trishs

On 11/26/2021 at 6:13 AM, GenerationX said:

PeterGavin I am so honored! This is the best compliment ever!!! If I see Captain Tasos around the ship today I’m totally going to try and convince him to dig up a bottle of Veuve Cliquot from somewhere and christen me the FunMother of the Equinox! 😁

Hi GenX Thanks so much for your review. What an amazing time you are having.  Our last cruise was March when everything got canceled so  so it will be about  2 years and we have one booked for Feb 12 days.  My question is, can we get off on the stops if we don't have a ship tour? Or has there been any restrictions for walk off's.?  Thanks Trish

Thanks for the info. I'm glad to hear things went well!

 

Did you bring your own oats because the oatmeal was made with milk? Or do you just like steel cut oats?

I bring them because they are organic and they add a lot of water to their oats. But they said their oats are vegan. And I like steel cut.

Hi,

The Serenade went very well. For breakfast: I brought my steel cut oats and added nuts. I asked for Almond milk, it was a little hard to get but then not a problem after that.

Lunch I just went to windjammer and made a spinach salad

Dinner I talked to my head waiter and they did a great job on getting food for me. It was mostly indian because that is what I requested. Just made sure there was no butter or cream. I can't remember all I had but the other thing I requested were lentils. All the flavors were great. I would then go to the windjammer and eat a salad if I felt I needed more veggies, then I would get some fruit for desert.

Also, if you go to the windjammer they will let you know what has cream in it. They would also stir fry me some veg's in the windjammer if I needed it.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

I'm going on the Vision in June to Europe so we will see how it goes, but so far so good.

A suite would have been lovely but, no, we were just in a standard ocean view cabin on deck 3. It's probably a good idea to bring the pad with you since you have a bad hip. I always feel it's better to play safe and be prepared for anything. Doesn't help me pack light though! :D

Yes better safe than sorry. I brought it last time and still only had a carry on and a back pack.

Windjammer (at least on my last cruise) the card above each food item listing the name of the item also had a notation for the vegetarian items. They did not denote which of the vegetarian items are vegan but I asked a manager there and he was glad to tell me which items were vegan.

 

Whole foods are obvious but some of the foods combining rice, vegetables, etc. could have a cream sauce so it is good to ask.

Hi, I'm Vegan :)

I was on the Anthem in Oct 2017 for the 1st time being Vegan with cruising . at the main dining, I just ordered a salad and I put the olive oil and balsamic on it. They tried to make something vegan in the main dining but it usually ended up being potatoes, verses I asked for Veg.'s so I then just asked for steamed veg's. I didn't want to make a big deal.

My husband eats vegan at home because I cook. But on a cruise it's another story, it's meat at every meal. So after the main dining we go to the windjammer and I ask what dishes are Vegan, they were great in telling me, if it had butter or cream, then I knew it wasn't vegan. Or they offer to cook me up something. So I would pick the veg's and they would stir fry with wonderful Indian flavors. I had a great experience being Vegan on the Anthem.

I am cruising on the Serenade Jan 15th to the caribbean and hope to have the same experience. It's great to talk to the head chef in the windjammer and get the lowdown on the Vegan food. Glad to see other vegan's are cruising.

Hi. Glad to be of assistance. You are going to have a great time, for sure! :)

 

Unlike our fellow-cruiser Terre, who unfortunately had a terrible bed, our beds were very comfortable. We have quite a firm bed at home and these were a bit softer but still provided enough support. I slept very well.

 

For departure, we had an excursion booked. We were supposed to disembark at 8 am but it was actually a bit later than that. The self-assist express departure was billed as being from 7.20 am to 8 am and it couldn't really have been any earlier than that as the ship was still manoeuvering into position at the pier at 7 am. The last tags shown on the departure schedule were due to be called at 9.10 am. By that time, of course, we were already off, so I don't know if that actually happened. I will scan and post the departure schedule, probably some time this evening.

