MattG

This is a bigger deal than normal, because the Stage 1 booster was doing an RTLS (Return to Landing Site), and the entire launch corridor needs to remain clear not just for ascent, but for return as well. I'm also disappointed because this launch had been scrubbed the past two consecutive days, and the weather was PERFECT, not just for a normal launch, but because the booster was coming back to land, the boostback burn was going to provide some awesome upper-level atmospheric highlights. It would have been an INCREDIBLE show for the guests on Harmony (and anyone in Port Canaveral), but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. Scrub to 1:35 in this video for what was expected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrTXGIkyPNc

Think of the drink packages as cumulative: soda package: just soda refreshment package: soda package plus non-alcoholic drinks deluxe package: refreshment package plus alcohol.

Shouldn't have trouble with this - I didn't get a chance to do Flow Rider because all of the boogie-boarding times butted up against our Adventure Ocean pickup, or another time we were busy. You should be good.

Yay, another commoner! Following! We did Anthem 2 months ago (pre-Omicron). We're a little different (2 adults, 3 kids under 6, one nanny), but you might get some mileage out of my live-blog, check out the last page for some post-mortem cruise tips: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/26535-6-person-family-trip-on-anthem-of-the-seas-5-december-2021 From an iFly/North Star standpoint: set an alarm for 7:55am every day and hit the Royal app at 8:00am precisely to book the complimentary times, they fill up fast!

I agree with this sentiment and price targets.

In my opinion, there's enough to do on Anthem in the winter to keep you busy on the first/last days that it's not worth the price and haggle of flying and shuttling to/from your cruise port.

We went out of NJ in December on Anthem. First day and last day were cold on the pool deck, but otherwise totally normal. in the summer, Oasis goes out of NJ. In the fall, they swap out for Anthem. This is really where Quantum-class shines: fully enclosed solarium, fully enclosed second pool (adjacent to the main outdoor pool), fully enclosed Sport Court (the Seaplex), fully enclosed second theater space (Two70). Quantum-class was designed for this type of weather and it helps a LOT. We had minimal rocking, nothing bad at all. Captain will do their best to have the smoothest sailing.

I stalked this board for months before deciding to join and post. If I was an member of these communities and had participated in these events, I would provide my perspective as well. I'm a huge Star Trek fan, and there's a Star Trek cruise coming up that I would LOVE to be on! If the Star Trek community was getting blasted for having bat'leth tournaments in Studio B, I'd be on here defending it too I appreciate the perspective of someone who has participated in these events. The image in the original post is shocking relative to our careful return to cruising over the past year, but when I learned everyone is 100% vaccinated and double-tested, I was a lot more comfortable with the photo.

So many options on Oasis-class! I totally forgot about Cafe Two70 on Anthem, i felt like all we had was Windjammer (Solarium Bistro wasn't open)

I saw this tip before my cruise and brought my Yeti totally expecting to use it for mixed drinks, and NEVER ended up using it. I also had a Yeti can cooler that I used for the cans, but I didn’t do the cans as much as cocktails. YMMV.

This makes me a lot more comfortable with the photo, especially since this cruise probably doesn’t have unvaccinated kids If you had to be fully vax’d and tested twice (including embarkation day), the likelihood of a positive during the cruise is so minuscule.

On Anthem in December, iFly and North Star opened slots 8am each day, for that day. Bumper Cars was open/available the entire cruise from embarkation.

What’s your go-to Embarkation Day Lunch? Windjammer is the go-to for a majority of cruisers, but I assume most people don’t know what else is even open. MDR has the Chops Grille lunch menu for The Key holders, but what’s left? I remember going to Park Cafe on Grandeur a few years ago right after boarding, and it was a ghost town. Inspired by Tip #3 in today’s main site post (https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/01/21/10-tips-worked-out-our-royalcaribbeanblogcom-staffers-2021), I haven’t even thought about Playmakers, this will likely be our go-to when we hit Oasis in October. Spill the deets!

Playmakers and Portside both came after Quantum launched in 2014, so the ship has neither. Portside is only on Oasis (Edit: NOT Allure, thanks @Ampurp85!)Playmakers is on a handful of newly-launched and recently amplified ships. If Quantum is ever amplified, it will likely have a Playmakers added to the second level of the SeaPlex, a la Odyssey:

Atlantis has entered the chat "Hold my martini..."

