Mrs. RoyalMoyal

Let’s hope that carries through. We’ll have our 12 year old niece and 10 year old daughter and they’re way less likely to lose a WOWBand than they are a seapass card. 

It's apparent that American's don't care for tea...It was all thrown in the harbor long time ago.?

Yes, on the Nov 24 sailing.

Just some good advice, be sure to give credit to the person that took the photo especially if that person is in the photo.
I always try to give credit to whomever took the photo. No harm in doing it, and it's the considerate thing to do.

We will be on Oasis Dec 8, 2020 as well as Dec 1, 2019

I have also found after all these cruises we've been on so far that often times, you find yourself wearing an item for a very short period of time. If you shower, wear a dress shirt to dinner, then take it off after dinner, hang it back up, I don't see any reason why that shirt can't be worn again later in the week. Yes, I admit, I'm a re-wearer. ?

My biggest issue with the bag special is not the price, but the turn around time.  Seems to take a couple days, so unless you get them in by like day 3 or 4, not much point for a 7 night cruise.

ARGH!! I sent an email to @Sharla at MEI to see what she can dig up. 

Good to know.  I must have had the wrong email add at first.  I found another email add from their facebook page.  I emailed them but they are closed until Oct.  I reserved that one too but not the lunch.  It looks like a really chill kind of day, I hope the weather is nice.

I had the wrong email at first.  I got a hold of them and the have changed the date for me.

@Jolly Ogre.  In essence you are talking 23 pp per meal upgrade.   The dinner at Chops is on the equivalent level impo as Capitol Grill or Ruth Chris, where you would be paying a couple hundred for a couple before drinks, tips and taxes.  
I think this is also why the specialties are becoming more popular.    It  can be seen as a way to have that high level steak house for less than eating at Outback Steakhouse.  Same is true for Giovannis/Janies regarding Italian food and going to Olive Garden.  Or Hooked vs Red Lobster.
For some, they see this as just part of the excursion package.  That is how I see it.  For some, like me, we don't gamble, and don't buy anything from the shops on the ship, been to Nassau enough that I don't do excursions anymore, Bermuda I will pay for a taxi to take me to Horseshoe instead of RCL.  So what does that leave me to spend my OBC (always buy the DBP)   If I have 100 pp OBC, I can get the 3 night for free, and still have money left.  Our TA comped us 1 specialty and in the end 150 pp OBC.  That meant we got the 3 night,  + Chef with maybe $5 pp out of pocket for aa total of 4 nights, add in the TA comp and we had 5 nights.  
It is a personal decision.  Mine had nothing to do with the quality of the food.  Mine has to do with the fact that we have done the big ticket, check the box 1x excursions (swim with dolphins,  parasailing,  catamaran, etc) so now we do this instead.

@JLMoran  We have never missed a late show, and never had to rush through dinner.   I think the only times we kinda had to rush was on Adventure for the Ice Skating show and We Will Rock You on Anthem, but we still got there @15 mins. prior to the shows.    We have this down to a system now.  we always get a balcony. 
We go to the WJ at 6 and make 2 plates.  With every cruise I have seen the WJ get busier and busier at dinner.
Our 1st plate is meats, cheeses, bread, etc like an anti-pasti salad.to nosh on our balcony while the sun sets and we get ready for dinner. It holds us over until the late seating.  We than either go for drinks or the early shows.  Shows last 45 mins.  Thus, the 7 pm show is over by 8, and many ships actually keep their doors closed for traditional.  IOWS, even if you have a late traditional seating, no need to rush to be there at 7:50 bc the doors will be closed until 8 on the dot.
The 2nd plate is snacks for late night, such as, desserts in a cup, cookies, and also, their salads,  fried chicken, or Mongolian stir fry, etc anything that we can eat cold (to fit in the mini-fridge aka cooler place it in their small bowls).  We prefer this than eating pizza or their limited sandwiches, every night.  
@whenismynextcruise  I get your point about being over crowded in the MDR.  I have found it that way for MTD.  I also find that compared to traditional seating that it appears they seem to have those tables right smack on top of each other, whereas, in the traditional dining rooms, they are roomier.
Again, my belief that with all of the specialty options plus, MTD the traditional dining room is used less now. Caveat I have never done the 5:30 traditional so I don't know how crowded it is for that seating.  We have never asked for a window table, but luckily for us 90% of the time that is what we have always been given.  
I would say the late seating regarding occupancy has been basically the equivalent of eating in the MDR for lunch on sea days.  Lots of open tables around you.  I have found the specialties are much more crowded now than the MDR, but than again the specialties are smaller in size, so I think that is why it might feel more crowded to me.  That and we do specialty, we usually do a 6:30 or 7 pm reservation, which is peak time.
I am not anti-specialty.  Heck, I will pay for it for just 1 item on the menu that you can't get elsewhere on the ship.  IE Goat cheese salad in Chops.  The bread tray in Giovannis with their roasted garlic.  Spicy shrimp tempura roll in Izumi.  The world in Wonderland. 
I do agree that it is a personal desire when it comes down to it and also a wallet issue.  I am someone with a budget.  If upgrading to a better cabin, or doing a unique (expensive) 1x in a lifetime excursion means that I have to forego specialty I would in a heartbeat.  Heck if it came down to the Chefs table or 3 nights specialty, Chef's table wins hands down.  
Than again like we both are saying it comes down to your personal desires, and I think RCL is doing a good job at trying to offer everyone different options for eating preferences.   Want to try Chops, but not buy the dining package, than you can just do the lunch.  Want sushi, but not the dining package you can do the sushi class for 1 (they allow extra people to come after the class and share what you have made).  Want a long meal paired with wines than you have Chefs.  

