mathbees

You will not regret the Genie or the ATS, although, you may find yourself spoiled for life. I can say we were...

The two straps, top and bottom, use velcro, so very easy and fairly secure once they are on tight. I wouldn't trust them 100% of the time, but for casual usage and walking around they are not bad. 
Here's a video showing the straps going on. Notice that a decent tug doesn't remove the handles.
 
CupHolderSM.mp4

We use these handles with the added benefit that each person has their own color. Although I might check out those holders @CrimsonCruiser mentioned.

You will not regret the Genie or the ATS, although, you may find yourself spoiled for life. I can say we were...

Before all the posts complaining about this start, think about this for a moment.  The cruise lines (including RCCL) are a multi-billion dollar industry.  Is it realistic that they would almost all follow the same protocols based on some political agenda or outdated information?  They are blindly following the CDC, otherwise they would not be sailing.  These are the protocols developed by people with far more knowledge and resources than any of us.  They were actually developed by the CILA before anything was required by the CDC.  We all have our opinions on the subject, some want stricter protocells, or at least stricter enforcement (like me), others want no protocols.  However, I have realized that what they are doing is working, so even without the strict enforcement I would like to see (which involves expecting people to follow rules even when they don't like them as much as any safety concern) what they are doing is working.  So I really have no basis to argue that I know more than they do, but neither does anyone else here.  Whether or not to cruise under these conditions is an absolutely personal decision, but it's more than a little arrogant to assume we know more than they do.

728 days, and three cancelled cruises and we are finally getting back to sea! I feel like I have been waiting so long to start this blog I now feel like this lady......

We are headed back to sea sailing on Oasis of the Seas in a 2BRATS. This will be our first star class experience, so to say that we are excited is a massive understatement. Behind all that excitement is that looming fear that one of us tests positive just before we leave. Thankfully though with numbers in our area plummeting, that fear is getting less and less. Originally I would have started this blog a long time ago, and probably have gladly taken the "earliest blog crown" but like @Lovetocruise2002 said in her last blog, I'd hate to start this and then, poof never mind! All of us in our travel group are still wearing masks even though the mandate has been dropped. We want to do everything as possible to make sure that we don't test positive prior to this cruise. Being that my wife Heather and I work in health care, we REALLY need this vacation! 
Okay, enough doom and gloom, let's get into the fun stuff. 
Who's sailing:
Me, obviously...The wife, Heather, Daughter Lydia 12, Son Johnathan 8 and my sister Julie. 
Stateroom:
We have the deck 9 2BRATS. We booked this cruise the day the itineraries were released. With two kids in school this one coincided with their winter break, and we are basically stuck with this week. Had COVID not struck, this actually would have been our second time in this room. We had this same cruise, eastern itinerary, booked for 2021, and we all know what happened there. 
Itinerary:
This is a Western Caribbean and perfect day that leaves out of Miami.
Day 1: Miami
Day 2: Perfect Day at Coco Cay
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Cozumel
Day 5: Roatan
Day 6: Costa Maya
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Worst day ever
We are excited about this itinerary. This will be our first time back to Perfect Day with the beach club open, and the kids are old/tall enough to fully use the thrill water park. We had such a blast at Roatan the last cruise we are on, so we are excited to go there again....okay...okay...its really because of the sloths....but I digress. We have not been to Costa Maya yet, so this will be a new one for us. 
More to come. I'll try to break up these first bunch of posts to make this easy to read.
 
 

I guess I see things differently.  If you pay extra for a suite you should get the perks. Isn't that why they're so much more expensive and guests pay more? 

With Pinnacle numbers growing it is something they'll need to address long term.  
It's a good problem for them to have.  It means they have a lot of repeat guests and for any business that is a good thing.
One solution to address the waste would be a threshold where below X Pinnacle and they let them in the SL.  The problem with that is the inconsistency one cruise to the next.
In my experience there are angry cruisers in each level of the program.  I think once you become Pinnacle you'll find there are a majority who are not "Painiccles".  I see many whiners in the D+ tier for example but you can't paint everyone in any tier by the minority who stand out for all the wrong reasons.

I'll be honest... I've run numbers on this (full-time passenger, not crew - I did my six years in the Navy, don't want to be crew). I'd say we (me and my wife) ran the numbers, but I think it was more me running numbers and her tolerating me on this.
I personally would love to retire to a life of cruising, at least part of the year (maybe a cruise or two per month?). I looked seriously about the announced world cruise and would absolutely LOVE the opportunity. Yes, I've even thought about how I could turn my experiences in teaching into a remote (or onboard) opportunity to cover the expenses. Maybe they'll start doing this as a regular thing and I can look at one as I get closer to retirement.
As far as becoming mundane and losing its appeal, well, I had a job for a few years that flew me around the world, about 150,000 miles per year, and I can honestly say I was as giddy as a school kid each and every time I boarded the plane. And I've been cruising commercially since 1999 (got out of the Navy in 1992). And I still get the thrill and goosebumps every time I cross the gang plank onto the ship, so I don't know, I think I've got the sea in my veins.
 

