On the Anthem of the Seas right now. Any questions?

[lazeyey]

 

Hi Lazeyey,

I was on Quantum last year so I am looking forward to cruising on Anthem this year. I have no doubt you will have a great time!

Question for you - The Windjammer had fresh baked (and hot!) cookies every day at lunch time on the Quantum. SO good! I thought I read somewhere they no longer did that. Next time you are in Windjammer around lunchtime, will you check and see if they are still rolling out those fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, please?

Enjoy your cruise with your family!

Thanks,

Swiss

 

 

LOL! I don't know about the windjammer but I saw those cookies yesterday around the ship, I think it was in the cafe by sorrentos, which is DELICIOUS btw lol. I never really liked sorrentos but I ate 4 slices yesterday alone. Why does the food here be this good when I am on a diet? 😂

[svillager]

There's a puzzle room lol. I will check and let you know. I haven't heard anything.

 

They said they are aiming to have Adventure Ocean opened by February 26 so I can't see it being closed for your cruise. They have in room baby sitting and also have other options for kids to play. They have toys to lend out.

 

I am so jealous that you can do this twice so closely together. That will be me when I retire, that's for sure.

 

Thanks for finding out for me. Yes, retirement has its pluses - The January cruise was solo - and I booked the entire family for the upcoming 3 nighter, and still have several other solo Anthem sailings booked. Normally I don't pay attention to the children's activities, and the puzzle room, but the girls and the family have been looking forward to this cruise forever, as I booked it, before the ship was even built, LOL, and that's a long time for kids to wait.

[Life is Good Cruising]

Good to hear everything is good so far!! Had 2 questions for you...can you plug an HDMI cable into the TV? Also, could you see if they added a baccarat table in the casino?

 

Thank you and happy cruising!

 

I responded to you in another post.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49144655#post49144655

 

I don't know exactly why there was such a big difference in the minimum bet for Baccarat on either on my sailings.

 

Good Luck to you in the casino!

[SirWarwickHarrow]

Could you tell us who the current Cruise Director is?

[ajv87]

Hi!

 

I was wondering since the sea pass are given in the stateroom after 1pm and you don't have a card until then, are you able to purchase drinks in that period?

 

Thank You

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Life is Good Cruising]

Could you tell us who the current Cruise Director is?

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49168123#post49168123

[SirWarwickHarrow]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49168123#post49168123

 

 

Been there. There is some confusion as to whether Dru Pavlov is actually on Allure, or is going to Anthem. Just trying to clear that up.

[jenjen13]

I responded to you in another post.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49144655#post49144655

 

I don't know exactly why there was such a big difference in the minimum bet for Baccarat on either on my sailings.

 

Good Luck to you in the casino!

 

Didn't even see this!! Thank you. I'm hoping it's not 300$ a hand, a bit too rich for my blood. Lol

[ABCLCruz]

The only evidence of damage I have seen is adventure ocean. And some duct tape at 270. I don't know about ifly and North Star yet, but no one has said anything about them and as far as I know I still have reservations. I'll let you know later today after I check.

 

I am just back yesterday from the Anthem. There was some cosmetic damage but they have been working non-stop on fixing it. The I-Fly was working most of the time. The only time I think it wasn't working is because it was so windy out. The North Star did have a few problems, but it was working. I actually went up on it and I am scared of heights. No Problem. The main problem we encountered, which has now been fixed, was a window in the Adults Solarium was broken. The first sea day it was pretty cold in there. The second day it was still broken but warm enough to use it. Unfortunately, the childrens section of the Solarium also had a broken window and that section was way to cold for the children to use their section. So, they allowed the children to come into the adult section. Unfortunately there were quite a few adults that were very mad about this. I did not travel with children, however, I had no problem with them using our section. The only problem I did have is the parents were not supervising them. Anyways, note to self, I will not cruise out of February again during school winter break! It was a little to overrun with children. If anyone has questions, just ask.

[ABCLCruz]

Hi!

 

I was wondering since the sea pass are given in the stateroom after 1pm and you don't have a card until then, are you able to purchase drinks in that period?

