heathermiller86nj

Hi,

Is onboard credit refundable? From what I remember I think RCL credit is non-refundable but travel agent credit (that I can't use until onboard) is refundable? Will RCL credit automatically be used before travel agent credit? If I have leftover travel agent credit, will the balance go back to the credit card linked to my onboard account?

Does Escape have the blues bar / cavern club? Or is there another dedicated bar to live music like on the Epic and Breakaway besides the Atrium?

Hi,

Does anyone remember if Royal Caribbean had any Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales last year? I'm wondering if there's any chance that the drink package goes on sale on either of these days.

Thanks!

I do agree that the Haven on NCL is amazing!

Marine Mom - what do you think - same itinerary, same price per day - Antehem for a repeat holiday cruise or Breakaway for a 7 night holiday cruise to change it up? Loved the Anthem, but concerned about the repeat entertainment on Anthem compared to Breakaway which would be new. Also concerned of things to do on Breakaway on the sea days in the cold.

Also debating between the same two ships for the same two sailings. Similar pros/cons. Anyone have any opinions on this?

Which do you think would have more families with kids / grown kids in the 18-20's crowd? Last year on the Anthem, there were only about 30-35 people in this age group which was surprising. Maybe because it was a 10 nighter and not a 7 or 8 nighter. Although it was during Christmas and New Years. Wondering it an 8 night Christmas cruise might have more or if we/they are better off on NCL Breakaway.

Have the same delima myself. Has anyone done both for the holiday season or in general?

Hi,

After 10+ cruises, Synergy is our favorite band of all we've seen on Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines as well.

We were hoping to book a cruise on the Anthem with them there, but we're now hesitant as they won't be onboard for the holidays. Is there any way for us to reach out to Royal Caribbean to express how much this band added to our cruise experience. I assume it's too late for them to be considered to be added to a holiday cruise? We'd book now if we found out they would be aboard for the holidays.

Is there anyone at Royal Caribbean like John Heald of Carnival that we could reach out to on social media to express how much we enjoyed them and see if there's any way whatsoever they could be added to the Anthem holiday entertainment?

Hi,

How much is the drink package currently going for if purchased in advance of the cruise. Is it still discounted and advantageous to buy ahead of time? Also, if my family member I'm traveling with doesn't drink, am I still able to purchase it only for me? Thank you very much.

Thanks! A little disappointed to hear the dance band won't be Katrina Love and Synergy - they were our favorite last year among all our cruises and that would've been a contributing factor to us booking Anthem again.

Any idea how The Royal Swedes are? Also, do you know who the reggae band is supposed to be this winter?

Hi.

We just found out a band called The Royal Swedes will be aboard Anthem this winter. We were really looking forward to seeing Katrina Love and Synergy if we book another cruise on the Anthem and are disappointed they wont be on for the holiday season.

Has anyone been on a cruise with this band before? If so, how are they?

Hi,

I am looking at an open booking that I made last year. It says my onbord credit will in the amount of $25-$100 depending on stateroom type and sailing length. Does anyone know what the current amounts are? I am wondering how much for a 7 or 8 night cruise in an inside vs balcony cabin. Thank you.

I once remember having leftover onboard credit and being refunded to my credit card.

Does anyone know offhand if it's the travel agent's credit or Royal Caribbean onboard credit that will be refunded to a credit card if unused? Thank you.

Glad you are having a great cruise. We were on the Anthem last holiday season and it was our favorite cruise.

If you have the ability to ask somoene onboard (dining staff / entertainment staff), would you be able to find out which bands will be aboard the ship in December for the holidays and if the dining menus are the same menus from last year?

Our only hesitation of booking the same cruise is experiencing the same everything. We know the shows will be the same but are wondering if some of the live music will be new and if some of the food options / menu selections will be updated?

Thank you. Hope you have a great rest of your cruise.

Hi,

We are a family of four with grown kids and are looking to sail out of NYC for the holidays again. We haven't sailed NCL in 5-6 years. We usually sail with RCL and last year aboard the Anthem of the Seas was our favorite cruise to date.

Both cruises are around the same price per day, with Anthem being more due to it being an extra night. Both cruises would be during Christmas.

Has anyone been on both ships for the holidays? In summary, some pros/cons include:

Anthem:

Pros - favorite ship, there will be new comedians and a new tribute band. Typically meet some good people aboard RCL ships aboard the holidays, like the tri-state area crowd. Some new live music. Love the indoor spaces for the winter sailing - Solarium, 270, Esplanade.

Cons - Same ship. 3 same productions shows and will likely have the same holiday activities. Even one of the fly-on acts will be the same (Finnis Henderson) - was at least hooping the fly-on entertainment would change and be different for some vareity within the entertainment department. Same food menus.

Breakaway:

Pros - new ship for us. 2 production shows plus second city and dueling pianos. New dining options and menus.

Cons - Limited indoor space and crowding from what we've read for a ship not meant to sail during the winter with a significant portion of outdoor space (no indoor pool, no large indoor venus like 270). 7 nights instead of 8 nights probably means only 2.5 days in warm weather vs 3.5. Also another con seems to be entertainment - doesn't seem like NCL has fly-on acts. We usually like variety with tribute bands, a variety of comedy and magician/juggler etc. It seems like besides the two shows, there is only second city and dueling pianos which leaves 4 nights of no show / main form of professional entertainment. The bands and live music are usually secondary entertainment to do before and after a show.

For anyone who has been on both ships during the winter and/or during the holiday season, how do they compare? How does entertainment compare - daytime and nighttime, food and the crowd of passengers?

Thank you very much.

Hi,

We are a family of four with grown kids and are looking to sail out of NYC for the holidays again. We haven't sailed NCL in 5-6 years. We usually sail with RCL and last year aboard the Anthem of the Seas was our favorite cruise to date.

