Jcol5786

Thanks for the replies. Recently we have be doing NextCruise so that should be fine. We will be back onboard in early May so we will have to book a couple more. If they offer OBC with the 6 month pick your cruise that will help if we see a good price that we want to take advantage of.

Hello - We have booked our cruises through the website when there is a good price and also on the ship through NextCruise. With NextCrusie we like the reduced deposit and the $100/person OBC for balcony room but you are paying the current rate for the cruise which can vary.  Having just did our second cruise as D it's nice to have that little OBC buffer when 4 drinks aren't quite enough🙂.  My question is I don't recall seeing an OBC credit offered when booking directly. Do you typically get the same OBC  when booking directly or is it only available when booking through NextCruise? Prehaps it's time to get a TA? 

I think there are and will be COVID cases on most cruises. We have done 5 cruises now since the restart and have not caught Covid on any of them including this last one. 

5 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

No issue from my point of view.  Tone is lost on these posts; mine can be misunderstood as easily as others.  As an avid cruiser knowing some of the titles and duties of officers and crew has come in handy, thus my FYI was kindly meant.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, sorry my comment was also not meant to be unkind but it was before coffee. It's just that sometimes I feel that people are in a hurry to correct the smallest point leading to some people being afraid to post. I know it was the head waiter now that you mentioned his correct title but in the end he was a person in a suit not doing much so I thought "manager".

10 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

FYI: The title of “MDR manager who comes around the table each night” is  “Head Waiter.”  You are, of course, served by a waiter and assist waiter.

Sure - if that makes a difference to the context of this thread. 

On Anthem last week we received the smaller Caribbean tails as well. Getting 2 was not a problem. I asked MDR manager who comes around the table each night about the transission to the larger Maine tails. He hadn't heard about it.

Here are some othe random photos from our cruise.

Just wanted to add that as others have mentioned the crew was doing a great job. Everyone was friendly and working very hard from our room stewart to our dining room staff. We recently started doing early traditional after having done My Time for most of our previous cruises however MT started to become crowded and unpredictable so we opted for early traditional 3 cruises ago and it works well for us. We show up between 5:30 - 5:45 and walked right to our table each night.

As for our room we had the most forward obstructed balcony on deck 7 starboard side. The obstruction is simply the fact that the balcony has a very large port hole type of opening. The opening provided a lot of privancy and coverage but it still felt like a real balcony room and the savings were significant.

1 minute ago, Jcol5786 said:

 

We really enjoyed this cruise. Have a great cruise.

11 minutes ago, Piperandleroy said:

We are doing that cruise in a week. Who was the cruise director?

The cruise director was Mario. He mentioned that he not been a CD for that long but I think he did a good job.

13 hours ago, RogueMonk said:

Was on it too. Way too many people coughing and snotting. And too much COVID.

That being said -- beautiful ship and cruise.

Interesting - I think people are much more aware of people coughing now. I admit whenever I hear someone cough now I avoid them. We cruised in October on Oasis and I don't think it was any more or less coughing on that cruise. As for Covid cases we met a nice bartender at 270 on day 1 and 2. He was missing on day 3 and when we asked he was isolating for 5 days. We assumed he was off with Covid or the flu. He did return after the 5 days and wore a mask the rest of the cruise.

10 hours ago, pittnh said:

recommendations for San Juan port stop?  Are things pretty walkable from the pier?  Is it better not top book any ship excursions there?

We walked in San Juan. Turned left after getting to the shore end of the pier and then walked along the shore front. Beautiful buildings, parks and old fort structures to look at.

12 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

how was parking at the port.  Are they still making people believe the garage is only for handicapped which it is not.

Upon my return last time, one of the fellows helping at the kiosk for payment said they like to fill up the lot first and then the garage.  

Parking use to be great now it is annoying trying to get into the garage.

 

BTW i have done Anthem 3 times and love her and that giraffee.

We didn't park at the port as we came in the day before and the hotel provided a shuttle service.

