DunkelBierJay

Interesting...my upcoming sailing has VOOM paired with the Classic Soda package...I could have sworn I saw it with the DBP before the current sale:

I hope that this leads to allowing crew who want to do so to remove their masks on board.

I hope that this leads to allowing crew who want to do so to remove their masks on board.

I hope that this leads to allowing crew who want to do so to remove their masks on board.

I hope that this leads to allowing crew who want to do so to remove their masks on board.

Moving to Emerald from Platinum (would be diamond now if not for you know what) in two weeks, and my plan is to put the pins I get on my rattiest RC hat, wear it on the beach, get sea water on it and let them get nasty.
I've had MDR lunches with several Pinnacles on cruises and find the ones I've met to be really nice and great sources of knowledge, especially ones who you have to drag their status out of them.
 

Moving to Emerald from Platinum (would be diamond now if not for you know what) in two weeks, and my plan is to put the pins I get on my rattiest RC hat, wear it on the beach, get sea water on it and let them get nasty.
I've had MDR lunches with several Pinnacles on cruises and find the ones I've met to be really nice and great sources of knowledge, especially ones who you have to drag their status out of them.
 

Happy cruising and Dunkel to you!  

Moving to Emerald from Platinum (would be diamond now if not for you know what) in two weeks, and my plan is to put the pins I get on my rattiest RC hat, wear it on the beach, get sea water on it and let them get nasty.
I've had MDR lunches with several Pinnacles on cruises and find the ones I've met to be really nice and great sources of knowledge, especially ones who you have to drag their status out of them.
 

We will be Pinnacle this Fall and I have zero intention of wearing a pin. One of our "cruise friends" (older lady we met on an Alaskan cruise last year we have kept in touch with and will be coordinating for September cruises) is longtime Pinnacle and said she stopped wearing hers when she saw a lady get out of the hot tub and transfer her pinnacle pin from her bathing suit to her wrap.  Some folks like the attention. I personally do not, though I am looking forward to the other perks!

Some people are only happy when they have something to complain about.  I think it’s easier than thinking of interesting or valuable to talk about.  
I was a waiter 30 years ago and had regulars that complained or were at least unimpressed with everything but they came in all the time.  I asked one older couple why they come back, when they don’t seem thrilled with the food, or even the service.  They were shocked, said coming in for dinner was the highlight of their week.  I think the complaining gave them something  talk about.  Some people are just miserable and want others to be miserable too.  Some people like to act like they’re above everything.  
It seems like sad way to go through life if you ask me.

I love Radiance Class from my limited experience, and Empress also remains my favorite ship because of the reasons stated above. The Schooner Bar and Boleros on that ship is unmatched on any, and I loved the outdoor deck behind Boleros. The crew was great, and the fact that I could get from one end of the ship to the other in a minute or two if walking slowly was a huge plus. I really wanted to Sail on Empress again, but that won't happen.

My favorite ship remains to be Empress.  Even though she is no longer in the fleet and at 48k GT (roughly half Radiance) she was tiny compared to Oasis class but she had the best service of any ship.  I've had mixed success with Chops across the fleet but it was consistently great on Empress.    Top of all that with a non-smoking casino.  Best Boleros in the fleet to this day.  Best crew and service experience.  But enough about Empress.
Radiance class remains a small ship favorite.  I'm boarding Jewel soon and have Serenade booked for May to Alaska (my 3rd on her) and I've done Radiance in Alaska before.  I've recently done a couple on Brilliance from Tampa so I know this class pretty well.  They aren't new ships so if your measure of a great ship is the decor and cabinetry in the cabins these are older ships and you feel that in places.  Some in this class have shower curtains for example.  
As far as food they use the standard fleet menus and the entrees are identical across the fleet so there is no food differences on smaller ships.  With a smaller guest and crew count you do tend to run into the same crew more often which typically yields a more friendly, better level of service compared to larger ships. 
The crew bond into a family more because they all get to know each other.  Crew on mega ships have told me they can go a whole contract and never meet all other crew.  That doesn't happen on small ships.  
Being a smaller ship mens less real estate or space to have everything biggers ships have.  There is no promenade space on Radiance class rather they have a vertical atrium called the Centrum.   The adult only solarium is enclosed with a retractable roof making these ships good in all seasons.  No ice skating rink, no zip line, no bumper cars, no indoor skydiving, etc.  Big ships have more space for the latest bells and whistles.  Small ships have all the core requirements for a classic cruise ship experience.  If your group saw a TV commercial showing wow type activities they may be let down when those TV commercial worthy activities are absent on smaller ships.
Small ships are very easy to get around. 
The Windjammer on Radiance has outdoor aft seating which is a feature I love.   
Not going to happen with Royal Caribbean International.  If you seek small ships that are new, no mass market cruise line is building those because that is not mass market cruising.  Start looking elsewhere now.   Sail Radiance class now while they remain in the fleet.  Once they are gone, there will be no small ships in the RCI fleet.   

