DDaley

So what “firsts” are we doing on this cruise ?
1.  First time ever parking offsite.  The second “first” (how confusing is that ???) is really just a subset of the #1.  This is the first time we have used Premier Parking in Miami.
2.  The only other “first” has nothing to do with boarding day - we will be calling on Grenada for the first time ever.  Rare for us to have a new Caribbean port, but we do.  As a matter of fact, we will be calling twice b/c our third cruise in this trilogy is identical to the first so we will be visiting twice.

I'd be afraid.  Very afraid. 
 
Norwegian went the same route and removed them all together! 😮‍💨

As someone who also blogs from their phone, let me suggest you write entries in a Notes app and then copy and paste them into the browser when you’re ready to post. I have lost sooo many entries that I then had to hastily rewrite due to the browser failing/reloading itself with shipboard wifi. These posts have an autosave feature but I swear it only saves stuff I’ve already posted and never when I needed it to! 

I think you should feel lucky that they found the items. If you search lost and found on even this forum, you'll see that more often than not, the items aren't ever found, since turnaround is so fast and hectic. They were found, you have proof of that in email and now they need to get to you. be patient, I'm sure they're coming.

I enjoy Quantum class because they are different.  I've sailed four of them and mostly to bucket list destinations like Alaska, Hawaii and New Zealand.  
Oasis class, until Icon came about, have always been in a league of their own and can't be compared to any other ship class.  Oasis and now Icon are very wide ships, much wider than all other classes of ship.  It's the extra width that allows things like Central Park and Boardwalk.  On any other platform without the extra width it's not practical to install these areas without removing all guest cabins in those areas.  Removing guest cabins to add more venues and features isn't practical for any cruise line.
Oasis class are much larger ships at 225,000+ GT while Quantum class are around 168,000 GT.  That extra 30% of space allows them to put more venues and areas on Oasis class.  
Why doesn't Radiance class have ice skating rinks and zip lines and central park and boardwalk and aqua theaters and so on?  Because Radiance class is one third the size of Oasis class and obviously you can't put the same features and venues on a ship that doesn't have the space for them.   
The Windjammer on Quantum class is my favorite across the fleet.  I really dislike the Windjammer on Oasis class.  The food stations are all over the place with some on the side and some around the corner on the back.  It's really hard to find seating on Oasis class Windjammers at peak times.  Oasis class Windjammers are truly jammers slammed with people.  Some Quantum class Windjammers have outdoor seating which I love.
The lack of waterslides is known before booking.  It appears odd to me to complain they are missing.  That's like buying a sedan then complaining it's not a 4x4 pick up truck.  Given where most Quantum class are deployed waterslides are impractical.  
It's okay not to like something but that doesn't justify calling it a dud.  
Royal's next class of ship, Discovery class, is not going to be a mini Oasis class ship.  They too will be much smaller ships that won't have the space for all Oasis class features.  Like Quantum class the smaller footprint will allow them to sail into ports that Oasis class can't fit into.  That's kind of the point.  They will be different too.  Different doesn't make them duds.  
Oasis and Icon class ships are the destination and the ports you visit are less important.  If the itinerary is boring it doesn't matter because the ship is as much the destination as the itinerary may be.
Other classes of ships can visit more unique ports of call where mega ships can't sail.  When visiting these areas the ship isn't the destination as much as the ports of call are the destination.  
Anthem out of Bayonne was a perfect pairing with two sea days down the coast and two sea days on the way back home in the cold Atlantic ocean where few would be using waterslides most of the time.  The indoor family pool means kids are not trying to sneak into the adult only solarium pools on those colder sea days in winter months.
What I love best of all my 14 Quantum class cruises are the memories of the destinations.  Alaska, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand for example.  Greek islands and Europe for Odyssey is a great summer pairing.  
I like that Royal's fleet is diverse and not just ships that are variations of the same thing.  With research I can choose a ship that fits my needs based on the region I'll be sailing.  I suggest doing more research next time and avoid booking a ship that doesn't have features that are important to you.  

Check out the brand new crew cabins, exclusively designed for Icon Of The Seas!
 
The best I have ever seen, and lived in!
 
 

Did you guys see my Crew Cabin Tour onboard Icon Of The Seas?
 
Some of you might be surprised by the size...
 
