kadmgs

I agree with AshleyDillo. The beverage package allows you to try drinks you wouldn't normally order or knew existed without the fear of "am I wasting money on a drink I may not like?" I have to start my morning everyday with an iced coffee, so between that and all the bottled water I drank along with 4ish cocktails per day I calculated that I at least broke even if not saved some money. I love the peace of mind it provides in that I don't spend my entire vacation calculating how much I'm charging to my bill. Between it and the unlimited dining package, it's the closest you can get to an all inclusive experience. I'm pretty good at budgeting my money and I spend a significant amount of time stressing over it. I don't want to do that on vacation, so these packages allow me to not worry about it and relax. 

When you purchase the drink package .. it should say something like $52.00 per day plus gratuity.. so the final price should reflect it.  The drinks on the cruise ship usually cost around $8-13 per drink.. depends what you get.. we usually always purchase the package .. we like to have a few drinks during the day.. and at night.., and in the long run it saves us money.

It really depends on how much you would typically drink if you were buying the drinks individually.  Would you have that fancy coffee or fresh squeezed OJ over what is offered for free (regular coffee and OJ from concentrate) if you had to pay for it individually?  I know I personally take advantage of trying lots of drinks when I get the package, but I know if I didn't have it I would be a lot more careful with what I ordered at a cost.  It does make it easier to know that if you don't like a drink it wasn't a waste.  Plus you can pick up bottles of water at any bar which are handy to take off the ship for excursions and for hydrating.  
When you purchase the drink package it should disclose if you are paying the gratuity or not.  In the US, it's 18% added to the total cost of the package.  Some choose to tip on top of that as you can sometimes get better or faster service from a bartender.  The ship crew work really hard, so I don't mind giving an extra tip where it is deserved.
As for extra advice, if you're going to do the drink package it is cheaper to buy it through the cruise planner than it will be when you get on the ship.

We figured if we have a mimosa or Bloody Mary in the morning, a couple of drinks poolside during the day and a couple of glasses of wine at dinner we break even.  Then you have the bottled water, special coffee, soda etc.

#theonlywayicruise ?

So after seeing how others here have RFID blocking sleeves / bags, and having seen them offered for a while now, I decided to do a bit of research on this. Found this article from 2017 written buy a guy who's a computer security expert and, per his bio linked from the article, has been in the security industry since the late 80s. His key point is that, yes, it's very easy to "sweep" for RFID info from credit cards and passports, but the reality is that there have been zero recorded instances of actual RFID crime, either credit card or passport, in all the time since the exploit was first described.
His other key point is that while it's relatively easy to do from a technology standpoint, it's expensive and criminals have much easier / better / cheaper ways of getting your credit card or passport info if they really want it. In addition, second-generation credit cards with RFID now do encrypt the information, where the older gen did not, so it's that much harder to actually get useful data out of anything picked up in a "sweep".
It was definitely an interesting read, and worthwhile. I'd personally say that if you've already invested in one of these, by all means go ahead and keep using it; an ounce of prevention and all that. For myself, since I don't yet own one I think I'll pass on buying any backpack or wallet that costs more simply because it has that as a feature, and carry my passport and any credit cards like I always have, in an inside pocket of my backpack.

Just remember that if something happens like you miss the ship or you get sick/hurt while in port and you don't have your passport because it's back on the ship, getting out of the country will be difficult and will require getting to your country's embassy/consulate. That is easier said than done in many ports. 

Just a friendly reminder photocopies of a passport are as useful as photocopies of cash. 
FWIW, I always bring my passport and show it in that building at the port prior to walking down the pier to return to the ship.

We do the same thing, My kids fill them up before dinner and that’s pretty much it. We don’t let them drink a too much soda. 

Our 7 year old had the refreshment package and ordered virgin versions of my drinks, although i’m Not sure that was a great idea.  Ever since we got home she’s trying to order lava flows and daiquiri’s whenever we go out.  She also loved making virgin drinks at the bionic bar.

No, everyone 21 or over in the cabin will have to purchase the UDP. Under 21 will not be required to purchase any drink package. 

Also, in the MDR if your kids ask for a soda and aren't on a package but you are on a UDP package, the wait staff will *usually* not charge you.  Only once (day one with a new Asst waiter), was I charged for a soda for one of my sons.  I think he may have been chewed out by the waiter as I wasn't charged the rest of the week.  I don't ask for a free soda and will pay for it without a fuss if given a bill.  However, I find the wait staff to be very lenient for the kids especially if the parents have the UDP.   

Ok. Since it is confession time, I will join you. We always get the DBP too and I am a Coke snob so wouldn’t be caught dead drinking a fountain Coke. Dan doesn’t drink any soda at all.  Not very time but SOME times, if I meet a worthy candidate, we will give our cups away to someone who will use it. I also recognize that this is not legal.  Confession complete.  Oooh. I feel so much better !
??

