DragonOfTheSeas

We just finished a great meal and Jamie‘s Italian restaurant. I got the reservation on Black Friday for a really good price. So we decided to give it a try. it was all delicious, but the garlic bread and the lasagna were the two standouts. We also had an antipasto plank. But I didn’t get any pictures of the bread or the plank. Pasta carbonara Shrimp, linguine Lasagna And tiramisu The reviews have been hit or miss. With most of them being misses. there were plenty of negative comments regarding the hostess. But we felt it was an excellent lunch. The service was good and the hostess was businesslike but she was fine.

I have not been on the anthem before, so I can’t speak to this ship specifically, but it certainly seems like everything is pretty much like it was pre-Covid. All the activities seem to be back. The only things that have been canceled have been canceled because it was too windy or cold. The elevators are stuffed full of people all the time there’s no social distancing going on. The first time or two that happened it felt very weird but now it just seems normal. We have so many children on board. I think they need to have all those activities to keep them busy.

The SeaPlex on deck 15 is probably the most versatile space on the ship. They use it for basketball, rollerskating, and bumper, cars, etc. on the second layer are all the ping-pong tables. And there is a hotdog stand, at the back. I found that yesterday and had a great snack.

Here are some random shots from around the beautiful anthem of the sea. we have been eating breakfast and dinner, mostly in the American icon dining room. Here is the art installation outside that dining room And here is the silk dining room. I think it has the most unusual decor. And of course, here is the gym. It has been a very popular place. It is a very large and has impressive equipment. here is the sky bar. I wasn’t sure if I posted this or not but here it is.😝

I enjoy seeing different places in the world. But on a cruise ship sea days are my favorite. Here is today’s sunrise. Or as close to sunrise as I got up.ha ha ha!

We were at Coco Cay yesterday. And we went to Hideaway Beach. I really liked it. I would buy a day pass again depending on price and time of year. this is a spring break cruise. And there are lots and lots of children on board. We actually found Hideaway Beach to be relatively uncrowded. We feel that’s because there are so many parents and grandparents at the water park or elsewhere with their children. The pool was good and the food was better. There was very much a party atmosphere. They even had a couple of girls going around with bottles of champagne attached to triggers, and they shot champagne into peoples’ mouth people. It was not my thing, but it was very popular. They had perfect aim and we’re never closer than a foot to a person so it was sanitary. cabana area

That’s all it’s not usually one of my favorite parts but I did enjoy getting off and looking at the Newport area. This is the new visitor center. Right outside. I was also pleased to see that the vendors weren’t too pushy I did not go in. But I saw that the Junkanoo museum was $11 for adults. I said by the lagoon and had my latte from Starbucks. And watch the various excursions drop off these docks. That’s so much better than the arrangement they used to have.

I was hot and sweaty when I came back from walking around Nassau. So I hopped on the little tram. Someone asked about the yacht that is docked, right near liberty of the seas. The tram driver said that belongs to Steven Spielberg. it is a beauty. 😊(the larger ship, of course)

We had a Northstar reservation at 9:15 this morning. All of the times for today are sold out so that means there are no more basic (free) slots. I took way too many pictures while I was up there. Ha ha ha. Here are just a few. And of course, here’s the proof of life picture from DH and I.

I just wanna let everybody know while we’re in Nassau that we are at the Starbucks. It is on Bay Street .1 of a mile from the straw market. They are selling the been there series mugs in case anyone collects those.

I appreciated the talent. Especially the gymnastic ability of the dancers. They were phenomenal. just not my cup of tea

One thing that the Anthem has done that is a really nice touch is provide music as you’re arriving for breakfast. Each morning one or a few crew members are stationed outside of the main dining room, and providing us with music. Today it was beautiful flute melodies.

We are docked in Nassau. Woo Hoo. This is a picture as we got close. We are docked in the 4th berth. Nassau is not my favorite port. But I’m very interested to see what the new port area looks like. I don’t have any excursion or plans here but I do plan to get off and look around. This was the pilot boat arriving at the ship early this morning. I wasn’t able to get a picture of the pilot, jumping onto the ship. we have been following the Norwegian pearl in each of our port stops. And she’s here, docked beside us.

