Pattycruise

Completely disagree. Beverage tipping, like dining in a restaurant, is how the service industry works. 
Unfortunately all employers (including cruise lines) pay employees with understanding tipping will make up difference. This happens everywhere, and it's a debate for another day if that is right or wrong.
In the meantime, tipping is not only expected, I absolutely see a big difference in the speed and friendliness of service when waiters/bartenders notice tips coming their way.  You don't have to "make it rain" by any means, but I definitely have seen a difference with even customary tips.

I tip with every drink, the bartender's have always blown right by the other people to serve me, even at the pool bar during peak hours. Who cares if you have prepaid gratuities that get split amongst 3,000 employees, these people are sleeping in shared closets, working 7 days a week, and sending all their money back home to families they barely see, just so we can sit on our asses a gorge for 7 days.

I  do not present as handicapped but I have a bad back.  At times I can walk stairs, distances and stand on a line with no issues.  Other times I am in great pain within minutes of standing on a line or doing stairs.  No rhyme or reason.  I'm sure a lot of people view me as capable of walking stairs-or even standing still on a line.  However, I would never cut people off at an elevator.  I really wish RC would have a "take a number" on their Guest services line because I have spent numerous cruises standing on that line -sometimes multiple times on one sailing-and I pay for it with a super achy back where it hurts to stand, walk and at times even sit.  Even waiting to enter venues to get a seat is painful.  Please don't judge those apparently healthy people.
 

I  do not present as handicapped but I have a bad back.  At times I can walk stairs, distances and stand on a line with no issues.  Other times I am in great pain within minutes of standing on a line or doing stairs.  No rhyme or reason.  I'm sure a lot of people view me as capable of walking stairs-or even standing still on a line.  However, I would never cut people off at an elevator.  I really wish RC would have a "take a number" on their Guest services line because I have spent numerous cruises standing on that line -sometimes multiple times on one sailing-and I pay for it with a super achy back where it hurts to stand, walk and at times even sit.  Even waiting to enter venues to get a seat is painful.  Please don't judge those apparently healthy people.
 

T
Yes that is an option.  We have done it several times.  I think for simplicity purposes,  we purchase on our other passenger account.  IE If we originally purchase it under my husband's name, than when we book the newer one at the lower price we do it under my name.  It is just so was are sure we don't by oops cancel the wrong one (lower price)

It's because of issues like this that I believe my T.A. strongly suggested taking the refund rather than FCC on the canceled Brilliance group cruise.  ?

I've always used hand sanitizer, try and not touch railings, after washing my hands-with soap-I use a paper towel to open the bathroom door to exit....after getting food from a buffet, I RE DO my hand sanitizer.  
Have you ever people watched and see people walk past the hand sanitizer station, not wash their hands in the bathroom, eat at the buffet while getting their food?  PRECAUTION is key, year round.  
I've read on this forum to wipe down my room....honestly something I never thought of before but it makes a lot of sense.  SO I will add that to my list of precautions.

I've always used hand sanitizer, try and not touch railings, after washing my hands-with soap-I use a paper towel to open the bathroom door to exit....after getting food from a buffet, I RE DO my hand sanitizer.  
Have you ever people watched and see people walk past the hand sanitizer station, not wash their hands in the bathroom, eat at the buffet while getting their food?  PRECAUTION is key, year round.  
I've read on this forum to wipe down my room....honestly something I never thought of before but it makes a lot of sense.  SO I will add that to my list of precautions.

I accidentally got around it once last year. Not sure if it would still work or not but you can try if you want.
1. Booked reservation for 2 adults in the cabin.
2. Booked Beverage Package for both adults.
3. Had my TA change the reservation for the 2nd person from an adult to child.
4. RCL system "auto-detected" that a child had an adult drink package and cancelled it on its own (I literally hadnt even though about it but got the refund and went to see why).
5. Changed the child back to an adult.
6. System did not require a package purchase for the 2nd passenger.
We had about 20 people going across multiple rooms and were shuffling passengers around to try and get everyone on board, the drink package thing was more of an "oh that was interesting observation".
 