 

Thank You

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

You can use your set sail pass as your sea pass card. They will stamp it when you check in. One of your sea pass cards will also be outside your door next to your room number, and the other will be located in your room.

[wolfcathorse]

has Capt Claus returned as master? I want to update Current Captains Con't.

[ABCLCruz]

Could you tell us who the current Cruise Director is?

 

On our cruise on the Anthem (2/13-2/21) the Cruise Director was Abe Hughes.

[ABCLCruz]

Thanks for finding out for me. Yes, retirement has its pluses - The January cruise was solo - and I booked the entire family for the upcoming 3 nighter, and still have several other solo Anthem sailings booked. Normally I don't pay attention to the children's activities, and the puzzle room, but the girls and the family have been looking forward to this cruise forever, as I booked it, before the ship was even built, LOL, and that's a long time for kids to wait.

 

I am just off the Anthem. Adventure Ocean was open. The Puzzle Room was not as one of the main pieces had been broken. No idea when it will be replaced. Don't know where they have to get a replacement from. Maybe they had it at the port when we got back yesterday.

[LorraineP]

If by any chance you are passing by cabin 6198 can you take a look (maybe a picture) of how obstructive the balcony is. Maybe on the last day when rooms are being vacated. If you can much appreciated, if not, I certainly understand. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[Ocean Dancer]

Can you tell me what the music entertainment is like? Are there dance clubs? Live bands? Any oldies/Motown clubs? What about the pool? Heated?

 

Thanks!!:):)

[tserface]

Are the closets really as small as they look in pictures and videos?

 

Thanks for the report. It's great to know that Anthem is recovering. I hope your cruise is fantastic and, with regards to the weather, uneventful!

 

Tom

[DonnaK]

Could you tell us who the current Cruise Director is?

Been there. There is some confusion as to whether Dru Pavlov is actually on Allure, or is going to Anthem. Just trying to clear that up.

 

But Abe is the current CD so you asked the OP info we already know. Abe said that he thought Dru was replacing him, but we also have credible info that Dru is doing the fill-in on Allure.

 

Someone on Allure now needs to confirm the CD status there - is Dru there now, and is it long term?

 

Your question needs to be asked on an Allure thread. I posted a request for the info on their current roll call.

Edited February 22, 2016 by DonnaK

[kevinyork]

Are the closets really as small as they look in pictures and videos?

 

 

 

Thanks for the report. It's great to know that Anthem is recovering. I hope your cruise is fantastic and, with regards to the weather, uneventful!

 

 

 

Tom

 

 

No the closets are great. Two big wardrobes either side of the beds.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Merion_Mom]

Can you tell me what the music entertainment is like? Are there dance clubs? Live bands? Any oldies/Motown clubs? What about the pool? Heated?

 

Thanks!!:):)

 

Excellent

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

One yes, two no.

[Lizcourt]

Just off the Anthem yesterday. Most things were working by the end of the cruise, though the indoor pool was shut down for a day while they repaired a glass panel in the ceiling. I was at Guest Services when a passenger was complaining that the panel fell and smashed on the deck when he was "not twenty feet away" from it. Can't confirm that from first hand knowledge.

 

They did open the Solarium to kids on the first two days, as it was much, much too cold to use the outdoor pool, and the indoor pool couldn't accommodate everyone. They make very clear in describing the Solarium that it may be opened to children if conditions warrant, and they were more than warranted this cruise; it was barely 20 degrees when we left Bayonne.

 

However, I do agree that parents need to be conscious of other passengers in monitoring their kids, especially in adult areas. My sister was in the Solarium pool on day two, and a young boy of about 7 kept repeatedly yelling at her that she had to leave because it was "his" pool (for those of you that haven't seen it, the Solarium "pool" is actually a tiered set of three small pools just about big enough for folks to sit around in -- you couldn't, for example, actually swim in them). Eventually, he took to pushing her to try to get her out of the pool. All of this while his mother sat nearby and said "Now [name], behave." I hate to sound like an old codger, but if that had been me at age 7, my mother or father would have had me out of the pool, none too gently, and back in my cabin the first time I suggested that someone else get out of "my" pool.

