RestingBird

Wow... I wouldn't have thought this could be true.
According to Royal Caribbean's beverage package info (I've highlighted this new info):
  I found out about this from this tweet where Royal Caribbean specifically said, "I can confirm that milkshakes are included in the Deluxe and Beverage Packages. Rest assured, we'll get our website updated ASAP." A friend found out that they had specifically done that.
They didn't add it to the Refreshment Package, though. I guess that this is the only non-alcoholic part of the Deluxe Beverage Package that isn't in the Refreshment Package.
Wow.

Ok, I've tried to do my homework.  I've read through the many postings and blogs, but I still have few questions.  I'm traveling solo with my two daughters on our very first cruise (Oasis on August 12th).  I left another question on the tween thread, but my other questions are more general:
1) We have the 5:30 dining time in the MDR - I've taken this to mean that we have a standing dinner reservation at that time.  But, we also signed up for the ultimate dining package.  Do we have to notify someone if we are not dining in the MDR?  Do we just not show up (which doesn't seem right)???  I just don't have a sense for the interplay of these two dining options. 
2) We want to experience both the MDR and the specialty restaurants. I got a really good deal on the ultimate dining package, so I bought that package so that we have options.  Are there particular days where the MDR is a must?  My girls are 12 and 9, are there specialty restaurants that we should avoid?  My kids are adventurous eaters and fairly well behaved. I ask this less from the perspective of what my kids will like (they'd eat sushi every meal if they could) and more as a courtesy for other diners who may want to dine in a kid free zone (or maybe that isn't an issue?), even if they are well behaved kids.
3) The fine print on the dining package says that you also get 20% off on the culinary activities.  I booked the cupcake class for us.  I assume that the 20% will be added later (along with the 50% discount from the adult price I paid on my kids' dining packages)?  And this will be in the form of an OBC or a refund to my card?
4) We reserved a Grand Suite and my research tells me that at some point the concierge will reach out to me...to introduce themselves?  Or is this a contact point that can be used to arrange additional reservations (like other specialty restaurants and Question #5 below)?
5) I've seen advice to use Labadee as a beach day and I'm going to take that advice.  I was going to reserve a cabana at Barefoot Beach.  Initially it showed up in the Cruise Planner as needing to be reserved once on ship.  Not it isn't showing up at all.  Does that mean they've all been booked?  If not, see Question #4.  And if I can still reserve, is the over the water one worth the extra cost?  If I can't reserve one there, should I reserve at another beach or still spend the day at BB, but without the cabana?
6) I never used the $100 OBC that I got with my booking.  In hindsight, I regret that because there are no other activities/packages that I want (other than the cabana).  Will I still be able to use that?  What can I use it for?  Gratuities?  The cabana?
7) I loved someone's advice re bringing $100 in singles for additional gratuities.  How would you breakdown the allocation of these (e.g., $W/drink; $X/meal; $Y/day to housekeeper; $Z/XX to concierge, etc.)?  
I'm sure that someone has asked these questions before and I'm sorry for being repetitive if so.  I just couldn't find them.  Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with someone who is perhaps to anal retentive for her own good!  My goal is to go on vacation and not have to worry about or figure out a single thing!
Thank you so much!!!

Not sure if this has been mentioned in this thread, but I think the Escape Room on Freedom Class will be taking the place of the wedding chapel in the Crown.

File this under "Strange yet intriguing."
Royal Caribbean has filed a trademark for something it calls "Cerebro".
It's something it refers to in the trademark as "Providing business intelligence services."
"Data mining; Data warehousing; Design of information graphics and data visualization materials"

I really have no idea if this is anything you or I will ultimately care about, but it sounds cool.  
Fellow geeks will know "Cerebro" is the name of Doctor X's mutant finding computer from X-Men.

Has anyone else noticed the inclusion of a common step ladder in the play area?

i think this is brilliant.  If we teach our children at a young age how to use a step ladder, then soon they can clean the gutters, paint the house, hang light fixtures, etc.  All those things that bog down the honey-do list.  Well done Royal Caribbean!

Probably getting rid of Sorrento's Pizza and replacing it with this monstrosity. Sorry, Twangster, had to through this in....nobody has been picking on Sorrento's for awhile!?

aka - chaos at the Pringles factory.  

This thing falls into this category:

I am kinda disappointed about that...as it was the only part of the upgrade experience at Cococay that was free....and I really want to make it to CocoCay on my Oct/22/18 cruise as it maybe the last time to see the island before it totally changes....
 
Fingers crossed on calm enough weather to tender!

