NZCruiser

If I stated this b4 I am sorry.
Security on the Adventure was amazing.
1. Towel station.  A passenger saved 8 chairs at 7 a.m.  By 9:30 a.m. their towels were returned, but their items were left by the chairs.  The attendant said you broke the rule that is stated everywhere...30 mins.  You now owe 200 bucks for the 8 towels because you didn't check them back in.  They got testy, security was called and they were told that if they did not back down they would be escorted off tomorrow at 8 a.m. when we docked.  They immediately backed down
2. My SIL looked very flush when she was walking on the pool deck.  A security officer said to her sit down now.  He went to the pool bar got her a bottle of water and watched her drink it.  She was over heated.  She wanted to leave them, and they said no, not unless she walked back to someone that was traveling with her.  I was in the Solarium.  They brought her back, and I said, no, I know her, she is very fair skin and what you think is flushed it really is sunburn starting to show.  They stayed another 10 mins to watch over her.
3. At night 3 I went up to the blue moon bar, deck 14.  I get on and find 3 kids, ages 8,10 and 12.  The 10 yr old that day had to get 5 stitches at Horseshoe bay (grotto area) her shin is wrapped.  I make small talk and ask how old are they.  They told me.  They were going to deck 5 Promenade, my cabin was on 7, but decided to go to 4 to Schooners.  I told the bartender that there are 3 kids under 12 riding the elevator....I knew this also because they said that as soon as they hit 5 they were going to hit 11 (pool)  2-3 mins later security was at Schooners asking for descriptions of the kids.  These are the balcony style elevators so you can see everyone.  I ordered a bottle of water, went to the elevator and as mine was going up the security guard was coming down with the 3 kids.
~ I don't know if this was because of Freedom, but I remember thinking what kind of parent are you?  Who lets an 8 yr old that just got stitches to wander a ship this size?  The promenade staircase is marble.  The pool deck even at that hr can still be slippery.  Those handrails for a 10 yr old truly are an issue if they want to get a close up look at the sea when you are talking about being with other young kids.
4. Night 4 we were walking the deck and 4 18+ yo boys decided that this was the running track.  They got nailed, and I watched security ask let me see your sea pass card.  He said something on the walkie talkie.  Next thing I knew was they were being escorted off the deck...my guess back to their parents cabin.
I was really impressed with security, even though they made me go through the screener 3 times each time.  I have a metal knee cap and a hip.  I would tell them this before I entered.  I'd beep, they send me back in again.  It always ended the same way.  Do you have a phone on you? NO.  Do you have any jewelry on you? Yes, just my wedding and engagement ring.  3rd time...do you have any metal in your body?  You mean my right knee and hip?  Yes.  Okay...go through
 
 

Crossing fingers and hoping for the best. Was planning early 2021 for a Carribbean and a Cuba cruise and have been waiting on itineraries for Cuba to be released before booking anything. Oh well, guess we'll just have to see how it all plays out. At least I can focus on planning for a Panama Cruise in 2020 instead!!

Crossing fingers and hoping for the best. Was planning early 2021 for a Carribbean and a Cuba cruise and have been waiting on itineraries for Cuba to be released before booking anything. Oh well, guess we'll just have to see how it all plays out. At least I can focus on planning for a Panama Cruise in 2020 instead!!

Crossing fingers and hoping for the best. Was planning early 2021 for a Carribbean and a Cuba cruise and have been waiting on itineraries for Cuba to be released before booking anything. Oh well, guess we'll just have to see how it all plays out. At least I can focus on planning for a Panama Cruise in 2020 instead!!

Totally agree that it's not necessary, but we usually tip $20 at the beginning, which usually means we get very good service and occasionally, we will also tip at the end. We also have it in a wee 'thank you' card as well.
We will always have a few thank you cards with smaller tips inside on us for when we come across exceptional service, but we're unsure if we will see that crew member again on the cruise.
One thing we ALWAYS do is to write plenty of the comment cards for the staff. They not only get to receive and read them, but it can also help with pay increases and perks and that doesn't cost you a thing :)
Just my two cents worth
Shelley

Totally agree that it's not necessary, but we usually tip $20 at the beginning, which usually means we get very good service and occasionally, we will also tip at the end. We also have it in a wee 'thank you' card as well.
We will always have a few thank you cards with smaller tips inside on us for when we come across exceptional service, but we're unsure if we will see that crew member again on the cruise.
One thing we ALWAYS do is to write plenty of the comment cards for the staff. They not only get to receive and read them, but it can also help with pay increases and perks and that doesn't cost you a thing :)
Just my two cents worth
Shelley

Totally agree that it's not necessary, but we usually tip $20 at the beginning, which usually means we get very good service and occasionally, we will also tip at the end. We also have it in a wee 'thank you' card as well.
We will always have a few thank you cards with smaller tips inside on us for when we come across exceptional service, but we're unsure if we will see that crew member again on the cruise.
One thing we ALWAYS do is to write plenty of the comment cards for the staff. They not only get to receive and read them, but it can also help with pay increases and perks and that doesn't cost you a thing :)
Just my two cents worth
Shelley

@Lovetocruise2002 "Class, today in geography and personal finance (co-curricular, ya know) we will plan and budget for my, err I mean, a cruise! Here are your choices: Canada/New England, in a Junior Suite, soda package and BOGO dining package. OR, seven nights spring break, Harmony of the Seas, Coastal Kitchen every night. Plus three shore excursions. You pick Eastern or Western itinerary and tell me why!" Heck, assign dioramas!!

