Pooch

Book a suite; no checking out or checking in of towels. 

We check out 2 towels per person at the beginning of the cruise.  Then we just keep exchanging them for dry ones all week.  Show the attendant 4 wet ones, get 4 dry ones back.  We don’t actually return the towels til the last full day.  Then I ask the attendant to confirm all towels have been returned & we’re done.

I'm the opposite. I always try to book the aquatheater show as early as I can in the week. If there are cancelations they usually have a rescheduled show and will rebook you automatically for that. If your show wasn't until later in the week, there's less of a chance they can fit a rescheduled show in.

You sacrifice the ability to prebook to get the discounted price.  That’s the trade off.  If booking the second restaurant is more important, you will have to cancel the chops+1 and book individually.  

If you go into this expecting all the extra $$$ you dropped will ensure a perfect cruise, you may be sorely disappointed.  Things can and will happen regardless of how many extras you’ve purchased.  And no, expect no comp upgrades from Royal.  If you want a better room, you’ll have to pay for it.

My understanding is that the UK and other non-US booking sites already include gratuity in their prices.  However, on the US site, they do not.  Dining/Beverage packages will have 18% gratuity added during the checkout process when purchasing on the US site.  Therefore that $74.99 price you see will actually be $88.49 when purchased.  That matches pretty well with the $90 you get from the exchange rate.

And if you look, they push those free massages on everyone on day one.  Glad it makes you feel better than you got a freebie but they give those away like water to anyone & everyone to get them into the spa.  The phone rep probably got a commission for getting you to take it.

Mine is in September 😳  I win!!😁

Last cruise, one day 2 coupons for a free massage showed up in our room. Don't know why and didn't use them. Figured they'd do their hard sell on overpriced products and couldn't be bothered. Also remember on our 2018 cruise they were doing free neck massages outside the spa.

And I would be that proverbial grandmother.  AND I had the album, yup actual vinyl.  How’s that for dating?!?

Oh I can only hope!!!  Please can they replace all the Broadway shows with something that isn’t old and tired.  Maybe something written in the last 30 years.  Might as well be doing Oklahoma as the current offerings.

And then sailing away!!!

Anyone else here Leslie Ann Warren and Tim Curry in their heads with the music in the background as they read that?

Also no rule preventing you from leaving kids in port when you return to ship. 

If you go into this expecting all the extra $$$ you dropped will ensure a perfect cruise, you may be sorely disappointed.  Things can and will happen regardless of how many extras you’ve purchased.  And no, expect no comp upgrades from Royal.  If you want a better room, you’ll have to pay for it.

Reminds me of the first time at Disney my then 16 year old son wanted to hang out at the resort pool instead of a park with us.  After I unsuccessfully hid my immense sorrow that he didn’t want to stay with Mom, I let him hop a bus back to the hotel.  I didn’t think he was gonna do anything stupid and, besides not enough sunscreen, he didn’t.  It is certainly allowed so if you’re both good with it, nobody will stop you!

Finally get to post this. 😙

In the plush confines of a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship, a heated discussion was underway between Miss Scarlet and Wadsworth. They were seated in the grandeur of the lounge, surrounded by the opulence of gilt-edged paintings and velvet upholstery, the waves of the ocean rolling against the portholes, mirroring the churning dispute that was taking place within. The topic of contention? The Crown & Anchor Society's loyalty program and how to earn points.
"It's really quite simple," insisted Miss Scarlet, her eyes sparking with a hint of exasperation. "It’s like adding the bullets in a revolver: One for any cabin, per night; another one if you pay the single supplement; and yet another if you sail in a suite. It's a straightforward addition, Wadsworth."
Wadsworth, however, with a puzzled look on his face, interjected. "But surely, Miss Scarlet, you're oversimplifying. I thought it’s multiplication, not addition! Shouldn't it be the product of the cabin's type, the supplement, and the suite's availability? Multiplication yields far more points!”
Miss Scarlet sighed, taking a moment to compose herself. “Wadsworth, just as you were incorrect about the number of bullets left in the gun in our previous encounter, you are mistaken here too. Allow me to break it down for you. Let's say you are staying for three nights in a suite, and you paid the single supplement. For each of those nights, you'd earn one point for the cabin. That's three points. On top of that, paying the single supplement grants you an additional point each night. That's another three points. Lastly, because you're in a suite, you earn yet another point each night. That's three more points. Three plus three plus three. It adds up to nine points in total, not twenty-seven as your multiplication would suggest."
Despite the frustration visible on Miss Scarlet's face, she remained patient, hoping to finally get through to Wadsworth. He seemed to ponder over her words, confusion still lingering in his eyes.
"But," Wadsworth stammered, trying to regain his footing in the conversation, "Doesn't the multiplication yield a better reward?”
“No, Wadsworth," Miss Scarlet responded, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "The program doesn't reward wild calculations, but the simplicity of an enjoyable cruise experience. The Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society is about appreciating their loyal customers, and this is done through simple, additive calculations.”
In the grand lounge of the ship, Miss Scarlet hoped her lesson finally sank in. Wadsworth stared at her, an uncertain expression still marking his features. The dance of the Crown & Anchor Society points, it seemed, was a melody as complex to him as the ever-ambiguous number of bullets in a revolver.

Looks like it was really easy for RCI to extract a spa purchase from you. 🙂
J/k, congrats on the massage.  Enjoy it!

Gotta stay on top of the changes.  Cruise planning is not for the faint of heart.  Since the reopening, there have been A LOT of changes and changes to the changes and then more changes.

If you go into this expecting all the extra $$$ you dropped will ensure a perfect cruise, you may be sorely disappointed.  Things can and will happen regardless of how many extras you’ve purchased.  And no, expect no comp upgrades from Royal.  If you want a better room, you’ll have to pay for it.

If you go into this expecting all the extra $$$ you dropped will ensure a perfect cruise, you may be sorely disappointed.  Things can and will happen regardless of how many extras you’ve purchased.  And no, expect no comp upgrades from Royal.  If you want a better room, you’ll have to pay for it.

Gotta stay on top of the changes.  Cruise planning is not for the faint of heart.  Since the reopening, there have been A LOT of changes and changes to the changes and then more changes.

Gotta stay on top of the changes.  Cruise planning is not for the faint of heart.  Since the reopening, there have been A LOT of changes and changes to the changes and then more changes.

Oh I can only hope!!!  Please can they replace all the Broadway shows with something that isn’t old and tired.  Maybe something written in the last 30 years.  Might as well be doing Oklahoma as the current offerings.

Most people find it safe, but I personally avoid it.
If you do choose to eat or drink, I recommend chasing it with tequila. They say the alcohol will help neutralize any bad stuff, if it is there. Even if the food is completely safe, the tequila is bound to make it more fun.