olya1972

We are booking beach bed for the first time. On some other threads I read about some beds located in the front row with water views, while others are in the back row (rows?) with view occluded by the front beds. Is that so? How do you chose the bed/location? Have you been assigned specific bed or did you have an opportunity to choose on-board?  We are sailing on Anthem of the Seas, if that makes a difference. Thank You.

On 11/15/2018 at 12:19 PM, emen822 said:

Hi, I just read about beach beds at CocoCay and was looking to book one for next week.  I know it $157 for the bed, and that is good for 4 people in one reservation.  I just want to be sure that the bed also comes with two loungers?  Some of the pictures I've seen only shows the bed and some have loungers on the side.  The website description does not say you get extra loungers.  Can anyone confirm?  Thank you.

 

[Also posted on the Royal board]

Hi. If you are back, can you please comment on the beach bed situation. Did it in fact came with loungers? How is the beach area where the beds are located? What about shade, palms around the beds? ( And whatever else you think of commenting about:). Thank you.

I didn't know umbrellas were available for rent ( and I have been on Coco Cay few times). This is the first time I booked a Day Bed for our upcoming cruise. It is $125 currently and includes towels, water, upgraded lunch ( if I am not mistaken). Now that I am learning here about umbrellas, I am not sure that $125 was a good idea. We always had great time on Coco Cay without buying any extras. Can someone who has experience with both Day Bed and umbrella please comment. Thank you. Sorry, one more question. Where are day beds located on the island? Is the beach area there any better then the main beach ( better as in sand, not rocky and deeper then a waist line).

On 11/23/2018 at 1:03 PM, Froggy1369 said:

So the bottom line. Is $944 for deluxe beverage package on the 8 night cruise Anthem in January the best I will probably see? 

For January, 2019 Anthem cruise this package was $887 ($47 per person per day plus 18%) few weeks ago. I asked same question on corresponding Rall Call and was told it was $45 per person per day plus 18% during the summer months, then it went up. 

Regular coffees, iced teas, some flavored waters and juces from dispensing machines in the buffet are available without extra charge. Water by glass in any bar or from water dispenser in the buffet is also free of charge and tastes the same ( to me) as a bottled water. I have not tried tap water ( psychological barrier, I guess), but it is possible water I am referring to above was in fact tap water. The complimentary coffee are available in multiple venues throughout the ship. They are served in all food venues (buffet, restaurants, caffes that are right next to specialty coffee venues). There is specialty coffees for purchase and RCI currently selling $31 coffee card good for 15 specialty coffee drinks. Card is not per person but for number of drinks, so all can share one card. If you drink lattes and cappuccinos that card would make sense, as capuchino is $4-$5 while regular coffee from specialty coffee venue is $2-$3. I believe that soda package comes with special large and cumbersome cup that is to be used in special dispensers located throughout the ship and there are only few of them around and it's a big ship. It's extremely inconvenient to carry those cups around. They are unsightly too. Ofcourse, you probably can order sodas in various venues without a cup,  but check on that. From what you are describing you don't need any packages at all, probably not even a coffee card either. I read somewhere on these boards that can of soda is about $2.50 and bottle of water $3-$4 ( they add 18% Gratuities to all drinks). There is a water package available for under $40 if I am not mistaken. If you absolutely must drink bottled water that maybe the only package that makes sense for you. Like the person above stated, you can bring a case of water and sodas on board .

Hi, all. To those who experienced both, VIP and Deluxe Blue Lagoon trips. What is the difference between the two other then VIP being adults only? On my Cruise Planner VIP is currently $114 and Deluxe $77 ($37 difference, $74 for two people). Cruise Planner is barely functioning for me ( Black Friday?). Thank you.

