LIVE - Anthem 10/18/18 - We're leafpeepin' ya'll

[aring75]

2 minutes ago, heatheranderson13 said:

The complimentary Dessert cart looks dangerous. I am unable to zoom in to see what is available lol

 

By all means, allow me to help you with that. I’m pretty sure knowing these things ahead of time is important. You know, “for research purposes.”

 

They had various slices of sponge-type layer cakes, eclairs, danish, several (usually two or three) flavors of cookies which change daily, and I have also seen cream puffs and something they called strawberry shortcake on more than one occasion. 

 

Pretty sure that that bottom row is for display only. 

[aring75]

Gonna give this a try. 

 

Mission: Bar Menus continues with the bar at 270

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sppunk]

My parents are aalso on this cruise. A heads up - big nor’easter is coming up the coast so Friday and Saturday will be very wet and very windy. 

[heatheranderson13]

21 minutes ago, aring75 said:

 

By all means, allow me to help you with that. I’m pretty sure knowing these things ahead of time is important. You know, “for research purposes.”

 

They had various slices of sponge-type layer cakes, eclairs, danish, several (usually two or three) flavors of cookies which change daily, and I have also seen cream puffs and something they called strawberry shortcake on more than one occasion. 

 

Pretty sure that that bottom row is for display only. 

See dangerous lol

[gaylemh]

6 hours ago, aring75 said:

Saw We Will Rock You after lunch. I have to say, the production shows on this ship are impressive. The singers are crazy talented!!! And Joyce Kuo is one of the amazing solo guitarists for the We Will Rock You show. She also plays acoustic guitar in the Schooner Bar in the evening quite often during the cruise. 

 

She’s awesome. That is all. 

I don't think Joyce ever goes home. I've been on 19 sailings on Anthem and she has been on every one.  The talent on Anthem from the bands to the casts are all amazing.

[aring75]

13 hours ago, sppunk said:

My parents are aalso on this cruise. A heads up - big nor’easter is coming up the coast so Friday and Saturday will be very wet and very windy. 

 

Looks like your “head up” was right on point, sppunk. High winds have caused the port at Saint John, NB to be closed today. We were unable to dock and, instead, will be enjoying an extra sea day. 

 

While we are certainly disappointed that we won’t get to see St John (we’ve never been here before), we understand the decision to close the port. The captain informed us the winds are currently 35-40 knots and gusting at 50 knots, so we definitely have a little bit of white cap activity going on. Nothing too crazy (Anthem has seen MUCH worse, and so have we to be honest). I think right now we have 2-4 meter seas and he said they will be 4-8 meter later this afternoon. But will smooth out this evening and be downright reasonable by tomorrow. 

 

[aring75]

This is what is normally planned during a day in Saint John, NB. Our day is going to be slightly rearranged due to the change to a day at sea. They will be adding more shipboard activities and extending the hours for things like the rock climbing wall and Sea Plex activities. The shops and casino will be open, etc. 

 

Daily Planner - Day 8 - Saint John, NB

 

 

[aring75]

And for those of you keeping track, last night was the second formal night (Day 7 - second day at sea). And yes, they did serve little warm water lobster tails. 

 

 

Vidalia Onion Tart (Royal has had this on the menu for years. It has changed a little over time, but it’s still one of my favorite apps in the Main Dining Room.)

 

 

Broiled Lobster Tail

 

I ATE TWO, YES TWO, OF THESE BAD BOYS AND I DIDN’T GET A PICTURE OF EITHER ONE. FAILING ON AN EPIC LEVEL. 

 

Chocolate Cake (again)

 

[JaniceB]

Sorry you missed St. John, loving your food pictures.

[Carpy the Cat]

so you're on Anthem right now? any reports of illness? my husband is suddenly paranoid about Noro because he heard a rumor it's been spotted on a couple of RCI ships lately.

[aring75]

7 minutes ago, Carpy the Cat said:

so you're on Anthem right now? any reports of illness? my husband is suddenly paranoid about Noro because he heard a rumor it's been spotted on a couple of RCI ships lately.

 

No. Nothing out of the ordinary that I’ve seen. Really though, make sure your husband remembers that the best way to keep from getting sick is just to wash your hands thoroughly (and constantly). We’ve been on several ships with Noro outbreaks, but we are insanely diligent about the hand washing.

 

Well, I also avoid the buffet (but that’s personal preference).

[aring75]

Lunch / Snack today at Café Promenade. Ham and apple with Brie on a Croissant. Plus, two chocolate chip cookies as they came right out of the oven. Still warm? Yes, please!!

 

 

Assortment of teas available at Café Promenade 

 

 

They also have packets of hot chocolate and hot water available all day. 

[aring75]

Mission: Bar Menus is moving right along to the Music Hall

 

This is a two-story, multi-use space on the Anthem. At night you will often find musical entertainment or karaoke. During the day, they hold bingo games and some of the trivia competitions that aren’t held in the Schooner Bar. 

