AbeFroman2

Hi all,

After sailing together for the first time on Anthem back in February, we (mid-20s couple) decided to get a little adventurous this time around and book a flight from Baltimore to Ft. Lauderdale to sale the western Caribbean route on the Allure of the Seas in late February 2018.

I've ready more threads than I can count here regarding Allure, but I'm curious what you didn't know about it presailing that you wish you would have? Any tips for getting from their pier to airport, or a hotel to stay in the night before that will not increase costs?

Thanks in advance for your tips, and happy cruising!

Hi all,

Instead of starting a new thread, figured I'd revive this one to ask for opinions on the drink cards and to see if there has been any changes to availability or the when they put them on sale?

After cruising last February on Anthem out of NJ, we are considering sailing out of Florida on the Allure in February 2018. I'll get the drink package again, but my GF is not much of a drinker, only here and there, so we thought getting her the card might be a way to save some cash on the trip. But, perhaps that's easier wished for than done, but details seem scarce.

Thanks in advance!

Bingo has definitely become a "to each their own" experience, in my mind. Maybe it always was that way, but cruises I took in the 2008-2010 range definitely had a different vibe, to me anyway. Seemed more affordable back then.

We played the first session on our Feb. Anthem trip, and pre-cruise we had plans to go back. But, between the cost, difference in games between paper and machine, and wait time to play vs. total playing time (plus, most seating was upstairs in the Music Hall, but the bar wasn't open), we decided not to play again.

Good luck if you play!

Hi...We are about one month out from our 5 day Bermuda cruise on the Anthem. Trying to comprehend the dining situation. We have My time Dining...What is the deal with the various "included" dining rooms...CHIC, SILK, American Icon Grill and then The Grande which on last year's cruise compasses say "jacket required"

 

I would like to make reservations for dining times prior to boarding. Do you really need jackets for The Grande? Some posts say the food in the same in all restaurants??? We were going to just stick to the "included" dining, no upcharge unless you can convince me otherwise. How can we maximize our cruise dining experience with y'alls previous knowledge. All tips and info most very much appreciated. !!!

 

Thanks

 

Bee

Some people had jackets and some did not during our Feb. sailing. Of the four main dining rooms, two are reserved for my time dining and two are reserved for traditional dining. The food is the same in all of them each night.

The swell is something the captain mentioned on our cruise back in Feb. as a reason for this, and at times would speed up to try and negate it, or so he said. Take it FWIW. Great review, SD!

The official hours are 11 - 8:30. But it breaks down a lot, and you are lucky if you catch it when one of the nozzles (out of six) are working - never mind getting the flavour you wanted.

Yes, this is exactly right. Your best bet for smaller lines, like most ship amenities, is on a sea day. But, it's not guaranteed to be working!

Note that the ESPN feed is usually the international feed, so you'll see tennis, rugby, a lot of soccer, and some cricket on there. But, international ESPN should be carrying baseball on Opening Day. A link to their guide is below:

http://tv.twcc.com/listings/espn-international

Hi all,

It's come time to start looking at booking our next cruise, and we're considering doing the 12 night sailing on Anthem out of Bayonne next February. We've been on five night and seven night cruises, but never nearly two weeks, and so I was looking for some feedback from those that have. Things you like/hate compared to shorter sailings, what the extra sea days allowed you to do, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Restaurants and kids attire question...

 

Did you see boys in nice shorts and polos at night? Or, were they more dressed up? We are packing for our 12-year-old son who hates to dress up and want to be prepared. I am packing some khakis too for him, but wasn't sure what was acceptable on the Anthem.

 

Thanks!

Stephanie

You'll find wise opinions on dress in the main dining room. We saw nice shorts and polos and also kids that age in tuxedos, and no one batted an eye, but if you do wanna pick a night for the khakis, I'd probably suggest the formal nights, which is generally the first and second to last sea days.

Tipping is tough because you are dealing with the fallout of corporate greed.. Cruise lines have auto gratuities so the passenger is put in a situation to pay more so the company has to pay less to its employees. Shame but true.

I keep them on because we have always been treated by kings/queens for the duration of our trip by various staffers. We tip our favorite bartenders, MDR staff, and room steward in cash (like most U.S. servers, they pocket that cash and do not pool it) so we know they are benefiting from our appreciation of all the ways they benefitted our trip.

Of course, sometimes this isn't warranted, and each cruiser must make their own decision on that.

I'm always tempted to turn the auto-tip off because it annoys me that cruise lines use it almost as an added tax to pay employees, but they so often make the trip for us that I never have the heart to do it. Definitely a to each their own situation, though.

Budget additional time if you feel it's needed but I live near Baltimore and based on the reports out there weather should not be a travel issue for you then.

You have options with My Time:

 

Show up every night anytime with no reservation

Make a standing reservation for every night

Show up with no reservations some nights, make reservations some nights.

 

Your choice.

Yep.

We made reservations for every night, but a couple of the at-sea nights we wanted to sped more time at the pool so we went later and had no problem.

I did feel guilty about not cancelling our reservation on those nights but the host told us that if you don't show within 15 minutes of your scheduled time that you are auto-cancelled so, they sort of took care of it for us.

