Anthem of the Seas Review - Bermuda - July 15, 2017 - July 20, 2017

[terri1020]

I'm going on the Anthem in February for the first time. Looking forward to your review.

[akeasley]

Hi Noreen, I appreciate you putting this much effort into this review, but you include way too many irrelevant details. Most of us just want details about the cruise, not your job title or that you texted your friend, or pictures of your toenails. Anybody can check my posting history to see I don't complain about much.

 

 

Please tell me you're not serious about this comment. The OP is putting a lot of time and effort into her posts, which 99.9999% of us appreciate, especially someone like me who has never cruised RCCL but is interested in starting.

[travellink]

Thanks for taking the time to share detailed information about your cruise. We booked the Anthem for next October to New England /Canada and I read everything I can about the ship, even though it is a different destination.

[Artemus]

I agree about too much detail. I feel like I'm wasting my time reading irrelevant details and giving your job title seems a bit braggadocio.

[elliemaej]

I am enjoying your detailed review. For those who don't like all the detail stop reading and move on.

 

 

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[Noreen411]

We went to Wonderland a little early. They open at 6 and we arrived a little before.

 

 

 

Once we went in we had our choice of table. Our waiter, Ivan, was very helpful and made the experience fun.

 

We used paintbrushes and water on the picture frame menu to see the various items.

 

He guided us through the meal basically bringing almost all the appetizers and several of the entree dishes. He brought different desserts for us. We didn't have to "order" what we wanted.

 

The first items he brought were tomato water and crispy crab cones. Neither of us liked the tomato water, it was very salty. The crab cones were very good.

 

 

I am the brunette and Cathy is the blonde

 

 

Next we were brought the liquid lobster. It was served in a cute silver spoon and we were told we should eat it in one bite. It was good.

 

 

I am breaking up the posting since I can only include 6 pictures per post.

 

 

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[Noreen411]

When asked if we have any allergies I mentioned that I don't like blue cheese. The waiter suggested I still try the buffalo chicken eggs since the flavors work well together. He said it in words a foodie would use so I agreed to try it. These are presented very nicely under a smoke filled dome. I didn't like them, but I don't like hard boiled eggs or blue cheese. Cathy liked them.

 

 

 

 

We were brought baby vegetables in the garden and Ivan poured the dressing on with a flourish. This was very good with very fresh vegetables. It was mainly beets and carrots. The garden or dirt was finely crumbled pumpernickel bread.

 

 

 

 

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[bingo3]

I am enjoying your detailed review. For those who don't like all the detail stop reading and move on.

 

 

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Well said!! Honestly, this is the OP's review and she can write whatever she chooses. Everyone's style is different, some give barely any details. I appreciate the time involved and appreciate the review and take what I can use from it. I don't even have a cruise booked on this ship, but have enjoyed others to Bermuda and was interested to see how it is on Anthem. Maybe next time for me. Thanks again!!

Debbie

[Noreen411]

We were brought spicy tuna in a hollowed out lime. This was too spicy for either of us to enjoy.

 

 

We were brought shrimp wrapped in a crispy noodle type coating. We both enjoyed this. It was not greasy at all.

 

 

And all of that was just the appetizers; we were getting full already. Most of the items were small but there was a lot of them.

 

Next the entrees started to arrive.

 

A huge piece of short rib with some beet chips, purple potatoes, and some sort of grain (maybe cous cous). This was very tasty but like most short rib, had some fatty parts. Other than the fatty parts this was very good.

 

 

Grilled chicken breast with mashed potatoes came next. As far as chicken goes, it was tasty, but paled in comparison to the other dishes.

 

 

The star of the entrees was the branzino with a crispy topping and a type of grain under it. This was moist and so flavorful. It was the star entree and the only one we finished.

 

 

 

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[kjunea]

I'm trying to talk my husband into Wonderland, but he's more a meat and potatoes guy! So I just enjoy everyone's pictures! Your pictures look wonderful!

[Noreen411]

As full as we were, Ivan showed up with dessert.

 

First he put a tray with key lime lollipops on the table. These were light and sort of refreshing.

 

 

Then he also presented us with a chocolate dome and told me to video what comes next.

