Kirsten

We will be sailing on a 4-night out of LA to Catalina and Ensenada.  It's me, my husband, and our 9 and 11-year-olds. I booked the La Bufadora tour, but I'm not sure if it's worth it.  I'd like to get off the ship for at least an hour or two.  Opinions on the tour?  If you don't recommend the tour, what else is there for a family of four?  A lot of the tours that looked interesting were a minimum of 10 or 12 years old.

Maybe, but for me there are security issues.  There is some advantage to have one card for internet purchases that is easily replaced or cancelled when compromised and another for day-to-day purchases that you physically control (you never give it to anyone).  I like Royal's card because I don't use it for anything else, just cruising.  it doesn't have a fee, like an airline card.  I can cancel it easily without upsetting the rest of my life.  If instead, I had high-return credit card I used for everything, I'd be taking on extra risk.  The credit cards I do have seem to change promotions all the time, adding to confusion.  One travel card gives me more cashback for groceries than for travel, which seems a bit strange....

My experience on Anthem last month was similar to yours.  I was disappointed at first that they didn't have the classic nightly menu anymore, but I always found something that I enjoyed.  The food was great, our waiters were fantastic, and they checked on us often.  We never had to send anything back and we got a variety of meals.  I found the Indian dishes to be tasty- I ordered Indian if chicken was in the dish and the chicken was very tender.

Perry Grant. He's a very talented and funny piano player and singer with quite the following. I've seen him perform on Navigator of the Seas, and most recently on Explorer of the Seas. He is currently on Anthem of the Seas where he mainly performs in the Schooner Bar but also can do shows in the other theaters as well.

Huh?  They advertised a banana split to you?  You booked because of a banana split?
Of the things that could be cut, I'm happy it was the banana split because I wasn't going to get it anyway.  So my tomorrow is the same as my yesterday.  The person taking your money problems into consideration is you.  You decide whether there is value enough in the cruise to book it or not book it.  When there is not, I assume you will stop booking and I will understand that choice the same way I understand the choice to cut around the edges after a financial catastrophe for the industry.
There's a tipping point on cuts to be sure.  You seem closer to yours than I am.  There's nothing wrong with you feeling that way.  Different things have different value to different people.

I saw their video.
My experience with the new MDR menu is quite different. In fact I used to get the specialty dining package and eat the rest of my dinners in the CK. But now, I only get a Chops dinner and the rest is in the MDR.
There could be many reasons for this…including…
All of my cruises since the new menus have been on the Anthem. 
I travel solo, and sit at my own table, so no worry about group service. 
I do early dining at 5:30 and I’m usually one of the first to be served.
I have found the service to be excellent. Every set of waiters/assistants have been very good at making the substitutions I want, and the timing of my meal courses has been just as I expected.
My food has been delicious. But…I’m not really a food ‘connoisseur’ and I’m pretty easily satisfied.
In particular…I love hot soup and have been very impressed with the flavor and the temperature. My meals have been tasty…fresh, hot, and very nicely plated. I never had any reason to send anything back. I think the portions are perfect for me.
The only concern that I have is with the dessert. They are too delicious and I can not avoid them. Thank goodness for the treadmills.

There's alway someone trying to point out the negatives
I'm on my 12th cruise this year on 5 different ships.  Yes the an occasional not great meal in the MDR, yes they are serving 3000+ a night not everything is like "cook to order" meals.
Bad service, noticable unhappy employees, not willing to fix a meal you're unhappy with, NEVER.
But that's JMHO YMMV depending on expectations 

I have no idea who that is, but I witnessed MDR with my own eyes and stomach and it was just fine.

the water package is a complete waste of money IMO.  if you don't want to lug around a 12 pack of water on day one, just bring a reusable water bottle to refill water at the many beverage stations. i have a collapsible one for easy packing. 

that was my understanding of what you originally posted also.

We just got off Anthem and had only purchased the refreshment package in advance.  We had bought and canceled the DBP before buying the refreshment package, but two drinks in, we realized that it would be more worth it to get the DBP, so we transferred the refreshment package to our kids and got the DBP at buy one, get one 50% off on the ship.  The cost was only $2 more per person, per day.  It might vary depending on the ship.

We just got off Anthem and had only purchased the refreshment package in advance.  We had bought and canceled the DBP before buying the refreshment package, but two drinks in, we realized that it would be more worth it to get the DBP, so we transferred the refreshment package to our kids and got the DBP at buy one, get one 50% off on the ship.  The cost was only $2 more per person, per day.  It might vary depending on the ship.

Yes. Since they are alcohol free he can have them.

"Hyperspace Greed Mode" is an apt description. My husband and I went to WDW for his first-ever trip in early 2020 right before the world went sideways. It was expensive enough then, but I knew enough tricks and hacks to not have to take out a second mortgage for the trip. Post restart, everything is so different and costs SO much more -- even relatively speaking - there is no way on earth we could afford to go back now. Not to mention just the sheer unnecessary stress and confusion of all the genie+ and lightning lane and park reservations crap. 😑

I'd say Oasis has a slight edge, but I think they'd like any class with fun stuff (slides, VR, escape rooms, zip lines, etc.). Some of the amped ones might be fine but the bigger ones are guaranteed to have a lot of those types of activities. I also think the bigger ships have a bigger teen population which some teens enjoy (and some definitely DON'T). 

Nice!  Was it parts I-V on the A side and Parts VI-IX on the B?
My first 45 was probably the best 45 ever.  A side Magic Carpet Ride.  B side Born to Be Wild.  How could you not fall in love with rock music after that?

We have a customized magnet that we put on our door.  I like to use it so help find our door easier (in the beginning).  I just bought a new one and it is currently on our refrigerator just waiting until October....

Just venting about a minor irritation. I know there are other sites that let you narrow down your exact travel window, but I'd prefer to do it on RC's official website. I actually find the whole "search for a cruise" process really clunky and frustrating on RC's site (I know, I know, Royal IT...). What if I'm considering different room types? Go back and start over. What if I'm considering 1 vs 2 rooms. Go back and start over. Why do I often have to click twice on the page where you choose the floor for your room (once for floor and then "select")? And why can't the number of days selection be part of the other choices? Do many people really just choose a 3-5 day cruise with no other considerations?
Ugh.

BTW, the EX Compasses this week (so far) have been insert-free !  No paper ads.  It’s been wonderful.  

It's not in the app but on board the daily cruise compass has been available here in PDF format:
https://minio.rccl.com/compass/cruisecompass.pdf
You have to be on a ship connected to WiFi to use this URL.

You know I tried using my highlighter on my cellphone and it just did not work the same. LOL!

I've paid attention to this whole subject for 8 yrs.....ever since my daughter came out as lesbian! So I'm pretty clued up on the stigma! The abuse! Or even just the glaring stare that makes her feel uneasy and not welcome...

You mean like people wearing knee length socks with sandals? Cause to me that is just totally unacceptable!!! 

On my first Caribbean cruise in 2006, one of our travel party was fluid, Miss Brad.  They wore a leather bikini bottom to the hot tub one night.  Everyone loved Miss Brad, even the conservative couple from Georgia at our MDR table.  It is just as much your holiday as everyone else’s so enjoy yourselves.  Happy cruising!   

The pool deck is full of people wearing bathing suits that maybe they shouldn't 😆 (present company included). I think you and your partner will be fine, have fun.