mamabdw

This is why people need to consider travel insurance.  Read the contract, cover your investment.   Just the facts.  

Just the facts:
https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/CTC_Not_For_BR.pdf
To be clear, you can argue what is and isn't fair all you wish.  But if you want to preface something with "just the facts" then the fact is this is the document you agreed to abide by.  Fairness is subjective, not factual.

Remember that "up to" can be anything from 0% to the amount specified. And for the dining packages, the amount of savings depends on which restaurants you opt to dine at as some are more expensive than others.

Rarely seen in the wild!

To be fair, we don't know what dish it is, if it is a kids dish, or if they asked for it to be served like that. 

What's on the other side of the plate.

Oh, sorry, that was right.
I think that's petrified scallop.

Parsnip?  Turnip?  One of those -ippy things.

Chicken Cordon McNugget?

1: Don't get the package and friend can pay for drinks out of pocket
2: Get the package and enjoy as many lattes, sodas, and fresh squeezed juices as you can handle
3: Vote with your wallet and go to another line that has a drink package that doesn't require every adult in the room to buy in to.  When you find one please let us know

One of my biggest tips is to not get too caught up in planning out every detail. I'm also a meticulous planner, and although I cruised with my family as a teen, when my husband and I went on our first cruise together I wanted to plan EVERYTHING. Leave some time to relax, participate in activities spontaneously, and just explore.

Just saw in the cruise planner for my Dec. HOTS sailing the ultimate drinks and dining package combo for $71/day.  That breaks down to $1125 for 2 with the tips added.

One of my biggest tips is to not get too caught up in planning out every detail. I'm also a meticulous planner, and although I cruised with my family as a teen, when my husband and I went on our first cruise together I wanted to plan EVERYTHING. Leave some time to relax, participate in activities spontaneously, and just explore.

Do I have to read EVERYTHING???  

Ignore all the reviews. Seriously.  
I can find you negative online reviews of Star Wars, puppies and ice cream.  All it means is some people have no soul different tastes, but I recommend not relying on the reviews in picking a cruise ship.  I've found these reviews to be notoriously unreliable.

Can't say I've been overly impressed with my experience at Chops. There's nothing inherently bad there, it's just not any better than the MDR. I was especially unimpressed by the steak selections that were included at our cover charge. I'm a fan of steak, though definitely not a connoisseur, but didn't think the steak I received was anything special. Although there are obviously other entrees on the menu, I feel obliged to get steak at a steakhouse, and I really felt like they needed to step up their steak game.

Can't say I've been overly impressed with my experience at Chops. There's nothing inherently bad there, it's just not any better than the MDR. I was especially unimpressed by the steak selections that were included at our cover charge. I'm a fan of steak, though definitely not a connoisseur, but didn't think the steak I received was anything special. Although there are obviously other entrees on the menu, I feel obliged to get steak at a steakhouse, and I really felt like they needed to step up their steak game.

Maybe not such a good idea after what happened in the Emerald Princess in Alaska this week.

Elevator party, now that is a really cool idea! Of course, it will have some ups and downs.

Usually, after you fulfill your drink quota for the day on your ultimate drink package, you will have quite a glow on. The friendly bartenders will point you in the right direction for the party, which is typically at the end of the bar with all the other glow-ees.

Probably right, though I'd also bet that the segment of the population which cruises is not divided up the same in terms of smokers/non-smokers compared to the general population.  About 16% of the US smokes (per CDC) and non-smokers are disproporitonately college-educated and earn higher wages, so we can speculate that fewer than 16% of cruisers smoke.
There is no real point to the above - I just started checking some stats on this b/c I'm a dork.

Let me tell you something about this group.  I've never met anyone in this group that made me feel like an outsider looking in.  You will be welcomed with open arms...this is the most positive group I've EVER been associated with and I credit that to Matt and his positive outlook on life and cruising.  No need to worry if you are a newbie or not, or left out, or anything like that.  The only way you'll be left out is if you stay in your cabin or avoid the group...which BTW is hard to do!!!

I'm seeing $55/day for my Feb 2018 sailing on Harmony, but I'm definitely holding out for a sale (black Friday, perhaps?)

Disembarking!
 

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