Jump to content

Frugal Husband’s Anthem of the Seas Review


Recommended Posts

Yeah sorry about that. As I’m replaying the scene in my mind I see the luggage but forgot to type it. I’m more just bothered by it because I know on the other side of the wall the room stewards are running around like crazy and don’t need us in their way!

 

Yep, they're just trying to do their job.

 

Our last trip to NYC, three years ago (July) we went to Live with Kelly and Michael. Tickets for it had to be reserved about 8 weeks out. We got lucky and got the tickets that guaranteed we'd be in the first group in. The next group gets in, but don't get the best seats and the last group are standby. The show has a food truck with breakfast items for free for those attending the taping since we had to be there by like 7 am for the 9 am show and stand in line until like 8:30. Since it's live, my son did a screen shot and I had DVR'd it, but we've since upgraded our DVR and lost it. So, we only got to watch it a couple of times lol. A tv show taping is interesting and a live one even more so. We're going to try to see Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon after we get of Anthem. DH has been watching the site waiting for tickets to drop during our time there. I've talked to several people who didn't realize that was how you get into the shows. Locals love to go when the weather isn't good (snow) because they can just get in the standby line and almost always get in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So we enter our balcony room and it is lovely. There is so much storage!! But. First order of business is wiping the room down with Clorox wipes. Hey-I’m a teacher. We didn’t do anything crazy (you decide!) just wiped down door handles, light switches, drawer handles, and the inside of the drawers. It took us less than 5 minutes.

 

So who ever had cabin 9142 on the next cruise had a very clean cabin. You’re welcome. But you all will be happy to hear this. I was expecting my white Clorox wipe to be disgusting after I cleaned the inside of the drawers...it didn’t have ANY color to it. I was impressed.

 

These photos were taken further on in the week but I feel like they fit best here

c7352a16870cca9fd6329a672369c58b.jpg

 

0a954408670ad8693699db9d6722398d.jpg

 

1c01bb7b16d321565b56f31eb0f211ed.jpg

 

bb6f8f378a9d32ae6238d99f2e4a3066.jpg

 

40b4fb8437aec3f5f2e78065be206698.jpg

 

8426a4db9e9070cfe6590acb26e8ab98.jpg

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have been on Freedom, Allure, and now Anthem. These Anthem cabins are easily the best. Storage everywhere. We easier could of had 2 more people in the cabin and had room for their stuff. And maybe it was just our fuzzy memory but we thought the shower was bigger too.

 

So we all read reviews and think to ourselves, really? They packed that?! (Which reminds me, earlier a woman passed us who had disembarked and she had a full BOX FAN under her arm) well here is my crazy thing I pack...toilet paper. I have learned that a week, or in this case 5 days, of their scratchy toilet paper does not work. What can I say, I must have a sensitive hiney. TMI?

 

With unpacking done we had one more stop to make. The MDR to see if we got the request I made weeks earlier for a two top. We get there and there is only one other party already being helped. They had a group of 50 (!!!!!) and they were ticked that they weren’t all together. The poor worker was explaining that it was a completely sold out cruise and there was nothing he could do. Well they were giving him a piece of their mind. Felt so sorry for him.

 

Another worker comes to help me I say we just want to see if we are at a two top. They walk us to our table and I just smile. A two top by the window! This has never happened. We always get our two top but we are usually no where near a window.

 

Ok enough logistics let get to the top deck and start exploring. We head to the front of the ship and we find...a wall. Haha no view from the very front of the ship on the top deck. We keep wondering and looky here North Star is doing walk up rides. We get in line. And since we are right next to the bar I get my first drink. A coke. Straight up. Haha I’m not a big drinker.

 

I’m glad we did North Star in port. Got some good views of NYC.

6a517ce2434b76ff569394e3fc6b0fae.jpg

 

51912a18435cbdf799b4055b3adbc20d.jpg

 

032b8c273e5794d16b8bacfb0d659ef0.jpg

 

The guy working who went up with us was telling us there’s actually a toilet in the floor Incase they get stuck up there and as a last case scenario there are cables for us to repel down. Doesn’t bother me but some people were freaked out haha.

 

Ok back on the ground let’s check out Sea Plex before Muster. They are doing bumper cars but no way we get on before muster. Check out the Xbox area which is already packed. We did play a little corn hole over there. Then checked out the foos ball and air hockey. But they charge for air hockey, pssh I’ll keep my 1.50 thanks.