I'm following along, our Thanksgiving sailing has us sailing with family that are also unvaccinated. I'm getting nervous even for then. I used to think no way they will continue this, a negative test to step on the ship should suffice, no? I hope they relax this in some way shape or form, but I'm not holding my breath. I don't want to cancel but enough is enough, we won't go without our group if they are not welcomed by then. 

The Day 1 cruise planner from a January sailing shows that it is open at noon on embarkation day along with Cafe Promenade. I would bet that it is open. It is next to the Windjammer, so it will be easy to determine your preference if it is based on the crowd.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compasses/navigator-of-the-seas/mon-01242022-0000

It's this and the slow walkers who are oblivious that they are taking up a thoroughfare of any kind anywhere else...turning in front of people without looking behind them...
There was a time when I was called to the naughty room on embarkation about something I packed that I didn't realize was verbotten (totally my fault), and I witnessed another passenger SCREAMING at security about a hair dryer. they were there when I got there and were still screaming when I left. The security guy just let them make fools of themselves and took the hair dryer. It was the most uncalled for thing I've seen on a ship, and I can't stand any rudeness directed toward crew.

I'm going to be so full that evening...Izumi Hibachi reservations at 5:15 and Izumi sushi for dinner #2 at 9:00.

They do!
You can also return later at night for another round 😉

Yes, your story is exactly why I use one.

It's this and the slow walkers who are oblivious that they are taking up a thoroughfare of any kind anywhere else...turning in front of people without looking behind them...
There was a time when I was called to the naughty room on embarkation about something I packed that I didn't realize was verbotten (totally my fault), and I witnessed another passenger SCREAMING at security about a hair dryer. they were there when I got there and were still screaming when I left. The security guy just let them make fools of themselves and took the hair dryer. It was the most uncalled for thing I've seen on a ship, and I can't stand any rudeness directed toward crew.

It's this and the slow walkers who are oblivious that they are taking up a thoroughfare of any kind anywhere else...turning in front of people without looking behind them...
There was a time when I was called to the naughty room on embarkation about something I packed that I didn't realize was verbotten (totally my fault), and I witnessed another passenger SCREAMING at security about a hair dryer. they were there when I got there and were still screaming when I left. The security guy just let them make fools of themselves and took the hair dryer. It was the most uncalled for thing I've seen on a ship, and I can't stand any rudeness directed toward crew.

Yes.... If 2 elevators show up and are completely full I'll ride the next elevator even press the button for an elevator going in the opposite direction. 
My pet peeve is when I see people berate the staff.  I don't understand that type of behavior especially when on vacation for the life of me.  The staff works extremely hard most of them are working 12-15 hours a day 7 days a week for up to 9 months depending on the length of their contract.  The majority of guest on the ship don't work 7 days a week when they are on land.
 

That's not poor elevator etiquette, IMO. It's working smarter, not harder.
OTOH, if I'm going up less than four decks or down less than six (other than to the location of the gangway in port which can be difficult to find without the elevator) I always use the stairs.

A group of people walking strung out across the Promenade when it's busy.
Someone wandering down the Promenade with their head in their phone, not watching where they are going is a close second..

Needs to be a ship that returns to Port Canaveral or they violate the PVSA.  They could alter another ship’s itinerary but then you impact a whole other set of guests.