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anthem jan 2 reveiw

grod19

By grod19,
in Royal Caribbean International

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grod19

grod19

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My DW and I just returned from the Jan 2nd Anthem of the Seas 12 night trip. Since I got a ton of information here prior to the trip I figured I would write a review and try to address the many hot topics that have plagued cruise critic recently. I am an engineer so my observations will be that of an engineer.

I have been cruising RCCL out of NJ since the voyager, we typically try to go once a year. On this trip we traveled with her friends, a 30 something couple and their 3 year old, and a 20 something female. I will try and break up this review into sections because it will be quite long. Overall we had an amazing time, this is our first time on Anthem but we did Quantum shortly after is started to sail out of NJ.

 

Cabins

We had a D8, the family a D1 and the single cruiser had an inside studio. All rooms were very nice, our bed was by the shower and we thought that worked just fine. On Quantum it was by the balcony and honestly we didn’t notice a big difference for us. Tons of storage in the room and my wife is a major over packer and we still found space for it all. The bathroom is a huge improvement over the explorer. Shower had plenty of space and so did the rest of the bathroom. The balcony on the D1 was larger than the D8 as could be expected. Room steward was good, kept the room clean. You do need to request Ice if you want it in the room but once we did it was there each night. The fridge was empty so we were able to bring things back to the room such as water or soda. The only headache we had was the room seemed to be over pressurized so many times when we came in or left the door wouldn’t close all the way. We had to make sure to push it closed behind us. Likewise if we forgot to do this when we walked into the room and we opened the balcony the breeze would push the door open. Very odd

 

Food

Honestly we really enjoyed the food overall. Starting with dinner in the dining rooms we always found things we liked. On occasion we would get a dish we didn’t love but each night we found plenty of items that were delicious. The benefit to traveling with a group is you can share dishes so we got to try lots of things on the menu. The new classic apps are amazing. The French onion soup, shrimp and escargot available every night was wonderful. That is a huge upgrade over the previous menus. We did really miss dynamic dining. We loved the themed menus and the matching décor but what can you do. Overall I thought the menu was better than other classic dining menus we have had in the past. As others have mentioned the lobster was small but delicious and they would gladly bring you more if you wanted.

We loved the various options for lunch each day. The brats at the doghouse were very good. 270 had some nice sandwiches and there was always many options available at windjammer. We tried to eat outside the prime lunch hours to avoid the crowds but even when it was busy we didn’t find it insanely difficult to find a place to sit. Our biggest complaint, people need to learn how to navigate a buffet and some people need to go back to elementary school and relearn manners. It is never acceptable to yell at a crew member because they are currently out of an item and awaiting a tray from the kitchen to replace it.

We did Chops with a few crew members we knew from previous trips and it was wonderful. Truly enjoyed that meal. Food was very good, as was the service and the company. It is always nice to be able to sit down with the crew whom we consider friends when they get a free moment.

 

Entertainment/Ship

We didn’t do any of the main shows but we did find the guest entertainers to be pretty good. Unfortunately some of them we have seen before and we haven’t cruised in roughly 2 years. We enjoyed the various technology shows in 270. That really is a wonderful space. Overall the ship is wonderful. We never struggled to find chairs in the pool area, normally we sat on the level above the pool. Although we didn’t use it, having the indoor pools was a nice touch. It let people go swimming on the cooler days. It also spread out the crowds. The adults only pool area is really amazing. The multitier pool is stunning and space is just very cozy. We liked going there at night when there was little to no crowd.

We did iFly and Northstar. Both are fun, Northstar was very warm inside but iFly was a blast. The 3 year old absolutely loved it and the instructor took him up higher and spun him around and did some superman things with him. There was tons of complaining the last few days because these things were closed because we were rocking a little. More on that to come.

The wife used the gym every morning and found it to suit her needs. No complaints. Seaplex is a great space and allows for a ton of activities. Definitely liked this over the traditional basketball court space on other ships.

We really liked some of the new entertainment such as ‘dancing with the stripes’ and we liked how they changed the quest. I don’t know if that is just an Anthem thing but it was nice to see it wasn’t the same old items. It prevented the experienced cruisers from showing up with their bag of tricks so they can win a keychain. 270 isn’t the best space for it but it worked, ice rink on explorer was better for it but at the end of the day it was still a lot of fun to watch.

 

Bars and Drinks

Honestly this is where this cruise separated itself from some of our others. We met an amazing bartender who made us fresh delicious drinks all cruise. I really hope RCCL continues to move toward the craft drink experience. The fresh drinks are so much more enjoyable then the sugar heavy drinks that traditionally are served pool side. They also had a really good selection of brands available. I am a whiskey guy and up by the pool they had jack, jim, basil hayden, bookers, and 1-2 others. The same was true with gin, vodka, rum, beer etc. As with the quantum each bar had its own special drinks, however they no longer have any specialty drinks in the dining rooms like they did on the Quantum. It would be great if they started a recommended drink(s) at dinner the same way they had recommended dishes.

