Anthem questions...

Cruising from Cape Liberty on August 11. Done this route before on Explorer but not yet on Anthem. A few questions...

1. Is it critical to get a WiFi package or do you think we can survive the week not connected? I keep reading about some app that people use. I imagine we would need Voom for that?

2. We were unable to pre reserve North Star and iFly. The message on cruise planner for weeks has been to book once on the ship. Any ideas if that means they are booked/full or if there might be spots once we get there?

3. I have read that ocean adventure can fill up. Has this happened to anyone? We are counting on being able to send the kids here and there and would hate for that to not be an option.

4. Water-can you really bring a case of bottled water on board? We never did that but sounds like a good idea.

Thanks!

I have not been on Anthem specifically but I can try to answer some of these.

1. I have never gotten wifi on a cruise and never intended to. I love being disconnected! If you need to you can always use the Wifi at a port of call.

I'm sorry I cannot answer two and three. But yes you can being water on board, just no alcohol. I've brought a whole case of water right on the ship. Once they checked to see if the bottles had been tampered with (sneaking in alcohol), but otherwise no issues.

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If you go to the North Star as soon as it opens on the first day, you will be the first ones on. We did this in May and there were only 4 of us on it. Also waited in line on the days they didn't take reservations. Not a problem to get on without a reservation. You can also make a reservation when you board at the Seaplex.

If you want to get on wifi, just stop in a bar in Bermuda. Most, if not all, of them have free wifi. If it is a 9 day cruise, you can probably pick up some free wifi at bars or casinos in the other ports too.

While everyone ran to the Windjammer to eat we went to book Ifly and North Star. We got the IFly for the next morning first thing and NorthStar for later in the cruise on the sea day. UMMM we were on "that" cruise so NorthStar never opened. LOL. But, yes you can book when you get on board.

You can bring 2 bottles of wine on board. Drink it anywhere.... That is the only alcohol you can bring.

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You can bring 2 bottles of wine on board. Drink it anywhere.... That is the only alcohol you can bring.

 

 

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Ahhh, just remembered you can bring wine!!!

OP, don't let the "uncorking" fee scare you off. It is loosely enforced. I've seen people being glasses wine from their rooms into the dining room. Personally, we like to have wine on our balcony before dinner.

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Wifi: depends on who is cruising. DH likes to have wifi so he can be accessible if an emergency arises at work. I have 3 teens....would they survive if I didn't get wifi? They would have to. Would my vacation be more pleasant if they had wifi..most definitely. When we left for our cruise, it was a day after my mom was released from the hospital after a week stay for unexpected surgery. I wanted to be connected just in case. Only you can really answer the wifi question.

I Fly and Northstar..... how long is your cruise? Ours was 5 day so there were less days to get on these. We did I Fly on our first full sea day ( we were able to pre book) People kept coming in asking if there were openings and were told there was a 4 page waiting list. Book as soon as you get on the ship, if possible.

As for Northstar..they take groups of 14. When it was our time slot , there were 12 ahead of us so we couldn't get on that round. They took 2 from the stand by line to complete the group. Try to get your reservation, but if you can't then you may still have a chance on the stand by line..especially if you aren't a large group or are willing to split your group.

I am sorry, I don't have answers on the rest.

Lisa

Ahhh, just remembered you can bring wine!!!

 

OP, don't let the "uncorking" fee scare you off. It is loosely enforced. I've seen people being glasses wine from their rooms into the dining room. Personally, we like to have wine on our balcony before dinner.

 

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There is no uncorking fee, you can bring your wine anywhere.

There is no uncorking fee, you can bring your wine anywhere.

Correct again, sorry! So much has changed since my last cruise

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Cruising from Cape Liberty on August 11. Done this route before on Explorer but not yet on Anthem. A few questions...

 

1. Is it critical to get a WiFi package or do you think we can survive the week not connected? I keep reading about some app that people use. I imagine we would need Voom for that?

 

2. We were unable to pre reserve North Star and iFly. The message on cruise planner for weeks has been to book once on the ship. Any ideas if that means they are booked/full or if there might be spots once we get there?

 

3. I have read that ocean adventure can fill up. Has this happened to anyone? We are counting on being able to send the kids here and there and would hate for that to not be an option.

 

4. Water-can you really bring a case of bottled water on board? We never did that but sounds like a good idea.

 

Thanks!

I can't answer if you can unplug, only you know that answer. As for the App that everyone is talking about, it is Royal IQ. You do not need an internet package to use it. Get the app before you board. Once on board you can do a number of things that you can do for free (without a Voom Package) like, check your reservations, the Cruise Compass, and more, I heard it offers things like a locator, lets you know when your luggage arrives etc...

