LIVE from The Anthem of the Seas - February 6, 2016

Hi! My name is Lindsay and I’ll be reporting live from The Anthem of the Seas during our 7-day cruise to the Bahamas and our little pre- and post- vacation in NYC for a total of a 12-day vacation!

I'm starting this thread a little early because I can't contain myself! Also maybe someone on CC can convince me to start packing (I'll admit I'm a terrible last-minute packer).

First, a little about me/us: I just turned 24 and I’ll be going on this cruise with my lovely boyfriend of 4 years, Johnny, who just turned 25. We met in college marching band (we both played the trombone) and have been dating ever since. He took me on my first cruise just over 2 years ago – a Holiday cruise on the Allure of the Seas shortly before I graduated, and I began my love of cruising. Maybe I’m paying him back, or maybe I just felt like 25 was a momentous enough occasion to spend a bunch of money, either way, I get a vacation out of it too! We both work in the tech industry but we’re currently living long-distance from each other (I’m a Phoenix-native and he lives in Orange County), so about once a year we try to go on a nice vacation together for about a week (usually a cruise).

This trip will be my third cruise (Johnny is Diamond on RCCL) but the first cruise I’ve planned by myself. This cruise was initially a surprise for Johnny’s 25th birthday so I set up a whole bunch of it without his knowledge, and as part of his present, I’ve been doing all of the legwork to get everything situated. I actually booked this cruise while onboard our previous cruise on the Allure back in March 2015 (I’ve been on 2 cruises before: Allure Eastern and Western Caribbean). I had to spill the beans on the surprise back in September so that way Johnny would be able to accumulate and request the time off from work – but he’s totally excited!

Johnny is flying here (PHX) on Thursday and then we’re both flying into JFK on Thursday night for our cruise that leaves on Saturday, spending Friday sightseeing. I originally booked the Thursday flight because I was SUPER worried about snow, but thankfully this week looks like it will be pretty tame and we'll get an extra sight-seeing day out of it.

If there's anything you'd like me to figure out while we're onboard, let me know and I'll try my best!

Hi Lindsay

I am looking forward to read your review. I'm on Anthem in May.

It's great you share the same passion for cruising. Enjoy your cruise and some quality time with your boyfriend!

Hi Lindsay,

I will be following along! I hope you and your boyfriend have an awesome time! If all goes right we are doing a family cruise on Anthem in September! I just started researching her, since I was finally given the go ahead to book!!

Last minute packing has its pros and cons... I always try to get things packed early and my husband is a last minute packer so we compromise somewhere in the middle. I just get excited to get out of the snow!! That is my motivation to pack. You don't have that issue in AZ...

Hi Lindsey, Looking forward to your review. We will be on the ship with you. My name is Laura and I will be there with my husband Tom and our friends Deb and Bruce. We are all late 40s and 50s but young at heart. Lol. Haven't had time to join roll call been crazy busy, but getting very excited now! I am diamond, we are loyal to Royal. Hope to see you around!

You guys have a nice time together. When your finish your cruise maybe you can tell be how it compares with the Allure? Have a great time.

Thank you in advance for your live review! I'm looking forward to following along. I"ve got a 12 night booked on the Anthem 14 and a half months from now (but who is counting??)

You guys have a nice time together. When your finish your cruise maybe you can tell be how it compares with the Allure? Have a great time.

Hi, sure. I will post a review. I may do some live stuff too. I have been on Quantum which is the same as Anthem. Allure is certainly larger and is more of an outside ship. Lots more outdoor space and activities. Quantum class are great sailing from north in winter since most activities are indoors. The shows are great on both but quantum class has more technology, re Two70. I love both classes. Allure feels more casual, quantum class understated elegance. I think dining is a big difference. Quantum class no main dining room so if you like that it can be a turn off to some. I like both. There are few things

that would ruin a cruise for me.

Really looking forward to your review

Thanks for this, curious about Anthem.

You will have a blast on there.

Just two quick tips. In Ifly separate each other in different time slot. There is no camera or loose article allowed inside the wind tunnel. This is for if you want to filmed each other or take pics?

When eating in complementary dining room and you don't like your selection, you can order a dish from the restaurant across the hall. There is a huge kitchen in the back that connected the restaurant like icon and silk on deck 4 while chic and grande connected on deck 3.

Happy Cruising.

I will be getting on when you get off!!

I will be following along with you. What is your itinary like?

Sharon I

Looking forward to your review, would you please post pics of the casino?

Thanks!

Looking forward to your review. I will be booking in March and am interested in cabin selection. What type of cabin do you have ?

I'll be looking forward to your review. My husband, sons and 12 year old grandson will be on June 2nd! Have a great time!

