barneymag

On Anthem for 14 night Med cruise in September, usually sail Celebrity or P&O out of Southampton.... first time on Royal and this ship.

I usually have breakfast in MDR or Room Service (Celebrity) as I hate the bun fight in the buffet (Windjammer on RCI)

So question is with RCI and in particular Anthem as it has no MDR where can you get breakfast other than WJ and is it waiter/non buffet .... multiple options inc fruit, cooked options etc ??

We just signed up for the subject cruise on 3 Sept 15. Does anyone have any advise on how to get from the London airport to the cruise terminal other than the $100/person tran provided by Royal Caribbean?

Also, is anyone planning separate tours at the various stops.

Thanks. See you there!

Realistically only way is by train - it would take between 2 1/2 to 3 hours, requires 3 changes and switching train terminal in London - I assume you are coming into London Heathrow ??

It will cost you around £50pp ($75) each way and could be a bit of hassle .... Other option would be to fly into London have couple of nights there sightseeing and then train out to Harwich on sail day .... If not I would suggest let RCI transfer you at $100 for peace of mind

On the Quantum, the Grande had the better food choices of the included restaurants. Jacket and tie is perfect for the formal look.

For some variety however, consider an up charge restaurant like Jamie's. It was really good.

Hi Bob

Thanks for the feedback on The Grande

Not sure how well Jamie's will be received as an a la carte when sailing out of Southampton - Jamie's is franchised all over the UK so for a British audience not that much of a special treat .... Unless you love Jamie's of course ! Think it may suit the North American market better when over later in the year as something different for the US/Canadian customers.

Hi All

Sailing on Anthem in September for a 14 night Med cruise. First time on Royal and first time for Dynamic Dining.

Used the online cruise planner and provisionally booked The Grande restaurant 5 nights out of the 14, 5 more for Chic, 3 for Silk and 1 in American Idol (as the menu examples looked the least interesting)

Generally enjoy good food, seafood, shellfish and fine dining which is why i've favoured Grande and Chic (based on menu examples on website) - For those that had had the opportunity to dine here how good was the food, the choice and for that matter any comments on the other choices we have made ?

I know The Grande is classed as formal every night but if I understand the theory of Anthem (and Quantum class) there is no shipwide formal evenings - Therefore how formal are people who have experienced the Grande ? Is suit and tie good, jacket and tie ? I have no problem dressing up but don't get the impression that many would go with a DJ and spend the rest of the evening surrounded by a majority in casual clothing in the bars and shows.

Appreciate your feedback

Also if you're midship deck 13 you will have the overhang and supports encroaching on your light and "sky"

We're on Anthem in September and I went for a D2 on 12 slightly forward of midship just before the overhang so we didn't get shadow or any noise from the main decks above 13

Sorry mate .... I'd missed your previous post and thought you hadn't understand it .... 10 for 10 is as you say the same as 2 for 2 or 4 for 4 ..... As long as you have the right number of sea passes for drinks it's good !

 

Only time we didn't have a package recently was on a 4 night short cruise on Ventura with friends ...... 6 of us run up a £1000 bar bill for 4 nights ☺️ .... Who said drinks packages aren't worth it ! 😉

BTW that's approx $1600 U.S.

When it's just the 2 of us with freshly squeezed OJ at breakfast, a nice latte mid morning, couple of beers over lunch and a glass of wine or two, a cocktail or three in the afternoon, a pre dinner martini and a couple of glasses of good wine with dinner ..... and finally a drink or two in theatre or in bar after dinner plus several bottles of water in between ...... Add that up and even at full price the drinks package works for us ...... and if it's just a $15 pp per night upgrade to premium from a free (built in) select package it's a no brainer !!

And as I said my record was 10.

 

Waiters were flat out we were sitting as a group, I went to the bar with everyone's card and got the drinks, not a problem at all.

Sorry mate .... I'd missed your previous post and thought you hadn't understand it .... 10 for 10 is as you say the same as 2 for 2 or 4 for 4 ..... As long as you have the right number of sea passes for drinks it's good !