Just got off Anthem this morning. Had a great 11 day cruise and we really enjoyed going to San Juan, St John's Antigua, St Kitts, St Lucia and St Marrten. Not doing a review but am happy to answer any questions about the ship and the ports.

Thanks for the Porter suggestion. We actually flew Porter from Toronto to Newark for our first post- Covid cruise in October 2021. It worked out fine and Bill Bishop is an easy airport. Not sure about using them with a non-direct flight but we'll run the numbers and times and decide. Thanks.

14 hours ago, LHT28 said:

I would book direct with AC  not  an online trip site

sometime you will find  some good fares at AC

Also check LGA or JFK   for flights  mid afternoon

Will do, thanks.

8 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

I would book direct with AC  not  an online trip site

sometime you will find  some good fares at AC

Also check LGA or JFK   for flights  mid afternoon

Will do, thanks.

Thanks - The dates are October 30 on Jewel of the Seas for 10 days. If I count correctly it gets back on November 8. Nice itinerary.  4 Canadian ports. Returning on the 8'th or 9'th Air Canada direct is $361 pp but  we would need to pay addition checked bag fees. Thanks.

Thanks for the replies. I just checked on Expedia for a one way flight from Newark to Quebec City and there is an Air Canada direct for $360 per person.  There is also a lower price option with 2 stops (Montreal and Ottawa) but I like direct flights so I guess flying is a better option than I originaly thought. I  recall hearing about a train that starts in Quebec City and stops in Montreal and then goes to NYC. The reverse of that if available would make a nice trip back. I'll keep researching and report back. Thanks.

Hello,

Would like to do an RC fall cruise that leaves Quebec City and ends at Port Liberty NJ. We can drive to Quebec City but would need to return from Port Liberty NJ. back to QC to retrieve our car.  Just wondering if anyone has done this type of "one way" cruise and how you got back? My first thought would be to rent a car and drive back however I assume that this would not work since I assume you cannot leave a US rental in Canada. Other options would be train, bus or flying. If anyone has done this I'd appreciate your comments.

Thanks

James

11 hours ago, jewel_beth said:

Just assigned this cabin.  Did you end up in 13158?  If so, how was it?

 

Thanks..

Yes we did end up in this room and we liked it. Since this room connects to a Suite the connecting door is in the main part of the room which is different from the layout when two balcony rooms connect. I think this layout seemed to give more available space.  We did have neighbors and some noise did come through but it was never an issue. We liked the overall location as we could use the stairs to go up to the pool deck etc.

We are RC Diamond as well and have been looking at Celebrity. Thanks for the info about the Elite happy hour drinks. My question is what do folks do for the rest of the day? Do you purchase an addition beverage package or pay as you go? When I do a test booking on the web-site I see the cruise only fare and the all included fare. Don't see the point in purchasing the all in fare when we are getting some free drinks but is there a different  option to purchase to fill in the rest of the beverage day?

Thanks

Hello,

I have a cruise coming up on Anthem leaving on January 2nd, 2023. I have been trying to purchase the Absolute Vodka and 6 Sprite package for some time now from within my cruise planner. The package shows up but when I select it it asks for the ship and the date of the cruise. I select Athem but the only dates available are for December 2022 cruises. I assume that at some point the January dates will appear but I'm wondering if  I can purchase by just phoning RC? Anyone see this or having this issue? Thanks.

17 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

Agreed that would be specialty dining. Specialty dinning is an entire different thing. (Yes, being “That Guy”) 

Thanks. I sometimes forget that Dining is the same as Whining. I'll try to be perfect next time so you won't need to be "That Guy".

I've found 3 and take them home to my 5 yr grand son. We read the notes and look up where the duck is from. It's good fun. He is almost old enough IMO for us to take on a cruise and I'm sure he will spend hours looking for one.

We use the Door Hanger the night before and I think on Anthem you could order via the TV which was really convenient. We would do this before just before we retired and depending on how late we were determined our delivery time. Don't use it for a wakeup call as I'm an early riser.