NewSalt

We’ve done three Anthem cruises, and those have been the formal nights on all three. 

However, as they say in a prospectus, “past performance is no indicator. . .”

Anthem is so different from the other ships, I don’t believe the CDs act the same way. They just seem to come out at the end of a show; then you never see them again. I have to say we sailed and met Dennis (he was going by his actual last name then) in 2008 on our Panama Canal cruise, and he became one of our favorites. Maybe he’s been cruising so long, he expects everyone to know him? [emoji23][emoji23] But CDs are like cruise food, it’s all subjective. There are some I don’t care for that other people love, but I remember all of them from our Royal cruises. None from our other cruises!

 

 

And we didn’t care for either Spectre’s Cabaret or The Gift. We live the Anthem,but other than a couple of comedians, have been underwhelmed by the shows.

 

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I used to read discussion on CDs and wonder what the fuss was about. Then we had “Hello Clo”on Anthem last year and I understood. She was great.

A and we didn’t care for either Spectra’s Cabaret or The Gift. We love the Anthem, but other than a couple of comedians, have been underwhelmed by the shows.

Loving your review. Hope you get to finish before you’re overwhelmed with papers

We’ve sailed on Anthem three times. If you have a balcony, on any deck lower than eight you have a good chance to have your view partially obstructed by the lifeboats or the structures that support them, even in cabins not labeled “partially obstructed.”

Last month we were at Labadee for the fourth time, and Columbus Cove was the most crowded I've ever seen it. We headed out right after breakfast and had difficulty getting a spot in the shade, which has never been a problem before. Granted, we were on the Anthem, which is a big ship, but two previous stops were also on the same ship.

When we booked our first trip to Europe, the TA recommended trip insurance. Since I'm something of a skeptic, I wondered if it was just something that would net her a bigger commission. The next day I had a long wait in a doctor's office and read a copy of Reader's Digest, for the first time in probably 30 years. There was a story about someone traveling in a remote region of South America who broke a leg and had to be air-lifted out for tens of thousands of dollars. I took it as a sign from the universe and took out the insurance.

On our next European vacation, the tour company we used (a well-established and reputable one) declared bankruptcy after final payment. It was a group trip, and those of us who had trip insurance recouped every penny and rebooked. About half the group lost the entire cost of the trip.

We’ve had unobstructed balconies three times on Anthem. The first one was directly above the outside smoking area, absolutely horrible. Lots of chatter and, well, smoke. Never had that lovely alone-on-a-vast-ocean feel we loved. Last month we had the housing that supports the lifeboat below us directly outside our balcony. It was white and gave off lots of glare. Not pleasant b

I love Anthem, but would never take a cabin below Deck 9 again. (Possibly 8 if the price was really good.)

Yes, you stand outside the tube where the flying takes place and get some great pictures.

You would probably need more than 20 minutes between reservations. First you watch a short video and get some basic training, then you suit up and walk up to the tube and wait while everyone in the group has a turn, walk back downstairs and remove your flight suit.

It’s a lot of fun.

I second these tags. We've had them for several years and they ROCK.

I give them as small gifts to friends who are taking their first cruise. Love them.

We always carry on our electronics...

 

 

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A porter in Ft. Lauderdale asked me if a small case with the rest of my bags contained a laptop. When I replied it did, he handed it back to me and told me never to check it. (I hadn’t meant to check it; DH didn’t realize what it was and just put it with the other bags.) I took the warning to heart.

Coffee and croissants NOT delivered at 7:00 a.m.

Bed sloppily made.

NO fresh towels.

Waste basket not emptied.

Geez, just because we left Anthem on Saturday, is that any reason that the pampering should stop?;p

Reality is hard.

We're on Anthem now on Deck 7 and our view is partially obstructed by life boats (although we did not pay obstructed-view price). What's worse is the structure that holds the lifeboat is directly opposite our balcony, and it's very white and really adds a lot of light pollution. We have decided nothing lower than Deck 9 in the future.

But we still love the ship.

We travel with my DGS, who has several food allergies, egg among them.

As soon as you board, visit the dining room (whichever is on your planner) and confirm your dining time. I’m sure you’ll find them both accommodating and knowledgeable.

We’re sailing on Anthem this week, for our grandson’s sixth cruise. RCI does a great job with dietary restrictions. You might want to bring some prepackaged snacks. It’s convenient to have food you know is safe close at hand and when you leave the ship, you can bring them with you and won’t have to go through the hassle of finding safe foods in a strange port.

I’ll ask my DD for any suggestions she might have for you.

Since they opened the new terminal at Cape Liberty, parking and luggage handling is a breeze. Just stop in front of the terminal, porters will help you off-load your bags, then you drive into the parking garage and walk to check-in. Traffic does back up, though, so you’re better off arriving either early or late. Check-in is fast and painless.