 

I will be doing a full review later, but the questions about I Fly and North Star raise one big complaint I have with the Anthem -- communication. None of us were surprised that the heavy winds, and, perhaps, the damage from the previous week's storm would mean that I Fly and North Star might not function as planned, and, in fact, on day two there was a ship wide announcement that they would be closed all day because we were going through very high winds. Totally understandable. However, there was no announcement when, just two hours later, they reopened I Fly, so that people who assumed their appointments had been cancelled missed them (unless, like us, they happened to be in the general vicinity of the I Fly and saw that people were using it just five minutes before our scheduled appointment.). Same thing with North Star. During the first three days, it was not in operation. Then I was sitting on the beach at CoCoCay and noticed it was going up and down for the first time all cruise. We didn't know if it was being tested or what, and were never told. All too often, the best communication about what was going on with venues around the ship was word of mouth among the passengers.

 

One final example of the really poor communication on the ship. My sister and her family were in one of the loft suites along the back of the ship. The first night we sailed, they could not get the temperature in their cabin above 60 degrees. A call to maintenance resulted in their being told that the balcony door in their cabin not closing correctly, and that it would be fixed the next day; in the meantime, they were given extra blankets and slept in the coats and hats in which they had boarded. Calls and visits to housekeeping, Guest Services and anyone who would listen got no response, nor did anyone come to fix the "door" problem. Then, serendipitously, I happened to be in the concierge lounge and overheard another passenger in one of the loft suites complaining about the cold in his cabin and being told -- you guessed it -- that his balcony door wasn't closing properly. I went right over to him and told him that my sister and her family had been told the same thing, and seemed a bit coincidental that two cabins in the same area of the ship would both just happen to have balcony door problems.

 

Ultimately, three days into the cruise, the problem (which, in the end, had nothing to do with the doors) was resolved after the concierge got involved (thank you Filip!!!!) and they were given a very generous on board credit for the trouble. But, as my brother in law made clear to the people he spoke with, it wasn't the cold that was so frustrating -- everyone knows what the ship went through the week before, and we all expected glitches. It was the fact that he was initially given wrong information, and then simply not responded to for two additional days. Even a "we're not sure what the problem is" a couple of times a day would have provided reassurance that the problem was at least on someone's radar. To be clear, in the end, RCCL definitely did get it right, fixed the problem and compensated them appropriately for the inconvenience. I raise this only as what I hope is a helpful suggestion to whoever from RCCL might be reading the boards that they might want to just make sure that they adjust the communication level on the ship.

Edited February 22, 2016 by Lizcourt

[robtulipe]

If by any chance you are passing by cabin 6198 can you take a look (maybe a picture) of how obstructive the balcony is. Maybe on the last day when rooms are being vacated. If you can much appreciated, if not, I certainly understand. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

 

Cabin 6198 on the port side is in a similar location over the lifeboat as 6598 is on the starboard side which is indicated by the arrow below. Its view is over the aft end of the third lifeboat from the front , the middle one of the forward of hump group of five. The rear davit for the lifeboat there should be in front of the next balcony to the left, 6200, as this shot is taken from the right and it is a mirror or opposite image compared to the port side.

Second shot is what the view will be like sitting on the balcony. Third shot is standing at the railing looking to the left with the davit being in front of the second balcony to the left.

 

 

 

Edited February 22, 2016 by robtulipe

[Luv06012012]

Thank you so much for the positive remarks and for doing this while you are on your vacation. So very much appreciated!

 

One question for you or any other member that may know...when we were on Adventure last year. Everyone was raving about cheesecake pops that were complimentary at Sorrentos.

 

We are going on Anthem this summer and was wondering if these amazing cheesecake pops will be available on her as well...since we missed out on Adventure. :(

[ISABELLA]

Communication at RC was never strong. They had services listed on their website that no longer offered for about month after they discontinued those services. Lots of glitches on the website, that make using their website very difficult and RC do not notify of some changes they make to a booked cruise.

