Tatka

I don't know. WE love Anthem here. Yes, it has same main shows, but RCI is not guilty we sail every year! Shows on largest ships are created for particular ship. They will stay with ships. Other entertainment changes. If you take all 3 pool areas there are ENOUGH loungers, but it is a "winter" ship so part of them should be inside. Give our Anthem back. 🙂 We love her for colder season.

So it is all just announcements? First time out of NJ?

Congrats! I’m not sure I’m going to be upset about free thing (a gift!) in either case, but new type will work for me at least this time around (280 points) as I’m about to receive Anthem’s block again … At least it will be different from 140 points Anthem. 🙂

Before switching almost completely to RCI we loved Princess. It is slightly more premium. Outside of one unfortunate experience (on Crown in 2019) food was better than on RCI. Princess doesn’t have indoor solariums on most ships. Check particular ship as it could be important for Alaska. Also on ship prior to Royal class gym is located above cabins so it’s not open until 7 which could be important (it was for me. If I exercise it is at 6am). Buffets on Royal class are terrific

We sailed on Anthem 9 times now. I hated her first time. I is one of my favorite ships now. It has some flows.. like its Esplanade is not as spacious as Promenades of previous and later ships of different classes. Once you figure out what times to avoid I think you will be fine. Also RCI improved crowd handling since 2016.

I doubt price… It sounds like 10+ years ago card and it was never offered on embarkation. IIRC it was after several days at least.

How does overall cost compare cruisefare + package?

You were a very wise teenager! Well, I am an immigrant (long time ago) and I did not know that technically I could use Naturalization papers in lieu of Birth Certificate so I got passport right away. However I think I'd have done it anyway, because so many things can happen during trips and absence of passports can prevent trips too. It's really under $15 per year to even think about it.

Yes, some people are willing to risk more. As long as they realize what happens in case they will need passport. My parents are risk takers, but there is no reason to risk in this case... when passport is easily achievable. Btw passport is what they are implementing inside of States now as Real Id. So if in any case Real Id is needed Passport is that. Passport is not even insurance you need for one trip, it is potentially much more.

Agree, tastes are individual though. On our recent 11 and 12 nighters we used 11 day menus and always found something we liked. It was 100% match or lower of course. I remember such situations on lines more food oriented like Holland for example. Hopefully poster did not go hungry. Symphony has some other venues. Btw for us Royal was never a foodie line even when we started in 2004 to sail with them on Splendor of the Seas or Explorer of the Seas. Actually I think I like variety better than back then.

Maybe, but $100+ is still small price to pay to avoid risk when traveling after 70. My parents are 70+ and would not travel without passport.

Anthem adult solarium Indoor family pool

Was this pool added recently? In 2014 it was not there. It is very open (not much shade and no covered pool for colder sailings), but at least some place to swim is added.

H2O with pools? Which ships? There is Nothing comparable on NCL ships to what RCI offers. I’m not even talking about the fact that only Haven guests deserve indoor pools on NCL. Try to sail our of NYC area during winters. RCI has Anthem there with indoor beautiful adult solarium and indoor family pool… NCL ships only have outdoor pool areas. On most if not all of our 27 cruises with RCI kids were out of Solariums. On several they used cafe or Solarium Bistro which wasn’t a problem.

If NCL rather than adding new amusements (Go carts) crated free adult only solarium(s) - I am not even talking indoor solariums or/and pools when they send ships to sail year around from NY - they would attract so many more fans!!! .

5000 is between Quantum 165K tons and Oasis 225K tons.

There are 13 different menus (last time I counted). Something like Taste of (France, Italy, UK, USA, Mexico etc) also Welcome Aboard, Bon Voyage etc. They rotate depending on cruise. Some days are better than others, but overall I always can find something I enjoy.

Princess is not building small ships. I think their new-builds are around 130K. Even Celebrity has new ships about this size. They have small ships even new ones, but they are for Galapagos islands. Prices... well, not for average massmarket person.

Why do you need opinion of other people? Skorts are shorts.

They are not building smaller ships. All newbuilds are around 100K tons. HAL is a very different line targeting different market.

I do not think this will be a case. I see some ports like Baltimore losing ships as larger ships cannot sail from there. I think what you wished in the latest post is counterproductive. If RCI loses with large ships there is a possibility it won't be able to sail smaller ships too. They are in business to make money. I see Caribbean ports extending capacity for larger ships. Many are btw not as poor as before anymore. St Kitts, Nassau (Bahamas).

We watched it about 5 times on Anthem... because of Terry Lavell who is extremely talented. This is an example of him performing Christmas song Show itself was interesting, but I would not reewatch it without him (we did once and it was not as good)

You understand why this suggestion is made, right? For your daughter sake if anything, not because Royal has special demands. However skorts are basically shorts with skirt fashion. What answer are you expecting. Please use common logic.

If suddenly we cannot drink anymore we order something that can be stored as is. Cognac, brandy...

It is not economical. If they are built fare will go up for pax who cruise on them. Will RCI clientele pay it?