twangster

Kind of ironic.  Cruise ships account for a very, very small number of ships sailing the seven seas compared to the tankers, container and cargo ships.  
"Fixing" a few dozens ships looks good, ignoring thousands of others is typical media and society in general.  
Go to marinetraffic.com.  How many cruise ships do you see versus all the rest?
Green = Cargo
Red = Tankers
Blue = Passenger (including cruise ships)
But let's single out the cruise ships because they generate clicks for "news" outlets.  Cargo ships?  Not so much.  

 
 
 

Yeah I cringe when I have to ask my TA something I know is beyond basic.  It will take her hours with Royal.  Other cruise lines not so much, but Royal can be a Royal Pain for TA's.  

Call Crown and Anchor, they do it all.  

This post has some pictures from a few weeks ago.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/14213-empress-b2b-14-nights-on-the-biggest-little-ship-july-2019/&do=findComment&comment=145159
This post has all Cabanas, bungalows and daybeds illustrated on a map.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/12079-cococay-cabanas/&do=findComment&comment=148864
 

Keep an eye out for @CruisingKat(Kathy) she is also on board Allure this cruise (she co-runs the RC Periscopers Group).

Beyond it being a new class of ship with unknown new activities the environmental aspects represent a ongoing trend towards less pollution being generated.  
Symphony is 20% more efficient compared to her sisters.  That reduces emissions and lowers operating costs over the lifecycle of the ship.  
I haven’t looked at the numbers involved with LNG but a significant aspect of LNG is much lower emissions.   
At some point in the future all ships will be required to further reduce emissions,  50 or 100 years from now will look very different from today.  Icon is a step in that direction.  
Quite frankly any reduction in operating costs is passed onto cruisers.  It’s very competitive and they need to contain operating costs to continue to offer affordable vacation choices for the masses.  They can’t afford to return to the days when only affluent people could cruise.  

Beyond it being a new class of ship with unknown new activities the environmental aspects represent a ongoing trend towards less pollution being generated.  
Symphony is 20% more efficient compared to her sisters.  That reduces emissions and lowers operating costs over the lifecycle of the ship.  
I haven’t looked at the numbers involved with LNG but a significant aspect of LNG is much lower emissions.   
At some point in the future all ships will be required to further reduce emissions,  50 or 100 years from now will look very different from today.  Icon is a step in that direction.  
Quite frankly any reduction in operating costs is passed onto cruisers.  It’s very competitive and they need to contain operating costs to continue to offer affordable vacation choices for the masses.  They can’t afford to return to the days when only affluent people could cruise.  

Beyond it being a new class of ship with unknown new activities the environmental aspects represent a ongoing trend towards less pollution being generated.  
Symphony is 20% more efficient compared to her sisters.  That reduces emissions and lowers operating costs over the lifecycle of the ship.  
I haven’t looked at the numbers involved with LNG but a significant aspect of LNG is much lower emissions.   
At some point in the future all ships will be required to further reduce emissions,  50 or 100 years from now will look very different from today.  Icon is a step in that direction.  
Quite frankly any reduction in operating costs is passed onto cruisers.  It’s very competitive and they need to contain operating costs to continue to offer affordable vacation choices for the masses.  They can’t afford to return to the days when only affluent people could cruise.  

Fresh of the Empress with a night in a hotel in between I'm ready and pumped for my next cruise.
Did I mention...  IT'S CRUISE DAY!
I thought about starting this thread before my Empress cruise even left the dock (like some others around here do) but that just wouldn't be right.
This five night Majesty of Seas cruise was necessary.  I needed something to justify the airfare to Empress so this side-to-side was the perfect solution.
Itinerary
Ft. Lauderdale Nassau Perfect Day at CocoCay Sea Day Key West Ft. Lauderdale I love Empress but this way I'm upgrading to a much larger ship!  Plus, I gotta get back to CocoCay.  :) 
I originally booked a number of Empress and Majesty sailings when the Cuba cancellations were forced upon the industry.  I feared Royal might move these ships out of the fleet.  My plan was to take lots of pictures and document this legacy class of ship that were the foundation of so much that became even much more on later ships.  It was because of the success of ships like this that Royal has become what it is today.   Success breeds success.  As it turns out they aren't moving these ships out to pasture just yet plus I get to sail on some of the best (small) ships in the fleet!  That's a win-win.
To be fair I split my time between Empress (3 bookings) and Majesty (3 bookings).  I already had some fall bookings that were bucket list type cruises so I had push some my Majesty cruises into October but that's okay, she'll be here waiting for me.
When you stay in a hotel and pay for things like meals and drinks you quickly appreciate the value that cruising represents.  Spoiler alert - the view out my hotel window never changed and I woke up right where I was the day before.  #boring
Cabin this time is an Ocean View on deck 4.  

