Moby Dick

Don't know, I've had vertigo prior to my cruising career.  It's not fun when it acts up.  

So, the bottom line, bring a NASA search light from the Cape and find the antenna.  LOL

Yes, even the elderly can be swingers!

Yes, even the elderly can be swingers!

HAPPY WIFE - HAPPY LIFE!

Oh maaaaaan, I'd love to be on a cruise that had a good Lez Zeppelin tribute band.  My all time favorite band.  I also like Boston, very much.  The U2 tribute band that was on our Bermuda cruise (Anthem of the Seas) was great, musically, technically, vocally.   

HAPPY WIFE - HAPPY LIFE!

My first Royal Caribbean cruise was on the Oasis and we had a Grand Suite (1 bedroom).  First I must say that my wife and I are very quiet and unassuming people.  We didn't know anything about a Concierge, we didn't get any email from any Concierge and we had no clue what the perks were other than a larger cabin size, a coffee maker (we don't drink coffee), and all the water you wanted.  So, we learned as we went along.  We did find the Coastal Kitchen and the Suite lounge.  Sitting in there were two people sitting at a small desk with a desktop.  We found out later that they were the ship's concierge(s) and they were there to assist us with most things customer service related.  On the day before debarkation, we found the suite sun deck.  Having never traveled "first Class" like that before, we didn't even know what to ask for.  Pre-Cruise, we didn't even know what to research.  Being an old retired Army Sergeant, I/we weren't used to being pampered.  It was kinda hard to get used to.  But, not anymore, several suite cruises later, we love it.
So, you are 100% doing the right thing, getting as much information as you can.  Don't be shy while on the ship.  Ask questions, especially the concierge.  Ask the concierge what he/she can do for you to make your cruise more enjoyable.  If you plan on eating in the MDR, establish a relationship with the maitre d, not just the concierge.  Treat your stateroom/suite steward very good, he/she can make or break your entire cruise.  
Most of all, I wish I had done this before my first suite cruise, research research research Royal's website, CURRENT Youtube videos and, like you are already doing, read posts in here and separate the bull from the good stuff.  Matt has a plethora of great articles and videos, too.  
You've already got some good info from within this thread.  My only WARNING, you're going to be hooked to the Suite Cruising style.  Get ready for it.  It's hard to go back.  
Good luck, be safe, and most of all, just enjoy!

Oh maaaaaan, I'd love to be on a cruise that had a good Lez Zeppelin tribute band.  My all time favorite band.  I also like Boston, very much.  The U2 tribute band that was on our Bermuda cruise (Anthem of the Seas) was great, musically, technically, vocally.   

I grew up in Dania, now Dania Beach (it became "Dania Beach well after I moved from there).  If you go to Dania, you have to go to Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor, it's on US 1 just about in the middle of Dania.  Also, Grandpa's Bakery which is located next to the strip mall that Jaxson's  is in.  Matt, you have mentioned Los Olas (pronounced Ohlass) Blvd. a few times, that is also a great place to walk and shop and eat!  I love cruising out of Ft. Lauderdale but I really like the new terminal 1 in The Port of Miami but I don't like Miami (beach), so when we cruise out of Port Everglades or Port of Miami, we stay in Ft. Lauderdale/Dania.

Unfortunately, most hotels/motels have experienced far too many rate increases, all over, not just the Ft. Lauderdale area.  Even though gas is on the way up, very much on the way up, we have decided to drive to our cruise port locations, except to the Port of Seattle in May.  I live in Alabama.  So, we drive to the Port of Canaveral, Port Everglades, and/or Port of Miami.  Yes, if I lived in or near Dallas, I'd still drive.  But then, I'm an old truck driver and long distance driving doesn't bother me too much.  Well, old age does effect me a little(70).  We just drove from the San Antonio area to central Alabama nonstop.  13 hours not a problem.   Port Everglades/Ft. Lauderdale is just another 11 hours away.

So, the bottom line, bring a NASA search light from the Cape and find the antenna.  LOL

Okay Okay Okay - I've got it, this is a for sure, I've figured it out:
If you have ever cruised Royal Caribbean Star Class, you know that the Royal Genie seems to know where you are at all times, he/she just randomly shows up wherever you are. Knows what you had to drink and what you had to eat.  But, it's not perfect, yet!
So, what you see being installed, and I'm getting this information straight from the NSA and Royal Caribbean IT, is the Bilateral Invasive Mentalargonomically Radar Penetrating Microwave Pulsator.  This will allow the Genies to, with 99% accuracy, know where you are intending of going, drink and eat.  Of course there will always be those that have no clue what they are thinking about, the 1%, and nothing can be predicted or made whole with them, you know, those that go to a cashier, have everything tabulated, told the amount owed and then fumble around looking in the purse/wallet for their cash/credit card or required terminal documents.  AND those who don't go to the Muster Station prior to Sail Away Time, of which we had 233 people that were clueless and held up departure by over an hour and a half.  EDITED IN:  This was on the Ovation of the Seas, May 13th Sailing from Seattle.

Okay all you amateur sleuths.  It is apparent that you missed the Ferris wheel already installed on the boat:
 

Good advice.  I always print out everything (I know, not very ecological of me, and I don't care) and take it with me.  I always seem to have a folder that is about an inch thick with everything that has transacted (from our TA and from Royal) with that cruise, everything from emails to invoices to excursions purchased/canceled, packages purchased/canceled, COVID Test purchased and results, etc etc etc.  

Not for me/us.

I'm not going to say that this is the issue.  In fact, I don't think it is.  But, it sounds very familiar to how things with Royal's website used to be several years ago.  
Only one person could be logged-in to an account at a time.  So, how does this apply here, you may ask?  Well, if I was logged in but Royal was into my account for whatever reason, whatever I was doing got really screw-up.  Did really weird things.  I though they had that ironed-out/fixed by now.  But, this is Royal Caribbean "Land Side"/IT, so......

Time is moving along.  LOL

So, I had a dream last night that my kitchen looked just like a kitchen on a cruise ship and there were dozens of cooks preparing my breakfast.  What a dream, I was sooooooo happy.   Then I woke up and went to my kitchen and reality set in:

And, I'm expected to get out of bed before 11:00 AM.  What a bunch of B.S. 
Hey Royal Caribbean, let's play, "Let's Make a Deal".  I'll sign everything I own over to you if you let my wife and I cruise Star Class for the remainder of our days.  

Yes!!!!  Good news and verification, again.
But, I sure hope that in the "NEAR" future none of this will be required anymore.  Ya right, dream on!

I just eat and now I'm hungry, again.  Stooooooooop already.  I'm still trying to lose weight from my last cruise, damnit.  
😡🤣

We were on the May 13th on Ovation.  The sausage was okay but seriously over boiled/cooked, the buns came right out of the frig and a serious lack of condiments, no relish, mayo, just catsup and yellow mustard .  Hopefully its gotten better.

When the all inclusive beverages aren't included in my cruise cost, I get the refreshment package.  Well worth it.  I drink a lot sparkling water on a cruise.  We're not big coffee drinkers, maybe one cup in the AM, so we don't get it for coffee.  
My recommendation, buy the package now and keep an eye open for a sale of it between now and cruise day (or whatever the drop dead date is).  If the price gets lower, than buy the lower priced package and cancel the higher priced one, you'll get a refund in just a few day on your C.C.  It's easy peasy.