UandMe4Ever

I agree! If they can't figure out how to make both work, just do DD and let passengers choose their time and restaurant. Easy Peasy. Such a production OMG.....If they would have made the dining rooms large enough in each of the 4 restaurants, this would not have become such a issue. Yet, the wasted space on a "robot bar"...Wonder who the brains were in the designs/management space?

 

We'll have to wait and see, won't we. Hope they do not go back to Classic..the times just do not work for us. Perhaps if they added in a 7-7:15 time, maybe.

 

Thanks for sharing!

I just got off the phone with a very nice rep trying to see if they know anything for certain. They do not - yet. All he would say is they are "leaning to full dynamic" and possibility of eliminating classic...He said nothing is in stone yet and no final decision has been decided. He mentioned that the majority of the passengers like dynamic, but want to keep the option of choosing what time and which restaurant they want, making it more flexible and not having RCI choose for them. It's still in the works. When the make their final decision, he believes emails will be sent to passengers directly or through their T/A....

That's it for today!

They started with just regular DD. Complaints led to the introduction of Classic. Also, there's several people in this thread stating that they work well together. Have you been on Anthem? Maybe you should try it before typing up posts like this.

 

 

 

 

Yet, you're still booked on the Anthem. Please don't come back and share a negative review. And no, I don't think Royal needs a reality check. There are many people who love their new ideas.

 

Seems you're just trying to stir the pot.

I did not give any review of the Anthem, good or bad, since I have not sailed her...and may not. I only gave MY opinion on some issues almost everyone has noticed.

I'm not stirring any pot! Just sharing some thoughts and YOU don't have to be so nasty! Many people have responded and YOU are the only one being totally snarky. Have a day!

You also need to build in that you need to arrive to Spectra, WWRY and The Gift 40 minutes prior to the start of showtime to get a good seat. There are people standing in line to get in before they even open the doors.

 

We got to WWRY at 1:50 PM for our 2:30 PM show and did get good seats. Spectra we arrived 30 minutes prior had terrible seats off to the side. The Gift we left after 18 minutes because the only seats we could get were in the upper level all the way off to the side. I could only see a 1/3 of the stage. The people sitting next to us also left. What a waste of a new ship.

 

We won't be rushing back to Anthem anytime soon.

Who wants to sit inside on a cruise ship on probably a beautiful day? I won't wait 45 minutes to see any show. I'm sure nothing is that fabulous from what I've read.

RCI needs a reality check on lots of stuff...Very disappointed in their new "ideas" for bigger ships. Make them smaller with more quality, like the "good old days'.

I enjoyed DD on the Anthem and like the way it's currently set up with guests getting a choice between DD and traditional dining. I can't believe that Royal can't figure out a way to make this work if NCL can. It would be very disappointing if they scrap DD and go back to the same old boring MDR served on other ships.

I agree! If they can't figure out how to make both work, just do DD and let passengers choose their time and restaurant. Easy Peasy. Such a production OMG.....If they would have made the dining rooms large enough in each of the 4 restaurants, this would not have become such a issue. Yet, the wasted space on a "robot bar"...Wonder who the brains were in the designs/management space?

We'll have to wait and see, won't we. Hope they do not go back to Classic..the times just do not work for us. Perhaps if they added in a 7-7:15 time, maybe.

Thanks for sharing!

Dynamic Dinning just has not worked. In a idea situation it would be great if you could pick your time and place to eat. The problem is the ships cannot accommodate all the passengers dinning together, or to many passengers picking the same times and restaurants. The kitchen staff needs prep time and to stage the meals with traditional dinning they can prep and plan for the two main dinning times or turning of the dinning room two times per dinner meal.

 

When you throw Dynamic Dinning in it requires much more resources. And acts to separate the staff from the guest. It will always work for a small percent of the cruisers but the majority of the passengers will have issues and therefore it will fail. Royal has the largest cruise ships in the World and needs to turn and control dinning in order to process all guest.

We did for our upcoming cruise Oct 29th. Fpr Dynamic, I spoke to a wonderful rep and we got our times and choices pf restaurants we wanted, for all 12 nights. Hope they don't make me cancel this cruise. 5:30 tooo early and 8:30 tooo late for us older folks.

I think the cruise line is having a logistical problem keeping both Classic and Choice in place. I've not sailed on Quantum class, so I don't know if it's the same, but on other ships I see many underutilized tables in traditional dining. These tables cannot be used for MTD guests, so it leads to longer wait times for those guests.

