Pima1988

We lifted and shifted our May 2021 to  22 several months ago, we did it back in October, but it may have been early November. so you can see they definitely are offering May sailings. 
The original sail date was May 15th for 7 nights on SoS.  We got the exact same cabin, but the sail date is May 1st.  The itinerary changed a bit.  It's no longer stopping at Labadee, but instead St. Martin.

We lifted and shifted our May 2021 to  22 several months ago, we did it back in October, but it may have been early November. so you can see they definitely are offering May sailings. 
The original sail date was May 15th for 7 nights on SoS.  We got the exact same cabin, but the sail date is May 1st.  The itinerary changed a bit.  It's no longer stopping at Labadee, but instead St. Martin.

It is lookin good

We watched it Saturday and laughed at how 4 people missed the ship at their 1st port. We felt for them, but laughed because we felt like it was a PSA from RCL   They than made another hint at it when they docked late in Rome and if you decided not to use RCL for excursions the ship would not wait.

We watched it Saturday and laughed at how 4 people missed the ship at their 1st port. We felt for them, but laughed because we felt like it was a PSA from RCL   They than made another hint at it when they docked late in Rome and if you decided not to use RCL for excursions the ship would not wait.

When are we coming over for the grand opening?

I laughed about the very steep walk to Circular Quay.  2 years ago we stayed at the Intercontinental (located across the street from the botanical gardens) in Sydney and I can still remember walking down that hill to the Opera house wearing heels, I swear my husband still has bruises on his hand from my death grip.  I could not imagine dragging luggage.  Pretty sure I would have been just like your wife....add in some swear words.
We were there in May and from our hotel room I watched Ovation dock one morning.  All I thought was ... I am so jealous of the people getting on the ship.  I then said to myself if I ever go back to Australia we will do a cruise.  As an American east coast girl, that's not going to happen for at least a decade+ (retirement).  
Sydney to me is now tied as 1 of the best cities in the world. Tied with Venice. Edinburgh is behind them.  Than again, I am a huge Queen Victoria history buff and a true romantic so that be why it is at the top

I laughed about the very steep walk to Circular Quay.  2 years ago we stayed at the Intercontinental (located across the street from the botanical gardens) in Sydney and I can still remember walking down that hill to the Opera house wearing heels, I swear my husband still has bruises on his hand from my death grip.  I could not imagine dragging luggage.  Pretty sure I would have been just like your wife....add in some swear words.
We were there in May and from our hotel room I watched Ovation dock one morning.  All I thought was ... I am so jealous of the people getting on the ship.  I then said to myself if I ever go back to Australia we will do a cruise.  As an American east coast girl, that's not going to happen for at least a decade+ (retirement).  
Sydney to me is now tied as 1 of the best cities in the world. Tied with Venice. Edinburgh is behind them.  Than again, I am a huge Queen Victoria history buff and a true romantic so that be why it is at the top

So interesting.
1. As you can see that is why we have so much brushed concrete since it is required 36 inches for code around the entire perimeter..  
2. They use to allow just a gate at 6 ft., but now any new pool must have a metal fence at least 3 1/2 ft high surrounding the pool itself even if you have the privacy fence.  In our area with your design, it looks like you walk right out to the pool from your back door, you would have to get the automatic pool cover and door sensor on the house with an alarm company for insurance.  Virginia impo is a litigious state.  Everything is CYA. 
3. Our deep end is @ the same. But I think we are 6 1/2 feet.   Our tanning ledge is 18 inches  deep and it looks about the same size. 6 x 9 or 10 feet wide.   In VA there must be a 2nd egress on the opposite end of the 1st aka tanning ledge.  Bench is at 3 1/2 feet high.  This way now with county regs it is considered egress since it is only 3 ft from bench to patio.  
@melmar02
Embrace the memories you are creating.  
 
 

So interesting.
1. As you can see that is why we have so much brushed concrete since it is required 36 inches for code around the entire perimeter..  
2. They use to allow just a gate at 6 ft., but now any new pool must have a metal fence at least 3 1/2 ft high surrounding the pool itself even if you have the privacy fence.  In our area with your design, it looks like you walk right out to the pool from your back door, you would have to get the automatic pool cover and door sensor on the house with an alarm company for insurance.  Virginia impo is a litigious state.  Everything is CYA. 
3. Our deep end is @ the same. But I think we are 6 1/2 feet.   Our tanning ledge is 18 inches  deep and it looks about the same size. 6 x 9 or 10 feet wide.   In VA there must be a 2nd egress on the opposite end of the 1st aka tanning ledge.  Bench is at 3 1/2 feet high.  This way now with county regs it is considered egress since it is only 3 ft from bench to patio.  
@melmar02
Embrace the memories you are creating.  
 
