RCVoyager

I'd be more concerned with a friend of twenty years that is suicidal.  Heck, forget about twenty years, someone is suicidal.  That becomes a priority.  
Once that reality was upon me, my cabin doesn't matter.  The only thing that's important would be that person.  Nothing else matters.

After reading this, if true, I have a whole new level of respect for Royal customer service having to deal with this. Only thing I could fault Royal with is letting you and your friend on the ship in the first place

I was going to reply, but given you said exactly what I was going to say.... ^^^ THIS! ^^^

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Wow. Just wow.
The only thing I see RCCL did that is questionable was to let you board in the first place.  
They gave you a second cabin.  You only paid for one.
RCCL is not responsible for your relationship.
Of all the ridiculous complaints I've seen from first time posters, this one takes the cake.
Suck it up buttercup.  You and your friend ruined your vacation... not RCCL.

Unfortunately, I'm a bit more blunt than Neesa.
What is your endgame?  Whether you mean to or not, you are coming across like you are expecting resolution in the form of a complete refund.
I'm sorry you and a 20 year friend are enemies now, but that's on the two of you not Royal Caribbean.  You and your former friend handed the staff on the ship a xxxx sandwich and they did the best they could. 
How good of friends were you if an argument while you were checking in for a cruise caused an irreparable rift?  
 
 
 
 

Thank you

I fail to see where any of this is the fault of Royal Caribbean. 

None of us could afford cruising if they paid North American wages on cruise ships.  
Then again few of the folks that come from poorer nations come from a nation where anyone in that nation can make North American wages in their home country.  Doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. - none of them make North American equivalent wages in their home countries. 
So a cabin attendant working on a cruise ship should make more than a highly educated working professional back in their home country?
Many folks who work on cruise ships do so because it far greater pay then they can make back home.  
 

We would never consider canceling our tips.  We do provide extra tips to crew members who have made our cruise memorable or crew members who don’t get the recognition that others do.   On one cruise we heard two of the pool deck attendants talking…One was wishing the other a happy birthday.  Psycho went and bought a birthday card and we put 20 bucks in it.   When the young man came back by, we handed him the card and wished him happy birthday.   The look on his face was priceless and we will never forget it…He did asks how we knew it was his birthday.  

Even if they included it in the fare, people would complain how they don't have kids so they shouldn't have to pay wages for the kids club. Or that they don't drink so they shouldn't have to supplement the bar staffs wages. The long and short of it is people can do what they want (and they will) no matter what is said on this board, it won't change your position 

I think the cruise lines should issue specific colored key cards to those who opt out. Like a scarlet letter. See what kind of service they get then.

I would rather they include it with the fare or call it a service fee, which is what it really is.
Having said that, right or wrong, it's how the crew are compensated. Don't take it off. Instead, tip extra for those who go above and beyond.

I think this is a personal preference deal for most of us. 
To me, $112 per person per week for across the board good or better than good service each employee I encounter, is reasonable. And even though we are not rolling in money, I don't think we've been on a cruise where we didn't hand out a few extra 20s to those who went over and above to make out trip better.
That said, I have traveled with a family member who ordered multiple dinners every night and whose wife made nightly special requests, whose son ordered off menu every night, and did not offer a single dollar extra that I saw.  For all I know, they may not have tipped at all.
If I can afford to pay for a cruise in the first place, I am a fortunate person.  I don't mind digging a little deeper into my pocket.  Makes me feel good about myself.  If I were wealthier, I would do more.

I think this is a personal preference deal for most of us. 
To me, $112 per person per week for across the board good or better than good service each employee I encounter, is reasonable. And even though we are not rolling in money, I don't think we've been on a cruise where we didn't hand out a few extra 20s to those who went over and above to make out trip better.
That said, I have traveled with a family member who ordered multiple dinners every night and whose wife made nightly special requests, whose son ordered off menu every night, and did not offer a single dollar extra that I saw.  For all I know, they may not have tipped at all.
If I can afford to pay for a cruise in the first place, I am a fortunate person.  I don't mind digging a little deeper into my pocket.  Makes me feel good about myself.  If I were wealthier, I would do more.

I think this is a personal preference deal for most of us. 
To me, $112 per person per week for across the board good or better than good service each employee I encounter, is reasonable. And even though we are not rolling in money, I don't think we've been on a cruise where we didn't hand out a few extra 20s to those who went over and above to make out trip better.
That said, I have traveled with a family member who ordered multiple dinners every night and whose wife made nightly special requests, whose son ordered off menu every night, and did not offer a single dollar extra that I saw.  For all I know, they may not have tipped at all.
If I can afford to pay for a cruise in the first place, I am a fortunate person.  I don't mind digging a little deeper into my pocket.  Makes me feel good about myself.  If I were wealthier, I would do more.

It's such a small amount of money at $16 per day per person considering they are serving you for 3 meals, cleaning your room, and all the interactions in-between.  I don't get the obsession with the tip money.  We tipped $27 on a $100 dinner (3 of us) just the other day... just for dinner.