Richk

I have only seen regular Diet Coke in can form.. The freestyle machines might have them but I am not sure Serenade even has those machines.. I strongly suggest you bring your own just incase...

You do need to do more than just link your reservation online ....... EACH party also has to call RC and say that they want to sit with the other party and have the other party’s reservation number .... it’s annoyingly to go thru the 2 phone calls, but that’s the only way to guarantee you’ll be sitting together ....... you can also ask for a specific table size ....... like a table for 4 if you don’t want to sit with strangers 

That's the kind of sign I wanted to make.  Sweet Tomatoes has them in playing card sizes.
  
 

They have a gym on the ships ? That seems like a wasted space that could be used as a bar with dart board, pool tables and chips with salsa.?

The gym on Serenade is a great gym but I'm afraid that spinning with a view of the sea is not going to happen.
The reason for this is the shape of the gym and the location of the spinning bikes. Serenade's gym is horseshoe-shaped, with an entrance at each end. As you go in there are free weights, benches and weight-training machines. Once you pass those, there are plenty of cardio machines around the edge of the horseshoe shape. Some of them look out towards the sea and others look inwards towards the aerobics floor, which is in the centre of the horseshoe. It is this aerobics floor which is used for classes, including the spinning classes and the bikes are positioned facing a wall/stage area between the two entrances, where the instructor will stand.
All of which means that if your wife wants to work out with a view of the ocean, the best way to do it is to do her own session on one of the many cardio machines (treadmills, cross-trainers, recumbent and upright bikes) around the outer edge of the horseshoe. Also, with this being your first cruise and just so you are aware, use of the gym itself is free but the spinning classes come with a charge.  

I actually have one ARI from my first trip, but it was humorous rather than scary or annoying. I was sitting outside Vintages on Freedom ahead of the Captain’s meet & greet, enjoying a glass of red while waiting for the family to finish getting dressed and primped for first formal night. The line started forming and a live band was playing, one woman was clearly well into her cups, a martini glass in one hand and happily singing along to the music. I couldn’t help but grin since she was having such a fun time, had to ask just how many of those she’d had.
She held up three fingers, laughed, then left the line and came right over to me; told me I was really cute and asked if was I actually sailing by myself. I pointed to my wedding ring (that was in plain sight since I was holding my wine glass with my left hand) and politely told her sorry to disappoint, but I was actually waiting for my wife and kids. She pouted, then went back into the line to wait for her turn to meet the captain.
There was an older couple sitting at the table next to mine. I looked over at them after the woman had left, and they shook their head in wonder at the exchange. The wife asked how on earth she missed my wedding ring, I just shrugged and said, “Three martinis.”
Ok, it was funny and honestly kind of flattering too. Assuming I wasn’t on the receiving end of “beer goggling”. ?

Out of many, many cruises I've only been subjected to two alcohol-related incidents.  One was a drunken family having a slap-the-shit-out-of-each-other disagreement poolside (which security quickly took care of -- not sure what they did after escorting them away).
The other was was just creepy.  Extremely drunk guy at a blackjack table decided to start harassing a female friend of mine that was on the same trip, but in a different cabin with her husband.  She's got purple hair in dreads and tattoos.  She's also an IT exec at a Fortune 10.
Guy starting making all sort of insinuations and sexual innuendo hinting that he'd like to, "make her straight."  He also cussed out the dealer any time he busted.  The dealer just took it -- so I went to the pit boss and said, "this guy is being an asshole to your dealer and other guests."  All they did was move him on to another table.  That kinda pissed me off.  Definitely pissed my friend off.  She told him straight to his face to shut the F up.

