SteveinSC

Thank you all for your insights. I think I will leave things as they are right now. We will see though how much of it we use and definitely try MDR. While this is our first cruise, we are definetly thinking of our second already.

I did Star Class for my first Oasis-class ship experience.  Consider me ruined forever on that class ?

Ditto.......the only thing that doesnt get to relax on my cruises is my liver....
. 
Bottom line: TO EACH, THEIR OWN!!!!  If you want to go big, or go home.....GO ALL THE WAY!!!!!  If you want to never spend another dime once on board....you can do that and still have a good time.......so, ive heard. Our difference is what makes our time on this big blue ball equal parts amazing, and frustrating. HAPPY CRUISING, ALL! 
 

We always purchase the Unlimited Dining Package.  It does have one problem, however.  It’s too good.  I know this will shock some, as I have been such a UDP proponent for such a long time.  The problem with purchasing the UDP is that you feel compelled (b/c you paid for it !) to eat EVERY lunch and dinner in a specialty restaurant.  Trust me when I say....that is just too much food.  When I am home I almost never eat lunch. I’m just not hungry during the middle of the day.  But when we’re on a cruise, I force myself to eat and then eat again b/c I paid for it.  Cover your ears, Royal Caribbean, b/c I don’t want you to hear this, but I secretly wish that the UDP included only embarkation lunch and all dinners.  I would then be free to either skip lunch entirely or just grab a snack somewhere without feeling like I was cheating myself.  The only lunch that I really love, is embarkation day b/c it is such a wonderful way to start the cruise.  After that, not so much.  I might even, God forbid, go to the Windjammer !  Our next Cruise is going to be Majesty, which has no specialty restaurants.  Depending on how that experiment goes, I may decide to change our habit of always buying the UDP.

Ditto.......the only thing that doesnt get to relax on my cruises is my liver....
. 
Bottom line: TO EACH, THEIR OWN!!!!  If you want to go big, or go home.....GO ALL THE WAY!!!!!  If you want to never spend another dime once on board....you can do that and still have a good time.......so, ive heard. Our difference is what makes our time on this big blue ball equal parts amazing, and frustrating. HAPPY CRUISING, ALL! 
 

Ditto.......the only thing that doesnt get to relax on my cruises is my liver....
. 
Bottom line: TO EACH, THEIR OWN!!!!  If you want to go big, or go home.....GO ALL THE WAY!!!!!  If you want to never spend another dime once on board....you can do that and still have a good time.......so, ive heard. Our difference is what makes our time on this big blue ball equal parts amazing, and frustrating. HAPPY CRUISING, ALL! 
 

Ditto.......the only thing that doesnt get to relax on my cruises is my liver....
. 
Bottom line: TO EACH, THEIR OWN!!!!  If you want to go big, or go home.....GO ALL THE WAY!!!!!  If you want to never spend another dime once on board....you can do that and still have a good time.......so, ive heard. Our difference is what makes our time on this big blue ball equal parts amazing, and frustrating. HAPPY CRUISING, ALL! 
 

@SteveinSC I doubt I will be a fan of larger ships, I started with Mariner and have 2 more cruise on her in 2021. Then I'm doing Liberty and Navigator this year, other than Voom and the refreshment package I don't plan on getting anything else. Allure in Oct 2021 will be my first Oasis class and I somehow felt the need to do Sky class, 3 nights dining and a drinks package. I feel like the sheer number of people will affect my experience so I want to circumvent that. I could care less about slides, Ifly etc as my cruise is all about relaxing.

@SteveinSC I wouldn't think of it as going down, as there really aren't any bad ships in the RCC fleet. It is my personal opinion that when people "go big or go home" the first time they find their niche. By starting with an Oasis class they are already setting themselves up to be overwhelmed or eventually disappointed lol. So they might as well get the most out of this experience.

Cruisemapper is also an app. I love looking at ship locations, port schedules, etc. It's a nifty tool, for sure....and, I too am fond of the itinerary map. I love all maps, though....kind of a map geek. 

My googling skills led me to Wisconsin.  

Where is Breezy Bay?

We had quite an arctic situation in South Carolina, yesterday. There was actual snow falling from the sky....it left a trace of a dusting on everything, but the ground. I think we will be ok. Kids had a school delay this morning. Nothing we couldnt overcome. Keep us in your thoughts, prayers, send some good vibes into the universe....whatever all of yall believe in. #CarolinaStrong  
...and 43 days till Rhapsody out of Tampa. Wife scolded me and told me to quit adding stuff to the Amazon "cruise list". #SteveStrong 

I am not worried at all and I work in a UK hospital. I am more worried about slipping on ice or catching the flu.

Cruisemapper is also an app. I love looking at ship locations, port schedules, etc. It's a nifty tool, for sure....and, I too am fond of the itinerary map. I love all maps, though....kind of a map geek. 

I have a coworker looking at one on Independence in Sept. that hits both.  I keep telling her "YOLO, BOOK IT!" 
 

Cruisemapper is also an app. I love looking at ship locations, port schedules, etc. It's a nifty tool, for sure....and, I too am fond of the itinerary map. I love all maps, though....kind of a map geek. 

Just gonna put this here, for my fellow Buckeyes...

You ever reach that point where you feel like youve researched all you can, youve set up all your excursions, youve filled out all there is to fill out.....and youre just WAITING. Its agony, and I just want my embarkation day to GET HERE. What do yall do to deal with the agony, the torture, the slow death of WAITING? 

I have a coworker looking at one on Independence in Sept. that hits both.  I keep telling her "YOLO, BOOK IT!" 
 

Rhapsody is a Vision class ship.  We sailed her the last week of January and had a wonderful time.  We were in an "ocean view" (aka window) stateroom on deck 4.  Only issue is that the OV rooms seems a little smaller than the ones on Voyager or Freedom class ships.  We had a wonderful waiter and assistant waiter (actually, we loved our assistant waiter). Also, the cruise director and activities manager were wonderful.  All-in-all, I'd recommend it and can't think of any major glitches.

@SteveinSC Two words.....SausagePatty.... ButterCrust. Also yeah those Brazilian steakhouses get a hold of you and next thing you know you feel much light since they took some of your soul. New Orleans got me with beignets too, who would have thunk bread and powder sugar?  That is why when I am not on vacation or cruising, I am on a strict eat-what-you-cook-only diet. It stops me from offering up my soul and overindulging.

We just got back on Sunday from our first cruise on the Oasis.  Already have a countdown for our Alaskan cruise NEXT YEAR.  sigh.  Trying to stay busy to pay it off.  lol 

The bad news is, my dad told me last night that he's moving from where we leave near each other in Michigan to the Seattle, WA area.  I'll be sad to see him go, moving so far away. 
The good news is....what a great excuse to plan an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle!!!!!!  I may or may not invite him along.  LOL

This is what I use, if/when im concerned.  I use this camping and fishing, and it works well. 
https://www.amazon.com/Mosquito-Continuous-Sunscreen-Insect-Repellent/dp/B00BQ81INS/ref=sr_1_7?crid=OBIF46RG2IXG&keywords=bullfrog+sunscreen+and+insect+repellent&qid=1582301251&sprefix=bull+frog+sun%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-7