gillyd42

We are on the ship at present - you wouldn’t know there had been any issues - everything in perfect working order and ship is spotless - enjoy your cruise

DIY your flights - we ended up taking connecting flights through newark from.Edinburgh,very reasonable price.

Stayed night before in cocoa beach took a shuttle from cocoa beach transfers for $100 which picked us up from our Universal resort hotel (managed to squeeze a few days in beforehand)

Took Cortans shuttle after the cruise back to the airport $20 each great service and quick.

Terry Lavell was May 18

Trying to find a winter cruise. Anthem is a nice option in January however, that was the last cruise I did. So I want to know, for those of you who have sailed it twice (or more), did you find it less exciting the second time around? Since the shows are the same, and you've done it all already? Or was it equally awesome? I know, everyone is different just looking for some words of wisdom.

Sailed Anthem 3 times and a fourth booked and we travel from the UK - love the ship

, seen all the shows which we enjoy, love we will rock you - gets better every time. Relax and go with the flow you are on holiday!

Would recommend ca doge in piazzale Roma - good size rooms- taxi from airport drops you at hotel - next to people mover to get to cruise port- nice restaurants in immediate area

WWRY every time, already watched it twice on Anthem and twice in Edinburgh- love the music and great casting

Found it more expensive and you could only book 4 days at universal (hard rock), you have to phone rci to enquire/book.

We booked separately - still to organise transfers to Pc but booked Cortrans from Pc to airport for $20each on shuttle

Best beach got to palma nova - only 15 mins away - there is also a great Mini/crazy golf course, 3 x 18 holes, which is great fun and has a bit of shade - only one street off the promenade. Take a taxi, plenty around cost approx 20 Euro or number 104 bus from the porto Pi shopping centre, go out the port and head up hill to the left of port 5-10 mins walk.

Don't know the age of your kids but there is also marineland 10 mins away by taxi , which had dolphin show, sea lions, parrots etc it also has its own small private beach - bus 103

Yes we flew direct with United and was happy with the service, would certainly fly with them again, worth the extra £`s. We flew with delta and air France out of Paris on our last cruise out of Bayonne and that was awful- too long, delayed, and stressful.

Love the Quantum class, especially the anthem. Really enjoyed our med cruise last year, but this year for us felt more relaxed and laid back. Not sure if it was to do with the demographics on board, not as many kids, so we could use the seaplex facilities more. We also found it easier to get seats in the bars for pre dinner drinks this cruise- there were a lot of early diners too, whereas the med one always seemed to be busy in the bars an public areas at night.

Very keen to cruise from the US again, every one was so friendly and interested in where we had come from.

Hi Joe

Looking forward to this review - we too, were on this cruise, flying from Edinburgh & stayed at the Crowne Plaza !:)

Gill

Is there an area/restaurant available for breakfast to Diamond members on the Anthem?

Great positive review of the Anthem, thanks for taking the time to share.

We are on this cruise later in June and are planning to take the Mayo beach snorkel excursion.

How long was the excursion and how much time did you get in the bay to snorkel?

Gilly

Loving the review and your photos, bringing this cruise back to life for us.

We thoroughly enjoyed the ship, having sailed on Quantum and Anthem we just had to try the Ovation. Don't know why but the Ovation had a different feel to it - loved the art, best ship so far.

Just wish the UK could have this class homeported in Southampton.

Gilly

Would agree with you - the food & service was excellent. We didn't experience any teething issues normally associated with new ships. Each night Bruce & Greg the head waiters circulated around all of the restaurants asking for feedback. Met them before on Quantum and Anthem, they really do encourage high standards. I understand that they will soon be joining the Harmony.

Well done Ovation, was a fantastic experience!

Lovely pictures. We were on this sailing and was amazed at the amount of people that turned out in Cherbourg to see us leave. It was a lovely sail away.

Just booked tonight for the 17th April sailing - not able to book complimentary restaurants or any entertainment - any ideas when this will open up?

Thanks for the replies. I've put in all the info that's required. I got the email that says it's complete.

 

I've cleared the cache, shut down the computer, logged in on a different computer. We still have 4 weeks to keep trying. I'll give support a call in another couple of days.

I had exactly the same issue. Three out of four of our passes printed ok and the techies at royal couldn't offer any help on the phone. I gave up and waited til I got to the port.

Seemed to be an issue with my son on our account, they had to get a techie supervisor to fix at the port, took a wee while but all sorted. My advice don't stress, you've paid for the holiday and they won't deny you boarding. Happy cruising!

People have said they recently got UK bookings changed? Mine is a UK booking, they were prepared to do it, but it wasn't worth it.

Last year the price of our cruise dropped by £1700 and we had paid in full. I phoned royal and asked if they would be able to price match, they said yes but I would loose my drinks package and on board credit. I was happy to loose this as I was getting the refund.

