StephanieH

Kraken and I had a brief but interesting experience together a few years ago.  I may try it again one day, just to see if things have changed since then.  What is life without a little risk and adventure...?

If I detailed the quantity, I would come across as one who needs an intervention. Therefore, my response is that we get our money's worth out of the DBP. ? 

Ugh! Guess I just have to YOLO and book more to use it up by December 2021. ?

I love seeing all these pictures and memories.  I swear had I known my cruise the first week of 2020 would be possibly it for all of 2020 - I would have taken a lot more photos!

Did you know that Megan Markle's husband has decided to go into acting, just like his wife. He'll be referred to as the actor formerly known as prince.? 

I will strive to post about it as quickly as I can. In addition, you may receive a direct email from your TA and/or RC about your specific sailing.

In summary, here is how I feel about cruising right now:

Pretty sure most people right now wouldnt care what anyone wore in MDR if it meant they were cruising again,but of course there will still be those who just complain for the sake of it. 
 as this year has shown life is far to short to worry about what someone else is doing or wearing! 
And you never know the person you are berating for wearing shorts may be the same one you were clapping for a few months ago! Or who pulls on a uniform everday to put their life on the line to protect you and your country 

Keep in mind when you do a Lift and Shift are then locked into the cancellation penalties you are currently under.  Also, you can only Lift and Shift ONE time.
 

Truth!  With two pre-teen/teenage daughters, even two bathrooms can be stressful.  Too bad there are no 3 bathroom suites...kidding lol

I know some people that really take the points earning to the next level. 
They put the wife in a JS by herself and hubby is added as a 3rd person in a friend's balcony cabin for peanuts.  Once on board they get an extra key at guest services and hubby doesn't stay with their friends.  
OR...
Since they are over 340 points they get reduced single supplement.  Sometimes they put the wife in a JS solo and the husband in the cheapest whatever cabin solo.  They call the other interior cabin their "luggage cabin" where they throw their suitcases while they stay in the suite.
Since the wife is a casino player and they get Florida rates this approach allows them to rocket up through the points for very little out of pocket in terms of cruise fare.  
So yes, solo in a junior suite does net 3x points.  It doesn't always get multiplied properly when the points post but a simple phone call has always fixed that in minutes.  

There were lots of issues made with the moves from deployment.  Call them if you booked direct or contact your TA.  They will adjust to price protect and to be honest the current promotion might be better than your price protection.  So make sure to ask.  ALSO  - make sure if you were booked refundable rates that you still are.  I had a couple yesterday that were switched by deployment when they made the changes.

I would definitely consider driving vs flying as I'm about a 5 hour drive. But until everything settles down I would still drive for a much longer time if needed because if something goes wrong, I could just get back in the car and drive home instead of worrying about any rebooking or being stranded for a little.

Keep in mind when you do a Lift and Shift are then locked into the cancellation penalties you are currently under.  Also, you can only Lift and Shift ONE time.
 

I agree. I think @DunkelBierJayraises a great question, but it’s simply too early to know how that scenario will be handled yet. 
 
I wrote about this topic earlier this week as one of the many big questions left. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/09/24/6-questions-we-still-have-after-royal-caribbean-released-new-health-guidelines

So, we have very good news on the VA home sale.  It went on the market, officially, this past Thursday, Sept. 24.  By the end of the weekend, we had 13 offers with over 51 live viewings.  We accepted the latest offer this morning at more than $30K above the asking price.  YIPPEE !!!  
They are basically paying cash so financing complications are non-existent and they don't want to take possession until Nov. 16 so that will give us time to get our s**t together and head south.  I still have not completely abandoned the idea of taking the new job but I've pretty much decided that I am ready to go to Florida !
It's been a whirlwind, but it seems like all of the chips are falling into place.  We will be homeless very soon !!

