SPS

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/02/14/royal-caribbean-will-move-spectrum-of-the-seas-offer-complimentary-cruises-australias
 

Read the article from CruiseFever:
https://cruisefever.net/royal-caribbean-cruises-sending-ships-to-aid-humanitarian-efforts/?fbclid=IwAR0GoGuDCykK-5cOWWlmfn8c3zhuKNFck3Zw9vl-jch8PTWZAPmCjczHOac
 

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I can't speak of the decks themselves, but, personally, I like to pick cabins AWAY from elevators and stairways just for the sake of noise intrusions that may occur.
I need the extra bit of exercise anyway!

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I can't speak of the decks themselves, but, personally, I like to pick cabins AWAY from elevators and stairways just for the sake of noise intrusions that may occur.
I need the extra bit of exercise anyway!

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I can't speak of the decks themselves, but, personally, I like to pick cabins AWAY from elevators and stairways just for the sake of noise intrusions that may occur.
I need the extra bit of exercise anyway!

I can't speak of the decks themselves, but, personally, I like to pick cabins AWAY from elevators and stairways just for the sake of noise intrusions that may occur.
I need the extra bit of exercise anyway!

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

If you do no more than the prepaid gratuities and the 18% billed on your charges, then you are doing exactly what is expected and nothing more is necessary.  
Unless they are an actual, current crew member, no one in that group can tell you what monies go where, anymore than they can tell you how it works at your local Red Lobster.  
Anything at all you leave is above and beyond, and people trying to one-up each other by throwing numbers around are just making noise.  You do what you do and consider it none of their business 😉

I agree with @SpeedNoodles , leave that FB group. No one needs that nonsense. I find that this site is all I need for all things Royal Caribbean.
You're already paying a good bit amount of money for your vacation and whatever you want to pay above and beyond the standard gratuities is fine. There's no need to practically put yourself into debt just to tip people.
Quite frankly, There's no way to verify that the people saying they've paid $50-$100 PP/PD (YIKES!) is true!
 
 

Larger ships have a bar in the Windjammer in which you can get one in the morning.
Larger and smaller ships usually have a portable bar set up to provide bloody marys and mimosas at the entrance or inside the Wind Jammer.
I take advantage of this often.

For those who wonder about Johnny Rockets and the dining and beverages packages...  We went to JR today for lunch (no $$ limit) and our shakes were included with our refreshments packages.  SCORE !
On a similar topic...we had dinner tonite at Chops.  I had the spicy shrimp (yummy) and Dan ordered the lamb shank being served in the MDR tonite. We advised them, when we arrived at Chops, that Dan would be ordering the lamb shank so that they would get a bit of a head’s up.  It was delivered in a timely manner and was excellent.  We decided that we were full and didn’t want dessert right then (burgers at JR may or may not have played a role, here !).  Instead, we made reservations for dessert only at Wonderland on our way back to the room. The Wonderland concierge seemed a bit confused with our request but made the reservation for us.  We intend to go to Wonderland to sample The World - finally - at 8:00. I will let everyone know that goes.  I have high expectations.  
 
So far, we have run into Yen every day of this cruise.  We’ve seen her almost as often on this cruise as we did last year when she was our Genie.  She told us that We Will Rock You has been cancelled for tomorrow (due to reduced #of pax on this cruise) and will only be performed on the last day - once in the afternoon and once in the evening.  She is such a sweetie. She told us to call her if we need anything but of course, we would never do that.

I was surprised by the refund/rebate we got two years ago when our 9-night Grandeur cruise was delayed (2-day delay for rudder repairs in Canaveral)
After refunding us 50% cruise fare, 2 days of DBP, & missed excursions (possibly some other $, too?), our folio at the end of the cruise showed a pretty hefty NEGATIVE balance!
It sounds like you are making the best of this delayed and modified itinerary @WAAAYTOOO! Happy cruising!

Thanks !  It seems that we have gotten all of the refunds now....dining pkg, refreshments pkg, gratuities, Beach Club excursion, port fees.  Yesterday we had more than a $3K negative balance ($500 of that was a RCCL Visa redemption and had nothing to do with the cruise fare rebate).  We took care of most of that with our first night casino visit !
 
The weather is awful today.  Lots of wind, lots of waves.  Lots of motion. Cold.  Luckily, neither Dan nor I get seasick - thank goodness ! Still enjoying the trip though.  There are a couple of C&A and suites events today which we will probably skip.  We have not received our C&A welcome amenities.  I suspect this is due to the delayed boarding. I’m thinking they waited until everyone boarded to avoid delivering gifts to rooms that were ultimately cancelled.  If we don’t get them by the end of the day, we will pay the Loyalty Advisor a visit.

I was surprised by the refund/rebate we got two years ago when our 9-night Grandeur cruise was delayed (2-day delay for rudder repairs in Canaveral)
After refunding us 50% cruise fare, 2 days of DBP, & missed excursions (possibly some other $, too?), our folio at the end of the cruise showed a pretty hefty NEGATIVE balance!
It sounds like you are making the best of this delayed and modified itinerary @WAAAYTOOO! Happy cruising!