Gears

Just realized one...you know you're a cruise nerd when...you open the cupboard door where the drink glasses are...and half the glasses are various styles of martini glasses, shot glasses and other assorted drinking vessels...you brought back from the various cruises you've been on...many complete with RC branding!

You check your next reservation every other day for the number of days until embarkation and announce loudly...THE NUMBER OF SLEEPS UNTIL DEPARTURE!

You check your next reservation every other day for the number of days until embarkation and announce loudly...THE NUMBER OF SLEEPS UNTIL DEPARTURE!

You're D+...and still have your first sea pass card stashed in your night table drawer.

You check your next reservation every other day for the number of days until embarkation and announce loudly...THE NUMBER OF SLEEPS UNTIL DEPARTURE!

You check your next reservation every other day for the number of days until embarkation and announce loudly...THE NUMBER OF SLEEPS UNTIL DEPARTURE!

You're D+...and still have your first sea pass card stashed in your night table drawer.

... you start a message thread to see if your unborn child is eligible for "kids cruise free" promo's

When your work computer has a tab dedicated to these message boards the entire time you're in the office.

We use picnic table cloth clips...$1.99 and takes very little space in the luggage. Watching everyone else struggle with their blowing towel...priceless.

I'm not Catholic, but I just did five Hail Marys for you...

I'm not Catholic, but I just did five Hail Marys for you...

I'm not Catholic, but I just did five Hail Marys for you...

I'm not Catholic, but I just did five Hail Marys for you...

I think you'd find this post helpful: First time cruisers: The most important things to pack for your Royal Caribbean cruise

This is like conversations I have with people about all inclusive resorts who think their drinks are free. With RC, if you want it, there's a usually service for that. As opposed to paying for it and get it whether like it or not...'included soda' you're paying for it, it's just not a specific line item on your bill. Six or one half dozen, call it whatever. I hate paying for over inflated fares including things I don't use. 
Internet and such...there were days not that long ago where there was no such thing on a cruise ship...any cruise ship. They only way to keep in touch...ship-to-shore phone at about $8+/minute. New technology and services come out all the time...it's not possible to replace or swap out to the newest and latest thing every six months. On an all metal ship it's a massive and expensive undertaking to design and implement a wireless service. I've been on RC ships that have 'okay' internet service that didn't have any internet service previously...or the internet was accessed via PCs in a specific lounge that always seemed to be full. An interesting concept, however, that texting has become a top line critical item on a vacation...worthy of a Sociology Graduate Thesis.
RC's soda package is a joke. We order 18 cans of soda at the beginning of a cruise for my wife, it costs far less than a "fountain soda" package and is of far better quality.
We know several people who cruise Disney...we don't see the attraction to pay that much...for a bunch of things we won't use. To each their own, and it's good to see what else is out there.

One of the other reasons appropriate gratuities are important is the attraction of quality staff. Gratuities are the bread and butter for people working in the service positions on ships. Non-tippers need to cruise somewhere else.

Absolutely not. Just like on DCL, the specialty restaurants on RC augment the fabulous complimentary dining.
Nearly all the former DCL folks that try RC remark something along the lines of, "the food was WAY better on RC than on DCL".  You can very easily enjoy just complimentary food on your RC cruise have a a satisfying experience. I love the main dining room, and the Windjammer buffet offers a very wide assortment of choices. 
Generally, I recommend trying a specialty restaurant or two to spice things up a bit.  It's not absolutely necessary, but I think it helps.  Think of it like going to Disney World and sprinkling in a table service restaurant among a trip filled mostly with counter service restaurants.  It's just a nice way to make a night or two extra special.

This is like conversations I have with people about all inclusive resorts who think their drinks are free. With RC, if you want it, there's a usually service for that. As opposed to paying for it and get it whether like it or not...'included soda' you're paying for it, it's just not a specific line item on your bill. Six or one half dozen, call it whatever. I hate paying for over inflated fares including things I don't use. 
Internet and such...there were days not that long ago where there was no such thing on a cruise ship...any cruise ship. They only way to keep in touch...ship-to-shore phone at about $8+/minute. New technology and services come out all the time...it's not possible to replace or swap out to the newest and latest thing every six months. On an all metal ship it's a massive and expensive undertaking to design and implement a wireless service. I've been on RC ships that have 'okay' internet service that didn't have any internet service previously...or the internet was accessed via PCs in a specific lounge that always seemed to be full. An interesting concept, however, that texting has become a top line critical item on a vacation...worthy of a Sociology Graduate Thesis.
RC's soda package is a joke. We order 18 cans of soda at the beginning of a cruise for my wife, it costs far less than a "fountain soda" package and is of far better quality.
We know several people who cruise Disney...we don't see the attraction to pay that much...for a bunch of things we won't use. To each their own, and it's good to see what else is out there.

This is like conversations I have with people about all inclusive resorts who think their drinks are free. With RC, if you want it, there's a usually service for that. As opposed to paying for it and get it whether like it or not...'included soda' you're paying for it, it's just not a specific line item on your bill. Six or one half dozen, call it whatever. I hate paying for over inflated fares including things I don't use. 
Internet and such...there were days not that long ago where there was no such thing on a cruise ship...any cruise ship. They only way to keep in touch...ship-to-shore phone at about $8+/minute. New technology and services come out all the time...it's not possible to replace or swap out to the newest and latest thing every six months. On an all metal ship it's a massive and expensive undertaking to design and implement a wireless service. I've been on RC ships that have 'okay' internet service that didn't have any internet service previously...or the internet was accessed via PCs in a specific lounge that always seemed to be full. An interesting concept, however, that texting has become a top line critical item on a vacation...worthy of a Sociology Graduate Thesis.
RC's soda package is a joke. We order 18 cans of soda at the beginning of a cruise for my wife, it costs far less than a "fountain soda" package and is of far better quality.
We know several people who cruise Disney...we don't see the attraction to pay that much...for a bunch of things we won't use. To each their own, and it's good to see what else is out there.

One of the other reasons appropriate gratuities are important is the attraction of quality staff. Gratuities are the bread and butter for people working in the service positions on ships. Non-tippers need to cruise somewhere else.

You may not agree with the current system, but it is the system at play and you're denying hard working people the money they deserve.
You should indicate your displeasure at the post-cruise survey rather than making your point at the worker's expense.

I don't believe they stock the fridge anymore unless you ask them to.  Personally, I like this change.  I don't want nor need their fridge junk.

Also keep in mind the the dining room staff are also those serving you in the buffet, so they're not just providing services when you're in the dining room. 

We usually pre pay the gratuities but if we get a good room steward we will tip an additional $10 per day. Also, I'm a Schooner person so I hang there ALOT. I bring some $1s and tip as I see fit to the bar staff.  You would be surprised how better the drinks get.