Shortly after we board at the ship DD and I walked around on the15th deck. We went to an activities desk in the seaplex. one of the guys there told us that to reserve the north star for the basic trip, (free version) to check the app after 6pm. The previous two nights we had tried, and never saw it pop-up. Tonight, our daughter was just looking on the app for something else regarding tonight‘s entertainment, and the basic version of the Northstar appeared. She followed the prompts to make a reservation for 9:30 in the morning and told me to do the same thing. I was standing right beside her, so did. I immediately tried to make the reservation, but the 9:30am slots were all gone so I picked 9:15am. It’s no problem that we’re not going together. I just wanted to point out how quickly those times fill up. If you want to try out the basic version of the Northstar be on your app right at 6 PM the night before your port stop.

Tonight DD And I had reservations for the show Spectra. It’s very hard to describe. when the show was over, I told DD that if cirque du Soleil and a computer had a baby it would be this show. The special effects, lighting and costumes were excellent. But there was no storyline, and the use of the computer generated content was just weird. And I was not the only one that thought that it hurts several people talking about it if they left. The performers were all very talented and amazing dancers. it was just not my cup of tea.

No, I do not get notifications if I forget the phone. It is good to know that even if I fouled up that the Apple Watch would not likely trigger the huge bills I read about. Oh well, learning experience.

The music got a little louder as the day went on. But it was still fine with me. The only one of the songs that I recognized was by Beyoncé. And I didn’t know what the name of it was. Ha ha ha ha. The pool was never crowded. There was always one or two of those in water loungers empty. I thought they would be full by 10 o’clock but they weren’t. I think there’s so many children on this ship that the parents and grandparents went to the waterpark or other parts of the island with the children. look at these two women dressed in bright Caribbean costumes. There were a few of them around the pool, dancing, and generally trying to encourage the party atmosphere. A couple of them were carrying around champagne bottles fixed with triggers, and shooting a mouthful of champagne into everyone they passed. I passed on the opportunity, but DD enjoyed it. They had pretty good aim from a foot away. You can tell they do this a lot. sorry, I was in the pool at the time and didn’t have my phone with me and didn’t get a picture.

oh, most of the flights are not dressed, but there are some that are from certain places. but I will tell you that a lot of the people that I know that cruise out of Baltimore are not going to drive to the New Jersey New York area. we have tried to get them to go on a cruise that we thought was good out of Bayonne and they wouldn’t do it. I will drive there either.DH and I take the train. And they could do that, but for some reason they don’t do that either. not saying that this is Royal Caribbean’s fault. This is a disaster not of their making. But there will be a number of people who would not drive to New Jersey.

So I think I’ve made a mistake with my smart watch. I am new to an iPhone . My son bought it for me because I had a bad fall last summer and no one was nearby. So this way I always have a way to contact someone. I put my iPhone on airplane mode, my Apple Watch, is connected to my phone, but does not have a separate Verizon account. I never thought to put it in airplane mode until today. Oops —on day four of my cruise. I guess I should be expecting a big bill when I get back. Will it stop collecting data and phone or test since my s iPhone was in airplane mode? I know all the young people ot there are rolling their eyes. This is one of those old lady questions. Thanks for your help.

My first Coco Loco of the day. I’m not usually a day drinker. But Coco Cay is an exception.☺️

I don’t know what Reno they were doing at Norfolk. But we have sailed out of the Norfolk terminal many years ago and our son lives in Virginia Beach. The Norfolk cruise ship terminal is absolutely beautiful. It has an entire wall of windows that overlook the Hampton roads. They rented out for wedding receptions. It’s so nice my only issue with Norfolk is the traffic because it’s in a highly congested area of the city and there is no immediate parking. The city has several garages, but there are a couple blocks away. You either have to park and push your luggage for a couple blocks or take their shuttle

Here are some pictures of the bar and the cabana area. I want to take a picture real fast before people got into those cabanas. The pool area looks especially also, I am someone who does not like loud music. And that was something that kind of concerned me about coming here really the only thing. But I decided to come anyway because of the adults only and heated pool features I don’t know whether they’ve turned the music down today or not but it’s fine. I’m not bothered by it at all. It gives it a nice vibe.

Here, a few pictures of the beach and pool

It’s a beautiful day here on Coco Cay. I’ve been missing getting my sunrise picture, so here was today’s sunrise Coco Cay is in the Berty Island group. Norwegian cruise line uses one of those islands as a private island also. And they were pulling in this morning. We are sharing the island today with freedom of the seas

Merino Mom thank you for answering. They do not put the sheets introducing the important people in your state room anymore. I did not go to the top-tier event. So I wasn’t there to meet them and I asked one of the waiters in the dining room, and they could say his name, but they could not spell it for me. (and there was no way from the way they were pronouncing it, that I could spell it.) I still have this on my mental list to find out so you save me the trouble😃