dr martini

They sailed near a hurricane with the solarium roof open?  
Have you taken employment with a Florida based ambulance chasing attorney?
 
 

Quick note... Harmony is the only Oasis class ship that does not have a pool in the solarium...
 

That's a deal breaker
 

I've found a lot of things in cruising take some getting used to.
I always find this with new ship names. I never fell in love with last few names off the bat, but now I can't imagine these ships not being named Harmony, Symphony, Odyssey, et al.
In terms of the size of the name, I never understood the issue with the size. Yes, it's different.  But it's nothing like the gaudy hull designs that NCL does, or anything like that.
I happen to like the larger name size, but I also didn't think it would be as big a deal as it's become
In terms of the look of the ship from afar, Royal Caribbean's ships haven't really been the sleekest out there for a while. The Oasis Class are floating carnivals from afar.
Humans aren't particularly good with change. Everyone likes consistency, but I've found in so many cases with what Royal Caribbean does, change is usually for the best (except for getting rid of Sabor, good lord!).

I've thought this as well. I've been on the Anthem and have trips scheduled on the Ovation & Odyssey but still prefer the Oasis Class and Freedom/Voyager class. I think the Freedom/Voyager class ships are most aesthetically pleasing in the fleet.

Got me some Star Class.
Got me some Panama.
Got me some aft corner balconies.
All in all a good night.

Now off to find a second job to pay for it all.

Navigator is way cooler, even in C°.  Does that count?

But which ship is higher in meters? 

Did they say what year though? ?

i have been on adventure and was very near the elevator on navigator (one of her twin sisters) almost exactly a year ago ?
We were assigned there by royal in a guarantee balcony fare (which I thought might happen) but we had zero issues with noise.  In fact, between having door open for ocean breeze/water sounds and the lovely, soft menu music Royal plays on the excursion and ship location/map channel i never heard a thing that one wouldn't have heard anywhere else (the occasional door slam/knocking nearby from housekeeping/etc).
Side note: does anyone know where I can find that music?  one of you lovely people should make a playlist or youtube channel of it if you haven't already

What's the go with Navigator? Thought it would be on the short sailings list. Must be doing 7 nighters.
 

If only there were personal vessels that could easily transport you between cities on a high speed corridor that would cost you a reasonable rental rate.....

So, in other words, the same as any time of year.

i have been on adventure and was very near the elevator on navigator (one of her twin sisters) almost exactly a year ago ?
We were assigned there by royal in a guarantee balcony fare (which I thought might happen) but we had zero issues with noise.  In fact, between having door open for ocean breeze/water sounds and the lovely, soft menu music Royal plays on the excursion and ship location/map channel i never heard a thing that one wouldn't have heard anywhere else (the occasional door slam/knocking nearby from housekeeping/etc).
Side note: does anyone know where I can find that music?  one of you lovely people should make a playlist or youtube channel of it if you haven't already

Ok, this alone would creep me the frack out.

I was near the forward elevator bank on Adventure.  Almost right across the hall from it.  The view from my cabin door:

Noise never bothered me.
There is always the chance of a boisterous group talking loudly going down the hall but that occurs down the entire length of the hall where ever that group is at that moment. 
One time on a Carnival ship there were elevator doors directly across the opening (where you see stairs in the picture above) and in that case I did hear people as they stood waiting for an elevator.  On every Royal ship I have sailed that is not how they design their elevator lobbies so it has never been an issue.   
I love being close to this entrance to the elevator lobby because it's easy in and out.  

it's not great news, but in south florida (like any other major metro area) there is a TON of competition among many food vendors for their huge hospitality industry as well as your normal grocery and institutional type services.  i'm in the food business up north and while the past year has been crazy, there's still plenty of product and capacity (although manufacturers have limited their product runs, a lot of specialty and smaller volume flavors/editions are just not being made).  the perishable side of the business for produce/meat/deli has always been a bit of the wild wild west to it because there are very large outfits that contract pricing out a great ways and there are many more smaller distributors who buy up the more close dated items and pound the pavement selling hot priced deals to move that product. 
very unfortunate that one business is going out and i'm sure it's pandemic related but by no means does that affect cruise lines' ability to procure food.  another great thing about the free market is another entity will get a great deal on that food and use it before it spoils, someone else will get a deal on buying or leasing that space and someone could easily get back into the food distribution business there or anywhere else as soon as lines start back up.

it's not great news, but in south florida (like any other major metro area) there is a TON of competition among many food vendors for their huge hospitality industry as well as your normal grocery and institutional type services.  i'm in the food business up north and while the past year has been crazy, there's still plenty of product and capacity (although manufacturers have limited their product runs, a lot of specialty and smaller volume flavors/editions are just not being made).  the perishable side of the business for produce/meat/deli has always been a bit of the wild wild west to it because there are very large outfits that contract pricing out a great ways and there are many more smaller distributors who buy up the more close dated items and pound the pavement selling hot priced deals to move that product. 
very unfortunate that one business is going out and i'm sure it's pandemic related but by no means does that affect cruise lines' ability to procure food.  another great thing about the free market is another entity will get a great deal on that food and use it before it spoils, someone else will get a deal on buying or leasing that space and someone could easily get back into the food distribution business there or anywhere else as soon as lines start back up.

Excess product going to auction is normal. Once Royal ships are due to end the Australian season, and head off for their Asian sailing, they sell off their excess alcohol as the Asian market don't drink as much as Australian's. 

We're supposed to cope?

@princevaliantus you're also missing the fact other ships in the fleet are not delayed until Q4 2021.
Very few, if anyone, ever thought the entire fleet of Royal Caribbean ships would be sailing by the end of this year.
The question isn't when will every ship be back in service, rather, which ships will return to service first.

Any cruise I go on, I absolutely will.
I'm sure if @Lovetocruise2002booked a December cruise on Grandeur she'd have started her live blog already....

They've had four ships stationed there for months.  Must have liked it ? 
P&O has used Barbados as a homeport.  During the time the RC ships spent there some local authorities probably whispered sweet nothings in Captain Johnny's ear.  
They didn't want Grandeur doing more of the same competing with so many in the RCI fleet for the Caribbean market.  Also sends a message to San Juan.  Checks a lot of boxes.  

Like we saw with Empress when they thought outside of the box and built routes beyond the cookie cutter mainstream this is sort of the same.  A lot of destinations not normally reached by Royal's fleet so something different to garner attention.  
I don't think this is in anyway related to the CDC.  Hedging one small ship doesn't really accomplish anything in terms of bypassing the CDC.  The target audience will result in a lot of Americans on board but some Brits as well given the easy flights to the former British territory.  The Concorde used to fly between London and Bridgetown and one remains in a museum at the airport there.  No doubt the homeport will appeal to some Brits as well.   
Cool move.  

I booked the Dec 5 sailing. YOLO Book It