Hot tubs and children reminds me of when we stayed at a local resort once. I was in the hot tub and noticed a girl of about ten rearranging her one piece bathing suit and squirming about.. Not liking the look of it, I got out and went to the gym... a little while later my sons came in roaring with laughter, telling me how they were in the hot tub and another young man with them, saw something unusual... picked it up.... looked at it with confused curiosity ? , then squeezed it between his fingers, before then realising what it was.  I'm sure I don't need to tell you what it was... My sons thought it was hilarious that they had watched and seen the expression of this boy had squashed a lump of poop between his fingers!  I was just glad I got out of the hot tub when I did!  Needless to say no one wanted to go in the hot tub after that  ☣️, even though the cleaning staff were advised.... I'd rather deal with obnoxious drunks than a turd in the pool dun dun dun dun dun dun?  aaggghhhh! Shring, Shring, Shring!!!

Yea, that’s a big difference. Maybe because it is 7 days vs. 11. Takes more “dedication” ? to get your moneys worth for 11 days!! ??? But I’ll be up for the challenge! 

My wife would have been in trouble, I love me a Guinness! ?

I just did it today. Our very first cruise. Thanks to reading these blogs I already saved $$. Bought the DDP for $55 last week for the 11 day cruise on Dec. 30th. Today it was $51. Doesn’t seem like much but for two people 11 nights plus the 18% I saved $103.84. Just canceled and repurchased. I’ll continue to watch especially on Black Friday, thanks to Cobra614 above! 

I suggest searching that topic on youtube - I've managed to find a bunch of useful and helpful tips from a wide range of people (The owner of this website also has a ton of information on his youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/RoyalCaribbeanBlog?app=desktop.). Also try using the search bar here, there have been lots of tips in the past.

Royal is geared to appeal to families across the spectrum from the young to the young at heart.  There is always a lot going on around a Royal ship.  Royal also trends to larger ships where Celebrity operates a smaller fleet.  You won't find any Quantum or Oasis class sized ships in the Celebrity fleet.  
Celebrity is more an adult cruise line, more refined but not in the luxury high end market.  No bumper cars, zip lines, ice skating rinks, water slides, sky pads, laser tag, flowriders, iFly indoor sky diving, etc. on Celebrity.  
That's not to say kids are not welcome on Celebrity but there isn't the space and activities dedicated to them like there is on Royal so you tend to see fewer kids on Celebrity.  It won't be zero kids but not as many as Royal. 
I enjoy Royal even if I don't do all the activities because it keeps me young.  Celebrity is there for me if I ever grow up and mature.  

I was on the same sailing as @cobra614 and same, the lowest it fell to was $47pp/day.  My advice is buy it as soon as you can and watch prices.  If it drops, you can re-price up to 2 days before sailing.  If you don't buy it now, you run the risk of the price going up even higher.  In the past, Black Friday usually nets the biggest savings.

We took our first cruise back in January.  It was a 5-day cruise on another cruiseline and we really enjoyed it.  So much so that we upgraded to Royal Caribbean and are getting ready for our 2nd cruise in just over 20 days!
I think the best advice anyone gave me was not to let the first day discourage you.  While cruises are great, that first day can be quite stressful....you're typically traveling and/or coming from a local hotel, you've got to get to the ship, get your luggage taken care of, get through the boarding process and with so many people it can be a little daunting.  On top of that, once you get on board, your stateroom will most likely not be ready so you'll have to roam around the ship until it is.  At some point you will have to attend the muster drill and a few other things.  For the unprepared it can be very exhausting.  That's not to say it's not fun; there's definitely a great atmosphere as the ship pulls out of port that very first time.  Just make sure you set your expectations for the first few hours.  In my head the "real" cruise doesn't begin until after the muster drill.  
I think a 7-day is a good starter cruise.  As I said above, our first was 5 days and we were so overwhelmed it took us 2-3 days just to learn our way around.  Just about the time we were getting comfortable with everything the cruise ended and we were sad.  The last night we found a whole new area of the ship we didn't even know existed and never got to visit!

Get the deluxe beverage package 

TMI

We went on Indy last year for New Year's.  It was great!  They had several New Year's celebrations set up throughout the ship, the promenade was made into a Times Square type atmosphere and there was a special dining room menu that night. 

