JLMoran

Take a look at Random Wind. It's a nearly full-day (10 to 3) snorkeling trip around the island. @bcarney had recommended it to me when I was looking for a snorkeling trip off the beaten cruise booking trail. Small group (no more than 20 people), on-board "facilities" for those who need them, a real meal cooked on board, and the second stop you get to do a trapeze swing off the ship into the water.
https://www.randomwind.com

I wanted to try them out as well, but found out they're not especially great for families with kids or teens. Now I'm waiting for @DocLC to take his trip on the brand new MSC Seaside at the end of the year and read his review. Will see after that if maybe I book something for just the missus and me, or get the whole family to try her out, or skip it altogether.

HAHAHA... It became kind of a "joke" that I haven't booked a group cruise, and neither has Michael. So now I'm the "New Michael Poole"

Remind me never to go the movies when I'm in your neighborhood.  

What's really amusing is when you see someone's name and instead of "Newbie", "Advanced", etc. it says "The one who wants to be the next Michael Poole." 

Remind me never to go the movies when I'm in your neighborhood.  

One of my best disembarkation experiences was when I drove to Baltimore and sailed from there.  We walked off the ship, the luggage was literally right there at the end of the gangway, and then we walked to the car without even having to cross a street (the parking is a large flat lot literally right where the ship was docked).  We had a leisurely breakfast and were still in the car and on the road by 8:15am or so.  I've had rougher times getting out of movie theaters.  

What her new husband is learning to say at the end of every discussion. 

I think that example from @coneyraven mentioned above is the main reason why RCI is doing this. People booking 4 or 5 cruises and then canceling all but one (I'm looking at you, Michael Poole!) or like the example booking a cabin on a cruise that you have no intention of taking at all, just so you can move it to a future cruise and reap the OBC benefit at the Next Cruise desk. If you do a non-refundable deposit, you're basically telling RCI you don't plan on pulling those "shenanigans" and Royal doesn't now have to deal with (as big of) a flood of canceled room bookings that they need to sell last-minute.
Before this thread gets too much more agita, though -- isn't the non-refundable deposit an optional way to book it? You can still make refundable deposit bookings, from what I read in Matt's article. You're just not getting that extra bit of OBC up front and you don't lose the flexibility that's been there up until now.

I think that example from @coneyraven mentioned above is the main reason why RCI is doing this. People booking 4 or 5 cruises and then canceling all but one (I'm looking at you, Michael Poole!) or like the example booking a cabin on a cruise that you have no intention of taking at all, just so you can move it to a future cruise and reap the OBC benefit at the Next Cruise desk. If you do a non-refundable deposit, you're basically telling RCI you don't plan on pulling those "shenanigans" and Royal doesn't now have to deal with (as big of) a flood of canceled room bookings that they need to sell last-minute.
Before this thread gets too much more agita, though -- isn't the non-refundable deposit an optional way to book it? You can still make refundable deposit bookings, from what I read in Matt's article. You're just not getting that extra bit of OBC up front and you don't lose the flexibility that's been there up until now.

I've seen a ton of YouTube videos from people riding the coaster and giving the "POV" experience. So they definitely allow them, although you absolutely need to keep it smaller (smartphone size, maybe palmcorder) so that you can hold that in one hand while using the other to operate the handbrake on the coaster car. it can go pretty fast (I think I read it hits up to 45 mph), and there's an area at the end with a big sign telling you to slow way down, so you don't want to be fumbling for the brake while trying to avoid dropping your camera.
I'd also advise having a hand strap or other way to secure your camera so you don't risk dropping it if the car lurches around a bend and you lose your grip. Or a really secure head mount with a chin strap if you're using a GoPro or similar head-mounted camera.

How early you can start booking depends on the ship and sailing. I'm a year and a day out from my cruise on Freedom, but I was able to start booking excursions and spa treatments last month.
 
