Dan G

"Better" is a relative term. I can confirm it is a step up from what it was before, but hardly the best pizza you ever ate either.

Hahaha - oh that was 100% me making a joke not coming across in text. There are a lot of pizza opinions here. 

See, now I would've thought it was a golf ball because that's where the mini-golf once was ..... they just never painted over the golf ball image.

Seconded

I believe millenials are a target market, but not the only target market for RC.  They obviously offer certain things that should be appealing to millenials, but they also offer plenty towards baby boomers, Gen X'ers and whatever @Big Dawg Ron is.

If this were true, the technology offerings would be much better. A lousy website and limited app availability are NOT the hallmarks of a millennial-centric organization.

Royal Carribbean CEO Michael Bayley just did an interview with Business Insider and dropped this gem:
Contrary to what clueless CEOs think, it's a stupid idea to insult people you'd like to be your customers.
There are few things that irritate me more than watching middle-aged entitled people who are typically waited on hand-and-foot through their entire daily lives whine and moan about those selfish entitled millennials.
He goes on to talk about not specifically chasing millennial cruisers and once they start families, their preferences tend to align with other families regardless of generation.  That's fine, I don't think Royal should chase fads and make assumptions based on opinions not backed up by the data of actual spending habits--all the more ironic, since he starts out doing that very thing by throwing a barb at millennials at the top of the article . . .
My advice to Mr. Bayley is to remove his foot from his mouth and avoid insulting large swaths of your guests, check his own entitlement at the door when he comes in to work, and redirect that energy to thinking about how he can improve his cruise line for all guests.  A good place to start might be on the apps and websites which are an absolute horror show right now.  And if that's too millenial-focused (us and our silly obsession with technology and smartphones and all), take a look at the main dining room food quality which has been taking a nosedive for the best 15 years.

I think I speak for a majority of people when I say I definitely do not have a countdown at all.  
 It's Clear your website is better than mine haha
#BlackCats

I prefer to manage it myself as no TA has ever given me nor matched any of the prices, cabin, obc, perks, etc. that I can get. I'm just one of those people who love the freedom to control their own reservations and also with good connections here and there!! ? ?

I found a solution to the website!  It's booze. 
As for my cat, he can't be bribed into accepting anything but purrfection. He also knows "too soon" of a roll out of a website when he sees one. 
Happy Friday!
 

I found a solution to the website!  It's booze. 
As for my cat, he can't be bribed into accepting anything but purrfection. He also knows "too soon" of a roll out of a website when he sees one. 
Happy Friday!
 

I found a solution to the website!  It's booze. 
As for my cat, he can't be bribed into accepting anything but purrfection. He also knows "too soon" of a roll out of a website when he sees one. 
Happy Friday!
 

It may be too early to wager a guess at this point.  Literally, all we know is these ships are getting upgrades.
If it puts your mind at ease, around 2011 or so, Royal started its Royal Revitalization program, which was aimed at bringing Oasis class innovations to other ships in the fleet.  That's when they started adding specialty restaurants to ships like Rhapsody, Splendour and Serenade... along with many others. Those upgrades did not necessarily facilitate a change in plans for the ship, as we can now see.

They wouldn't trick us,  "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2018 World's Most Ethical Companies for the third year in a row"   
Just look on this blog how many times a new sale is announced!   Oh Well

I bet only VIP Diamond/D+ & Matt can login,,,
 

As I was on the phone with CR (Casino Royale) booking a Deluxe Drink Package  ($45PP/DAY, not bad IMO)  I asked about the website. I find the CR operators are a bit more open about answering my sometimes bizarre questions(compared to the regular RCCL phone line). In this case, I was told web site things are going to start getting better Monday, but not completely fixed. Of course everything we are hearing on RCCL end should be taken with a grain of salt...as they are trying hard to do damage control, I am sure. Like @Matt said above, give it a day or two. Although I myself am heavily addicted to the casual browsing (and purchasing of cruises) on the website,  I find logging into my "Cruise Countdown Calendar" app almost as satisfying as seeing it on the official website. That seems to be holding off the withdrawals for now. When my cruise does come, I'll be at the port @10:15am with a smile & valid passport.. even if the website doesn't think I exist. #YOLObookitByCalling  *After watching @Matt on Facebook live today, I was excited to hear about the coverage at the upcoming media event Wednesday.

^^^^^^^^^^^
Seems to me the only thing in pack of any use would be the seating! Cocktail you can get with drinks package, the meet and greet cast, we are on a ship pretty sure we would see them about and if we did we could get a photo with them then  Complete waste of money in my opinion

This is as laughable as paying for the cup cake decorating class...or the MDR cookbook.
Looks like our sailings on the Allure have the 'free' option and the insider 'watch your wallet' version of Mama Mia!. Unfortunately...I am being forced to go...only because my wife is a massive ABBA fan. Will need to bring my sunglasses so she can't see my eyes closed whilst napping. 

I think that I just tripped on a seam...

I bet only VIP Diamond/D+ & Matt can login,,,
 

Hmmmm. All was well until I clicked LOGIN. Seems to just hourglass me to death. At least my next cruise countdown is less than 6 months!
 
 

Cruise Critic has a huge thread where people are reporting that when (and if) they can get through to anyone on the phone they are being told it will take until Monday before the entire database is loaded on the new site.  If that's the official company line, then maybe they shouldn't have made the new website live until then!  If you aren't leaving in the next few days, I wouldn't touch the website!

I imagine I would give the remaining alcohol to my stateroom attendant, I've had some be extra cool and deserve a surprise boose present.
All I know is I can't wait for sail away. Ill have the tub heating up for Muster Drill. Then BAM! Back to the suite for constant use of it's separate bedroom with the king-size bed and private bathroom with ANOTHER TUB! Matt was totally spot on. I played a 60 second clip of the Podcast to my wife. She now understand why I have refused to get off the ship. Fortunately, it's a family group cruise, so she will join the group & get off the ship. The only time I plan to leave the room is to allow room cleaning and turndown service. Or I could just stay out on the private balcony. At 257 square ft., its like it's own stateroom, on the BUMP of the ship, noless. I'm sure it takes an hour to clean the 1633 square ft. Bedroom, living room, bar, & Full guest bath. I wonder if I should request the Baby Grand Piano be polished to my liking. 
Pardon the last few sentences. I had my pinkie up in the air and was talking with a british accent. (It didn't sound as hilarious when I read it back out loud haha),
I will definitely be giving a full report to Matt once its done. Pictures/Videos will be had & experiences remembered forever. 

#YOLObookit is what started this whole thing. I blame and thank @Matt at the same time  :-)

It sounds like the concierge will be my new best friend aboard. Thank you all for the replies so far. If anyone else has additional information...feel free to chime in.
For your amussment...here is a VERY poorly photoshopped picture of my friends & I when we get inside the cabin.