Both cruises are around the same price per day, with Anthem being more due to it being an extra night. Both cruises would be during Christmas.

Has anyone been on both ships for the holidays? In summary, some pros/cons include:

Anthem:

Pros - favorite ship, there will be new comedians and a new tribute band. Typically meet some good people aboard RCL ships aboard the holidays, like the tri-state area crowd. Some new live music. Love the indoor spaces for the winter sailing - Solarium, 270, Esplanade.

Cons - Same ship. 3 same productions shows and will likely have the same holiday activities. Even one of the fly-on acts will be the same (Finnis Henderson) - was at least hooping the fly-on entertainment would change and be different for some vareity within the entertainment department. Same food menus.

Breakaway:

Pros - new ship for us. 2 production shows plus second city and dueling pianos. New dining options and menus.

Cons - Limited indoor space and crowding from what we've read for a ship not meant to sail during the winter with a significant portion of outdoor space (no indoor pool, no large indoor venus like 270). 7 nights instead of 8 nights probably means only 2.5 days in warm weather vs 3.5. Also another con seems to be entertainment - doesn't seem like NCL has fly-on acts. We usually like variety with tribute bands, a variety of comedy and magician/juggler etc. It seems like besides the two shows, there is only second city and dueling pianos which leaves 4 nights of no show / main form of professional entertainment. The bands and live music are usually secondary entertainment to do before and after a show.

For anyone who has been on both ships during the winter and/or during the holiday season, how do they compare? How does entertainment compare - daytime and nighttime, food and the crowd of passengers?

Thank you very much.

Hi,

I remember recently reading that Royal Caribbean was allowing pre-cruise purchases to be made using onboard credit. Is this still an option when logging into mycruise through their website? Thank you very much.

Thanks! Anyone else have experience on repeat Anthem cruises? Especially repeat Anthem holiday cruises.

Fewer than 8 categories of all cabin types are sold out. So wondering if they may try to fill the trip since no one who has booked and no one once they book going forward can have a lower price honored.

Hi,

We went on a cruise last year for the holidays and are debating going again (if the price comes down, still too expensive at $5,300 for 8 nights for 4 people in 2 rooms of 2).

We've never cruised on the same ship and always try to change it up for a new design and new shows. With that being said, Anthem is our favorite ship.

I know the three shows - we will rock you, spectras and the gift will be the same. Name that tune will be the same as will the 70s and Rock parties in Music Hall.

Also, one of the fly on acts, Finnis Henderson, will be the same as last year. While he was great, we were hoping we'd at least find some new forms of entertainment through the fly on acts.

We did hear that the tribute band will be Britan's Finest (Beatles Tribute). The dance band will be Royal Suite (disappointed Synergy won't be the dance band as they were awesome, never heard of this band). Comedians will be Duane Landry and Mike Marino and there will be a juggler named Adam Kario (so 1 new band, 1 new tribute band, 2 new comedians and a juggler).

For anyone who has sailed on the Anthem of the Seas twice, what did you think? Did you have as good of a time the second time as the first? I hear even the dining menus might be the same.

We're also looking at the NCL Breakaway but have heard that ship is not great during the winter due to the lack of indoor space. We also hear there are only 2 shows on that ship plus second city comedy but no fly on acts and don't love the idea of the lack of a schedule with everyone doing everything.

If anyone has been on the Anthem twice, what did you think? Thank you very much.

Was deducting out the $300 in credit to get to the $4,950 lol. Definitely above our budget and leaning towards one of the 7 nighters. Hoping Anthem goes down.

Sorry, referring to Christmas sailing.

Anthem 8 night - 1 inside and 1 oceanview or $4,950.

Grandeur 12 night - $6,200

Allure 7 night - $4,600

NCL Breakway 7 night - $4,200

Since there's substantial availability on the above ships and less than 90 days out I am wondering if there's a chance it may decrease over the next few weeks rather than increase had they been more full.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking at several holiday cruises. In the past, we have booked in the spring and are considering cruising again this year during the holidays.

Currently, 2 rooms of 2 for a 7 night holiday cruise are around $4,100 and an 8 night is around $5,100.

I've never booked a a cruise after final payment is due, therefore having to make a payment in full. The ships I've been looking at still have a bunch of availability.

Since it's past final payment and no one can cancel and rebook at a lower rate and given substantial availability for sailings less than three months away, how likely is it that prices will drop? Do the above prices for a 7 or 8 night cruise sounds like a lot? Based on anyone's experience in the past, both based on prices that I'm currently seeing and availability close to sailing following final payment dates with less than 90 days out, how likely is it that prices may either increase or decrease.

Thank you very much.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking at several holiday cruises. In the past, we have booked in the spring and are considering cruising again this year during the holidays.

Currently, 2 rooms of 2 for a 7 night holiday cruise are around $4,500 and an 8 night is around $5,300.

I've never booked a a cruise after final payment is due, therefore having to make a payment in full. The ships I've been looking at still have a bunch of availability.

Since it's past final payment and no one can cancel and rebook at a lower rate and given substantial availability for sailings less than three months away, how likely is it that prices will drop? Do the above prices for a 7 or 8 night cruise sounds like a lot? Based on anyone's experience in the past, both based on prices that I'm currently seeing and availability close to sailing following final payment dates with less than 90 days out, how likely is it that prices may either increase or decrease.

Thank you very much.

Thanks!

Does anyone know what tribute bands are scheduled for December? And what house bands (Music Hall) will be onboard? Hoping it will be Synergy again.

How many fly-on acts should we expect for an 8 night cruise. Since we already saw the three production shows, we are wondering how many comedians and other acts might be new for us.

Also - will the dining menus be the same as the prior year, or do they change year to year?