SpeedNoodles

We did not book Hibachi at all, so I don't know if you can or not. Our boarding time was 11:30, which was the earliest available that I'm aware of. We had Express Boarding and got on board right away when they opened the ship up (it was the Inaugural sailing). We got to Giovanni's around noon. I honestly wouldn't worry about what's available in the cruise planner. We also got the UDP at $243/pp (and still, we regretted it for this ship).

I had the UDP on Icon. I get it on most Oasis-class ships. We regretted getting it on Icon, though. Not because the specialty restaurants weren't good, they were. But there are SO many great complimentary or low-priced options that we were actually finding ourselves feeling obligated to eat at the specialty restaurants when we really wanted to eat at the AquaDome Marketplace or Basecamp. If we hadn't done the UDP, the money we would have spent at Playmakers, Basecamp, and Izumi in the Park would have been far less than the UDP. And there are no new specialty restaurants on Icon that weren't on our last cruise (Harmony), except for the Empire Supper Club (which was still an upcharge with the UDP.). But, to answer your direct question, it was easy to get reservations at the times we wanted. We just stopped at Giovanni's right away when we boarded the ship and made them all there.

If you want a better chance of warm weather at Coco Cay, then I'd pick April. I've been to Coco Cay 5 times in Dec, Jan, and Feb, and never once has it been warm. The last two times were only tolerable because the Coco Beach Club and the Hideaway Beach have heated pools. The ocean was too cold for us to get into.

Personally, I'd just try to do a walk-in that day or make a reservation once on board. I didn't find it to ever be very crowded for lunch (or dinner, for that matter).

If you do self assist and get off of the ship at the first opportunity, you will probably not have any issues. We were in our Lyft by 8:15 and to the airport by 9. That was a Sunday, though. Mondays could take longer with the atrocious Seattle traffic.

6258 on Quantum.

Here's a photo from the balcony of 6665 on Ovation. Odyssey will be basically the same.

There are lifeboats on the deck below, which blocks the direct view down to the ocean. I checked photos on cruisedeckplans.com (and memories from the ship when I was on it).

Anything purchased on the Cruise Planner is charged immediately.

Yes, you can order anything. If they have the ingredients, they will make it for you. I've had bartenders make me all sorts of drinks that they thought I'd like that aren't on any menu, and we've introduced them to a few.

They don't tell people until embarkation day.

It was brunch on the Icon Inaugural.

There were 2 matinee showings on the Inaugural (I think 3pm, possibly 2pm).

They didn't show up for me until the morning of the sailing for the Icon Inaugural.

Let me know if you're joining this sailing! We're fun. I swear.

Make sure your background is very plain (I take mine in front of a plain, white wall with no decorations on it). I feel that's usually the issue.

I have to do late because 5pm is about 1-2 hours after lunch for me and I'm never hungry.

If it's a Royal Caribbean excursion, they will get you to the catamaran boarding point. They may walk you there, or shuttle you there, depending on where it is.

No, we made them when we got on board the first day.

If you're on the ship, it's in the Dining section. It won't show up until you are on the ship and connected to the ship's wifi. (You don't need Voom to use the app, but you do have to connect).

We found this to be a problem once Mr. SpeedNoodles dislocated his knee (for 2 days, before he figured out why it hurt so much). He couldn't go down any stairs, so we had to stop going to the Hideaway Bar. As far as the Hideaway Beach Club, we loved that heated pool. It's SO big. We'd definitely go again. And hopefully next time he can walk, lol.

There's a section that says "Hungry Now" and only venues that are currently open show up. There will be $$ signs if they are not completely complimentary.

@AshleyDillo would likely know

Try right away when you get on board. You will not be able to walk into Izumi Hibachi and get a place. (Well, never say never, but it's extremely popular).

Compasses are only available post-cruise, but you can look for similar recent sailings on Anthem. They don't generally change drastically.