Mrs. RoyalMoyal

I agree.

We all have different tolerances to different protocols.  
The testing doesn't bother me.  The Abbott at home test kits have been a game changer.  So easy and convenient.  If I test positive I shouldn't cruise.  That's pretty obvious.  So be it.
It's a not a fool proof protocol.  Yes there is a gap and potential for exposure in between testing and boarding.  No single protocol by itself will ever be 100% mitigation against the virus.  However in terms of impact to me, testing is pretty minor thanks to Abbott and eMed.
Masks on the other hand are another story.  I'm not going to introduce my own thoughts here because this is a cruise forum.  I tolerate masks because I have to in order to cruise. 
If I had the ability to pick a protocol to drop, it would be masks.   

Choosing between masks and pre-cruise testing, I’d choose the masks. I’m used to them already.  It’s the testing that really adds stress to cruise preparations.
 

I'm one of those people who will only go to the hibachi experience if I'm with a fun group of people whom I know. I've never had hibachi, anywhere, where the food itself impresses me (including RCCL ships). 

You’ll never be the same after the suite life. 

Since you are on Freedom, you can board in Miami using the suites entrance. You have access to the Suite Lounge onboard where they should have a happy hour with free drinks in the evenings, typically 5-8pm. You can take advantage of the suite concierge for anything you would typically need to use Guest Services for and to make reservations for anything that requires reservations (shows, dining). There should be a suites only breakfast area. I'm not sure if they're serving a special suites breakfast or if it's just a spot where you can take your Windjammer food and eat.

$320 for that upgrade is a hell of a deal.

Flight in info.  Landed at SJU, flight was good all conections made (hate concting flights, I'm normally a direct flight guy, but with the lack of crew I was moved.  Saw one cancelled flight on the board to SJU, but luckily it was a couple of hours after ours).
As you start to just see the baggage keep LEFT, there are NG soliders, some in tyvec coveralls assisting with checking that QR code.  Collect your LUGGAGE FIRST, then procede to one of the check out line there a many.  Have your QR code and a Photo ID ready, they will read your QR code and then take a picture of your ID for their software to record.
We then proceded like usual to get a taxi to our hotel and the first thing we did after check in was our eMed proctored test for boarding.  Negative again Yea!   Just a quick note on eMed access.  On my android devices, both phone and tablet I have been forced to use the Samsung Internet Browser.  I have the newest version of Crome on them but it does not work.  iPhone of wife no problems (just more ammunition for her in our which is better debate)
 
Will add boarding info tomorrow, we have an earlist boarding time, which is 1 to 1:30 in San Juan.  No Suite, No key.

In the Solarium bar they were making smoothies with oats, protein and fruit (in December 2021) . They qualify as a Diamond drink! I'm also VERY VERY pleased the flowrider surface was replaced! It was... challenging with the bubbles and the standing seams. Thanks RCCL and Flowrider. 

In the Solarium bar they were making smoothies with oats, protein and fruit (in December 2021) . They qualify as a Diamond drink! I'm also VERY VERY pleased the flowrider surface was replaced! It was... challenging with the bubbles and the standing seams. Thanks RCCL and Flowrider. 

Ok, now we know who you really are. That's you Mario!😎

From the C&A Facebook group
 

If you don't use it to purchase things, you can go down to the casino and apply it to a slot machine and then just cash it out (without actually gambling, if you wish).

Anthem...Dec 31....New Years Holiday Cruise.
Final count: 2033.

The three sisters in St Marteen this morning. 

There was a fascinating segment on Science Friday last week about these masks and singing acoustics!

Entitlement aside.  I'm not burdened, and don't feel it a burden to protect not only myself, but those around me.  Those being other passengers, and definitely the crew at large.  So, maybe take a step back and understand that this isn't just about you and your desires, this is about every one as a whole.
Your decision not to go on the cruise is yours.  I don't feel that anyone is going to be burdened by your choice not to go.
On the flip side of that, I'm definitely going on my two cruises coming up, mask and all.  I'm going to enjoy them, and have great food, drinks, and conversations.  I'm going to go down water slides, swim in pools, and relax.  I'm going to go on amazing excursions.  Then I'm going to go to the future cruise place and setup my third cruise to Alaska.  If I'm required to wear a mask then, I'll still be elated to go, and I won't feel burdened.
I'm glad to hear that you are vaccinated.  Maybe just give this cruise a try and see how it goes.  If you don't like it, you don't have to go again, but go with an open mind as to what it can be, not what your perception of it is based off a mask.

"what is a HAM radio" may  or may not have been the answer... officers are getting younger

I knew I took this picture for a reason!

