twangster

I have traveled on Indy both pre and post renovations.  
In the overall scope very few additional passengers were added as a percentage of existing guest count.
Long before they finished the renovations there were protagonists offering their projections of doom.  As this spread on social media many people became fixated on it.  Boarding with the intent to find this "problem" many people found evidence of what they had convinced themselves they would find.  Meanwhile Liberty, a sister ship had received the same cabin additions nearly two years prior and has been sailing without any such complaints.  
I found no such evidence during my port-renovation cruise.  All ships will seem busy at time such as immediately after muster drill.  At times all ships have waits or lines for popular items.  For some this is evidence that the ship is now overcrowded.  For me it's the same experience I have on all ships at some point in time.  

Not denying it sucks. I live in a hurricane area and been through some awful storms.
When we book a cruise during hurricane season this is what can happen. 25% for a weather event is pretty damn good. At the end of the day Royal Caribbean is a business and if as long as they look out for safety this is what cruise lines do...

LOL!!!!

Royal can't control the weather and a 25% FCC is very generous considering this isn't their fault and they are not obligated to provide any compensation when mother nature turns ugly.
I for one still plan on boarding on Friday and will enjoy whatever destination we end up sailing to.  I'll be on a cruise with like minded friends who all plan to cruise as long as they will let us get on the ship.    

You'll need ambien and at least two bottles of kraken, each way.

Very sorry to hear about your grandmother.
Have you cancelled the cruise already?  It's possible that Royal may cancel it or give the option of a full refund if they need to make storm changes.  That might be better than pursuing an insurance claim.  We should know more later today or tomorrow.  They are talking about possibly extending this weekend's cruise by one day which would impact your Monday cruise.
December weather in Florida and the Bahamas can vary from quite pleasant to downright cold.  Usually that risk is greater in January or February and often early December is a pleasant time to cruise without the oppressive heat of summer.   However there are no guarantees.

On that note, I’m going to go fill up my gas tank. 

LOL!!!!

LOL!!!!

LOL!!!!

I have traveled on Indy both pre and post renovations.  
In the overall scope very few additional passengers were added as a percentage of existing guest count.
Long before they finished the renovations there were protagonists offering their projections of doom.  As this spread on social media many people became fixated on it.  Boarding with the intent to find this "problem" many people found evidence of what they had convinced themselves they would find.  Meanwhile Liberty, a sister ship had received the same cabin additions nearly two years prior and has been sailing without any such complaints.  
I found no such evidence during my port-renovation cruise.  All ships will seem busy at time such as immediately after muster drill.  At times all ships have waits or lines for popular items.  For some this is evidence that the ship is now overcrowded.  For me it's the same experience I have on all ships at some point in time.  

I agree with you some people will be happy and some people won't with whatever Royal decides.. I personally am hoping Navigator just does a cruise to nowhere as long as we go far enough out to sea for me to gamble lol.. 

Yuck all around.  But good on Royal for giving the CocoCay staff the break to get out of harm's way and take care of their personal situations.  

Where do you draw the line?  When is stealing okay versus stealing is bad?  Pay hundreds for a hotel room and steal mini-bottles from the bar or refill them will apple juice because you paid for the room?
I'm sorry, stealing is never okay and hopefully you'll remember that when karma bites you really hard in the rear end.  It's because of people like you that causes the rest of us to pay higher rates.  It's not okay to steal, period.

We'll know soon enough.  
Looks like it may graze St. Croix and run the gap between St. Thomas, St. Croix and Puerto Rico.  If it does then there is little land mass to slow it down or break it up, just warm water to feed on as it makes its way to the US mainland.  

I saw it's around 65 mph now, so I'm expecting hurricane status soon.
 

I think they are more inclined to make it Suite only and ban Pinnacles.  Or adopt a limit on Pinnacles like they do on elite heavy sailings, something like 2 visits max per week.  Problem solved.
The Royal Suite program generates a lot of revenue and is in place partly because of the competition.  Eliminating a suite restaurant would be a huge competitive disadvantage.  
It's only been around since 2016 so it's new.  Three years is hardly a long time so they'll likely adapt it before getting rid of it.

No.  You are paying for your drink package in the present.  
Prices today in 2019 are virtually the same as they were in 2016 when the deluxe package was first introduced despite rising costs as liquor and taxes have increased over the three years.  
Logically you are benefiting from the fact that they have reduced theft by requiring everyone over 21 to purchase the package.  This has reduced their overall operating cost which allows them to sell the package at the same price as they did when thieves were stealing from them.  Reducing theft lowers costs for everyone.
If they did not take measures to eliminate theft the drink packages would cost much more today,

It is stealing.  No matter how you attempt to console yourself, it is wrong and you are stealing.

Where do you draw the line?  When is stealing okay versus stealing is bad?  Pay hundreds for a hotel room and steal mini-bottles from the bar or refill them will apple juice because you paid for the room?
I'm sorry, stealing is never okay and hopefully you'll remember that when karma bites you really hard in the rear end.  It's because of people like you that causes the rest of us to pay higher rates.  It's not okay to steal, period.

No new tiers.  That's been explicitly ruled out several times.
Currently they handle it as the numbers present themselves.  Oasis and Quantum class transpacific and transatlantics often see the 2 night rule for Pinnacles applied.  At the same time D+ are banned from the Concierge Lounge but they will often expand the Diamond Lounge to more space to accommodate the numbers.  Oasis in December is cheap and i expect there will be a special C&A process for that too.  
That's likely how they will continue until Pinnacle numbers reach a critical mass where it's a problem on most sailings.  Right now it's a big problem on select sailings and a smaller issue on some more but most sailings it's manageable.

I think they are more inclined to make it Suite only and ban Pinnacles.  Or adopt a limit on Pinnacles like they do on elite heavy sailings, something like 2 visits max per week.  Problem solved.
The Royal Suite program generates a lot of revenue and is in place partly because of the competition.  Eliminating a suite restaurant would be a huge competitive disadvantage.  
It's only been around since 2016 so it's new.  Three years is hardly a long time so they'll likely adapt it before getting rid of it.

I for one have stopped trying to promote the cruise industry and agree wholeheartedly with everything they said.
The last thing I need is more people to book cruises (driving up the cost for me).  
It's terrible out there folks.  The sea was 90' yesterday (away from the Promenade deck).  I hear that 99% of all cruise ships got stranded (away from a boring existence) yesterday.  Everyone on board is sick (of being on land).  I went missing (and none of my clients know I'm on a ship).  There were 75 mph winds (for anyone driving on the interstate with their hands out the window in Florida). 
Yep, it's not a life for the faint of heart.  Avoid cruising (so I can book cheaper cruises).
If they don't want to go, please don't try to correct them.  
 

Did Sabrina put you up to starting this blog a full 11 days before your cruise? 

We've seen before each ship can deviate to reach revenue targets.  Perhaps Vision is looking to specialty dining for that purpose.  
On the other hand, in the case of Diamond Happy Hour those drinks are paid for within Royal by the Crown and Anchor budget center.  The D+ BOGO may be as well so maybe it's not the ship but C&A who is making this change.  They're not afraid of upsetting D+.  Removing CL while adding SL and banning D+ for example.    Some ships are not offering the D+ 30% drink package discount either.  Perhaps the C&A department has a budget crisis with ever more Diamonds drinking every night so something had to go and this is what they are doing as a means to keep the free Diamond Happy Hour drinks. 

You beat me to the “submit” button !