KWofPerth

We would prefer to have it all rolled in, but nobody expects to happen any time soon.

Yep, we just booked a June 2025 8 night on Independance out of Southhampton.
I really really with we'd get a Freedom down this way or even get a Voyager class back this way. I am so so over Quantum and Ovation.... I'm pretty close to trying Celebrity or Virgin just for a change of ship.

Of course you’re not going to hear about this.  You know?? The whole loyal to royal. 
could you imagine if this was a carnival cruise.  We would hear none stop about how bad they are. 
but with all the cruise content creators being in the pocket of royal… 
this is what we get. Crickets????

I'm with ya. Time to look at different options.

I would argue that a freedom class ship is better for families than Quantum. The main advantage Quantum has over Freedom class is Quantum's are more suited to colder weather and I think that is the primary reason we don't get one deployed here. Usually, the ships we get here complete Alaska seasons too, and that is probably another limiting factor for getting an Oasis class, as well as the lack on tendering ability for the South Pacific. 
Off the top of my head Independence had mini golf, water slides, flow rider, ice skating as free activities.
Apart from the flow rider and bumper cars most things cost on Quantum class on sea days and apart from restaurants doesn't have the variety that a Freedom class has.
To me the Freedom class is the perfect size and combination of activities.
 
 

Well after Ovation this year and Brilliance next Jan it might be  our last Royal cruise...We tend to like the radiance class so will be looking further afield to cruise on smaller ships

That would be a disastrous move from a customer relations standpoint. 
Not many people were complaining in 2021 when Royal launched the double points program except people who were already pinnacle.  Royal did what they had to do to get people back on their cruise ships.  Airlines did the same thing in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 where they extended the status people earned in 2019 to try and get them to fly. The problem now is you have lounges that are full both on Royal ships and airline lounges. 
Where I think Royal miscalculated was in how long they let the double miles program run. They ran the promotion for to long and it has resulted in an explosion of Diamond members. I'm on Wonder right now and according to a loyalty event I went to largest number of guest onboard in the Crown and Anchor society are diamond members. Now Royal is trying to figure out how to best deal with over crowding in the lounge.  Right now with the huge influx of diamond members and the number of diamond members onboard they have restricted access to the Crown lounge during certain times of the day.  There is only so many people who can safely fit inside that lounge here on Wonder.
I was already diamond plus when Royal rolled out this promotion but that promotion has cut down significantly on the amount of time it will take for me and my husband to reach pinnacle status.   In my opinion if the promotion helped you cut down the time an the number of cruises you had to take to reach diamond I think its disingenuous to complain because Royal now has to respond to huge influx of diamond members which is now leading to overcrowding in the lounge formerly known as the diamond lounge.  
There were some people on this site (I was as not one of them as I benefited from the promotion) who issues warnings about that promotion when it was launched and warned something like this could happen but if my memory served me correctly most of us on this site didn't care all we cared about was double points on each cruise. Now the time has come where someone has to pay for this and unfortunately for NOW the group paying for that promotion are diamond members as it appears to be the group that experienced the largest increase in members which probably can be traced back this promotion 

How about register pool chairs. And if no one is seen sitting in your chair for more than an hour, you get charged $100.

I agree with all you have just stated.

Sounds like a jab in jest directed at another department at work. It's supposed to be funny, not taken literally.

I have watched the Cruise and Travel guy video where he had attended a recent cruise conference and there were some tentative announcement that the first stage of perfect day at Lelepa is scheduled to open in 2026.
Royal also indicated they have heard our disappointment regarding ship choice. One of the long term aims is to have a ship here year round and 4-5 ships over the summer. I really hope we end up with a Freedom class ship here eventually as this is my favourite class of ship. 
I guess it will be a while before we see this eventuate as one would assume it would be tied to PDL being operational.

