CheerMom15

Look at Trinityreservations.com for a park/sleep at the Ramada Plaza including round trip port transportation for $214 tax included. This is the best deal out there because of the parking and round trip port transportation.

 

If it were me, I'd drive to Liberty State Park in Jersey City, pay $7 to park, and go to the Statue of Liberty from there. You can take the return ferry back to NYC and do the WTC area. You then take the Liberty Landing ferry from the World Financial Center ($5/pp with your SOL ticket stubs) back to Liberty State Park and pick up your car to go to the hotel. (http://www.libertylandingferry.com). No need to deal with the subway at all and it's very cost effective - $7 is a steal for parking and $5/pp is very reasonable to go directly back to Liberty State Park from lower Manhattan.

Where is the Ramada located? I will for sure check it out! Our room at the Hilton for stay/park/cruise is 217.00 with taxes so if the Ramada is way more convenient, I will check it out for sure! Thanks!

We will be cruising on Anthem June 30, 2016. We are in state but not near the city at all, so we will be driving down there. We are planning on spending the day before sailing hitting up WTC/Statue of Liberty because the hubs has never been to the city. Currently we have reservations at Hilton garden Inn Staten Island to stay and park and they will shuttle us to the pier. But after looking at transportation maps, I'm thinking this isn't the best place to stay and park? Can anyone offer up a better place to be that would put us on the subway system and give us a place to leave the car safely? It will be just the 2 of us for the room so we don't need a ton of space or more than 1 bed :) Thanks!

Maybe I missed where he was going. Was he possibly going to Canada and does he have a DUI on his record?

 

Or was it a back to back that violates PVSA?

I was thinking Canada too... They are pretty strict on their DUI or "other convictions" laws. We live close to the border and there a lot of people who can't accompany their kids on field trips because of it.

On the latest copy of the booking confirmation, it now states

 

DYNAMIC (CLASSIC1)

 

I'm guessing that means we're dynamic classic early seating?

I requested the early classic dining also for the same cruise but leaving June 30th and that is what mine looks like :)

I spoke to RC today about the dining and the rep told me that about 30 days out I should be able to log into the MyCruise portion of their website and see the Classic Dining Rotation for our cruise. This is our first cruise so I can't say for certainty if it is accurate, just relaying the information I was told today :)

I can't tell you from personal experience that you won't have a problem, but it's extremely difficult to imagine how smoking five decks below would be an issue, especially when the ship is underway.

Thanks Turtles06! This will be our first cruise experience ever so I have no idea how much space is between Deck 5 and Deck 10! I just don't want to have to not be on my balcony during port time because of the drafting smoke. I am an ex smoker myself so I know that it can linger if there are no good winds :) I also have no idea where the other smoking areas are on that ship and would just like to avoid it if possible.

We are currently booked in room 10690 for our June 2016 cruise on the Anthem. I have read a couple of reviews of other cabins in the X690 but they were on lower decks and people complained of the smoke from the smoking area on Deck 5. Does anyone know if its an issue on deck 10? If so, do you have any suggestions for a D1 category room not near a smoking location? Thanks!

I'm booked for 5:30pm for our August 6, '16 cruising N/E & Canada. Had a blast on the recent Feb. Quantum cruise. Food was good and the WJ food/selection was better than other RCL cruises that I've taken in the past 5 years.

 

Also, FYI, there's a complementary restaurant "Coastal Kitchen" which is reserved for suite Pax only.

Thank you for your reply :) We aren't going to do a suite this time as its our first cruise and I don't think we will be spending that much time in our room :)

All aboard time is typically 30 min before sailing. The thing is, everyone else might be doing the same as you and on that 8PM departure day try to show up at dinner around 8PM. To lessen your wait you obviously need to go at non-peak times, before 6 or after about 8:30. I remember once the longest line at Grande was at 8 which I thought was late. A lot of it depends on the time of the shows and port schedule. But you never know - you could go at 7 and walk right in.

Ok! Sounds good! I was more thinking if we chose to do the classic, which would be the preferable time table. But after talking to my husband, he said if we can, he would prefer to be at the earlier classic meal time. Thanks again for answering all my questions!

Do any of your recommend a particular dining time over the other? We aren't super picky about what time we eat, but I am thinking the later option would be better since the latest we leave any port is 8PM. How long before a ship departs a port do you have to be back on the ship? I just would hate to cut the time that I can be on land having an adventure down just to eat dinner... But if we would have to be back on the ship by then anyway, it wouldn't matter :)

I am actually really excited about the Grande. We have 5 kids and don't get to get fancy and go out to eat ever, so it will be fun!

 

5 Kids,I guess you don't go out much,or you haven't in the past ;);)

 

Hahaha... We try to take a trip (even if it is just a weekend) every year for our anniversary or just to be alone... Hence the 5 kids. This year, we will not be having any "celebration gifts" as we are both done having kids! lol

Making a reservation at any specialty venue like Chops should not be an issue - we just need confirmation that once booked in Classic the other complementary venues are no longer available. All of this of course is online ahead of time - once you board you can go to any venue and make a reservation. So even if you can't reserve it ahead of time you can go to Grande after you board and make a reservation in person. Grande is the only one I would bother with - that seems to be quite popular, despite the dress code requirement.

I am actually really excited about the Grande. We have 5 kids and don't get to get fancy and go out to eat ever, so it will be fun!

I will also do my best to report back and let everyone know how the reservation process goes. I'm guessing it will be a while since I won't know until shortly before the cruise which restaurants we will be assigned on which days.

Right, I was talking about the 4 complementary venues when mentioning likely lack of reservation ability.

Just to make sure I understand, I should be able to make reservation at say Chops Grille on the nights I don't want to eat at one of the 4 complimentary ones but I wouldn't be able to make a reservation for say The Grande for that night?

Thank you all for your advice! Looks like the "classic" will be the best way to go for dinner then. I most certainly will let our other table mates know we won't be joining them on the nights that we are supposed to go to the one restaurant. I will also try and make reservations for perhaps the "Chops Grille" as the husband and I both love steak!

So aside from the 4 dining areas that you rotate through that is included, there is also a buffet area? Is that open for lunch as well or all day? I'm just trying to understand this whole dining options deal! Sorry for all the questions!

Kristy

Hi! We are new to cruising at this will be our first ever cruise. We are going on the Anthem of the Seas June 2016. I know that the Classic dining rotates you through 4 of the restaurants on board on a cycle. There is one restaurant in the list of 4 that does not appeal to me at all and I would prefer not to eat there. Can I make reservations at another restaurant for that night or choose to eat somewhere else? Are the any repercussions for not showing on that night?

Also, is the early or later dining option better if we would like to attend shows and whatnot?

Thank you!

Kristy