 

@melmar02curious too on which you chose.  In our area the pool builders do 1or the other, but not both.  Thus, that is another factor when choosing your builder. We decided to go with chlorine, but took some of the design suggestions from the salt water pool people.
Are you doing the remote control panels that you can doing everything from your tablet...I.e. Change pool lights, turn the bubbles on, etc?  If so keep me updated on how you like it.  
I noticed from your renderings that you don't have a fence all the way around the pool.  In our area there are 3 must have mandates for county code approval.. 
1. Minimum 3 foot cement walk way around the entire pool.
2. Wrought iron fence around the entire perimeter of the pool.  In your design it looks like you can just walk out your back door to the pool area.  For us you would have to go through a 2nd gate.  Caveat you can get an exception to this if you get an automated electric pool cover with a time sensor and separate control panel.  Most people don't do this bc the cost is prohibitive compared to the fence.  For our pool (16x32) it would be 15k.  Wrought iron fence 26 by 42 around the pool plus the pool cover will be 8k.  
3.  We must have 2 egrresses.  Our design is like yours. But to the left of the waterfall we have a bench to sit on that juts out a bit. This counts as our 2nd egress.  By county code it had to jut out instead of staying flush with the waterfall to be counted as an egress.  Theory is that the person needs to grab onto the coping and the waterfall sits up higher, thus can't do it
 

We signed our pool contract last week.  In Northern Virginia it takes about 8 months.  Right now the survey from the county is taking almost3 months because there are so many people putting in pools.  That and due to covid they have less workers actually in the office (distancing).  If all goes well for us we might have it by August.

We signed our pool contract last week.  In Northern Virginia it takes about 8 months.  Right now the survey from the county is taking almost3 months because there are so many people putting in pools.  That and due to covid they have less workers actually in the office (distancing).  If all goes well for us we might have it by August.

We signed our pool contract last week.  In Northern Virginia it takes about 8 months.  Right now the survey from the county is taking almost3 months because there are so many people putting in pools.  That and due to covid they have less workers actually in the office (distancing).  If all goes well for us we might have it by August.

I don't have one, but it is basically the snack shack menu, such as, chicken sandwiches, Portobello burgers, salads, funnel cake, etc.  
You can order as much as you want.  They will drop the menu off around 10 when they drop off the a.m. fruit platter.  They will deliver at the time you request.  There will be a p.m. fruit kebab delivery.  

I don't have one, but it is basically the snack shack menu, such as, chicken sandwiches, Portobello burgers, salads, funnel cake, etc.  
You can order as much as you want.  They will drop the menu off around 10 when they drop off the a.m. fruit platter.  They will deliver at the time you request.  There will be a p.m. fruit kebab delivery.  

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.
 
 
 

.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!
 

This is also why I think wait staff around the world loves the US because we automatically tip.  I lived for 3+ yrs in the UK.  I have traveled across Europe and Australia, I know they have a VAT, but as Americans we still leave another tip on top of the bill.
OBTW, I am a military wife (DH is now retired)  guess what?  If you purchase groceries on base/post you actually do tip the baggers.  They are paid min. wage.  They bag your groceries and walk them out to your car, plus put them in.  So yep, in some parts of the US we tip grocery workers.  They are paid min. wage.   We also pay a 5% surcharge for shopping at the commissary.  
I honestly, do not tip at the bars in the pool.  However, we love Schooners and go there for pre-dinner cocktails.  We tip there, not to get better service, but bc after a few days they are our "local" bartender.  They remember our orders and as we pony up to the bar they ask your usual, followed by the order.  They also would go in the back and bring us a cup of nuts or snack for us.
Finally, I don't think it is about the tip per se.  I think it is about respect.
We all forget that while we are having fun, they have personal lives that have to be placed into the back of their mind.  They have to smile, and maybe they just heard their parent thousands of miles away was diagnosed with cancer.  Yes, they signed up for it, but they are still humans with emotions, yet expected to serve us all with a smile.  
Let's also be honest.  I get the 18% argument, but really, you pay how many thousands for a cruise, not including airfare, and we are now talking about maybe 5 bucks a day for a bartender? I say 5 going with 5 alcoholic beverages.  What is that 1% of your cruise cost?
 
 

That is hard for me.  It is a tie.
Coco Cay Cabana and Chef's table....oh maybe I should add the 70s party....oh, but was that better than Quest?  Okay, let's just go with my favorite memory of my last cruise was walking onto the ship so I could have all those memories!
What is easy for me to say, is my biggest negative memory, not because of RCL, but because of crazy passengers.  We loved doing the trivia in Schooners.  It was fun and let's be honest, what did you win... a key chain you never used or a highlighter?  On our last 2 cruises people were acting like they were going to win a million dollars and pulling out their phones to google/bing the question.  They lost site of the fact that is suppose to be fun and laugh at the crazy answers thrown out when they ask for people to scream out the answer before they gave the correct answer, instead it was I have to win!  We stopped going by day 3 of our 10 day cruise.
Back on topic.

