Anthem of the Seas in late September

Would like to get specific feedback from previous cruisers of the ship (Anthem) while school is in session.

1. age demographic in late September
   
2. crowds in late September
   
3. Balcony view from 7th floor
   
4. Crew staff demeanor (are they ho hum or are they attentive to the guests needs
   
5. Casino- is it difficult to get a seat at the $10 blackjack tables and is the Casino overly crowded?
   
6. how difficult is the dining?
   
7. Is the food really as salty as people say it is?
   
8. Are the late September Anthem cruises usually sold to capacity?
   
9. How can we find out what the shows will be in September 2018? and... Are they hard to get seating (1st or 2nd show preference)
   
10. Best ways to save on the onboard expenses (add on Meals, Vroom, drinks, bingo etc...)
    
11. Any hidden tips or suggestions from previous guests to insure we get the most out of the trip?
    

We ask these questions not to be a grumpy passenger but rather to make sure we do the most and make the most out of the Cruise.

Thanks for your feedback,

looking forward to a wonderful getaway

Would like to get specific feedback from previous cruisers of the ship (Anthem) while school is in session.

1. age demographic in late September
   
2. crowds in late September
   
3. Balcony view from 7th floor
   
4. Crew staff demeanor (are they ho hum or are they attentive to the guests needs
   
5. Casino- is it difficult to get a seat at the $10 blackjack tables and is the Casino overly crowded?
   
6. how difficult is the dining?
   
7. Is the food really as salty as people say it is?
   
8. Are the late September Anthem cruises usually sold to capacity?
   
9. How can we find out what the shows will be in September 2018? and... Are they hard to get seating (1st or 2nd show preference)
   
10. Best ways to save on the onboard expenses (add on Meals, Vroom, drinks, bingo etc...)
    
11. Any hidden tips or suggestions from previous guests to insure we get the most out of the trip?
    

We ask these questions not to be a grumpy passenger but rather to make sure we do the most and make the most out of the Cruise.

Thanks for your feedback,

looking forward to a wonderful getaway

I'll take questions 7 & 8, Alex.

7. I have never heard anyone say that, and I have never found it to be so.

8. The ship always sails full, unless there is a major storm that prevents booked passengers from reaching the port.

6 - what does "how difficult is the dining?" mean?

I sailed on Anthem at the end of Sept 2017. We were rerouted to Canada instead of Bermuda due to Hurricane Maria. The ship never felt crowded to me and there seemed to be very few children around. There was a mix of ages, probably mostly active young middle age, not a lot of elderly people. I didn't find the food salty and that is something that bothers me. We had late traditional seating at dinner, very easy, dining room was half empty every night. No idea on 7th floor balcony, we were on 10, standard view of the ocean, nice chairs and foot stools. Staff was fine, no issues. No idea on your casino question. My husband played poker, he didn't comment on it being crowded or not so I guess it's not an issue. Shows will be in your cruise planner, you can book ahead of time. If you want to save on money, skip the internet. I know some people say it's great but it was a bit of a headache for me and I wouldn't get it again. Drink package if you enjoy drinking, check your cruise planner frequently to track the price. You don't have to add on any of the specialty restaurants if you don't want to, they get mixed reviews. We were perfectly happy with the main dining room food. Best advice I can give you is be on top of schedules for things you are interested in doing. Roller skating, bumper cars etc have limited hours, check your daily compass carefully if that's important to you, show up early. Also, be prepared that hurricanes could change your itinerary.