DunkelBierJay

On Allure it was open on embarkation day, that is where we had lunch.

Enchantment Best -- Pool deck in the fleet and the Oasis Bar is a great place to hang out, has a big feel to it Worst -- fitness center is just, meh Freedom Best -- Royal Promenade, grand feel to it Worst -- the features near the aft seem out of sight and out of mind Navigator Best -- for me, the perfect size, similar to best features of Freedom Class Worst -- there isn't much I can say I don't like about this ship Empress Best -- Boleros, the adjoining coffee bar and the aft seating area are my favorite I have experienced at Royal. LOVE this ship Worst -- Not a fan of the seating style in the theater, but that is minor. There is sort of a fitness center on the second floor of the Viking Crown... Brilliance Best -- I love the pub and movie theater spaces and their proximity, the outdoor seating at the Windjammer is my favorite Worst -- the MDR seems a little cramped and over busy. When I sail on Radiance Class again, I will do more specialty dining Allure Best -- Aqua Theater and Mama Mia (I admit it, I liked it), the Solarium and Central Park Worst -- way too big for a port intensive itinerary. I would love to do a TA on her  

Sometimes we just have to lighten up. These posts come and go. Let's not kill a good thing with an overdose of political correctness.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

Not a pleasant tale but yet another example of blaming someone else for your own blunder. Its becoming the new American pastime.

I'm sorry to hear about your personal life changes, but you gambled and lost on this one.
Seriously though....is it really taking advantage of people when they lay out all the ground rules in advance and you even had the option to purchase insurance but declined?
 

There always seems to be some on board credit to make it look like Royal is giving you a deal. It tends to lessen the final blow a little, however, I have been more inclined lately to use it towards a dining package or something like that in the cruise planner.

When I read the release from NCL themselves it was confusing to be honest - as every line cancels your res if you don't pay.  All they're doing is improving their reminders/notifications that final payment is approaching.  My travel agent knows when to start harassing me, and smartly, he usually lies about the date to give me a buffer ?

That’s the beauty of it in my opinion. Buy it if you value the entire package. Some may see it as a rip-off, others see it differently. In some ways, you can think of it as getting some suite perks without the cost of a suite. 

@DunkelBierJay this was exactly my logic as well. It was a no brainer for my family because we are 3 adults who were all planning on getting internet anyway and had agreed on lunch at Chops  one day. One of the most appealing things to me about The Key is the reserved seating because I highly value shows and I haven't been to any of them before as this will be my first time on Allure. 
As to whether everyone needs to get it or not, I thought I read somewhere that everyone over the age of 6 needs to get it, but when I was buying it in the cruise planner, I had to buy it for each person individually. Then, when the price dropped to the current $19.99 I was able to individually cancel the purchases and rebuy them. It wasn't like it is with the drink package where it automatically forces you to get it for everyone in your cabin. 

When you get on board go straight to Chops to make all your reservations...then Park Café for lunch. 

With the dining packages you make all your reservations once you are on the ship.  Most report having little to no issue as long as they do it right after boarding but sometimes you have to be flexible on your dining times.  That's the trade off for getting the lower price on specialty dining.  If you absolutely must dine at a certain restaurant at a certain time, you'll have to book at full price once the restaurants are available to book.

I'll offer a slightly different perspecitve to the perceptions in this thread...I booked an excursion to the sloth sanctuary coupled with an island tour, and while we only visited desirable places from a tourism perspective, it was one of the best excursions I have ever done. We saw everything from sloths, monkeys, and parrots to chocolate being made and a wonderful water side meal that was reasonably priced by US standards. We also had some amazing street food...mango and pineapple.
Islands like that need our tourism dollar in the hope that one day it will have an effect in more places there. I found the people we encountered to be wonderful, and I wouldn't hesitate to try other options on the island as well.

@DunkelBierJay don't get me wrong, we had a good time, we had hired a private excursion through Victor Bodden tours (Highly recommend) that took us all over the island. My point that I should have made, like yours, is that they need our tourism dollars if things are going to improve. Just like all the places hit by hurricanes last year.

