Tin can

I'm probably going to go against the general consensus. Its the Anthem itinerary for me, Stavanger and Kristiansand are nothing special in my opinion on Jewel and Anthem goes to (again in my opinion) the best Fjord ports Bergen, Olden & Gerainger. Anthem offers a lot more on board if that's a consideration. All opinions of course 😀

The Fjords are stunning, one of our favourite cruises with Royal and you are visiting some of the best on that itinerary.

Our experience is that isn't always correct for non Florida departing cruises. The cruise compass actually said no shorts in the MDR on our May Anthem cruise in the UK and I actually saw people turned away in them. It wasn't that long ago on an Royal Asian cruise that we wouldn't have got anywhere near the MDR on formal night if you weren't formal and our Dubai cruise with Royal a few years ago people were wearing tuxedo's even in the Windjammer and it was formal in the MDR every night even when the cruise planner said casual. I'm not fussed either way with dress but there is no consistency from Royal, maybe because they tailor the 'rules' for want of a better word to the local demographic and their expectations.

Thanks for posting, we were on the 29th May sailing to the Fjords. Had great fun with the staff in Boleros.

It was great and was 7 years ago, our son is 12 now. Many more cruise since them and all with him with no concerns or problems. You will have a great time on yours, beware though cruises are very addictive!

We had exactly the same concerns about a balcony with children, it may sound silly but occasionally it woke me up worrying about it. My plan on arriving at the cabin was to have the furniture removed. The reality is though there is a child lock and nothing to worry about, we enjoyed sitting on the balcony and then when we went inside we locked it.

Being based in the UK we felt the same with the usual Mediterranean cruises on offer as probably you folks in the States feel about the same Caribbean cruises. We have Anthem booked from New York next Easter and have Harmony booked from Galveston in 2024. Galveston is an 11 hour flight from London but like you we want to get out of the comfort zone a bit and have visited the States many times but not down South. Might be an option to look at a cruise from Europe if you haven't already?

Good point.

Very true about Fosters. Its more what the term ‘black and tan’ represents in Ireland. Absolutely no way would I be ordering a drink called that in Ireland or any Irish bar. To then proceed to tell them how to make it is only asking for real upset, just my opinion.

This drink I gather is popular in America but certainly not in Ireland.

That's interesting to hear, I heard the dry dock in February was just for maintenance and that there was no 'Amping' going on. I hope there is as we are on Explorer around the Greek Isles next summer.

Beginning of April, looks like we just miss the rodeos.

Thank you all for your very helpful replies it is appreciated. I really do fancy a trip that includes San Antonio and Stockyard and maybe a couple of other recommendations and I think that would be a great few days. I just need to conquer my fear now of left hand driving and tacking large American freeways!

I'm not an expert but I think you have to stake $12,500.00 not actually spend (lose it), technically I suppose if you were lucky you could play the same $100 stake over and over if you won a bit/lost a bit to achieve the required level. If the incentives are this good with free cruises I'm guessing the likelihood of this though is quite low.

I disagree slightly that the main focus was on 'free' drinks. It was a ritual to head to the lounge at 5pm or whenever it opened. The lounges or over flows were packed and the atmosphere buzzing, some of this probably due to free drinks but also because it was where you went, it was what we did. This doesn't happen any more as it is more 'convenient' to most to use the vouchers elsewhere. What we had once in the DL is lost for good I fear.

Did that quite often on our recent cruise if having a beer at lunchtime around the pool to save the vouchers for the more expensive cocktails in the evening. I got the impression that for whatever reason some bar staff were not too keen to do this.

It used to be great, buzzing and full and we also met and spoke with many people. I was genuinely shocked late May on Anthem how much it had changed. The C & A tier count on the cruise was 600 odd Diamonds and 240 D+ and no one was in there. Royal will know everyone is using the vouchers round the ship and the lounges days are numbered I fear. Hope I am wrong.

Many seats available and servers standing around was our recent experience on Anthem.

I'm thinking the same to be honest, I've been doing some research and the Dallas farmers market looks interesting and the Stockyards at Fort Worth. I'm almost ashamed to say I also want to go and see South Fork Ranch as I was a big fan of the series 😀

Hi all We are from the UK and planning a cruise from Galveston. We are looking to spend a few days post cruise somewhere near enough to fly home but also to experience Texas. We have visited previously a number of times New York and Chicago and Houston rightly or wrongly looks a similar urban city offering much of the same. I know it will involve a flight but we were thinking therefore Dallas and Fort Worth might be good for 3-4 days to experience a bit of what Texas has to offer. I would be grateful for any local views and having cruised a number of times now from New York we are very much looking forward to cruising with Texans!

I had exactly the same with my two price matches. They wouldn't initially honour what was on the website and it was so frustrating. I also had a slightly higher invoice which I gave up querying in the end. Would you know if you can book a cruise with a Next Cruise certificate through a travel agent or does it have to be Royal direct?

I'm hoping actually booking a cruise is a less stressful and quicker process on the phone than calling to price match.

Thank you for the reply, it was something simple then that I was doing wrong then 😀 It would make sense to me to be able to book it on the website and then enter a code and its done but perhaps that's just me. Thanks again

Hi All I'm actually a bit embarrassed to ask this as I've been cruising on Royal for many years but how do you actually make a booking having previously purchased a future Next Cruise certificate with the $200 deposit. There is an entry in my booked cruises with a booking reference (I presume this is what I bought) but how do I apply this to booking a new cruise on the website. I am completely lost with this and google hasn't been my friend so there must be something very obvious that I am missing. Many thanks

We had them every night on Anthem a few weeks ago but no copies at guest services as someone else mentions above.