 

In certain ports we overpay for a Royal excursion due to the guarantee. Most of the time we are very comfortable with 3rd party.  As for the couple from SC, I have zero sympathy. Their take is that the other thousands of guests should have been inconvenienced because of their issue. Yes stuff happens in life but taking to the Today Show to accuse NCL of an overly strict all aboard policy is entitlement at its best. The couple is threating NCL that they will not board the ship! Ha Ha! please don't throw me in that briar patch.   

If you are on Adventure and returning to port on the 6th as listed. According to my quick search there are rental cars still available. Try searching via Travelocity. 
Again, if not you can Uber, taxi, or book GoPort to return to MCO. Or go to guest services and book Royals transportation back to airport.
You have multiple options.

As someone who also blogs from their phone, let me suggest you write entries in a Notes app and then copy and paste them into the browser when you’re ready to post. I have lost sooo many entries that I then had to hastily rewrite due to the browser failing/reloading itself with shipboard wifi. These posts have an autosave feature but I swear it only saves stuff I’ve already posted and never when I needed it to! 

I understand the food coma problem!  That is why I said after Wonderland -- not sure I, oops I mean my friend, is a Wonderland type of person...lol.  I think we might need some late evening sushi after that.
 

If there is a consecutive cruiser lunch it will be at 11:30. I have been reading, and told, various stories of the lunch not happening. I think there has to be a threshold of consecutive guest. I have also read and been told that on some sailings consecutive guest can enjoy the Key lunch. I have a B2B2B next month and I am hoping the lunch will be available. 

@Marlena I believe that means PRICEY! Super expensive, top dollar, prepare yourself for the worst!!! I jest, but definitely the highest pricing of the specialties. 

Maybe I am just an outlier here, but I would never take a COVID test on a cruise ship. If I didn't feel well I'd stay in my room and when I felt better I would go back out. Last thing I would want is to be quarantined on a cruise ship. Are people actually still afraid of COVID?

Why would they give a credit for people who were able to enjoy the full cruise?

I think you should be grateful they still want to refund anything since we're long past the pandemic.

Welcome to the board
In Royal's booking vocab, traveling party only means those in the room with you. You had two rooms and those rooms are each treated as a separate reservation, despite you being family. So not everyone traveling with you. I think you are reading it wrong, because traveling party only means those on the same room as you. If the rest of your traveling party stayed in the other room and you were the only one confined, then it is only an FCC for you. 

Excursions get cancelled….it happens. Just because yours was, means all of the ones going there will get cancelled. So telling everyone to avoid this one excursion based on a cancelation is a bit dramatic. What are you expecting Royal to do for an excursion that is not ran by them? You will get a refund.

As someone who also blogs from their phone, let me suggest you write entries in a Notes app and then copy and paste them into the browser when you’re ready to post. I have lost sooo many entries that I then had to hastily rewrite due to the browser failing/reloading itself with shipboard wifi. These posts have an autosave feature but I swear it only saves stuff I’ve already posted and never when I needed it to! 

Agreed. Exactly what I did for my long-winded live blogs.

Overheard in the Crown Lounge tonight: "If I die, I want to die on a cruise ship. Throw me in the furnace and get another mile out of the ship."
Not sure that's how it works, sir.

And shore to ship service brought us back. The cruise ships have to anchor about 5 miles out and it's a 15 minute tender ride. 

As someone who also blogs from their phone, let me suggest you write entries in a Notes app and then copy and paste them into the browser when you’re ready to post. I have lost sooo many entries that I then had to hastily rewrite due to the browser failing/reloading itself with shipboard wifi. These posts have an autosave feature but I swear it only saves stuff I’ve already posted and never when I needed it to! 

As someone who also blogs from their phone, let me suggest you write entries in a Notes app and then copy and paste them into the browser when you’re ready to post. I have lost sooo many entries that I then had to hastily rewrite due to the browser failing/reloading itself with shipboard wifi. These posts have an autosave feature but I swear it only saves stuff I’ve already posted and never when I needed it to! 

Driver in Rome looks awesome! Italy is on my cruise list (after the Rhine this summer and Japan next summer!) but I am writing it down for future use. 
I’m also so happy to hear RC will arrange for up close seating at shows for you! Cats only gets bad reviews because Andrew Lloyd Webber was on a straight acid trip when he compiled that heap of trash! The actors are always great and the dancing/set/costumes are amazing too, but that show is absolutely ridiculous. The only song anyone knows is Memory and to me it’s the most boring part of the whole thing (but then again, I hate ballads). 😆