Only time we didn't have a package recently was on a 4 night short cruise on Ventura with friends ...... 6 of us run up a £1000 bar bill for 4 nights ☺️ .... Who said drinks packages aren't worth it ! 😉

No t wouldn't but I took them to be asking if they have two packages can just one person go to the bar and get them both a drink as long as they take both cards.

As I just said .... Yes if you have 2 x packages and want to order 2 x drinks it's not a problem as long as you have both sea passes

Been on Celebrity (same parent) many times and I generally go to bar, order drinks from waiter or bring back to cabin for both of us without my better half and never had a problem

This is not abusing the system as both cards have the drinks package on ..... Always upgrade to premium/ultimate as well so I don't need to worry about brands of drinks or if I'm within package etc

Hi,

 

just one question. We already bought the ultimate package for my wife and myself. As far as I know it's only allowed to order one drink per time. Will it be possible to get a drink for myself and another one for my wife (maybe be showing both sea pass cards)? Or will it be necessary that we always show up together at a bar in order to get 2 drinks?

 

BR

Mike

Always buy 2 packages (or get them comped in the deal) and mainly been on X, don't need both of you at bar or with waiter but you do need both cards

Quite often I would pop up to the bar for a G&T or Beer for myself and glass of Fizz for the missus to take back to cabin whilst she was beautifying herself for dinner.

Never had a barman insist on both of being present .... Just our cards

they had 2 menus in each restaurant . The food was great but I still prefer the mdr. I felt the windjammer was a joke. people pushing and poking all the time. but a great selection of food. but that's not my idea of enjoyment. and having to find your own table. maybe I'm a snob, but I just know what I prefer.

Must admit that i always use MDR for Dinner, Lunch on Sea days and Breakfast if room service not possible .... I dislike the bun fight in all buffet restaurants on any ship, pushing, shoving, hygiene issues and then having to find a seat and "guard it" during the rest of your meal

Out of interest on Anthem how often did they change/rotate the two menus in the 4 restaurants ? Was this daily rotation or weekly ??

How did you find the food in the 4 main complimentary restaurants ? I've checked out the typical menus and like the look of Grande, Chic and Silk in that order .... American Icon doesn't look like it ticks many boxes for me 😕

Also on the longer cruise did they vary the menus in these restaurants ?? Did they change them each night or alternate nights or alternate weeks ??? How did you find it compared to the normal 1 main dining room offering a different menu every night ?

Hi Stitchman

Thanks for posting your review

We're on the Anthem in September for a 14 night Med cruise, our first time on a RCI ship - Did you have the drinks package ? We have the Select included but I will upgrade to Premium or Ultimate on the ship .... Did you see how much it was to upgrade ? Also heard that staff/passenger ratios are low compared to Celebrity, don't know if this is all of RCI ships or just Anthem so wondered how was service in bars and restaurants. Finally did you book the shows etc before boarding and did they manage to get you in any of the shows and the Ifly after losing your bookings ??

Cheers

You should be able to upgrade once you get on the ship.

Hi

Yes know I can definitely upgrade on ship but trying to find out how much the upgrade is in the UK and if you can do it in Southampton cruise terminal before boarding ship as I did on Celebrity Eclipse last year

Hi All

First RCI cruise this year on Anthem out of Southampton for a 14 night Med Cruise. Booked D2 Balcony which included the Select Drinks package which I understand is Beer, wines and soft drinks.

Has anyone had this and upgraded to Premium or Ultimate at Southampton ?

Last October we cruised on Celebrity Eclipse with Classic drinks package included and upgraded to Premium drinks package for $10 pp per night in terminal - totally worth it for us as we drink mainly Spirits and wines and one Martini per night and we were in "profit" 😉🍸🍸🍸

I know Anthem is very new but if anyone has experienced the upgrade on Anthem or another RCI ship out of Southampton would be interested in how it worked

Thanks

Yes, the total amount will be on a charge slip and added to your on-board account just like any other purchase made on board. When you check in you'll be issued a "sea pass" card which is your room key, identification for getting on and off the ship, and charge card for on-board use and that's all you need to make purchase the package (or an individual drink for that matter). When you buy the package they'll both enter the info into the system so it is on your account and put a sticker indicating the package you've bought on your card.

