Anthem of the Seas Picture Review October 6th to 15th 2016

[madra2112]

I work on radio and paid a courtesy visit to Rock 88.9, a local station based in the Market Square. (That sounds very formal, I was walking past, saw the station, stuck my head in the door and said hello!).

 

A small operation, but very well run by a dedicated team. Great music too, and very imaginative use of between song inserts!

 

 

As we had docked, I looked over towards Fort Howe, and the rather striking "Hollywood" type sign. I fancied a stroll over, but no one else was biting! Off on my own I ventured, while Pauline, Kelly and Mike strolled around the town centre. It was an unspectacular walk, mostly beside a four-lane carriageway, but worth it once I'd got there!

 

 

 

 

 

[slyster]

We are booked on the same itinerary at the end of September next year. Was the outdoor pool cold? I'm thinking it was. Also, would you happen to remember if the big screen had subtitles or closed captioning? My wife is deaf so that's why I'm asking. Thanks for your review! It has me super excited! It's waaaaay to long to wait!

 

 

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[madra2112]

It started off a rather dull day, improving substantially as the day went on. Sadly, it was quite cloudy when I was at Fort Howe, but it did allow a nice view of the ship (once again with Disney Magic in tow).

 

 

Later, along the Boardwalk, we got some nice shots of Anthem of the Seas.

 

 

 

 

God, I'm turning into my daughter with all the selfies on this trip!

 

After a very pleasant day strolling and exploring Saint John, we headed back to the ship.

 

 

We ate in The Grande for the final time, and, afterwards, strolled out onto Deck 5, just in time to hear the sound of bagpipes. We were piped off as we pulled away from the pier, a small but lovely touch.

 

[madra2112]

On several occasions during the week, we'd seen things happening in 270, and realised that it filled up fast. Tonight, we had tickets booked for Spectra's Cabaret, and got in 45 minutes before the start. We managed to get front row seats in the balcony, which gave us a really good view, and I would really recommend those seats.

 

 

 

As I said, we were there 45 minutes early, and were lucky to get the seats we did!

 

It was a great show, and being in my early 50s now, I was aged between 15 and 26 during the 80s, a decade which is well represented in Spectra's Cabaret.

 

Then it was down to Michael's to catch up once again with Bob Wegner, more Rush, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes, Beatles and other classic rock artists, as well as some of his own material.

 

 

Heading back to the cabin, we got some shots of the artwork on our deck, some very nice photography.

 

 

 

[madra2112]

Next morning, I was up and walking around the ship, determined not to waste our last day as Anthem of the Seas steamed back towards Bayonne. I took my phone, and got some shots of the artwork we passed every day heading to and from our cabin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, I decided to bite the bullet and do something I hadn't done all week. I am very much a fan of saunas and steam rooms, and found the lack of even basic facilities in the men's changing room to be one of the few things that annoyed me about Anthem.

 

The facilities on Vision and Jewel were very good, Liberty and Adventure were functional, and when I bought a pass for the thermal suite on Jewel, I was disappointed. It promised an aromatherapy-infused steam room, but what it delivered was weak and insipid IMO.

 

Surely Anthem's thermal suite would be better.

 

Quite the opposite! It had a steam room and sauna, both only slightly better than what was available on Vision for free! It had the ergonomic heated beds, but that's not what I'm interested in.

 

Even worse, there was no drinking water within the suite, I eventually concluded you had to go out and into the spa waiting area to get water there. I spoke to one person in the suite who was on his first Royal cruise, and who bluntly told me it was his last, based on his experience in the thermal suite.

 

I wouldn't go that far, but having failed to learn my lesson on Jewel, I will never again pay $30 to use a Royal thermal suite.

 

After lunch, we hit the Schooner for the progressive trivia final, and then walked around the ship, soaking it all in and extracting everything we could from the final day.

 

As I said on embarkation day, our first visit to Seaplex saw us get on the bumper cars with no queue. On the last day, it was a very different story, with a line that said "Don't even think about it!".

 

[madra2112]

That evening, after a final dinner in Michael's Genuine Pub, we went to the Music Hall for a final helping of Bob, before enjoying the Billy Joel Tribute Show. Interestingly, his two biggest hits in Ireland (Uptown Girl and We Didn't Start the Fire) didn't feature.

 

A very good show though, featuring many of the musicians from We Will Rock You and Spectra's Cabaret.

 

 

 

Later in the Music Hall, we enjoyed a final session with Rock the Boat, some of the hardest working and most versatile musicians I've seen. Their repertoire is vast!

 

 

Then, it was up to The Via for a final selfie at the Eve sculpture, before we said our goodbyes to Kelly and Mike.

 

[madra2112]

Next morning, as I walked the deck, the New York skyline emerged out of the darkness, without a doubt the most spectacular port arrival I've ever experienced.

 

 

 

 

 

[madra2112]

....and so, it was time to clear the last few items from Cabin 12265, our home for the past nine days. It was one of the best we've had in seven cruises, and I would have no hesitation in looking for the same cabin again if (when!!) we board another Quantum class ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[madra2112]

After a final breakfast in Windjammer, we headed for 270, and all too soon, our number was called and we walked down The Via for the last time.

