AshleyDillo

Might as well..I have found the best prices tend to be at the release of the itineraries or very last minute on a sailing that's not doing very well.  Unfortunately not all sailings end up with rock bottom last minute pricing so if you don't have the flexibility to roll the dice with that, then booking early is always your best bet.
If you are seeking the upper class rooms a lot of times those will be priced at a low and then just continue to go up.  When the prices on those fall later it's usually due to the entire sailing being repriced.  You CAN get ask for a reprice on a room even if there's not one in available inventory (i.e. if you have a Crown Loft and there aren't any on the website...but you've been tracking the other suites and notice they've all dropped..likely yours had a price decrease as well.)  I'm gonna try to play this game ala  @Lovetocruise2002 with some villa suites.

I always opt for EWR when flying in for anything NYC related.  It's super easy to get transportation into the city (trains) without having to use vehicles whereas LGA and JFK are not easy at all to get to without relying on some form of surface street transportation (rideshare/cab/bus/walking).
For OP, I really enjoyed my Anthem Canada/New England trip out of Cape Liberty.  Everything about that port was a breeze. 
Doing Brillance in October 2020 out of Boston for the same itinerary..in fact it's one of this blog's group cruises! https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/event/royalcaribbeanblogcom-cruise-aboard-brilliance-of-the-seas

If you have the flexibility and it won't ruin your plans completely if you can't find a good price, then you might as well take the gamble.  You will be limited to what's left as far as room inventory, but sometimes you can hop on a cruise at a really reasonable price.
I'm planning on playing this game next year over Thanksgiving week.  But I also live in Florida and have the ability to drive to the port, so no need to plan anything in advance that I would be at risk of losing if a cheap didn't materialize.

Might as well..I have found the best prices tend to be at the release of the itineraries or very last minute on a sailing that's not doing very well.  Unfortunately not all sailings end up with rock bottom last minute pricing so if you don't have the flexibility to roll the dice with that, then booking early is always your best bet.
If you are seeking the upper class rooms a lot of times those will be priced at a low and then just continue to go up.  When the prices on those fall later it's usually due to the entire sailing being repriced.  You CAN get ask for a reprice on a room even if there's not one in available inventory (i.e. if you have a Crown Loft and there aren't any on the website...but you've been tracking the other suites and notice they've all dropped..likely yours had a price decrease as well.)  I'm gonna try to play this game ala  @Lovetocruise2002 with some villa suites.

Most of the Black Friday sales pertain to Cruise Planner purchases and not the actual cruises themselves.
I'm sure they will use their typical tactics and call it a Black Friday sale on cruises, but the sales won't be much different than usual.
I would pay more attention to figuring out what you might be looking for as far as the new itinerary releases that will be happening in the next few weeks.  Jump on that early (refundable) and you will have years of repricing..or you may luck into a really popular itinerary that never has any price breaks.  But at least you'll get first pick of cabin availability this way!

Where's @mpoole3 on this one??!?!  SELL, SELL, SELL!  ?

They will sometimes have tastings at bars for a fee.  These aren't things in the cruise planner, but you can book onboard.  They will have signs posted for you to ask about it at the bar to sign up and you will see them advertised in the cruise planner.   You will get a slight discount with the Deluxe drink package, but still have to pay to participate.  I have seen wine, martini, and whiskey tastings advertised before.  These are full pours usually over the thimble samples you will get in the shops.

It's actually a per VISIT credit.  You can go to Playmakers for a mid-afternoon snack and spend up to $35.  Then you can venture there again late evening, perhaps for their smores dessert, and you can spend up to $35 again.

I think this photo confirms that they have upgraded the door locks to RFID 
 
https://www.diariodecadiz.es/2019/10/29/noticias-provincia-cadiz/Obras-buque-Oasis-of-the_1405069905_111901745_1011x569.jpg

That's a strange place for it to take a nap.

Yes..looks like there's a half bath there.  While I think this room would be amazing for a cold weather cruise, it's not really a cold weather ship.  But just imagine laying in bed in Alaska in that room and staring out the windows.

I thought it was a subtle way of addressing the weird things some people do on their cruise.  Subliminal messaging.  
Come to think of it, maybe @mpoole3 can relate.

LIVE blog wars!!!

I would just tell the TA your intentions of getting the package and that you would prefer OBC.  If they can't do that for some reason, then buy the package and have 4 specialty meals in total.