 

As far as meals are concerned, would I be correct in thinking your plant-based diet may be similar to a vegan diet? If so you might want to take a look at this thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2445481 for tips and suggestions. One of the posters on there (MsPoppadom) has a blog where she has written about her experience as a vegan cruiser on Royal, which you might also find helpful: https://vegancruiser.co.uk/royal-caribbean/cruise-vegan-royal-caribbean/.

Thanks so much your so helpful. Yes Plant based is similar to vegan, I just don't eat sugars or processed food that some vegans do. I appreciate the blog and I will check that out next.

Were you in a suite, I have heard the beds are softer in the suite. We are in a regular room this time. When I was on the Harmony the bed was hard, so I have brought a pad, I have a bad hip that needs a little more coush :) :)

:)

Just found your review. Thanks so much for taking the time. We will be on the Serenade on Jan 15th. Looking forward to checking her out.

1. How were the beds? We they on the firm side. (it seems when they do a renovation, they have been changing them out to firmer beds.

2. What time were you allowed off the ship? ours says it arrives at 7:00am but wondered how your disembarking went?

Read your comment about vegetarians, it's a little more changeling because I eat a plant base diet, so I usually have to get creative. But I don't starve :)

Thanks again

Trish

One of the most popular highlights (if not the most popular) of the entire Amalfi Coast...is visiting the clffside town of Positano. You might notice that whenever you take a bus tour (from HAL or anyone else) it will say something like "you will see Positano" which is literally true. Yes, you will "see" Positano from the road (looking down to the city) but you will not have an opportunity to actually go into Positano, show, walk, etc. Tour buses are simply not permitted in that city. That is why many experienced travelers recommend taking a private tour (in a car or mini van) or using the public bus or hydrofoil...to actually go to Positano. To us, the 2nd best place near the coast is Ravello.....also skipped by many tours.

 

Hank

Hi Hank,

Hi Hank,

The last 2 times. had a guide for Pompeii, Sorrento and Positano. & Ravello Do you suggest a guide again or what do you think about renting a car? Is parking an issue? We will port in Salerno, there are 4 adults and 1 child. Or any other suggestions? We port at Salerno this time.

(I posted a similar question on a wrong thread)

Thanks for any help

Trish

Hi Hank,

We have had a guide for Salerno: Pompeii, Sorrento and Positano the last 2 times on our cruise. Do you suggest a guide again or what do you think about renting a car? Is parking an issue? We will port in Salerno, there are 4 adults and 1 child.

Thanks for any help

Trish

Sorry I just realized this was so off topic for this thread. My apologies.

Time to take a deep breath and except some realities of geography. Regarding taking internal flights in Italy such as from FCO to Venice, we are not fans. If you are staying in Rome, you would need to factor in the time (and cost) to get out to FCO, plus you would need to be at the airport at least 1 1/2 hours prior to your flight. Many internal flights run a little late so that can add to time. And once at Venice, you have to wait 30-45 min to get your luggage and then get into town. The reality is that taking the train is likely just as fast and more convenient.

 

As to driving, we have done the route several times (between both Rome and Civitavecchia and Venice) and it is a long day. We often prefer to drive our own rental car because it makes handling our luggage pretty easy and we enjoy stopping at various places around Italy (we have driven far more then 10,000 miles within Italy). So while a rental car is a decent option, not everyone is comfy driving in Italy ...or handling a stick shift (which is very common in Italy). Hiring a private car and driver to get you from Rome or Civitavecchia to Venice is not cost efficient. Keep in mind that for cost purposes the driver has to factor in the round trip time and mileage

 

As to the route, I would not call it overly scenic as most of your drive would be on main highways (autostrade), These are like interstate highways in the US. And since the Italians are using more and more speed cameras (especially along the major routes) one can no longer speed. The big advantage to driving comes when you have several days to stop along the route. .

 

If you really want to visit Venice after your cruise...and can spend a few extra days then it can be a fun trip. But done in 1 or 2 days does not make a lot of sense.

