karl_nj

The $14 drinks are generally the cocktails listed in the menus. Other cocktails can be cheaper, it seems to be somewhat random. Yesterday afternoon on Anthem a Frozen Mojito rang up at $14 (but it rang up as a Mojito, not a Frozen Mojito). My wife's Lava Flow rang up as $12. I ended up using our diamond drinks the price difference didn't really bother me, it was just interesting to see. Based on your post, I assume something like a G&T, a Rum and Coke, or some Bourbon is going to ring up depending on the brand of spirit. Same thing with glasses of wine. It's almost like the $14 drink price on the menu is just there to shock you into buying a drink package.

I’ve found the online menu (and in fact any menu) isn’t accurate in regards to craft beer selection on Royal. Especially post pandemic.

Can Triples/Quads be "held" as group space? Or only doubles?

Have you noticed the current location of the Diamond Lounge on just about all of the Oasis class ships?

Mostly likely "The Effectors 3", since Icon is continuing to target the same demographic as RCL has been targeting for years: teenagers and their families. Even "The Gift" on Anthem of the Seas has a "BMX Bike Trick Scene", because I assume Nick Wier thinks that is what teens must be into these days.

Now price that with a 13 year old...

That's good that the books are back. I think they may have been MIA last Christmas. I assume due to COVID-19. Though it's possible I'm mixing up Oasis from last October.

On Celebrity Edge there are these folding doors you can close, which helps a bit, but the AC still gets turned off in the stateroom.

Yeah... I totally get wanting to be "unplugged" for Vacation, but for me all that means is that I put my phone into airplane mode, turn on Wi-Fi for the shipboard app and don't buy the internet plan. I still own a "point and shoot" digital camera, but I haven't used it for years. The camera on my iPhone is way better. I still own a battery powered travel alarm clock, but using my iPhone is way easier. I like to use both the paper cruise compass schedule and the app. Since I don't have internet access, I tend not to use my phone onboard that much—I'm pretty much 'unplugged', even though I still physically have the device in my possession.

I'm sure they will figure out a way to mention that Utopia is the largest Oasis class ship!

So the issue on the Edge class ships is that there are no curtains, only a electric window shade that "hums" kinda loudly when it opens. And the shade has to be fully open in order to lower the glass to convert the balcony area, so the room gets a full blast of morning sunlight. Depending on which side of the ship the sunrise is on, this could be very bright, or extremely bright. And you probably don't know which is going to happen until you start opening the window shade. With a regular balcony cabin, you can sort to 'sneak' out to the balcony, and not make *too* much noise/let in too much light. And any light/noise you introduce will be for a short period of time. So you are right -- there is nothing that would prevent one person from using the balcony if the other cabin occupant is sleeping. But that other person won't be sleeping for much longer if they do... On Icon it looks like curtains may be provided, so it's really too early to tell if this will also be an issue on the RCL version of these rooms.

I do see your point, but I also think "that ship has sailed." Literally. You can say the same thing about Oasis class ships. We are "only" talking about a 13% increase in passengers. Is another 900 people really going to make a difference between if Icon pulls into port vs Wonder?

Awesome "LIVE from" blog, thanks for taking the time to do this! It's really getting me even more enthused/psyched about my upcoming cruise on Anthem in a few weeks...

Do you ever have issues when AMEX says it's not combinable? Or has RCL eased upon this (similar to how the shareholder benefit is almost always combinable now, but wasn't for a period of time). For example, can this be applied if booked into agency "group space"? Are there any sales that have caused issues? Or does this work pretty seamlessly these days?

It can be any travel agent that is willing to jump though the hoops. I believe the procedure mentioned by several people here, including Cruise Gopher, is known as the "Agency Services Desk". Terms and Conditions: 1. Valid for new bookings of voyages of at least five nights made with a participating supplier through Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service, any American Express Travel office, eligible Travel Associate Platform agencies, or the Agency Services Desk. I've sort of given up on this for my Royal cruises, as it seems like my fare is never combinable, and I used to get better travel insurance benefits/more credit card points by using a different credit card. However, I have had success with it for my Cunard sailings, and Amex Plat travel insurance has improved recently. Maybe I should try again soon.

I'm thinking they will announce the "new" restaurants later.

It's not a wristband, they will put a sticker on his card to indicate he has registered. But that only covers the teen club.

Handling cash isn't "free" either, it has a cost. Unless the owner of the business uses the fact that you hide some of the cash income from taxes. Which then the rest of us pay in higher taxes, you just don't know it.

Hasn't the Bamboo Room always had "extra cost" drinks that weren't fully covered by the DBP (or Diamond Vouchers)?

Not all travel agents can/are willing to jump through the additional hoops required to apply the benefits to the booking. I've pretty much given up on trying to use it for cruises on Royal; every time I ask it's not combinable with whatever rate I'm booking. I have had luck using it for sailings on Cunard, it seems to 'stack' better on that line.

I remember boarding Carnival Miracle out of Manhattan about a week after Sandy. The midtown cruise terminal still had no power at all; Carnival ran extension cords from the ship to the terminal in order to run the computers for check-in! I was really happy to get out of the area at the time, by this point finding gas for your car was still quite difficult... but I also was lucky enough not to have any damage to my house with that storm.

I've noticed that Indian food on all cruise lines is generally quite good.

I love El Loco Fresh; enjoyed it on Symphony in '19 and was thrilled to find it on Oasis in '21 and Wonder in '22. But I've never had UDP so I was mostly eating at the free places. So check it out next time you don't have the UDP. Wonder has the best El Loco Fresh as they added a great bar nearby too. I also love the onion rings at Playmakers; again I'm paying a la carte prices, but my wife and I usually share an order and feel it's worth the price. Goes well with some of the nice IPAs they usually have available.

On Wonder in August a bartender once told me I had no vouchers left on my card, when I hadn't gotten a drink that day at all. He ended up using two vouchers on my wife's card. But for the rest of the day, none of the other bartenders had any issues seeing the vouchers on my card. Perhaps some sort of software issue? It does seem like the bartenders have to hit a bunch of buttons to find the vouchers. I had a one other time when I ended up unknowingly getting charged instead of a voucher being used. The Diamond Concierge was able to clear that up for me.