So if you've got a lot of OBC there's little point pre booking the premium upgrade ? (We've already got the classic package as part of the 123 promo)

Stuart

So to do this on board what do you need ? Just your room key ? and then the barman puts the upgrade into the system ??? and you're good to go ? and then pay the $11.50 pp per day on check out ?

Thanks

Stuart

Great insight into the Eclipse DYKWIA

We are Celebrity newbies as well (although cruised once before on Ventura in the Med) We're on the Eclipse in 5 weeks and have opted for select dining (anytime) to give us flexibility with shore trips and sea days.

Interested to know if the main Theatre shows are on at the same time each night i.e. 7pm and 9pm or do they vary ? Just trying to gauge if we pre book dinner reservations each night so not to miss both shows .... Or do they vary each night ?

Thanks

Stuart

Thanks Debbie

Will definitely pack extra Yorkshire Tea

Shame about the milk .... No semi skimmed ? what's that all about ?

Hi all

First time on Celebrity this October, Celebrity Eclipse out of Southampton to the canaries.

I am sure I read somewhere that kettles are in cabins on Southampton departures on Eclipse ?? Question is do I bring my own Yorkshire Tea Bags .... I like non fussy "proper" tea, second question is milk available in the cabin as I am a Brit I like milk in my tea and not Lemon.

Thanks in advance of your answers

Can't believe they don't do Diet Tonic :( ..... With the amount of food on offer it's the only way I can control the calories !!;)

Thanks Sloop-JohnB and Wallie5446

Our last cruise was a Western Med on P&O Ventura - we did this with the kids who were 14 and 17 at the time and had freedom dining normally between 7 to 8pm, after dinner the lads would go off and see their new friends and we would catch the late theatre show or a comedian/band etc

Yes Freedom suited us, but sometimes had a 30 to 60min wait which impacted on the rest of the evening, which is why we were considering pre booking a set time each evening in between the two traditional dining times. Therefore was trying to understand if shows were on at set times each evening i.e. 7pm or 9pm or 11pm etc ..... Then we could gauge whether pre reservations would work for us

Thanks again

Stuart

Looking forward to our first cruise on Celebrity Eclipse in October to Spain and the Canaries. Booked Freedom/Select Dining and although I know we can dine at any time between 6 and 9pm I wondered if shows etc are at certain times every night ?? Are the theatre shows on twice or three times each evening ? Are there other shows or bands/comedians that show once or multiple times each evening ?

I believe we can reserve dinner times on select prior to the cruise and would normally favour around 7 to 8pm .... This is why we chose select/freedom as with traditional 6 is too early for us and 8.30 too late. If we can pre book these times in MDR what is everyone's opinions to optimum times for seeing shows after dinner

Appreciate all suggestions as this site gives great alternative views and options with so many experienced cruisers

Thanks

Stuart

Do they wear Jeans in Scotland?

They do at the moment ....

However if they vote Yes to Independence from the rest of the UK on the 18th September they can only wear kilts from that point forward ;)

Lol

Just found this thread through another linked. Checked a typical cruise consumption, I like G&T's with Hendricks or Tanquery No 10 along with Grey Goose Martinis and a few beers through day on sea days, fresh OJ, pellegrino water with lunch and dinner plus nice wines and the odd premium cocktail .... DW also partial to Prosecco instead of my beers - I reckon with the 123 classic promo and $300 OBC which allows us to upgrade to Premium on board 2x $10+15%x11 nights = $253 we got a 11 night cruise in Concierge class cabin for less than our drinks bill !!! In other words Celebrity are paying for us to go on holiday ! ;-)

Let's face it .... Brits take our tea different to the US and Europe

Regardless of where we travel we always pack some Yorkshire Tea Bags - it's the only way to get a cup of tea the way we're used to it ...... Even with Luke warm water it's better than the American or European Teabags which always produce a colourless, tasteless cup of warm water ..... without milk as well !!!:)