Floski

Definitely loyal.
My first cruise was Freedom in 2015 (I was a young 53 then) and we've been on 7 since (#8 is Mariner this Friday!).  Nothing 
brings me more joy than that first step on board.  I breathe the biggest, most refreshing breath at that time.  Our next cruise, 
which is yet to be planned/booked will make us Diamond (big whup) but it's a nice little milestone.  
I've heard so many things that Royal does for folks who have been displaced/inconvenienced (see OP) that I feel like I belong to
a huge corporation family.  Remember when the lines all started up after covid?  Soooo many people who got infected were taken
care of by RC - to the costly expense of providing them a free ride home.  Who does that in business?
Yeah, I've "considered" NCL (I met an employee here while we were having beers and she told me she would give me the friends
and family discount, which I assume is nice) but that line just doesn't do it for me.
I've met the most wonderful people through this blog, and going on an insiders group cruise was a freaking blast!  -  I don't want to
switch.   I'm now 61 (wayyyyy much younger than Mike^) and not sure how many cruises I have left, but you can rest assured they'll be on Royal.  

🤣 that sounds like fun. We have 3 booked, maybe we run into each on one of those. 🤔

Still time to book Mariner for Friday!!!!   COME ON!!!!  I'll need a late night partner!

After many years of booking myself, I just started using MEI b/c prices have gone a bit crazy and I don't foresee being able to find the last minute deals to which I have been accustomed.
I am extremely happy with both the customer service and the prices I have received from my TA thus far.
P.S. Because MEI sponsors this site, you are far more likely to find people using them than Harr. That doesn't mean the responses won't be genuine but it's definitely going to skew your sample of results.
P.S.S. Harr has nice cabin tour YouTube videos but if I hear about how tall he is yet can fit in a RC shower one more time... 🤣

Definitely loyal.
My first cruise was Freedom in 2015 (I was a young 53 then) and we've been on 7 since (#8 is Mariner this Friday!).  Nothing 
brings me more joy than that first step on board.  I breathe the biggest, most refreshing breath at that time.  Our next cruise, 
which is yet to be planned/booked will make us Diamond (big whup) but it's a nice little milestone.  
I've heard so many things that Royal does for folks who have been displaced/inconvenienced (see OP) that I feel like I belong to
a huge corporation family.  Remember when the lines all started up after covid?  Soooo many people who got infected were taken
care of by RC - to the costly expense of providing them a free ride home.  Who does that in business?
Yeah, I've "considered" NCL (I met an employee here while we were having beers and she told me she would give me the friends
and family discount, which I assume is nice) but that line just doesn't do it for me.
I've met the most wonderful people through this blog, and going on an insiders group cruise was a freaking blast!  -  I don't want to
switch.   I'm now 61 (wayyyyy much younger than Mike^) and not sure how many cruises I have left, but you can rest assured they'll be on Royal.  

Definitely loyal.
My first cruise was Freedom in 2015 (I was a young 53 then) and we've been on 7 since (#8 is Mariner this Friday!).  Nothing 
brings me more joy than that first step on board.  I breathe the biggest, most refreshing breath at that time.  Our next cruise, 
which is yet to be planned/booked will make us Diamond (big whup) but it's a nice little milestone.  
I've heard so many things that Royal does for folks who have been displaced/inconvenienced (see OP) that I feel like I belong to
a huge corporation family.  Remember when the lines all started up after covid?  Soooo many people who got infected were taken
care of by RC - to the costly expense of providing them a free ride home.  Who does that in business?
Yeah, I've "considered" NCL (I met an employee here while we were having beers and she told me she would give me the friends
and family discount, which I assume is nice) but that line just doesn't do it for me.
I've met the most wonderful people through this blog, and going on an insiders group cruise was a freaking blast!  -  I don't want to
switch.   I'm now 61 (wayyyyy much younger than Mike^) and not sure how many cruises I have left, but you can rest assured they'll be on Royal.  