With Dynamic which we choose on all lines, however they call it, it's no issue. Book our time in advance, go in and dine relaxed. Not much different from classic or traditional. Don't need to have the waiter know if I want ice tea every night...maybe I don't. I think the biggest issue is that Anthem did not allow enough space in the dining venues to accommodate about 4500 passengers eating between 5:30 - 9:30, no matter which plan these choose.

Interesting to read the feedbacks :)

Hi cruisers,

Keep reading different stories about the Dining on Anthem. Some say it should all go Dynamic, as is, making reservations for restaurant and time of your choice. That would be the gest. Different restaurants, trying different menu's.

I personally think DD is the way of the future. Mixing it with Classic, just doesn't seem to work. Classic folks could still choose their 5:30 or whatever time as they do for classic. It would prevent much confusion all around.

RCI should take their cue from NCL....especially some of the older ships. Dine when YOU want, not when the cruise line says you should. You can even make dining reservations in advance on line. They were the Innovator of MTD and everyone else started following.

People want flexibility of their choosing.

I hope Anthem sticks with Dynamic Dining, making ressies in advance as to which restaurant the passengers want to dine in.

This is just my opinion. I'm sure I'm not alone. How this plays out might determine whether or not we stick to our 12 night Western Oct. 29, 2016!! Let's hope we won't have to change.

Safe travels all.

PS I appreciate feedback and opinions, just as long as it's kept civil.

Thanks.

:-)

That money DOES go to the staff. It is put into the crew welfare fund.

To me, personally, the bionic bar is ridiculous! a waste of space and money which RCI could put to better use...An indoor cigar bar! They took away balcony and other areas for smokers, but they could make space for a bionic bar? Gotta tip those robots when it screws up your drink Just sayin!

Anyone??

not to totally hijack this regarding your questions, but does anyone have solid info of balcony 11218, other than what I can find on the website? Has anyone stayed I that cabin? If so, would appreciate any and all input, good/bad...We're sailing 10/29 and have plenty of time to change if necessary.

Also, could not find anything about a cheap balcony upgrade ending today? HELP :-)

Thanks all who are kind enough to reply.

Safe travels always.

The music part is not very long. Also the last two years I was there in June and it was not crowded. Not close to a gazillion. And the music was not very loud, only loud. I don't think it gets as crowded as it did years ago since ships mostly dock at the Dockyard, not Hamilton. There are two sailings in May and two in June that dock at Hamilton so it might get crowded those four nights. The dancers start at one end and parade/dance to the other end so they can move away from them if the baby is bothered. As long as they have a stroller, which I would expect with a 10 month old, they should be fine.

 

As far as the last ferry, it does not leave early, what they do is add an extra ferry before the last scheduled ferry at 10:30 so that all can be accomodated back to the dockyard.

Thanks for the update....It used to be last ferry around 9pm'sh..Good idea for the extra ferry...Maybe a few years ago it was more crowded than now. but I still think it's a bit loud as they get closer down from the top of the hill....whatever...It's still fun :-)

Can not think of any reason not to take your 10 month old. I assume you will have a stroller.

Harbour Nights is fun and VERY LOUD MUSIC for more than 1/2 hour and standing only. It is usually very crowded, one on top of each other and standing only. The baby is fine in a stroller. I'm not sure how comfortable you will be to have the baby 'jammed in' with a gazillion people and it being super loud. Also, it might must be a bit scarry to the babes to see all the dances in their costumes....

Make sure you get to the pier for the LAST FERRY back to this ship. Sometimes they come a little early.

Whatever you do, I hope you have a great time. Bermuda is so nice. Been there 5x by various ships.

Safe travels.

I agree!

I agree. Not only a new ship, but one that finally does the Western Caribbean from New Jersey...YAY

P0lease stay in NJ, Anthem! Maybe add 1 more, or am I being greedy LOL

Never wear a tie myself, but I do like a dinner jacket. Happy wife, Happy life

 

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How lovely you all look! We do not mind dressing up a bit (not like years ago). DH likes looking "Handsome" for me and I like looking "pretty" for him. It's so easy. Have to dress anyway for dinner, so pull out a nice top, accessories and done. Easy, peasy. Makes us feel good knowing we look good.

:-)

"Get away with it"?

 

Yes.

 

Feel free to disrespect the only room on the entire ship that asks you to dress up.

