DJsMrs

OMG- we've been missing out!!!   Thanks for this -- I will definitely post a reminder for our cruise this year - 
Thank you!!!!

Attached the one I was seeing from 2022. I've asked on that thread if someone can upload a more recent one. 
We checked in on it when we cruised and even though it says "purchase credits," the guest services desk just said that it is cumulative - as long as $50 is played in the arcade on one youth card, the credit would be posted.

It was specifically listed on the teen C&A leaflet that was in the room, not any of the gem levels, so would be applicable for any teen with C&A. I'm going to try to find that pic - it was showing up on some message board for a while, but not sure if I saw it on this one or somewhere else. I'll ask over on that board too and see if anyone has gotten it recently and report back if I hear!

It always kills me that people reference American laws when boarding a ship that is going to a foreign country.   
It's not just US laws that you have to obey.   Besides, if you really look at it - I live in Canada.   Marijuana is legal here.   There are many US states that have decriminalized and legalized pot, but if you think for one minute I would travel with MJ in my luggage or on your person you would be incorrect.   This would include CBD.   Flying domestically is a completely different ball of wax...  you can fly with these products domestically in Canada, and probably in the US without anyone really batting an eye.   But travelling with these oils, tinctures, etc is probably coming, but we are not there yet - and wouldn't it suck to have your vacation ruined because of choosing to ignore a rule.  On a cruise you are travelling internationally - I think people forget this key point.
Having said that - I definitely smelled weed when I was on my balcony on Mariner in December... so people are definitely bringing it on board.
 
For the OP - I would connect with my doctor and see about a week-long temporary substitution for while you're on the cruise... if there's an option to avoid the risk you should be aware of it.  

Cruise ships tend to follow federal laws and the laws of the countries they visit.  It's tempting to be flippant about Royal policy which isn't an issue until it is.  In the case of international maritime law the captain of the vessel can be held responsible if a foreign country finds illegal drugs on board.  That's why the policy mimics laws from other countries.  The worst case of violating Royal's policy if they discover it would be a lifetime ban.  Others are correct that they don't make a habit of inspecting guest medications unless there is a medical event in a cabin then they can go through your medications.  It's not a problem until it is.
Some countries like Bermuda have been known to send drug dogs on board cruise ships and to inspect passenger cabins.  That's well within their rights to do when docked in Bermuda.  It's not a problem until it is.
I may have driven a car in my younger days after consuming more alcohol than I should have to drive.  Nothing happened.  No one was killed.  No accidents.  That doesn't justify my actions nor does it make it safe to tell others it's okay to break the law and do what I did.
Breaking the law is a personal choice that's best made when you understand the ramifications and you are willing to do the time if caught.  It's up to you to weigh the risk and make a choice.  

I wish they'd just add it into the price and get rid of this debate period, and pay the crew a little more.  I appreciate people wanting to tip people directly - but what about the kitchen staff?   Laundry staff?  Support staff without whom your servers and room attendants could not do a good job?  It's impossible to tip them directly, hence the need for a tip pool.

Price the same cabin with 5 adults then price the same cabin with 2 adults and 3 children.
You can't compare the cheapest rate on the ship for two adults and then use a completely different cabin as the basis of your comparison.  
The most common types of cabins are plentiful but they only accommodate two guests.  These cabins tend to be cheaper because there are lots of them.  Cabins that can accommodate 5 guests are in short supply.  There are few of them and they go quickly so they are in high demand.  Anything in demand goes up in price.  

The plan was to try to do the non-all inclusive option at Paradise Beach. We were up early to try to get in while there were spots available.
Unfortunately, they told us that they were only offering the all inclusive package. We ended up taking this option because we were already here. Paradise Beach has always been a good option without having to spend a lot but it appears that the all inclusive option is now the only option. I can't blame them as I'm sure they make more money.
 

The water us not super blue and there is definitely sea grass. It's a negative to be sure, but not enough to keep us from coming to Maya Chan. They have a great relaxing set up with chairs/umbrellas and the service is outstanding.
There are plenty of other places in town that may have less sea grass but have lots of beach vendors that bother you all day. None of that here.
 

I think a small buffet that's open from 10pm to 3am would be a huge hit.  They could just serve something like burgers and fries, mexican and chinese food.  Really anything you would order on a late Friday or Saturday night after going to the bars.  

I found this online from 1988 on Carnival Holiday. It’s shows the midnight buffet (late night dessert) and 2am breakfast (mini buffet).

I see you have people who linked answers for you.
So I'll share some thoughts on Anthem
Go to Cafe Two70 for the kummelweck roast beef sandwhich-free dining.  They also have a salad bar. soup and other small sandwhiches and salads there and if you want something salty they typically have bags of chips, BUT you have to know to ask for them, they are not displayed. In addition they have cookies and some pastry/cake desserts.

