Jjohnb

I don't expect to see Icon 2 news until after Icon 1 launches

Given how robust cruising has become recently I wouldn't be surprised to learn of something like a reborn Pullmantur rising from the ashes with a new name.  
Royal has to be careful not to sell off a ship only to have it come back and compete in their backyard.  An arms length but partially invested company can be controlled and used as a place to send old ships out to pasture.  

Honestly, I think they would have already gotten rid of some of the older ships (they’ve already tried to ditch Grandeur twice) if there was any market for old cruise ships….but apparently there is no such market.  Sadly, I think they will hold onto the Vision class ships until they finally just send them to the breakers.

I would hope Royal would design a smaller LNG fuel class to replace some of the older vessels that can access the smaller ports, etc. I understand the big money/profits of course are in the larger ships, and right now we prefer them, but I hope they don't completely abandon the smaller class ships. Maybe an LNG version of Voyager class as @Jill mentioned above? You could argue Celebrity can fill that niche going forward, but they don't offer the same experience... maybe a little too "mature" of an experience for my wife and I right now! 😀

Hopefully “Discovery” class to begin replacing the older, smaller ships.
Once all the Icons are built, that’ll put Royal at 9 mega ships and 9 mini mega’s (quantum and freedom class). 18 BIG ships. 
 
Time to bring in some new smaller ships. I personally love the size of voyager class. 

Maybe not, but it's helpful advice in case you ever do cruise again. One thing I learned from being on this board is that if you have a problem on board you really need to escalate on board. It's not anyone being mean to your cause, which I do hope you get resolved, it just bears repeating over and over. I cruised with friends in April who had a problem with their room and I told them to go to customer service every single day and escalate. It never got resolved while they were on board, they had established that there was a problem, and they were given compensation after the fact. Were I not a member of this board I would never have known to tell them. All that said, I hope you get it fixed, I hope you cruise again, and (because there will probably be another problem you need addressed) I hope you take to heart that escalation on board is the way to get things done. 🙂

Whatever your concern is, you probably should have addressed it onboard before you left the ship.

I actually did the same thing back in 1991.  One thing you want to consider is, although it seems unfathomable, the Allure will not always be around in your and your soon to be fiancées lifetime (I'm assuming you're much younger than myself 🙂).  We sailed on the Nordic Empress (Empress of the Seas) to the Bahamas.  I chose to propose on the beach at sunset as I wanted a place we could always go back to if we chose.  Our ship was either doing an overnight or staying late, I can't recall.  We took a cab to Merv Griffin's Resorts Casino on Paradise Island (now the Atlantis Resort) just before sunset to "walk around and have a drink or two" and when we got there we made our way to the beach which was totally empty and I proposed.  While RC brought the Empress back once, she is now gone and while the beach has been totally reconstructed due to building out the Atlantis, the beach in essence is still there and one of the most beautiful beaches in my opinion.  Funny story, when we got to the beach, my GF was wearing stockings so she didn't want to walk in the sand, I actually made up some crazy excuse to carry her a few feet onto the sand to get that perfect ambiance.      
Now flash forward 32 years, Nassau is not as safe as it once was and I would not recommend venturing off the ship at or near dark (if the ship is even in port that late) and the Atlantis is very busy these days.  I would recommend a nice secluded beach.  As others have suggested, CoCo Cay would be perfect.  I didn't realize RC now has a special program, take advantage to the "Royal Proposal" program, see if they can arrange for a secluded spot, possibly an area away from the normal guest areas.  I'm not sure what the date of your cruise is or what time your ship leaves CoCo Cay, but possibly you could see if they would arrange a secluded spot with a private table on the beach for a late lunch where the sun is starting to set.
Whatever you choose, don't sweat it, it will be perfect and she'll love it!  Congratulations!
 

I actually did the same thing back in 1991.  One thing you want to consider is, although it seems unfathomable, the Allure will not always be around in your and your soon to be fiancées lifetime (I'm assuming you're much younger than myself 🙂).  We sailed on the Nordic Empress (Empress of the Seas) to the Bahamas.  I chose to propose on the beach at sunset as I wanted a place we could always go back to if we chose.  Our ship was either doing an overnight or staying late, I can't recall.  We took a cab to Merv Griffin's Resorts Casino on Paradise Island (now the Atlantis Resort) just before sunset to "walk around and have a drink or two" and when we got there we made our way to the beach which was totally empty and I proposed.  While RC brought the Empress back once, she is now gone and while the beach has been totally reconstructed due to building out the Atlantis, the beach in essence is still there and one of the most beautiful beaches in my opinion.  Funny story, when we got to the beach, my GF was wearing stockings so she didn't want to walk in the sand, I actually made up some crazy excuse to carry her a few feet onto the sand to get that perfect ambiance.      
Now flash forward 32 years, Nassau is not as safe as it once was and I would not recommend venturing off the ship at or near dark (if the ship is even in port that late) and the Atlantis is very busy these days.  I would recommend a nice secluded beach.  As others have suggested, CoCo Cay would be perfect.  I didn't realize RC now has a special program, take advantage to the "Royal Proposal" program, see if they can arrange for a secluded spot, possibly an area away from the normal guest areas.  I'm not sure what the date of your cruise is or what time your ship leaves CoCo Cay, but possibly you could see if they would arrange a secluded spot with a private table on the beach for a late lunch where the sun is starting to set.
Whatever you choose, don't sweat it, it will be perfect and she'll love it!  Congratulations!
 