As for the individual bars on the ship, Northstar bar was by far my favorite. The view from up there is amazing being able to look out on the open ocean. That was my stomping grounds for most of the cruise. Michaels seemed to really draw a crowd this trip. They had the best beer and higher end liquor selections onboard.

The music hall was packed many nights and they struggled later in the cruise to keep up with the demand for drinks. I don’t know why but about halfway through the trip the bartenders changed at the downstairs bar. I don’t know why but I am fairly certain it was not because of a routine rotation. They just couldn’t keep up with the demand for drinks and most people were ordering routine stuff. I think a lot of that was caused by not having a well or speed pourers. I noticed some similar headaches up at Northstar bar. It wasn’t laid out very well and most of the bartenders were climbing all over each other.

 

Casino

I didn’t spend a ton of time in the casino but I found the dealers to be very friendly at the normal table games. However most of them didn’t have the slightest clue as to the rules of texas holdem. I played the first night for a little while and after another player bet, and I raised, she tried to tell the original bettor that he can’t raise again because each player just gets one chance to bet. A different dealer also exposed the river card before a player acted so they flipped the river card over (face down), let that player make a decision on what they wanted to do on what was the turn action, and then flipped the river back over. Considering the player was on a flush draw and the river missed them, they clearly folded but that isn’t the proper way to handle that situation. Despite there being many very weak players onboard I steered clear of the poker table the rest of the trip because the rake was super high and the dealers were lost. They also didn’t stop players from speaking other languages at the table. At one point one of them supposedly told a friend what they had while that person was still in the hand. A player at the table spoke the same language as them and immediately asked for the floor but the request was denied till another player got the attention of the floor. They were told English only but nothing was done to enforce that going forward.

Other Guests and Crew

We met a ton of great people on this trip but there were also some really really crappy human beings onboard. For the most part there wasn’t many of them but when you did stumble on one of them you had to wonder how the crew doesn’t slap one of them. Just because they work for RCCL doesn’t mean they are your slaves, talk to them and treat them with respect. As an ex bartender I can tell you, banging on the bar, yelling “excuse me” or “over here” when you are waiting for a drink at a crowded bar actually causes them to ignore you longer. Statements like “this drink tastes like s**t” or “put some liquor in my drink this time” are unnecessary. Try being nice to them and I bet they are much more willing to help you with your problem. I have to admit I had the fight the urge to punch anyone who said to them “I am in a suite”, when they felt they should be getting faster or better service. I think one of the crew said it best, after a very rude customer walked away he said he doesn’t mind people that don’t tip or aren’t the type to start conversations with him but don’t treat him like he is below you.

All that said the crew was wonderful. Always smiling and joking around. They definitely made our trip better and I look forward to seeing them again on future trips.

 

Your cruise is what you make of it so I highly recommend going into the trip with a positive attitude and a smile. The nicer you are to the people and crew around you the better they will treat you in response.

 

Oh and before anyone asks, no I didn't take pictures of the menus or the compass. Feel free to ask any questions you have, I will try and answer them

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CruisinCons

CruisinCons

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Thanks for the review! We sailed Quantum March 2015 and are looking forward to the Anthem at some point soon (doing Oasis in Sept 2017 first.) I too liked Dynamic Dining, and was disappointed to find out they dropped it. We enjoyed visiting the different dining rooms and the different menus.

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grod19

grod19

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"There was tons of complaining the last few days because these things were closed because we were rocking a little. More on that to come"

 

Great review. What is the "more"?

 

Sorry football came on and I got distracted. Our days at sea on the way back Northstar and I think iFly were closed due to the swaying of the ship. So I recommend booking them early in the trip to avoid this problem. Also this plays into a bigger issue I have seen on many cruises, if you have a complaint, complain to someone that might be able to do something about it. Complaining to the bartender that Northstar is closed is useless. Complain to the people running Northstar or Guest services. I wanted to play a game on the last day, every time someone complained to the bartender about it being closed I was going to do a shot. Good thing I didn't because I would have died. I was laughing so hard when the one lady was yelling at the bartender asking him why he didn't build Northstar better, he should have realized it was going on a ship and ships move with the waves.

 

 

 

Thanks for the review.

 

Do you remember which nights were formal nights? Going on the Anthem for a 12 nighter in April, and looking to plan my specialty restaurant reservations.

 

Thanks!

 

If I remember right it was the first full day and the second to last full day but don't quote me on that. There was a bunch of popular cruise criticers onboard so I am sure one of them will chime in

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391hpa

391hpa

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If I remember right it was the first full day and the second to last full day but don't quote me on that. There was a bunch of popular cruise criticers onboard so I am sure one of them will chime in

 

Appreciate the info!

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dpostman

dpostman

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Bars and Drinks

Honestly this is where this cruise separated itself from some of our others. We met an amazing bartender who made us fresh delicious drinks all cruise. I really hope RCCL continues to move toward the craft drink experience.