[Merion_Mom]

Just off the Anthem yesterday. Most things were working by the end of the cruise, though the indoor pool was shut down for a day while they repaired a glass panel in the ceiling. I was at Guest Services when a passenger was complaining that the panel fell and smashed on the deck when he was "not twenty feet away" from it. Can't confirm that from first hand knowledge.

 

They did open the Solarium to kids on the first two days, as it was much, much too cold to use the outdoor pool, and the indoor pool couldn't accommodate everyone. They make very clear in describing the Solarium that it may be opened to children if conditions warrant, and they were more than warranted this cruise; it was barely 20 degrees when we left Bayonne.

 

However, I do agree that parents need to be conscious of other passengers in monitoring their kids, especially in adult areas. My sister was in the Solarium pool on day two, and a young boy of about 7 kept repeatedly yelling at her that she had to leave because it was "his" pool (for those of you that haven't seen it, the Solarium "pool" is actually a tiered set of three small pools just about big enough for folks to sit around in -- you couldn't, for example, actually swim in them). Eventually, he took to pushing her to try to get her out of the pool. All of this while his mother sat nearby and said "Now [name], behave." I hate to sound like an old codger, but if that had been me at age 7, my mother or father would have had me out of the pool, none too gently, and back in my cabin the first time I suggested that someone else get out of "my" pool.

 

I will be doing a full review later, but the questions about I Fly and North Star raise one big complaint I have with the Anthem -- communication. None of us were surprised that the heavy winds, and, perhaps, the damage from the previous week's storm would mean that I Fly and North Star might not function as planned, and, in fact, on day two there was a ship wide announcement that they would be closed all day because we were going through very high winds. Totally understandable. However, there was no announcement when, just two hours later, they reopened I Fly, so that people who assumed their appointments had been cancelled missed them (unless, like us, they happened to be in the general vicinity of the I Fly and saw that people were using it just five minutes before our scheduled appointment.). Same thing with North Star. During the first three days, it was not in operation. Then I was sitting on the beach at CoCoCay and noticed it was going up and down for the first time all cruise. We didn't know if it was being tested or what, and were never told. All too often, the best communication about what was going on with venues around the ship was word of mouth among the passengers.

 

One final example of the really poor communication on the ship. My sister and her family were in one of the loft suites along the back of the ship. The first night we sailed, they could not get the temperature in their cabin above 60 degrees. A call to maintenance resulted in their being told that the balcony door in their cabin not closing correctly, and that it would be fixed the next day; in the meantime, they were given extra blankets and slept in the coats and hats in which they had boarded. Calls and visits to housekeeping, Guest Services and anyone who would listen got no response, nor did anyone come to fix the "door" problem. Then, serendipitously, I happened to be in the concierge lounge and overheard another passenger in one of the loft suites complaining about the cold in his cabin and being told -- you guessed it -- that his balcony door wasn't closing properly. I went right over to him and told him that my sister and her family had been told the same thing, and seemed a bit coincidental that two cabins in the same area of the ship would both just happen to have balcony door problems.

 

Ultimately, three days into the cruise, the problem (which, in the end, had nothing to do with the doors) was resolved after the concierge got involved (thank you Filip!!!!) and they were given a very generous on board credit for the trouble. But, as my brother in law made clear to the people he spoke with, it wasn't the cold that was so frustrating -- everyone knows what the ship went through the week before, and we all expected glitches. It was the fact that he was initially given wrong information, and then simply not responded to for two additional days. Even a "we're not sure what the problem is" a couple of times a day would have provided reassurance that the problem was at least on someone's radar. To be clear, in the end, RCCL definitely did get it right, fixed the problem and compensated them appropriately for the inconvenience. I raise this only as what I hope is a helpful suggestion to whoever from RCCL might be reading the boards that they might want to just make sure that they adjust the communication level on the ship.

Sounds very frustrating. I agree with your conclusions. I am sorry that you and your family were so inconvenienced.

 

:(

[ABCLCruz]

No the closets are great. Two big wardrobes either side of the beds.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Closet and drawer space was excellent (this is coming from someone who always overpacks!). There is also storage cabinets above the bed That flip open.