You can upgrade after final payment, but there will be no refund of the price difference if the price is less than what you had paid.  This is standard. 
If you really want the Crown Loft, then just take the no cost upgrade and don't worry about the fact that it currently costs less than what you paid.  I would just go ahead and do that and let your 2BR ATS bid stand because that is likely very worth it if you win that RoyalUp bid (Star Class amenities).  Then at least you will end up with the room you truly wanted at the minimum.
RoyalUp is a program that doesn't directly correlate with the current inventory.  For example I saw a Grand Suite bid option and when I looked on Royal's site and a third-party site, this particular sailing had no Grand Suites available.  Why would it be offered on RoyalUp then?  Because RoyalUp is a multi-level bidding system.  If someone in a Grand Suite RoyalUps to a higher suite, then there will be a Grand Suite available.  The price for the RoyalUp bids has nothing to do with how the rooms are priced on Royal's site.

Group Cruises are great because you can enjoy your own cruise experience within your family and decide to participate or not with the schedule group activities.  Typically they will have a meet up the night before the cruise in the debarkation city..and often locals will show up and hang out even if they aren't cruising.  Sometimes are able to organize a group hotel available which makes it convenient and then there's a possibility of an organized shuttle to the port.
Part of the perks of being with the group is that they will schedule things such as cocktail parties where we get to be "those people" and go past the sign that says RESERVED FOR PRIVATE EVENT.  Usually there's a group excursion opportunity as well.  On the Thanksgiving Symphony cruise last year we got to participate in the podcast recording down in the conference center.  Roller skating sessions, ice skating sessions, bumper cars are all things I've seen.   @Matt also tries to organize something exclusive for the Insiders (https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/support) to participate in.
But I think the impromptu events tend to be just as much part of the fun.  They set up a chat group so folks can connect with each other during the cruise.  There was a fun bar crawl and a cabin crawl that was organized on the Symphony, impromptu laser tag session on Mariner. And I always knew I could turn up to the pub at night and run into someone from the group.  
I've found the group rates ended up being better since they got locked in so early and it's refundable til the 90-days out mark.  
Plus you get to meet @AnnetteJackson from MEI travel and she is a blast to hang out with!

This site is sponsored by MEI Travel: https://mei-travel.com/
A lot of folks here have used them (myself included) and have had a great experience.  They will handle dealing with the cruise line so you don't have to sit on the phone and they work with you to find what will work best.  I hate getting on the phone and my MEI agent corresponds with me via email and text I feel like she never sleeps sometimes ?
There's zero obligation in contacting several TAs to find one that will work best for YOU..feel free to shop around!

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/odyssey-of-the-seas

 
 

This site is sponsored by MEI Travel: https://mei-travel.com/
A lot of folks here have used them (myself included) and have had a great experience.  They will handle dealing with the cruise line so you don't have to sit on the phone and they work with you to find what will work best.  I hate getting on the phone and my MEI agent corresponds with me via email and text I feel like she never sleeps sometimes ?
There's zero obligation in contacting several TAs to find one that will work best for YOU..feel free to shop around!

This site is sponsored by MEI Travel: https://mei-travel.com/
A lot of folks here have used them (myself included) and have had a great experience.  They will handle dealing with the cruise line so you don't have to sit on the phone and they work with you to find what will work best.  I hate getting on the phone and my MEI agent corresponds with me via email and text I feel like she never sleeps sometimes ?
There's zero obligation in contacting several TAs to find one that will work best for YOU..feel free to shop around!

This site is sponsored by MEI Travel: https://mei-travel.com/
A lot of folks here have used them (myself included) and have had a great experience.  They will handle dealing with the cruise line so you don't have to sit on the phone and they work with you to find what will work best.  I hate getting on the phone and my MEI agent corresponds with me via email and text I feel like she never sleeps sometimes ?
There's zero obligation in contacting several TAs to find one that will work best for YOU..feel free to shop around!

LIVE blog wars!!!

November 13 - November 16 20% off everything
November 29 - December 1 15% off everything
December 2 - December 2 Free Shipping + 15% off everything
 
Think spreadshirt has switched to a new "no code" system. So no need for an actual code.

Can I do the same for my wife? ?

This site is sponsored by MEI Travel: https://mei-travel.com/
A lot of folks here have used them (myself included) and have had a great experience.  They will handle dealing with the cruise line so you don't have to sit on the phone and they work with you to find what will work best.  I hate getting on the phone and my MEI agent corresponds with me via email and text I feel like she never sleeps sometimes ?
There's zero obligation in contacting several TAs to find one that will work best for YOU..feel free to shop around!