bassmk

Most of the rules were common sense/good practice things anyway. I never minded wearing a mask...I tend to want to disappear in public anyway, so I didn't mind the bonus effect of a bit of anonymity. And if a doctor doesn't "foam in/foam out" at the door, you should definitely say something at the reception desk. That's a big thing for clinical settings. It ties into reimbursements and other reporting things, and that doctor should get a gentle reminder from their colleagues! (Also never feel shy about asking for that...no doctor worth a damn would argue!)

The rules for each individual port probably plays a big role as well. You should look that up because they all vary.

VERY good point. I'm hoping the testing requirements change, too. Eventually they will, and for now? Ehhh...even the risk of getting covid is one I'm willing to take so I can go on vacation. That's how cooped up I feel. 🤣 And I was a hard-core rule follower for the first 20-24 months of the pandemic! But I guess everyone has their breaking point.

Yes! I love crepes Suzette! I can’t say I’ve had it on a cruise, though. I like Carnival’s melting cake, I like tiramisu anywhere, the cheesecake from the coffee shops on all the lines I’ve sailed have been fantastic, and crème brûlée never disappoints. Ice creams are usually dependable. I find that most cakes on ships are dry and not sweet enough for my taste. (When I say sweet tooth, I mean it! LOL) I’m picky about pies anyway, and I’m not a huge fan of those fancy chocolate desserts that are like, molded chocolate. I consider myself to be a dessert connoisseur, and I love baking. And I do acknowledge that I am in the minority on how sweet something can be before I consider it to be cloying.

Excellent! Thanks, guys. I appreciate the feedback! I think I'll just pick them up at the pier. My post office in my town is lame on a good day, and I'd hate to have them in charge of getting me something this important to my vacation. I wasn't sure if there was a benefit to already having it when you get to the port, but it sounds like there isn't really.

I don't cruise on Royal Caribbean, but here are my tipping habits: 1. Cabin Steward gets a little cash every day. I usually leave a $20 bill on the bed with a smiley face note or a thank you or something so they know it's for them and not just an errant bill lying around. Debarkation day I leave $100 bill and a thank you note. (That's assuming the service was good, which it always has been, without fail.) 2. I always leave a little extra, $1-$2 when signing a bar bill, even though it's included. 3. Dining room staff get $50 each on the last day I eat in the MDR. In the specialty restaurants I will leave a gratuity equal to what I would in a restaurant on land, anywhere from 20-35%. I know that seems excessive, but I'm in a financial place to do it so I like to. They work very hard and they deserve it. I also like to pre-pay gratuities when booking so it doesn't show up on my onboard account.

I don't like most desserts on board. I have a huge sweet tooth, and I just don't get enough sweetness from most of the desserts, especially on the buffet. There are exceptions, but for the most part...meh.

That looks both incredibly delicious AND sickening. 🤣

I'm just wondering about people's experiences with both options. Is embarkation easier if you already have your medallion? Should I just leave it to pick it up at check-in?

THIS THIS THIS. It was so damn loud. Our mid-day naps were severely hampered.

I'm going to need someone to report back with what that "Doughnut Sandwich" is, please and thank you. 🤣

1. My very first cruise as a 16 year old sophomore on a marching band trip! It was such a new, different experience and I was with all of my very best friends. (March 1996...way different time for sure.) 2. Bringing my now-husband, then-boyfriend on his very first cruise back in 2012. The first time we stepped onto the deck and into the atrium, finally getting to spill the beans about the surprise excursion I planned, seeing everything brand new through his eyes was so much fun. And, thankfully, he was hooked from the start. I'm still connected (via social media) with some MDR tablemates from that cruise! 3. Alaska - not much to elaborate on there! That trip was amazing in the actual, true sense of the word. I was constantly in a state of amazement by the wildlife, the landscape...everything. 4. Our entire honeymoon cruise was a dream. The best cruise we've been on to date.

My husband and I became hermits for about 3-4 weeks before our cruise in September. It was our first post-covid trip ANYWHERE and I was so anxious about that pre-cruise covid test. We wore n95 masks on the plane and during embarkation and switched to normal masks for the cruise (they were still required indoors then). I was SO DANG NERVOUS I'd test positive and miss my first vacation in 2 years that I got a little obsessive. 🤣 Husband came home with covid. 🤦‍♀️

I go immediately to the Sanctuary/Retreat/Serenity area to see if there are any all-day cabana reservations to be had! After that I drop off carry-on bags, meet the cabin steward, then go get lunch.

French Onion Soup is my absolute favorite soup in the world, and the Crown Grille on Princess does (or used to...I haven't been post-pandemic) a "Black and Blue" onion soup...it has Jack Daniels and Roquefort cheese. It's positively delightful. I've had several different versions of pumpkin soups on a couple of lines and I've never been disappointed. I was on the Mardi Gras in September and the MDR had a mushroom soup that was different from any mushroom soup I've ever had, and for the life of me I can't remember what made it different. It was DELICIOUS, though. I wanted to lick the bowl! HAL's split pea soup is very, very good. It was served in the lounges while we were cruising Glacier Bay in Alaska and I loved it. And I hate peas, so that tells you something. I had refills of it.

THIS PART. I don't mind a little chit-chat in the beginning, but once I'm getting the treatment, I need silence. And the hard sell is a complete turn-off. I don't do the spa anymore because of the sales techniques and I feel a little bad about it (I know it's likely commission based and they're just trying to make a living) but it kills the entire vibe that I paid a lot of money for.

100% recommend both. Reserve Rudi's in advance, before you even board. It will book FAST. Emeril's was never crowded when I went, and it's a walk-up place. It's absolutely fantastic, though. Rudi's is beyond delicious. Actually, I didn't eat a bad meal on the Mardi Gras. It was the fewest times I'd ever eaten in the MDR while on a cruise, and I usually like the MDR a lot. Not that it was bad, there were just too many other wonderful options.

You're welcome! It will be money well spent, in my opinion! I think they also have half and whole day options, so maybe a half day will fit your budget better. I second what @lx200gps said, go up there the nanosecond you're on board to make sure you get one on the day you want. I suggest getting one for a port day if you're not planning to get off the ship at that port. Sea days will book fast and be crowded.