TwoMisfits

You do get the service you pay for. And just like at a land restaurant, if you remove the tip, you are leaving yourself open to having subpar service offered to you on future cruises, especially in your room and the main dining hall (where you are exactly identified). Now that this is all digitized, I am sure that the cruise management is very aware in the aggregate of what percent of returning cruisers on their sailing have removed tips in the past, and they may even know that info person by person. TL/DR - If I ever remove tips, I'm not going back on a cruise on that cruise line for a decade+.

A truer post has never been written...

$54.99 is the number I'll buy it as a gift for the spouse (he wants to pay under $50, but I don't see that happening). Just for the reason you said - after 2-3 days, even if he drinks the full "come out a tiny bit ahead" 4 drinks the 1st few, he won't want as many later, so this way, he doesn't feel pressure to overdrink beyond what he actually would drink...

Under this new sale, my cabins went up even more...now, for each person, it's up $120, or $720 total, since I booked. I think May 2024 will be a popular sailing month...

That, plus a cup of specialty coffee is about the daily price I want to pay for the spouse (about $60/day)...

That is what my spouse said when I told him current weekly prices are more than his cruise fare with gratuities... That said, if it goes back to something reasonable on a Black Friday sale (since we cruise in 2024), I'll buy him the plan b/c he really does enjoy it. I think his "reasonable" number is lower than mine, but he won't know.

I'm not a vegan, but b/c of my allergies, I tend to eat a lot of vegan foods, especially desserts. Thanks for the pics and reviews of all the new vegan foods on the menus. It's helped me immensely!

So, it seems they are inching up 2024 cruise prices every 2 weeks or so. I booked in mid-Jan, right at the end of the MLK sale. 1st price increase (which was right after) was $200 more than I booked (so $100 more/cabin) after the end of the sale. Now, today, it's another $60 higher ($30 cabin) in the newest sale, so $260 more ($130/cabin) at this point for an 2 interiors for 3. I have a May 2024 cruise, so I'm sure it's desirable, and that may be why it's creeping up every sale...I'm glad I booked when I did.

For the kids - Dramamine for kids. It's chewable, not bad tasting, and you can take every 6-8 hours. You'll need more than 1 box if you think your kids will get motion sick (since normal boxes only have 8 tablets).

Ummm, that's actually probably for the allergy folks. Cool whip/fake whipped cream (vs specific vegan coconut cream) still has dairy in it. So, I'm actually thrilled with multi jello and fresh berries on top b/c I can eat that off a buffet:).

There is a fruit cup on the kids' menu. With my allergies, I expect I'll be having that many times for dessert, and it's probably not as good or as big as the old adult fruit plate, but would be an option.

To add to my post yesterday, when I priced cruises and itineraries last month for the northeast coast departures, RCCL was on point to its competitors' prices. Carnival (which is my other cruise line - I have about equal loyalty on both - aka, nothing that gives me any real perks) had similar prices for similar itineraries and times, but lousier ships (that said, I have liked the Carnival Pride, but I have cruised the Pride - a lot - and newness of the ship was a big sell for my spouse)... So, to the poster who said all the prices are going up, I agree. Heck, my Royal cruise is already up $200 in one month ($100 per cabin when I try to rebook the same thing). Now, this may be different if you depart Florida. But, 6 airplane tickets to get to a cruise is not usually how I like to cruise. I like a drive (saves a ton of money to use for the cruise when you have 6)...

I actually wanted to thank the board, b/c for my 1st post-food-allergies onset cruise (and my 1st post Covid), I booked Symphony for 2024. After I messed up my booking, thanks to posters on this board, I called special services and got my dining all set to 1st seating (vs the my time I'd chosen) with a table just for my group of 6 and all my allergies documented (dairy, tree nuts, mango). Since I'm the foodie, but I can't eat much at most restaurants anymore, I'm cruising for the shows, the entertainment, and the ports. I figure any healthy food I get that doesn't have me reach for my epi will be a big win!

I would do 3 cabins of 3...or 1 of 4, 1 of 3, and 1 of 2... I'd definitely book a parent with the 6 year old and 12 year old. I used to do 2 connecting cabins for my family of 6. Now that my kids are older, my spouse and I take each gender and I book 2 separate 3 person cabins (since it's almost impossible to find 3-3 connecting, and my kids hate bunk beds, so we book 3rd sofa bed berths)...