Has anyone used Thermal Suite on Anthem ( or that class ship)? What is it like? I wasn't able to get good description or pictures on RCCL website. Thank you. Oh, yes, one more. What are the usual onboard prices for 8 nights Bahamas sailings? TY

On 7/31/2018 at 7:46 PM, BillOh said:

Hi. I have just reserved Beach Bed on cruise planner and there is no option to select first row vs second row. There is nothing concerning bed location in confirmation either. Do you know how do we chose bed location? Are these beds numbered in any way and specific beds are assigned to each purchasing party or it's on the" first come first serve basis "(we chose any out of available beds once we get to the island?) Thank You.

 

I believe so, I'll search my 2017 photos. When we first got the beds in 2016 they might have been newer, I think there was about 10-12 of them, all in a single line about 5 ft above the high tide line. Only 4 people on Majesty reserved one that year. In 2017 we didn't reserve till on ship and had to take the 2nd row. We still enjoyed it.

Hi, TwoMisfits. I really appreciate your review. First of all, we are scheduled to sail on Anthem in couple of month, January. It will be a second time on this ship and your review had a lot of good pointers and reminders. Secondly and most importantly, your attitude is excellent, so positive. I don't see so many reviews with such positive outlooks on these boards. Thank you.

Yes, you are correct. I have my sides reversed.

Thank you. Cabin on the 9th is 9668 or something similar. Smoking is on port side, though. These rooms are on starboard.

Robtulipe, thank you so much. I am considering to switch two floors down in the same location on deck 9 in case of rough seas. Also, closer to walk up and down without elevator use to coffee shop on Esplanade and such.  Should I? Just throwing this question out there to see what others think.

1 hour ago, robtulipe said:

We and friends were in connecting cabins 12674 and 12676 on Anthem and the view was very good as shown in the shots below. We had the bottom of the pool deck 14 support columns slightly blocking our view which deck 11 doesn't have.

Cabin 11674, indicated by arrow in second shot, is also a connecting cabin but the double doors are just inside from the entrance so are in the passage way between the bathrooms and are not in the main area of the cabin as shown in the third shot below. Ignore the light standard in the second shot as that was on the cruise pier.

That cabin has the bed beside the balcony.

27 minutes ago, shippmates said:

No we have not sailed on the Anthem yet.  

 

Thank You for the reply. If my sailing is before yours (January,2019) and we keep the cabin, I will come back to post for you.

2 hours ago, kimcruiser said:

I just dealt with almost this exact scenario except I booked thru RCI. I had originally purchased 2 deluxe drink packages online but the price lowered by $11 pp pd. So I decided to call and see if I could just purchase one drink package and one refreshment package as I don't drink but maybe one or two drinks the whole cruise. They were more than happy to do this and there was no issues.

Thank You. Will call them

On 10/1/2018 at 5:58 PM, shippmates said:

We are doing our sailing on the Anthem for the first time and have cabin 11674 and wondering if anyone know anything about the balcony. Have a great night.

Hi. Did you get any info on that cabin (11674)? Did you sail in it yet? We have it assigned to us but I am considering to move to deck nine, same location, also connecting room as I am worried about sea motion on higher deck.

Someone posted on January 18th, 2019 sailing roll call that the sighing up for entertainment for that sailing will become available for November 20th, 2018 (in a weeks time). (The person said they called RCCL to ask).

iahawkfan21, Thank you.

I need to purchase one Delux Package and one Delux Package and Voom One device Combo. Cruise planner is not allowing me to do so. I can only purchase two of the same packages per cabin on the cruise planner. Did anyone encounter same problem before? Our January Anthem cruise is not booked directly through RCCL but through an on-line travel agent. If anyone knows how to deal with above, your input is appreciated. Thank You. 

Check out the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Blvd. It has a water taxi stop, you can walk to museums, restaurants and galleries and is on the Sun Trolley route to the beach. Another popular attraction, the Carrie B excursion boat, docks about 2 blocks aw

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Thank you. Will do.