There is also In App things you can purchase such as the text to text with another person on board who has your code, for $8. per phone for the length of the cruise..

Hope that helps

I think others covered your other questions.

Cruising from Cape Liberty on August 11. Done this route before on Explorer but not yet on Anthem. A few questions...

 

1. Is it critical to get a WiFi package or do you think we can survive the week not connected? I keep reading about some app that people use. I imagine we would need Voom for that?

 

2. We were unable to pre reserve North Star and iFly. The message on cruise planner for weeks has been to book once on the ship. Any ideas if that means they are booked/full or if there might be spots once we get there?

 

3. I have read that ocean adventure can fill up. Has this happened to anyone? We are counting on being able to send the kids here and there and would hate for that to not be an option.

 

4. Water-can you really bring a case of bottled water on board? We never did that but sounds like a good idea.

 

Thanks!

Hello,

We were on Anthem for the Christmas cruise 2015. I watched several people be turned away on North Star that did not have a reservation or arrived later then their time. However, it also never appeared to be a long wait, like expected. So, things may have changed since then, but there was a waiting list or so that you could sign up for North Star and Ifly. Ifly seemed much easier to get as a standby.

The adventure ocean never overfilled for the 3-5 age group and there were thousands of kids on board. Just get the kids signed up as soon as you get on board. We loved the Adventure Ocean staff on Anthem.

My parents each bought a case of water on and a six pack of sodas. I gave up on bringing water because I had to bring juice for my 3 year old. We had no problem with any of those items. I opted for the Evian package. It was a bit of a waste, since I could have brought water on.

Oh, Royal IQ worked without having to buy a internet package. It was ok but not anything you can't live without. It was nice to kinda track our bag with it and have a ship map, oh and look at your dining and entertainment reservations.

Thank you so much!

Completely unrelated, but there she is in Bermuda this morning...

http://portbermudawebcam.com/

Completely unrelated, but there she is in Bermuda this morning...

 

http://portbermudawebcam.com/

And you can see NorthStar going up right now.

wow, it moves quickly.

I agree with the others, once onboard make reservations right away for 'RipCord' by 'ifly', and also North Star.

Good luck! Bon voyage!

:)

How did your parents bring the cases of water onboard? Did they put them in a tote bag or just carry it like you get the case of water in the grocery store?

How did your parents bring the cases of water onboard? Did they put them in a tote bag or just carry it like you get the case of water in the grocery store?

I usually bring a case of water to Cape Liberty as I drive to the port. I put a 24 pack in a standard carryon, on wheels. That way I don't have to worry about a porter rejecting it (happened to me in Florida) and I don't have to carry it.

How did your parents bring the cases of water onboard? Did they put them in a tote bag or just carry it like you get the case of water in the grocery store?

My parents just gave the water to the porters with a tag. No problem for them. However, they put the sodas in their carry on. We've use Cape Liberty plenty for the RCCL Explorer, Anthem and for Celebrity Silhouette and Summit, and so far there hasn't been a problem with water. It could change at anytime though.

Has anyone put a case of water in a small checked piece of luggage with a luggage tag?

Has anyone put a case of water in a small checked piece of luggage with a luggage tag?

Yes, people do that all the time.

Has anyone put a case of water in a small checked piece of luggage with a luggage tag?

Yes, all the time.

I was recently on anthem and I just put a luggage tag on my case of water. It arrived in my room no problem. 😀 Enjoy your cruise!

You can use Royal IQ without an Internet package. It was really only good for seeing some of the Compass. Even in March, it wasn't very complete. You can message other people with that app, but since DH and I had a wifi package for two devices, we were able to text each other. We put our iPhones in airplane mode, but turned on the wifi. It worked out well for us.

We brought on a case of water years ago onto Explorer. Kept it in its original packaging, put some more clear packing tape around it, and slapped on a luggage tag. It was delivered to our cabin, no problem.

Enjoy Anthem. It's one of our favorite ships!

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We just sailed Anthem in July. We had three kids who used Adv. Ocean. They like it a lot. and because they were 9 & 10 yrs old, we let them sign them selves out. :) as long as they were together, it was fine. They all behaved nicely and never went anywhere alone. It was nice to just meet them at the room for 10pm. Since AO costs extra after 10.

We signed them up the first night. They will limit the amount, so sign up the first day. also, it's good for the kids to go that first night to meet some friends.

Has anyone put a case of water in a small checked piece of luggage with a luggage tag?

Did exactly that on the 7-23 Anthem. No problems.