 

There are pool tables upstairs and the Diamond Lounge is located here as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

[aring75]

We won’t be dining at Wonderland this cruise, but this is the menu for those who might be interested. 

 

[aring75]

And the Dog House is located within the Sea Plex area. 

 

[dream2cruise]

How does Wonderland work?  Do you pick from each section or do they bring everything?  It looks like a lot of food.

[aring75]

We will be dining in the Solarium Bistro tonight, but here is the Main Dining Room menu for this evening. 

 

[aring75]

2 minutes ago, dream2cruise said:

How does Wonderland work?  Do you pick from each section or do they bring everything?  It looks like a lot of food.

 

We haven’t eaten there yet, but our friends told us their waiter basically asked if there was anything they wouldn’t eat, then he just started bringing them food. 

 

They loved it!

[mahqueen310]

Please take pictures of food available at Solarium Bistro, if you don't mind.  We are sailing next month and have reservations there.  Thank you.

[riri13]

19 hours ago, gaylemh said:

I don't think Joyce ever goes home. I've been on 19 sailings on Anthem and she has been on every one.  The talent on Anthem from the bands to the casts are all amazing.

Count me as another big Joyce fan. She had at least one sailing off in June of this year. I'm on again November 3 and she's not listed on the entertainment list but I'm hoping that's an oversight. Anyone know?

 

Also, this thread is turning into a great resource on all things Anthem, well done! Wishing you a not too exciting sail back into port.

[gaylemh]

10 minutes ago, riri13 said:

Count me as another big Joyce fan. She had at least one sailing off in June of this year. I'm on again November 3 and she's not listed on the entertainment list but I'm hoping that's an oversight. Anyone know?

 

Also, this thread is turning into a great resource on all things Anthem, well done! Wishing you a not too exciting sail back into port.

I've never seen her listed as part of the entertainment lineup when I request it from Royal. I'm guessing she might take a break in the summer.  I always cruise from September thru mid May.  Last year I was on 8 Anthem cruises during that time, and she was on all of them.

Edited October 25, 2018 by gaylemh

[reallyitsmema]

23 minutes ago, riri13 said:

Count me as another big Joyce fan. She had at least one sailing off in June of this year. I'm on again November 3 and she's not listed on the entertainment list but I'm hoping that's an oversight. Anyone know?

 

Also, this thread is turning into a great resource on all things Anthem, well done! Wishing you a not too exciting sail back into port.

 

Joyce hasn't been on all of our sailings either.    She wasn't on our Feb 2017 sailing, neither was Terry Lavell.  They were both on our November sailing.  Hoping both are sailing on our January cruise.

[aring75]

1 hour ago, gaylemh said:

I've never seen her listed as part of the entertainment lineup when I request it from Royal. I'm guessing she might take a break in the summer.  I always cruise from September thru mid May.  Last year I was on 8 Anthem cruises during that time, and she was on all of them.

 

Eight Anthem cruises in nine months? Is that right? Wow. Color me jealous. 😊

[aring75]

2 hours ago, mahqueen310 said:

Please take pictures of food available at Solarium Bistro, if you don't mind.  We are sailing next month and have reservations there.  Thank you.

 

Your wish...

 

The Solarium Bistro is one of those hidden gems on the Anthem. Not too many people seem to know about it and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. On the one hand, it’s great! It’s not crowded and many times you can get a last minute reservation or sometimes even walk in when your cruise isn’t crowded. On the other hand, I worry that this marvelous place tucked away in the Solarium might be replaced with some other revenue-generating, celebrity-chef-inspired, just-like-everything-else-out-there cookie cutter cafe that it guts me just a little when I see it near-empty at 7:30 pm.

 

Then I feel guilty because I’m also just a little happy inside because I feel like I’m one of the ones in on the secret. This place is fantastic. It is complementary. No charge (except for two premium items). And it is some of the best dinner on the ship. 

 

The menu. 

 

 

To start, they will bring a basket of bread to the table. 

 

 

Now, appetizers are listed on the menu, but you actually help yourself buffet-style. They are pre-plated and you are welcome to as much as you like. 

 

 

 

(cont’d)

[aring75]

You need only order your entree from the menu. And there are two items with an up charge. Mark was so disappointed that he didn’t get the lobster he really wanted, so when our waiter told him that they were offering 20% off the premium items, he began to think about the lobster tail. Then he came back and said it was actually a whole broiled lobster. And Mark didn’t have to think any longer. 

 

 

 

I chose the skirt steak. It was marinated and cooked perfectly. 

 

 

And then there’s dessert. Also served buffet style. I like that they are slightly smaller portions. Mark and I like to choose one each and then get one to share. 

 

 

Except the chocolate cake. The chocolate cake was huge.