8 * $19.99 = $159.92 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $136.93
12 Nights
On board - 12 * $19.99 = $239.88 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $216.89
On board Day 2 -  11 * $19.99 = $219.89 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $196.90
Best buy - Pre-cruise - 12 * $15.99 = $191.88
 
Diamond discount is effectively between 9.6% and 28.8% based on cruise length.  Longer cruise yield less effective discount.
For Platinum and Emerald with 15% off on board prices the result is pretty close to the same - best buy is to wait until day 2. 
For anything longer than 7 nights the Platinum and Emerald discount is better than the Diamond discount.  For 12 night cruises the Gold discount is better than Diamond discount.  
Waiting to day 3 will yield even higher savings.
Length of Cruise       Effective Diamond Voom Discount
            4                                         28.8%
            5                                          23%
            6                                         19.2%
            7                                         16.4%
            8                                         14.4%
            9                                         12.8%
           10                                        11.5%
           11                                        10.5%
           12                                         9.6%
Gold on board Voom discount 10%
Platinum/Emerald on board Voom discount 15%
Typical cruise planner advance purchase discount 20%
 

The Diamond discount isn't as attractive as the 20% pre-cruise discount unless you wait until day 2 to buy it.
My new strategy will often be waiting until day 2 to purchase Voom.
Day 1 at port I have cell phone coverage and can tether a PC if needed.  If we leave port ~ 4pm then it's just 8 hours until midnight. Dinner and the Welcome Aboard show consume much of those 8 hours so waiting to purchase until day 2 has negligible effect. 
7 Nights
On board - 7 * $19.99 = $139.93 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $116.94
Pre-cruise - 7 * $15.99 = $111.93
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  6 * $19.99 = $119.94 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $96.95
9 Nights
On board - 9 * $19.99 = $179.91 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $156.92
Pre-cruise - 9 * $15.99 = $143.91
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  8 * $19.99 = $159.92 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $136.93
12 Nights
On board - 12 * $19.99 = $239.88 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $216.89
On board Day 2 -  11 * $19.99 = $219.89 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $196.90
Best buy - Pre-cruise - 12 * $15.99 = $191.88
 
Diamond discount is effectively between 9.6% and 28.8% based on cruise length.  Longer cruise yield less effective discount.
For Platinum and Emerald with 15% off on board prices the result is pretty close to the same - best buy is to wait until day 2. 
For anything longer than 7 nights the Platinum and Emerald discount is better than the Diamond discount.  For 12 night cruises the Gold discount is better than Diamond discount.  
Waiting to day 3 will yield even higher savings.
Length of Cruise       Effective Diamond Voom Discount
            4                                         28.8%
            5                                          23%
            6                                         19.2%
            7                                         16.4%
            8                                         14.4%
            9                                         12.8%
           10                                        11.5%
           11                                        10.5%
           12                                         9.6%
Gold on board Voom discount 10%
Platinum/Emerald on board Voom discount 15%
Typical cruise planner advance purchase discount 20%
 

The Diamond discount isn't as attractive as the 20% pre-cruise discount unless you wait until day 2 to buy it.
My new strategy will often be waiting until day 2 to purchase Voom.
Day 1 at port I have cell phone coverage and can tether a PC if needed.  If we leave port ~ 4pm then it's just 8 hours until midnight. Dinner and the Welcome Aboard show consume much of those 8 hours so waiting to purchase until day 2 has negligible effect. 
7 Nights
On board - 7 * $19.99 = $139.93 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $116.94
Pre-cruise - 7 * $15.99 = $111.93
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  6 * $19.99 = $119.94 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $96.95
9 Nights
On board - 9 * $19.99 = $179.91 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $156.92
Pre-cruise - 9 * $15.99 = $143.91
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  8 * $19.99 = $159.92 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $136.93
12 Nights
On board - 12 * $19.99 = $239.88 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $216.89
On board Day 2 -  11 * $19.99 = $219.89 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $196.90
Best buy - Pre-cruise - 12 * $15.99 = $191.88
 
Diamond discount is effectively between 9.6% and 28.8% based on cruise length.  Longer cruise yield less effective discount.
For Platinum and Emerald with 15% off on board prices the result is pretty close to the same - best buy is to wait until day 2. 
For anything longer than 7 nights the Platinum and Emerald discount is better than the Diamond discount.  For 12 night cruises the Gold discount is better than Diamond discount.  
Waiting to day 3 will yield even higher savings.
Length of Cruise       Effective Diamond Voom Discount
            4                                         28.8%
            5                                          23%
            6                                         19.2%
            7                                         16.4%
            8                                         14.4%
            9                                         12.8%
           10                                        11.5%
           11                                        10.5%
           12                                         9.6%
Gold on board Voom discount 10%
Platinum/Emerald on board Voom discount 15%
Typical cruise planner advance purchase discount 20%
 

The Diamond discount isn't as attractive as the 20% pre-cruise discount unless you wait until day 2 to buy it.
My new strategy will often be waiting until day 2 to purchase Voom.
Day 1 at port I have cell phone coverage and can tether a PC if needed.  If we leave port ~ 4pm then it's just 8 hours until midnight. Dinner and the Welcome Aboard show consume much of those 8 hours so waiting to purchase until day 2 has negligible effect. 
7 Nights
On board - 7 * $19.99 = $139.93 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $116.94
Pre-cruise - 7 * $15.99 = $111.93
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  6 * $19.99 = $119.94 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $96.95
9 Nights
On board - 9 * $19.99 = $179.91 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $156.92
Pre-cruise - 9 * $15.99 = $143.91
Best buy - On board Day 2 -  8 * $19.99 = $159.92 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $136.93
12 Nights
On board - 12 * $19.99 = $239.88 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $216.89
On board Day 2 -  11 * $19.99 = $219.89 - $22.99 Diamond discount = $196.90
Best buy - Pre-cruise - 12 * $15.99 = $191.88
 
Diamond discount is effectively between 9.6% and 28.8% based on cruise length.  Longer cruise yield less effective discount.
For Platinum and Emerald with 15% off on board prices the result is pretty close to the same - best buy is to wait until day 2. 
For anything longer than 7 nights the Platinum and Emerald discount is better than the Diamond discount.  For 12 night cruises the Gold discount is better than Diamond discount.  
Waiting to day 3 will yield even higher savings.
Length of Cruise       Effective Diamond Voom Discount
            4                                         28.8%
            5                                          23%
            6                                         19.2%
            7                                         16.4%
            8                                         14.4%
            9                                         12.8%
           10                                        11.5%
           11                                        10.5%
           12                                         9.6%
Gold on board Voom discount 10%
Platinum/Emerald on board Voom discount 15%
Typical cruise planner advance purchase discount 20%