The same thing exists here in the US. It’s not limited to “3rd world countries.”

Glad it worked out.  I seriously hate the towel ransom aspect of it as if anyone is going to steal a towel.  Nobody wants more things to pack.

I used to love Jazz On 4 - one of my favorite places to 
see live music in the evening.
Siiiiiigh

We did all MDR on our recent 5 night on Grandeur, and while some things were hit or miss I loved the Caribbean night menu. The roasted chicken might be my favorite plate of food I've ever eaten in an MDR - it was so well done. 

Much obliged , got my sights set on some sazerac products. In 2019 in st kitts I purchased some blantons cask strength. Can’t get it in the states. Am still sipping on it. 

We'll be on board celebrating 50 yrs whew!! Chops first night then lots of time in the solarium and casino never been to curaco or Aruba or coco cay "ain't no party like a senior party" 🤣😃

I thought this was going to be about ghosts....

We’re on this one !

I think the Sky Pads are an enormous eye-sore.  Hopefully they will remove them completely and put a more appropriate “experience “ in its place.

All I see when I look at Sky Pad is
 

Did you know there is a Deck 19 on Symphony Of The Seas?
 
Here is what inside the ship's funnel is like!
 
 
 

Reminds me of the time we walked on the nude side of Orient Beach (no, the Greeter wasn't there, unfortunately)...kept expecting to see the lovely sights, but it was anything butt that.  

Costa Maya for a day at Maya Chan! Hands down. 

It is so personal, right? I mean when I woke up early morning of the Icon release credit card in hand I felt like I was punched in the face. The ship's enormous offerings of bells and whistles didn't speak to me. I honestly don't know what I was expecting but I knew even at day one pricing my enjoyment would not equal the price I would be paying. That said my style of cruising at this stage in my life isn't Icon. Clearly though it speaks to many many others and for that I am happy. The company will charge what we are willing to pay for the experience. I personally believe that if you are careful and choose what you know you and your family gravitates to then it is an amazing value vacation.
Same with Coco Cay Cabanas pricing. Previously I indulged in a few cabanas, Bare foot Beach, Oasis Pool, Water Park X 2. I loved the experience, I loved the home base as well as the comfort. Moving forward the prices being what they are I will enjoy a beach bed or lounger. Maybe a Coco Beach club pass, maybe. It's about my personal feeling of cost=enjoyment. I'm weird like that, if I feel it's fair I enjoy it more. 
While I enjoyed my one Star class sailing Sky is my happy place, but again full circle there is something for everyone with Royal and I still feel it's a great value vacation if you know how to make the most of your own choices. Prices going up everywhere, while I am not a Jason Liberty fan at all I get it. I am blessed to be able to vacation once in a while & I choose cruising every time. 

Well, that was enjoyable!
I was really nervous for you and the weather in CA; glad y'all got on board with no problems.
The photos and write-ups were fantastic!
You have a beautiful family, and I think it's awesome that you guys are so close.
Thank you for taking so much time and effort to put this together.

st maarten!! my favorite 😍😍😍😍

Backtracking to this morning. QLS Transportation picked us up at 9:30am. They were on time and it was a good experience. 
 
On the way to the port.

Check in was super efficient. Fastest one ever. Maybe because we got there around 10:20am or maybe because HM was not dealing with disembarking others today. Not sure but we were greeted at the star class podium, bags were tagged super fast, zero wait to go through security and passport checks. Marla met us as we were wrapping up passport checks and off we went to get on board. 
 
Since not everyone in our group has sailed HM, Marla took a few minutes to explain where things are before we left the promenade. 

there is no earthly way you could be as loud as - the extended family with 5 interconnected central park balconies AND the dude bros next door AND the island party ladies on the left. 
that was a perfect storm TRIFECTA of loudness. 

Anybody else considering using the $50 OBC on a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, then telling fellow passengers it was your welcome aboard bottle from the Premier Pass package? 
Edit: The forum keeps getting rid of the crazy face 🤪 at the end of the above.