Tylor

I would be interested in the Royal Replenish for the juice and coffee. But I could not justify the price for the other packages based on the minimal amount of alcohol I drink while on a cruise.

They should probably partner with a celebrity chef like Carnival did with Guy's Burger Joint. The whole 1950's diner theme is just odd on a cruise ship. And I think Guy's is free. I've heard those burger's are really good.

The Johnny Rockets brand in the US is not known for out of this world gourmet burgers. I've eaten at several JR's onboard Royal Caribbean ships and I've always been happy with my meal, but you are right, not excellent quality. For me, the onion rings and fries are better than the burger. I'm not a huge meat eater, so I could skip the (messy greasy) burger all together.
 
I don't know why Royal Caribbean partnered with Johnny Rocket's in the first place. A 1950's diner and cruise line don't seem to have a lot in common. I know it is fun and different, but none of their other restaurants seem to be chain based. 
 
DARKCABBIE, you demonstrate a good point from your JR first impression. For the most part, dining onboard a Royal Caribbean ship is an upscale inviting experience with quality ingredients and attention to detail. This, however, isn't the case when dining at Johnny Rockets, simply because the food is, well, diner food and the experience would be dragged down if it were any more upscale than a 1950's diner could be. Right?
 
So for people who are eating at JR's for the very first time and who do not know the JR brand or what it stands for might be let down by subpar service and mediocre food. After all, the servers at JR don't exactly "fall all over you" like they do at a specialty restaurant or in the main dining room. :)

I would expect an announcement about a new ship homeporting in Southampton soon. Possibly Anthem of the Seas. Either that or an announcement about Oasis 3 stopping there or Allure stopping there when she goes to drydock in 2015.
 
I have not been on Adventure of the Seas but I do know that she does not have Chops Grill. Only Portofino Italian Restaurant currently. However, Adventure of the Seas is scheduled to be updated in April 2014, so Chops might be added (along with many other restaurants) at that time.

There will be a countdown clock in the Royal Promenade with a huge balloon drop at midnight. The photo below is from Explorer of the Seas New Years Eve in 2010. There will be lots of free champagne, dance party in the club, etc. A fun night to be on a ship!
 

The best thing for me about a cruise is that everything I enjoy (sun, food, entertainment, shopping, productions/performances/shows) all happen within walking distance and I never have to drive anywhere! And the nicest way to end an evening after an awesome meal is to see a live production.
 
I'm a big fan of production shows, Broadway, ice skating etc. I will say that I have seen many shows onboard Royal Caribbean ships and some are high quality while others are somewhat dorky or even embarrassing to watch.
 
One of my all time favorite shows I've seen onboard a Royal Caribbean ship was "Now You See It" The Magic of Drew Thomas onboard Freedom of the Seas (Hairspray on Oasis of the Seas was also equally great).
 
Drew Thomas was on America's Got Talent and now has a permanent show onboard Freedom of the Seas. I think the show is performed twice per cruise (on the same night) and I think Drew flies to meet the ship? I don't know, but he does other things besides his once a week show onboard the ship. So I don't know how that works!
 
The show is filled with videos, upbeat music, (not regular pop cover music), dancing, and of course magic! 
 
Here is a "Now You See It" preview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySsIejBhWb8
 
The ending show number "Snow" is the most amazing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_2g6020QZU

We also like to dine earlier. We always select my time dining. Easy to get reservations between 5:30 - 6:15. Request them 2 months in advance on-line. You can pick same time same table or different times with different tables each night. Highly recommend Chops Grill speciality in lieu of MDR one night-- Superb!

I would not do anything less than a 5 day cruise. My preference is 7 days or longer. And the more 7 day cruises I take the longer I want the trip to be. I'm excited that Quantum will offer longer trips to the Southern Caribbean, and I don't have to fly to San Juan to go there!  :)

When I go to Chops I could skip steak all together and just eat the salad and all the sides! :)

For 3 years the Radiance Class and Voyager Class were built and ships debuted at the same time.
 
