CruizIan

Having received my Platinum and Emerald pins this past year I just stuck them on the lanyard that I use for my Seapass Card and that is about the extent of the use they get.

Having received my Platinum and Emerald pins this past year I just stuck them on the lanyard that I use for my Seapass Card and that is about the extent of the use they get.

I think so.
Renting a car provides more flexibility, but if you aren't going to go anywhere else, uber is quite simple and avoids all the extra steps of renting (getting a good rate, waiting to pick up car, etc)

I’m glad our next visit to Coco Cay occurs at the beginning of the cruise.  In March it was our last day & frankly I was too vacationed out to really explore & enjoy.  On our May Harmony cruise, it’s day 2👍👍

I know right. I was a math major and can’t figure their fuzzy math. 🤣. Sale no sale. I always ignore the percentages and look at total price in cart and buy if I think it is worth it to me!

Having different levels of accommodations is pretty common in the travel industry.  Planes and trains have first class for example which can be purchased at a higher cost and come with better accommodations and perks.  Hotels have larger rooms with better amenities.  Theme parks get in the game with premium ticket options that include more perks and better access.
Having different levels across the product portfolio is pretty common in any business.  Premium products come with a higher price and offer better amenities for those that desire them.
Loyalty programs are great and encourage return business.  Loyalty programs have no bearing on premium products and vice versa.  The two are mutually exclusive but there can be overlap to some degree.
As a Pinnacle member in the Crown and Anchor Society I do enjoy a range of perks that reward me for my loyalty.  The benefits of being Pinnacle include some of the same perks that suite guests pay for.  I appreciate that Royal does give me these perks at no additional cost as a reward for my loyalty.  
I don't view it that suites are able to buy the perks I have earned in the loyalty program.  It's the opposite really.  Some of these perks exist because of the suites product.   As a loyalty member Royal gives me some of the same perks that suite guests have to pay for and I think that is great.  

We usually do the same. On Oasis class, we tend to take care of the Trellis Bar bartenders since we find ourselves passing through or hanging out often in Central Park. 😎

There’s theory with rules and there’s on the ground trenches reality. Grease goes along way towards the latter. 

But you may get authorization charges throughout the cruise. At the end it'll be one single charge.

Terrapin is brewed in my city. I don't drink beer but we go to that brewery quite often (and have a friend who works there and supplies us with plenty!).

This is a great question and all of the answers seem appropriate it is really a feel thing. For me I usually do UDP so I have paid for all of the dinners in advance. That being said I know that the staff works their ass off. Just for me I usually tip 10$ if I am having lunch somewhere with my wife and then at dinner I will leave a $20 unless we were to eat at Johnny Rockets. It may seem like a lot to some but usually my only onboard room charges are tips at the restaurants and is less than $200 for the week. I usually take $200 in small bills for tipping other folks like a dollar a drink and stuff like that but I am even thinking that on my next cruise in November I might just take more cash in $20's to leave cash just to make it so the servers don't have to wait for it on their paycheck. 
Whatever you leave them regardless of amount I think they will appreciate it and it is great that you are doing it. 

I like the different strokes attitude. My first inclination was to demean Johnny Rockets and tout Playmakers (because I LOVE PM). After reading the string of comments, I agree that there is a place for both on the ships. My favorite ship is the Independence because Playmakers is next to the Casino. I get free drinks in the Casino and great food next door. If I could move a bed in, I would be set.
I was on the Independence at Coco Cay last week. The Freedom was also there. The bartenders at Cpt Jacks were off the Freedom and remembered us from the cruise last month. They were Playmaker bartenders. Lets just say my Diamond drinks stretched out pretty far. They remember good tippers who are nice to them.

I have found that the cruise planner items appear on day one. But, as already noted, things can change…and they frequently do.
Many times there have been cancellations of entire shows due to someone in the production getting Covid. Then the entire production team, including the performers, may have to quarantine. Or, in the case of the Aqua Theater shows, bad weather can cause cancellations and rescheduling. But they always manage to provide some replacement. Some guest performers will pick up the slack and fill in with shows which include them expanding their song choices. Or the comedian/s will do more routines different from their usual offerings. Sometimes if the headline show has been cancelled, but not all of the performers are quarantined, they’ll put together a showcase act.
When these things happen, they try to update the cruise planner app as soon as possible to show the changes. Also, the Cruise Director will make an announcement…usually more than once.
That’s one of the main reasons that I really try to not miss any of the announcements. In the past, they were mostly reminders about upcoming events and sales…but during these particular times, the announcements can include entertainment changes that I would really want to know about. I also refresh my app frequently. Due diligence!😎

Royal has always had issues with their Apps and Websites unfortunately. I don't know if they outsource it or what but the functionality can be spotty I have always found. On the same cruise I was referencing about the planner showing up properly the day that we boarded, my app was the only one you could not access the account feature. So everyone could look at their bar purchases and such and mine was not even a button in the app it was just gone. Good thing it is just an app for convenience on vacation so I usually just leave my phone in the room and let my wife do the planning. 