 

Ok, I don't really care myself, but that is what you are saying and what you are asking.

 

They ask that men wear a jacket. If you do not have one, they will provide (a probably ill-fitting) one.

 

So, yes, you do not have to wear formalwear. A jacket for the man is the minimum that they request. If your husband is willing to wear that, you will be ushered to your table without a word.

Hi, Even my DH cannot understand the big deal to put a jacket on, not even a tie to eat in the Grand. He can take it off as soon as he is seated...No biggie. Easy to respect that rule...It can't possibly ruin a cruise. And, by the way, DH also says he'd rather wear his own that one that many, many, other men have worn. Who knows how much they perspire into the jacket. JOHO....

Anthem is only doing 3 Western Caribbean itineraries in 2017 (Jan 25, Mar 7 and Oct 29) and itineraries may vary by departure dates.

Hi, I was only referring to Oct. 29, 2016 from Bayonne, NJ....However, thanks for the itinerary for 2017. Who knows, maybe we'll do it again from Bayonne, NJ, especially since we're only about 1 hour from the pier....

Thanks. Have a great day :-)

Anthem does not do a Western Caribbean itinerary.

Hi, we will be on the Anthem Oct. 29, 2016. It does a partial Western: Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman. I'm not sure if Hondouras is Western or Central..and Falmouth, Jamaica, and Labadee. (This isn't the exact order, sorry). Hope it helps...It's the ONLY date is does this itinerary....

Safe travels.

Thanks :D

good information and thank you. Just one question, they used to ask which credit card you will be using for payment of purchases, drinks, etc. at the end of the cruise. Don't they do that now or is that info you fill out prior.

Thanks in advance.

Appreciate all the experience-based feedback in this thread.

 

We're loyal to Royal...but considering a Princess Panama Canal cruise (also considering Celebrity - but don't want one for 15 days, which appears to be all they offer).

Hi, I believe Princess has a 10 or 11 night from Florida. We did it a couple of years ago on the Island Princess. It was wonderful. Not sure which ship goes when on Princess.

Whichever, you can't go wrong with Princess.

Have fun planning :-)

</script>>

How is Dynamic Dining working out lately on the Anthem. Can you make reservations easily? I just booked on the Anthem, and Classic Dynamic Dining is closed. I was defaulted to Dynamic Dining.

Hi, hard to believe classic is booked up in Oct. 16...Probably will cause chaos in dynamic dining unless reservations are made soon. Glad we made ours a couple of weeks ago. all done for Oct. 29th!!!

I heard rumors that they may do away with Classic Dynamic Dining? Anyone know if this is true.

Thanx.

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You are not limited to just using in your cabin. No corkage fee anywhere on the ship. You can take your wine to dinner and they will open and keep just as if you bought it in the dining room.

I believe there is a corkage fee for the ding room! however, you can carry a glass of wine around and even into dining..no charge for that.

Two (2) bottles per cabin! Bon Voyage!

Do not put them in your luggage! Carry on is the best way! No corkage fee on RCI anymore if used in cabin! Enjoy and safe sails all.

does anyone know the formal nights on anthem how many, what nights?:)

No "formal nights". Only real requirement is nice dressing and men wear a jacket (no tie required) for the Grand Dining Room. Boy, how things have changed.

Find a lot of these threads where people answer questions that were never asked...it's quite a skill

Hi, not trying to hijack this thread, but does anyone who smokes been on the Anthem lately? If so, where exactly are the areas?

Thanks in advance.

Back to cruising now. I'm having so much fun taking pictures of their motivational happy wall art. I've down 3 floors so I'm looking forward to the neat things I will see! There is so much of it.

 

 

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I know how you feel. I loved checking out all of the artwork in the stairwells on the Oasis. Not taking the elevators got me exercise and much happiness looking at the photos and artwork. Thanks for your live reports... enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Everything sounds good!

I just priced without C&A discount and I would get $100 OBC but pay $123 more, so it was better to take the discount.

Booked Sunday through our T/A In the long run we saved $200 and could use C&A balcony discount. Plus she gave us $50 OBC and wine....win win...cheaper the other way. Also noticed the price went UP 2 hours after we booked. Some sales are just not sales..They jack up the price so you "think" you are getting some deal! Besides, if the prices lowers on the WOW sale, you will loose the OBC....With our T/A we would not lose anything, but gain a few $ off final...

Just saying!