 

He poured sauce on the dome and the outside melted to reveal different types of ice cream and crispy pieces. There was a lot in the dome. It was very rich.

 

 

 

We both enjoyed our experience at Wonderland and I am glad we went. We left Ivan an extra cash tip.

 

We missed the Welcome Aboard show since we were in Wonderland until almost 9.

 

We walked around the shops and Cathy bought perfume she likes.

 

We went to the casino and the Let It Ride table was packed. So I played some poker slots instead. They have one of the games I like so I played there. Cathy played a different type of machine but came by after a little bit to see what I was playing so I was showing her the game. I hit a Royal Flush for $1,000. That was a great start to the cruise.

 

 

Cathy left to go to bed and I stayed to play longer. I went up to my cabin around 1am and called Scott (my husband) to say hi.

 

We moved the clocks ahead one hour tonight so it was really 2am ship time when I went to my cabin.

 

 

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[zencruisers]

Enjoy the review and pictures. Thank you for taking the time to do it.

[CLE2CRUISE]

I'm trying to talk my husband into Wonderland, but he's more a meat and potatoes guy! So I just enjoy everyone's pictures! Your pictures look wonderful!

 

If you get that to work - PLEASE let me know how. I'm in the same boat!

 

These Wonderland pics are AWESOME! As is your detailed review. Thanks for doing this!

 

Lisa N.

[maggie416]

We went to Wonderland a little early. They open at 6 and we arrived a little before.

 

 

 

Once we went in we had our choice of table. Our waiter, Ivan, was very helpful and made the experience fun.

 

We used paintbrushes and water on the picture frame menu to see the various items.

 

He guided us through the meal basically bringing almost all the appetizers and several of the entree dishes. He brought different desserts for us. We didn't have to "order" what we wanted.

 

The first items he brought were tomato water and crispy crab cones. Neither of us liked the tomato water, it was very salty. The crab cones were very good.

 

 

I am the brunette and Cathy is the blonde

 

 

Next we were brought the liquid lobster. It was served in a cute silver spoon and we were told we should eat it in one bite. It was good.

 

 

I am breaking up the posting since I can only include 6 pictures per post.

 

 

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We had that exact table when we were there!!! I am very picky, booked this because I knew my husband s band would love it, I was pleasantly surprised, I liked everything except the eggs, do not like eggs! It was awesome!!! Oh, love your posts and your mani/ pedi!!!

[TXGREG]

I am male, do not like in NYC, and have never cruised on RCI, but I joined CC to explore cruising on general. Thank you Noreen for every single detail. This is what CC is all about! I look forward to the rest of

Your review .

 

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[k&j]

I'm on the Anthem to Bermuda in September, looking forward to the rest of your review!

[JoyMouse]

I like the details as well. It makes for more interesting reading and helps give context. If I just wanted cruise details, I could read the ship specific reviews (zzzzzzz...). What you are writing is a travelogue. Please continue.

 

 

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[Sprasa03]

I am also enjoying your review - right down to the mani pedi. I also write like this to relive the details of the experience. You're writing for you - not bulleted out facts for them.

[Noreen411]

Thank you for all the kind words and encouragement

 

 

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[CLE2CRUISE]

Thank you for all the kind words and encouragement

 

 

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I appreciate that it expresses your excitement! Mani pedi and all :)

 

Lisa N

 

 

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[Noreen411]

Below is the compass and activity sheet for day 2. Sunday. July 16, 2017. At Sea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[RoLoHa]

I am enjoying your review, including "irrelevant" details!

 

 

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[Noreen411]

Sunday 7/16/17 - At Sea

 

The gym doesn't open until 6 on the ship and I am normally there when it opens, however, with the time change, I didn't arrive until 6:15. I don't set an alarm, but just am an early riser naturally.

 

I found a treadmill after trying a few that didn't work. One lady started unplugging and re plugging them in to get them going.

 

I watched the sun rise while running. This is a great way to start the day.

 

After running and some weights, I stopped at the Patisserie and got a bottle of water and an iced white chocolate mocha. I tipped the barista a few dollars. I then headed back to my cabin to shower and get dressed.

 

Cathy and I made plans to meet for breakfast around 9:15. Since I'm closer to the elevators she would swing by to get me. We had breakfast in the Windjammer. It was crowded but not unbearable. We found a table and took turns getting food. There were waiters walking around offering to bring beverages so I had a fresh squeezed orange juice.

