Hagar

You've obviously never met my wife.
 
<rimshot>

If only all of the Royal Caribbean "glitches" were this minor ? 
I say that as a travel agent that feels like I am fighting windmills sometimes (like 45 minute hold time only to have the call dropped yesterday).
BUT I'll be on the Symphony in October, with DW, enjoying Starbucks!

tip a crewmember!

The escarwent.

No scanning but there is a host/hostess just inside the door to confirm your reservation and get you seated for dinner. On this class of ship the lounge is inside the same area so you might already be close by too. Filet used to be on the very first night and that illustrious gold card also gives you access to breakfast and/or lunch "up there." Plus beer, wine and soda service complimentary after 1100 I believe. 

tip a crewmember!

tip a crewmember!

tip a crewmember!

tip a crewmember!

tip a crewmember!

tip a crewmember!

Our biggest mistake as first time cruisers was not finding this site before we went. 

Our first, last, and only Carnival cruise was in 2003.  We knew right away it wasn't for us.
My parents and uncles and aunts love Carnival.  Go figure.  They sail Carnival at least once or twice a year (pre-covid) with Princess and Celebrity mixed in between.  
Bottom line, try it, you will never know until you do.  

To me, value is the key thing. With 100+ cruises of my own, I still book a variety of cabins (from a promenade view to a Loft suite). Summer of 2022 will wrap up 15 years as a cruise travel agent but I always love to share my 2 cents with other cruisers.
So for this topic I'll repeat a tidbit;
When the cruise has been taken, did I get a good value? 
Lazy itinerary- what is the largest accomodation your budget would like to spend?
Busy itinerary-what is smallest accomodation you will be happy with?
Sure it's a generalization, but a good starting point.

(Sorry)

I'll take "Things You Don't Hear Every Day" for $1000, current Jeopardy host.

I agree with the passenger calling in directly. Not because I am a lazy t/a but just so they are hearing all of the options and making sure they have their FULL legal names entered correctly. I would suggest making sure you have a very good idea of what your wants/needs are prior to placing that call though. Using the airlines site, search engines or even recommendations from the "boards" can be quite helpful in arming you with useful info. 
 
Several years ago I did find an international one-way in business class that was only a couple of hundred US$ more than an economy seat. Rare? Certainly, but I love the hunt too!
 
My best tip with "ChoiceAir," now "Air2Sea," is to price roundtrip AND 2 one-way flights. It is counterintuitive to conventional planning but can open up the field of options as well as pricing lower sometimes.
 
 

I managed to use my cruise shoehorn to squeeze in the 7-night run next January
 
?

As an agent I was able to ask my SAM (strategic account manager} to research this very question for a client. They swear it is the same bathroom configuration for the J3 on the Odyssey. Since Royal is infamous for their "glitches," I will still keep my digits crossed until we hear back from someone onboard though.

Our first cruise ever was on Mariner in Jan 2019.....after 20 years of marriage.  I regret not going on a cruise earlier in our lives.

Feel like you just asked the choir if it likes to sing? 
I love to do a couple of weeks on the same ship, whether it's a B2B or a transatlantic. But when I booked a 3 week transpacific on Explorer, I did wonder if I was stretching the rubber band too tight. Today, just as I felt at the end of that run, I still say "let's do that again!"
 

Feel like you just asked the choir if it likes to sing? 
I love to do a couple of weeks on the same ship, whether it's a B2B or a transatlantic. But when I booked a 3 week transpacific on Explorer, I did wonder if I was stretching the rubber band too tight. Today, just as I felt at the end of that run, I still say "let's do that again!"
 

Feel like you just asked the choir if it likes to sing? 
I love to do a couple of weeks on the same ship, whether it's a B2B or a transatlantic. But when I booked a 3 week transpacific on Explorer, I did wonder if I was stretching the rubber band too tight. Today, just as I felt at the end of that run, I still say "let's do that again!"
 

Feel like you just asked the choir if it likes to sing? 
I love to do a couple of weeks on the same ship, whether it's a B2B or a transatlantic. But when I booked a 3 week transpacific on Explorer, I did wonder if I was stretching the rubber band too tight. Today, just as I felt at the end of that run, I still say "let's do that again!"