TXCoastPatriot

We are simply offsetting the higher rates with fewer cruises.  In 2023, we sailed 7 times all 7+ nights in GS.
This year we only have 5, that is nearly a 30% reduction.  
In 2025 we are planning land packages to Sedona, Key West, and Aruba with only 3 cruises.

Great Point!  As gamblers, we are all sensitive to changes in comp programs, whether land based or cruise ship casinos...and rightfully so.  With the new Casino Royale "season" starting, we all need to be watchful and inquisitive especially word from casino hosts, then openly share that information on this site.  As with you, I am suspicious Royal will move the bar in their favor.  

Dan just downloaded the comp sheets from the casino (EX 4-5-24). Surprisingly, the 2500 level list has disappeared.  It jumps from 2000 to 3000 points.  Seems a bit shady since the 2500 point threshold for making Prime was previously a logical goal. The lower-level comps have always been weak but they’re really bad now.  Nothing much at all until 2-3000.
If anybody wants to see them let me know and I will try and upload them. I’m terrible at this stuff but I’ll give it a go…

Two videos which future gamblers doing it for the comps might find helpful for understanding slots.
How Slot Machines ACTUALLY Work 👉 From a Slot Tech and Engineer - Gamble Smart - https://youtu.be/bjXhjbf1M4o
Truth of Cruise Ship Slots 🎰 Leave your cruise a WINNER! 🥳 Don't make this mistake! 😱 - Cowboy Slots - https://youtu.be/b_dwe5Ha2UA
As an aside, based on the point accumulation rules and Royal's typical video poker tables I've seen, whether playing slots or perfect video poker, gamblers will lose approximately the same amount of money either way. If you're in the casino just for the comps, might as well skip the video poker (and learning perfect play) for slots.

Pretty good logic and reasoning.  Just got off Symphony and I went through about $1100 to get 1500 points this time around.  Just enough to get the free instant cruise certificate I wanted and a good start towards maintaining prime for the next casino year.  I actually waited to start playing until 6pm on April 1 so all of my points would count for the new year.  I've had trips where it cost me $700 to achieve the same level of points, and trips where it cost me $2000 to get the same points.

We are on the Harmony next week (4/14).  I watched the sales nearly daily.  The best offer was 30% off.  Our total cost, AFTER gratuities was $1205 ($86 pp/day).  Drink packages are getting out outrageous!

We are simply offsetting the higher rates with fewer cruises.  In 2023, we sailed 7 times all 7+ nights in GS.
This year we only have 5, that is nearly a 30% reduction.  
In 2025 we are planning land packages to Sedona, Key West, and Aruba with only 3 cruises.

I keep looking at CCL but every time I do it feels like I'm trying to go to Waffle House instead of a good steak house to eat. I know we will be ok and probably have an ok time, but I also know that it won't be as nice, maybe a little dirty, and I won't get exactly what I want. Not to mention there may be a fight or two. LOL My kiddos are older and finding things for them to do becomes more than just being in the pool too. If CCL's newest ship that is in Galveston was in FL then I would look at it harder, but we can't get to TX to sail and the Western area doesn't appeal to us. So for now, we will just keep our eyes open and save where we can. However, I highly doubt we will be taking any more cruises after this next one unless somethings drastically change.

Agree, a 1.75 pts/$ ratio is decent.  However when I have weeks where my pts/$ ratio is .61; .90; and .91. it is painful and extremely frustrating.
$3K disappears quickly.

She won't have any issues, one can just press the buttons like a normal elevator; 3/4 of the time that's what I did just out of habit.

WOW
I thought The Book was the 2nd best Royal Production I have ever seen (behind Mama Mia). We went to it twice when we were on Odyssey in March.

Yeah that would worry me as well. 

Almost 3 weeks still no OBC showing up, I guess it's time to call again and force the issue.

I was checking an offer and noticed this. 
It gives everyone an idea of when the prime certificates are being released. Also, the points have reset.

