Big Red

Yep, the 1st time we asked for drinks it wasn't a huge deal as we where fairly close to the Costal Kitchen/Bar.  But this coming room is the larger 2-bedroom aqua suite.  And that walk is going to become tiring during a 7-day voyage.😬  And we have heard of folks getting drinks delivered, but maybe that was pre-covid, as this all happened this year around January.  We are just hoping for a different experience.  
 

I’ve had ice cream from Sugar Beach which was complimentary when we were SC in Dec 2019 but candy would have been extra $$.
We were always offered complimentary popcorn during the theater shows but we almost always went to the theater directly from dinner so were never interested in popcorn.  I have heard of many instances where popcorn was delivered to the suite (usually for children) when requested.

Of course, I am curious and if you are uncomfortable sharing then just ignore, I understand, But what ship where you on. Do you think it had something to do with contract ending during the cruise? Our first experience was at height of Omicron and we had a wonderful experience. We have another SC cruise in October so I am anxious to see how it has changed now that the ship capacity is back up.

While bottles of liquor are not provided as part of the SC package, I have known plenty of instances where individual drinks were delivered to SC suites.  It always seemed like a huge hassle to us to ask for individual drinks to be delivered so we would just pop down to the SL and get it if we wanted it (an advantage of being on Deck 17 and big disadvantage to those in ATS). The only time we ever paid for any alcohol when we were SC was when we ordered a couple of glasses of Caymus from Vintages which were well above the drink $$ threshold.  I take it back.  We also paid for a couple of bottles of sparkling wine for 2 cabin crawls that we organized.

I have done Star class a number of times and been on board when cruising friends were Star Class.  Sounds like you had a new Genie or your Genie was involved with other high Maintenace guests.  We had one in January who was new and I said I would not book another Star Class as the service and professionalism declined immensely since my first few.  I had already booked 2 additional ones. We then went to our Alaskan cruise where we were shuffled to multiple genies due to them having covid and it turned out a much  better experience.  Covid has changed much of the program due to genies not returning and them having to struggle to fill positions and were understaffed. Time will tell if the program gets better, but spending that much for the service now is not worth it to me.

We have never had a problem with this.  Always gotten the requested cabana we asked for.
We were told by several different Genies that they don't run a tram directly from the ship to the Beach Club.  They do have a pier tram, but you have to transfer to the island tram at the end of the pier.  They wouldn't put us at the front of the line for the pier tram either.
We had one Genie experience where they DID get us a tram that ran all the way out to the Beach Club directly from the ship. It was our first experience with Star Class where we were visiting the Beach Club.  It was the first cruise we took after the restart. 
All our other Star Class experiences after that we were told it wouldn't be possible.  Those Genies did offer to escort us off the ship and bypass the lines getting off the ship but once we were on the pier we were on our own.
They usually will be able to do this. Just keep in mind that only Suite guests will have access to the Coastal Kitchen. Any guests that don't have the unlimited drink and dining packages will have to pay out of pocket when they dine in the restaurant.  As for ordering food to the room, they won't bat an eye at putting in a large order for you.  I wouldn't really approach that as "order enough for 12 people" but you should be specific in which items you want and what quantity of each.
They used to have these for the suite guests. They weren't comprehensive like the All Access tour that they sell in the Cruise Planner, but they would do a bridge tour and a behind the stage entertainment tour.  I haven't seen those complimentary tours for suite guests come back since the restart.
If you want something along the lines of the All Access tour, you do need to pay for the one in the Cruise Planner. Not sure they can arrange a private one just for you even if you do pay just because the times they schedule it are limited.  
You can order individual drinks to the room, even several drinks, but the rule is no bottles of wine or liquor.  We even ordered many more drinks than guests in the room to host a viewing party on the balcony for one of the events.
I do hope you have a better experience this next time.  I will say that we did Star Class a few times prior to the pandemic, but our absolute best experience ever was the first cruise we had after the startup.  Obviously pre-pandemic it was satisfactory enough for us to try it again, but that first one post-pandemic really stood out and made us understand why everyone raved so much about Star Class.
We've done it again a few more times and the one we did this January was probably the worst one because of all the shortages and other issues because of the Omicron variant rearing its head.  

Having done star class a couple of times:
- We have requested specific cabanas (1st choice and backups), and gotten them both times
- hard liquor is not allowed to be left in the room.  I think they can deliver individual drinks but we have never asked 
- anything that costs money from sugar beach (candy, popcorn) is not included.  I have had no problem getting a selection of desserts from Chops delivered, though.

Thank you all for your suggestions.  Pls understand that I had done research before booking, having checked out some of the same sources cited.  Just saying that most, if not all, my gripes wouldn't have been that much of an issue had things been handled differently.
- If there had been more - any - RC personnel at the pier.
- Like concert/show venues where there are seats, obstructed view seats, and partially obstructed view seats if this stateroom had been marked as such then it would have been my choice.
Yes, there are many resources out there.  There is a whole business of resources for cruising.  And yes, some of the things I mentioned may be commonplace.  But that doesn't make it right.  Nor should I/the sailing public in general feel that I/we couldn't expect better.
 

Yes, saw scenery like that before I booked.  And like I said, not an issue on sea days aside from not much natural light.  But here's an example of our view on the days that we felt it really mattered.