One interesting note is how they bundle the deluxe package with VOOM.
One my currently booked sailing on Symphony--
Separate
Deluxe -- $52.00 VOOM Surf and Stream -- $12.99 Total -- $64.99 Bundled (Deluxe with VOOM Surf and Stream) -- $66.00
So, we get to pay them another $7.00 for the convenience of buying it bundled over the course of the cruise...annoying...gotta check everything...
#therearenorealsales

We just bought the photo package for $225 and got 147 photos (digital, not prints). All very high quality, so we're happy.
As well as onboard, every time we stepped onto one of the islands the photographers were there ready to take our photos so we took every opportunity to have our snaps taken.

One interesting note is how they bundle the deluxe package with VOOM.
One my currently booked sailing on Symphony--
Separate
Deluxe -- $52.00 VOOM Surf and Stream -- $12.99 Total -- $64.99 Bundled (Deluxe with VOOM Surf and Stream) -- $66.00
So, we get to pay them another $7.00 for the convenience of buying it bundled over the course of the cruise...annoying...gotta check everything...
#therearenorealsales

One interesting note is how they bundle the deluxe package with VOOM.
One my currently booked sailing on Symphony--
Separate
Deluxe -- $52.00 VOOM Surf and Stream -- $12.99 Total -- $64.99 Bundled (Deluxe with VOOM Surf and Stream) -- $66.00
So, we get to pay them another $7.00 for the convenience of buying it bundled over the course of the cruise...annoying...gotta check everything...
#therearenorealsales

I have experienced no better value for vacation spending than cruising. It opens up worlds I never would have explored. It provides fun, rest, entertainment and great food at the same time. I love being at sea too. All you have to choose is how you engage with it. 

I have experienced no better value for vacation spending than cruising. It opens up worlds I never would have explored. It provides fun, rest, entertainment and great food at the same time. I love being at sea too. All you have to choose is how you engage with it. 

I have experienced no better value for vacation spending than cruising. It opens up worlds I never would have explored. It provides fun, rest, entertainment and great food at the same time. I love being at sea too. All you have to choose is how you engage with it. 

I have experienced no better value for vacation spending than cruising. It opens up worlds I never would have explored. It provides fun, rest, entertainment and great food at the same time. I love being at sea too. All you have to choose is how you engage with it. 

I have experienced no better value for vacation spending than cruising. It opens up worlds I never would have explored. It provides fun, rest, entertainment and great food at the same time. I love being at sea too. All you have to choose is how you engage with it. 

These are really good questions to ask before you board, so you will be armed with better information prior. The Windjammer is an informal buffet, and is a great option if you want to stay in your shorts and flip flops. The Main Dining Room has a dress code, and it is loosely interpreted and enforced. Resort casual and business casual is fine on non-formal nights. There is one formal night on cruises shorter than 7 night cruises and two formal nights on 7 night cruises.
A good way to think of buying a beverage package is....1) buy online prior to your cruise on the Cruise Planner and watch to see if the price drops. If it does, it is very easy to cancel and re-book it at the lower price. Regardless, it will always be cheaper than buying on board...always. 2) consider how many ports are in your itinerary. If you have four ports on a seven night cruise, and it doesn't include Coco Cay or Labadee, you may not be availing yourself of the drink package while on board. So, I take the cost of the package and divide it by the number of drinks you think you will get either the entire cruise or each day. If that number is lower than the menu price plus gratuity, then it makes sense to get the package. If it is higher, than paying as you go would be more economical. A rule of thumb is that most mixed drinks are $12 and beer and wine range $6-$8. This post will have answers to more specific questions. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/royal-caribbean-drink-package
Some people get drink fatigue on some cruises, and while you may drink a lot in the beginning, you may not drink a lot near the end. It all depends on what you will want to do. So, it is worth it to consider that as well.
Pre-paying your gratuities compensates your stateroom attendant and waiters in the Main Dining Room and Windjammer...basically all complimentary restaurants. They work very, very hard, so getting to know them, and make friends with them, and remember their names for the survey you will be emailed after your cruise and giving honest feedback goes a long way. It really helps them, and some of my fondest memories on cruises are talking and laughing with the people who are there who make the experience so special. Your drink package cost includes a gratuity. You can always tip bartenders and wait staff more if you like. Sometimes, I give them a little cash in the beginning when I am getting to know them.
 

Also...Alvaro, if you haven't cleared cookies in a while, that may have an impact.