You do have to pay for the excursions when you book them. But this is actually an advantage, because you can start purchasing an excursion here and an excursion there and spread out the cost of the whole trip. Same with any drink / dining packages (those don't seem to become available until 60-90 before sailing), or internet purchase or pre-paying tips. Do it all with enough lead time and you won't have a big (or any!) credit card bill when you get off the ship!  :D 
 
If you're going to Labadee, check out the blog posts about the cabanas and bungalows. Sounds like the group you have would be ideal for one of those. What you need to know about Labadee Cabanas
 
If you do decide to get one those, book it as soon as you can since they're limited and sell out fast.

No specific liquors, you just have every drink covered up to $12 in value, and you pay any difference. So if you don't like the "low brow" tequila they normally use in their margaritas and want a premium reposado instead, you're free to ask for it and just pay whatever "overage" they charge for the change of liquor.
"Premium coffee" more or less means any espresso beverage or "name brand" coffee like Illy on non-Oasis ships, even if the coffee is a Starbucks-branded blend. On Oasis class ships, IIRC, the actual Starbucks stores aren't covered at all, but you can go to any other coffee place on the ship that serves a cappuccino or Illy-type coffee and be covered.

I think in general when it comes to tipping, you should tip what you feel comfortable with. I think a lot of it depends on the cost of the trip. $10 to $15 a person sounds reasonable. I'm a hard one to judge though, as I always over tip. I guess it's just from years of working in the hospitality field, where so many people live off their tips.

I would be remiss in not encouraging you to share your review of the excursion here in these message boards!
Alternatively, the tour might be on a site like TripAdvisor, which also allows for reviews.

Something that I noticed - they only put the name of the menu on Oasis class itineraries, not on the Freedom and under class. You're not missing anything! I confused the hell out of myself on this before my cruise on Indy last year, and then realized it was an Oasis thing.

Until you have kids, that rationale totally makes sense.

As my favorite bartender once told me on board, "Hey! You're not driving!" as he poured me another drink. :) 

I think a "bar hop" will end up as a "bar crawl".

Itinerary, ship, weather and onboard activities top my list of how I rank my vacation experience.  We chose our last cruise based on the ship, but that's the first time we've done that.  Alaska has by far been our favorite cruise only because Alaska's beauty is astounding.  It's the only one I've ever wanted to do again.  We've done the Northeast, the Southern Caribbean and now Bermuda.  Our next cruise is the Mediterranean on Symphony.  The itinerary has been my dream vacation for the last 5 years.  The fact that it's on Symphony was just an added bonus.
We are not fans of the Caribbean islands.  They all look the same, and aside from Bermuda, have been depressing seeing all the poverty.  We love RCL and will remain loyal, but our next sailings will be around Europe and Asia.

Just got back from this cruise last week.  It was a little rockier compared to our Southern Caribbean sailing.  If you've ever done Alaska, it's comparable as far as ocean waves.  We sailed through a rain storm on Wednesday morning.  That was some major rocking - I have video of major tidal waves in the swimming pool.
Anthem is gorgeous!  And massive!!  Lots of really cool venues, like the Music Hall, Boleros, Two70, etc.  I wasn't a fan of not having a main dining room, but other guests we talked to liked the smaller feel of the restaurants.  The amount of storage in our stateroom was phenomenal - and I way over-pack!  Honestly, I'm not sure I like how big the ship is, and I'm a little apprehensive now b/c we have already booked a cruise on Symphony next year...  It may be our last cruise on the massive ships.

Thanks, Kayla! That definitely helps, and now the family can see what's a "typical" menu on the ship for the sailing duration (at least until they change it ).

https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/download-press-kit/7/
^ there's a link out to the current MDR menus. With the changes coming to the menus across the fleet, I have no idea how long these will remain valid. However, the menu you'd be looking for with the other options on Lobster night would be the "Jasmine" menu.

Here's a good documentary on Cruise ship food: 
 
Some does arrive frozen like the lobster tails and I wouldn't be surprised if hamburger patties and the like are frozen, too. However, based on what has been reported in this thread, I think the facts may be off.