JBC

Great.  Now that is all I'm going to think about.  Gross!
During the performance I can't help but think about my college days waiting tables.  For a customer's birthday we would stop everything and all go sing Happy Birthday.  It always seemed to take place at the busiest time.  As I was singing with a smile I couldn't help but think of everything else I needed to do.  I still say being a server was one of the hardest jobs I had. I wonder how the wait staff feel about the performance?  As always....service with a smile!

I appear to be in the minority here, but I find the MDR "Farewell Performance" to be an annoyance rather than something to anticipate. It slows down the service at the end of the meal - on no other night do I have to wait to have a beverage glass refilled or for my dessert to be served. If it was entertaining, it might be a minor inconvenience. Since I find it to not be so, it is an unreasonable intrusion on my dining experience.

I always thought the general rule is that they allow shorts in the MDR on regular nights but not on formal nights.  I have witnessed them not allowing entry to people in shorts on formal nights.  I suppose that is a loose policy that is getting even looser.  Specialties I have seen plenty of people in shorts.  I don't ever wear shorts to dinner in the MDR or in specialty restaurants when cruising, but obviously plenty of people do.  I know it takes away from the ambiance of the room a little, but it doesn't bother me as long as they are dressier shorts, a button down or collared shirt, etc.  I wish they would steadfastly enforce a rule of no casual shorts, bathing suits, t shirts, flip flops, etc.  The market dictates these things I guess.     

It's not my experience on any class on sea days.  If you want a chair that is not in constant direct sun on a sea day, then you need to be at the pool before 9 am.  And even at 9 am, in my experience, most chairs are already claimed.  The chair saving is insane, and people have no courtesy whatsoever.      

It's not my experience on any class on sea days.  If you want a chair that is not in constant direct sun on a sea day, then you need to be at the pool before 9 am.  And even at 9 am, in my experience, most chairs are already claimed.  The chair saving is insane, and people have no courtesy whatsoever.      

It's not my experience on any class on sea days.  If you want a chair that is not in constant direct sun on a sea day, then you need to be at the pool before 9 am.  And even at 9 am, in my experience, most chairs are already claimed.  The chair saving is insane, and people have no courtesy whatsoever.      

That is terrible, and for the price they are charging for these cabanas, that is unacceptable.  I can't believe a customer service person told you it's because they have to walk across the island to get drinks.  One, that is not true, who the hell would layout those logistics, and two, even if it was true, that is a Royal problem and not a customer problem.  
We are going to Coco Cay in February, and while we are not renting a cabana (way overpriced), we are probably going to buy beach club passes.  There are two ships at Coco Cay the day we are there (Anthem and Mariner), and we are worried the main pool and other areas may be really crowded with two ships.  Hopefully they cap the ticket sales for the beach club.  I really hope Coco Cay lives up to the hype, but I have seen a fair amount of negative comments here and there.
Labadee is great.  Give me a bungalow on Labadee and that's all I need.  Never had a bad experience there, the attendants are always great.  Hoping for the same experience at Coco Cay.  

I have been looking hard at that Freedom cruise out of San Juan, but the airfare is crazy.  With the wife being a teacher and also really not wanting to take the kids out of school, we are limited to the winter and spring break weeks, which greatly compounds the problem.  The flights are just about more than the cruise.  Flights to Florida at those times have gotten crazy in recent years, but San Juan is worse.  I really try to stick to the major airlines, some of the budget airlines are brutal.  
Frontier just got added recently to our airport, although I have heard mixed reviews.  I would ride in the bed of a pickup truck before flying Spirit again.  

I'd be finding a way to drive to Puerto Rico

I agree, that is pretty lousy.  Those are the little things that they should do.  The difference on their bottom line is minuscule, but it goes a long way towards good customer service.  I would be very annoyed with that. 

I agree, that is pretty lousy.  Those are the little things that they should do.  The difference on their bottom line is minuscule, but it goes a long way towards good customer service.  I would be very annoyed with that. 

