SConnolly

Thanks for the reminder.  So we are D+, 390 points, decided to call today to get our amenities changed  Last 2 cruises we did not get what we asked for but lived with it.  I know we could have gone to loyalty desk but left it alone.  Took 20 min as the rep was clueless about the options and could not find them, then tried to have an attitude with me, shut her down real fast, its not open heart surgery after all.      Will call again in a week to see if they are updated. 

These folks really do need some better training,   quoted this on my phone survey and left my # if they wanted to call me back.  

RCC:   Lets bring back the website option, you keep  asking if were happy using the C&A section, well we might be if it worked better.   🙂

Happy cruising all.

https://www.resortforaday.com/british-colonial-hilton/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqOna0bqQ5wIVBpSzCh3kzQsAEAAYASAAEgJg0PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Another option.

Good luck with your decision.

16 hours ago, twangster said:

I'm writing this in the past tense because, well, the cruise is over.  I knew I would be busy on this one so in fairness I'm going to skip a lot of things about this magnificent ship.  

 

I've always enjoyed Anthem and Quantum class in general as evidenced by this being my fourth time on Anthem.  I wouldn't keep coming back if this wasn't a great ship.

Itinerary:

 

Day 1 - Bayonne embarking

Day 2 - Sea day

Day 3 - Sea day

Day 4 - San Juan

Day 5 - St. Maarten

Day 6 - Antigua

Day 7 - St Lucia

Day 8 - St Kitts

Day 9 - Sea day

Day 10 - Sea day

Day 11 - Sea day

Day 12 -  Bayonne debarking

 

 

 

Spoiler alert - I still love this ship after my latest cruise.

 

Without further adieu, let's get this started.

Thank you for your wonderful review.  We are regular cruisers but first time on Anthem in March.   Silly really as we live in NJ.

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

You are close but what you described only works on port side cabins.

 

find a pair of connecting cabins. As you look at them from the hall the cabin on the right has the bed by the balcony. Cabins alternate balcony, bath, balcony......

Cheers for that

Hi,  I know this has been covered many times and have been fortunate to sail in JS lately or on different ships.  None available on the cruise I'm looking at so large ocean view balcony it is.   The search function leaves a lot to be desired on this board.  I did try searching many ways, the old one was better, either that or it just does not like me.

I asked the C&A desk and of course no idea what I was referring to.    Got stuck with one many years ago by the closet and its not ideal so would like to avoid if possible.

Anyone have the link with info or can provide help.   I recall its the adjoining cabins and the 1st one close to forward has the bed by the window and so on.  Do I have it right.

Thanks in advance.

On 7/9/2019 at 8:28 PM, zooma said:

 

Wow -- great to hear you've done this trip twice and would do again! If you think of any other tips, esp re excursions (whether through ship or on your own), I'd really love to hear them. We will be going in May as well. I have gone ahead and booked late seating for dining.

 

And suite/CL is no longer an option for us, as we switched from a GS-2BR to 2 JSs. Will have to save the real suite life for another day 🙂

Hi, apologies have not been on the boards for a while.

There is a dedicated lounge for suite guests,  not JS unfortunately. We are D+ so had access to both lunges.   We just this this trip In May 2017 and again May 2019 because we loved the Itinerary so much.   Would do it again in a heart beat.  JS is what we had both times, plenty of room and much bigger than the newer ships today,

Yes opt for late seating or just do My time.  It’s nice to chill after a long day sightseeing.   

On 6/25/2019 at 10:30 PM, zooma said:

Thanks so much, @hellsop. So suites get no special lounge/happy hour access? (We're not Diamond.)

On 4/13/2019 at 6:58 PM, cruzzzinma said:

We were in Grand Suite 8512 in Oct for a Greek Isles cruise . Everything was wonderful on the ship except our cabin was under the (not on the deck plans) path from the Windjammer galley to the Windjammer. It was horrible at night. We all got future cruise certificates for our agony.

We had the table tennis table above our JS.  Was a challenge some late afternoons and late at night as the players were pounding the floor, but they  it moved It midway cruise to a quieter location. We had Guest relations  come visit for a first hand experience  They surprised us with a generous future cruise cert also.   A nice touch.  

We always use our D + first two nights get and pre book the 3 nighter as well.

As soon as we arrive on board we find one of the speciality dining team and give them the 5 nights we want and times.  Never had a problem.  We just tell them to use what they need to for the first night to make it work.  They are always happy to have the business and accommodate us.

Great ship, smaller and more intimate.  Sailed on her in May 2017 out of Venice, amazing trip, Staff were excellent, friendlyist we have ever experienced, food was above par.  Doing the exact same Iteniary next month. Cannot wait....

23 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

You still have to call.

 

Try this for the list:  https://dlxffu6hwewxp.cloudfront.net/cas/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/18063159_CAS_MemberBonus_Amenity_List_v3.pdf

Thank you as always for the prompt response, hope you are enjoying your cruise critic role.  

Sorry for what you guys has to endure. 

On board gifts, it there a list anywhere these days.of what we can select and do we still have to call to make changes to our profiles.

Thanks 

Our Rhapsody med course in May recently offered 30% off so it was a good deal similar to our Diamond  plus discount.

You do have to check regularly.. it’s all about supply and demand for  Royal.

good luck...

On 2/25/2019 at 9:19 PM, Luv2cruz1000 said:

I am trying to weigh if the cost for a water taxi is worth it? Do they dock right at the cruise ship in port or do you have to walk near the people mover or p.roma? We will have luggage and considering not struggling with the vaporetti. We are staying in venice following the cruise. Any thoughts?