 

Hank

Hi Hank,

We have had a guide for Salerno: Pompeii, Sorrento and Positano the last 2 times on our cruise. Do you suggest a guide again or what do you think about renting a car? Is parking an issue? We will port in Salerno, there are 4 adults and 1 child.

Thanks for any help

Trish

Parking at St Paul de Vence is quite easy. There is free parking along the road (just past the entrance) although it can be difficult to find a spot close to the town. Otherwise, there is a large "pay" indoor garage just past the town entrance (you will see the blue "P" signs) where there always seems to be plenty of room. Parking in Nice can be difficult if you are seeking a spot on the street (either free or covered by parking meters). But Nice also has several large garages (at least one is underground) ...so if you are willing to pay to park you just follow the blue "P" signs. Its always wise to do a little pre-trip homework and look at some local maps (online) where you can locate parking garages....in terms of the part of town you want to visit.

 

When we have driven to Nice...it is usually in the morning (before 10) where we like to go to the Flower Market....and at that hour we usually do find metered parking on the streets just outside Old Town.

 

As to Eze, there is a medium size lot located right in front of the town (just off the Moyenne Corniche). While the lot is not huge...we have always managed to find a spot (although one might have to wait a few minutes for somebody to vacate a spot). As to Monte Carlo, we hate driving and parking in that city. There is limited on the street parking (usually metered) and some pay garages....but MC is an easy city in which to get flustered while driving...because of one-way streets and hilly terrain. If you are driving to MC, have a GPS and make sure to have studied a map (in advance) so you have an idea where you want to go.

 

Hank

Awesome, great advice. Thank you so much. Now to convince the family :)

There are pros and cons and enjoy both places. St Paul de Vence is certainly a larger place with more shops and eating venues. St Paul de Vence used to be a great choice for art lovers since the town used to have many excellent galleries. Now, there are fewer galleries but some are excellent. And only a few minute ride from St Paul de Vence is the fascinating art museum called the Maeght Fondation. This place is about contemporary art (think Miro) and has a decent small collection. Eze is easier to access....and does offer a great view of the sea.

 

We have previously posted that when we have a rental car we will often go to both St Paul de Vence and Eze.

 

Hank

Thanks so much Hank, your a wealth of knowledge.

I saw your post on renting a car. That is what I would like to do, but my daughter wants a tour guide.

How is the paring at Nice, St Paul, Eze, and Monte Carlo ?

We are not big fans of cruise line excursions, but if the itinerary is and price is right, it could be your best choice. You might also want to become active on your cruise's Roll Call (here on CC) and see if you can find a few others who want to go to the same small towns. If so, you might do better to hire your own driver/guide. There is no question that trying to do a lot of smaller towns using public transportation is a true challenge and not a great option. This is what led us, over thirty years ago, to get into the habit of using rental cars in many European ports. A rental car generally costs us around 100€ for a port day, whereas hiring a taxi or private tour (for ourselves) would likely cost 350 - 500€.

 

We have seen cruise line excursions in St Paul de Vence and it has always made us grateful we were not on the tour. They will generally walk their charges (which can be up to 60 souls) through the city (up the one main street) giving them some information about the walled city. Then the tours usually get a limited amount of free time which generally does not leave them enough time to relax with a nice lunch. DW reminded me that on one driving visit to St Paul de Vence we got there about 9:30am on a beautiful Sunday morning. Several local men were having their weekly Boules game on the pitch located at a cafe just outside the city walls. We stopped for some coffee and ultimately spend over an hour just watching the boules game and chatting with some of the locals. While this was happening, along came a large tour group from our ship with several of our friends. When they saw the Boules they asked their guide if they could leave the tour and join us at the cafe....and were advised it was not a good idea since they would miss their tour and possibly lose their group. Several others on the tour also wanted to stop at the cafe....but it was not to be since their guide had a schedule. And that sums up one big negative of large group tours...in that you lose most flexibility (this is not normally as big an issue if you are on a small private tour).

 

Ever since stopping for to watch that Boules match....this cafe has become a regular haunt of ours whenever we see a few locals playing boules. It is an interesting part of the local culture...which I find a lot more interesting then a guide touting a jewelry store (from which they get a commission).