Looks like the Pier is now scheduled for November 2018
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/06/05/royal-caribbean-officially-opens-perfect-day-island-experiences-bookings

Any time that there is a change it NEVER is for the betterment of what ever policy is being changed.   Sort of like the lottery games where they keep adding numbers and state that is so there will be more winners.  Have not seen multiple jackpot winners ever.    Why not state something like to whom it may concern please bend over and kiss most of your previous benefits goodbye.  Thank you for your business and we look forward to  being of service to you in the future .   ( SUCKER)       Kind of like the mob.  I make a the rules and you playa the game .    No offense to the mob either.      

That jumped out at me.  Having a dock versus tendering absolutely affects the vacation experience, otherwise they wouldn't be putting one in.  It's one thing to have to delay opening the dock cough-again-cough but that line is just a flat out lie, and a completely unnecessary one to boot.

Considering how many people have recently reported having Coco Cay canceled due to inability to tender b/c of wind/waves, I beg to differ with the above statement.

Believe it or not, I see all of these little maintenance issues on the website in a positive light.
I knew a guy who did a lot of work on their old databases a few years ago, before I even started cruising Royal.  Like most US airlines it's a pretty complex environment with legacy baggage.
Royal is making baby steps towards a better place - I honestly believe that.  It can't happen overnight or in just one maintenance window, it will take time. 
Just wait...

Did you try different web brow...
*reads this was posted by twangster*
I stand corrected.

Website was supposed to be back up by 9am ET.


Maintenance has been extended to 12pm ET.

I'm expecting great things Royal Caribbean!

Yeah...I'm having to rethink my cruise life now with kids in the picture.  I want them to have a good time on vacation, but the costs add up quick for sure.

Interesting...although I am not sure the appeal of 2 full days there.....I mean, if your not paying for any extra upgrades its not like there is a lot to do there. Its the same place on one days as it is the next. And I couldn't imagine a family of 4 or 5 having to pay for 2 days worth of activities for their kids there.
And god help me if they start to charge for drinks on the private island as I can see that happening next and a way to drive LOTS more revenue for each cruise if you park the ship there for 2 days.
 
It is pretty rare that Royal has ships dock overnight for 2 full days at one location(outside of Bermuda).......defn be interesting to see what kinda experience/feedback they get from this.

I have a feeling this has to do with being able to open up the casino fully. Currently when we are in Coco Cay we are tendered and still in the water so they leave the Casino open. But when we go to Labadee  they only have slots open and not tables so maybe there is some rule against it. I am not sure but just a thought.. 

Sooooo...just a weird thought I had....Normally, if a passenger doesn't return, the ship leaves without him/her. Now, with the ship either not actually leaving port or coming back anyway, what happens to the passenger who decides to go camping overnight? Ship's jail? 

"Busted in Cozumel", is that a Kenny Chesney song? If not, it should be!

This happened to me there also with sea shells. ?

On the Harmony of the Seas right now.  Two days ago, we were in Cozumel.  I had brought a muffin, few cookies, and a bagel in a Ziplock baggie into port for my beach day.  I had read not to bring any fruits or veggies into ports!  My family has a hobby that when we visit a beach in a different country, we hunt for beach glass, which we display in vases or make into jewelry back home.  When we were going through port security to return to the ship, all of our sea glass was confiscated , and we were told that “it was forbidden”.  They also took the bagel, cookies, and muffin because that was forbidden too.  We had spent all day collecting beach glass, so we asked for a supervisor to confirm that taking beach glass was not allowed, and the supervisors said it was forbidden as well.  Since we have collected beach glass from a dozen countries, this was new to us.  Just wanted to share my story.  

My nephew found friends for life at the teen hangout. Now he let's them know what cruises we are taking and vice versa with his friends. We have become friends with their parents. Now my nephew is graduating from college next year and the friends are joining us for a graduation cruise. We are calling it Florida-Illinois graduation cruise.

In am returning right now from Harmony of the Seas.  It was our first cruise ever!  My hubby and I took our14 year old son, and I just wanted to share his first time with the teen club, which was VERY important to us on our vacation.  The first night, there was a meet and greet in the club, and he said that it was PACKED!  The kids seemed to exchange Instagram addresses, phone numbers etc. the first night and then arrange to meet up throughout the week in groups of 5-30 kids.  He had a blast!   The kids met for lunches, dinners, Flowrider sessions, and the late night dance parties were amazing he said.  The Hush silent dance party with the headphones was the best party of his life he said.   They had games like Battle of the Sexes, which was a boys vs girls very competitive game, karaoke, and many other events.  They had an ice skating party, which required long pants, so pack those too!  My son is pretty outgoing and had no problem making lots of friends and tearfully told us this morning that he had the best week of his life........  my hubby and I felt like we had a “date” with it being just the two of us for the majority of the week, so keep that in mind parents!  To sum it up, have no fears about your teen making friends and finding lots of kids to do fun things with all week!  Have a great trip!