I myself was curious about the overhang complaint.  but then a quick search of Google "ovation of the seas cabin 13600 pictures from balcony" revealed what was seen.
I can understand the OP's disappointment if trying to view the sail down Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier with the steep embankment.  But as others have said it is Cabin selection and really not the fault of Royal. 
in reference to the pier at embarkation, since OP mentioned Ovation of the Seas I assumed that was the ship and it sailed this Alaska season from Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91., a quick look at the pier schedule show that on any Ovation sailing there is only one other ship that being Celebrity Solstice.  Although last year when i sailed from 91 it was a mess also, so probably typical when 2 ship are there.
Again i understand the frustration, but I would agree with others that a 20% discount on a future sailing is generous.  Personaly i don't see OP's complaint getting any better traction from Corporate, nor should it.
 
 

Covid testing within 48 Hours of a cruise is a huge money grab. It is extremely expensive and it is a pain in the tail! You can test negative before getting on the cruise and turn around and test positive when you get off or while you're on it even. It makes absolutely no sense for people who have been vaccinated four times to go through this ridiculous testing every time they want to go on a cruise. I'm a long time Cruiser and it is extremely annoying.

Primarily because lots of minimum bids have won over maximum bids. The maximum or close to maximum would imply that what you bid matters. But because minimum bids have won, it would imply that when you bid matters. As stated above most of the winning bids are part of a trickle down and trickle up system. If a person in a balcony bid 6wks ago on a JS the minimum, they could possibly sell that cabin at a higher rate because it has moved back into inventory. I think they do a first come, first served situation. 

No.  Sorry if my answer suggested that.  There is no rhyme or reason as to which bid will be accepted.  They do not go to the lowest bid first.  All I was saying was that if you do not want a JS, don't bid on a JS b/c you might get it !

Are you counting the balcony as a bathroom?
 

Just gonna roll with the $1600pp on the Crown Loft. (18 rooms left)
Also putting in the minimum bid of $1650pp for an Aquatheater 1 Bedroom (2 rooms left).
Sailing is in 24 days - I’ll repost once I know more.

The prices do not change.  We just won our Royal Up to a 1 bedroom Sky Class grand suite and are so excited! I just put minimum bids on all the rooms with the thought I would never win one but did!! Just remember the bid will be x2 and no more,  meaning if you have 6 or 2 people,  you only get charged for 2.

That seems like a cheap upgrade to have Star Class and the biggest rooms on the boat.  But, what do I know.  Star class is basically free access to everything, and preferred treatment.  Unless you already have Star Class in your suite, I would always try for the upgrade....🤷‍♂️

That seems like a cheap upgrade to have Star Class and the biggest rooms on the boat.  But, what do I know.  Star class is basically free access to everything, and preferred treatment.  Unless you already have Star Class in your suite, I would always try for the upgrade....🤷‍♂️

Boooo - Sailing on March 12th - Mariner of the Seas.   Bid on Royal Up for Suites.  Today they are all showing as EXPIRED.  The only bid showing as PENDING is a Larger Balcony Room. (We bid $30 per person for this, as we are already in a balcony room - Deck 7_)
We decided that there is not much point even doing that now, so just tried to cancel the bid.. but RoyalUp site won't let me alter the price or cancel it???  Very strange.  I thought it was only like that within 48 hours of sailing?

 

No. You get the cabin that they accepted the bid. Once accepted, you can’t rebid for another cabin.

The Junior suite isn't as big of an upgrade as it is to Grand Suite.  But, 100% you won't want to go back after you experience it!🤣

The Junior suite isn't as big of an upgrade as it is to Grand Suite.  But, 100% you won't want to go back after you experience it!🤣

We bid on and won our RoyalUP offer for our cruise back on Oct 17th on Allure.  We had a balcony and won a Grand Suite.  The original cost of our balcony room was around $1,100 for two people, then we offered $1,200 per person and won the Grand Suite. I believe the min bid amount was $800-900 per person.  So we got a Grand Suite for $3,500 total cost, which was typically priced at closer to $7-8K.  We really bid-up just to get the extra perks of the suite class, and to get the much bigger room and bathroom!👌  We put in min bids on Jr. Suite, 2-Bd Grand Suite, and Owner's Suite(but some of these min bids where more than the one we won.  
    We also met another couple on the boat that bid and won the same class of suite that we got, and we shared our experiences of waiting. 
I would say we got our notifications on the winning bid aprox 3 days before we cruised.  And all other bids showed expired aprox 1 week out, with the winning bid in pending status up until 3-days out.  

I found that to be the case as well. I don't typically purchase the drink package but my last 2 cruises were on Celebrity which included the drink package. You couple that with the "event" they were having at the Breitling boutique where they were serving up Johnnie Walk blue label and you have the recipe for pulling the trigger. My every day watch was a Tag that I have had for about 8 years so I felt it was a justified purchase. It was the color I wanted, included the day of the week and I always wanted a Breitling. Seems logical to me.
I did get a really good price compared to what I found in the islands, online and in the stores at home. I see my watch being sold online pre-loved for slightly more than I paid so I feel good.
I saw that as well. I have a simple Carrera that I feel that I can wear with jeans or a tuxedo. Originally I was going to purchase the blue version of my existing Tag that included the day of the week function. I found that prices in the shop on the ship and in the islands beat anything I could do online or home. With the Tag, the islands were slightly cheaper but was able to negotiate the same price on the ship. I was a few minutes away from purchasing it until I committed to the Breitling.

Just received our acceptance from an OV to Spacious Balcony for our weekend getaway January 22 on the Independence. 🎉