I have never witnessed any issues on any of the cruises I have been on, and I frequent all the various establishments in the evenings until late.  I think most people on cruises are genuinely happy people and in good moods.   I can't imagine the staff would tolerate a belligerent drunk person very long anyways.       

My wife would have been in trouble, I love me a Guinness! ?

This has been my experience as well.  I always grab a glass of wine on my way in to the MDR, and then will tell our server to please send the bar server over when they can.  By the time that happens and they actually return with drinks, my wine is long gone and we are well into the meal.  There are also usually no less than 25 cards and slips on the servers tray as well, they are just covering too many tables.  This is fine, two glasses of wine is enough for me at dinner, I don't need to be pounding drinks at dinner.  
I am also a big advocate of tip well and tip early for better drink service, and this works in the bars and at the pool.  I just don't think it would work in the MDR.  The logistics are too difficult.  

I was on Adventure in April, and they do not have any Broadway shows.  They have an older style revue show, just singing and dancing, I can't even remember what it was called.  When we sailed there was a Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons cover group that performed one night and a comic one night, both of which were good.  There was also an Adele tribute show, which was one of the women from the revue show backed by the ship orchestra.  Entertainment is definitely a significant step down from Oasis class, although the cruise was also cheaper than Oasis class, so I guess you get what you pay for.       

I was on Adventure in April, and they do not have any Broadway shows.  They have an older style revue show, just singing and dancing, I can't even remember what it was called.  When we sailed there was a Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons cover group that performed one night and a comic one night, both of which were good.  There was also an Adele tribute show, which was one of the women from the revue show backed by the ship orchestra.  Entertainment is definitely a significant step down from Oasis class, although the cruise was also cheaper than Oasis class, so I guess you get what you pay for.       

Even though there are four main dining rooms, don't they all serve the same menu?   

I will throw myself out there on this topic.  Whenever we cruise, my wife and I buy deluxe drink packages for each of us.  They come with a souvenir cup for the soda machines.  My wife and I drink zero soda, and honestly, we don't let our kids drink a ton of it either.  We don't buy an additional package for the kids, we let them get some soda with the cups from our packages.  Technically, this is wrong and against the rules.  Shoot me I guess.  I'm just not going to spend an additional $125 for my two kids to have some soda during the week, when I have already paid for it for myself and will not drink any of it.  If the kids didn't use the cups, then they would sit in our stateroom all week.
I am sure many others do this as well, but again, if you are going strictly by the rules, this isn't allowed.        

I was on Adventure last month.  Previous ship classes for RC that I have been on are Freedom and Oasis.  The ship itself was fine, very beautiful, but IMO is a noticeable step down in the overall cruise experience.  The shows and entertainment were just not as good as the stuff on Freedom and Oasis class ships.  Even our dining servers, they just didn't seem to be as personable or as "on the ball" as the ones we have had on the aforementioned class ships.  I attributed that specific aspect to just luck of the draw, but as for the rest, I chalked it up to you get what you pay for.  Comparing the same class room on Adventure to DCL is more than likely less that half, maybe even a 3rd of the cost.  Don't judge RC by Adventure, check out the larger class ships.  The entertainment on Oasis class ships is top notch.  
We have Anthem booked for our next one, looking forward to checking that out.  In the future though, I doubt I would go lower than Freedom class.   

I will throw myself out there on this topic.  Whenever we cruise, my wife and I buy deluxe drink packages for each of us.  They come with a souvenir cup for the soda machines.  My wife and I drink zero soda, and honestly, we don't let our kids drink a ton of it either.  We don't buy an additional package for the kids, we let them get some soda with the cups from our packages.  Technically, this is wrong and against the rules.  Shoot me I guess.  I'm just not going to spend an additional $125 for my two kids to have some soda during the week, when I have already paid for it for myself and will not drink any of it.  If the kids didn't use the cups, then they would sit in our stateroom all week.
I am sure many others do this as well, but again, if you are going strictly by the rules, this isn't allowed.        