 

c9cd3cc9f6dbf76668e97e2a9fbce9fe.jpg

 

I grab a sprite from the bar aaaaand there is no syrup. Just carbonated water. Yuck. Ok let’s grab our pop cups from the cabin and head to muster. We are in the theater.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So we go to our station and they are assigning seats. Like at Disney “please go all the way down the row don’t leave any open seats.” Well the gentleman in front of me does not want to sit in that row. He wants to sit in this row. The worker isn’t having it (good for her!) the guy finally relents saying “oh whatever” very rudely. I am the lucky camper seated next to him. Then he says “isn’t this going to start soon?!” Greeeeeat.

 

c7ffe07d9cbc23e629a95db2d0451481.jpg

 

So something new that has never happened on my two previous cruises. The workers start calling out names! These were the MIA folks. Maybe I had just been at stations where everyone had showed up on time?

 

Anyways the muster started maybe 10 minutes late. Got to see the secret agent video for the first time...ummm interesting? With that over we head to our cabin for the start of sail away and make our last calls to our parents (we don’t get any internet packages, we like to disconnect).

 

0c591a78e8e61b3d3363c8bccd8f0a6d.jpg

 

aaefb17eb35dd0dfc4ad4ffc74bb91b2.jpg

 

c1ae86e750040021ad8a75c762b8cbe2.jpg

 

See the bridge? Yeah we want to be up top for that!

3a174351653ee2b5017a10b7c60f484d.jpg

 

3a795933976f344be4d9eb924071e2d9.jpg

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

51d32d842b04c4f89142524af1692a98.jpg

 

7e6b2966d3506418483af5b4bd7b1e79.jpg

 

With that excitement over we headed to the back of the ship to watch NYC start to slip away. It is also at this point where we discovered the Windjammer’s outside eating area.

 

Afterwards we grab some pizza from Sorentos. Now Sorentos gets a bad rep around these parts. Was it as good as the pizza I had in NYC? No, but it is not “worse than frozen pizza” like some claim.

 

b9f97bef2d804f14c7be535293e3b95d.jpg

 

Afterwards it was back to the cabin to enjoy the balcony and get ready for dinner.

 

85e9d711c24140838c28f04649f14ea0.jpg

 

e443e7c662fac8ed63f166b45d3d5a5a.jpg

 

b03e66c6d6f2ceee6e4b586234990c33.jpg

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So we enter our balcony room and it is lovely. There is so much storage!! But. First order of business is wiping the room down with Clorox wipes. Hey-I’m a teacher. We didn’t do anything crazy (you decide!) just wiped down door handles, light switches, drawer handles, and the inside of the drawers. It took us less than 5 minutes.

 

So who ever had cabin 9142 on the next cruise had a very clean cabin. You’re welcome. But you all will be happy to hear this. I was expecting my white Clorox wipe to be disgusting after I cleaned the inside of the drawers...it didn’t have ANY color to it. I was impressed.

 

These photos were taken further on in the week but I feel like they fit best here

c7352a16870cca9fd6329a672369c58b.jpg

 

0a954408670ad8693699db9d6722398d.jpg

 

1c01bb7b16d321565b56f31eb0f211ed.jpg

 

bb6f8f378a9d32ae6238d99f2e4a3066.jpg

 

 

 

 

Just a heads up, we always put our suitcases under the bed. Then you have more floor space in the closet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The bridge really scared us when we sailed out of Manhattan on QEII. We were in a crowd standing on deck all the way aft with our cameras ready. It was obvious to us that the funnel was too tall to fit under the bridge and we were going to take pictures when it happened.

Then someone said the funnel weighed over a ton and would be smashed onto the deck. Where we were standing. We all froze...too late to get out of the way. And we slid right under it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

By the way, the ships use that awful tp because it dissolves quickly. The plumbing is prone to problems when anything goes down the toilet that doesn’t, like regular toilet paper.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

And since some people are concerned about the view straight down from their cabin (I am one of those people) here you go

 

07ccb9658dff96f5833c8cef6b14ee57.jpg

 

I am always ready for dinner before my wife. So while she’s doing her thing I was picking what I wanted for dinner.

