fa-li

Thanks so much!  Helpful and practical!

If a ship has 2 concierges, we tip each $50US.  Ships with 1 concierge, we tip $100US.

British porters don't expect to be tipped at all but if you are tipping them it's best to do so in pounds. Nowhere in the UK is going to happily accept USD the way they do in the Caribbean islands so in order to use the money the porters would have to take it to the bank to exchange it, which is a fair bit of hassle for not a lot of return, especially once the bank takes its cut.

We had a good experience at Secret Harbor in St. Thomas with Aqua Action. 
I did a long review on it when I got back, over on cruise critic https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2923708-review-for-chair-rental-at-secret-harbor/#comment-65006394  if you want to read all the details. 
I think it would be a very good beach for young children.  The water is protected, calm, and shallow.  I don't think they had sand toys, but you may know that you can purchase collapsible buckets on amazon to take in your luggage.

Just to add on to the discussion:  we started annual trip insurance with Allianz in 2022, set it up for Nov 1-Nov 1 because we had several big trips in that time frame and it seemed to make the most sense.  Fast forward to this July and a surprise diagnosis of stage 4 cancer for my husband.  We had to cancel a very expensive trip for September, past the point where we would only get 50 % back of the cost.  Allianz issued a check very quickly to cover all of that.  
By fall, a treatment plan was in place and we are able to take the big trip we had booked for this January.  If we had not had annual insurance, we would not have been able to insure this trip because, with a preexisting condition, you have to buy (far more expensive) trip insurance within the first 14 days of deposit, and we were already well beyond that point when he was diagnosed.  Luckily, we were able to simply renew the annual policy, so we've had uninterrupted trip insurance and the preexisting condition is covered.  
We are only in our 50s, this was not on our radar at all - we thought we might need the insurance for breaking a leg on a hike or something.  But we were glad we had it.
 

Just to add on to the discussion:  we started annual trip insurance with Allianz in 2022, set it up for Nov 1-Nov 1 because we had several big trips in that time frame and it seemed to make the most sense.  Fast forward to this July and a surprise diagnosis of stage 4 cancer for my husband.  We had to cancel a very expensive trip for September, past the point where we would only get 50 % back of the cost.  Allianz issued a check very quickly to cover all of that.  
By fall, a treatment plan was in place and we are able to take the big trip we had booked for this January.  If we had not had annual insurance, we would not have been able to insure this trip because, with a preexisting condition, you have to buy (far more expensive) trip insurance within the first 14 days of deposit, and we were already well beyond that point when he was diagnosed.  Luckily, we were able to simply renew the annual policy, so we've had uninterrupted trip insurance and the preexisting condition is covered.  
We are only in our 50s, this was not on our radar at all - we thought we might need the insurance for breaking a leg on a hike or something.  But we were glad we had it.
 

I wonder if you thought about getting refreshment packages instead of deluxe beverage packages? The sense I get from your post is that you might use more than 4 drinks outside of the lounge but not 4 alcoholic drinks outside of the lounge per day.  If you have a refreshment package you can still use your diamond drinks for alcohol and have 4 of those each per day in addition to the coffee, water etc you get through the refreshment package and the drinks you have in the lounge. 
 
We recently were in your position but in an oasis class ship. My husband got a refreshment package and I didn’t get anything. He liked the flexibility of the package for coffee and water, fresh juices etc and between the lounge and the diamond drinks had plenty of alcohol. 

We are in the same boat, so to speak, and have opted to try going without the drinks package this first cruise as diamond coming up.  But we will be in Norway, very port intensive and not sitting by the pool on the regular.  Also, the package has not dropped below $74.99 pp/pd so it would take a lot of daily overages to be "worth it."  
On Harmony, our suite steward replenished our large bottles of Evian every day, so the waters we would normally get value from on the package were not so much a factor.  Not sure if this will be the case for you.  
I tend to agree with Twangster though, if it will help with "vacation mode" then I think that goes a long way toward justifying a package.