This business model is actually of benefit to the astute consumer. Why pay an all-inclusive fare which includes amenities that you don't use, when you can pay a base fare and simply pick & choose whatever extras most suit you?

This business model is actually of benefit to the astute consumer. Why pay an all-inclusive fare which includes amenities that you don't use, when you can pay a base fare and simply pick & choose whatever extras most suit you?

This business model is actually of benefit to the astute consumer. Why pay an all-inclusive fare which includes amenities that you don't use, when you can pay a base fare and simply pick & choose whatever extras most suit you?

As is typical with Insider/Business Insider articles, it's not actually anything new.
The modularity has been there for decades now, and the fact many cruise lines really see their profits in these add-ons is not a new phenomenon. 
The non-luxury lines have never included things like phone calls, shore excursions, alcohol.  The difference is there's now more options to consider too.
But at the end of the day, if you include something in the price, you're still paying for it.  And for every person that would want booze, wifi, or something else included, there's someone else that wouldnt because they don't use it and don't want to pay for it.

They seem to be double the normal price this time.

I will admit that it is hideously ugly....but aside from the aesthetics...

Apparently, there are some that are convinced Royal has gone too far.
World’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, labelled ‘monstrosity’ ahead of maiden voyage | The Independent

Deluxe Beverage Package
 
 

Just got to Port Canaveral..
Qantas lost our bags in San Francisco.. looks like I’m going to be the proud owner of a lot of Royal Caribbean merchandise!!!
 
 

Pre Covid Vietnam allowed RCL to process the visa on board for quite a low fee. I guess they changed it now. When I did this cruise it was easy , you have your passport at the first day and you got it back before the first port.

Researching this for a land tour - I read that the loose-leaf visa is applied for ahead of time (online) and at the end of the application/fee process you get a printable page that says you have successfully applied, which is what you print out, bring with you, and produce for their customs officials. You do it ahead of time (not sure how far ahead as I haven't gotten that far yet), not at the port of entry.

I feel like the problem is that Royal is hesitant to put something in writing that could come back to bite them.  Some countries can change on a whim.  Some countries like China can provide you with a VISA before hand then still deny entry on the day you are there to enter the country.
These micro dynamics can apply to one citizenship but not another.  When Canada seized a Chinese business traveler based on an international warrant China retaliated against Canadian travelers but not against the country that issued the warrant.  How is a travel company supposed to publish VISA requirements for that outcome?
Historically it's been reported that cruises can get some VISAs on board the ship but that might not apply to all nationalities.  So they publish verbiage that isn't clear because immigration laws are not clear for everyone either.
 

I have no helpful information for you AT all....but I just wanted to say that I am envious of such an incredible itinerary.  WOW !

For anyone who has cruised Asia recently, I'm looking for clarity around the Vietnam visa situation. Various websites and forums say that you can get "loose-leaf" visas when the ship arrives in port. However the RC website states the following:
For sailings visiting Vietnam
Guests visiting Vietnam will be required to apply for and receive a Vietnam Visa.
To see if your country is eligible to apply for the E-via, please visit here or if your country doesn't require a visa before joining us onboard, please visit this link here.
If you are eligible to apply for the E-visa, please fill in the Vietnam E-Visa form no later than 2 weeks prior to sailing.
 
Please note, if your country is not listed as eligible for the E-visa, you will need to apply for your Vietnam Visa at your nearest Vietnam Embassy or consulate no later than 2 weeks prior to sailing. We will not assist guests with obtaining Visa on Arrival for Vietnam.  
For guests who apply for the E-visa/Visa, correct port name and date of entry and exit must be entered. If any of the information is incorrect, it will be considered an invalid visa and guests will not be allowed to debark. However, they are still able to sail.
Vietnam Ports:
Ho Chi Minh (Vung Tau Seaport) Chan May (Chan May Seaport) Nha Trang (Nha Trang Seaport) Ha Long Bay (Hon Gai Seaport) Da Nang (Da Nang Seaport)