I have not done anything like this myself, but I've been catching up on older episodes of the Podcast and Matt recommended going to the restaurant the day before your reservation and letting them know of your special request so that the chef can prepare it or arrange it for you, if it is within possibility. He was specifically getting a lunch menu item at dinner but I think it would relieve some of the embarrassment if you were able to stop by at a quiet time instead of having to "spring it on" your server at dinner. I hope you get your soup!!

I would never go anytime apart from MTD. I dislike traditional dining seating especially when traveling with a small group when you are forced to share a table with strangers, which makes us very uncomfortable. MTD is great because you can select what time for each day and be flexible. And you can get a table for whatever size you need and you aren’t forced to eat with strangers. 

I only do MTD. It works exactly as a normal restaurant. You can either book a table for a specific time (usually we will do this the day before or on the day at lunch time at the latest). If we haven't booked we just bring a glass of wine and the wait will not feel that long. 
I would never go traditional as I hate those small talk conversations with strangers. 

I know you can walk off with packaged and sealed food (like a bag of chips or a granola bar or something) but I've been stopped for fruit before (in Cozumel - I was with my in laws on my very first cruise ever and when the dog sniffed my bag and sat down next to me their faces seemed to indicate they were certain I had drugs in my bag). 

Full disclosure - I used to work in the restaurant biz and as such have a soft spot in my heart for waitstaff, or anyone that has to deal with feeding or cleaning up after the general public.  So I tend to tip well.
I will prepay, but still toss a dollar or two at the bartenders for my drinks as well as tip the room attendant (and concierge if in a suite) at the end of the cruise.  I'm not convinced they see all that prepaid gratuity money, and the few extra bucks isn't enough to break my vacation and I feel it's noticed and appreciated.  If I had a bartender or attendant that didn't seem to care much, I probably wouldn't tip them any extra, but I haven't run into that situation.
I spoke to a bartender about it last week on Rhapsody.  He told me that they see money from the prepaid gratuities but didn't go into detail and I didn't press.  He said there are a few that don't tip at all so they notice and appreciate it no matter how the tips are covered.  I did notice that my drinks got progressively more and more pale as the days wore on.  My Cape Codders were barely pink by day 5 ?
So to quote others, if you've prepaid, you're good and don't need to tip any extra.  If you tip over and above, you'll probably be drunk by noon.

Sucks when 3% of the population ruins it for the other 97%......
 
Sounds about right though in todays society.....
 
As long as  I was in the 97%...I wouldn't mind losing one stop and getting a full refund back..pretty sweet deal really.

Someone (or several someones) didn't pay attention to the Washy-Washy song. ? 

I also agree that it really ain’t a scam at all just another program that they are offering and some might find it worth the money while others won’t depending on what they value and what they like to do. Yes I think that it really depends on what you would do on the ship. Personally we don’t use any of the flowrider, rock climbing etc activities so those features aren’t of any value to us but would be very valuable to families that would use those features. Also, the price that we are paying for the internet for two devices is a total of 133 for two devices for our cabin since we don’t need any more than that. Also, we check our bags and just carry a purse on board so that feature wouldn’t be used by us either, but certainly might for other groups that might want to carry on luggage. The breakfast also isn’t anything that I would place value on solely for us because we are fine with getting room service or eating in the buffet, but again that’s only us. So for us I can only look at the value of boarding priority and reserved seating at shows as those are the only other features that we would be receiving in addition to the internet. Therefore just for us we would have a difference of around 147 for the added benefits beyond the internet. I personally don’t feel that monetarily speaking that priority boarding and reserved seats at shows is worth an additional 147. 
 
But it that’s just me. I would rather spend that kind of money on excursions and activities. 
 
But families might find this advantageous depending on what they like to do. 
To each their own though ?

Like @ellcee, I too had no clue what the issue out of the suite folks would be.  That's the most ridiculous complaint I've ever heard.
I'd like mine with coffee and Bailey's please.

Welcome to the boards @Jason. Someone asked the same question a while back and got some good replies. You can see that thread here:  https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/6036-favorite-virgin-drink/&tab=comments#comment-64437
Also, keep in mind that you should keep checking the price of the package. We got the refreshment package for a 2019 cruise at $17/day. If you see it lower than what you paid, you can easily cancel and rebook. The credit will take a few days to show up.
Enjoy your cruise!