SolariumSnoozer

My lone experience with having a cruise cancelled was as follows:
1. Royal offers to price protect your cabin fare on SELECT cruises.  These cruises were either on the same ship or a second ship sailing from the same port.  These cruises were earlier and later in time than the cancelled cruise.  What Royal didn't offer was protection pricing for the week the cruise was cancelled on any ship.  In my case, that was the issue since I didn't have the freedom the move my cruise to a different sailing period, even one week earlier or later.
2. Royal offers you OBC on any  re-booked cruise even if it's not price protected- in my case $200
3. Royal offered to cover up to $200 per guest for nonrefundable airline charges, if you re-booked.
4. Lastly Royal offers to fully refund your deposit if you don't re-book.

Yes, as @tiny260 said, you can take towels off the ship.  We usually get fresh towels the night before and have them in our cabin so we are ready to go the next morning.  Royal almost always has a towel drop right when you get back on the ship so you don't have to carry them back to the pool deck.

I posted the following previously, but its worth posting it here again:
There is some good information at this site that explains some of the differences in travel insurance and directs you to different companies depending upon your priorities.  It's not a one stop site but I found it a good place to start.
https://www.reviews.com/travel-insurance/

This is a great tip which I had never considered.  Thought I would highlight it since it is hidden deeper in this review from 2017 and not sure if others would read the entire review as I just did.

This is a great tip which I had never considered.  Thought I would highlight it since it is hidden deeper in this review from 2017 and not sure if others would read the entire review as I just did.

MEI Travel is a sponsor of this blog.  Many posts contain positive reviews of their agents.  I recently started using Michelle Cunningham (@michelle) and can give a her a very positive recommendation.  You can email her at [email protected]
 

Following, considering a 4 day cruise on Navigator this summer.

MEI Travel is a sponsor of this blog.  Many posts contain positive reviews of their agents.  I recently started using Michelle Cunningham (@michelle) and can give a her a very positive recommendation.  You can email her at [email protected]
 

I have brought a corkscrew on my last 3 cruises and have not had an issue.

I have always had success storing the suitcases under the bed.  We bring suitcases that can be nested so once they are empty we nest them and store them under the bed. 

I have always had success storing the suitcases under the bed.  We bring suitcases that can be nested so once they are empty we nest them and store them under the bed. 

Matt did podcast interviewing a bride who had her wedding with Royal,
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/podcast/episode-249-royal-caribbean-wedding-review

OMG, how I PRAY that they are removing Cats from Oasis during her dry dock.  

Yes, at least working with a travel agent as I always do.  When I am far away in time I prefer refundable to cover me in case of inevitable changes.  
Once I know I am firm on the dates, I'll start looking at prices again.  
More often than not, the NRDB (non-refundable) prices at 150 - 90 days are more than my refundable rate was many months earlier when I booked it originally and it makes no sense to change.
Once in a while though, I can save a little bit, or upgrade to a better cabin at a small price increase while also converting to NRDB.  This is the more likely scenario (upgrade).  
I'm not sure what magic my TA does or the hoops they go through, but that's why I use a TA.  

I was successful again, luckily I work for a slower EMS agency so its not too difficult to stay on the phone for 30 minutes during the day. Using a travel agent would just make it too easy though, sometimes being stubborn doesn't pay off.

I know how you feel as previously I would do all the cruise planning myself including monitoring cruise fares.  But then Royal cancelled one of my cruises and the cruise options they provided were lousy and I felt very unfair as they did not take into account what my priorities were.  Fortunately for me, the cancelled cruise was so far in the future I was still able to get a good deal on an alternate cruise and I let the issue slide.  Shortly after re-booking, I read on this blog about someone else who had their cruise cancelled by Royal but the cruise was very near term and Royal wanted to charge them more money to book a comparable cruise.  They had a travel agent who fought for them and was able to resolve their issue and I thought what if that had been me.  At that point I decided I wanted to have an advocate in my corner and I would rather spend my time on tripadvisor researching excursions or on youtube watching videos about my ship, cabin, entertainment options etc. rather than fighting with Royal and their sometimes uninformed/difficult representatives. 

I know how you feel as previously I would do all the cruise planning myself including monitoring cruise fares.  But then Royal cancelled one of my cruises and the cruise options they provided were lousy and I felt very unfair as they did not take into account what my priorities were.  Fortunately for me, the cancelled cruise was so far in the future I was still able to get a good deal on an alternate cruise and I let the issue slide.  Shortly after re-booking, I read on this blog about someone else who had their cruise cancelled by Royal but the cruise was very near term and Royal wanted to charge them more money to book a comparable cruise.  They had a travel agent who fought for them and was able to resolve their issue and I thought what if that had been me.  At that point I decided I wanted to have an advocate in my corner and I would rather spend my time on tripadvisor researching excursions or on youtube watching videos about my ship, cabin, entertainment options etc. rather than fighting with Royal and their sometimes uninformed/difficult representatives. 

My wife and I booked the Sea Cow Snorkeling Trip through Royal Caribbean and loved it.  We are amateurs but the experienced snorkelers on the trip also raved about it, you can read all the reviews on tripadvisor here:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147268-d1798673-Reviews-Sea_Cow_Snorkeling_Trips-Kralendijk_Bonaire.html
 When you are in the water there is something to see everywhere you look.  The tour guides snorkel with you and help point out the more obscure things so you don't miss anything.

No, 
No, unless you have an international plan on your cell you should place your phone in airplane mode.  VOOM is a WIFI service not cellular and airplane mode shuts off your cellular service so you don't receive roaming charges.  You can communicate with your parents using a messenger service like whatsapp if they have a device with the app installed.  Whatsapp allows you to text, call and video chat with others, I hope this helps.

Did some research for a trip (not a cruise) next month. I decided to try Travelex based on their coverage versus cost, take a look here:
https://www.travelexinsurance.com
 

Some cellular carriers have an international plan where they charge you $10 a day to use your phone outside the US.   You use the minutes and data on your existing plan but it may not be offered everywhere.  Call your carrier and ask them what international plans they offer that cover the ports you will be visiting.

No, 
No, unless you have an international plan on your cell you should place your phone in airplane mode.  VOOM is a WIFI service not cellular and airplane mode shuts off your cellular service so you don't receive roaming charges.  You can communicate with your parents using a messenger service like whatsapp if they have a device with the app installed.  Whatsapp allows you to text, call and video chat with others, I hope this helps.

I've seen the tip jar and I've seen them put it in there immediately and other times I assumed it went in later.
Unrelated but useful tip, the bartenders can break bigger bills with the tip jar money upon request.

Tips on the receipt might be distributed among all ship employees.  There's a better chance the tips in cash is shared with just the bar staff

I have done this several times.  Let's take @Matt's lava flow for example.  You have the refreshment package and order the non-alcoholic version along with a shot of Kraken.  The Kraken will cost you $9.38 ($7.95+18%grats).  The regular alcoholic version is $15.34 ($13+18%grats assuming OA class).  Not a huge difference.  However, if it's a drink involving multiple shots, like a margarita, it's not worth it.