teddy

1 hour ago, Xaa said:

I think at that point they were just kicking the can down the road.  They needed cruisers.  Now they need cruisers less and have this problem they created, but are in a much better place to upset the loyal than they were then.

Yup. The big money-maker ships doing short cruises are full of new cruisers.  Lots of income being generated on those sailings. 
 

I have a difficult time to not believe every line of income and debit isn’t being scrutinized and that information being used to formulate long term goals.  
 

As I mentioned above, we’re Pandemic Diamonds.  We book lower price cabins and spend no extra money onboard. Mid level loyalty people like us aren’t bringing any extra income to Royal.  Despite what we read in our various echo chambers, I believe we are kind of like a silent majority, meaning the potential loss of our loyalty is outshined by the potential income of new cruisers.  This may seem short sighted to many of us, but I doubt Royal will lose money by consolidating/reworking/removing loyalty perks.
 

My prediction:  After a short outcry from current loyalty members, things will blow over and the money will keep coming in as people see Royal Caribbean as a viable alternative to land based vacations….just as they do now. People like us will just have to book older ships to get the price points we want. 
 

Royal Caribbean has a generous loyalty program compared to others, and I suspect they always will (when compared to others).  Our Diamond Status was matched by MSC to their second highest level…..you don’t get much. 

The double points promo put a lot of people (like my wife and I) into Diamond a lot sooner than they normally would have been.   I wonder how this is figuring in to any future loyalty program talks. 

12 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I think that’s kind of a “thing” for Christmas, even on land…

Yearly PJs were an easy way to have something else for our three kids to open on Christmas morning.

Congrats!!!!  That’s awesome!!

We put a very low bid in for a two bedroom grand suite on Explorer for our October Italy sailing.  I’m confident it’s not going to be successful.

I just now had the time to catch up.  Thank you again for sharing your experiences.  

9 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

That's an unfair subject line.

I agree.  it’s very clickbait-y

You beat me to posting. 
 

Lol

As I started reading this thread, my wife left for the post office. She came back in the house in less than a minute and said “I guess I should change out of my pajamas”.  

I guess it’s one of the hazards of working from home

44 minutes ago, Xaa said:

I think they should allow only those over 56 and under 58.  The exception being my 12 year old who really acts more like a 57 year old than most who are 57.

Lol

Don’t tell my wife ….she turns 56 next month and I’m still a couple months from 54.  I could totally see her telling me I have to wait by the entrance.

We are squirreling away even more money for our flights to/from Southampton in October 2024.  We expect to be shocked when when those flights are available to book. 
 

4 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

What’s sad about people choosing to spend their money how they see fit? As long as they’re not hurting anyone, why would you judge them?

People spend money on things I wouldn’t everyday. Everyone has different preferences.

Absolutely. 
 

 My wife and I have been asked why we work so hard just to waste our money traveling.
 

Edited for clarity

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

It might not matter even if he found out. The week after this Liberty sailing, Hubby sat me down, with his spreadsheet (I hate those things!) and very sternly said that he doesn't want any more surprises. He said he wants a breakdown of every cruise we have booked into the future, final payment dates and all. 

This morning I just reminded him that final payment for Odyssey NYE sailing is coming up this week. First there was the "surprised look", then there was the, "How much?", followed by the head shaking. You would think the spreadsheet thing that he made me fill out with him didn't even exist. I am willing to bet that on Friday when I make final payment, I will get this whole response all over again...SMH.

 

My wife is the cfo in our household complete with spreadsheets and a calendar.  
 

Last week it dawned on me that next month we’re going to be on Explorer as well as just getting home when a couple final payments are due.  I mentioned my concern to her. If she was an emoji, this would’ve been her face…

I said “I guess we’re all set with scheduling final payments, huh?” and was told to go back into the garage.

We lugged water on one time and promptly realized it’s a pita and worth the money a water package costs to not be saddled with the weight.

Side note: trying to negotiate around people who have lots of big suitcases with them on embarkation day is a pita too  

Your pictures are amazing. Thank you. 

This is awesome.  Thanks for bringing us along!

You’re a much better person than I am.  I’d be eating the change fee and sailing to the eastern Caribbean from one of the ports in Florida without saying a word. 
 

On a more serious note, I hope there are no more curve balls thrown and you can enjoy your cruise. 

Did you upgrade to an oceanview balcony guarantee or choose your oceanview balcony cabin?

Your updated invoice will show the cabin number if you chose your cabin number.  
 

Someone will have to check me on this, but I believe category XB is an oceanview balcony guarantee. 

38 minutes ago, BigKarl said:

Not just Size,  Length and Girth are a factor as well.   Oh you mean "The Ship" right?

Yea….13 year old me chuckles every time I see the title of this post. 

29 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

It is people in general who lack couth.

I agree. 

Bad/inappropriate behaviors are certainly not restricted to cruise ships.  In my opinion, society in general is less respectful than ever before.  

Thank you for bringing us along.   

We’re getting on when you all get off. Keep her shiny side up for us.

Have you contacted Royal Caribbean about booking their shuttle?

52 minutes ago, USCG Teacher said:

Rates are better, too, although every cruise is an interior GTY.

….and some people think cruise ship crews have long contracts….

This all reinforces the saying “To each their own”

We enjoyed the shows and other entertainment on Anthem earlier this year and can’t wait to back on her in February.

We especially loved “We Will Rock You”. 
 

Maybe we’re not refined enough?

45 minutes ago, EM1016 said:

But we also work side hustles

I fixed cars for 25 years as my side hustle until the pandemic.  Since then, I’ve had more overtime than I ever wanted at my real job.  Working at my real job puts more in my 401(k) and earns me more pto in addition to what I earn based on years of service, so in the long run, it’s more lucrative for me. On the other hand, my wife has been working from home since 2020 and loves to get out of the house for 20-30 hours a week. 

tl;dr 

We’re frugal and are reaping the benefits of decades of planning   

My wife is going on five cruises in 2024.  I’m with her on four of them.  In addition, we’ve already booked an 11 night in January 2025 on Odyssey.  We are waiting for the rest of 2025 to be released to book a few more.  

This is how we do it:

We are firmly middle class, mid-50s.  I have 6 weeks pto and my wife technically has unlimited, but I’m reality takes 4-4 1/2 weeks a year. 
 

While not “rich” as typically defined, we have no debt…none, zero, nada. We own our home outright.  Neither of us drink or smoke, and I can’t remember the last time we ate out other than on a cruise.  We do have an off-grid camp and land in northern Maine that we go to as much as possible, but we always seem to end up working when we go there. 
 

We worked our asses off for 30 years to get to the point where we are now.  Our plan was always to raise the kids (now 23, 30, and 32) then enjoy life as much as we can while still funding our retirement (I’m retiring in 6 years when I turn 60). 
 

We typically book interior cabins and usually disembark with a zero balance because we don’t pay for anything extra. ….although we did reserve Chops on our cruise on Explorer next month because my wife is turning 56 that day.  

We’ve changed cruises from Florida to New Jersey because even after eating the change fee, it’s cheaper than flying to Florida.  
 

So that’s how we do it…..well…in addition I’ve been working 70 hours a week since April, and my wife has a second job.  That helps.