jce2

Actually I dont think it is Texas law but rather the fact that RC would have to pay taxes on alcohol opened in Texas waters so they limit what they will open.  And you dont have to wait till day 2 for a full drink menu.  Soon as you get 12 miles out to see (about an hour into your voyage?) you should have full access.

Absurd!!  Hand my iphone to a fellow passenger...take the photo....buy them a drink....$12 done!!
 

Absurd!!  Hand my iphone to a fellow passenger...take the photo....buy them a drink....$12 done!!
 

Absurd!!  Hand my iphone to a fellow passenger...take the photo....buy them a drink....$12 done!!
 

Absurd!!  Hand my iphone to a fellow passenger...take the photo....buy them a drink....$12 done!!
 

Freedom class (inc. Liberty) has public access to the helipad.  Oasis and Quantum class do not.
Sometimes at night they close access to the helipad on Freedom class presumably so they have a dark forward view to scan the seas in front of them so star gazing isn't always an option from the helipad but for the most part it is open public access.  

You also get to a point where all the trouble(self sterilization) is not worth it and takes a great deal away from your trip. I guess we all have our lines in the sand where the cleaning/worrying meets enjoying the sailing. Till then, enjoy the cruise you paid for. I know I will, and not think twice about Noro, or any other illness. I don't mind washing my hands a couple extra times a day than I would at home, but that's about it.
Oh, by the way.....95% is not a select group. It is the overwhelming majority.

Because you can use phrases such as "Geez!  It's F""in hot out here!"  or "I hate the Sh***y humidity"

Great news for me, as i thought we got a queen.  I think I figured out why they call it a "Royal" king instead of just a king.  A normal king is 80" long while a twin is 76".  So when you ush the two twins together you do get the king width but not the king length.  My wife and I shared a queen at her parents house last week and now i am relieved to hear the cruise will be a king.
 

Well that was a pretty dumb thing to do!! (especially considering I have a master's degree in Computer Engineering!)
 

The big announcement is the website wont work again today!
 

I would try to find an excursion on your own instead of the Royal excursion.  Might be a better experience.  
I think I've posted this before, but here's my son holding one the rays.

My wife, who is British by the way, believes that all servers should get tips.  regardless of the quality of service provided because their wages are so poor.  My feeling towards it is that if their wages are so poor and they rely on the tips, they need to work for the tips.  If I get just standard service, I'll tip, but not too much.  If the service is sub standard, I will not tip.  If I get good, fast and efficient service, I will be very generous.  If you want the tip, show me that you want it.

Since we are veering into the tip/rant discussion, I have always had an issue with the flat 18% "gratuity tax" on drinks and was extremely pleasantly surprised to find out the Carnival doesn't charge it on the self-serve beer stations ... actual logic .... if you aren't receiving a service you aren't charged for it !!
Back to Royal though, it has always rubbed me the wrong way to pay a flat 18% on all charges ... if you take the time to hand make a great cocktail for me, absolutely you deserve a tip and I have no problem giving it ... if you take the top of my bottle of beer and hand it to me (or better yet, put six unopened beers in my cooler for me to carry around and open later) not feeling that to be worth 18% ... maybe i'm just a cheapskate but sorry the level of effort involved doesn't warrant it in my book.

As a programmer myself I can guess what is happening here and yes it sounds like an IT problem.  My guess (without actually seeing their code)....The bartender rings up the drink, the computer BEFORE hitting the "Drink Package" flag hits a flag saying "no available spending account" and rejects the order, when in reality it should check the drink package flag first.  Maybe when i retire (in 10 years) , RC can hire me to rewrite their software......from the deck of Liberty of course.....while tossing back margaritas....
 

As a programmer myself I can guess what is happening here and yes it sounds like an IT problem.  My guess (without actually seeing their code)....The bartender rings up the drink, the computer BEFORE hitting the "Drink Package" flag hits a flag saying "no available spending account" and rejects the order, when in reality it should check the drink package flag first.  Maybe when i retire (in 10 years) , RC can hire me to rewrite their software......from the deck of Liberty of course.....while tossing back margaritas....
 