 

Hank

Would you suggest St Paul de Vence, or Eze?

Current water temp is 72 degrees. Pretty chilly

 

 

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I heard the Solarium for dinner, has no charge. Is that the case? Does the menu change each night?

We will be on the Anthem for the first time in Oct.

Thanks for any help. Trish

There was a long line (everyone self disembarks) but I would say we were off the ship by 7:38 and through customs. I had uber pulled up on my app and as we walked away from the customs desk I hit the button. Took him about 15 minutes to get to us

 

 

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Thanks so much, that's very helpful.

Another uber update. Did self disembark off Anthem this am (Thursday am). Uber picked us up at 7:51 (prob a 15 minute wait for him to get to the port) and dropped us at 8:13 at Newark, Terminal C. $26.66.

 

We had only 2 people and one bag each (plus backpack) and it was a Chevrolet Suburban. We just requested regular uber

 

Was highly impressed with entire uber experience in NJ. I jumped on Amtrak at 10 and my DH has a flight at 12:30.

 

 

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That is great. We are planning the same thing.

We will be doing the express walk off.

What time did they let you off?

Also what time did you contact Uber?

When you focus your plans a bit more, post back for additional suggestions.

 

For example, if you stay in Times Square post cruise, you can take the airport bus to JFK from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Timing is everything in NYC and day of the week is important. Allowing enough time to get to the airport is critical.

I booked Embassy suites in Elizabeth (a Hilton) as per your suggestion. (thanks) What time would you suggest leaving the hotel to get to the port. We will most likely use uber, but would like to avoid a ton of traffic.

Good thing to find out now!

 

The best deal out there for you is the trinityreservations.com package at the Ramada Plaza for $185 tax included which includes a room AND round trip port transportation as well as an airport shuttle. It is prepay, but cancellable until noon the day before your arrival. I used this package with parking in February and was very happy with it. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, and extensive cafe.

 

When you get to the hotel you sign up for a shuttle time - I went at 10 am on a Tuesday. It was still late rush hour on a "bad traffic" morning and we were at the port by 10:25 (This hotel has good access to Exit 14 and is one of the closest EWR hotels to the port). The shuttle was a 14-16 passenger hotel shuttle that was clean and comfortable. Coming back the shuttle would stop at the hotel before going to the P4 Airtrain station drop off (and pick up) point to connect to the various terminals by Airtrain.

 

 

If this hotel doesn't suit, post back your hotel budget and any other requirements.

That looks good. I will have to check out the hotel. Budget up to $300 ish

What exact date are you sailing on the Anthem? Oct 12 th 2017

 

What time does your flight arrive in Newark?

 

Possible 4:30

How many people are you and what is your hotel budget? (2)

 

 

I've visited the Hilton Garden and really like the location, but.....the Bayonne Bridge is currently under construction and subject to frequent unpredictable/unscheduled closures. Pull up a map of the Staten Island/Bayonne area so you can see what I'm talking about. The direct route to Cape Liberty from the Hilton Garden is via route 440 across the Bayonne Bridge. When the Bridge is closed, traffic has to go west on I278, cross the Goethals Bridge to NJ at Elizabeth, go north on the turnpike to Newark, and continue east on the turnpike extension I78 to exit 14A Bayonne to get to the port. I'm not currently suggesting this hotel to cruisers because of the inconvenience of the bridge closures.

 

If you're flying home from Newark, you probably should make transportation arrangements to go directly to the airport instead of going via Staten Island. (yes we are going direct to Newark)

 

Without a car the Hilton Garden itself is the only place to eat unless you want to take a taxi somewhere else. The hotel is located in a lovely location in a wooded corporate park, but there are no services nearby.

I called the hotel and they won't be able to pick us up for free shuttle to hotel, between 5pm-8pm because of military personal. So I'm going to can cancel my booking with them and look for another place. If you have any suggestion. Would like free shuttle to hotel and we could use uber to the ship.