It is not a hard and fast rule, more than likely the points will reset on the 1st Friday in April which will be the 5th. Friday is a popular day for when points post in both CR and C&A. The offer will become available usually around 2wks after that. Last year it was the 20th of April. The reps can't help you without an available offer. 
The offer is good for any 7n or less cruise that sails within the calendar year......in this case probably the earliest of May 2024 to March 31st of 2025. Excluding ships that haven't been in service for more than a year and some summer/holidays. 

I feel like this is not new to Anthem, I sailed on her the end of February and many times the slot would turn green but say “hello guest”.  Thankfully I paid attention and kept rescanning. Until I saw my name.  What a pain!
 

I’ll trade you the Allure (Galveston ‘26) for the Odyssey and a ship to be named later.

Our last transatlantic plus B2B was on the Odyssey.  The SeaPlex was used as a holding area for all the B2B sailors.  Must have been 200 and it was packed!

I have been told by employees at Royal Caribbean and Celebrity that the Quantum Class ships were originally designed for Celebrity. That is why there is similarity between the Quantum Class and Edge Class.
As many have also said on here, personally the Quantum Class is my favorite Royal Class of ship. I especially love 270 for both breakfast in the morning, relaxing in the afternoon and enjoying the view, and entertainment in the evening. Also, I want to rave about the Junior suites on the Quantum Class and their split bathrooms. I also love that Royal has a newer, beautiful class of ship that has fine touches.
It's also smart of Royal to have different ships for different needs. Cold vs warm weather, young children focused vs more adult focused. Even if Royal is a family brand it doesn't mean that's all they have to do. It is important for people to research or to have a travel agent to research the right ship for them. If you have children in your traveling party, then definitely book a ship with all the slides, skating rink, etc. Twangster did an amazing job breaking down the size differential between Quantum and Oasis Class and the restrictions in venues/neighborhoods that imposes.
Just because it is spring break in the Caribbean, doesn't mean that every ship has to be for families that want all the bells and whistles. I was on Odyssey with my 10 year old nephew over Christmas and he loved it. We did the research, saw the activities in Playmakers, and other activities in the ship, and knew it would work for us. If my nephew needed slides and everything else, we would have booked another ship. 
I will agree though that the elevators on Odyssey were horrible. Even the captain joked they are a horrible design choices. 

So how much was it obstructed?
How was the cruise?
Did this ruin the cruise?

Why would they give a credit for people who were able to enjoy the full cruise?

You have no recourse as you are not being wronged. Let’s say you had a family reunion cruise consisting of 30 people spread out in 10 cabins. Do you REALLY think that all 30 people would be and should be compensated with 4 free days? It’s no different than your scenario involving 2 rooms. No where did they ever say that your entire family, even those in different cabins, were entitled to 4 days. 

That 0% isn’t a promise. That’s just a field that needed a value. They can’t put an actual % there since your room was not assigned at the time of your booking. Do I see your point of confusion? Yes, however GTY simply means you are guaranteed at least a balcony cabin. Period. End of Story. There is no such thing as a GTY with a promise of no obstruction. If you go and read the terms of what a GTY entails,(do a mock booking) you will see that the only thing you are promised is that your room will not be lower than a balcony classification. The GTY is Royals (and every other cruise line) way to fill the less desirable cabin locations for a discount. The obstructed balcony cabins are the #1 cabins that GTY get assigned from. 

That’s one reason I never book a gty.  To confirm I just tried gty and it specifically states it could be obstructed, twice
Room preference page
Just prior to cruising, we’ll assign you a room in your selected category. The room may have an obstructed view. If you need connecting rooms, please select your room instead.
 
Passenger page
You selected a Guaranteed Stateroom Your room is guaranteed at a minimum to be in the category you selected and will be assigned just prior to sailing. The exact stateroom, number, and location on the ship will be at our discretion. Staterooms may have an obstructed view.

They are not removable and yes, you need to be mindful when sleeping on the lower berths. I clocked myself in the head several times on those upper bunks when they weren't in use.