therealbigredrules

Disney prices are boarder line abusive.  However, their product is outstanding from both service and overall quality.  This is Especially true if you can filter out the Disney feeling whenever you want (which is possible - but not always easy).  Is it worth the extreme premium in cost.  No.  In my mind, the Disney cruise experience is what Walt wanted the parks to feel like.  The parks are a zoo.  Their cruise experience is quite nice and if you are a Disney fan, i think you get the service and feeling Walt was looking for.  A Disney Cruise really is something special if you can swing it and are in the right mindset for what you will experience.  (And I am not a Disney fan)
My family if far from a Disney Freaks but did enjoy the experience.   If you want to try one.that is not priced ridiculously, you can spot somewhat realistic prices from time to time.  There is a November 3 day one way from San Juan to Miami that is priced for humans.  Obviously, you have to fly to San Juan... but finding cheap air is easier than finding realistic priced Disney cruises.

I'm a little late jumping on this thread but it caught my attention.  We cruised Anthem last summer out of Southampton.  Great cruise overall and the service and staff were fantastic.  We had late seating in MDR.  We enjoy a routine of a set time to eat and really enjoy getting to know our wait staff.  They were fabulous.
However,  the actual quality of the food was below average. It really seemed like they cut back on the quality of every item on the plate.  Maybe an issue with supplier maybe a cost cutting measure???   It calls into question my decision to book again.  So here is my question.....
I'm looking at a Celebrity cruise next year and have concerns that there might be a quality issue with their MDR product too.
Has anyone cruised on Celebrity lately - and how does the food quality in their MDR compare to the that in the Royal?  I'm only asking about the main dining room.  Not specialty.  Thanks in advance for any thoughts / comparison on quality.

I make kind of a poor man's charcuterie tray. I go to the Windjammer early and make a plate of sliced meats, cheeses, crackers, sliced veggies with dressing for dip and what-not and take that back to the room for "Happy Hour".  Mrs Fan and I nosh while getting ready for the evening. She drinks wine and I get a whiskey. Sit out on the balcony and chill with the snacks.

Disney prices are boarder line abusive.  However, their product is outstanding from both service and overall quality.  This is Especially true if you can filter out the Disney feeling whenever you want (which is possible - but not always easy).  Is it worth the extreme premium in cost.  No.  In my mind, the Disney cruise experience is what Walt wanted the parks to feel like.  The parks are a zoo.  Their cruise experience is quite nice and if you are a Disney fan, i think you get the service and feeling Walt was looking for.  A Disney Cruise really is something special if you can swing it and are in the right mindset for what you will experience.  (And I am not a Disney fan)
My family if far from a Disney Freaks but did enjoy the experience.   If you want to try one.that is not priced ridiculously, you can spot somewhat realistic prices from time to time.  There is a November 3 day one way from San Juan to Miami that is priced for humans.  Obviously, you have to fly to San Juan... but finding cheap air is easier than finding realistic priced Disney cruises.

I have been on several Disney Cruises and loved all of them.  Their service is second to none.  The problem is they are so good that people are willing to pay the high price.  Disney priced us out of their market.  I could not see paying the price for one Disney Cruise when I can go on 3 RCL cruises.  

Unless I missed an alternative approach.  It is needed if only 2 of the 4 in your group have voom internet.  In our case, I purchased the full Voom package for my 2 kids.  The 2 adults "survived" a week without internet. I had no issue paying for myself and wife to text (although other lines include this for free).  The rub for me is having to then pay for the kids so the entire family could chat.

Note.  The chat feature is not included as part of the internet package. It is an extra charge on top of VOOM. Distasteful / nickel and dime after dropping a few hundred for VOOM in my view.
 

Note.  The chat feature is not included as part of the internet package. It is an extra charge on top of VOOM. Distasteful / nickel and dime after dropping a few hundred for VOOM in my view.
 

I see what you mean

Note.  The chat feature is not included as part of the internet package. It is an extra charge on top of VOOM. Distasteful / nickel and dime after dropping a few hundred for VOOM in my view.
 

RCCL had to know long ago that they would be extending the expiration date.  They strategically delayed this announcement.  Using the previous expiration date as a means to push people on the fence to book during the more risky ramp up / return to normal phase of filling ships back up.  
Consumer behavior certainly is fascinating and hanging a lost FCC out as a carrot is typical.
And the approach worked for me.  I booked sooner with a less desirable Interary because I didn't want to lose my FCC.  Certainly not the end of the world.  Very happy to be cruising again.   But it sure would have been nice to have additional time to book what I really wanted.  But again, certainly not the end of the world.  And given their cash position, it was a good business move. 
It is just especially funny when they wrap these shenanigans in an "exciting announcement"  
 
 

So sorry that this happened and I hope you are able to get back home quickly and painlessly.
STOP ALL THIS UNNECESSARY TESTING !  It's helping NObody.  So insane.
 

For the trip / flight back from London I may use the government supplied test and then use the Certified Telehealth services from Onpoint. 
Certified Teleservice COVID Testing - OnPoint Testing (onpoint-testing.com)
For $14 seems like the best price option.  This test and proctor service was acceptable for a coworker of mine who recently flew back to the states from Paris.
(For the pre cruise i plan on using the Abbott / EMED since it is one recommended by RCCL)
 
 

For the trip / flight back from London I may use the government supplied test and then use the Certified Telehealth services from Onpoint. 
Certified Teleservice COVID Testing - OnPoint Testing (onpoint-testing.com)
For $14 seems like the best price option.  This test and proctor service was acceptable for a coworker of mine who recently flew back to the states from Paris.
(For the pre cruise i plan on using the Abbott / EMED since it is one recommended by RCCL)
 
 

Jen,
It gets even better.  I booked a trip and purchased the RCCL cruise insurance.  The cruise was canceled due to the pandemic.  While I successfully navigated the world of the FCC for my deposit and I have successfully applied it to an upcoming cruise, they refused to refund me the cruise insurance I paid associated with a cruise that NEVER took place.  
 

In most cases, but not always, I found coverage amounts to be better - for comparable priced policies - using policies not underwritten by RCCL.
 

In most cases, but not always, I found coverage amounts to be better - for comparable priced policies - using policies not underwritten by RCCL.
 

I would say the opposite, I’m not saying don’t use a travel agent but they definitely aren’t necessary. The times I’ve used them it was me contacting them to tell them I found a better price.

One of these days people are going to start to realize that when you are vaccinated and boosted it is from a variant we already know of. When new variants come around it's all bets are off and you are not protected no matter how many shots you've had.
At some point we have got to treat the Coronavirus like just another virus that humans get from time-to-time. The good thing is that with every new variant it is getting weaker and we are buiding better immunity against it. 
One day it will change but not any time soon with our current attitudes treating this as if it is the plague.

Relax your grip
Keep your head down

Relax your grip
Keep your head down

Relax your grip
Keep your head down

Relax your grip
Keep your head down

Relax your grip
Keep your head down

Relax your grip
Keep your head down