 

84f20881c9df24bf3abf714cb3392807.jpg

 

So let’s talk elevators. You did have to wait a while for them. This was the first time experiencing this but the other times we had cruised it was the off season but with me being a teacher this is our life now. We ended up taking the stairs a bit because we got tired of waiting. If you are in a scooter I could see it being very frustrating. Good news we never experienced bad elevator etiquette-no one trying to get on while others trying to get off. Good work folks!

 

We were also deck 9 which kinda put us in no mans land in regards to the esplanade. Previously we have only been a deck or two away from the promenade-it made getting to late night pizza easier-yeah I’m lazy.

 

Ok into the MDR. Our servers were Anderson and Edwin. They were awesome. We loved them. They were kind, funny, and took such good care of us.

 

As we are waiting for our meal to start another couple is walking aimlessly looking for their table. I hear them say their table number and I happen to see it on the windowsill. I make a joke saying it looks like you are eating in the window this sailing!

 

The problem was one table had one too many pushed into it. Anderson separated one of the three tables away and quickly set it for the couple. You will see why I mention this shortly.

 

Ok let’s get to the food porn.

 

I had the wild mushroom soup and my wife had the French onion. (I know it says kris for one of our servers but that was from the previous sailing)

 

d910d67e66d227a63e77a77eef0cdc0d.jpg

 

b9540d191c52e10fb797d77fe30cfcc6.jpg

 

A word about the food. It’s so subjective. In general we thought everything was delicious. Nothing ever came out cold.

 

My mushroom soup was the bomb.

 

I had the salmon which was cooked well and my wife had the prime rib. It was a little stringy which made it a tad difficult to cut/eat.

 

e894e1776423f4ad7f6caebf0cdfeed6.jpg

 

d885272b517ec171dc8316e094699352.jpg

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Apologies as I don’t have dessert photos. I know I got the Royal cheese plate as nothing really stood out to me and my wife got the chocolate cake. She was happy.

 

Anderson asked why I got the cheese plate. I told him I love cheese and nothing stood out to me. He said he hoped I would find something I liked in future nights. Haha made me think maybe no one ever orders the cheese plate?

 

Dinner was lovely. We even got to watch the ocean go by as it was still light out for the first 30 mins of dinner. Anderson then gives his pitch about the importance of 10s on the review. Huh, never had this happen on night 1 before. But hey, if you give me 10 point service I’ll give you a 10.

 

Just as we are getting up to leave Anderson walks over and asks if it would be ok if he moves that other couple’s table over here for the rest of the cruise (the one where he had to quickly set the table). My wife and I say sure no problem. We figure he just needs to rearrange his section with the now added table.

 

Then my wife asks me “wait, did he mean he is going to put them with us or by us with a space?” Hmmm I took it as just by us but good point let’s clarify. I wave Anderson back over and ask if the table will be with us or by us. Anderson assured us they will not be with us just next to us. Ok cool.

 

As you know by now we don’t want to make friends. We aren’t rude or mean to people. We will chit chat for a few minutes but for the most part we like to enjoy our trips just the two of us. We like recounting our day. Talking about our favorite parts. Talking about the night and tomorrow. This is why we always ask for a two top.

 

Ok onto our first show of the cruise: The Gift. What to say about this show...the sets were awesome! So from what we gathered the show is about a guy whose wife has died and he has been depressed about it and this has caused him to drift away from his two kids. So his wife intervened from the other side...if anyone had a better explanation please by all means!

 

a5493560d3b5f649a9e859eff4f60169.jpg

 

The show is over and this guy in a suit comes out. Says let’s let the cast hear it one more time, here’s what is left to do tonight on the ship, tomorrow is a sea day, good night!

 

“...who was that?” My wife asks. Umm I think that was the cruise director but he never once said that...or what his name was. Come to think of it I havent heard from the cruise director at all so far. Turns out, yes, that was our first encounter with cruise director Denis Charles.

 

After the show we took a lap up top under the stairs then went to bed.

 

Day 1 cruise Compass

 

bf46cf4c92c2dd69ecb08901aa145e15.jpg

 

e0964b40fc42a7816ec76397ac133c5f.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Excellent updates and great first day! The food looks terrific.

 

I also bring Clorox wipes on vacation and wipe down surfaces like door knobs, light switches, remote control twice lol, etc. My kids and husband know not to touch anything in a hotel room or cruise ship cabin until I’ve cleaned it. I do the same on planes...I wipe down the armrests, window shade, trays, and the touch screens.