 

Skip the package altogether and bring your own. Problem solved.?

Great news !!!!  They awarded us C&A points for the entire 8 day Anthem cruise even though it was shortened to 5 days !!  16 points for us since we were in a suite.  Only 190 to Pinnacle !!!!

Just wondering if anyone has booked a cruise at Next Cruise for the day you arrive back in port.  I arrive back from a cruise on May 1, 2020 and will be Miami for 4 days afterwards.  I looked on line at RCCL and there is still a lot of rooms available for a cruise departing on May 1, 2020 for a 3 night cruise.
I have a hotel booked for when we arrive back in port but I can cancel up to 24 hours in advance if there happens to be a room available on the May 1 cruise.
it actually works out to be cheaper to do another cruise than it does to book a hotel.

Another, yup to the list. I too as mentioned, do mock searches to get an idea of prices (but know that's in no way an indication of what my flight cost will be) but also to get an idea of what routes various airlines fly.
I also consider convince when determining what is a fair price. JetBlue for example flies to MCO from SWF which usually comes with a higher cost but I could walk to SWF so if it's $100 more, so be it. I'll save more than that in parking at EWR or similar, plus gas, toss, etc.

So I have a cruise scheduled for Jan 2021 and nothing is showing up on the planner yet. Usually it takes about 10 months or less. I would suggest telling people to plan for $68+ 18% gratuity for the deluxe. You might see a black Friday sale that gets it to $51-55. As  far as refreshments goes I would say $26 +18% again it mighty be $18-21 during an extreme sale. I doubt the $18 dx pg will happen anytime soon....or even again.....they are training interns better?

Agree. Likely way too early. None of my 2021 sailing show drink package pricing either.

It’s still too early to see package prices for March 2021. I’m sure they haven’t yet decided what the 2021 prices are going to be.

True, but the lack of communication is not good business practices on Royal’s part.

Thanks everyone! Alaska here I come!!

I've not yet done the Canada cruise but I do want to do it...can't seem to get my family to agree to go!
We went to Alaska this past summer, courtesy of my very generous mother in law who was celebrating a big birthday.  It was absolutely AMAZING.  She had booked us the 3 day pre cruise land package and that too was amazing...very tiring...and we were glad to get on the ship so we could "relax" LOL.  
If you are booking Alaska realize that one side of the ship costs more than the other.  We had a balcony but honestly did not spend a lot of time on it....when it came to it we were on excursions or mostly on the deck looking over the rails.  Though the balcony was quite nice.
The Alaska excursions DO book up so when you do decide to book the cruise look at what excursions are available and don't hesitate. (well, the helicopter one my daughter wanted to go on was full-so maybe I'm exaggerating about things booking up?)  Whale watching in Icy Strait was amazing and  the seafood bake that followed was fantastic.  We lucked out with the weather-if you call a heat wave luck! 

I've not yet done the Canada cruise but I do want to do it...can't seem to get my family to agree to go!
We went to Alaska this past summer, courtesy of my very generous mother in law who was celebrating a big birthday.  It was absolutely AMAZING.  She had booked us the 3 day pre cruise land package and that too was amazing...very tiring...and we were glad to get on the ship so we could "relax" LOL.  
If you are booking Alaska realize that one side of the ship costs more than the other.  We had a balcony but honestly did not spend a lot of time on it....when it came to it we were on excursions or mostly on the deck looking over the rails.  Though the balcony was quite nice.
The Alaska excursions DO book up so when you do decide to book the cruise look at what excursions are available and don't hesitate. (well, the helicopter one my daughter wanted to go on was full-so maybe I'm exaggerating about things booking up?)  Whale watching in Icy Strait was amazing and  the seafood bake that followed was fantastic.  We lucked out with the weather-if you call a heat wave luck! 

