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My favorite is the Nearby Schools.

If there is something you want and if you knew the price would never go down and would thus get it at the current price, then you should get it. If prices go down on any of it for Black Friday you can just cancel and rebook. If they don't go down or even go up, you at least have it booked at a price that is acceptable to you.

Your last name on yours, her last name on hers and the kids last name on theirs. That all should match the last names with which you booked as well.

Her name should just match the one on her passport or birth certificate if you are going that route. Same with you and the kids.

I almost started this with "I think you should...", but in reality, you should absolutely do what your heart tells you. It's clear you intend to recognize the service you receive. So instead I'll say what I would do. I would keep the prepaid gratuities on and proceed the way you always have and give extra to anyone who goes above and beyond. While UDP does include 18%, it's only 18% of the UDP which is discounted in the sense that it accounts to some degree for the fact that meals are included. By that I mean 7 day UDP for an upcoming Anthem sailing is 225 or $32/Day. No way, in the real world do I get lunch and dinner of specialty restaurant quality for $32. That's just me, but you should do what you feel to be right. Bill

It's been down for several hours now. Same symptoms. I tried around 4AM EST. I'm sure when they all get to work today, it will be corrected. Hate that it interferred with your check in window @Carlos A.

You're going to have a great time! When counting the number of days for calculating per person per day add on's, you will use 12 even though you will be on board for parts of 13. For a 12 night cruise, I think the value of paying for The Key on a per day basis is diminished, but if you're only talking about 12 euro's extra for the entire cruise, it's a no brainer. You'll get that value from the Chops lunch if nothing else. Any other Key benefits are just gravy.

I think $254 PP/Day is pretty good for this ship right now. Nice job! Have a great time!

Also @asquared17, if it's paid for before the cruise, the guests are on the ship with a fresh wallet which is conducive to more spending.

Congratulations @DonR I celebrate 29 years sober next week. Hasn't really toned down my level of obnoxiousness as much as I thought it would. You're spot on though. The cost was not a concern or impediment. Bill

What am I missing? You think 3 additional waterslides are going to attract more kids? The things in seaside are available on Oasis class ships now, they are just relocated in a way to keep kids of that age grouped in one place and not spread all about the ship. In the end, if it's too many kids for those that prefer fewer, none of the other ships have gone away and if this ship is attracting a larger share of family cruisers, those ships should have even fewer. There's a ship for everyone!

I agree with you. I recognize you were just going off "Unlimited Drink Plan" when you arrived at your acronym of UDP, but that one is already used for Unlimited Dining Package. I think we need DBP For "Deluxe Beverage Package" I'd hate to see this thread become more confusing than it already is with the apparent pasting of a post from another thread to start this one when the OP seems to have intended a discussion about drinking and not about taking the inaugural voyage as posted.

I think if you check out a towel you better keep track of it. Leaving it on the lido deck unattended while you go back to sleep is not a level of care conducive to keeping something of value. I'll have no sympathy for chair hogs leaving their items and then having a difficult time getting their towel deposit back. I don't think the towel is a place for electronics. It's the chair. Scan your seapass every 30 minutes or the yellow light goes on. 15 minutes later it turns to red and guests can ask an attendant to remove the items and open the seats. No seapass card can have more than 2 chairs scanned at any one time. Scanning a third, releases the first.

I seems to cater more to families, but in a way that can leave large portions of the ship with very few families with small kids. You can bet they will be down on Surfside playing together which means they aren't as prevalent everywhere else. It seems like they will be easier to avoid on Icon than on Oasis class ships where they are sprinkled around. We will see.

Thanks! Should be easy even for me. My concerns were twofold. Me always pulling the wrong card to get into the stateroom. A moved Teen pulling the wrong card for purchases. Not because I don't want them to make purchases but because they have Refreshment packages and my wife and I are pay as you go. As always the answers were fast and on point here. Thank you all. Bill

Sorry to revive this old one. One quick question. On the extra key, does it have buying privileges or look unique in another way? We're going that route for an Anthem cruise in March and my concern is always getting the extra mixed up with the original. If I can just charge with either it only matters at the room door. Thanks for your help. Bill

I can't comment on the coffee, but if he can only have 1/day you might as well just pay as you go, at least for him.

The asterisk by Freestyle Beverages references these terms. I added the bold and underlining *Prices subject to change without notice; gratuities may be added based on itinerary. Packages cannot be shared and are not transferable. All guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom and under the same stateroom booking number are required to purchase the same alcoholic beverage package. Your check may reflect an additional tax for certain ports or itineraries. When ordering a beverage selection onboard, you must present your SeaPass card bearing the package identifier to your server. All Beverage Packages exclude any beverages served inside licensed Starbucks® stores. Coca-Cola Freestyle availability varies by ship. Package does not include room service, mini bar items and souvenir glassware, specialty beers as listed on bar menus, or super premium category beverages above $13. Package is subject to the terms of the Royal Caribbean International Alcohol Policy. ©2021 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas. 21076069 • 5/10/2021

I'm not sure that one's preferred choice of swimwear equates to respecting or failing to respect other passengers. Everyone should wear what they want within the ruleset provided by Royal Caribbean. Those who don't love the choices of others shouldn't see that choice as a sign of disrespect. They might not like your clothing either.

I think one of the strong aspects of what I'll call the "redesigned boardwalk" is that in addition to being a great place for families with young children to conveniently stay in one area, for the rest of us, families with smaller children will remain in one known area that can be avoided.

I love it! I want to go to there.

Probably not quite. 17hrs*70MPH=1190 miles/20MPG=59.5 gallons * 3.87(national average=$230.27 for a carload vs $600 per head flying. I get and feel your point on gas prices though!

Thanks @Pattycruise! While I would love to avoid guest services on Day 1 especially, those 2 kids would be unbearable if I fail in this task. Bill

So for those 3 you pay a surcharge. Chops, Wonderland and Giovanni's no surcharge. Solarium Bistro is an included for everyone restaurant without a dining package needed.

Oh, so no booking access before @Peter D? What did you do, just keep checking? How frequently was it offered if you recall sir? Have a couple of teenagers interested in it. Bill