 

We are staying in an inside cabin on deck 9. We love walking and on cruises we usually just take the stairs even if we have to walk up several decks. We usually book an inside cabin also because it’s affordable. When we’re with the kids, we book the least expensive connecting cabins. Usually that means two connecting inside cabins, although on one cruise they didn’t have connecting inside cabins so two connecting ocean view cabins it was. We enjoy having the extra space with the kids, and two bathrooms as well, for much less money than a suite. This time it’s just me and my husband, so we don’t need a ton of space. Looking forward to the virtual balcony in the inside cabin. We’ve never had anything like that. My parents went on the Anthem in February and they had this type of cabin and loved it. They’re going back again in February.

 

Can’t wait to read more!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Ok back on the ground let’s check out Sea Plex before Muster. They are doing bumper cars but no way we get on before muster. Check out the Xbox area which is already packed. We did play a little corn hole over there. Then checked out the foos ball and air hockey. But they charge for air hockey, pssh I’ll keep my 1.50 thanks.

 

Awesome review! Quick question.. Where was Corn hole setup? With the ping pong tables? We didn't see it on our last cruise, but would love to find it in our cruise in two weeks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really enjoying your review! Your sense of humor is terrific and makes reading the review even more fun and entertaining. The pictures are also awesome. I've been itching to try out the Quantum class ships, but both the Quantum and Ovation sail out of China. Even though they're much closer to where I live in India, I haven't heard too many good reviews about them. Hence the Anthem from NY is our best bet. Following closely for all the tips and pictures!

 

Cheers!

 

Nick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello BigHouseFootball

 

I was pleased to read that you and your wife enjoyed your visit to NYC !

 

You certainly did pack in some good experiences in the three days.

 

As I wrote in a previous post, it is a great city.

 

So glad that you,came to the idea that you could possibly live there !

 

As the other poster from LI wrote about 9/11, most native New Yorkers have ties and memories of that day.I have yet to visit the museum or the Freedom tower. Maybe still too emotiional.

 

One of my former students was late for work that day due to a traffic issue and,fortunately, was spared.

 

She was so affected though,she left her job in finance in the City and owns a miniature golf place at the end of Long Island where my DH and I have lived for the past thirty four years.

 

We often go into the City as “tourists” and always enjoy visiting our familiar places and discovering new ones.

 

I will continue to read your posts about the cruise.

 

I certainly think that you had an enjoyable time on the ship !

 

Good wishes to you for the beginning of the school year.

 

As a retired elementary teacher, I fondly remember those first days of school !

 

 

 

9/11 museum as a Staten Islander and we lost about 275 souls that day lots of fdny and nypd to me is a cemetery and should not have tourists walking around it. Gettysburg too is a cemetery where plenty of men died and is an attraction as well. The only difference is at Gettysburg the men signed up to fight. At the WTC many were simply going to work. Just my opinion. Don’t want to open a debate

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9/11 museum as a Staten Islander and we lost about 275 souls that day lots of fdny and nypd to me is a cemetery and should not have tourists walking around it. Gettysburg too is a cemetery where plenty of men died and is an attraction as well. The only difference is at Gettysburg the men signed up to fight. At the WTC many were simply going to work. Just my opinion. Don’t want to open a debate

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

 

 

I think most people who visit do it as a pilgrimage and are very much affected by being there. It’s hallowed ground, as is Gettysburg.

We all lost on 9/11.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were also deck 9 which kinda put us in no mans land in regards to the esplanade. Previously we have only been a deck or two away from the promenade-it made getting to late night pizza easier-yeah I’m lazy.

 

First, thank you for taking the time to post this entertaining review. (And thank you for being a teacher!) We are looking at Deck 9 on un upcoming Anthem 5-day to Bermuda next year and are curious to hear what your deck recommendation would be after your 5 days. We figured we'd spend most of our time on Deck 5 for the Esplanade and its venues and up on Deck 14 for the pools and Solarium. Like you, we often prefer just to take the stairs, but since 9 is sort of in no man's land, would you suggest trying to get on a deck a little closer to one or the other so that, at least, half the time, it's easier to take the stairs? (Kinda thought we were doing that by picking 9 over 10, but maybe not really....) Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...