CoupleOfCruisers

My Max is 50 a day not because I can break even with 5 terribly overpriced drinks but because over 7 days plus 18% I feel that's the max where I personally find value in the benefit.
Drinking to drink because you have a package is a chore and with all of the food its not all that fun. 

That's was NCL does!

Exactly why I will just bring plastic straws! However, you've made me realize to spring for the ones individually wrapped so I can toss a few anywhere!
Edit: Just went on Amazon and bought 200 individually wrapped straws for $8.00, I spent a little extra for the colorful ones. With upwards of 14 friends on board, I should buy two boxes LOL!

I like this idea the best. Not that metal straws are expensive, but seems easier to carry a bunch (maybe 10?) on you and just go back to stateroom for more. You can even be kind and give them out. I have no problem reusing a plastic straw (I do it at home), just less worry of losing it or cleaning it or whatever.

Pretty sure the paper ones are bad for tree life though ... ?

Not only worthless but actually change the taste of your drink.  AWFUL !  I can't believe Royal fell for the great straw hoax !

How much more than 15.50 (After Gratuity) for a blended drink can they charge?
Anyone ever wonder if they can sell a 1 LITER bottle of STOLI for 10.00 on the ship how much they must be getting it for?  Lets say its 6.00 and there are approx 22 shots in one bottle, YES that 10.00 stoli and soda water is really 35 - 50 cents worth of product itself.  Since RCL is not paying the same US taxes on liquor that bars and restaurants on land there is more profit in these drink packages than people realize, even if you drink 30 drinks a day.

Pretty soon you'll buy the drink package and they'll throw in the cruise.

The price that is posted on the website is the “base” price for the UDP. On top of that you must prepay the 18% gratuity.  Once you pay the full price (base + gratuity) you are fully paid. If you purchase drinks one at a time (no package) you will pay the cost of the drink + 18% gratuity.

Its over $100 in CAD.....in some cases close to double the cost of the cruise...insane....but Royal will continue to raise prices on everything they can to max profits....I just cant wait till they reach the break point and have to start cutting pricing to keep and attract customers....its going to happen.....just a matter of time...they are going to price themselves out of the middle class.......

Deluxe Beverage Package is no longer worth it. I've tried but I simply cannot get through $90 worth of alcohol a day for 7 days straight anymore!

Thank you all! Now how do I get my picture to fit? ? 

Gamble a lot.

???
I have no idea who anyone else is! all of my recommendations come from this blog!

We were on a cruise (Grandeur) once with a lovely lady who often cruises Azamara.  Apparently, Azamara is a favorite of older, single, wealthy ladies.  She told us that they always have young men (staff) who serve as dancing partners for these older ladies.  She had a name for them (NO, not gigolos !!) and their sole job is to be dance partners as these ladies do not have dance partners of their own.
She was the one who fascinated Dan with her stories of emperor penguins in the Falklands (I've related this story in numerous other posts).  He has never forgotten her stories and standing next to an emperor penguin is now on his lifelong bucket list !

I think you need to understand the Azamara culture and approach to cruising. 
They tend to visit different ports that their smaller ships allow.  They have tended to be focused on the experience integrating local culture into the experience compared to Royal who brings the standard Royal experience everywhere they sail.  That's not a bad thing, just different.  Royal offers land tours in Alaska but infrequently anywhere else.  
For example a land tour in Europe before boarding a Med cruise isn't offered on Royal.  Or in Greece, or Australia, or... 
The tend to operate very different itineraries compared to Royal. 

First time I sailed on Grandeur sailing in Royal Suite which is probably about equal to Owner Suite....the 'regular' concierge was on vacation   I never got an email or even knew to expect anything.
Second time I sailed on Grandeur also in Royal Suite...the 'regular' concierge was there, he emailed me prior to sailing, called me to arrange somethings, called me on the way to the port, met me in the parking lot in the port....
So.....it's hit or miss ? in my experience when sailing on ships that don't do 'star class' with a strongly documented "this is what we do" list ?

For just my soulmate and I:
1 - Roller-ed Suit Bag:  Good for all formal wear and all dresses.
1 - Roller-ed Large (25") Bag:  Good for virtually everything else.
1 - Roller-ed Carry0n (22") Bag:  Good for all the first day essentials (Something for dinner, pool, medications ... just in case luggage is late) + Wine.
We used to pack a lot more, but we have optimized our packing list over the years.  Each cruise we try to take a little less and see if that works.  Our next challenge is a 14 day Antarctic Cruise.  We did Alaska once (and ended up having to buy some clothes en route).  If anyone has Antarctic experience, we would love to get any hints.

I'm less worried about seeing someone in sandals than I am about seeing someone in "Nope, I don't own a mirror" skimpy pajamas. The only cruise that we have been on was another cruise line(Carni---) and there was a verrry large and confident woman rocking her extra small Winnie the pooh shorts and crop top jammies walking through the buffet.

I don't smoke but I don't mind smoking sections.  Live and let live.
However, there are reasons cruise lines fear smokers, and its another case of idiots ruining it for everybody.
 

As a non-smoker, I would book a cruise if it was all non-smoking and conversely would not book a cruise if it had open smoking throughout the ship.

Im from scotland we call 40 degrees with wind swirling round you outside " SUMMER" 
Also I dont smoke inside my house, be it sun, rain or snow i go outside, it comes down to having respect for non smokers which includes my wife. 
 
However respect should work both ways, if im in a designated smoking area outside no one has the right to complain or make comments to me about the smoke or smell

Actually, I think they tried this already.  A couple of years ago there was at least 1 ship that they tried a non-smoking casino for a couple of cruises. Granted, it was not a LONG test but they did try it.  That was the last I heard of trying a non-smoking casino so my guess is that it did not go well.   Of course, you cannot expect a test like that to go well when nobody was forewarned.  I'm sure they had nothing but complaints from smoking gamblers who had no idea they were going to be victims of a non-smoking experiment.  The non-smokers weren't made aware of it so they stayed away, like they always do.
I think that the results of going non-smoking is pretty well established in other industries, such as restaurants.  At first there is a holy uproar from smokers who either deal with it or change restaurants/lines but in the end, they gain more non-smokers, who eventually make up for the smokers that they lose.  We are going through this exact scenario right now with our American Legion Post.  The smokers are in full revolt as our new social quarters are going smoke-free but trust me, there are far more non-smoking members who have been campaigning for YEARS to have a smoke-free Post.  They will now come where they would not, before.  I believe, in the long run, we will gain more than we will lose but it will take time. BTW, there will still be a smoking bar for those who smoke; it's just the new lounge and dining room that will be smoke-free.
Celebrity seems to do well with non-smoking casinos but everyone knows they are non-smoking before they ever book so the expectations are established, beforehand.

Main problem is during the evening were the Casino turns into smoking lounge , During my last cruise there were many times you can see group of people grabbing chairs and seat for a long time smoking and chatting. I heard people saying it was too cold to smoke on deck 15 so that is why everyone there.
So , or band smoking also in the casino or add somewhere a small smoking lounge like they have in some of the airports. 
If I were RC , I would take one of the big ships and do a revenue test , with smoking allow for few weeks and than with smoking not allow for few weeks (publishing ahead of time) , if the revenue will be the almost the same or better when smoking is not allow they can rollout it on the entire fleet. Also if more and more people will complain about the smoking in the survey it might help. 

As a smoker myself i think smoking should be banned from all in door areas, you cant smoke in bars or resteraunts nowadays ( even in asia ) so why allow it on ships? 
Even though its allowed i myself will go outside to designated smoking areas.