But what about the amenities and bonuses apart from having larger and more inclusive accommodation . There has to be a better value equation rather than bragging rights.
Suite isn't worth it on Royal unless you need the space. I cruise with them and for $35 a day we get priority boarding, priority tenders, VIP seating in shows and steaming grade wifi. All of which are free for suite guests. A suite will get you access to Costal Kitchen and free happy hour drinks if you dont have the package.
Re the drinks package, it works for me, but you need to do your own costings.
A typical day for me looks like barista coffee in the morning, coughtail about 11am, 3-4 beers until 2pm, 2 more coughtails, 2 glasses of wine with dinner a coughtail with the show and a whiskey/rum/tequila to end the night. I easily pay off the drinks package, but I do drink a lot.
Dining package is rarely worth it. The main dining room food is bloody good. We typically go to one or 2 specialty restaurants on a 10 night cruise. This one we are doing in Feb has a lot of sea days, so we might get the dining package as it includes specialty lunch on the sea days.
I found (especially on the cruises leaving the US), being very nice to your waiter and assistant waiter means you get VIP treatment. It was just common courtesy stuff, how are you, please, thanks, if you don't mind etc, but may of the US guests seemed to have an expectation of amazing service and treated the waiters as almost non existent. This was best displayed when it came to lobster night and my waiter brought me a steak with 2 lobsters on top, whereas they guy nearby asked for 2 lobsters and was told they can only do it after everyone has been served. He then proceeded to bring my wife one of each dairy free dessert so she could taste each one they had.