Floski

How was your overall experience?  Did you notice any degradation of overall service?  Did you get a towel thingie every night?
 
 
 
And I'm glad you didn't get Boom while on Freedom; methinks that would be beddy beddy bad.

My overall experience was very good.  It always is.
 
Service in the MDR was a little slow the first night but after that, we were in and out in under an hour (we aren't ones to hang out and lollygag - gotsta get to the casino !  LOL).
 
Degradation of overall service is a tricky one.  Yes, over the years I have noticed a few things.  I miss the midnight buffets, beautiful ice sculptures and carved fruit tables and no, I did not get a towel animal every night.  I have definitely noticed a reduced number of servers in almost all of the venues.  For instance, for the past several cruises, there is no longer a bar service person in the MDR.  Any drinks you order (which, BTW, we NEVER do) will be attended to by your table waiters now.  The bar servers in the casino are definitely rarer than they used to be but it is very rare that I need one, so I don't really miss them like some do.  I don't lay out by the pool so I haven't personally experienced the shortage of servers that I hear so much about in the pool area.  There are definitely fewer servers scattered around the Windjammer, but I usually try and avoid the WJ anyway, so it doesn't impact me that much.
 
Have I noticed a reduction in service over the years ?  Yes.  Does it negatively impact my experience ?  Not really.  I guess the question you have to ask is, would I be willing to pay to get some of those things back ?  The answer, from me, is definitely, NO.  While the ice sculptures were beautiful, I saw them a couple of times during a cruise and I'm fairly sure that the fruit sculptures probably went to waste.  That's never a good thing.  Towel animals ?  Well....not that big a deal.  They are usually in my way and end up on the floor soon anyway.  I am an acknowledged decapitator of towel animals (never on purpose, of course).  Once the head is gone, it's pretty hard to salvage it !
 
So my experience was wonderful as it always is.  I will say (selfishly) that I missed my suite perks.  I will not be making that mistake again soon !

I bought a bottle of Cruzan Banana rum at the Hilltop on St. Thomas, but haven't been able to find a nice, easy recipe for a banana daiquiri.  
 
We've been trying to replicate many of the drinks we had on board.  Personally, I think I need to go on another cruise and take better notes.

Matt, I'm disappointed that you didn't recommend doing two dinners on one night: one early and one late. ;)

The ALTERNATIVE to this, is that if a better stateroom category price drops after final payment, is that you CAN pay the difference between the two. 
 
For example, a month before my sailing on Enchantment last October, the price of an Ocean View room dropped to a few dollars more than what I paid for my Interior Cabin. I called Royal Caribbean, asked if I could switch rooms, and they told me it would be a whole $7 to make the switch... and then they'd be giving me $50 OBC :) Essentially, I got paid $43 to switch to a better room.
 
It's still worth keeping an eye out for things like that after final payment! 

We've stayed at the Radisson at the Port for both of our cruises.
 
It's a really nice hotel with a great pool!  It's huge, though!  
You can also park your vehicle there in a designated lot while you're gone.
Within a mile of the terminal, with a great shuttle service!
 
I highly recommend.

I'm wondering if you could use one of the lots at one of the local hotels.  
 
The one at the Radisson is great, but I don't know if you can use it without at least one nights' stay.  It's been fantastic the two
times that we've done it.

On Freedom in April, we were watching the folks on the FR, and one man, about mid 40s, waited in line and when he got up to the ride, the assistant wouldn't allow him to get on.  He went berserk - apparently he hadn't read the rules/signed the waiver or something like that - stormed over to the clipboard rules thingie, glanced at it, and went back and just let that poor guy have it.  I was embarrassed.  But good for the assistant in not wilting and letting the dude go on.  Old guy stormed off in a major huff, embarrassed wife in tow.

I have lived in Massachusetts for years it should be youse...but I grew up in Virginia & Florida, so if any it is y'all  :)
 
 
youse guys (as they use in MA) drives me crazy, LOL

Glad y'all/youse/youns made it safely!
 
Now I hope you're knee deep in fun!

We bring one of these on all cruises. It's $13.99 at Walmart. We found our cabin stewards were VERY interested in these fans for their cabins. We pack them in our checked luggage and have never had anything questioned. After the cruise we give them to the cabin steward, they are very thankful. Get a fresh one for the next trip.

Just passing along after our 3 day quick getaway on Majesty of the Seas - then 10 drink value card appeared the morning of day 3 at Coco Cay at $65 plus gratuity. Again, this card is sharable which makes it a good deal if you are not buying the alcohol package. At $6.50 a drink, it essentially makes the $12 margarita a BOGO!

We've stayed at the Radisson at the Port for both of our cruises.
 
It's a really nice hotel with a great pool!  It's huge, though!  
You can also park your vehicle there in a designated lot while you're gone.
Within a mile of the terminal, with a great shuttle service!
 
I highly recommend.

Finally, two weeks to the day I was suppose to sail on her.  :angry:

Guacamole at Sabor

On Freedom, it was kind of hit and miss.  Seems like only a few bars advertised the DoD.  
I tried to find 'em, honest!

Thank you, WAAAYTOOO!
I always enjoy your insightful posts!
 
Don't worry Floski - I'll do enough "investigating" for both of us!
 
Maybe Matt will give us extra credit for a "Research" string of posts! :)
 

I have booked cruises for lamer excuses!

...shouldn't I be C&A Platinum or Diamond by now?
 
I'm getting tired of waiting.
 
 
I'll hang up and listen...

Thanks for that
 
Star class...no wonder I don't know what it is!  I can't even get to moon rock class.

Now wait just a doggone minute here....are you a witch?  WE MUST BURN HER!!!

I am, however, relatively comfortable with the prices of the liquor I bought, both on the ship and in port.
 
I just can't believe just how much I brought home.  I don't even drink a lot of mixed drinks, 
but I know these prices were solid, and some aren't sold in the U.S., so I did it.
 

 
 
Y'all come over for a mojito!

When I used to haul back booze from the Caribbean, I found buying onboard wasn't worthwhile as the savings wasn't very significant vs. the hassle of bringing it home (this was back when you could carry on 5 liters in a carry-on onto the plane).  The biggest savings for me was to be found at A.H. Riise in St. Thomas, and pretty much anyplace in Phillipsburg, St. Maarten, but I'm a rum drinker so I gravitated to places with the largest selections of rum.
 
Now-a-days I buy perhaps one new bottle per cruise, and pray it survives the flight in my luggage.
 
Rather than buy stuff you can get at home, may I suggest exploring brands or expressions you can't get there (such as the guavaberry you mentioned, though to be honest I couldn't drink the stuff).  Or instead of a generic bottle of Bacardi, try something like Admiral Rodney Extra Old rum from St. Lucia - something you can't get here.  That way each time you drink it you'll be reminded of your great cruise!

Photoshop is your best choice at this point...... Or do you have a few months to go cruising, solo is better for  C & A .   ;)

Its $200 but you have to wash dishes the whole cruise