I will throw myself out there on this topic.  Whenever we cruise, my wife and I buy deluxe drink packages for each of us.  They come with a souvenir cup for the soda machines.  My wife and I drink zero soda, and honestly, we don't let our kids drink a ton of it either.  We don't buy an additional package for the kids, we let them get some soda with the cups from our packages.  Technically, this is wrong and against the rules.  Shoot me I guess.  I'm just not going to spend an additional $125 for my two kids to have some soda during the week, when I have already paid for it for myself and will not drink any of it.  If the kids didn't use the cups, then they would sit in our stateroom all week.
I am sure many others do this as well, but again, if you are going strictly by the rules, this isn't allowed.        

Great info thanks so much ! 

My entire reason for booking a JS is the bathtub and the double points. I hate showering in the tube style showers. I'll do it if I have to, but I would prefer not to. 

When we were there in December, you could buy a ticket at the entrance. I want to say it was $14, but I don't know for sure. I've slept since then. ? 

If you are flying into Hobby, I don't recommend staying near the airport. It's a rough part of town with a limited number of places for dinner. If you can't get a room on the island, try the Clear Lake/League City/Webster area. It's about halfway between the airport and the island. It's a nice area with lots of options for dinner and even shopping if need be. If you fly into IAH, staying by the airport is fine. With all that being said, Steve is correct that you should be fine in relation to Spring Break. The majority of schools and colleges will be on break either the week of 3/9-3/13 or 3/16-3/20 with the bulk being that first week. There may be some springbreakers on the island when you sail, but the big crowds will have cleared out by then.  

My wife thanks it is worth it for the walk in closet, I like the double points and the bigger shower.

My entire reason for booking a JS is the bathtub and the double points. I hate showering in the tube style showers. I'll do it if I have to, but I would prefer not to. 

Broadway shows are complex. 
Someone owns the rights to a show and Royal (or anyone who wants to offer the show) must pay them.  In many cases the contracts are complex to make sure two different production companies don’t offer the show in the same area and compete.  A company who paid millions to offer a show in NYC wouldn’t want a cruise ship offering the same show based in NYC.  Why pay hundreds to see it on Broadway when you can go on a cruise and see it plus get a cruise?
Not all shows adapt to a ship.  The sets can be complex and often a show doesn’t want their show compromised by modifying a set or eliminating set pieces to work on a ship.  They can be very particular, right down to a can of soup on a cart that sits on stage for 10 minutes.   Royal can’t just change the set, it all has to be approved by the folks who own the rights to that show. 
When they do find a show and set that can work on a ship, it can be a lot of work to figure out how to assemble massive set pieces that have to be stowed when something else is going on in the theater.  Ship theaters are multi use versus a broadway theater that is dedicated to one show for months or years.  Set pieces need to be secured in case the ship has motion.  
When Quantum left the US it took a month to break down the set and ready it for shipping. 
Royal has to carefully consider any potential show.  Language, sexual references, etc. aren’t an issue on Broadway but for a ship it very well can be.  
To plan and cast a show and find the best talent around the globe to fill the cast is an incredible effort.   They can only stay on a ship for 7 months due to maritime regulations so you need to cast two different groups of people.   A year later and someone isn’t available or is injured or had a baby or...   It’s a massive effort to cast hundreds of people across different ships on a constantly rotating basis. 
So it’s more complicated than most people realize.  

I just checked my cruise planner and my ultimate has been changed to unlimited. I'm very happy because as a bariatric surgery individual, this is much more conducive to how I eat. Giant 3 to 4 course meals are really wasted on me. Now I spread out my courses of several hours and not feel guilty about wasting food.  

If I can throw an alternative departure port out there, see what flights to Houston / Galveston cost vs. flights to Orlando / Miami / Fort Lauderdale. If the cost is a lot more reasonable, then you could look at sailing out of Galveston on Liberty of the Seas. She's recently refurbished, has the pools and waterslides to keep your kids happy, can take you to the western Caribbean, and IIRC has pretty good rates compared to the Oasis class ships that are newer and carry a sometimes significantly higher price tag.
This would let you try out Royal on a decent length cruise, have a ship that still gives a good number of modern amenities including things like the Broadway shows, see some good ports that have some nice excursion options (and beaches if you decide that's all you want to do), and maybe help save some money while you decide if cruising and Royal Caribbean are a good fit for you.

Ah! You're a IBC (Islander by Choice!). I've always wanted to live in Galveston, but I'm a teacher and GISD doesn't pay well. I'm on the north side of the Bay near all the refineries, but east of the tank fire area. 

H.S. social studies teacher here as well! Fingers crossed none of my students will be on my July sailing as we sail out of Galveston and it's only an hour from my school.