The lunches at Chops or Jamies are great, half the price of the dinners. You can typically find sales in the cruise planner. which is cheaper than buying onboard.
You can buy a coffee card in the cruise planner, if you like speciatly coffee.  It works out to 1/2 the price of buying the coffees without the card.  You must remember to go to the coffee shop and ask for it.
Northstar is free on port days.  Ask Guest services when the sign up opens.  On one of my sailings it was 8 am on the port day, on another sailing it was at 8pm the night before the port day.  I do belive there is free iFly, same thing..you can ask at Guest Services in regards to that too.
If you do not like the app you can ask your stateroom attendant for the paper copy of the Cruise Compass.  I feel it has more info than the app and is easier to see things.  They do have a QR code you can scan to get the Cruise Compass on your phone, I still prefer the paper.
Enjoy the ship.  It is beautiful.




 

 

The app is useless, IMO. I find it completely unreliable both before and during the cruise. Waaaytooo many errors and incorrect information displayed.  

Currently at West Bay Beach
 

We're sailing out of Galveston in July and I reached out to a multitude of transport companies for our group of 10 for transport to and from Houston.   It took a reasonable amount of time, but we finally landed on one.   The company we confirmed provided us with the following:   
1.  confirmation of vehicle type
2.  all fees and add-ons
3.  included tips and taxes
4.  pickup times and locations
I'm hesitant to mention the company until I've had experience - but there are many many transport companies out there... 

I can't poop in a public bathroom, much less a public, open space. I can't even imagine ...
I want to hear more about this, but then i don't. 🫢

A few random notes on Allure.
This ship has the best Diamond lounge I've seen on any ship. It is actually nicer that the suite lounges I've seen on Oasis and Liberty. Too bad Royal went away from this concept because it is really a nice perk for being Diamond.
They are still doing 2 times a day room service.
I don't miss the ultimate abyss. I like the open view from the back without it.
On the same note as above, I like the Sabor bar in the place where the ultimate abyss usually ends, but it wasn't open last night even though they were showing NFL playoffs in the Aqua theater. Seems like a miss.
So far, I haven't seen any major wear and tear issues and the crew seems happy and friendly.

I wish they'd just add it into the price and get rid of this debate period, and pay the crew a little more.  I appreciate people wanting to tip people directly - but what about the kitchen staff?   Laundry staff?  Support staff without whom your servers and room attendants could not do a good job?  It's impossible to tip them directly, hence the need for a tip pool.

I wouldn't rule out the MDR. Our son was 7 and daughter was 10 on their first cruise, and some of the memories talk about the most from that cruise are from MDR. They loved it, and we ate there every night.
I think it was partly because the staff gave them so much attention - jokes and magic tricks from the waiters every night. We did take time to prepare the kids before the cruise by explaining how dinner on the cruise ship was special and we practiced a couple times leading up to the cruise by going to a nicer restaurant and discussing manners and ettiquite. We looked at past Cruise Compasses to see what the attire was and let them plan out what they were going to wear each night, including Caribbean night.
We built it up so it was  something the kids looked forward to by the time we were onboard. Our picky eaters opened up on the ship and tried things they never would have at home too. 

Why doesn't your friend on the cruise ask this question? That would give us an actual real world recent example!

I wish they'd just add it into the price and get rid of this debate period, and pay the crew a little more.  I appreciate people wanting to tip people directly - but what about the kitchen staff?   Laundry staff?  Support staff without whom your servers and room attendants could not do a good job?  It's impossible to tip them directly, hence the need for a tip pool.

Tough call: what your heart wants vs what your brain knows is best.
It sounds to me that while Enchantment will be a better value, you'll regret not going on Symphony and/or constantly think what could have been (aka regret).
If Symphony wont break your finances, I'd say go for Symphony and do the ship you would greatly prefer to sail on. But don't ruin your financial situation over it.

Will your kid be eating?  Using Towels?  Going to the bathroom?  
We have 2 kids and also "take care of them ourselves", but any hotel room, restaurant table etc has required more care with them than without and arguably their share of work made is more than that of us parents.
Unless you're worried about being "beaten" out of and extra 112, just leave the tips on and then tip those who go above and beyond.  Perhaps those tips can be more homely than handsome to make up for your perceived loss.
Also, it's not an all or none thing.  If you really believe that you are getting no service value for your child, you can just have their portion removed.
For those arguing about what the cruise line should do or not do is irrelevant.  Under the current known situation, if you remove them you are punishing the people that can least afford to be punished.

I wish they'd just add it into the price and get rid of this debate period, and pay the crew a little more.  I appreciate people wanting to tip people directly - but what about the kitchen staff?   Laundry staff?  Support staff without whom your servers and room attendants could not do a good job?  It's impossible to tip them directly, hence the need for a tip pool.