PamelaHunt

You are totally correct.

For us, I think our tipping is starting to evolve a bit. We have always prepaid grats (I like to leave the ship owing nothing) and our typical tipping is $1/ drink - we buy the DBP and I know I've paid 18% on it, but that really awesome server who always remembers what I want surely isn't getting that 18%. Our tip to stewards has varied - one we only left $20 - he was unfriendly and just weird, another we left $150 - he spoiled us like crazy all week. We've only done the MDR on one cruise, it will be our last. I think we gave the head waiter $60 and the assistant $40, but that was only because we felt we had to. I really wish we hadn't left anything - the service was subpar - we waited very long periods of time between courses and we were reminded every single night to leave 10's - so over the top annoying. Specialty dining - we usually for 2 of us leave $20. Going forward with all of the changes that are happening, we have been discussing if our tipping will remain the same or be decreased going forward. Our next cruise is in a junior suite - we will still have twice a day service, but our next cruise after that is in a regular balcony and we will not. We are not at all messy and we make our own beds, etc. I just feel that overall we are going to be getting a lot less and paying a lot more for our vacations.

I always take a hat with some sort of tie now. I remember several hours at Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda with my hand glued to the top of my head to keep my hat on... never again!

I thought you were lumping me in with the "me me me" people, which I am not.

The cabin that was connected to it was already booked. I took the last one that was located in that area.

I can't help with the question about changing your room, but I have booked a connecting w/o knowing who was on the other side. The first time was on Anthem, it was my first cruise and the TA we used in our rinky dink town put us in an interior gty and that is what we ended up with. We were completely unaware of the people next door - we're quiet, they were quiet. The 2nd time I chose the room knowing it was a connecting, but it was in the best location for me and again, I was completely unaware there was anyone there.

Yes, if you have the internet pkg with 2 devices you can have any 2 connected at one time. If you have your phone connected and your tablet connected, you can shut off the connection on your tablet and then a family member could log in with their phone or whatever. Just 2 devices at one time.

Should I check in with you so that you can approve my future postings?

I know this does not help your current situation, but this is exactly the reason why we always pick the cabin we want. I refuse to be anywhere near a smoking area.

We were on Anthem in 2018 and there was a large group of sales personnel from a company similar to Avon. It really impacted our cruise - they were mostly 20 something females and no one could get near the pub for the entire week or the music hall. Chops was closed down for them one night and no one else could dine there that day. It was annoying.

I've been following this thread because these changes are going to affect all of us to some degree. I took my first cruise in 2018 and oh do I wish I had started sooner! After my first cruise, if anyone asked me, the thing I would always say that I loved most was being treated like a princess for a whole week. I guess you could say that I paid for that treatment in the form of my cruise fare, extra tips, etc. It just makes me sad to think that my cruises in the future might not be quite as 'special'. We always make our bed and keep our cabin tidy - but I still love the twice a day service that makes it so crisp and fresh. I'm also one of those people who only uses a towel once, that is how I was raised and it will never change. I can still hear my mother saying, "why would I wipe my face with something I dried my backside with yesterday?" Our next cruise we have a Jr. Suite booked, so the twice a day service should still be there, our cruise after that we will be reduced to the once a day - that cruise will be on Icon so we made the financial decision to go with a cheaper room than a Jr. suite. Sorry for the rambling, again, it just feels SO sad. I truly don't mind paying more for my vacation - everything is more expensive, I get it. Personally, I wish they would just do a fare increase and not decrease service standards.

I could be wrong, but I think they are no longer offering just the surf pkg. It might have something to do with the upgrade to Starlink.

I am so sorry. Prayers of peace for your family.

We find JR.....meh. Am I the only one that finds the ketchup smiley face utterly revolting? <shudder>