Eh, I am not sure I can agree with that, nor do I think you could accurately compare the experience to determine if it's "overpriced". I forget how much of your cruise fare goes towards an average dinner in the dining room or buffet, but let's say it's $15...so you're looking at, say, $65 + gratuity. For $65 you're getting as many apps as you'd like, soup/salad, a main course, and dessert, so you would need to factor that in at any other restaurant too. In essence, you're also kind of paying for a vacation destination restaurant, which are usually higher priced. A nice steakhouse in Sanibel, Florida is going to be more than the same steakhouse in Omaha, for example, and in my opinion eating the meal overlooking the moving ocean isn't quite comparable to your average steakhouse (much like having a more expensive gin & tonic on the ship is higher priced than your local strip mall bar). 
Everyone's opinions are their own, of course, and while I have had enjoyable experiences at Chops with better-than-expected steak (no Capital Grille, but better than Outback in my experiences), I can understand why some people don't think it's worth it. But for the reasons I laid out above, I don't personally believe it's overpriced. 

I agree with @FManke.  We enjoy them, but I would not place them at a 5 star level.  I would not place them as low as Out Back or Olive Garden either.
However, that being said we do specialty restaurants because we enjoy the ambiance at each one and the unique items offered.    IE I am the biggest fan of the goat cheese salad which you will never find in the MDR, you can't request it, but you can request the wedge salad.  Same is true for the grilled octopus...ain't happening.  Heck, the MDR will offer beef carpaccio as a specialty on their MDR menu, but impo it is not as good as the specialties.  FWIW I still love the MDR on the night they offer the lamb shank.  Their prime rib is pretty good too, but it can be a hit or miss.
I think that the specialties will become even more popular once we get back to sailing.  My reason behind this is that a big selling point for the specialties is you don't feel as cramped compared to the MDR.  AKA social distancing.  
That being stated, I have also seen in the past 2 yrs or so that the MDR is less crowded, so it could be once we get back to sailing it will be 50-50. 
We do traditional late seating (8 pm) Reason why is that these specialties have become very popular.  1 cruise we did on Anthem with my family we only did late dining. We were a party of 10.  The waitstaff had only us in the MDR.  They were absolutely, positively the best service I ever experienced including 5 star restaurants.  They had other tables, but how it works for traditional is that is your table for MDR, if you pay for specialty, that is still your table even if you don't show.  Thus, tables around us were empty since those people purchased the specialty.  On that cruise we never did specialty. The staff knew we would be entering and by night 2 they had our drinks down in their memory...they always asked 1st if we would like that drink again.  My cousin only eats fish due to a medical condition, they brought out every fish appetizer for him.  They discussed that night would he would like off the menu.  My body does not appear it, but I eat very little.  They thought I did not enjoy the food, they kept bringing out more.  It got to a point that my husband had to say, she doesn't eat a lot, all you are now doing is making me spend more time in the gym to burn off the calories she is forcing me to eat not to offend you!
Did the late seating on Adventure with a group of 5 for an 8 night cruise.  We had 5 specialty nights ( 3 nights purchased, TA gifted 1 night and 1 Chef's table).  Same deal as Anthem.  1st night was chaotic, but thetip 3 nights our staff only had us and 1 table. 
I think they were so bored that to keep them busy they just kept bringing out food.  The lobster aka formal night they brought out every single dessert on the menu.  Didn't even ask what we would like.  We were moving plates to find room on the table.  Let's be honest, they also work for an additional tip, hence why they are now working 2x as hard.
FYI, those MDR waiters also work in the WJ or the MDR for lunch too.  They have long work days.
 
 
 

Giovanni's is great. Their mushroom risotto is one of my favorite things on board!

Prefer Giovanni's for all things that are also offered a Chops.

.It is 50 per person.  If they are offering the 3 night specialty I would do that over just 1.  I got ours for 85 per person.
Chops is comparable to Ruth Chris or McComick and Schmidts steak houses.  Just like in the MDR  you can order multiple appetizers, but only 1 entrée per person.  Albeit, sometimes the waitstaff will bring out an additional entrée for the table to share.
We enjoy Chops, I especially enjoy their goat cheese salad as an appetizer.  The steaks are great and the ambiance is nice.  @WAAAYTOOO will tell you that her favorite item on their menu is the Red Velvet cake!
 

I'm embarrassed to admit just how much of my spare time I've spent researching this option!

Just a friendly reminder not to make any decisions until they do formally announce the change.
I'd hate to see anyone make a pre-emptive change and then regret it later because the specifics ended up being different.