I actually did the same thing back in 1991.  One thing you want to consider is, although it seems unfathomable, the Allure will not always be around in your and your soon to be fiancées lifetime (I'm assuming you're much younger than myself 🙂).  We sailed on the Nordic Empress (Empress of the Seas) to the Bahamas.  I chose to propose on the beach at sunset as I wanted a place we could always go back to if we chose.  Our ship was either doing an overnight or staying late, I can't recall.  We took a cab to Merv Griffin's Resorts Casino on Paradise Island (now the Atlantis Resort) just before sunset to "walk around and have a drink or two" and when we got there we made our way to the beach which was totally empty and I proposed.  While RC brought the Empress back once, she is now gone and while the beach has been totally reconstructed due to building out the Atlantis, the beach in essence is still there and one of the most beautiful beaches in my opinion.  Funny story, when we got to the beach, my GF was wearing stockings so she didn't want to walk in the sand, I actually made up some crazy excuse to carry her a few feet onto the sand to get that perfect ambiance.      
Now flash forward 32 years, Nassau is not as safe as it once was and I would not recommend venturing off the ship at or near dark (if the ship is even in port that late) and the Atlantis is very busy these days.  I would recommend a nice secluded beach.  As others have suggested, CoCo Cay would be perfect.  I didn't realize RC now has a special program, take advantage to the "Royal Proposal" program, see if they can arrange for a secluded spot, possibly an area away from the normal guest areas.  I'm not sure what the date of your cruise is or what time your ship leaves CoCo Cay, but possibly you could see if they would arrange a secluded spot with a private table on the beach for a late lunch where the sun is starting to set.
Whatever you choose, don't sweat it, it will be perfect and she'll love it!  Congratulations!
 

I actually did the same thing back in 1991.  One thing you want to consider is, although it seems unfathomable, the Allure will not always be around in your and your soon to be fiancées lifetime (I'm assuming you're much younger than myself 🙂).  We sailed on the Nordic Empress (Empress of the Seas) to the Bahamas.  I chose to propose on the beach at sunset as I wanted a place we could always go back to if we chose.  Our ship was either doing an overnight or staying late, I can't recall.  We took a cab to Merv Griffin's Resorts Casino on Paradise Island (now the Atlantis Resort) just before sunset to "walk around and have a drink or two" and when we got there we made our way to the beach which was totally empty and I proposed.  While RC brought the Empress back once, she is now gone and while the beach has been totally reconstructed due to building out the Atlantis, the beach in essence is still there and one of the most beautiful beaches in my opinion.  Funny story, when we got to the beach, my GF was wearing stockings so she didn't want to walk in the sand, I actually made up some crazy excuse to carry her a few feet onto the sand to get that perfect ambiance.      
Now flash forward 32 years, Nassau is not as safe as it once was and I would not recommend venturing off the ship at or near dark (if the ship is even in port that late) and the Atlantis is very busy these days.  I would recommend a nice secluded beach.  As others have suggested, CoCo Cay would be perfect.  I didn't realize RC now has a special program, take advantage to the "Royal Proposal" program, see if they can arrange for a secluded spot, possibly an area away from the normal guest areas.  I'm not sure what the date of your cruise is or what time your ship leaves CoCo Cay, but possibly you could see if they would arrange a secluded spot with a private table on the beach for a late lunch where the sun is starting to set.
Whatever you choose, don't sweat it, it will be perfect and she'll love it!  Congratulations!
 