If you're going to play tables in the ship casinos, just watch your hands and your payouts. It's clear that some of the dealers and stick folks are not always familiar with the game and they payouts, and they do make mistakes from time to time. Have never had an issue with calling it out by getting either the dealer's or pit boss' attention.

With the slots, I'd merely note that a lot of people filter through the casino and might drop a few bucks in slots located near steps, exits, and entrances, and thus the winners could be pay out. The hidden machines, though, usually have some winners left in them. Just a thought.

it's easy to see both sides of this discussion, but speaking for the infrequent cruiser, I think the frustrating thing are the inconsistencies.

I cruised often with my grandmother between 2005-2010 before she passed, and she demanded that formal night equaled jacket, shirt and tie, and any other night was shirt and tie, and at that time, most people also dressed that way, which was great.

On my first sailing since then at the end of Feb., there was probably a 60/40 split in terms of those that dressed up and those that did not, which is fine: To each their own. But, I think many inexperienced cruisers might splurge to hit the dress codes with dry cleaning, new purchases, and what not, only to find out that their fellow passengers already knew it wasn't needed.

Personally, I have no issue with passengers choosing their own dress. After all, it's their vacation as much as it is mine. That said, I believe the ships should make their rules, whatever they are, and enforce them, that way all know what is expected, and what isn't, and can make their choices from there. It used to be this way, but it's seemed to go away as things like my time dining -- which we absolutely loved -- were introduced.

I was just onboard last week and it wasn't the case for us - quite the opposite actually. I normally drink Jim Beam - which they didn't have - but they did have Makers Mark and Bulleit bourbon, both of which are more expensive than Beam. I ordered a bunch of Patron margaritas too and they didn't bat an eye.

I suppose it's possible that if you don't specify a brand then you could get the cheaper stuff - but I saw plenty of 'good' liquor flowing freely while I was onboard!

 

 

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We noticed on our sailing that if no specification is given, the bartenders will generally pour out of whatever bottle has hardly been touched during the sailing, sometimes leading to better booze and sometimes leading to more of the well variety. Just seemed to depend on what the customers at each bar had been drinking, and what they felt they needed to get rid of as I'm sure the ordering process plays a role.

This is correct. I might be able to find them in photos (please give me a day or two) from our trip but what you can find online is fairly accurate.

So for the tender...does each person from room have to be there or just one person for group? I have seen the tickets passed out different ways and didn't know anthem policy. I hate to drag both kids down to wait if not needed

 

 

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I have never been on a cruise (been on four) that required everyone to be there, and Anthem was no Different. I went and picked up two tickets and had no problems. One going for a few should not be a problem

No word. The pool deck worker seemed to think it was a minor problem.

Can't say if it's related or not but on the Thursday of our 2-19 sailing at the late night show the cruise director said that just as an FYI some pools may be closed for cleaning over next few days and sure enough the main pool was closed the last two days of our trip, too.

We did 10:30 for our 2-19 sailing and that was great. You'll definitely wait a bit in the roundabout to get to the luggage porter drop off point but based on the configuration of the place

I'm not sure there is a way around that.

Also be mindful of the signs in Bayonne that point you to the port. The signs are right, but your GPS may not be because of construction all over the area.

Just an FYI. We had to go rogue from the GPS but still had no issue finding it.

I see that they have movies at the pool at night.

What titles? Times? Is it too cold o day 1, 2, 6, 7, to be outside for this?

 

Thanks for all the great info!

Totally dependent on your sailing for the weather. For us every day was warm enough to be out there but I'm sure that's not the norm leaving out of New Jersey.

The titles were family appropriate movies I had not heard of.

Hello - so happy to read your review.

 

Question: Do you need an internet package to use Royal IQ on the ship?

 

Thanks!

No kids, so didn't check into this. I believe so, though. I'll check through the cruise compasses we saved when time permits and get back to you on this. 99.9 percent sure I remember seeing it, though.

Where do you get the specialty coffees that come with the deluxe beverage package?

I wondered this, too. That said, we never looked really hard for it. But, if it's something you're seeking, I'd check with any of the food and beverage folks.

Hope OP is enjoying the cruise!

If checking back in, I've read some are curious about whether ESCAPE FROM THE FUTURE BY PUZZLE BREAK is still on Anthem? We did not see it on our recent sailing, nothing on the Royal IQ or anywhere else, but perhaps we just missed it.

Best price you're going to get is before you board as others have said. As for pros/cons, the pictures are of high-quality, and as it goes with many on-board package decisions, deciding how much of something you're going to want is usually the easiest ways to make a decision. Not sure about other ships, but on Anthem, there are an incredible number of photo ops.

Thank you very much!

Unfortunately I'm late with online booking ))) 17 days before boarding and 50 days prior cruise it was already unavailable to book North Star & iFly online.

So wish me luck to book it onboard )))

 

One more thing:

I heard there is an escape room ))

Do you know smth about it?

 

 

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I've seen people talking about it, but we saw nothing indicating that still exists on Anthem.