 

We walked around the track after breakfast. Cathy has been on weight watchers since February and lost about 50 pounds and is trying to make better food choices on the trip while not totally depriving herself.

 

 

 

We went to the North Star to see about going on standby. Since we booked the cruise just a few weeks before sailing we were unable to book it in advance. We asked the woman there with the clip board about going standby. She told us to stand right there and she would try to get us on if the next group wasn't full. We were able to go on with the next group of people. We only waited maybe 15 minutes and it was just the cycle time for the people currently going on to finish.

 

 

Northstar is a an interesting thing to do. It doesn't have much repeat value though. Once you've done it, you really don't need to do it again.

 

At 11:30 we went to the casino for the table game lessons. Cathy wanted to learn 3 card poker. I tried explaining it to her, but since there were lessons offered, she wanted to try that. I went along to hear what they would say. My favorite table game is Let It Ride. I like 3 Card Poker too. And Mississippi Stud is another one we started to play, but they don't have that table on Anthem. The woman teaching wasn't doing a good job explaining; she was confusing everyone. I jumped in and started to explain how to play to those sitting at the table. The people were thanking me after. One guy said maybe they intentionally don't do a good job explaining it so you lose some money when you play for real.

 

Around noon, the tables opened and I went to play Let It Ride. Actually, the table wasn't open and I asked when that would be (since the blackjack and roulette tables were already open) and they came right over and opened it. Pretty quickly the table filled up. I played for a little while but was losing so didn't stay too long.

 

Cathy and I went to lunch in the dining room. We both had the tutti salad. This was very good. They have a small buffet of hot food as well. Or you can order off the menu. I had a little of the macaroni and cheese from the buffet but didn't like it.

 

After lunch we went out on deck 15 (the sundeck above the pool). The sun was out so we grabbed some lounge chairs and read our books for a bit.

 

It started to rain so we moved into the Solarium and found chairs there and continued reading a bit longer.

 

I'm not one for lounging around for too long so got bored after a bit. I saw the bumper cars were opening at 4. Cathy was happy to stay out lounging and when the sun came back she went back outside. I went to the bumper cars at 3:30. The line wrapped almost all the way around. I got on about 4:40. This is a lot of fun and such a unique thing to do on a cruise ship.

 

Edited July 29, 2017 by Noreen411

[Noreen411]

After my ride on the bumper cars, I went back to my cabin to shower and change for dinner. Cathy swung by to get me at 5:30 and we went to the Schooner bar for a drink.

 

We had dinner reservations at Chops. When Scott and I went to Chops in January on Anthem I had booked and paid in advance for the 2 of us and they credited one charge back to me as on board credit (the Diamond Plus BOGO) and told me next time I should just book and pay for 1 person but show up with 2. Sot that's what I did this time. When we checked in they said I should just book on board to use the BOGO and not in advance. After some back and forth with them trying to figure out what to do, they ended up crediting me for the 1 charge (the one I prepaid) as on board credit. Then they put a bill together that would charge me for 2 then take 1 off as BOGO to basically charging me for 1. It worked out in the end, but it is kind of frustrating to get so many different answers on how we should book this.

 

 

 

We were seated next to two very nice ladies and ended up chatting with them throughout our meal. They were going to Wonderland the next night so I showed them the pictures I took the prior night at Wonderland. Cathy, who thought I was a bit bizarre taking all the food pictures, decided after they were so interested in seeing them that she won't make fun of me for doing so anymore.

 

We both ordered two appetizers. I had the shrimp cocktail and the tuna tartare. Cathy had the fried goat cheese salad and the crab cake. She gave me a piece of the crab cake. All of the appetizers were very good. I don't like goat cheese but Cathy enjoyed that too.

 

 

 

 

[Noreen411]

For our entrees, Cathy had the rack of lamb and I had the filet mignon. The side dishes we shared were mushrooms and tater tots.

 

 

 

 

 

For dessert Cathy got the chocolate lava cake and I had the cheesecake. Her lava cake was the better choice and she gave me some of it.

 

 

 

We both enjoyed Chops.

 

 

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