NewSalt

We’ve cruised both with and without the drinks package, depending on the cruise and our travel companions. If we get the package, we both get it. On our last cruise without the package, our entire bill at the end of the cruise, including gratuities and $200+ spent in the shops, was less than half of what the drink package would have been.

If, in the future one of us cannot drink for any reason, we’d switch to buying drinks Individually. Neither of us drinks soda or other soft drinks, and the replenish package would go to waste. Our spending on drinks would go way down.

I agree with a PP that the decision that all pax in a cabin buy the package was made because they could.

Our last cruise was on Serenade, following two cruises on Anthem. I really liked the size of the ship; we didn’t feel like we were trekking from one end of the ship to another.

However, if you like a lot of daytime activities, you might be disappointed unless you’re big bingo or trivia fans. I found very little going on on sea days. No cooking demonstrations, or talks and lectures. No crew talent show. No ice or vegetable carving. I was happy to read (not at the pool since it was impossible to find a chair either on the pool deck or on the two levels above).

But we did love the martini-making classes. :D

We always get insurance coverage within the time limit for initial booking so that we are covered for preexisting conditions. For our last cruise, I learned that we could be covered for pre-existing conditions if we insured only the deposit until final payment and then added the rest of the trip at that point. This was a good option for us because our travel companions were facing the possibility of surgery between booking and final payment, so if we had to cancel at that point, we would have only been out the lower deposit premium.

Just off Serenade in Port Everglades two weeks ago. Downloaded the mobile app while on board. I didn't scan my passport but just entered the passport numbers. When we docked, I used my data to enter the information for that cruise. I believe the information about departure times and lounges included the terminal number.

After we retrieved our luggage, we asked one of the terminal employees where the line was for the mobile app, and she checked the app and directed us. There were only two or three people in the app line and we were out the door in minutes.

I'm surprised to hear so many bartenders knowingly gave additional free drinks to those who had one drink package.

On our last nine-night Anthem cruise, DH and I both had the Ultimate package. Every night on our way back to our room, we stopped at the same bar for a nightcap to take to the room. Same bartender, tipped every night. On the last night, I hit the shops by myself to buy a couple of last minute gifts. On the way back, I thought I'd pick up our nightcaps. I asked if I could get two, and the bartender flatly refused.

Of course, I just went to the next bar and got the second drink. But it did change my mind about tipping over the 18%.

Thanks for a great report - well done. What do you say to people like me who think these ships are too big and crowded?

 

 

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We've sailed on Anthem twice, the last time the same cruise as this one. My DH hates crowded ships, so I didn't tell him how many passengers Anthem carries. He loved this ship. It's very well designed to accommodate the large number of PAX. We never felt as crowded as we have on other cruises. We're booked on her again next July.

lol!

 

I wear a lanyard all day on the ship since none of my summer clothes or bathing suits have pockets and I don't want to carry a purse and I'm dressed like a bum anyway ;) At the ports I'm carrying a bag anyway so it goes in there.

 

At night I use a wristlet.

 

I've never really understood why a landyard offends some people's sensibilities but I don't care if I'm being judged for wearing one either.

Let me explain this with my favorite quote: “Small things engage small minds.”

One formal night, I forgot something when we left for dinner and traipsed all the way back to our cabin only to find that the magnetic clasp on my evening bag had de-magnetized my sea pass and I had to traipse all the way back to the dining room to get my DH’s card and then back to the cabin and back again. I think I got back in time for dessert.

Sailed on Anthem last February. The first 1.5 days were cold but smooth. Our last trip out of FL a couple of years ago, our first two and last two days were too cold to sit at the pool.

They want the picture with a blank background and just head and shoulders. If the one you upload doesn’t meet their requirement, they’ll simply take a new one at the pier check in.

I took both sets of pictures with my iPad, in the same place with a plain light beige background. I just looked at them again, and they looked the same to me; we were just nine months older.

But retaking them wasn’t a problem and took just a minute or two.

For our first cruise on Anthem, I uploaded photos, but they still retook our security pictures. (I could have told them we wouldn't get any better looking, no matter how many we took.)

The second time on Anthem, it worked fine.

We cruise with our DD and her family, which includes our DGS, who has multiple severe food-allergies. AAMF, his allergies are the reason we cruise. The dining services personnel are very knowledgeable, accommodating, and pleasant. Talk to the maitre d' and your captain. There are always vegan options available, but your waiter will be able to steer you to your best options.

I was impressed one day in the windjammer when a passenger asked a waiter if some food item contained a certain ingredient. He said it did not but warned her that there was always a possibility of cross contamination with the serving utensils.

Thanks, OP, for this thread. I have a couple of magnetic clips, but wanted to buy more for our cruise next month. This was a reminder to hope of to Amazon and but heavier clips and some hooks.

I forgot to mention that connecting cabins can be very convenient if you're traveling with grandparents. DD put the little ones to sleep and then we propped open the connecting door so DH and I could read/watch TV and keep an eye on the boys while their parents caught a show or had a drink in one of the lounges.

They only did this once or twice, but it was nice to have the option.

We also did a Princess tour in August, seven-day land tour followed by SB cruise to Vancouver. I loved going in August because the flowers were magnificent. Long days of sunlight create beautiful blooms. I had never heard anyone mention this because all of the people I know went in May or June.

The whale-watching was unforgettable, as was the train ride from Talkeetna. .

I like to read , too . However , I don’t spend thousands of dollars so I can get on a ship and spend my time reading. I can do that at home. I like to interact with people and participate in on-board activities . My husband likes to read and always had a book with him on the ship so much so that someone commented on it. When , he opened that book at the dining table that was it. So rude and I told him to put it away. I don’t consider cruising a solitary endeavor. Of course , if you have mobility issues and have nothing to do then that is a different matter.

Some down time on a ship after all the socializing is a necessity for me. Sitting at the pool or on the beach without a book would be pure torture.

One of the best things about a cruise is that it can be tailored to be the vacation YOU want it to be. My very favorite part of a cruise is sitting on the balcony early in the morning, drinking room service coffee in my PJ's and reading a good book.

My definition of a nightmare vacation would be bringing a book on vacation and realizing five pages in that you hate it or have already read it and not having a back-up available.

Thank you, I just did it.

Next to try reading it

 

 

 

 

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It's so wonderful to be able to have your book with you at all times. I realized this when I was supposed to meet someone who called and said she was detained and would be a half hour late. I realized I had my phone with me and could continue to read the book I had reluctantly put down when I left the house. Thirty minutes of uninterrupted reading time! Pure bliss!

The first time we went to Europe (2000), DD and I each brought 9 or 10 books and borrowed each other's when we finished our own stash.

Can you imagine how much of a baggage weight allowance those books would consume today?

We sail in a month, and DH is already checking over the reading material on his Kindle; I know I have at least 50 on mine that I haven't read yet. It wouldn't be an enjoyable vacation if we were stranded without good reading material. I don't think of a Kindle as technology. It's a portable library.

Last time we cruised on Oasis, our cabin was close to the elevators. Every night around midnight, like clockwork, a group of kids would get off the elevator and storm down the hall like a herd of buffalo. Shrieking, laughing, and howling. We will NEVER book a room close to the elevators again!

Don’t ever book Cabin 6666 on any ship either. Lots of annoying prank calls.

Unfortunately, I didn’t think to answer “Mrs. Satan speaking. What the he** do you want,” until we were off the ship.

This is absolutely standard operating procedure. It's just how compensation works.

 

 

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My DGS is allergic to peanuts. When we boarded the Summit when he was a toddler, my DD found a peanut under the desk, fortunately before he did.

When we brought this to management’s attention, they refunded his fare.

We're sailing on Serenade in February and Anthem in July. In July the sale price is $48/day, and in February it's $42.

Our February our cruise is much more port-intensive so, of course, we're not going it on that one. :(

This is a (potential) problem that will arise on my Alaska cruise this August. There is a charter, called "Rockin' the Glaciers" that will be on the ship (Explorer of the Seas). It's apparently a Rock and Roll themed charter, where you have to buy into it through AAA. From what I've found, the entertainment isn't anyone I recognize, but maybe I'm not old enough ;) I can not find much information about it at all though.

 

I've no idea how large it will be. Hopefully not that large. My major concern is I booked this last July (I think) and was wait listed for early seating in the MDR .... There is no way in HELL me and my family are going to wait until 8:30 PM to eat dinner each night. That's 11:30 PM for us East coast folks, worse if they adjust ship time to match local time in Alaska. So if this charter is indeed taking over the entire early seating it will absolutely have a rather large negative impact on our cruise. I know it seems like the majority of people around here do specialty restaurants, but we don't, so reducing our included food options to the Windjammer only would sting.

 

We're hoping for the best though.

We did MTD for the first time on our Alaska cruise because we didn’t want to be tied to a specific time so we had a little more freedom in choosing activities. Other than one evening when we had a 30-minute wait, we always walked right in at 5:30 without any wait. I’d guess it was quicker than waiting on the normal line for traditional dining.

Thanks. Aft at the back or aft halfway back?

 

We're on deck seven so hopefully the smoke won't reach us. I only ask because we once we were one deck right up from the smoking area and that was unpleasant.

 

Boy voyage.

We were on the Anthem in July of 2016 and had cabin 6680. The smoking area was right below us, and it was quite unpleasant. The smoke was bad and the noise and lack of privacy spoiled sitting on the balcony for us.

But that was the only downside to any otherwise perfect vacation.

We booked our excursions late yesterday afternoon. Last night I wanted to add them to the detailed itinerary I make for each trip, and nine were in the planner. I had to print out my confirmation and refer to it to plug in all the information.

I wonder if RCI does this so you can’t compare prices once you’ve booked. Or do I just have a suspicious mind?

Mad as hell.

We've sailed on five cruises with our DD and her DH and their two boys, who are now four and seven.

While all five trips have been a delight for all of us, sailing at this age is really a little easier than it will be in a year or so. Pre- and early walkers don't need as much room as toddlers do, and are pretty content in a more confined area. They're also easier to amuse; peek-a-boo can keep them in stitches for as long as you can keep it up. With DGS1, it was easy to enjoy the shows. He either loved the music and clapped appreciatively or dozed off. By the time DGS2 was that age, the older boy was three years older and lost interest more easily but didn't fall asleep.

DD brought a little blow-up pool which fit between two loungers, which worked perfectly and served as a bath tub back in the cabin. (We emptied it into a drain, not the pool.)

While DH and I were available to baby sit, most nights DD and her DH preferred to sit on their balcony and read or look at the stars with a glass of wine. They also enjoyed the balcony during nap time, and having the boys fully rested made dinner each night much more pleasant.

DGS1 was diagnosed with food allergies shortly before his first cruise, and the ship did an amazing job of accommodating them as well as having suggestions as to foods suitable for his age.

The crew is beyond amazing with little ones. On our second cruise, our waiter felt bad that DGS couldn't enjoy the rolls that were on the table each night so HE asked the chef to prepare some that didn't contain any of his allergens and surprised him with them. That brought tears to our eyes.

We visited DW last summer instead of cruising, and the boys loved it. But they're very excited about our cruise next July, and are talking about it and making plans for "The Big Ship" already.