Nancymc

We are leaving this Sunday on the serenade of the seas and heard a tip on cruise tips tv that instead of going to the crowded buffet after embarking you can eat at one of the ships dining rooms on some cruise lines.  Do any of you know if the Serenade will have main dining room open before leaving port?? Kind of like the idea of being served instead of searching for a seat at the buffet. Thanks ?

I always get there by 10 or 10:30.  Never boarded later than 11.

You'll be fine. Boarding times are suggestions, not requirements

Happy for everyone that booked a suite but feel like I might be the poorest person here. Only can afford balcony right now.

Ships shops and casino close in virtually all ports because a ship is subject to local laws while within the territorial waters of any given country. 
Some countries ban gambling while others require a gaming license, or the local casinos don't want the competition so it becomes unattractive for a ship to operate it's casino while in port.  In some ports there are exceptions in the evenings when land casinos have closed for the day and only then may a ship operate it's casino while in port.
To avoid having to pay local taxes and be subject to other retail laws the shops on board the ship will typically be closed while in port.  Shops will typically have open hours when the ship is in international water only.  
Entertainment isn't 'closed' in port, but in many cases entertainment is scheduled by the ship for when all guests would be on board.  Entertainment isn't typically subject to local laws in port, it just doesn't make sense to offer entertainment when guests won't be on board to enjoy it.  
Activities such as water slides, zip lines, flowriders, etc. will be open at certain times again reflecting that operating these activities when few guests are on board doesn't make sense so they tend to be open at specific times closer to when some guests are beginning to return to the ship such as mid-afternoon.
Cruise compasses from past guests will give you an idea of what to expect in terms of when the shops and casino may be open or closed.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compass?ship=1071
 
 

Can’t answer the drinking questions (not drinkers) but can tell you that when the ship is in port all shops and the casino are closed. They will open again as soon as they leave port.  Enjoy your cruise ? ☺️

Thanks to all of you who responded to my post .... and yes I did give wrong ship name !! We are sailing on the “serenade of the seas”.