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I pop over to that "other" site every now and then.   Was just checking it out during lunch today and it never ceases to amaze as to how ugly it gets over there.   I see so many people (even mods) who just get salty and vile with people posting simple questions.    My wife was laughing at me the last time i was reading over there because i let it get under my skin way more than it should, if at all.   So many trolls as well.     @Matt it really makes me appreciate all of your hard work that has gone into this place, not to mention the great attitudes of everyone here.    Thanks again everyone!    My time spent here makes me really enjoy cruising much more than I ever intended.    I always log off knowing more than I started out and generally have a good laugh as well.   Cheers!

Don't try to do every activity available on the ship or you'll need a vacation after your vacation.
Take time to relax.
Don't let small stuff ruin your vacation.  Not receiving a towel animal on day 2 shouldn't ruin the whole cruise.
If you fall in love with cruising as much as all of us have, consider this a practice cruise.  Practice makes perfect.
You've already make a great start by finding this web site.  Look at the top of this page for the "Getting Started" tab:
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/getting-started
Enjoy your time planning and preparing.  Look over the "Live Blog" section of the message boards for any Harmony live blogs. 
Once onboard take time to talk to the crew.  

https://cruiseradio.net/why-nassau-rejected-port-redevelopment-bid-from-cruise-lines/

Probably IT issues.  I've seen this happen.  Make sure you use private or incognito mode, clear cache and try again in an hour.  

I think this thread has served a purpose.  Cruisers old and new have learned the ship will actually leave without you when you don't return in time.  Of the 6,000 on board, 5,998 made it back. 
I was on a cruise two weeks ago and I saw 60 - 80 people slowly walking up the pier well past all aboard time.  None were in a hurry.  One drunk girl lay on the concrete pier and rested (or passed out) .   I had to check my watch thinking I was an hour off.  I wasn't.  Crew were waving to them to hurry up.  The bridge blew the ship's horn.  People are way too cavalier and just assume the world revolves around them. 
I tire at the muster drill waiting for the stragglers to show up.  I tire on an excursion waiting for people who show up late.  
Hopefully this video will serve to educate everyone that a ship will leave without you.  It is your responsibility to be on time.
The cruise community has a name for these types of people.  "Pier Runners" and it transcends all cruise lines.   
This is about personal accountability and yes, two ships full of passengers will make fun of you when you miss the ship.  
Lesson learned - don't be late.  

Wow --- missing the ship would be one of my worst nightmares --- And no matter what the circumstances are, one thing is for sure, I'll get blamed ?

We ALWAYS head back to the ship a little early, and keep an eye on the time.  We usually book a balcony room and end up getting lucky enough to be on the side of the ship facing the dock.  We get back about an hour or two early and watch the runners, we both understand that although we are on vacation, the crew is at work and still have a schedule to attend to.  I can tell you that if I was the cause of us being late that she would rip me a new one, and if she was the reason we were left I would never let her hear the end of it. So we both agree to get back early, hit the Windjammer, and then shower and watch the runners.  Some things just are NOT worth it!!!!!

First cruise in 1 week. This blog has really been great and a lifesaver with many topics. I have researched and planned, watched YouTube videos, asked questions and still continue to think up things that I don’t have a clue about. Does anyone else stress & overthink? Just trying to get it right. 
I’m sure the next cruise will be easier. Hoping to go to Alaska next, but have to survive the Southern Caribbean first. We are soooo excited.
Just want to say to each that have answered questions or chimed in, “Thank You” for all of your help.

