biffco

Funny that the consensus here is that they aren't getting Wonderland...we just got off Oasis 2 weeks ago and the onboard deck maps already had Wonderland listed (where the library currently is on deck 11).  People kept wandering by wondering why it was listed on the deck maps, but it wasn't there.

Thanks much for the heads up!  Are the formal nights on Day 2 and Day 6 or are they different for Med cruises?

We have also seen an amazing band called the Royal Swedes in the Music Hall on a couple of Anthem cruises.  They play a variety of music as well as perform a Karaoke show.  Hopefully, they will move to the Oasis once it starts sailing out of Bayonne.

She is out of the drydock...

Just now, A&L_Ont said:

 

Oasis and Allure both had their previous 5 year dry docks there.

Thanks A&L_Ont!

Does anyone know if any of the Oasis class ships have previously used this specific drydock in Cadiz?  Based on some "very rough" Google Maps measurements, it looks like a pretty tight squeeze?

Oasis has been picked up on Marine Traffic...just southwest of Madeira...

23 hours ago, marazul said:

biffco-

Older teens would enjoy an excursion to Les Baux and Avignon.  

For something active, the boat trip to the Calanques with swimming would be good.  However, you are doing a private boat charter of Cinqueterre the next port, so go for something different.  Les Baux and Avignon are beautiful places and nothing like they have seen before.  If possible, do a private excursion rather than the ship's. 

Thanks marazul...will definitely look into private Les Baux and Avignon tours

Kristina...enjoy your trip!

Rob

Family of 4 with two older teens (19 and 15) sailing in August on the Oasis.  Definitely much more difficult planning excursions on these Med cruises.  So far we have a mix of ship-based and private excursions, but nothing for Marseille either.  Our itinerary so far:

Mallorca - Caves of Drach (RC excursion) + tour Palma on our own

Marseille - Nothing yet, but looking ideas!

La Spezia - Private boat charter of the Cinque Terre

Rome - Private car service - Rome on our own

Naples - Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius (RC excursion)

Any great ideas for Marseille would be appreciated!

Rob

I wouldn't expect a response from the CEO on this...from my personal experience, any emails to Royal Head Office have gone into a black hole...others have reported responses though, so it could be hit or miss

We ate there last week on the Allure and it was the old menu...everyone was pleased with their app and main choices (scallop entree was a bit of a miss though), but desserts were pretty sad

Have a great day ashore today at CocoCay...we have missed out on our last three trips due to weather and can't wait to get back there. Would love to see one of your video clips from the Schooner Bar.

Enjoy maximizing your drink package value...back on the Anthem in May...can't wait!

As Bob mentioned, you will be assigned to one dining room. For traditional dining on Anthem that would be either The Grande or Chic.

Seated at the virtual Sunshine Bar (desk at work) looking forward to your review...miss the Anthem and her great crew!

Maybe this was a one off for me?

Sorry...I was referring to draft beer since they said on tap...my bad.

Any chance that they serve Heineken Light or Amstel Light on tap in the Solarium. Looking forward to be onboard the Anthem of the Seas next week.

 

Thanks for taking the time to go live.

No beer on tap at the Solarium bar

We had no issues with drinks in the solarium pool as long as they were in plastic containers, no glass was allowed. Not sure if we ventured into the indoor or outdoor pools with drinks, but if we did nothing was ever said. I know I sat on the edge with my feet with a drink in hand and that was not an issue.

Just off Anthem last week...as above, drinks in a plastic container are allowed in the pools and hot tubs - in the Solarium anyway

What I'm saying is that the bartender is getting the 18% whether its on a single drink or on a package. If someone is buying a la carte, it makes sense to serve them repeatedly as each drink carries the 18%. However, if someone has the package, that 18% is already baked in, so the server doesn't get anything additional (excepting additional tips) whether they serve that person 1 drink or 15 drinks.

So...I purchase the drink package for lets say $500 + 18% gratuity - ($90). I order 1 drink over the duration of the cruise and the bartenders split $90 (tip pool), or I order 500 drinks over the entire cruise and they still split $90? I have a hard time believing this to be true, but I'll ask as I have a couple of friends who are bartenders for Royal.

I don't think its based on "drinks served" but rather "drinks purchased," and the package includes the 18%. So a server has no real incentive to work hard to serve package users unless they're tipping additional. In fact, once a cruiser hits the "break even point," unless they tip additional, the server is basically losing money.

I guess I'm confused as to what you mean by "drinks purchased"? Are you saying bartenders don't received the 18% auto gratuity shown on the receipt and only a percentage of the 18% included on the pre-paid drink package (for package drinkers)?

I'd be curious to see a breakdown of additional tippers between a-la-carte buyers and package buyers. If a cruise is package(or a-la-carte) heavy, and they generally don't tip additional, I don't see why servers would bust their humps.

I don't believe bartenders make a very large salary on Royal and make the bulk of their money on tips. I doubt that Royal is giving them a cut of the package, but they do get an 18% on every drink they server (plus extras)

Last two cruises on Anthem we had amazing bar service. Never saw the bars understaffed and actually found that the roaming bar servers had very little to do. I can see how Royal would want to make it less convenient to get a drink due to the packages, but not the servers...the more drinks they serve, the more they make in tips.

I probably spend a little too much time sitting at the bar as I enjoy people watching and chatting with the bartenders (and sipping the odd cocktail). Last week on Anthem they only stocked 4 different frozen mixers: Lime, Mango, Strawberry and Coconut. Probably 75% of the frozen drinks I saw ordered were Pina Coladas followed by Mudslides and Miami Vice. Maybe it was just the pool area, but not a lot of variety seems to get ordered and I'm guessing Royal stocks their bars accordingly.

We've sailed on the Anthem twice in the past year and both times had excellent service and food choices. This past sailing we splurged a bit for the Ultimate Dining Plan ($200/CDN and well worth the money) and ate in the specialty dining rooms each night (and lunch on sea days). Jamie Oliver's and Chops were both excellent while Tables in Wonderland and Izumi were OK. In March, we stuck to the main dining room and found the meals to be good to very good - many choices including "healthier options". My wife is also a cancer survivor (4+ years!) and loved the food on board.

We were on board last week...not sure if they had movies every night, but ones we did notice were: The Dark Tower, Wonder Woman, War for the Planet of the Apes and the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie