Danijela

19 minutes ago, Tatka said:

But... these two ships are for different weather. What would you do on Oasis in November - March?

I would not sail on Anthem during hot weather too.

I believe (somone correct me if wrong) Oasis will only be leaving out of Bayonne from May - Oct 2020, and Anthem returns Nov 2020.

Thanks everyone for all your feedback!

17 hours ago, DonnaK said:

OP:  Oasis is also coming to Bayonne in May 2020.  Have you checked its sailings to see if any are suitable for you?  

I did see Oasis will be coming and have been checking dates. Thought about it and I actually wouldn't mind doing the same itinerary we did on Anthem, and would probably stay onboard the entire time since there seems to be so much to do. Port days seemed so short and we sometimes looked forward to getting back on.

No problem. FYI Johnny Rockets is also located outside next to the outdoor pool, so if you ever feel like having something from there I recommend doing so on a warm day. When we were on board their burgers, fries etc. were made to order, so we had to wait quite a bit and then bring our food inside because it was too chilly to sit at their tables/booths.

1 hour ago, franncos said:

On the Anthem can you walk indoors from the WJ to the indoor pool area? We are trying not to go out doors  while we are on the cruise in the winter.

WJ is right next to the outdoor pool so unless you go downstairs first, walk across and come back up where the indoor pool is I don't think you can walk to it on the same deck and avoid being outside for a few seconds.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/anthem-of-the-seas/deck-plans/1876/14

HI all

Just sailed Anthem Thanksgiving week and already looking forward to next cruise with RCI.  My family and I fell in love with the ship and people onboard.

Was checking dates for the spring and saw Adventure will be sailing out of Bayonne as of May 2020. I was wondering if any of you have been on both Anthem and Adventure, and have feedback on both. I know Anthem is obviously larger and newer than Adventure. It was my first cruise so I have nothing to compare it against. Also know one of the giant ones, revamped Oasis, will be in Bayonne this spring as well, but not sure I want to do the same itinerary so soon (Cape Canaveral/Nassau/CocoCay) or Canada/New England.

Anthem was so great and really set the bar for us.

Thanks 

The lead singer sounded exactly like Steve Perry. 

Last week was my first time on Anthem so I'm not sure they do this all the time but I wish they waited until after muster drill to take off.. we got back to our cabin after the drill and only then realized the ship was already moving, and then started to scurry trying to find a good viewing spot.

Just got off Anthem this past Sunday 12/1 and already thinking about booking next cruise. I would definitely sail her again and was sad to hear she'll be leaving Bayonne in the spring, but glad to hear Oasis will now be heading here, and have been checking out 2020 dates. Anthem was my first cruise so I have nothing to compare it to. If any of you have been on both, how do the two compare? I know Oasis is obviously larger but does that necessarily mean better? I also see Adventure will be sailing out of Bayonne next year as well and was looking into those dates too. (Cape Liberty is just so convenient for my family and I - just a 30 min drive).

All are from 3 different classes so I'm sure all very different.  I loved Anthem and would definitely like my next cruise to measure up. 

Hi all

We just had our MTD switched to traditional, 2nd seating. (sailing on Anthem the week of Nov 23rd) I noticed all the reservations I made under MTD are now gone from my Royal app and the online Cruise Planner, but I don't see the new traditional time. Are the traditional times not listed on the app or planner since it's the same time every night? I tried a search to find the answer but nothing came up for me. Not a big deal. I just like seeing the times listed on the calendar when I'm making reservations for everything.

Thank you

Thank you for providing a sample menu.

We will be on Anthem next week Nov 23rd - Dec 1st. We booked the Solarium Bistro for dinner on night 1. Does the bistro part also have ceiling windows? Thinking it would be cool to have dinner under the stars as we sail out. 

Thanks for sharing this tsundet! Looks like your son had a great time. We will be on Anthem next month (Thanksgiving week) and bringing a 21-month old. The toddler splash area does look pretty blah. I wish they at least made it a bit colorful/cutsey. 

The balcony railing is wide enough to stand on? And what is the black supposed to be? I stared at the pic so many times and couldn't make it out.

Hi all

I know many people prefer the balcony cabins, but we weren't sure it would be worth it since we'll be sailing in colder weather for several days (Thanksgiving week). So we decided on ocean view cabins 3154, 3168 and 3178. Have any of you stayed in a cabin on deck 3 on Anthem, and have any feedback/experiences to share? Any pros, or will we feel like Jack Dawson in steerage? (being a bit dramatic here obviously)

Our TA suggested the interior cabins with the virtual balconies in order to be on a higher deck, but we were kinda 'eh' about those. If given a choice between oceanview or virtual balcony, which would you choose? 

Thanks!

17 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

La Patisserie, on Deck 4 on the Royal Esplanade, will be happy to honor your refreshment package for all sorts of non-alcoholic specialty coffee drinks.  And teas, too.  🙂 

Great pun ! 😂  

Thanks again everyone. 

Thanks guys. I also love lattes, cappuccinos and mochas. So if I were to purchase the refreshment package, would that include the specialty coffees in La Parisserie? 

On 9/26/2019 at 11:04 AM, suesnake2002 said:

The best entertainment on anthem is the music hall. No reservations needed. 

This is my personal opinion. 

And I am soooo excited they are putting one on oasis!!! And I have a cruise booked.

I am so glad to hear that, as my dad has mobility problems and our staterooms are all on deck 3, so he won't have too much trouble getting to the music hall.