Beyond it being a new class of ship with unknown new activities the environmental aspects represent a ongoing trend towards less pollution being generated.  
Symphony is 20% more efficient compared to her sisters.  That reduces emissions and lowers operating costs over the lifecycle of the ship.  
I haven’t looked at the numbers involved with LNG but a significant aspect of LNG is much lower emissions.   
At some point in the future all ships will be required to further reduce emissions,  50 or 100 years from now will look very different from today.  Icon is a step in that direction.  
Quite frankly any reduction in operating costs is passed onto cruisers.  It’s very competitive and they need to contain operating costs to continue to offer affordable vacation choices for the masses.  They can’t afford to return to the days when only affluent people could cruise.  

CLIA routinely meets with different cities and regions to represent the cruise industry as a whole.  
If you were an owner of a hotel you would lobby against the cruise industry.  If you were a bar or restaurant that enjoys business from cruise passengers you would be in favor or cruise ship visits.
There are two sides to every story.  Some benefit from cruise ships, some don't.  
Nothing unique to the cruise industry.  I visited Stonehenge when you could walk right up and touch them.  Tourists got out of control.  People wrote on them, stood on them.  Traffic became a nightmare.  Roads had to be expanded, a visitors center was built.  Such is tourism.  

I was just in San Juan a few days ago.  No unrest.  We were there until midnight and I was walking around after dark.  No problems, very normal.  

Fresh of the Empress with a night in a hotel in between I'm ready and pumped for my next cruise.
Did I mention...  IT'S CRUISE DAY!
I thought about starting this thread before my Empress cruise even left the dock (like some others around here do) but that just wouldn't be right.
This five night Majesty of Seas cruise was necessary.  I needed something to justify the airfare to Empress so this side-to-side was the perfect solution.
Itinerary
Ft. Lauderdale Nassau Perfect Day at CocoCay Sea Day Key West Ft. Lauderdale I love Empress but this way I'm upgrading to a much larger ship!  Plus, I gotta get back to CocoCay.  :) 
I originally booked a number of Empress and Majesty sailings when the Cuba cancellations were forced upon the industry.  I feared Royal might move these ships out of the fleet.  My plan was to take lots of pictures and document this legacy class of ship that were the foundation of so much that became even much more on later ships.  It was because of the success of ships like this that Royal has become what it is today.   Success breeds success.  As it turns out they aren't moving these ships out to pasture just yet plus I get to sail on some of the best (small) ships in the fleet!  That's a win-win.
To be fair I split my time between Empress (3 bookings) and Majesty (3 bookings).  I already had some fall bookings that were bucket list type cruises so I had push some my Majesty cruises into October but that's okay, she'll be here waiting for me.
When you stay in a hotel and pay for things like meals and drinks you quickly appreciate the value that cruising represents.  Spoiler alert - the view out my hotel window never changed and I woke up right where I was the day before.  #boring
Cabin this time is an Ocean View on deck 4.  

Yeah I cringe when I have to ask my TA something I know is beyond basic.  It will take her hours with Royal.  Other cruise lines not so much, but Royal can be a Royal Pain for TA's.  

Fresh of the Empress with a night in a hotel in between I'm ready and pumped for my next cruise.
Did I mention...  IT'S CRUISE DAY!
I thought about starting this thread before my Empress cruise even left the dock (like some others around here do) but that just wouldn't be right.
This five night Majesty of Seas cruise was necessary.  I needed something to justify the airfare to Empress so this side-to-side was the perfect solution.
Itinerary
Ft. Lauderdale Nassau Perfect Day at CocoCay Sea Day Key West Ft. Lauderdale I love Empress but this way I'm upgrading to a much larger ship!  Plus, I gotta get back to CocoCay.  :) 
I originally booked a number of Empress and Majesty sailings when the Cuba cancellations were forced upon the industry.  I feared Royal might move these ships out of the fleet.  My plan was to take lots of pictures and document this legacy class of ship that were the foundation of so much that became even much more on later ships.  It was because of the success of ships like this that Royal has become what it is today.   Success breeds success.  As it turns out they aren't moving these ships out to pasture just yet plus I get to sail on some of the best (small) ships in the fleet!  That's a win-win.
To be fair I split my time between Empress (3 bookings) and Majesty (3 bookings).  I already had some fall bookings that were bucket list type cruises so I had push some my Majesty cruises into October but that's okay, she'll be here waiting for me.
When you stay in a hotel and pay for things like meals and drinks you quickly appreciate the value that cruising represents.  Spoiler alert - the view out my hotel window never changed and I woke up right where I was the day before.  #boring
Cabin this time is an Ocean View on deck 4.  

Perhaps to go back in time when you used to cruise? 

