YOLO

I think there is confusion between pre-paying gratuities (before you cruise) and pay as you go gratuities (during the cruise) on a day-by-day basis.  The 18% auto-pay gratuities are required by everyone, unless you argue against it.  And arguing against it is a whole other story and probably a whole different thread.

This week on Freedom, early seating was 6:00. Any tables that were still empty at 6:15 started being filled with MTD folks.

There is leeway to get to your seating late, each seating is a few hours long and with set dining you will have the same table and waiter each night, so its not like they will give your table away. I know we have walked into the MDR 30+ minutes late without any issues.
Talk to your waiter the night before to let them know your plans and they can give you the best answer (they usually ask what you are doing the next day anyway). Don't expect be able to go to the second seating because there will be a family there but YMMV. Like you asked, if you are really late, there is always the WJ or other options.

We paid a premium for the beach club because we had to scramble while onboard.  Was it worth it for us?  Yes.  But that won’t be true for everyone.  I can say that the food we got would go for about $100/person in my home area.  That will be different based on where you live.  The remainder was the smaller crowd and impeccable service.  Will we do it again?  Not at the price we paid, but $165?  Yes we would.  We don’t regret paying for it.  By far the best meal of the week and the facility is impeccable.

@Neesa  I like your idea.  Maybe our RCB group as a whole would make a good CEO!

@Michael Bayley - My Proposal:
Platinum -> 1 Free Drink
Emerald -> 2 Free Drinks
Diamond -> 4 Free Drinks
Diamond Plus -> 6 Free Drinks
Pinnacle -> 10 Free Drinks (ideally unlimited, but understand capping it)

I've been told that my videos have been played in some of their meetings at the shoreside office.

@megndanielle820 I have been to CocoCay twice. Both times I spent extra money on going to thrill water park. Both days I felt it was money well spent. If we do go back for a third time we may take it easy and not go to thrill water park. But me and my family really love water parks. I would also say if you are the only ship there, it makes it even better as there should be minimal lines. 

I get the OBC of $100 for being a shareholder and typically OBC from Next cruise from prebooking onboard.  I like to use the OBC to go towards my gratuities while onboard.  This way, if I have to cancel my cruise I don’t have extra $ tied up and to track in regards to refunds. Additionally I’ve repriced cruises where I’ve lost OBC that I had applied to purchased precruise and it seems to screw things up. 

I love this proposal. 

@Michael Bayley - My Proposal:
Platinum -> 1 Free Drink
Emerald -> 2 Free Drinks
Diamond -> 4 Free Drinks
Diamond Plus -> 6 Free Drinks
Pinnacle -> 10 Free Drinks (ideally unlimited, but understand capping it)

Diamonds are a cruisers best friend 

Welcome to the message boards!
In short, it doesn't matter what a good price is as the price someone else paid for a different cruise doesn't necessarily mean you'll ever see that price.
In general, drink package prices have gone up a lot this year. But it's still cheaper online than onboard.

Sure, we can make up whatever we want.  I was trying to hold the line set by my predecessor Michael Bayley...😃

@Neesa  I like your idea.  Maybe our RCB group as a whole would make a good CEO!

Yikes, you should see the nice Diamond Ring my sister-in-law purchased at Effy in Skagway on the President's Cruise.  Diamonds are a thing of beauty!  But Diamond Plus is even better...

@OCSC Mike  Agree.  I do find it a bit odd that going from Emerald to Diamond gets you 4 free drinks, while going from D to D+ and D+ to P only adds in 1 free drink at each tier.  Since the requirements to reach the upper tiers is exponential shouldn't the rewards be too?  😉

Yeah, those boosters’ll kill ya !

Not only this Pins should be given 5 or more specialty dining amenity to enjoy as well. Pin is no small milestone. It seems a lovely thing to do. (No I'm not a pin, no where near it) 
*depending on length of sailing

@Michael Bayley - My Proposal:
Platinum -> 1 Free Drink
Emerald -> 2 Free Drinks
Diamond -> 4 Free Drinks
Diamond Plus -> 6 Free Drinks
Pinnacle -> 10 Free Drinks (ideally unlimited, but understand capping it)

@Michael Bayley - My Proposal:
Platinum -> 1 Free Drink
Emerald -> 2 Free Drinks
Diamond -> 4 Free Drinks
Diamond Plus -> 6 Free Drinks
Pinnacle -> 10 Free Drinks (ideally unlimited, but understand capping it)

@OCSC Mike  Agree.  I do find it a bit odd that going from Emerald to Diamond gets you 4 free drinks, while going from D to D+ and D+ to P only adds in 1 free drink at each tier.  Since the requirements to reach the upper tiers is exponential shouldn't the rewards be too?  😉

I for one love that proposal, but may I suggest 6 free drinks for Diamond?
We reach diamond status in the middle of our Sept cruise.

Not sure it's safe to stand there when a booster comes down 🤣

Ughhhhh. Someone was let into coastal kitchen wearing shorts!!!! Oh wait, that was me……they will let anyone in these days…..