The Fun Researcher

We're doing it in March on the Anthem. Kind of a Y.O.L.O. thing. We looked up some YouTube videos of the experience, and watched just enough to know that we would probably have a good time with it. If it's not our thing we just won't do it again.

That’s only because you have to pay for gratuity upfront when you purchase a boost package so you do in fact pay for gratuity. I’m not aware of any cruises out of North America by Royal that includes a drink package.

Happy to have Joff on the Anthem in March. He and his activities director did a great job on the Independence back in 2014. It's not often I remember our cruise directors, but the good ones stand out. (...and the particularly bad, of which there is one in that photo in post #630) Dan

On sailings where I've had the drink package (X and NCL), I'm about drunked out by day 5 or 6 and am ready for a break from my vacation LOL.

Yes, I think they accounted for it. What I find interesting, with more than 82% of all rooms onboard Icon of the Seas accommodating 3 or more guests, I have to imagine they will lift the restriction of not allowing parties of 2 to book these cabins. The ship has more potential for families with kids but that doesn't necessarily mean that we'll see a substantial shift that way on the sailings. We'll see

Wow you guys are hardcore!

We did a 5 night Holiday (Christmas) cruise last year on the NCL Getaway and did not notice an appreciable difference versus Royal. Also, Celebrity offers similar packages and we did a 7 night on the Equinox in mid summer out of Miami and didn't notice the drink package impact guest behavior. ...and before others comment on Celebrities demographics, it felt just like that of Royal. It did not feel skewed at all to an older crowd, perhaps because it was mid summer but there were lots of singles, families with kids...

I just don't like when they tack it onto the first day, or last day of the cruise. I MUCH prefer having at least one sea day at the start, and preferably two sea days at the end of an itinerary. I'm not mentally prepared when it's day 1, and when it's the last day it's way too crammed considering you have to pack that evening. I do feel like it's overcrowded many days though, especially to your point, when you have a mega Oasis class ship with another large ship in port. There are days when you have an Oasis class and a Quantum Ultra class at port the same day! That's just too much. It took us 30 minutes just to find a lounger this past June when we were on the Allure docked with the Mariner. Granted it was 10:30 am by that time, but still, this is NEVER a problem at Labadee and the lovely Columbus Cove beach area and their loungers.

Hmm, I don't know. Kitchens and staff are sized to the ship. We had consistent excellent food quality and service in the MDR on the Allure this past June, and that's the biggest class of cruise ship in the world. So it can be done. Regarding your comments on small ships. Are you saying small ships on Royal do it better than large ships on Royal? Or, are you referencing premium lines/ships like Cunard, QM2, Crystal. In that case of course you are going to get an upscale food experience, but has more to do with the price of your cruise than the size of the ship. Hard to delineate size of ship versus food quality because true premium lines don't have mega ships. The clientele base is smaller due to the cost and they couldn't fill them.

That’s the only way that I have seen the ability to get them on the Anthem as well. I’ve never ordered room service during all of our cruises. I don’t really feel like eating in the room. Seems kind of weird to order chicken wings and have it brought to the room only to carry them down to another venue so you can enjoy where you were eating. The good thing is, I think there is just a single $8? service charge for room service, but you can order multiple items so you could get multiple helpings of wings.

I’ve drank my lunch more than once. 😉

Thank you. I really really appreciate you doing that.! I am excited for these options

The old menu when the Pubs on Anthem and Quantum were "Michael's Genuine Pub" they had... a jar of pickled vegetables, deviled eggs, hard boiled eggs on the Pub Board, and scotch eggs but alas no pickled eggs (which I love)

Didn't even notice, just read right past it LOL.🤣 Regarding the menu, it will get the job done. I'm just happy to have those options. Would have LOVED chicken wings also but oh well. The soup, pretzel sticks and poutine are all right up my alley.

Thanks. Yeah last cruise each evening the head water took her order for dinner the following evening (and even lunch the following day in the MDR if we were doing that on a sea day) Thanks for that. I'll have to remind my sister to provide the information about my niece pre-cruise.

I always seem to forget this. Thanks for the reminder. Here’s the menu for the current Anthem Feb 4th-12th sailing:

Thank you teddie. That would be amazing! Hate to bother, but would you be willing to take a photo and share the current food menu?

I'm guessing current and upcoming survey feedback will almost force more reasonable flexibility. Honestly I can't remember ever making any special requests for my entrees but not allowing sauce on the side, or swapping for a baked potato (when it's on another dish that evening) has got to go IMO. As an aside, I'm a little worried for my niece for our upcoming July Alaskan cruise. She has wide and restrictive dietary restrictions and she was just doted over by the head waiter Maurice on our Allure cruise together this past June. The waitstaff was just amazing. I hope this level of care continues, despite the more rigid new practice for those of us without restrictions.

I was super excited to see the fairly thorough food menu when they were branded as "Michael's Genuine Pub" because I LOVE pub food late at night. However, I've seen some comments that the food went away after covid shutdowns in the pubs on these two ships? Can someone confirm the current situation? We're sailing on both ships this year. If not at the pub, anywhere else for late night fare? (I get tired of Sorrento's pizza and Café Promenade finger sandwiches after a few nights)

Personally, yes by a fair margin. I'm not a big fan of JR burgers. JR feels more fast food, whereas Playmakers feels more like something that is gastro-pub. To be fair, I'm not a JR fan at all on Royal ships. The whole concept feels dated and out of place.

I've done both and I would say that's probably what Royal was going for, something like O'Sheehans. I would say the food is fairly comparable but I think O'Sheehans has more variety, is better staffed for full service, is free, and open more hours. I just wish they had Playmakers on ALL ships. Considering most basic drinks on Royal are now $13 or so, and that you can get a nachos for $6, good burgers for $9, or 12 wings for $8, I'm o.k. with the cost relatively speaking.

This is something we noticed immediately during our fist cruise with Royal Caribbean.(and not just in the Windjammer, also in the MDR) . Looks incredible, but then you bite into them and seem to be a flavor vacuum. They seemed to have improved in the last 5 years or so. Hopefully this isn't a sign of something changing.

Trying to understand why they won't allow this. If they are making these menu changes to speed up the meals, then NOT bringing them out at the same time is counterproductive

Even though I don't like it, I can live with the new MDR menus, but I will be incredibly upset if the food preparation and temperature is lacking. The comments that we're seeing have me concerned that they have changed a process in the kitchen that is not getting the food out as fresh and well prepped as before. Hopefully this is a "learning curve" period, with this change just being implemented and the prep, quality, and temperature will improve.

Love Playmakers. It might be my favorite addition to Royal Caribbean ships in years, and I'm indluding entertainment, food, amenities. I like to have a good snack later at night and get sooooo tired of pizza and finger sandwiches after the first few days. Love the chicken wings particularly at Playmakers. For me it's perfect for that midnight snack before bed. At home I would never do that but on a cruise, chicken wings at midnight? Bring it on.