As a programmer myself I can guess what is happening here and yes it sounds like an IT problem.  My guess (without actually seeing their code)....The bartender rings up the drink, the computer BEFORE hitting the "Drink Package" flag hits a flag saying "no available spending account" and rejects the order, when in reality it should check the drink package flag first.  Maybe when i retire (in 10 years) , RC can hire me to rewrite their software......from the deck of Liberty of course.....while tossing back margaritas....
 

As a programmer myself I can guess what is happening here and yes it sounds like an IT problem.  My guess (without actually seeing their code)....The bartender rings up the drink, the computer BEFORE hitting the "Drink Package" flag hits a flag saying "no available spending account" and rejects the order, when in reality it should check the drink package flag first.  Maybe when i retire (in 10 years) , RC can hire me to rewrite their software......from the deck of Liberty of course.....while tossing back margaritas....
 

Crap!  I was really hoping for the kidney!
 

Not really sure it "forces" one to drink more.  It's really a question of your mindset.  I bought the package and already am of the mind that I will probably lose money on the deal.  However, I know if I hadn't spent the money now when I can be done with it and have it out of my budget, then on the trip my penny-pinching mindset would have scrutinized every drink I bought.  Now I can drink whatever, whenever I want and not think twice about the payment.  a weird way to think of it in the long run I know, but it works for me!  Same thing with the balcony.  It's my first cruise and most of the shows / night clubs just don't sound all that appealing.  It is comforting to know that should I find myself not in the mood for "partying" in the evening I always know I have a bottle of wine, a cribbage board, my wife, and a balcony waiting on the 8th deck
 

Actually, at the Gold's Gym we go to they have a "assisted" device for doing pull-ups/chin-ups and besides the normal bars to hang onto they also have the same finger holds you find on the climbing wall, so we always do a few of those.
 

Not really sure it "forces" one to drink more.  It's really a question of your mindset.  I bought the package and already am of the mind that I will probably lose money on the deal.  However, I know if I hadn't spent the money now when I can be done with it and have it out of my budget, then on the trip my penny-pinching mindset would have scrutinized every drink I bought.  Now I can drink whatever, whenever I want and not think twice about the payment.  a weird way to think of it in the long run I know, but it works for me!  Same thing with the balcony.  It's my first cruise and most of the shows / night clubs just don't sound all that appealing.  It is comforting to know that should I find myself not in the mood for "partying" in the evening I always know I have a bottle of wine, a cribbage board, my wife, and a balcony waiting on the 8th deck
 

Value is a personal decision, especially for a moderate drinker. However, given that you have access to specialty coffees, teas, and soda in addition to the alcohol, it is very easy to find value in the package even if one does not drink an exceptional amount. The bottled water alone can add value as that can be easily taken off ship for consumption while in port. In addition, while you may not save money, there is a convenience about knowing that something is already paid for which may lead you to be more adventurous in what you try as there's no worry about "wasting money."

Not really sure it "forces" one to drink more.  It's really a question of your mindset.  I bought the package and already am of the mind that I will probably lose money on the deal.  However, I know if I hadn't spent the money now when I can be done with it and have it out of my budget, then on the trip my penny-pinching mindset would have scrutinized every drink I bought.  Now I can drink whatever, whenever I want and not think twice about the payment.  a weird way to think of it in the long run I know, but it works for me!  Same thing with the balcony.  It's my first cruise and most of the shows / night clubs just don't sound all that appealing.  It is comforting to know that should I find myself not in the mood for "partying" in the evening I always know I have a bottle of wine, a cribbage board, my wife, and a balcony waiting on the 8th deck
 

Not really sure it "forces" one to drink more.  It's really a question of your mindset.  I bought the package and already am of the mind that I will probably lose money on the deal.  However, I know if I hadn't spent the money now when I can be done with it and have it out of my budget, then on the trip my penny-pinching mindset would have scrutinized every drink I bought.  Now I can drink whatever, whenever I want and not think twice about the payment.  a weird way to think of it in the long run I know, but it works for me!  Same thing with the balcony.  It's my first cruise and most of the shows / night clubs just don't sound all that appealing.  It is comforting to know that should I find myself not in the mood for "partying" in the evening I always know I have a bottle of wine, a cribbage board, my wife, and a balcony waiting on the 8th deck