That is hard for me.  It is a tie.
Coco Cay Cabana and Chef's table....oh maybe I should add the 70s party....oh, but was that better than Quest?  Okay, let's just go with my favorite memory of my last cruise was walking onto the ship so I could have all those memories!
What is easy for me to say, is my biggest negative memory, not because of RCL, but because of crazy passengers.  We loved doing the trivia in Schooners.  It was fun and let's be honest, what did you win... a key chain you never used or a highlighter?  On our last 2 cruises people were acting like they were going to win a million dollars and pulling out their phones to google/bing the question.  They lost site of the fact that is suppose to be fun and laugh at the crazy answers thrown out when they ask for people to scream out the answer before they gave the correct answer, instead it was I have to win!  We stopped going by day 3 of our 10 day cruise.
Back on topic.

That is strange to me.  How would the pharmacist or the bank teller know?  I work retail (specialty) I know many of my customers personally, but someone coming in off the street I would not know if they were a nurse/doc, etc.  I have no need to ask, thus, I cannot fathom why the bank teller or the pharmacist would ask since it has nothing to do with the transaction.
Honestly, as I said to @Lovetocruise2002 in that theory, they should keep me off the ship since I have a high risk of exposure.  That bank teller is probably at a higher risk than you.  Think about it, money is not sanitary.  I have to visit the bank to make deposits for the store.  They are not wearing gloves when they do it.  In that theory, they better list a "NO SAIL" order for careers all over the place.   IE my DS works as a Bio Chemist, and deals with blood products.  He could be infected.  My DD is a school teacher.  My other DS is a pilot.  So, just in my family I would have 4 out of 5 that would be considered high risk.
OBTW, thank you and your husband for being there for all of us.  It is a calling, and unfortunately people forget the personal sacrifices that you make.

That is strange to me.  How would the pharmacist or the bank teller know?  I work retail (specialty) I know many of my customers personally, but someone coming in off the street I would not know if they were a nurse/doc, etc.  I have no need to ask, thus, I cannot fathom why the bank teller or the pharmacist would ask since it has nothing to do with the transaction.
Honestly, as I said to @Lovetocruise2002 in that theory, they should keep me off the ship since I have a high risk of exposure.  That bank teller is probably at a higher risk than you.  Think about it, money is not sanitary.  I have to visit the bank to make deposits for the store.  They are not wearing gloves when they do it.  In that theory, they better list a "NO SAIL" order for careers all over the place.   IE my DS works as a Bio Chemist, and deals with blood products.  He could be infected.  My DD is a school teacher.  My other DS is a pilot.  So, just in my family I would have 4 out of 5 that would be considered high risk.
OBTW, thank you and your husband for being there for all of us.  It is a calling, and unfortunately people forget the personal sacrifices that you make.

That is strange to me.  How would the pharmacist or the bank teller know?  I work retail (specialty) I know many of my customers personally, but someone coming in off the street I would not know if they were a nurse/doc, etc.  I have no need to ask, thus, I cannot fathom why the bank teller or the pharmacist would ask since it has nothing to do with the transaction.
Honestly, as I said to @Lovetocruise2002 in that theory, they should keep me off the ship since I have a high risk of exposure.  That bank teller is probably at a higher risk than you.  Think about it, money is not sanitary.  I have to visit the bank to make deposits for the store.  They are not wearing gloves when they do it.  In that theory, they better list a "NO SAIL" order for careers all over the place.   IE my DS works as a Bio Chemist, and deals with blood products.  He could be infected.  My DD is a school teacher.  My other DS is a pilot.  So, just in my family I would have 4 out of 5 that would be considered high risk.
OBTW, thank you and your husband for being there for all of us.  It is a calling, and unfortunately people forget the personal sacrifices that you make.

That is hard for me.  It is a tie.
Coco Cay Cabana and Chef's table....oh maybe I should add the 70s party....oh, but was that better than Quest?  Okay, let's just go with my favorite memory of my last cruise was walking onto the ship so I could have all those memories!
What is easy for me to say, is my biggest negative memory, not because of RCL, but because of crazy passengers.  We loved doing the trivia in Schooners.  It was fun and let's be honest, what did you win... a key chain you never used or a highlighter?  On our last 2 cruises people were acting like they were going to win a million dollars and pulling out their phones to google/bing the question.  They lost site of the fact that is suppose to be fun and laugh at the crazy answers thrown out when they ask for people to scream out the answer before they gave the correct answer, instead it was I have to win!  We stopped going by day 3 of our 10 day cruise.
Back on topic.