You guys have a nice time together. When your finish your cruise maybe you can tell be how it compares with the Allure? Have a great time.

I should definitely be able to do that! I've only ever been on Allure so anything different will probably be very different. I do plan to take lots of pics - and I should be able to dig up some from my times on Allure. We've both been wanting to try out Quantum class since it was announced as it seems like it's geared a lot of activities towards millennials.

I will be following along with you. What is your itinary like?

 

Sharon I

We are on a 7-Day cruise - it's just difficult to schedule a 12 or 14 day cruise with work. This cruise was perfect because it leaves and returns on a Saturday and then I snuck in a little extra vacation at the end because of President's Day. It's also a week after our birthdays (we're 1 year and 1 day apart) which I liked since I'm doing this primarily as a 25th birthday celebration. We have 2 sea days, 3 ports (Port Canaveral, Nassau, CocoCay) and then 2 sea days back to Port Liberty.

Looking forward to your review, would you please post pics of the casino?

 

Thanks!

Sure, no problem!

Looking forward to your review. I will be booking in March and am interested in cabin selection. What type of cabin do you have ?

We are in cabin 11650, a D6 balcony. Though it looks like the balcony is a smidge bigger than the standard since we're on the back of the hump. Hopefully that is true!

You will have a blast on there.

 

Just two quick tips. In Ifly separate each other in different time slot. There is no camera or loose article allowed inside the wind tunnel. This is for if you want to filmed each other or take pics?

 

When eating in complementary dining room and you don't like your selection, you can order a dish from the restaurant across the hall. There is a huge kitchen in the back that connected the restaurant like icon and silk on deck 4 while chic and grande connected on deck 3.

 

 

 

Happy Cruising.

Thank you for that tip! We weren't able to prebook iFly through the cruise planner, so we've already decided that iFly is our first destination once we get onboard. It's definitely something I've been wanting to try!

And we will keep the menu thing in mind! We are eating in all of the complimentary restaurants once, and Jamie's, Chef's Table and Wonderland...we absolutely knew we had to try Wonderland!

DW and I will be on same cruise. Weather for sail away is supposed to be close to 50 degrees and sunny. I cannot wait to go already !

My sister,BIL, and I will be on the cruise with you! I'm looking forward to seeing palm trees and blue ocean instead of 10' high piles of snow!

Drink prices seemed to have changed in early 2016 and would love to hear some pricing for non-alcoholic drinks, frozen non-alcoholic drinks, simple cocktails like vodka and cranberry, etc. would be most helpful. Beer bucket options. etc.

Trying to gather information for everyone we are traveling with to see how may want a drink package and how many not based on the information above.

Have a great time

Looking forward to your review! My family and I are on FOS in April, but I love reading the reviews from others to pass my time :-) 56 days till we leave to drive to Florida :-) Have a great time!!

Me and my partner are sailing on the same cruise. I am also very excited to get my vacation started. I also have been on Alure - I will comparing the two also. I will be at the Meet and greet hope to see you both there. Should be a fun cruise - heck they are all fun for me -

My Name is Bryanna and my Partner is Lisa

P.S. My son played Trombone in Marching Band as well. His first year he was height challenged and I used to laugh at some formation changes when he had to point is Trombone straight up in the air to keep from hitting others - I bet you can relate :D

Me and my partner are sailing on the same cruise. I am also very excited to get my vacation started. I also have been on Alure - I will comparing the two also. I will be at the Meet and greet hope to see you both there. Should be a fun cruise - heck they are all fun for me -

 

My Name is Bryanna and my Partner is Lisa

 

P.S. My son played Trombone in Marching Band as well. His first year he was height challenged and I used to laugh at some formation changes when he had to point is Trombone straight up in the air to keep from hitting others - I bet you can relate :D

Actually, I am 6' tall! I got lucky :P

I'm hoping to drag my boyfriend to the Meet & Mingle - we'll see Hope you guys have a great time!

Thanks for sharing your cruise with us!

Drink prices seemed to have changed in early 2016 and would love to hear some pricing for non-alcoholic drinks, frozen non-alcoholic drinks, simple cocktails like vodka and cranberry, etc. would be most helpful. Beer bucket options. etc.

 

Trying to gather information for everyone we are traveling with to see how may want a drink package and how many not based on the information above.

 

Have a great time

I'll see what I can do! We don't drink much (our initial plan is to use the 3 free Diamond drinks/night and not much else, maybe occasionally) but if I see pricing I'll try and take a pic for you. I do like my Coke Zero so hopefully I find somewhere that'll let me at it. I used to bring pop onboard but we have like, $500 OBC this cruise so I can probably swing buying the 1 pop per day I'm likely to actually drink.