Yo2slick

The Royal Chocolate cake is amazing!  I think I had a piece every night and even took one back to the room for later.  🤣

I'm trying to turn Mr. SpeedNoodles into a suite snob (we've yet to stay in one).  I've booked most of our next cruises in JS, but I've submitted a RoyalUp for our October sailing in the hopes of getting a full suite.  I haven't even told him that we're in a Jr Suite, so it'd be a blast to surprise him with a real suite.  There are about 7 Crown Loft Suites available now on our sailing, but I think he'd be unhappy being up on Deck 17, away from where we like to spend most of our time, so I rescinded my bid on that (bummer, because we had the best chance of getting that type). I also put bids on a Grand Suite (both 1 & 2 bdrm), an Owner's Suite, and a 1 & 2 bedroom AquaSuite.   I'm secretly hoping for the 1 bedroom AquaSuite. 
Ok, so it's not a secret anymore.

Warning, that is next level of being a suite snob.  The point of no return. lol

We just got back from Alaska on Ovation and had an amazing time.
My only complaint was the toilet paper (geez that's some rough thin paper)😉
The crew members were outstanding, my survey took me a bit to get in all the names.
So we stayed in a Jr Suite ( just James and I) for the first time.
We decide to try Europe again so we go to the NextCruise to book (learned it's just better to book direct with my TA Kelley from MEI)
I asked about 2 connecting OV balconies, my husband stops me and says Jr Suites or higher. 🤯
He said he really enjoyed the space and was not going smaller.
We now are booked in a 2 bedroom GS, it's the only 2 bedroom Rhapsody of the Seas had available.
I know Rhapsody does not have the perks bigger class ships have but we are ok with that.
 

If that's what it takes to keep cruising. I'll do it. 

I've been in interior, never going back. I've been in oceanview, is okay I think for a Bermuda cruise where you are overnight in port or longer. Oceanview is good because you will be on shore the most.  I have my first balcony booked in 22 days, price was about $1000 per person, I've decided I'm never going back to anything other than balcony for the sheer fact of fresh air.  
Jan 2023 I have a two bedroom grand suite booked on Enchantment of the Seas for 12 days.  This does not have the same perks as the Oasis class suites I found out but it still has some perks.  I booked this room because we are going with my parents and my father has limited mobility, and sometimes due to PTSD can't be around large crowds.  With the suite, it gives him and Mom their own room, their own bathroom with just a shower, the balcony(Which is much larger due to location), plus if Dad doesn't want to go to the dining room, room service is included.  Since there is a central living area we can play cards, watch tv, read and not feel like we are stuck in our bedrooms.  I think it ended up being $2500 per person including tax, tips, and insurance.

Our Liberty sailing the DBP dropped to 50 and DBP + Voom is 61.  I don't see it getting any better than that.

By day 5 of a 7 night cruise I'm usually tired of eating ?
We usually do My Time Dining as it works way better for us.
Ill always snack during the day.  If I pass the pizza place, I grab a slice.  Pass the ice cream machine, Ill grab a cone ect...  We eat whenever we feel like it.  Might cruise through the buffet and check it out, might order room service or see if there is room at a specialty restaurant if we feel like it.  We just go with the flow and it usually works out great.  You will not go hungry I can assure you!

Another option is to do a B2B, turning it into a 14 day round trip 

@PG Cruiser I sailed with my husband and daughter in a suite. 7 days after I stepped off the ship my points were on my account, additional 28 points. My husband and daughter sailing in the same cabin received nothing. I called and their accounts were updated while I was on the phone. 

For my future solo sailings I get 6 points each night. 1 for sailing, 1 more for being solo, and 1 more for being in a suite. Double that is 6 points per night. When this first came out, I emailed Royal just to make sure. Also, previous cruisers have already posted on the forums.
So for him sailing solo in a non-suite…1 for the sailing, 1 extra for being solo. Double that is 4 points per night.