Taxi from where the airport??

if so take a land based Taxi very quick and very reasonable, then you don't have to worry about schlepping luggage.

Venice is a nightmare with luggage, was there 2 years ago and heading again in May.

Great location and If you like the ocean sound it’s wonderful, you will also feel like you can just reach out and touch it. Deep balcony also.  

Enjoy if you book it.  

I’m curious if anyone has visited Santorini via RCL recently and can give some intel on the tendering process. I’m seeing that some cruise lines have started taking their ship shore excursion customers to Athinos and then bussing them to Oia to try to avoid some of the back up at Fira. I prefer doing shore excursions on my own, but that might make the ship tour wo

Highly recommend not taking the ships tour for just Oia.

 

 

 

 

We stopped in Santorini May last year on Rapsody and again this year on Jewel.. this port is easy enough to do on your own if you just want to experience Oia and Fira.

 

Royal drops anchor and tenders pax to and from Fira

 

1. Ships Tender to Pier (Fira) this is where cable car is but ignore it if gong to Oia on your own.

 

Two companies offer the on your own excursions. - you will see signs..once you arrive in Fira after getting off the ships tender,

 

It’s a 10-15 min Ferry ride to Oia, Coach will meet you there to bring you to the top on the cliffs (5 mins) and park in the main parking lot, From there you are about 5 mins walk to the ocean / cliff front. You will have several hours, 4/5 and can have lunch in Oia, its wonderful. Suggest maybe head back to parking lot around 1pm then 20 mins coach back to Fira. another 5 min walk and your at the ocean front. Enough time to Browse Fira

 

The you have option to walk down or take the cable car. Factor in enough time here, if a lot of ships in port it can get busy. No way around it,

 

Will be back there in May next year as well on Rapsody.

 

 

Enjoy. Scenery is breathtaking.

I’m currently on Allure too. I’ve found this ship to be very warm, especially in the halls/elevators. Our cabin is warm at night too. Even with the air conditioning turned to the lowest level we still can t get it cool enough.

 

Just an FYI for those sailing her soon.

Call maintenance and have them change the air filter for your cabin. Also have them make sure the dial on the wall is actually working. It’s just a cover so while the dial be be all the way down, the mechanism behind it may not be.

We have had both situations so lessons learned.. enjoy your cruise..

http://panarettopizzeria.com/menu/dinner/

Wonderful Italian food. Came across this place years ago and it’s our go to pre night cruise. Casual.

Enjoy

The Junior Suites on Rhapsody are lovely, very spacious. You will enjoy it. Crew are fantastic, you really feel it on the smaller ships. Chops Grill is outstanding and even the Windjammer had great selections fro lunch or snacks.

Happy cruising.

Hello!

 

I am looking at upgrading to a JS on my upcoming cruise on Allure and am looking at 9232 or 8240. When I was speaking with the representative she suggested that since 8240 is on a public deck it may have more noise. The balcony appears to be a little bigger on 8240 than 9232, which is why I am hoping to get some insight.

 

Has anyone stayed in either of these rooms or a JS on deck 8 before?

 

Thanks in advance!

Highly Recommend Deck 8, less cabins, (no inside ones close to you at all. You will not hear noise from Central Park. Deck 8 is highly sought after for being quieter. Deck 9 has lots of inside cabins right across the hall. Its always our "go to" on Oasis class and will be on that deck in Oct as well. Im guessing maybe your Travel Rep has not actually been on this class of ship.

Enjoy..

Angelinaxoxo1 tell me your secret to having a taxi there waiting for you please.

 

 

Also were there two formal nights?

 

 

Did you book any private tours or did you go with ship excursions?

 

 

Thanks in advance!

Lots of Land based Taxis there to meet the ship, for a quick ride to the airport, we did this as year and will again next year.

Enjoy

We did Oia on our own - at the pier there are boats waiting to take you by sea to Oia and the price includes the bus back to Fira. You paid there and then. You may have to wait a little while for the boat to fill up but it was very simple and easy to do. One tip I learnt on the port boards was to confirm which bus you wanted to go back to Fira on when you first get dropped off at Oia (theres a short bus ride from the port in Oia to the town) and you were then confirmed on that bus. The cable car line was very long to get back to the boat. Though we are in our sixties and not amazingly fit we decided to give it a go walking down the steps and found it OK, though some were struggling, make sure you take water with you if you take the steps.

Highly recommend not taking the ships tour for just Oia.

The option listed above makes Santorini so easy to do on your own, and Oia warrants several hours. Scenery is breathtaking...lots of walking...

We did it in May last year on Rapsody and again this year on Jewel.. We took the cable car back down though.

1. Ships Tender to Pier (Fira) this is where cable car is but ignore it,

Two companies offer the on your own excursions. - you will see signs..

2. Wonderful coastal 10-15 min Ferry ride to Oia, Coach will meet you there to bring you to the top on the cliffs (5 mins) and park in the main parking lot, From there you are about 5 mins walk to the ocean / cliff front. You will have several hours, 4/5 and can have lunch in Oia, its wonderful. Suggest maybe head back to parking lot around 1pm then 20 mins coach cash back to Fira. another 5 min walk and your at the ocean front. Enough time to Browse Fira

The you have option to walk down or take the cable car. Factor in enough time here, if a lot of ships in port it can get busy.

Will be back there in May next year as well on Rapsody.

Enjoy...

On my cruise it’s listed at discounted 25 percent off for 45 a person that’s for this November. So regular price should be 60, we just became diamond plus so I am also waiting till we board unless price goes to 30 percent off or greater

Cheers !