When I’m on the ship and have to leave…I may feel the urge to ‘linger’….
When I’m off the ship waiting for a zero count before we can board…I get upset at the ‘lingerers’!😜

Thanks. I’m really afraid to book again. I thought maybe it was just the Symphony because she was new when we cruised, but the Mariner in April was just as bad, and we’ve been on her before with no problem 🤷‍♀️

My Wife and I just completed cruise number 6 together and she had her first instance of the mattress not being comfortable for her. Our steward threw on a mattress pad and she said it improved some but was not great. I think it would very much be a ship to ship thing. Good luck on your next bed!

The Casino runs "learn to play"  for the tables.  It is typically on day 1 and day 2 of the cruise.  It is helpful.  
I've sat at three card poker, unsure of things and others will help, and the dealer will offer their thought if you ask.  *you are not competing with anyone so it's a "no stress" in that regard.
I understand serious Blackjack players do not appreciate the newbie because you can "screw them up" (I've no idea if it's "real" or if  it's just perceived to be real).  I won't play blackjack for that reason.
Slots, I finally took it upon myself to play something other than video poker, sat at some giant machine in a series of 3, and asked the lady next to me if she could explain the game.  She was AMAZING, and took the time to tell me what I was looking at, hoping for etc....and how she does her bets-and how I could do mine, etc.  If a question came up she would answer it for me.  We sat for quite some time together and she trusted me enough to watch her machine while she hit the ladies room.  I think most players will share how to play a machine.
As a person who dabbles in gambling I tell those newbies who sit next to me. and see a huge win, "you've not seen how much they have lost before you got here", "bets are subjective to be large-their income can be hundreds of thousands a year or more", "someone can be looking at your bet and be thinking -how can he bet that much", "don't forget to tip the dealer on a good win", "have a set amount to gamble for the cruise and don't exceed it, no matter what".  
I also inform them of how to get their freeplay ( you can see the casino host for info on that) and that they should check for earned freeplay on the last night of the cruise, as well as the tier level system and how to check for that with the casino host or online and the final, to look for the "free cruise/$ off" a cruise offer that is currently onboard.  It would suck to find out you were only 30 points away from a free cruise (that might be the only time I would consider playing additional funds if I spent my allowance)

I would think that it is probably just standard 5 year dry dock where the ship is inspected and gets a new coat of paint and is more of a mechanical check up and not amplification. They have yet to announce any resumption of amplification for ships.

Welcome to the message boards.
At your age it may depend if you look older or younger than your actual age.  A 16 yo that looked 14 and acted like a 12 yo would be under more scrutiny compared to a 15 yo who looked and acted like someone older.  
If you are running around and screaming you are more likely to be challenged.  If you are fitting in with the general demeanour of everyone else in the solarium you'll probably go unnoticed.    

Explorer of the Seas is a great ship, amplified or not!

They will usually have football on most of the TV's around the ship. They usually even have TV's in the Pub that can be on football. We were on Allure during NBA finals years ago and watched it in the pub one night. As long as there is not scheduled entertainment at that time they will usually have the sound on as well. Also they played NFL games out at the pool on Sunday and even Monday Night Football as well. You can watch the games from the hot tubs that have TV's. There really is a decent amount of places that will have the game on.

Preach

They will usually have football on most of the TV's around the ship. They usually even have TV's in the Pub that can be on football. We were on Allure during NBA finals years ago and watched it in the pub one night. As long as there is not scheduled entertainment at that time they will usually have the sound on as well. Also they played NFL games out at the pool on Sunday and even Monday Night Football as well. You can watch the games from the hot tubs that have TV's. There really is a decent amount of places that will have the game on.

The only social media platform I use is LinkedIn for professional purposes. I am a member of these forums and two others.
We have never found a duck on a cruise ship but did find a rubber narwhal on Ovation last month. It had no identification attached but the location where it was found showed that it was clearly "hidden" there to be found.