Included in UDP: Wonderland (dinner only) Jamie's Italian (lunch and dinner) Chops Grille (lunch and dinner) Izumi (lunch and dinner, up to $35 per seating) Not included in UDP: Noodle Bar Vintages English Pub La Patisserie Included in cruise fare: Main Dining Room Windjammer Solarium Bistro Sorrento's Cafe Two70 Seaplex Dog House

Then the drink package isn't for you, and that's okay. I can say with our kids, we don't actually leave the ship while in port, except Coco Cay. My break-even was 5 cocktails/day, which was easy if I did two during the day, one at dinner, and two after dinner. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Plus coffee and fresh-squeezed juice at breakfast, plus a milkshake or two, and we made out like bandits. Also remember, the drinks on-board aren't as heavy of a pour as anyone normally does at home. Here's how I budget it out: i'm a spirits drinker, so $13/drink. On vacation, I like to drink, so average 5/day ($65/day), plus 10% on top for all the other items included in the DBP, now i'm at $71.50/day. Any time DBP is under $70/day, i'm in.

This is about average to low-average. On-board Anthem in December it was $88/day BOGO 50% off. That's what it's currently offered on Oasis in October, with the "sale" price at $69/day (no BOGO50) Keep in mind, the DBP is not JUST alcohol - it's also milkshakes at Johnny Rockets (if available), smoothies at Vitality Cafe (if available), premium coffees, fresh-squeezed juices, bottled water, and all the soda you want. Make sure you're tapping ALL of these available options to make best use of your DBP.

It's possible the "% OFF" is how much you're saving if you otherwise paid on-board cover charge every night. On our Anthem sailing last December, UDP floated between $189 and $210. On our upcoming Oasis sailing in October, UDP is going between $167 and $188. I imagine it fluctuates from ship-to-ship depending on the specialty offerings.

I'm more impressed at the engineering of the Aquatheatre stage - they let THAT many people on there? That's amazing! I'm also wondering how that many passengers affects displacement or load on the ship.

I posted this in another thread, but seems relevant here: In the planner, there are "high" and "low" prices that are set for each cruise (every ship, every sailing, every itinerary, based on some fuzzy logic). These prices are normally at the high value, but then go to the low value during a "sale". They just toggle back and forth for months. As the departure date approaches, certain thresholds are checked (120 days out, 60 days out, etc) and if the threshold isn't met, the low price is adjusted down for the next "sale" - for instance: If The Key isn't selling as well, they may drop it another 10%. Then throw in a RC-wide sale like (Black Friday, or a holiday) where everything gets a few more dollars knocked off, until they're adjusted back up to the high value at the end of the sale. For example, my current Oasis sailing in October 2022 has the "high" price of the deluxe drink package at $88/day BOGO 50% off, and the "low" price at $69/day. Will it go lower? Maybe, nobody really knows. Here's another good rule of thumb: If you find something you're DEFINITELY going to want (drink package, massage, dining), buy it TODAY. Assume the price will never go down, and be pleasantly surprised if it goes on sale. If you're on the fence about something, then it's on you to vigilantly check if the price changes, and you can't be disappointed if it goes up (see rule of thumb above).

To re-affirm responses to OP's question: You can pick check-in times for anyone linked to your cruise without prerequisites. That's what we did a few months ago and then followed up a week later by doing the formal check-in steps (passport, personal info, COVID info, etc). If there's one thing i've learned about cruising with RC, it's constant vigilance: Always check your cruise pricing after booking, it may have dropped Always check your Cruise Planner pricing after purchasing, it may have dropped Always check your Check-in times after selection, earlier times may have opened

Everyone in our group had a draw-string bag, I kept my phone in there and nearby. If it's on a beach chair, it's with a towel over it. I kept my SeaPass card in my pocket (even in a bathing suit) so it was always with me. Never had an issue. There are cameras all over the ship in public areas. In the unlikely event of a theft, note the time and then tell a crew member. They can possibly review the footage.

How is the lighting at the outdoor seating in Chops? Is it dim to reinforce the Central Park atmosphere?

This will exceed the maximum allowable amount, unfortunately. Attempt at your own risk. That being said, I’m totally getting this for home!