BeachGal

People watching is in my top five things to do while cruising. Its nice seeing everyone having a good time. 
 
 

Gotta give you credit, in your situation I would have given up the role of family travel agent a long time ago.  
I also would have insisted everyone pays a deposit right at the start.  You find out very quickly who is really serious when they have some skin in the game.  

😀 Batman checked in for our Oasis cruise this month and didn't notice the "you have 3 upcoming cruises" banner. He knows about Oasis obviously. He knows about Symphony in May. Hmmm, what could the 3rd be? 
Full disclosure: i hid his readers before he started check in.  😬 🤭 

"Welcome aboard folks.  The gangway's up and we'll be preparing to set sail from Kahului momentarily..."

The bars on a cruise are never so crowded that a bartender will obviously pass over anyone. They may see a few people lined up at the bar and go to the one they know will tip first, but they aren't going to lean past you and serve the guy behind you, they are still getting paid and are being watched so they won't be THAT obvious. Relax. BUT in a regular land bar, damn right this will happen. Bartenders on land work strictly for cash tips and will gravitate to the bigger tippers, and rightfully so.  If I'm a bartender and 2 people are standing there that have been there, and one tipped me 5 bucks last round, and one tipped me 50 cents last round- I don't care if the 50 cent person has been waiting longer or not- I'm serving the 5 dollar tipper first 

I always tip the bartenders…they work hard for their money! 🎶 🎼 

summed it up for me 😂 i was laughing so hard; a triumph and a let down. 
+1 🙃🙃🙃🙃
thank you @Jax and co for explaining beaver tails. i’m still on the fence, though they sound delicious! (i am not a huge donut eater)
even truffle salt may not save us now 😅😂
also that cheese tortellini from the royal dinner in the MDR is TAUNTING me. i see you, cheese tortellini. you just need a fried sage leaf and black truffle butter and small cubes of squash to be my beloved CK dinner... 

@Ampurp85 this comment is perfection! I have a love/hate relationship with so many of the desserts on board.  Such high hopes that are quickly dashed after one bite...sigh.

@Ampurp85 this comment is perfection! I have a love/hate relationship with so many of the desserts on board.  Such high hopes that are quickly dashed after one bite...sigh.

80th Birthday today, will celebrate with two solo cruises in October. Family doesnt like cruising and friends would rather stay home and watch TV LOL!

@Ampurp85 this comment is perfection! I have a love/hate relationship with so many of the desserts on board.  Such high hopes that are quickly dashed after one bite...sigh.

@Ampurp85 this comment is perfection! I have a love/hate relationship with so many of the desserts on board.  Such high hopes that are quickly dashed after one bite...sigh.

Wow, you remember the specific #?  Ha ha, I place myself in the 55+ range, and then I don't have to remember any details.
 
I agree!  Being on your own is a great sense of freedom.  Conversations are easy to get started wherever you decide to eat, but I will admit to sneaking up to WJ when I just want to eat and people-watch.

I don't recommend it. And don't even get me started on 55. LOL.

Absolutely!

Absolutely!

What I'm shocked about is ... how could this be in any way surprising to them?! Cements my belief that they (or any line) will push to see exactly where that line is, and unless a big "hello" is raised, they'll continue to move the line a bit further to see what they can cheapen next.
I'm glad you spoke up!

This was spotted in the MDR galley on liberty
 

I wish more of us could do what you did!  Perhaps then someone would get the point that some changes are good…and necessary…BUT…some changes are NOT good and unnecessary!  
Good for you for speaking up…I am taking your “energy” along with me on my November cruise!  

Thanks for the great pics/info on that excursion - I have the same one booked in Oct.

Looks like a great itinerary. I think you should do it again, but sail from Boston with all of us on Serenade in October!

Was considering it til I saw that price tag O.O $2300 for an interior...on Mariner?!
Unless Jean Luc Picard is tucking me in every night that seems excessively not worth it...

I can totally relate to this.  I had checked out their videos and thought, "Wow, they really know their cruise business," and tried to book with them.  I got the run-around numerous times and had to track them down with multiple emails and calls when I had a question or concern.  The only time they were quick about reaching out was when they needed a payment.  There were a handful of situations that made me realize that providing top-notch travel service is not their priority.