No the Cafe Promenade and Windjammer do.

I saw someone post Baked Alaska from Wonderland on Yelp but I don't see it on their menu now.  If they did have them it's definitely something I'd order.

I also hear great things about their chocolate chip cookies so I'm looking forward to trying those.. 

Hi all

I tried searching and didn't find the answer so I apologize if this has been discussed already. I know there are non-alcoholic drink packages for soda, coffee etc. Are any of these worth getting? (I love coffee and prob have about 3 cups per day) I was also wondering if you don't get one of these packages does that mean you have to pay if you order a soda or coffee in the restaurants during dinnertime?

Thanks! 

Hi all

*Re-posting this from the Royal Caribbean forum*

I was hoping to get some feedback on RC Anthem of the Seas. My family just booked a cruise on this ship for Nov 23rd - Dec 1st (Thanksgiving Week) leaving Bayonne NJ to Port Canaveral, FL and the Bahamas. It is my and my siblings' first time cruising; my parents' second. Last cruise they went on was in the Mediterranean on Celebrity. 

Since then my dad unfortunately suffered a stroke and now has severe mobility issues on his left side. He can walk a little bit with a cane but relies heavily on a wheelchair. 

I was wondering if anyone that has been on this ship, or any RC cruise, can advise on activities, either onboard or shore excursions, that might be suitable for him. We have 3 staterooms booked on Deck 3 (one is accessible) and I saw that this deck has the main dining room,  Chic, the casino, and music hall, so he should have no problem accessing those. 

I did receive lots of great advice/input in the RC forum, but just noticed this forum and was hoping to get some more feedback - for this ship, as well as tips in general on cruising with a disability. Main concerns are what to expect during embarkment/disembarkment, usage of the pools and jacuzzis (will he be able to get in and out of them without too much issue), making sure he's comfortable if he were to attend any show, getting around on the ship, comfort of stateroom, etc.

For the ports, we were thinking of checking out the Kennedy Space Center at Port Canaveral if that might not be too strenuous.. Someone in the other board mentioned Disney (and probably the other parks in Orlando) are too far and not worth doing at this port. I'm not sure about excursions in Nassau/CocoCay.

I just want to make sure he enjoys himself - it's the first vacation he will be taking since he had the stroke, and our first family vacation in years.

Thanks everyone for reading and any advice you can provide.  

Just now, cb at sea said:

There is a "cruising with disability" forum here.....those folks can give GREAT info!

Hi cb, I was actually just reading that forum now! I think I will post there as well.

2 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

 

They should have a turkey dinner option on the main dining room menu.

 

 

As long as someone can push the wheelchair, you may want to do the DIY tour.  There is quite a bit of walking involved at KSC but it is wheelchair-accessible.

 

 

Anthem does have a kiddle area with really shallow water for toddlers/kids to splash around in.  They usually will not allow swim diapers in that area, though.

 

This review from 2016 has some good photos of the pool deck:

 

I would also not recommend Disney during the Port Canaveral stop.  It's just too far from the cruise port and requires an hour-long bus ride each way.

Wow thank you very much for sharing. Such a great and detailed review. That was very kind of him to put together.

27 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

Let us know if the Anthem makes port in Orlando. It will be a first and will make cruising history.

    lol

59 minutes ago, nelblu said:

 

We were on the August 29th cruise which covered NE/Canada.  No a problem whatsoever for someone in a wheelchair.  My wife had her hip operated and basically need the wheelchair to move around the ship.  No problems in any or the restaurants or the theatre.  In the theatre, there's rows especially reserved for wheel chairs.  We had a balcony view cabin and the manual wheelchair fit the entry way with a mere inches to spare.  The  toilet is what we call "elongated" and my wife had no problem sitting and getting up.  The shower is small as there's no way to fall.

 

During the day we spent our time in the Solarium and enjoyed the solitude.  We also took advantage of "North Star" the day we ported in St John.  They transferred my wife form her wheelchair to one of theirs and rode the elevator to the North Star.

 

RCL staff was ever so helpful on board and also in getting my wife and her wheelchair on and off the ship in the port of calls.

 

You should check your cruise planner if interested in any tours.  We used RCL for tours in Boston and Bar Harbor.  As mentioned, RCL staff was friendly and  helpful in helping us get on/off the ship.  Likewise,  the tour bus drivers were prompt in having the wheel chair ready available at each stop.  One of our tour in Boston was the Cape Cod tour and one of the stops was a boat ride of the Hyannis Port and the Kennedy compound.  It was amazing how the boat crew member navigating up this sloped ramp of about 15 feet in getting my wife and wheel chair on/off the boat.  Same experience in Bar Harbor tour of Acadia National Park and later a lobster dinner at a restaurant in town.

 

Also, be sure to sign up for disembarkation time assigned for those in wheelchairs/mobility problems.  We were assigned 7:30 AM and met by Jamie's Italian restaurant.  At the approximate time staff members of both RCL and  some working for the Port (?) met us and an individual was assigned to each of us and left the ship in a parade like environment.  Bayonne Customs/Security uses Facial Recognition Technology and it took us no more than 20 minutes to disembark, get our luggage, clear Customs and on to the garage.

 

Ps.  Enjoy the cruise.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Embarkment/disembarkment was actually another concern I forgot to include, so thank you for mentioning that. Are you also able to assign an embarkment time?