Floski

I'm looking at my cruise planner for Mariner 5/26/23 and the Premier Pass is still there, and showing as reserved.
 
This feels very much like the $18/day DBP scenario, where everyone jumped on it, then a lot of people said it wasn't going to happen because Royal would lose too much $$.
I'm ready to just wait and see.   They realize that this could be huge in terms of customer satisfaction; they can come out smelling like roses, or be the south end of a north-bound mountain goat.
🤞

I'm looking at my cruise planner for Mariner 5/26/23 and the Premier Pass is still there, and showing as reserved.
 
This feels very much like the $18/day DBP scenario, where everyone jumped on it, then a lot of people said it wasn't going to happen because Royal would lose too much $$.
I'm ready to just wait and see.   They realize that this could be huge in terms of customer satisfaction; they can come out smelling like roses, or be the south end of a north-bound mountain goat.
🤞

I'm looking at my cruise planner for Mariner 5/26/23 and the Premier Pass is still there, and showing as reserved.
 
This feels very much like the $18/day DBP scenario, where everyone jumped on it, then a lot of people said it wasn't going to happen because Royal would lose too much $$.
I'm ready to just wait and see.   They realize that this could be huge in terms of customer satisfaction; they can come out smelling like roses, or be the south end of a north-bound mountain goat.
🤞

I'm looking at my cruise planner for Mariner 5/26/23 and the Premier Pass is still there, and showing as reserved.
 
This feels very much like the $18/day DBP scenario, where everyone jumped on it, then a lot of people said it wasn't going to happen because Royal would lose too much $$.
I'm ready to just wait and see.   They realize that this could be huge in terms of customer satisfaction; they can come out smelling like roses, or be the south end of a north-bound mountain goat.
🤞

If nothing else, this added some excitement to the weekend.  
 
A change of pace from the regular subjects. 

This is definitely worth it just for the all access tour. It’s around $160.00 per person on my May HOS cruise.  My question is if hundreds of people purchase this how are they going to accompany all of them? If you buy just the tour it is only available on two days. 

Heyyyyyy!!!
We're on the 5/26 Mariner sailing!!   I hope we get to meet y'all!

we'll suffer together my friend 🥲

I heard that on the tour, they'll give you a choice to dress as either an ice skater or diver to then participate in one of the show rehearsals. Lots of waivers to sign, but you get to wear tights either way.
Then, afterwards, they'll give you a personalized tour of the medical wing while you are "taken care of." Remember to bring your HSA card!
 
 
(this is a joke, just in case you're reading this and going "wow, I've always wanted to wear tights while ice skating!")

I'd recommend not canceling any internet you already purchased as I think the chance of them honoring this price is extremely low due to the sheer size of the mistake.  You can always cancel the internet 2 days before you sail if they haven't cancelled the premier package out from under you by then.

On the phone now trying to do what @TXcruzer did but Robert hasn't heard of it before. I'm now on hold while he (probably) panics and tries to figure out what this thing is

Typically, the bigger the ship, the less it matters.  Obviously, there will be extreme situations, but in those extremes, it doesn't matter where in the ship you are if you are prone to motion sickness.  In addition to sheer size, the newer bigger ships have some pretty cool stabilization technology which ensures an even calmer trip.  I would defiantly not hesitate to stay in a forward cabin as long as it was not near an anchor drop in the lower decks-- but that is more about noise and not motion sickness.

I always book a forward cabin.
The Solarium and other cool spots are there, and the elevators aren't nearly as crowded 
as they are at the aft due to the dining rooms and Windjammer being back there.
We never feel any crazy rocking like one might expect, especially on Oasis class.

@CHRIS WONG I don't really "do YouTube" so I can't comment there.    I met you briefly on Symphony 2 weeks ago and I will be on the Transatlantic.  If you need an ear I am here.
My "advice".  Any big decisions should be rated on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not so important to the 10-Most important.  Write down all those things swirling in your head and then rate them.  Usually some sort of an answer will jump out at you.  Next would be "how can I accomplish that?" Is it realistic?  What is my plan B.
It sounds like you have met the goals you have set out to meet.  Maybe it is time for some new goals.

Side note: you mention friends settling down buying houses, having kids and if that is for you.  Nothing that we see is all it is cracked up to be. 
Most everyone has a "wish I would  have, shoud have or a  why me thought?" and we question our decisions, I bet some of your friends feel that way about their decisions in life..   

