XtremeGK

My wife and I have a cruise booked with our 3-year-old for May. I'm hoping he's eligible and fully vaxxed by then.
My wife has a PhD in biochemistry and has spent her career studying infectious diseases. I've spent the pandemic working in a hospital. We have our reasons. Many reasons. Science being the #1 reason. Same reasons he's been given all his other vaccinations.

My wife and I have a cruise booked with our 3-year-old for May. I'm hoping he's eligible and fully vaxxed by then.
My wife has a PhD in biochemistry and has spent her career studying infectious diseases. I've spent the pandemic working in a hospital. We have our reasons. Many reasons. Science being the #1 reason. Same reasons he's been given all his other vaccinations.

My wife and I have a cruise booked with our 3-year-old for May. I'm hoping he's eligible and fully vaxxed by then.
My wife has a PhD in biochemistry and has spent her career studying infectious diseases. I've spent the pandemic working in a hospital. We have our reasons. Many reasons. Science being the #1 reason. Same reasons he's been given all his other vaccinations.

It's basically a choice on where you want the most inconvenience: Chicago getting to ORD, or NY/NJ getting to Cape Liberty. I personally think LGA to Cape Liberty is worse than most place in Chicago to ORD.

It's basically a choice on where you want the most inconvenience: Chicago getting to ORD, or NY/NJ getting to Cape Liberty. I personally think LGA to Cape Liberty is worse than most place in Chicago to ORD.

A few years back I flew from JFK instead of EWR and regretted it. It's one of those decisions that makes sense when you're at home looking at the map, but when you get in the taxi and sit in traffic, it becomes all too clear you goofed.

I honestly think this new program strikes a perfect balance.
From RCI's financial side, as @twangsterpoints out, I don't think it's a huge hit. I think D/D+ that bought the package before will mostly (not all) continue to buy the package. But as it has felt like Royal has been kind of dwindling in recent years in terms of perks for loyal cruisers, this is a change that has been welcomed and I really hope they make permanent. Not unanimous approval, but certainly a large majority seem to prefer the current vouchers.
For us, the package has always been nice for sampling new drinks. Trying things we'd never try otherwise. We've discovered some drinks we really like. That said, our package purchasing has almost always been driven by itinerary. When we hit D after our next cruise, I don't foresee that really changing. Maybe there will be an occasion where we switch to the refreshment package instead of the DBP, but I expect that to be more the exception than the rule. The idea of controlled costs and still having some flexibility will still lead us to the DBP.
That said, love the voucher program and really hope it is made permanent.

I honestly think this new program strikes a perfect balance.
From RCI's financial side, as @twangsterpoints out, I don't think it's a huge hit. I think D/D+ that bought the package before will mostly (not all) continue to buy the package. But as it has felt like Royal has been kind of dwindling in recent years in terms of perks for loyal cruisers, this is a change that has been welcomed and I really hope they make permanent. Not unanimous approval, but certainly a large majority seem to prefer the current vouchers.
For us, the package has always been nice for sampling new drinks. Trying things we'd never try otherwise. We've discovered some drinks we really like. That said, our package purchasing has almost always been driven by itinerary. When we hit D after our next cruise, I don't foresee that really changing. Maybe there will be an occasion where we switch to the refreshment package instead of the DBP, but I expect that to be more the exception than the rule. The idea of controlled costs and still having some flexibility will still lead us to the DBP.
That said, love the voucher program and really hope it is made permanent.

I honestly think this new program strikes a perfect balance.
From RCI's financial side, as @twangsterpoints out, I don't think it's a huge hit. I think D/D+ that bought the package before will mostly (not all) continue to buy the package. But as it has felt like Royal has been kind of dwindling in recent years in terms of perks for loyal cruisers, this is a change that has been welcomed and I really hope they make permanent. Not unanimous approval, but certainly a large majority seem to prefer the current vouchers.
For us, the package has always been nice for sampling new drinks. Trying things we'd never try otherwise. We've discovered some drinks we really like. That said, our package purchasing has almost always been driven by itinerary. When we hit D after our next cruise, I don't foresee that really changing. Maybe there will be an occasion where we switch to the refreshment package instead of the DBP, but I expect that to be more the exception than the rule. The idea of controlled costs and still having some flexibility will still lead us to the DBP.
That said, love the voucher program and really hope it is made permanent.

Recently when sailing from the US you would have been sailing from a country that the US would classify as level 4 if it rated itself.  

I think #4 tends to be fairly common on the northern TAs. From Quantum 2015 (shortly after these photos, the ship lost power for about 10 mins...more than a few not-so-relaxed faces at that moment).

I think #4 tends to be fairly common on the northern TAs. From Quantum 2015 (shortly after these photos, the ship lost power for about 10 mins...more than a few not-so-relaxed faces at that moment).

I know my mom loves Capt. Henrik from one of our Explorer cruises back in the same time frame.
To be the Master in this kind of industry, you have to be a serious, step-plus-above seafarer, so I put them all equal in my trust to get the job done safely. Personally, I enjoy those that provide daily updates with useful information, fun anecdotes and a sense of humor. Capt. Felix Ban has always impressed in that regard for me.

I know my mom loves Capt. Henrik from one of our Explorer cruises back in the same time frame.
To be the Master in this kind of industry, you have to be a serious, step-plus-above seafarer, so I put them all equal in my trust to get the job done safely. Personally, I enjoy those that provide daily updates with useful information, fun anecdotes and a sense of humor. Capt. Felix Ban has always impressed in that regard for me.

I think #4 tends to be fairly common on the northern TAs. From Quantum 2015 (shortly after these photos, the ship lost power for about 10 mins...more than a few not-so-relaxed faces at that moment).

Yes, the pilots said so via the union. Sorry if that doesn't jive with your personal opinion, but it's the truth. Not sure who else needs to say the same thing before you believe it.
And since this thread has gone down the covid conspiracy path, it's now locked. Keep the political discussions and opinions out of this site. Thank you.

I think #4 tends to be fairly common on the northern TAs. From Quantum 2015 (shortly after these photos, the ship lost power for about 10 mins...more than a few not-so-relaxed faces at that moment).

I think #4 tends to be fairly common on the northern TAs. From Quantum 2015 (shortly after these photos, the ship lost power for about 10 mins...more than a few not-so-relaxed faces at that moment).