Royal honoured price drop got cash within the week and for some reason I still had the packages and credit.

I would suggest you phone and try, they can only say no.

Gilly

Grear! Thanks for these helpful suggestions...We will try to remain open minded...I was getting worried so we made reservations for about half the trip (Chic, Jamies, American Icon, Izumi and some of these times two)...The rest we have left open for Windjammer (WJ) (which in the past has not been bad for a buffet dinner) altho I have heard that is not the traditional WJ. I believe that not having assistant waiters is a mistake...we are ust to long diiners on RC but three hours is stretching it a bit.

On the Christmas cruise they re-introduced assistant waiters on two of the nights we visited American icon. There seemed to be an appreciation of how busy each waiter was and was implemented to ease the pressure on the dining room.

On Christmas they had additional choices for dinner (holiday menu), and another night we visited there were additional choices more like the staples from the old mdr.

Keep an open mind on DD, make sure that you vary your restaurants, don't visit twice in a row etc. We didn't enjoy Chic, down to choice but loved Silk. Unfortunately only booked Silk once and couldn't get back in there due to popularity.

The concierge also helped us to change our reservation for Xmas day, found all the restaurants to be very accommodating.

Overall, Jamies came out tops for us, no up-selling, great service, amazing foods and the best desserts ever....

Silk tried to up sell water and beer, and our waiter seemed a little uncomfortable going through his little speech to try and up-sell, felt sorry for the guy and RCI shouldn't impose this on us. If I want a beer or "premium" water I will ask for it..

Relax and enjoy - sometimes reading too many reviews can create an unrealistic expectation.

Is deck 13 noisy?

We were next to this room on the Christmas sailing and didn't find it overly noisy. I is below the solarium and has access to the solarium through a fire door, which was really useful for us.

Great cabin and fantastic ship

Gilly

If you son is on someone else's account (credit card, etc), then he does not need his own setsail pass. The setsail pass is basically the confirmation of the person who will be checking in on behalf of others and will be paying for on board expenses of others.

 

Steve

Thanks for that -was stressing out about it as i am trying to get all my paperwork in order.

Gilly

Hi Gilly

 

The problem we have is that we got lucky, so our experience of disembarkation might not be a true reflection on what you experience, because of Diana in the buggy we bypassed all the lines, we got off in about 40 Minutes, without the buggy i would say more like 3 hours.

 

We had originally booked for 11am then after getting our disembarkation time of 10.30 from Guest Services I called Carmelimo and changed it to 11.30 and just by pure luck we got out back on time.

 

If your staying for 5 days anyway, I would suggest rather than rush it. Book the car for 11.30 and don't try get off to early, chill out and relax in your room for along as possible then head down. Even if your luggage tags are the last numbers to be called (like ours where) you know they will be off the ship at 10.30 latest.

 

Ignore the numbers being called and just get off the ship at around 9.30- 10am giving you plenty time to collect luggage clear passport control and get the car.

 

We have sailed in and out of southampton numerous times and its not the same! Expect long lines as passport control! Can I also suggest unlike southampton when you enter the baggage hall a porter will ask do you want help, being from the UK and not used to it its tempting to say no, but say YES!! he will grab a trolley for you , load your bags up, take you through passport control and out to the front of the terminal, its a free service but you are expected to tip, which I did happily!!

 

I hope my advice is correct, and its only based on my experience!

 

The other thing I meant to add, is only buy the bus tickets for the HOHO bus when you plan to get on it, remember the 4 days all route tickets we bought, we never used them, walking around was too much fun!

 

I do hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

Good advice, although I have gone and arranged Basketball tickets at Madison Square Gardens and the game starts at 12.00. Now worried that we might not make it.

I might try and get an early departure time, then if there are queues we will just have to hang around til our car turns up. Will bear that in mind with the porter. It's all these little tips that help.

Thanks

I tested that number I posted above before I submitted the post. It has an online check-in assistance option.

Thanks, just phoned them. It seems there is some maintenance being undertaken on the check in process and I should try printing again in a couple of hours. Although I can access and re-print the rest of the family!

so will wait and try again tomorrow, if no luck will try and call that number again - thanks for your advice

I booked it with Carmelimo, it was easy and reliable. Just go the site of through the booking process and at the end it gives you a choice of vehicle and price.

 

You can also download the app which is handy around the city, the great thing on the app is it uses pins, so you just scroll around a map of NY, click on collection point, then click on drop off point and then same again price and type of car, then click book! and your done.

 

the cost from the Port to Times Square in total was $204 and from Times Square to JFK I think it quoted me $185

Excellent, thanks Peewee.

Have already booked a car service with that company, so will contact them to change the car type.

When you left the port did you have to call them or were they already waiting for you.

I am a little worried about the time it will take to get off the ship and through customs in time for our 9.15 pick up.

The embarking process seems a little different to that experienced when leaving a ship in Southampton