 

 

 

Outside, we got into the line for the shared shuttle to Newark Airport ; to say it was chaos would be an understatement, and there was a rather unsavoury row between our driver and one of the coordinators on the ground.

 

However, we left Cape Liberty, and were soon at the airport. After a wait of several hours, we saw a green Aer Lingus plane land, knowing that when it took off again, we would be on board!

 

 

 

A seven-hour flight and three-hour car drive later, we arrived home and collapsed into our own bed.

 

As ever, Royal Caribbean had promised much, and as ever, it had delivered. In spades!

 

To all passengers and crew onboard Anthem of the Seas between October 6th and October 15th, and especially to Kelly and Mike, thank you for helping make this a 25th anniversary celebration that will never be forgotten!

[welshrich]

What a fantastic review, we were on her in April for a 5 nighter to Bermuda and had a spectacular time, fitting almost everything into a few days, seeing these pictures brings back all the happy memories.

[welshrich]

We are booked on the same itinerary at the end of September next year. Was the outdoor pool cold? I'm thinking it was. Also, would you happen to remember if the big screen had subtitles or closed captioning? My wife is deaf so that's why I'm asking. Thanks for your review! It has me super excited! It's waaaaay to long to wait!

 

 

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Hi, we were on her in April, the outdoor pool was cold, but not so cold you could not get in it, not sure if it's heated. There is a pool indoors thought and also a 'wallowing' type of pool in the solarium.

 

In answer to your other question, we did not see any subtitles on the outdoor screen while we were on there.

[madra2112]

Hi, we were on her in April, the outdoor pool was cold, but not so cold you could not get in it, not sure if it's heated. There is a pool indoors thought and also a 'wallowing' type of pool in the solarium.

 

In answer to your other question, we did not see any subtitles on the outdoor screen while we were on there.

 

I did not see subtitles on the outdoor screen. Regarding the pools, as Welshrich said, there is a heated and covered pool between the pool deck and the solarium. I swam in it every morning, and it was lovely.

[BermudaBound2014]

This was a terrific review! Wishing you 25 more years of bliss :)

 

 

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[Tee & Chilli]

Excellent. Job well done!

[slyster]

Ok. Thanks for confirming there are no subtitles. That's a shame. It's sort of the norm though. Rarely closed captioning if ever on the tvs. It's okay though because by the time you realize nothing is captioned, you find something else to do on these ships LOL.

 

 

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[styxfire]

Thankyou, beautiful photos, wonderful description, I appreciate your effort and I would love to do this trip!

[bagdivaaa]

nice

[madelinerose]

We caught the Royal Caribbean transfer from the Westin Hotel....

 

Hi. Would you please give me more info regarding the transfer bus? Can you stay at any hotel and use it? Did you book it through your TA or RCI directly? Thank you!:)

[madelinerose]

Hi. Would you please give me more info regarding the transfer bus? Can you stay at any hotel and use it? Did you book it through your TA or RCI directly? Thank you!:)

 

Called RCI and hotel. This must have been a private transfer, correct? ;)

[madra2112]

It was a Royal Caribbean transfer booked through our TA.

 

This is from an FB message we received from him in May (his caps)

 

"Below is what Royal Caribbean's Agent site says about the Times Square picks:

 

ARRIVAL - TIME SQUARE PICK UP, PICK UP: TIME SQUARE (MANHATTAN CITY CENTER), WESTIN TIME SQUARE -WEST 43RD AND 8TH AVE, GUESTS WILL BE MET BY AN ESCORT IN THE HOTEL LOBBY, NO LATER THAN 10:45 AM, COACH WILL DEPART AT 11:00 AM"

[madelinerose]

Thank you!

[dani negreanu]

Thank you, Madra2112, for a very enjoyable and detailed review.

Wishing you and your "better" half many more "precious metals/gems" anniversaries:D.

 

Dani

[oct696]

After a final breakfast in Windjammer, we headed for 270, and all too soon, our number was called and we walked down The Via for the last time.

 

 

 

Outside, we got into the line for the shared shuttle to Newark Airport ; to say it was chaos would be an understatement, and there was a rather unsavoury row between our driver and one of the coordinators on the ground.

 

However, we left Cape Liberty, and were soon at the airport. After a wait of several hours, we saw a green Aer Lingus plane land, knowing that when it took off again, we would be on board!

 

 

 

A seven-hour flight and three-hour car drive later, we arrived home and collapsed into our own bed.

 

As ever, Royal Caribbean had promised much, and as ever, it had delivered. In spades!

 

To all passengers and crew onboard Anthem of the Seas between October 6th and October 15th, and especially to Kelly and Mike, thank you for helping make this a 25th anniversary celebration that will never be forgotten!

 

 

Thank you for the wonderful review. We sail on her next week. 9 nts. Bermuda/Caribbean.

 

Now I'm really looking forward to the music. You and I have similar taste. I 💙💙💙 Rush, Zepplin, etc.