Adventure and Radiance debuted the same year in 2001
Navigator and Brilliance debuted the same year in 2002
Mariner and Serenade debuted the same year in 2003

On my last cruise, a man was smoking a bit fat cigar on his balcony.  The odor and smoke came into my balcony and ruined my breakfast.  I have to laugh at the sight of smokers on one side of the ship puffing away. All I can think of is when the watch would come across the 1MC and state the smoking lamp was lit.  Yep, good ole Navy days.  But smoking is on the down trend in the US. There are more of us non-smokers who are now being heard and our concerns are being addressed.

The one chain I am willing to stop in anywhere I cruise to is Starbucks!

Hi Tyler, the KFCs in the UK don't have mashed potatoes either. I have always found this annoying as mash and gravy always goes well with chicken and why don't we get biscuits as well ,,, COME ON KFC WAKE UP AND SMELL THE GRAVY.

Ok here you go DARKCABBIE. This is the dessert cart on Oasis. I don't know if it will be the same setup on Independence. This cart sits (protected) out in the open when you walk in the door next to the large Prosciutto slicer. Note the rather large dish of tiramisu!  ;)
 

Wow that question really makes you think.

Here's our top 10 of things we would like to do with 1 more for luck.
1. If RC ever do it a Round the World Cruise.
2. Southampton to New York a few days there and then New York to Southampton.
3. Go through the Panama Canal.
4. Hawaiian Cruise.
5. An Alaskan cruise.
6. Climb to the top of the Rock wall on the ship.
7. Stand up straight for at least 1 minute on the Flowrider.
8. The Zip Line on the Oasis.
9. See the Northern Lights.
10.Get the biggest Suite they have.
11.Sail into Venice

It would depend on what expensive means to you. A pina colada is around $6.25. Beer ranges from $4 to $7 depending on what brand it is. Frozen drinks range in price from $5 to $12 depending on size, whether or not you can keep the glass, as those drinks are more expensive. A martini is normally $8 or $10. If you want top shelf liquor it will be more expensive. Also you'll be charged a 15% bar gratuity automatically on top of the drink price. 

Exactly! I don't spend thousands to go on a cruise and worry about a hundred I might spend on alcoholic beverages!

If it's Wicked, I'm booking a sailing tomorrow on Quantum.
 
I'd love to see RENT, but it's too riskay.
 
West Side Story could be deemed "inappropriate" too. 

Exactly! I don't spend thousands to go on a cruise and worry about a hundred I might spend on alcoholic beverages!

It would depend on what expensive means to you. A pina colada is around $6.25. Beer ranges from $4 to $7 depending on what brand it is. Frozen drinks range in price from $5 to $12 depending on size, whether or not you can keep the glass, as those drinks are more expensive. A martini is normally $8 or $10. If you want top shelf liquor it will be more expensive. Also you'll be charged a 15% bar gratuity automatically on top of the drink price. 

It would depend on what expensive means to you. A pina colada is around $6.25. Beer ranges from $4 to $7 depending on what brand it is. Frozen drinks range in price from $5 to $12 depending on size, whether or not you can keep the glass, as those drinks are more expensive. A martini is normally $8 or $10. If you want top shelf liquor it will be more expensive. Also you'll be charged a 15% bar gratuity automatically on top of the drink price. 

All I know is that if I once lived in Florida I would never leave. I would trade Michigan for Florida any day, and cruising would just be the icing on the cake!

Pack bags, take the week off, get to Port Canaveral, board Monday 16th, Enchantment, Bahamas, 4 nights $101! Coco Cay is calling!

Ok, just wondering. Well at least you got to experience it. I went on Oasis in December and the ship was full (6,189) but I never really thought it was crowded. Yes there were times when the Royal Promenade was packed, but you get that on any Royal Caribbean ship with a Royal Promenade at certain times of the day. I was always able to find a chair in the Solarium and never had to wait long for anything really. Yes the shows have advanced booking, but you can still get in to see them without reservations. Maybe try again once the Quantum class comes out after all the excitement dies down over Oasis class, if it ever does.
 
So did you get to see any of the shows? They are all amazing, I'd cruise again just for that and the dining options!