 

Awesome review! My family and I are departing on the Feb.7 sailing and my only question is what's the name of the amazing bartender you met? Sounds like my kinda guy!

 

Great Review. It is refreshing to read well focused and fair reviews. We are looking forward embarking in March. I would also be very interested in you elaborating about your great bartender and what bars he/she usually tended. This is a big part of our cruising experience and the sooner I narrow down my favorite watering holes the sooner I can get on with enjoying my cruise.

 

dp

Edited by dpostman
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cruzingduo

cruzingduo

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We were on the Jan 2nd cruise too. I always suggest at muster when they show the video, there should be another brief video of elevator etiquette. I wonder how people expect to get into a crowded elevator before alloying people to exit. Also, at the muster drill, passengers need to respect the instructions being given and refrain from talking loudly.

 

Sorry, I guess I needed to vent. Common sense.

 

We remember that formal night was night 11. We are forgetting too much! we can't remember if the other night was night 2 or 3.

 

We love Anthem and the wonderful crew, we hope you do too.

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grod19

grod19

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Hi: since you were in a balcony stateroom, can you please tell me if there was a coffee pot ( kettle). Also, is there a magnifying mirror? Thanks!

 

not that I remember seeing. I am pretty sure they don't have them in the rooms

 

Awesome review! My family and I are departing on the Feb.7 sailing and my only question is what's the name of the amazing bartender you met? Sounds like my kinda guy!

 

Andre, he was at the Northstar bar. Great guy. Overall all the bartenders up there were good he was just amazing. Enjoyed talking to all of them

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sdpete

sdpete

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'We met a ton of great people on this trip but there were also some really really crappy human beings onboard."

 

Our last cruise out of Bayonne was on the Quantum. Fantastic cruise with wonderful people but I have to agree with you about other

guests that were terrible. We have not encountered this behavior on any of our FL port cruises.

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Guest

Guest

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We also encountered very rude people on Anthem.

Particularly at CafeTwo70. Very few people said "please", and one particular gentlemen said to the guy behind the counter "two beefs". The guy gave him it, and then the gentlemen gave him a dirty look and walked away.

No wonder the crew on AN are so unhappy.

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Catwell

Catwell

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'We met a ton of great people on this trip but there were also some really really crappy human beings onboard."

 

Our last cruise out of Bayonne was on the Quantum. Fantastic cruise with wonderful people but I have to agree with you about other

guests that were terrible. We have not encountered this behavior on any of our FL port cruises.

 

Personally, I have encountered horrible people on every cruise from Boston to FL.

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cardamon

cardamon

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I was a;so on this cruise- what a great review! Since this was our first time on the Anthem, I may have a few things to add:

First formal night was Day #3 I'm fairly sure. My friend misread the Compass which always suggests formal wear for Classic Dining and dressy casual for MTD, so dressed up both Day #2 & #3! Classic dining is deck 3 in the Grande and Chic restaurants. MTD on deck 4 in Silk and American Icon. Same menu in all 4 restaurants. We are taking our children and grandchildren on the Anthem in July and booked Classic. I asked my wait person if they would be turned away if they dressed informal. She said no- I feel better about our booking.

Bars: Our favorite was Michael's Pub because my husband is a beer geek and only drinks craft beer. This is the first ship that he was impressed with the beer selection- at least 8-10 craft beers in bottle or on draft. Henri and Tony were always gracious, professional and fun! I agree that the bartenders were often poorly treated and "pushed".

Entertainment: We loved We Will Rock You and Spectra's Cabaret! Hats off to an outstanding group of entertainers who were at a higher professional level than I've ever seen on a cruise ship. And they were friendly if you ran into them on the ship! Make reservations as soon as they open, do not wait until you get on board. However, that said , we had to change our date to see WWRY because of illness. They have a wait line which they say opens to allow you to fill in empty seats-it did not open until 5 minutes before the show instead of 15, but there were plenty of vacant seats the night we went. Don't miss the shows. We did not make reservations for the Gift- but when we checked our calendar on our TV we saw we were assigned a night. We did not go.

There were many rude guests on board. my other peeve- those who refused to wash their hands, just walked through the wash room. I know some of you wash in your rooms-

I did not enjoy the Journey Tribute band. The sound in Cafe 270 is too loud to appreciate the music. We tried.

Try all the entertainment- even the kareoke. We had several challenged adults who loved to sing- and they were usually greeted with encouraging applause- only once did I hear rude response. The Music Hall became very popular as the week went by, and the ship band had an enthusiastic following.

Have fun- we will be back to enjoy it all again in July!

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cardamon

cardamon

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Curious about the Northstar -- did they move it from side-to-side on just up and down? Perhaps what they do is a function of ship motion?

 

We just went up and down but it was a magnificent view. I asked the young man accompanying us- what is his favorite view? He said in port because you could see so much more than at sea.

many times it was closed, we had some very rough seas.

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