Since it seems to come up a lot, and although Twangster's detailed blog is far superior, I thought there may be one or two who might be curious about a recent experience.  I purchased it for my 4-night Mariner of the Seas cruise to Nassau/Coco Cay.  I was a solo traveler and I had a $25 onboard credit, so the price came to $55.  Between Voom and lunch on embarkation day, I'd already gotten my value, so it was really a no-brainer purchase for me.
Embarkation:  They called The Key people with the Pinnacle/Diamond/Diamond Plus members when they opened up the doors.  I suspect they just threw us in with them because it was so early and there were very few people in the terminal yet.
Delivery  of carry on luggage to stateroom:  A few of us wandered around trying to figure out where to drop off our carry on luggage when we first boarded - they were a little behind and didn't have a sign on the theatre door, or anyone in the theatre to take the bags yet.  In about 10 minutes we all figured it out (all 5 of us at that point) and someone did show up to start the process.  Unfortunately that person hadn't been provided with any luggage tags, so anyone who hadn't tagged their luggage had to wait a little while - I had my luggage tag on my one rolling carry on.  They also had business cards with Voom codes on it - but none of them matched the names of anyone who was there, so staff was confused. In the end they just gave us a card for whoever (sorry Adam Davis, or whoever's I had), and we were on our way.  I assume they managed to work it out in the end, but it was never an issue for me.
Lunch at Chops - was a nice treat!
Reserved seating section at shows - I only went to the comedy show really late on Embarkation day and on the last night.  There was a section roped off for The Key next to either higher C&A or suite folks - it really didn't matter at this show because there was really hardly anyone in the theatre.  The first night I sat in The Key section, the last night I sat somewhere else - it didn't matter.  But this is Mariner, not a Quantum or Oasis class ship, so I imagine it would make a difference on one of those ships.
Reserved times for Flow Rider/Rock Climbing Wall/Sky Pad/Perfect Storm - they had at least 2 hours set aside during the week for each activity. They weren't at the most convenient hours, but, at least on my sailing,  it wasn't necessary for a separate time - there was never a line at any of those activities - I never saw more than a few people in line for any of them and most of the time nobody was using them. Apparently this was a "sit by the pool and drink" cruise for folks.
On the 2nd day, I happened to stop by my cabin to pick something up and someone knocked on my door and delivered a fruit plate that was complimentary for The Key people. That was unexpected.
Priority tender - We only tendered at CoCo Cay - I went down to get on the tender about an hour after we anchored and there was a line (not a ridiculous line, but a line as you'd expect there to be).  There was no staff along the line at all to ask about The Key benefit, and I'm just not the type to walk past a bunch of people who are waiting to also get on the tender to get in front of them, so I just got on with everyone else.  I was able to get on the tender right away anyway, probably because I wasn't trying to get on the first tender of the day, so it was just fine with me. I could have been more assertive, but that's just not me. And the ending result would have been exactly the same in this case.
Disembarkation Day - it was nice to have a quiet, unrushed breakfast in the MDR.  It was the only time I'd sat with other people during a meal - almost the only time I'd spoken to any other people all week (I did talk to the iguana and the chickens on CoCo Cay earlier, that's a whole different story #retiredzookeeper) and I did enjoy that.  After breakfast, I ran back up to my room, grabbed my carry on, and went down to Deck 4, where there happened to be a staff member manning the line.  I asked him about The Key disembarkation, and he personally escorted me to the gangway past a long line, which was REALLY nice.
I liked the program, and it was defnintely worth it on a short sailing.  I was getting Voom anyway, and there were just enough things that I was going to enjoy along the way that it made it worth it to me.  I very much doubt that I'll get it on my Ovation sailing to Alaska in June - I will be going with my husband, who has no interest in Voom, and we will be meeting up with old friends, who will not have The Key, so we won't be taking advantage of reserved seating with shows and special times for activities since they won't be able to partake with us during those times. We'll evaluate it again on our Symphony sailing in Feb 2020 - things may have changed with the program, or the hubs may decide he wants internet access, so we'll see then.
Hope this helps someone out there!

@JeffCruiser - welcome to the message boards!
Shorter cruises and Caribbean cruises tend to be less strict on dress recommendations.  Some European cruises can run a little more strict.
The key is that Royal has "recommendations" and not a absolute dress code. 
Bathing suits / swimwear are more likely to get called out in the MDR.  Regular shorts and any shirt is generally okay for breakfast and lunch on the MDR.    Casual dinner in the MDR with long pants and a shirt with a collar (polo or button shirt) is average.  Cut off jeans and a t-shirt may work on one ship but catch the eye of the restaurant staff on another ship or different night on the same ship.
I have hiking pants with lower leg sections that zipper off.  At night I zip on the lower leg sections and I have full length pants, by day they are shorts.  They work fine on casual nights.

It’s a beautiful (but windy) day here in Fort Lauderdale. I took the boat out today and snapped some pics of the ships in port. When heading Southbound you are able to get within a couple hundred feet of the vessels berthed along the Eastern portion of the port. Great views this afternoon! 