DAY 8: DISEMBARKATION
Today was the first day in a week to not wake up to the gentle rocking of the ship - more like shudders, shakes, shimmies, and ding-dongs over the intercom announcing our arrival back to reality. Everyone woke up at the same time, and it was disorienting and sad to look around our now-boring, plain, empty stateroom. A weeks worth of dirty laundry, accumulated AO projects, vaccine bracelets, Cruise Compasses, etc, all packed somewhere in the bowels of the ship waiting to be loaded onto the car for the drive home. 
We all got dressed in our last outfits of the trip, and crammed everything leftover into one more duffel bag. We made our way up to the Windjammer and found a table amongst the chaos. This is the busiest we've seen the Windjammer all week (which makes sense), and there's a palpably different energy - everyone's thrown off today. There's suitcases everywhere, and the rhythm is off. However, we still have our wonderful greeters with the guitar at the handwashing station ("washy washy, happy happy!"), and our friend at the first station that greets everyone with a two-handed wave and a "Good MORNING! WELCOME to wind-JAMMER!" 
We grab our breakfast and find a seat that overlooks the New York skyline. The PA system calls out luggage tag numbers that slowly increment to ours (30, 8:45am estimated departure). The announcer is ahead of schedule, but we limp through breakfast, an attempt to squeeze every minute out of this perfect vacation. 
Just as we wrap breakfast, the PA says "All luggage tags are now free to disembark", about 20 minutes ahead of schedule. We ensure we have all of our bags, and head towards the elevator, saying goodbye to all the helpers that made our week so effortless. Throughout the morning, I think about how unique embarkation day is for the crew - saying goodbye to friends you've made during the week, only to greet an entirely new passenger manifest in 3 hours time. Every stateroom is turned over, every inch of the ship cleaned and inspected, so it appears new and fresh to the next week's worth of passengers. Every person getting on the ship having the same experience we did when we boarded one week ago thinking "this is just for us...". I can't think of another vacation where we had such great, consistent staff every single day. To most of them, we're one table at MDR, or one set of staterooms on one cruise, but to us, we will remember them forever. 
As we hit Deck 5, I turn and take one last look down the Via, the same look that makes my heart skip a beat every time I see it. I hand out SeaPass cards to everyone one final time, and we zip through the check-out, onto the deck, and then the gangway. My wife says "I'm going to miss the rocking of the ship...", to which I immediately started jumping up down on the gangway to make it sway 😄 We make our way back to the escalator, down the corridor usually used for suite guests during embarkation, and out to luggage pickup. We wrangle a porter to grab our mountain of bags, and head through what I guess is "Customs" - There are people with what look to be oversized, stand-up cameras with a small screen beneath showing what the camera sees. Each person in our party pauses, looks at the camera, and they get a green light. It literally takes 2-3 seconds per person, no passports needed. Whatever AI/ML they're using behind the scenes to ID each person is insane. No questions asked, we're through in 15 seconds, max.
I run up to get the car. We load the bags into the car, tip the porter, and head out of the garage. Parking was $175 for the week. 
We end up driving into NYC and hitting up the Bryant Park christmas shops, grab a pizza from Joe's in the Village, and haul ass down the turnpike headed home. Just as we leave NYC, in the distance, we see the Anthem one final time, the North Star extended up in the air like a hand waving one final goodbye. 

I have no interest whatsoever in any of the water slides on PDCC but I have always secretly wanted to go and play on the pirate ship just outside the water park.  That actually looks like fun. 

Not too often you see "chutzpah" and "crab cake" in the same sentence!  lol

I went on a Viator/Trip Advisor Farm to Table Excursion in Cozumel, it was excellent; but I work in agriculture, enjoy meeting growers and farmers, and love to cook and try new foods. If you are not willing to be around farm animals and cannot walk on uneven surfaces, this tour is not for you. But if you want to see multiple varieties of what I call "orchard" crops from shrubs and trees, at a farm owned by a Mayan descendant family, and learn how to prepare a few recipes for drinks, snacks, and a meal then this is for  you. I met my driver just outside the port, and I went in a clean, modern vehicle with AC to the farm. I met the host and his father and had a lovely time touring the farm and preparing food. All food prep and cooking was done outside - the entire tour was outside. Flush toilettes were available and clean. Hand sanitizer and soap and water were available. The driver then took me back to the port. I participated solo, I believe he said they accept up to 6 or 8 people. 

I will go on a "farm to table" excursion next week through Viator. I'll try to take photos & post a review. Something different than beach/snorkel/shopping.

My hubby (Mr. RUB Cabash man) hates sauces of any kind so we went to the podium in CK after breakfast the morning of lobster night and advised the man in charge we would be dining at the MDR that evening for MDR lobster so please free up our reservations so someone else could enjoy the restaurant. The man in charge said NO! He said I will bring you MDR lobsters here, tonight feel free to keep your reservation. Hubby was brought 4 (four) yes & daughter  was given 2, seriously almost fell out of my chair. 
What a nice surprise and the waiter Jonathon (he was our favorite) was just wonderful, he actually said he would bring another. Just wow! (we stopped him)
* As an aside maybe they observed that we had cancelled Thanksgiving night and went down to MDR, our friends were there and were in balcony cabins, so we went downstairs to dine with them for Thanksgiving knowing CK was not afforded to them at that time. 
We went to Next Cruise & she booked a Grand for our summer Harmony sailing though, I'm going to ruin them!