We are now empty nesters.  When DD was young, we cruised or went to Disney once per year. Some years we didn't go anywhere.
We are currently on our 4th cruise this year.  Our target is 3 per year until retirement, then it may change.
We are random in cabin selection, though we really enjoyed the forward facing panoramic ocean view and may choose that more in the future.
We live in NY, so Bayonne is an easy drive. That helps reduce costs.
Next year we are doing the "Alaska Extravaganza", 8 night cruise one night pre and one night post cruise. It is totally blowing our cruise budget. But we are taking FIL, this will be his only time there. So this is a one off.
We are Diamond plus, at 219 points currently.  I don't see us getting to pinnacle anytime soon, so we are trying different lines. We did our first Celebrity this April, and are try MSC out of Brooklyn next October.  Virgin Voyages is on our list as well as Norwegian and Princess.  Many other lines do status matching, and if the price is right, I will give it a try. Royal's prices have gotten a bit high, so I am shopping around for better value. Will it be as good? Who knows, but I can at least try it.
 

$30,000/year.
Two Star class week long sailings for my family of 5.
There, I said it. 
 
P.S. please keep buying almonds.

We get the drink package, and always tip an extra couple of dollars per drink.  More than at the bars, I find this really enhances service at the places servers bring drinks to us, like Schooner Bar or the Pub.  We tend to return to these spots nightly (or afternoonly on sea days 😆) and often it is the same servers every time.  Usually, my drink is in front of me by the time I've settled into a seat after the first night or two.  And when we are ready to call it a night, bottled waters magically appear to go back to our cabin with us.  When we traveled with my aunt who did not drink, and didn't have a package, I was often brought a glass of wine and a ginger ale, and she was never charged.  
Plus, when a server "claims" us because we tip on the first night, we then get to know him or her over the week, which we really enjoy.  We then get to name and lavishly praise them on the survey, which I've been told they appreciate as much as the cash.  
This is a lot of happy on both sides, for a total outlay that is less than one nice dinner out at home.  Why wouldn't we do this?

the weather I would worry about for December is in the US.  If you'll be flying to embarkation, I'd plan on maybe going two days ahead in case there is a storm and/or another airlines meltdown like this past year.  

Early and dislike
Hubs usually comes back into room and works for a couple hours after breakfast.  It's nice to have it all serviced by then.  But I also love coming back in after our evening around the ship to a turned down bed, dim lights, and a bathroom cleaned up after our pre-dinner showers.  
As for not needing what you don't get at home - the whole point of a vacation is to be pampered!

Early and dislike
Hubs usually comes back into room and works for a couple hours after breakfast.  It's nice to have it all serviced by then.  But I also love coming back in after our evening around the ship to a turned down bed, dim lights, and a bathroom cleaned up after our pre-dinner showers.  
As for not needing what you don't get at home - the whole point of a vacation is to be pampered!

Early and dislike
Hubs usually comes back into room and works for a couple hours after breakfast.  It's nice to have it all serviced by then.  But I also love coming back in after our evening around the ship to a turned down bed, dim lights, and a bathroom cleaned up after our pre-dinner showers.  
As for not needing what you don't get at home - the whole point of a vacation is to be pampered!

The suite lounge provides drinks, but just the happy hour like all other ships. There's no 11-11 window for basic bar service

Lots of Kenny Chesney. 

Glad you liked it.  They have almost 30 years of amazing music.  Some funny.  Some more serious.  Funny you should mention that it would be nice to see them on board.  That's exactly how we (my brothers and I) discovered them.  They were on the first two Barenaked Ladies cruises.  They have done the Rock Boat several times since then.  A great unknown live band.  Never spent more than $40 to see them.  Usually $20.  Sometimes free.  Seriously, a great band.

Anything by Jimmy Buffet! That's what cruising is all about. 

Shabba Ranks, Shaggy, Billy Ocean, Shakira, and Shaggy.

Royal Caribbean has some playlists on Spotify with different themes based on various cities around the world. My favorite is the CocoCay playlist!

I don’t play any of my own music while onboard, but I listen to stuff I’ve downloaded while traveling to and from the ports. 
 
I’m of the age and environment where my musical tastes run a little “heavier” if you will. 

Led Zepplin- Stairway to Heaven, Fleetwood Mac- Everywhere, Eagles- Take it to the Limit

What if I'm going to Alaska? Do I listen to Jewel? Lol

Coolio - island hop