blueinspades

The ship wants you to use the App for so many things, before and during the cruise. Treat yourself to a new more powerful phone. Personally I hate the App and if I was not travelling with 2 younguns who are used to using their phones for everything, I would be lost. If you can start to learn the App before sailing, just trying different things on it, that will help you learn it for the ship.There is a desk onboard where they can get you started. One trick on board is to place cell phone in airplane mode.

So sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine that the ship staff did not page you to contact guest services. It was an emergency.

My son and his wife were in the middle of a 7-day Mediterranean cruise round trip out of Barcelona, a few years ago, when my husband suddenly passed away. I tried reaching them myself thru the emergency number, but got the run around. It took my local police department calling and telling everyone he was transferred to that he was Officer ___ from the ___ Police Department and demanded to be connected directly to my son’s cabin. It worked. When my DIL picked up the phone in their cabin, I told her the sad news. The ship was headed into a scheduled port in Italy. They got off the ship, when it docked, to fly home immediately. The only problem was the airfare since their return tickets were for a different date, country, airline and non-refundable. Their credit cards were not accepting a foreign transaction of the airfare and they did not have enough credit on the one card that was accepted. They did have cruise insurance but it only reimbursed them after they got home and sent in a death certificate. Somehow, they did get enough emergency credit to fly home. I suggest travelers register credit cards for the country(s) the ship will visit and check available credit to be able to fly home in an emergency.

Currently I am onboard Anthem in a DO balcony. Bathroom amenities are tubes of shampoo, conditioner, gel, hand lotion, soap. Refrigerator packed with items to purchase but I squeezed in one can of soda and my RCL soda cup. One hairdryer in the dresser drawer. Ask for ice and you get an ice bucket. Two outlets and two charging stations at the desk. Full length mirror by the entry door. Mirror at the desk is not lit well enough to do a good makeup job. One lamp on the dresser. There are two closets, on each side of the bed that are on the small side for a 12 day cruise. There are 7 drawers and two over the bed cabinets like overhead compartments on airplanes. There is a small narrow shelf above the desk. Under the approximately 40" TV is a narrow open compartment where I keep my numerous papers like the daily Compass. The table can be move as there are no drawers in it and it is not tied down. The bathroom has a night light built into the overhead fixture. Three shelves in the bathroom, none enclosed. There is a long shelf under the sink. This bathroom has a circular glass door shower with an adjustable hand held shower head.

If any questions, just ask.

Well, then it's their issue and not yours. It's hardly a life and death issue that requires friends to defend it:rolleyes:

 

So, I have an idea, don't cruise out of NJ, but honestly, I'm seeing way too many people who believe the crap that the ship is "jinxed'. LOL.

 

I still don't get why? Any ship would have the same issues with weather. The seas don't change because of the ship. We have cruised out of the NE many times and have had many experiences with seas. None of them make me think the ship is the issue.

 

A lot of the posts on here make ZERO sense.

I am currently on the Anthem 12 night cruise, just pulled into Jamaica. The trip down was wonderful, minimal rocking, at times I had to look out on the balcony to see if we were moving. I am on Deck 6 near forward elevator.

On Anthem's Icon restaurant, I ordered the main course choice of Chicken Kiev as an appetizer, easy, and ate only the Chicken as it came as a full meal on the plate. The next night I ordered two Chicken Kievs on the same plate and only 1 set of sides. Got it exactly the way I asked.

Be creative, it is your vacation, have it your way. Order all the appetizers or desserts if you want them.

There are many agents with an Ipad to check in and then go thru security. Easier if you have your picture loaded prior to the cruise. The agent looks at your set sail pass, passport and then asks the usual health questions. The credit card previously supplied is on the reservation and the agent does not need to see it or swipe it. The agent stamps your paper set sail pass and this will get you on the ship. Next step is to go thru security. The waiting area is crowded but when your group is called then take an elevator or escalator up one level and a short flat walk onto the ship. There are no long ramps to climb. Check in with the stamped paper sea pass is easy. Once on the ship, cabins open at 1 and if you look carefully as the elevator goes up, there are signs at each level as to when the cabins will be open. I went to my deck 5 minutes before 1, and the doors were opening as I got to the starboard side. The cruise card is right at the door. I too was concerned with security of the card, but no problem.

Ship - ANTHEM

Deck - 6

Stateroom # -

6562

Stateroom Category – DO

Starboard or Port Side - STARBOARD

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – near elevator, no cabins across hall, very quiet.

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - no

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – Balcony described as 75% obstructed. Can easily see the ocean and ports. The top of lifeboat 1 blocks the right side and the metal column holding the lifeboat blocks some of the left part of the balcony. The balcony is deep and easily holds the two chairs with foot rests extended out and a small side table. I did not hear any knocking from the metal or ropes outside.

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Seems to be larger than the other balconys.

It sticks out on the side of the shop. Looking towards the aft, the balcony at that side can look into this balcony but it is quite far away. There are solid sides and a roof. Some splash does get on the balcony as it is wet in the morning.

Was wind a problem? - no

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - n/a

Any specific problems with this cabin? - cannot tilt the tv towards sofa, faces bed. Lights at the round mirror in the room are not useful for putting on makeup. Need to use the bathroom mirror for makeup. Two outlets at the desk and two charging ports. Table can be moved. Refrigerator filled with products to purchase. No cabinets in bathroom, all open shelves. Flat screen TV about 40-45". Limited TV stations other than RCL stations. Two kiddy stations, CNN and HLN and a few movie channels.

Any other comments? - Closets are small for a long cruise of 12 days. There is a nighlight in the bathroom that comes on automatically. Bed is closer to the bathroom and the sofa is closer to the balcony.

I have been to Alaska on Princess 20+ years ago. It was expensive then and does not look much different now. Booked many RCL cruises in the Caribbean and currently 12 days on Anthem in Caribbean plus 7 days in August on Princess in Alaska. No comparison on price. Balcony on both and price is almost double for Alaska on a per day basis. For me, Alaska is for a once in a decade type trip and the Caribbean or Bermuda is for the every year more frequent trip. But Alaska is so unlike the islands, no comparison. Feel so much safer on US grounds and trust food and water off the ship. Also, I live in NJ so no air fare to sail from the New York Ports.