I'm on that sailing.. I booked at https://www.caribbeanpaddling.com/rentals/kayak-rental-pinel-island  I sent them an email about the itinerary change, and they adjusted my reservation, no problem. It's a small world! Good luck with your refund.
I hope you just emailed the incorrect vendor! I reserved the taxi/solo kayak/Frenchie Lunch combo. 
 

The Bionic Bar was a complete bust on Ovation when I was on her in May.  Very sorry to see the Champagne Bar (my personal favorite) being replaced by something that should be going away fleet wide.

I have both been allowed to trade wow bands in, and refused. Anthem.

^^^ I could not agree more with this.  I also hated doing this.  Anthem does it better where the podium is outside of CK and you don't feel like a second class citizen.

Why would you be so concerned where someone else spends their money?  I can see why you wouldn't want to do it, but why plea for someone else not to? How could it possibly affect you?
I got it for last Feb's Mariner cruise. 4-day cruise, $19.99/day. If I eliminate what I would have paid for Voom, used my $25 OBC toward it, I basically paid $5-10 total for the rest of the perks (ummm....a nice embarkation day lunch?).  I enjoyed having my carry on waiting in my room when I finally had access to it.  Would I personally do it on every cruise? Certainly not.  But it's a fine deal on short sailings if it can be snagged at the lower prices.

I snagged it for my solo cruise on Brilliance back in February for $19.99/day, but at that price it was basically VOOM, which I was getting anyways, plus twenty bucks for lunch at chops.  all the other perks were gravy.  Great value for what I needed, but it was like biting the forbidden fruit; haven't gotten it again on the next 3 cruises with the price increases and don't see the point. 

Those are my exact calculations in my head of at what price point would I buy it.  Mine came available at $31.99 which if there is a 20% off sale it would be  $25.60 or if a 30% off sale it would be  $22.40. At either of those price points I would think about it because I am going to get Voom for one device anyways, and that is $111, so subtract that and my price is in the mid $200's and I could live with that.
I have had The Key once so far, and I loved the perks, but there are price points I find palatable and others not so much. At $31.99PP it is not a value to me.

I have stayed in both rooms and I think you will love the ATS especially if you are on deck 8. My primary objection is the walk all the way aft. It is a LONG way back there. But the views and the balcony are second to none.  There is some exterior noise in the ATS during performances but it’s not excessive and I find the activity of the ATS very exciting. Your reasoning about having a second bedroom is sound. It’s much nicer to have a private bedroom (even though it is small) than to have a made up couch downstairs. I don’t know if you’re considering having a party but there is nothing as impressive as a deck party from the ATS. The Star Loft is impressive but does not come close to the WOW factor of the ATS.  We choose deck 17 now for the convenience but we have never regretted out cruises from the ATS (3)

Congrats @twangster!  Looking good!
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I am going to jump in here. I contacted MEI for a couple of reasons, mainly because I knew absolutely nothing about cruising, and they support this site. I booked about 14 months before my cruise. I received about 6 emails before my trip: I found you a better price. Those price drops ranged from $30 with onboard credit, to over $300. 
I did not book with MEI because I expected anything extra. I actually booked a second cruise before the first, and I am waiting for the next large release to book another. 
Although I did not ask or expect anything, my agent sent me lanyards, a portable phone charger, pens, and  a $50 onboard credit. I just post that to say, if that is important to you ask. It is not to me. It came as a complete surprise. The level of service I received was amazing, and I think I should be sending her gifts.

Thanks for sharing this with me. I see the line of cars in one photo... that is why I am getting there early!  Looks like you had a great cruise!  This is only my 2nd ever. We upgraded to a suite as this is the only vacation this year.  We are also getting married during the stop in Port Canaveral on Cocoa Beach. It’s going to be perfect!  We will be wearing our wedding apparel back on the ship for dinner... not time to change after the ceremony anyway. So excited. 

I agree with @twangster - it's hard to miss the signs for sky class at Cape Liberty. Once you follow the signs, check-in for suite guests is a breeze and the suite waiting area offers plenty of comfy chairs in which to relax.  I'm also an advocate for the ~ 10 AM arrival time.  Traffic around the port can start getting pretty bad past 10 AM.  There have been some occasions where the line of cars to drop off your baggage is slowed due to the port not having enough porters to handle the influx.  From what I've experienced and also read on here, the ship is usually cleared for boarding around 11 AM (although this will of course vary), so a 10 AM arrival will have you checked in and waiting comfortably to be one of the first guests on the ship.

We did 12 nights on the Explorer, out of Bayonne,  in January when my boys were 2 and 4, no nursery,  no children's program for my 2 year old. All 4 in an inside room with Pullman beds on deck 10, under the Solarium hot tub. It was GREAT! Do it! The Baltic will be like nothing else. If you have the time to take to go on this journey, take it.