After months of reading blogs and FB posts leading up to my cruise,it's finally come and gone and I thought I'd share a few things. Just got off Oasis this past Sunday...3 of us, 2 adults and an 11 yr old. 
1. Don't overpack. I read it a million times, I swore we wouldn't, yet..here we were with a large suitcase,a large duffel bag and three back packs. Packing up on our last night, cursing as I packed tons of unworn clothes,  unnecessary footwear and clothes for "cold nights". Next time it WILL be one suitcase and maybe a backpack. 
2. Magnetic hooks. Maybe they are helpful on older ships but our basic (boardwalk balcony) room had hooks on the bathroom wall, bathroom door, inside the shower, next to the front door and next to the vanity/ mirror on the desk. Plenty of hooks. We put a few on the balcony walls just because we brought them..but definitely not needed.  
3. Plug extender. This one came in handy..not needed,though. again would have had enough plugs between the ones behind the bed and the ones on the desk. We never needed to have more than one or two chargers in at any time. And all of our Android devices,including lap top and tablet all use the same charger. 
4. Take some adult time. I love my kid...I do. But after day 3 I needed some daddy time,once the wife and kid were down for the night..I strolled around on my own. Hit the casino, walked the pool deck, just sat on the balcony. I did this early in the morning sometimes also, since I am a very early riser and they are not. 
5.Maybe we missed something,but after all the reviews,we thought for sure we would have loved coco cay more. But we did chill beach, ate at a few stands, checked out the straw market, hung out in the pool for a bit...then were all ready to get back to the ship by maybe 1:30.  I don't know..maybe we will explore the other beaches next time,but we took advantage of the empty ship and enjoyed that more. 
6. Planned for the worst and got yhe opposite. Read so much about crowds,lines and food issues. We experienced none of this. The ship never felt over crowded, food was fine,service was amazing, shows were fantastic (no amount of reading or watching videos can compare with how amazing aqua 80 was in person). The only time we ever felt a little crowded was Windjammer. 
 
Edited to Add one more. 
Tipping/dining (I'll combine them):
We are over tippers. We are both former service workers,so we tip more than necessary.  I saw so many people posting how,besides the pre-paid tips, they tip additionally on every drink. I think I saw maybe 2 other people put cash on the bar the whole trip. I'm not shaming anyone..it's totally your choice since the drink price includes tip, just surprised how many people say they do it compared to the amount we actually saw. Also...dining at MDR,we did it 3 nights, and it never took longer than maybe 75-80 minutes. 
Overall it was an amazing trip on a beatiful ship.  I played way more mini golf than I could imagine, ate way more pizza and drank way too many mocktails. We can't wait to book our next one..already dropped the deposit at next cruise..just gotta pick the date!

....Nassau....the price you pay for Coco Cay.....

Under the CDC inspection guidelines for whirlpool spas on cruise ships:
The water must fully circulate no less than every two hours. Water must be changed every 72 hours. Granular filters must be cleaned and inspected at least every 72 hours and replaced every 12 months.  There are required ranges for pH and chlorine levels.  But that is the minimum--cruise lines are acutely aware of the possibility of any disease spread or bad health inspection records. So I believe @twangster is right and they are generally drained and cleaned more often than that. 
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/docs/vsp_operations_manual_2018-508.pdf

You should try some human stew one day.   Yummmmm
A little chunkier than your average soup.  And biscuits!

Except you shouldn't have to "go somewhere else". You have the right to not have to smell something, or not put up with something that is encroaching on those rights. Weed is banned, make the ship enforce their rules.

I've noticed a serious dearth of top (and medium, even) shelf liquors on our last 3 cruises (2 Harmony, 1 Wonder).
There used to be Trace, 4 Roses, and other good choices.
Blame the supply chain or whatever, but I think it's just another example of Royal going cheap.  I have become a 
cruise fanatic, but RC is not too far from losing me, at least for a couple of cruises.  
Get some danm bourbon!

Well, I didn't know that before I booked...
 
Not a game-changer, but disappointing.  I assumed that it being an Oasis class, that the pool in the solarium was a given.

I've noticed a serious dearth of top (and medium, even) shelf liquors on our last 3 cruises (2 Harmony, 1 Wonder).
There used to be Trace, 4 Roses, and other good choices.
Blame the supply chain or whatever, but I think it's just another example of Royal going cheap.  I have become a 
cruise fanatic, but RC is not too far from losing me, at least for a couple of cruises.  
Get some danm bourbon!

I've noticed a serious dearth of top (and medium, even) shelf liquors on our last 3 cruises (2 Harmony, 1 Wonder).
There used to be Trace, 4 Roses, and other good choices.
Blame the supply chain or whatever, but I think it's just another example of Royal going cheap.  I have become a 
cruise fanatic, but RC is not too far from losing me, at least for a couple of cruises.  
Get some danm bourbon!

Hmmmmm.....
So, instead of driving 6 hours (plus the one obligatory hour at Bucees for the wife) to Port Canaveral, I can drive downtown, park, and be walking inside in 15 minutes??  Okay, so Google maps says it will take me 16 minutes, but I know I can make it faster!
Where do I sign?

Hmmmmm.....
So, instead of driving 6 hours (plus the one obligatory hour at Bucees for the wife) to Port Canaveral, I can drive downtown, park, and be walking inside in 15 minutes??  Okay, so Google maps says it will take me 16 minutes, but I know I can make it faster!
Where do I sign?