I've not yet done the Canada cruise but I do want to do it...can't seem to get my family to agree to go!
We went to Alaska this past summer, courtesy of my very generous mother in law who was celebrating a big birthday.  It was absolutely AMAZING.  She had booked us the 3 day pre cruise land package and that too was amazing...very tiring...and we were glad to get on the ship so we could "relax" LOL.  
If you are booking Alaska realize that one side of the ship costs more than the other.  We had a balcony but honestly did not spend a lot of time on it....when it came to it we were on excursions or mostly on the deck looking over the rails.  Though the balcony was quite nice.
The Alaska excursions DO book up so when you do decide to book the cruise look at what excursions are available and don't hesitate. (well, the helicopter one my daughter wanted to go on was full-so maybe I'm exaggerating about things booking up?)  Whale watching in Icy Strait was amazing and  the seafood bake that followed was fantastic.  We lucked out with the weather-if you call a heat wave luck! 

I've not yet done the Canada cruise but I do want to do it...can't seem to get my family to agree to go!
We went to Alaska this past summer, courtesy of my very generous mother in law who was celebrating a big birthday.  It was absolutely AMAZING.  She had booked us the 3 day pre cruise land package and that too was amazing...very tiring...and we were glad to get on the ship so we could "relax" LOL.  
If you are booking Alaska realize that one side of the ship costs more than the other.  We had a balcony but honestly did not spend a lot of time on it....when it came to it we were on excursions or mostly on the deck looking over the rails.  Though the balcony was quite nice.
The Alaska excursions DO book up so when you do decide to book the cruise look at what excursions are available and don't hesitate. (well, the helicopter one my daughter wanted to go on was full-so maybe I'm exaggerating about things booking up?)  Whale watching in Icy Strait was amazing and  the seafood bake that followed was fantastic.  We lucked out with the weather-if you call a heat wave luck! 

I've not yet done the Canada cruise but I do want to do it...can't seem to get my family to agree to go!
We went to Alaska this past summer, courtesy of my very generous mother in law who was celebrating a big birthday.  It was absolutely AMAZING.  She had booked us the 3 day pre cruise land package and that too was amazing...very tiring...and we were glad to get on the ship so we could "relax" LOL.  
If you are booking Alaska realize that one side of the ship costs more than the other.  We had a balcony but honestly did not spend a lot of time on it....when it came to it we were on excursions or mostly on the deck looking over the rails.  Though the balcony was quite nice.
The Alaska excursions DO book up so when you do decide to book the cruise look at what excursions are available and don't hesitate. (well, the helicopter one my daughter wanted to go on was full-so maybe I'm exaggerating about things booking up?)  Whale watching in Icy Strait was amazing and  the seafood bake that followed was fantastic.  We lucked out with the weather-if you call a heat wave luck! 

I've not yet done the Canada cruise but I do want to do it...can't seem to get my family to agree to go!
We went to Alaska this past summer, courtesy of my very generous mother in law who was celebrating a big birthday.  It was absolutely AMAZING.  She had booked us the 3 day pre cruise land package and that too was amazing...very tiring...and we were glad to get on the ship so we could "relax" LOL.  
If you are booking Alaska realize that one side of the ship costs more than the other.  We had a balcony but honestly did not spend a lot of time on it....when it came to it we were on excursions or mostly on the deck looking over the rails.  Though the balcony was quite nice.
The Alaska excursions DO book up so when you do decide to book the cruise look at what excursions are available and don't hesitate. (well, the helicopter one my daughter wanted to go on was full-so maybe I'm exaggerating about things booking up?)  Whale watching in Icy Strait was amazing and  the seafood bake that followed was fantastic.  We lucked out with the weather-if you call a heat wave luck! 

I've never ordered to eat on a balcony.  My kids used to order room service, which they loved because they could sleep in and have food delivered.  When RC started charging for room service I forbid them to order it.  (they don't like the continental breakfast).  We usually all do our own thing on the cruise but my only rule with my family is that we meet for dinner.  I've done this with other family/friends we cruise with and we have all enjoyed the flexibility in being on our own and then at dinner we all talk about our day and what's going on that evening.  
As a former working mom of 3 I thoroughly enjoyed my first cruise experience.  We used to go to a timeshare with the full kitchen and I cooked on vacation to save money.  Cruising is definitely the stress free best thing ever for us!!!