We are sailing on Anthem (from Cape Liberty) Saturday, May 14th, and staying at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island for 3 nights pre-cruise. We will be going to the 911 Memorial on Friday, May 13th, we have reservations at 11 am. What is the best way to get from South Ferry to the 911 Memorial (it may be raining)? Is there a good place to eat nearby, preferably a Jewish Deli? Thank you for your advice.

Hi, I realize this is a year old post. But I just made reservations at Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island. It said on their website free shuttle from the airport ERW and to the port. How was your stay. Anything to eat nearby and would you recommend this hotel? Also how was the shuttle service? Thanks for any help.

To finish up....

 

We had a wonderful cruise and were very happy with both the ship itself and the service. I thought the Windjammer staff was especially attentive this time where I didn't remember that in the past.

 

I do agree that some things need updating and replaced on the ship. The couch in our room was pretty dirty and the carpet could use a cleaning or replaced. We're crossing our fingers that it will all be done for our Jan 2018 cruise! If not, we always have our Jan 2019 cruise :D

 

One last picture which is the saddest pic of the cruise! The waiters singing goodbye to us!

 

 

Let me know if there are any other questions I can answer for you about the ship or the islands!

Thanks for such a great review. I was wondering what time was the earliest time people got off?

I hadn't either, but our upcoming 4/23 Oasis sailing this past weekend was $7.99 per day. Our Anthem sailing in September showed $11.99 per day.

 

John

Wow 7.99 is great. I just checked again and the price is 11.99 so I'm glad I got the 8.99 :)

Yep, right outside of the bus stop at a little stand. You'll see the line. Basically when you walk off the ship, just follow the pathway along and you'll end up there. It's not hard to find like it was in Curacao!

Awesome! Thanks so much. I haven't figured out what to do in Curacao yet. Did you take a bus to a beach?

Next up: Aruba!

 

We had read a lot about taking the city bus in Aruba so that is what we did! It was $10 for 2 people to go 1 place round trip. We went to Eagle Beach so it was only $10 for both of us, there and back. You have to buy the bus card before getting on the bus. There are maps inside of the cruise terminal that tell you how to walk there. It takes about 10 mins.

 

Eagle Beach was beautiful. We heard that it is much less busy than Palm Beach. We paid $30 for 2 chairs and an umbrella. The beers were quite expensive on the beach - about $5-$7. We ended up walking to a grocery store nearby and paying a little less.

 

Eagle Beach:

 

 

 

We went parasailing here as well which was gorgeous! The water is so clear and the color is amazing.

 

 

 

Since we didn't leave until 8pm, we got some cool photos of the island as the sun was setting.

 

 

Where did you buy the buss card. At the same place you get on the buss?

Next up: Antigua (one of my faves!)

 

I put this on my roll call board and I feel that it's worth mentioning on here. The taxi drivers in Antigua are very pushy and will try to talk you in to going to the beach that they want to drive to. So if you want to go to a certain beach, be strong lol. Most of them drive small vans/buses and generally wait for 6-8 people to join until they will take you. It is quite chaotic in my opinion compared to other ports but it is worth it when you get to the beach!!

 

We took a taxi to Dickenson Bay. We'd never been there before and wanted to try it out. It was about a 10 min drive. I'm sorry I can't remember the fare for the taxi but I don't think it was too bad. I will update this when I get home with the amount. I will also confirm on the chair prices.

 

Where we were dropped off, the Sandals resort was to our right as you are looking at the water. We walked to the left though to get a chair. It was a GORGEOUS beach! See for yourself...

 

 

This little "bay" area is where we swam. Water was very calm and no rocks to worry about.

 

These are near the Sandals property. We love walking the beach and came across these while we were on our walk.

 

When we walked the other way, we came to a point (at the end of Dickenson Bay) and it was so beautiful. There is something about the color of the rock, the sky, and the water....

 

A rainbow off in the distance during sail away!

WOW!!! So beautiful. I can't wait. Thanks for your review, it's been so helpful.