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

Fresh of the Empress with a night in a hotel in between I'm ready and pumped for my next cruise.
Did I mention...  IT'S CRUISE DAY!
I thought about starting this thread before my Empress cruise even left the dock (like some others around here do) but that just wouldn't be right.
This five night Majesty of Seas cruise was necessary.  I needed something to justify the airfare to Empress so this side-to-side was the perfect solution.
Itinerary
Ft. Lauderdale Nassau Perfect Day at CocoCay Sea Day Key West Ft. Lauderdale I love Empress but this way I'm upgrading to a much larger ship!  Plus, I gotta get back to CocoCay.  :) 
I originally booked a number of Empress and Majesty sailings when the Cuba cancellations were forced upon the industry.  I feared Royal might move these ships out of the fleet.  My plan was to take lots of pictures and document this legacy class of ship that were the foundation of so much that became even much more on later ships.  It was because of the success of ships like this that Royal has become what it is today.   Success breeds success.  As it turns out they aren't moving these ships out to pasture just yet plus I get to sail on some of the best (small) ships in the fleet!  That's a win-win.
To be fair I split my time between Empress (3 bookings) and Majesty (3 bookings).  I already had some fall bookings that were bucket list type cruises so I had push some my Majesty cruises into October but that's okay, she'll be here waiting for me.
When you stay in a hotel and pay for things like meals and drinks you quickly appreciate the value that cruising represents.  Spoiler alert - the view out my hotel window never changed and I woke up right where I was the day before.  #boring
Cabin this time is an Ocean View on deck 4.  

@twangster I Am So Exited For Another Live Blog From You. 

Between you and @PRC, I am so jealous! I want to cruise, get off for a week, and cruise again over and over. Have fun ?

Yeah I cringe when I have to ask my TA something I know is beyond basic.  It will take her hours with Royal.  Other cruise lines not so much, but Royal can be a Royal Pain for TA's.  

Fresh of the Empress with a night in a hotel in between I'm ready and pumped for my next cruise.
Did I mention...  IT'S CRUISE DAY!
I thought about starting this thread before my Empress cruise even left the dock (like some others around here do) but that just wouldn't be right.
This five night Majesty of Seas cruise was necessary.  I needed something to justify the airfare to Empress so this side-to-side was the perfect solution.
Itinerary
Ft. Lauderdale Nassau Perfect Day at CocoCay Sea Day Key West Ft. Lauderdale I love Empress but this way I'm upgrading to a much larger ship!  Plus, I gotta get back to CocoCay.  :) 
I originally booked a number of Empress and Majesty sailings when the Cuba cancellations were forced upon the industry.  I feared Royal might move these ships out of the fleet.  My plan was to take lots of pictures and document this legacy class of ship that were the foundation of so much that became even much more on later ships.  It was because of the success of ships like this that Royal has become what it is today.   Success breeds success.  As it turns out they aren't moving these ships out to pasture just yet plus I get to sail on some of the best (small) ships in the fleet!  That's a win-win.
To be fair I split my time between Empress (3 bookings) and Majesty (3 bookings).  I already had some fall bookings that were bucket list type cruises so I had push some my Majesty cruises into October but that's okay, she'll be here waiting for me.
When you stay in a hotel and pay for things like meals and drinks you quickly appreciate the value that cruising represents.  Spoiler alert - the view out my hotel window never changed and I woke up right where I was the day before.  #boring
Cabin this time is an Ocean View on deck 4.  

Fresh of the Empress with a night in a hotel in between I'm ready and pumped for my next cruise.
Did I mention...  IT'S CRUISE DAY!
I thought about starting this thread before my Empress cruise even left the dock (like some others around here do) but that just wouldn't be right.
This five night Majesty of Seas cruise was necessary.  I needed something to justify the airfare to Empress so this side-to-side was the perfect solution.
Itinerary
Ft. Lauderdale Nassau Perfect Day at CocoCay Sea Day Key West Ft. Lauderdale I love Empress but this way I'm upgrading to a much larger ship!  Plus, I gotta get back to CocoCay.  :) 
I originally booked a number of Empress and Majesty sailings when the Cuba cancellations were forced upon the industry.  I feared Royal might move these ships out of the fleet.  My plan was to take lots of pictures and document this legacy class of ship that were the foundation of so much that became even much more on later ships.  It was because of the success of ships like this that Royal has become what it is today.   Success breeds success.  As it turns out they aren't moving these ships out to pasture just yet plus I get to sail on some of the best (small) ships in the fleet!  That's a win-win.
To be fair I split my time between Empress (3 bookings) and Majesty (3 bookings).  I already had some fall bookings that were bucket list type cruises so I had push some my Majesty cruises into October but that's okay, she'll be here waiting for me.
When you stay in a hotel and pay for things like meals and drinks you quickly appreciate the value that cruising represents.  Spoiler alert - the view out my hotel window never changed and I woke up right where I was the day before.  #boring
Cabin this time is an Ocean View on deck 4.  

Perhaps to go back in time when you used to cruise?