I actually did the same thing back in 1991.  One thing you want to consider is, although it seems unfathomable, the Allure will not always be around in your and your soon to be fiancées lifetime (I'm assuming you're much younger than myself 🙂).  We sailed on the Nordic Empress (Empress of the Seas) to the Bahamas.  I chose to propose on the beach at sunset as I wanted a place we could always go back to if we chose.  Our ship was either doing an overnight or staying late, I can't recall.  We took a cab to Merv Griffin's Resorts Casino on Paradise Island (now the Atlantis Resort) just before sunset to "walk around and have a drink or two" and when we got there we made our way to the beach which was totally empty and I proposed.  While RC brought the Empress back once, she is now gone and while the beach has been totally reconstructed due to building out the Atlantis, the beach in essence is still there and one of the most beautiful beaches in my opinion.  Funny story, when we got to the beach, my GF was wearing stockings so she didn't want to walk in the sand, I actually made up some crazy excuse to carry her a few feet onto the sand to get that perfect ambiance.      
Now flash forward 32 years, Nassau is not as safe as it once was and I would not recommend venturing off the ship at or near dark (if the ship is even in port that late) and the Atlantis is very busy these days.  I would recommend a nice secluded beach.  As others have suggested, CoCo Cay would be perfect.  I didn't realize RC now has a special program, take advantage to the "Royal Proposal" program, see if they can arrange for a secluded spot, possibly an area away from the normal guest areas.  I'm not sure what the date of your cruise is or what time your ship leaves CoCo Cay, but possibly you could see if they would arrange a secluded spot with a private table on the beach for a late lunch where the sun is starting to set.
Whatever you choose, don't sweat it, it will be perfect and she'll love it!  Congratulations!
 

I'm probably going to let my Sky Junior Suite for the first two sailings go. 
I love my Coastal Kitchen but there are limits to that love.  

This is an interesting topic I raised with the captain of Radiance during our recent sailing.  The issue is that the Voyager class ships (and larger) won't fit under the bridges in places like Baltimore and Tampa.  In addition, (as @bobroo pointed out) there are some ports the larger ships can't go to.  The captain of Radiance did point out that there will be another class (currently named "Discovery class") that will be built in 2025 or later.  These will be smaller (but I don't know if small enough).  
On our recent Alaska cruise, we took Radiance and loved it.  Last year, I was on Rhapsody (Vision class) for a Greek/Adriatic cruise and it was also great (one of my favorites was Montenegro).  I'm not that interested in an "amusement park on water" and would rather experience the classic cruise experience and visit interesting destinations.

We are on Serenade right now.  I had forgotten how beautiful and graceful these ships are.  I didn’t realize the smooth ride was a function of the gas turbine engines.  Interesting.  Thanks for that tidbit, @bobroo.

I know they tried to get rid of grandeur of the seas in 2021. The newest voyager class is older than the newest radiance class, so voyager class will be gone before radiance fully is.

When they can make more money without them than they do with them.

This makes no sense, if you can use the cards to exit, they can be charged. Since both cards would have the same information.
But I don't think the bartender was in the wrong, they might have been a smidge rude in the manner. The concierge was the wrong one. Star class cards don't have to be swiped to be charged, so I think they should have changed them asap. Them telling you it was no big deal was a red flag. 

While I've had to get cards reprinted, I never had that issue though. Honestly I think the concierge should have gotten them reprinted for you on day 1. Not trying to defend the bartender, but who knows what's going on behind the scenes. I could see them getting in trouble for not pointing out the the wrong card and serving you.

I agree with @tjcruisers.  This was really the Concierge's fault.  The incorrect cards should have been gathered and new cards printed immediately.  It's unfortunate that this mess resulted in unpleasant encounters even with 1 member of the staff.

Or at least bring back duck

Except if you look at their overhaul, it's a bit different than Royal's. Though it probably helps that the general consensus on Carnival's MDR was that Royal's was significantly better.
"And while Royal Caribbean cut its menus back, Duffy [Carnival's president] said that Carnival has very different plans.
"We plan to bring more variety with nearly 60 new entree presentations that will rotate through the menu in Main Dining Room," she said.
The new menu will include offerings from the cruise line's specialty dining restaurants across the fleet.
"We're also addressing bigger portion offerings on certain entrees based on your feedback," she added.
Duffy also made it clear that fan favorites would still have a place on the menu and that more vegetarian choices are being added. The cruise line will also add an entree salad -- a "nice big salad with a protein," she shared."
https://www.thestreet.com/travel/carnival-cruise-line-shares-huge-main-dining-room-menu-changes

Some ideas are best left unshared…
😝

Looks like the crew of the Indy was missing him on Friday also!
https://www.reddit.com/r/royalcaribbean/comments/14dfuqd/craziness_on_independence_after_storm_hits/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=10
 

Looks like the crew of the Indy was missing him on Friday also!
https://www.reddit.com/r/royalcaribbean/comments/14dfuqd/craziness_on_independence_after_storm_hits/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=10