Welcome to the message boards!
Each specialty dining venue has it's own menu as you've seen.  Most items are included but there are typically a few items that cost more than the cover charge you pay to eat there.  Full Maine Lobster in Chops for example carries an additional charge above the cover charge.  Those extra charge items have a price on the menu.
The specialty dining restaurants tend to have some rules.  You can't order 10 steaks in Chops for example.  You might be able to order 10 side dishes though.  To be honest it's so much food I've never tried.  Your waiter will explain it all.  Ask as many questions as you like.  
Soda packages typically work anywhere on the ship except room service.  
SeaPass cards are handed over when there is a chargeable item involved.  When you visit the MDR (main dining room) they will ask your cabin number.  You'll never have to produce your SeaPass card unless you request something that isn't free.  If you have the soda package they'll ask for your card to confirm you do indeed have the soda package.  Sorrentos is included so no SeaPass card involved.  Asking for a chargeable beverage at Sorrentos will require a SeaPass card.  
Debarking - A letter will be provided a day or two before arriving back.  The letter will explain the process and times for "self-assist" guests like yourselves who carry their own luggage off.  Self assist typically starts as soon as US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) give them the clearance to start.  There will be a stated time in the letter such as 7:30am to 8:30am for self-assist.  Early birds will go to the designated self-assist meeting point before the stated start time.  A line will begin to form and your place in the line is based on when you arrive at the self-assist meeting point.  Once CBP give the go ahead, the line begins to move and you leave the ship.  Once the line starts moving it typically is pretty fast to get through CBP so budget 30 to 60 minutes to reach your car.  
On my Liberty cruise last year the scheduled arrival was 8am.  i lined up at 7am and was about 30 from the front of the line.  They started letting us off at 7:30am (early).  I was outside hailing a Lyft at 7:45am.  I got lucky, have cruised a lot, know the routine and CBP was kind that day.  My Lyft ride share had me at Hobby airport at 8:40am.
On boarding day they always have some restaurants open typically starting around 11:30am.  Getting on the ship right at 10am is unlikely.  The terminal typically opens around 10am to begin check in and the ship has to wait for all previous guests to leave and only when US Customs says the ship is clear can they start taking on new guests.  That is typically closer to between 11am to noon but if you are lucky could happen before 11am.  Consequently there usually isn't much of a wait to enjoy lunch.    

If any one has followed my posts on Voom you may have seen my 'Day 2 Voom Strategy' that involves waiting until day 2 to purchase Voom on board.  Since the price for the 'full voyage' Voom plans drop with each day passing you can save money if you can wait a day or two.
As I sit here on a 10 night cruise it has occurred to me the same strategy can be used with a drink package on longer sailings.
I've often avoided drink packages on longer sailings due to:
High cost of packages on longer sailings.  More nights equate to higher package price. Drink fatigue.  Fix or six (or more) alcoholic drinks every day, day after day, gets old. Itinerary.  Depending how many days are port days and times in port the drink package may be less desirable. On this 10 night sailing they offer the drink package on board up to day 5.  Onboard prices are higher than cruise planner advance purchase prices but under the right circumstances, it might make sense to buy it onboard but waiting a few days.
Let's look at this cruise.
Using $48 as a typical price the cruise planner deluxe drink package:
10 nights x $48 = $480 plus 18% gratuity = $566 per person.  That's too much for me.   If you wait until day 4 of a 10 night cruise there are 7 nights left. 
With an onboard price of $57 x 7 nights = $399 plus 18% gratuity = $471 per person.   A savings of $95 per person Not only do you save $95 but you avoid drink fatigue and depending on itinerary you might avoid paying for a few port days.
Where this really becomes realistic is if you are Diamond or higher because of the Diamond Happy Hour drinks each evening.  
Where it becomes even better is if you are Diamond Plus or better.  Diamond Plus receive 30% off onboard drink package pricing.  $399 less 30% is $280 plus 18% gratuity = $330.  That's a whopping $236 per person savings all by not drinking a lot for the first few days.  
How does it look for a 7 night cruise?
Cruise Planner 7 x $48 plus 18% = $396 Waiting for day 2, 6 nights x $57 plus 18% = $403 Waiting for day 3, 5 nights x $57 plus 18% = $336, a savings of $60 per person.     For Diamond Plus the day 3 price is $235 for a savings of $160 per person. At just $60 savings it's not really a great strategy for 7 night cruises, you'll save a little, but on longer cruises it can save you quite a bit more.
You do need to ask onboard which day the drink package sales will cease because that can vary from cruise to cruise.
The other gotcha could be onboard pricing which has been as high as $63 on some cruises recently.  By following live blogs here in the message boards we can perhaps get an idea for any given ship.  
When looking at a 14 night transatlantic next year there is just no way I am going to drop $826 for the cruise planner drink package.  Waiting until mid-cruise for a partial drink package might just be affordable though.  

This. 
I know drink packages get a lot of attention, but if you aren't going to drink 5-6 drinks a day, every day of the cruise, then forgo the drink package and pay as you go for drinks.

No, it's not necessary, the only requirement is paying in full before the final due date.
In my opinion, the only time this financed monthly option makes sense is for people who want to sail soon but can't afford to pay all at once.  This option would allow them to book a cruise that sails a couple months from now, the financing company pays Royal the whole amount, the customer gets to make small, monthly payments not only past final due date but maybe even past the actual cruise.  Royal gets their money, the financing company gets some interest on the deal, and the customer sails when they couldn't before.
Anyone that can pay in full by final due date, should continue to do so, there's no reason to pay interest to anyone unless you have to!