There are lots of porters at the pier when you disembark, and it’s easy to get one to help you. When you use a porter, they get you through Customs very quickly.

They do take credit cards at the garage.

I found Cruise Critic about a month before our first cruise, which was on the Celebrity Summit. I was ready to cancel when I read about how old, dingy, and rusty she was. My jaw dropped in amazement when I boarded her. She was beautiful! Yes, there were a few—very few—tiny rust spots here and there, but she’s a ship, a ship that sails in salt water. Rust happens. We liked the cruise so much that I booked a family cruise when I got home.

Thursday we leave on our seventh RCI cruise. I’ve never been on Harmony, but we’ve enjoyed all of ours. And I’m a PITA and don’t overlook much. There’s been an occasional supercilious employee, but they are the exception. Most are very willing to do whatever it takes to give you a great vacation. And I cannot imagine the cleanliness standards of anyone who would describe any of the ships as “dirty.”

You may find after your cruise that you prefer Carnival or another cruise line to RCI. I’ve liked some cruises better than others, but I cannot say I’ve ever regretted any cruise I’ve taken.

What other ports might be possible? We're on Anthem next week and I was wondering if Coco Cay might be a possibility. I thought it might be easier to arrange to dock there there.

I've seen videos of protestors in boats in Labadee.

What does RCI do in cases like this? Extra sea day?

We took the martini class on Serenade in February, and the recipe was:

.5 oz. Lemoncello

.5 oz. Absolut Citron

.5 oz. Rose’s lime juice

1 oz. vanilla ice cream

.5 oz. milk

He used lime peel on the rim and floated a dash of cinnamon on top.

I suspect each bartender has his own version, but that was Julio’s recipe.

We always fly at least one day before, but since we live in Sweden we often ends up staying one night in Copenhagen or Stockholm before the flights.

 

Back in 2016 we missed our connecting flight in Frankfurt. We stayed one night at Copenhagen airport, flew from Copenhagen to Frankfurt and the plan was to fly to Miami. Missed the plane in Frankfurt and ended up going to Bangor (refueling the plane) and the Newark, from Newark we flew down to Miami. From the time we left the hotel at Copenhagen airport until we got into our hotelroom in Miami it took us 26hrs. Normaly it would have taken 14 - 15hrs.

I need to bookmark this and read it when I kvetch about a 45-minute flight delay.

Hope you had a fabulous cruise after all that.

Because unlike you, some folks were clamoring for a change.

Nope.

$

Fewer, less expensive options + cruisers switching to specialty restaurants = $ added to bottom line.

After our last cruise with the new menu, our already booked Anthem cruise will be our last on RCCL unless there are no other cruises that meet our criteria.

Your DGS will be five and has never cruised before. He will be very happy no matter which line you choose. We’ve taken our DGS (and their parents) on four cruises on Celebrity and RCCL. They’ve loved them all, as they did their two trips to DW. When I priced a Disney cruise roughly equivalent to our RCI cruise, I found DCL to be three times the cost, or approximately the cost of one college semester. No, thank you.

We’ve liked having connecting rooms. DD and her DH can put the boys to bed and go out to a late show while we stay in our cabin with the door propped open and watch a movie or read.

We’ve done one or two cruises a year on RCI for the past five years. There was a very noticeable decline in the MDR on our last cruise on Serenade in February. There were about half as many options as in the past. I wouldn’t fault that if it was an effort to do a few things well, but that was not the case. Salmon was offered on the first night and never thereafter. The fish offerings were obscure species and every one I tried was dry and over cooked and oddly favored. Everyone at our table stopped ordering fish by the third or fourth night. One night I chose a scallops appetizer, and the waiter very apologetically brought two portions because each consisted of three very small bay scallops.

I found the food on Celebrity to be better in general, but always thought RCI did a decent job. The MDR meals on this last cruise were significantly worse than those we had in the recent past.

Meatonabun,

Thank you for a perfect review!

Loved reading that you can’t take your eyes off your wife [emoji5]

 

 

 

+1

 

I’ve been looking for a current Anthem review so I could ask how much the arcade games cost so my DD could decide if she wanted to pre-buy the tokens, but then I saw this was an anniversary cruise and I realized you probably didn’t waste much time on arcade games. :D

I recommend using WAZE. It’s an interactive app, and other users update it in real time, so you are much more likely to get up-to-the-minute information on road/lane closures, traffic tie-ups, etc.

Only because it is a way out of New Jersey.

Into Pennsyltucky?

All passengers have to have a passport or at least a birth certificate to board.

That’s right. We sailed once with my BC (when my passport disappeared en route to the cruise), and I forgot that they checked that before we boarded. It was a fairly chaotic time. Sorry for the stupid question.