You just book each cruise separately. Once you have assigned room numbers, let your TA or RCL try to get the same room for both cruises. Once on the ship, you will usually take a Covid test the last full day of the first cruise. On B2B day, you will meet somewhere, get a new Sail Pass, temporarily disembark ship, and be the first ones to reembark.

I'll be honest... I've run numbers on this (full-time passenger, not crew - I did my six years in the Navy, don't want to be crew). I'd say we (me and my wife) ran the numbers, but I think it was more me running numbers and her tolerating me on this.
I personally would love to retire to a life of cruising, at least part of the year (maybe a cruise or two per month?). I looked seriously about the announced world cruise and would absolutely LOVE the opportunity. Yes, I've even thought about how I could turn my experiences in teaching into a remote (or onboard) opportunity to cover the expenses. Maybe they'll start doing this as a regular thing and I can look at one as I get closer to retirement.
As far as becoming mundane and losing its appeal, well, I had a job for a few years that flew me around the world, about 150,000 miles per year, and I can honestly say I was as giddy as a school kid each and every time I boarded the plane. And I've been cruising commercially since 1999 (got out of the Navy in 1992). And I still get the thrill and goosebumps every time I cross the gang plank onto the ship, so I don't know, I think I've got the sea in my veins.
 

Better than blueberry... https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/6ed771dc-206d-49a8-9dcb-ae1faae674e0
Although I do feel that shape when they roll me off the ship...

I'll be honest... I've run numbers on this (full-time passenger, not crew - I did my six years in the Navy, don't want to be crew). I'd say we (me and my wife) ran the numbers, but I think it was more me running numbers and her tolerating me on this.
I personally would love to retire to a life of cruising, at least part of the year (maybe a cruise or two per month?). I looked seriously about the announced world cruise and would absolutely LOVE the opportunity. Yes, I've even thought about how I could turn my experiences in teaching into a remote (or onboard) opportunity to cover the expenses. Maybe they'll start doing this as a regular thing and I can look at one as I get closer to retirement.
As far as becoming mundane and losing its appeal, well, I had a job for a few years that flew me around the world, about 150,000 miles per year, and I can honestly say I was as giddy as a school kid each and every time I boarded the plane. And I've been cruising commercially since 1999 (got out of the Navy in 1992). And I still get the thrill and goosebumps every time I cross the gang plank onto the ship, so I don't know, I think I've got the sea in my veins.
 

I've never done more than a week cruise just due to work/school obligations. A b2b will happen eventually though.

I've thought about it, but then I look at my 2 boys (cats) and say, "Nope!  I'd rather live with them."

Are they made from snozzberries?

You are not in the minority because after our our last cruise, I realized quickly we needed our own individual accounts…..sanity is huge! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

I guess I am in the minority on this one.  We tried doing the multi-device VOOM and ended up nearly killing each other before the cruise was over.  I now ONLY purchase individual VOOM accounts.  Everyone has their own login and is in control of which devices they have logged on or off.  It just works out better for everyone's sanity.

I definitely hope you're correct, but make sure you are comparing comparable plans. I just checked my upcoming cruise and the layout of the plans can be misleading. There are two Surf + Stream packages, then two Surf only and then two more Surf + Stream packages and finally two more Surf only. I had to be diligent to compare them properly.
Surf + Stream 2 Devices is about $4 cheaper than getting two S+S 1 Device. 

Did they put you in the same cabin for both?  
I have RoyalUp bids in on a 1BR to a 2BR suite for 11 and 14 Mar on a B2B. I considered not putting in the bid because I'd rather not have to switch cabins. But there are three of us (all adults) so having a 2BR will be more comfortable.

I think Royal has found a good balance that brings value for the vacation dollars spent.  A luxury cruise experience sounds great but they costs luxurious dollars.  A budget cruise sounds easy on the wallet but are often too budget oriented - you get what you pay for, or not.  
Certain companies I gel with.  I have tried other lines, several of them as I sought to check out the grass to see if it was greener over there.  This has helped me validate my feelings about Royal.  In the end Royal feels like home, if there is such a concept, for a cruise line.  
I like that Royal doesn't include everything as that would drive the price up and I'd pay for things I don't want or need.  
I like that Royal offers activities for a wide variety of ages.  I may not have young kids anymore but the kids areas and activities keeps them occupied so they aren't all swamping my space because they are bored with nothing to do.  When I travel with family or friends that have younger kids the kids programming allows me and my friends to spend some time together while their kids are occupied.  
Sometimes I want to jump in a bumper car or lace on a set of skates and sometimes not.  On Royal there are those things for me if and when I feel like it.  Even when I don't sometimes it's fun watching other people have fun.  
I cruise Royal not because of the Crown and Anchor Society but those benefits certainly don't hurt and it is one of the best loyalty programs in the industry.  For me I just enjoy many different aspects of a Royal cruise.  I haven't had bad experiences on other lines but it just doesn't feel like home like it does when I first board a Royal ship at the start of any cruise.  

I just remembered that the cruise in September was booked before the double points stopped, so we will get 14 points on that cruise putting us at 86!

"Oh, poor me! People like me and want to buy me drinks!" That's a nice problem to have.
Solution - "the next round's on me!" Use your Diamond drinks to buy the round.