Ret MP

Okay, so we agree. What are we discussing here. I posted that it is against the policy and you have some type of objection about it and now you state what I copied and pasted is correct. I just don't understand! Unless your only point is that the document is old and not 100% up to date. Fine, we agree there too. But, the policy that is in question in this thread and posted in the outdated document is still correct.

Has anybody heard anything good or bad or seen any video of it yet?

I think it is human nature for the very vast majority of us humans to want to get to something like a cruise ship as soon/early as possible and we will seek ways to do that. Asking or just getting in line to enter early is just the way it is. I don't think I've ever actually had to wait until my actual boarding time AND I don't think I harmed anybody else in the process of doing so.

Or date! Looks like it is from the 1940s. 😁

That is their current policy. I don't know if EVERY ship has a diamond lounge or not, I just don't know and don't care. I won't argue the efficiency of Royal's IT, it's bad. However, if one event doesn't apply, it doesn't apply, it doesn't necessarily effect anything else. The challenge is for you to find where Royal has changed the policy that I copied and pasted. Can "Friends or Family" be an invited guest into the Diamond Lounge or not, that is the question. Based upon what I've been able to find, they can't. If you can find a more recent update to the policy that I pasted, I'd be happy and appreciative to see it. What I do care about is that I believe that a person should earn a benefit in order to use the benefit that I earned.

I was under the impression that the Next Cruise Desk OBC was for the booking, not the cost of the booking.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/crown-and-anchor-society-benefit-grid.pdf 4 Diamond Lounge is an exclusive benefit for only Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members and cannot be extended to include friends and family. On ships where a Diamond Lounge is available there will be no Exclusive Nightly Diamond Event or complimentary Specialty coffees available in the dining room. The Diamond Lounge is designated as a smoke-free area. We respectfully request that guests observe a Smart Casual dress code when visiting the Lounge (no swim or pool attire is allowed, footwear is required at all times). Guests younger than 21 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Guests and friends of Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members are not allowed into the Diamond Lounge.

Also, the size of the ship.

Not to take sides. But, it isn't the Customer that isn't following the "Check-in Times", it is Royal that isn't following their own rules and allowing people in the terminal prior to their Terminal Entry time. We shouldn't blame the Customer, at least not in this situation. Many people show up early not because of their own choosing. If I ask a question and the answer is to go ahead and enter, who's fault is it?

On our last cruise, Oct 31 - Nov 4, out of Canaveral, we had a 12:00 - 12:30 terminal entry time. At about ~10:30, as I was waiting on the side of the serpentine line, it was empty, the 10:30 - 11:00 time slot had already entered, no one else in line, and I asked if I had to wait till 12:00 to go into the terminal. He said that it is now open to all times. We went in, processed in and went to sit down in the terminal, it as busy but not anywhere full. The funny thing, the vast majority of people in the Terminal went to seats closest to the entry doors to the ship, prior to boarding the ship. No social distancing, nothing, just packed in. The seats in the terminal were not spread apart, at all. We were on the ship long before noon. Bottom line: Other than my (my wife's was fine) reservation being totally gone from Royal's Computer system (go figure), which started a whole long laundry list of things that went wrong with my booking on (no OBCs or drink package on my onboard account) and off the ship, the entry into the terminal and ship was a breeze. This may not happen if an Oasis Class ship is at Terminal #1.

10-24

That's what we do. On most ships, that we've been on, there is about an inch gap at the bottom of the bathroom door and that allows a lot of light, good enough to find the bathroom door (for us, safely) without tripping over anything, even with the door closed.

I'm not taking sides here. But to be fair, you could say the same about the OPs question. The answer is in the Royal FAQs. We all ask questions in this forum that is fairly easy to find the answer elsewhere. AND, almost every question is answered with much more information than what was asked. And the OP's questions did include taking radios off of the ship, on shore/excursions, something not as easily found. Go Army! Beat Navy! Carry on!

LOL, this is about Royal, is it not! I couldn't care less about what Rustbucket Cruise Lines is doing or not doing. As of right now, the $5.00 - $8.00 surcharge on Royal for extra lobster (or is it crab, I can't keep up) is just a rumor. And I'm so glad that the wait staff has come to you to complain about the excessive eating of lobster (or is it crab, I can't keep up) and/or you though of it to ask about it. But, go ahead and have the last word, I really don't care, I've had my fun. I'm out!

And I'm sure the cruise lines that have MDRs are well aware and prepared to handle this types of things and probably do on each cruise in one way, shape, or form. Personally, I think you are making much to do about nothing. AND, NO, I don't participate in these type things. I just don't have a problem with it. If the cruise lines was over worked or whatever, I'm sure they would control it. JMHO

At the end of my cruise in May, Ovation, Alaska, I had over $400.00 unused OBC and went to Guest Services and they paid me in cash.

"But really, these people that try to set the record for how many lobsters they can eat are ridiculous" Just say'in

I don't know. Why do we have Hot Dog eating contests? Why do we have Pie eating contests? Why do we have bobbing for apples contests? Why do we have any contests or personal goal settings? I'd tend not to criticize things like this because it may be that some people have limited skills in most everything else in life or are disabled and can't do many other competitions (this may not be the case in any of the examples in this thread), but take pride in these little accomplishments. Why can't we just let people do what is harmless to others, is basically wholesome, doesn't fall into the category of illegal, immoral, or anything else like that? JMHO

Then I'm impressed. But, just to be clear, my memory of eating lobster tail in the MDR was from back in circa 2018/2019, on Oasis class, just can't remember which one.

We just got off of the Independence on Nov 4. Grease had two showings both on the last night of the cruise.

If they are the tiny, cut in half, long ways, I don't have a hard time believing it.

Terminal #5 is along way away. But, no road crossings if walking from Terminal #1. Sidewalks all the way.

"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant"

Whaaaaaat? No freak'in way. Does anybody do that anymore? Come on man!

We did this place on October 31st prior to getting on the Independence of the Seas. Had breakfast and a few starter drinks (Bloody Mary and Screw Driver). I had the Biscuits and Gravy with 2 over medium on top and my wife had hashbrowns. To be honest, the Gravy was the best Gravy I've had in a long time. The biscuits where just Okay. My wife liked the hashbrowns. Nice place. Super friendly wait staff. BTW: The restaurant is right next to the Terminal, easy walk.