I will throw myself out there on this topic.  Whenever we cruise, my wife and I buy deluxe drink packages for each of us.  They come with a souvenir cup for the soda machines.  My wife and I drink zero soda, and honestly, we don't let our kids drink a ton of it either.  We don't buy an additional package for the kids, we let them get some soda with the cups from our packages.  Technically, this is wrong and against the rules.  Shoot me I guess.  I'm just not going to spend an additional $125 for my two kids to have some soda during the week, when I have already paid for it for myself and will not drink any of it.  If the kids didn't use the cups, then they would sit in our stateroom all week.
I am sure many others do this as well, but again, if you are going strictly by the rules, this isn't allowed.        

I will throw myself out there on this topic.  Whenever we cruise, my wife and I buy deluxe drink packages for each of us.  They come with a souvenir cup for the soda machines.  My wife and I drink zero soda, and honestly, we don't let our kids drink a ton of it either.  We don't buy an additional package for the kids, we let them get some soda with the cups from our packages.  Technically, this is wrong and against the rules.  Shoot me I guess.  I'm just not going to spend an additional $125 for my two kids to have some soda during the week, when I have already paid for it for myself and will not drink any of it.  If the kids didn't use the cups, then they would sit in our stateroom all week.
I am sure many others do this as well, but again, if you are going strictly by the rules, this isn't allowed.        

Ok. Since it is confession time, I will join you. We always get the DBP too and I am a Coke snob so wouldn’t be caught dead drinking a fountain Coke. Dan doesn’t drink any soda at all.  Not very time but SOME times, if I meet a worthy candidate, we will give our cups away to someone who will use it. I also recognize that this is not legal.  Confession complete.  Oooh. I feel so much better !
??

I can see the argument for not tipping additional if you don't have a drink package, since you are paying the gratuity already and you likely are not looking for a lot of repeat service, otherwise you would have a drink package.  I always buy one though, and I always bring $100 in ones on a week long cruise.  Throw them in the safe, and take as needed throughout the week.  Heading to sit by the pool for a few hours on a sea day, I will grab some ones and go.  $2 on the first drink and a buck on the rest and you will never wait for a drink server to come by.  After dinner and heading out to the shows and bars for the night, I will grab more and do the same.  Bartenders pick up on the cash tippers real fast.  Give them your card with the cash right when you are ordering, your drinks will be on point!  Rented a bungalow at Labadee, the group of us pooled and gave the two attendants $10 each as soon as we arrived, as soon as the bar opened they brought us a cooler full of beer, and it was never empty.  Took care of them both on the way out as well, and they couldn't have thanked us enough.  To each their own, but if you have a drink package, I don't see how after spending thousands on a cruise, why an extra hundred makes any difference, especially when it will make your experience so much better.       

I can see the argument for not tipping additional if you don't have a drink package, since you are paying the gratuity already and you likely are not looking for a lot of repeat service, otherwise you would have a drink package.  I always buy one though, and I always bring $100 in ones on a week long cruise.  Throw them in the safe, and take as needed throughout the week.  Heading to sit by the pool for a few hours on a sea day, I will grab some ones and go.  $2 on the first drink and a buck on the rest and you will never wait for a drink server to come by.  After dinner and heading out to the shows and bars for the night, I will grab more and do the same.  Bartenders pick up on the cash tippers real fast.  Give them your card with the cash right when you are ordering, your drinks will be on point!  Rented a bungalow at Labadee, the group of us pooled and gave the two attendants $10 each as soon as we arrived, as soon as the bar opened they brought us a cooler full of beer, and it was never empty.  Took care of them both on the way out as well, and they couldn't have thanked us enough.  To each their own, but if you have a drink package, I don't see how after spending thousands on a cruise, why an extra hundred makes any difference, especially when it will make your experience so much better.