While I really do like The Key (at the right price), the private hours are usually at really crappy times and I've never gone to any activity set aside for The Key.  It's definitely not a reason that I'd get it.

Not a cruising situation but last month at a huge casino I attempted to pay for 2 rooms for myself and some friends that flew in from out of town.  I was straight up told that they had rooms but I couldn't have one.   Another one of my friends that has gambled ALOT of money there was comped 2 suites.......He with the checkbook usually gets their way, my checkbook wasn't big enough.  ?  
Point is its common for rooms or spots to be held back for people that spend more money.  Wouldn't surprise me at all if RCCL did the exact same thing. 

Not a cruising situation but last month at a huge casino I attempted to pay for 2 rooms for myself and some friends that flew in from out of town.  I was straight up told that they had rooms but I couldn't have one.   Another one of my friends that has gambled ALOT of money there was comped 2 suites.......He with the checkbook usually gets their way, my checkbook wasn't big enough.  ?  
Point is its common for rooms or spots to be held back for people that spend more money.  Wouldn't surprise me at all if RCCL did the exact same thing. 

Exactly, that's life lol

Not a cruising situation but last month at a huge casino I attempted to pay for 2 rooms for myself and some friends that flew in from out of town.  I was straight up told that they had rooms but I couldn't have one.   Another one of my friends that has gambled ALOT of money there was comped 2 suites.......He with the checkbook usually gets their way, my checkbook wasn't big enough.  ?  
Point is its common for rooms or spots to be held back for people that spend more money.  Wouldn't surprise me at all if RCCL did the exact same thing. 

And this is all over and above the $17.50 pppd, correct?

@CruiseRoyalDad So very well said. As a loyal RC cruiser who also misses cruising very much, RC no longer welcomes me on their ships  because I don't have the proper papers. I have perused this blog for a while, reading time and time again posters saying "just let me on a ship", "I'll do anything to cruise again" and then are shocked at some change in protocol which, ultimately, they justify and go along with... 
Don't be surprised when the chronic conditions that cruisers have (diabetes, heart condition, COPD, etc) are the next one's that, like me, will be ineligible for cruising. And don't be surprised when your fellow blog members don't give a darn that it's happening.

I'm not following? Why is this outlandish? We see exactly this happening before our eyes? Did you ever think you'd need a negative test or vaccination papers to board a cruise? Yet this is happening in real time right now. Forget the Doctor's note we need cards with dates, vaccination lot numbers, and signatures. The burden of proof for every passenger as left the doctor's note far behind. Show your papers please! 
While I agree that the OP is fishy at best I don't see why everybody is having such a hard time believing this can happen or revealing all medical records before a cruise vacation isn't in the future. As pointed out by multiple responses the language, at least, was once very much written in RCCL policy. 
For those saying "NO WAY", it can't happen, well it can, and it is. Right now.  It's precisely what the majority of posters here are asking for in thread after thread in terms of forcing their fellow royal Caribbean blog community members/family to be vaccinated, and show proof there of, to have as "normal" of a cruise as possible these days.
This is just the start, which is why the lines including our beloved RCCL should not have dealt with attempting to appease the impossible standards placed on them by big pharma tainted bureaucracies. 
 
 
 

Yes!  It was an amazing time!  The entire group saved over 100 turtles and we released them into the ocean.  There is a stop on the way back that was pretty cool.  Its a demonstration of the Mayans way of life and they have a Tequila tasting as well.  Just be ready to dig in the sand as deep as you can reach with your hands, those nests are pretty deep!   

I consistently find the best prices on excursions between sales.  I find random price drops and jump on them.  It takes some work (checking daily for something you're interested in), but when I've gotten these deals I've never seen the price go that low again.  It's worth checking frequently.

One key thing is if you're on prescription medication, always pack a couple extra days of meds just in case.

I always tip directly to the crew member I want to receive the money.