I love holiday sailings.  I know you will have a blast !

Balcony rooms are great - you'll have plenty of space.  On New Year's Eve, all of the venues will have champagne and music - you don't need to be in just one spot.  Enjoy your cruise, and take advantage of the sea days to relax from port days.  I would recommend reviewing deck plans before you travel to familiarize yourself with the ship.
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/serenade-of-the-seas/deck-plans/1888/02
When you are on the ship, you will find the spaces you prefer.  Have a great trip!

Welcome to the message board Rick! Feel free to ask away with any questions you may have. There is a wealth of knowledge here from well seasoned cruisers. Here are some of my recommendation:
1. Check out this website for the Serenade's deck plans. Study them or print them off. That way you will know your way around the ship once you board and won't have to spend time wandering around aimlessly.
2. If possible, get to the port the day before, bad things can happen trying to get to the port the day the ship leaves. The next morning get to the port by 10:00 am. That way you can be some of the first to board. Your cabins won't be ready until probably 1:00 pm. and your luggage will show up later. Carry all your important documents, medication, sun screen, bathing suits in a small back pack or two because thee pools will be open. Lunch will be served in the Windjammer starting at 11:30 and it will be a zoo! Just be prepared,
3. Check out thee Main Dining Room and find out where your table is. That way you'll know where to go when it's time for dinner.
4. The Serenade has what is called "The Centrum" and it gets crowded. There is a lot of entertainment that happens here. Check it out and get there early (20-30 minutes) to get good seats. We have been on the Serenade twice. 
5. We enjoy room service bringing us complimentary coffe, fruit and roles/danish first thing in the morning and enjoying them on our balcony. Great on cruise days and enjoyable on ports days. Then we get ready for the day and find a "proper" breakfast. 
6. Get these luggage tag holders. Many of us here use there and they work out great. The luggage tags you will print (much later, like 45 days out from sailing) will be paper and they recommend taping/stapling them to the handle on your suit case. These are heavy duty plastic sleeves with a stainless steel cable for attaching to your luggage handle...and they're inexpensive. Put these on the morning you go to the terminal. https://www.amazon.com/Cruise-Luggage-Tag-Caribbean-Celebrity/dp/B00UR2M5FE/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Cruise+Luggage+Tag+Holder+Zip+Seal+%26+Steel+-+Royal+Caribbean+%26+Celebrity+Cruise&qid=1565387091&s=gateway&sr=8-3
7. As mentioned above, purchase the deluxe/unlimited drink package on the cruise planner. Routinely check the price and if it has dropped, cancel the more expensive and buy the less expensive. It's legal and most off us here do that. Same thing for the specialty dining, if your group is interested.
8. Again, ask us questions about the ship, itinerary, etc. Most important is HAVE FUN!!!!!

 

What? You love any sailings!!

Hi Richk.
We did an 11-night Serenade cruise in November/December 2017 for our wedding anniversary and it was great. Our itinerary was not exactly the same as yours but we did visit 3 of the ones you'll be going to. I did a post-cruise review of it but it was over on another forum, so I'll send you a private message with the link so you can read it if you like.
I'm sure your going to have a fabulous time! 

I'm so jealous.  11 nights and a holiday, wow.  Enjoy it won't be too much.

My first cruise was 12 nights. You will have a great time. If you are going with family and your balcony rooms are next to each other, you can ask the stateroom attendant make the rooms and/or the balcony for part or the whole time. Definitely research the ports and possible excursions. As with traveling with family, set some time to have a few date nights with just you and your wife, maybe hit up a specialty restaurant.  Check out an old cruise compass on this site for your ship/itinerary to get a sense of that happens day to day.
I second people's suggestion to fly/drive in at least a day prior to embarkation. 
With an 11night cruise you will get to know your stateroom attendant and main dining room waiters well, tip them well.