DocLC

Remember, breakfast there is complimentary. 

We rented a car in Halifax and drive out to Peggy's Cove, had lobster, and visited the cemetery where those recovered from the Titanic were buried. We also did Acadia, but book a private company who uses trolley style buses. 

I always get a good workout on any cruise ship with my unlimited drink package! Seriously, The Allure gym is way to small for the number of passengers, but the outdoor track is really great!

I don't know if there's any kind of tourist information as we cruised from San Juan, but Frommer's has a map that might be useful: 

I've booked a 4 night package on the 12 night Symphony TA.  In my mind I've gone back and forth on canceling it. 
I used OBC to buy it .  I've prepaid gratuity and bought Voom yet still have $130 in OBC waiting for me.  For now I'm keeping the dining package because I'm not sure what else I could spend $230 in OBC on if I cancel it. 
If this were not OBC 'monopoly' money I would have already cancelled.  I still might and just visit one restaurant at full price on board and sink the rest into Kraken Lavaflows and a Symphony shirt. 
In my mind I have paid for a dinner.  The value of that is $15 to $20 for arguments sake.  If I have to pay an additional $45 for specialty, that is really a $60-$65 meal on land.  Would I pay that on land?   (per person)  I think not. 
Two drinks per day is around $200 (beer and glass of wine).  Augment that with Diamond drinks.  A shirt?  $30.  Walk of the ship with zero balance.  
That's probably how this will play out.  I'll let someone else review Hooked.   

Origami lessons, movies, gym, mini golf, catching up on sleep, pool, sun, food, etc. While the ships are smaller, the offer much of the same except for the zip line, Flow Rider, and carousel.

Remember, breakfast there is complimentary. 

Just make sure that we get a photograph of you coming down the slide from upstairs.  That will be a hoot !

The only time to carry the cup when there are no freestyle machines is to fill it up with something that you want to take back to the room for later.

Good point. The Radiance class ships have a lot of covered tables just aft of the Windjammer. One part was converted to Rita's Cantina, but it's available for breakfast and lunch and the entire back is open for everyone 24/7.

Good point. The Radiance class ships have a lot of covered tables just aft of the Windjammer. One part was converted to Rita's Cantina, but it's available for breakfast and lunch and the entire back is open for everyone 24/7.

Yes, and you can either carry it around with you or leave it in your room. On ships without the Freestyle machines, I see no reason to carry the cup around the ship with me.

You can also order a filet from chops in the mdr for around $16

This exactly why you can't give a lot of attention to bad reviews. 
 

Even more than this -- not only was his upgraded (due to a water leak), and then refused the downgrade, but they actually had another cabin become available the day after his first complaint, but he decided he would then wait and see (quote below, emphasis added):
It doesn't say whether this cabin was inside or balcony, but if he was willing to take a "wait and see" then I would assume it was equivalent to what he had at that point. Why on earth would he not just grab the newly offered cabin right then and there? That itself is fishy. And then one more cabin became available the final night of the cruise, but of course by this point the gent was on the full "my vacation is ruined" path and turned that down, too.
I really do have to agree with the outcome here. Royal gave this gent not one, not two, but three chances to relocate from the noisy neighbors. The first makes some certain sense to turn down, as does the last, but the second one he should have grabbed in a heartbeat if the noise and disruption was really that bad and the room was remotely equivalent to his upgraded one.

Flashback thread...
Couldn't resist...this thread still stands out in my memory...

I just wanted to give a shout out to @Matt for the recent YouTube videos he has been releasing. While I have always loved reading the blog online, the video/audio format is what I really prefer. If you haven't already checked out the videos and subscribed to the RC Blog YouTube channel I highly recommend it. The videos are like listening to a podcast with images and video depicting what is being discussed. I've really enjoyed them so far and hope to see more in the future and maybe some footage from some cruises as well. Good job Matt, keep them coming!
 

@monorailmedic wrote about this on cruisehabit just the other day.

Don't forget Oasis and Allure. They sealed off the three story dining room and made them into sepsrate dining rooms in anticipation of dynamic dining. 

There is mini golf, but I don't have any pictures of it. I did get a picture of the exterior of the ship and the movie marque, though.

I spent almost two weeks on the Brilliance and really enjoyed her. Lots of glass, a dedicated movie theater, a manageable Windjammer with lots of cooked to order options, less crowding than the bigger ships, etc. I also love sailing at of Tampa, which makes it a big plus.

We are lowly 2 Star Mariners, but I'm looking forward to the K-Dam as it seems to be leaving towards the Celebrity styling. However, I adored the Maasdam and it was the perfect size for sailing from Montreal to Boston. 

There are a lot of choices besides sushi. They have ramen bowls, hot rocks where you grill your own beef, chicken, seafood, or vegetables, among a variety of other offerings. The Mochi ice cream is also a nice treat for dessert.
The menus at the specialty restaurants do not change, but there is an alternate menu for lunch and I have seen a "special" offered in Giovani's occasionally.

There is mini golf, but I don't have any pictures of it. I did get a picture of the exterior of the ship and the movie marque, though.

You know what that means?  YOLO!  Book it!