Thank you for responses. Fort Lauderdale Beach area was nice but I would prefer to stay in a place with more things to see at a walking distance, such as parks, restaurants, museums and nice houses/ neighborhoods, marinas. At the same time I would like proximity to the beach and water taxi or sun trolley stops. Is the area around Ritz meets that criteria? There is Bahía Mar and Marriot Towers in the vicinity and are more or less reasonably priced. There is also Courtyard by Marriot near by. My priority is safe areas where I would feel comfortable walking at night with kids ( in the evening returning from dinner and such). Also, what about Flamingo Gardens? Anyone can advise whether that would be a good place to visit in August? Thank you.

I am planning to stay in Fort Lauderdale third week of August this summer, most likely fly in Saturday afternoon/evening and check out of the hotel on Thursday, so four full days. This will be first time I am going by myself with my three teenage kids. I will not be renting a car. I stayed in FLL 01/2014 for three nights pre Allure cruise in Atlantic Hotel. We had a car at the time, drove to Miami, to Hollywood broadwalk, some nice breakfast places by the water. Now I am looking for the hotel in safe area, nice pool, easy beach access and in the location easily walkable to attractions. I would definitely spend a day on Las Olas BLVD and do water taxi tour. What else should we do this time of the year? I wanted to do tour of Everglades, but read on these boards that it's not good in a summer ( hot, humid, mosquitoes and not good animal encounter). What about Flamingo Gardens? Would it be a pleasant place to visit in August and how to do so without a car? Advise on hotels and area to stay is greatly appreciated. Looking forward to advice.

15% off by booking on line for Fly Over Canada

I wish I knew that before. It's pricey. We just walked over and bought tickets there, about $67 US for three of us.

We have been to Alaska mid May in 2015, 2017 and 2018 (came back last weekend). We had dry, mostly warm weather and beautiful spring flowers and vegetation all around (and snowy picks as mentioned above). That said, now I would love to come back in late August/September. I can only imagine how beautiful fall foliage is in AK. So, if it was me, I would go with the price/best deal.

If the ship is moving, it's COLD. If you're on a small boat that's moving, it's COLD. If you're near a glacier, it's COLD. Layer, layer, layer, and add scarves, hats and gloves. You can pull layers off if you get too warm (or run inside for a bit).

 

Have fun!

Exactly that last week on Vancouver roundtrip. In ports sweat shirt over the T-shirt ( or light jacket) was perfect. Posted temps on that sailing ranged 48 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Weather was dry and sunny.

Fly Over Canada reminds me of Soarin' in WDW Epcot. Have you done that by chance?

 

Sounds like Day 2 was a big winner! So much walking! Easy to do then? This is basically my plan...to walk all over Downtown. I currently live in a Downtown...much, MUCH smaller than Vancouver, but still we enjoy the walkability of living here and my impressions of Vancouver were that it was a very walkable Downtown. You are confirming this. I would love to do the Queen Elizabeth Garden...I think my parents just went to the Butchart Gardens and so the comparison might be interesting...but I think that would be too much with our evening theater plans. I'll have to look that up...

 

I read a post you posted somewhere else where you said the walk down to the ferry area was all downhill? So...uphill to get back to the hotel at the end of the day?

 

Thanks for the info on Dutch. I do appreciate the overall experience of a restaurant as well.

 

So glad you had great weather! Our Juneau plan is very loose...we are a party of 5 and we have decided, after much debate and initial resistance on my part, to renting a car. It sounds like a hassle to me and I would prefer to just make use of public transportation BUT I think the car will meet our needs better. When you say the creek at Mendenhall...you are referring to Nugget Creek or Steep Creek?

The first part of the walk from Falce Creek Ferry stop towards Downtown area is uphill but for a short while, then it levels out. The trail at Mendelhal is definitely not Nuggets Falls, so must be that other one you are referring to, but I don't remember the name. It starts off right at the buses unloading area, goes along flat surface, has nice observation area, but if first time at Mendelhal then Nuggets Falls is a better option ( or both). As far as QEP vs Buchard gardens, there is no comparison. QEP has a small sunk in garden area similar to that in Buchard, but other then that it's a totally different experience. QEP is nice but it's not " instead of" or " in place of" Buchard. Vancouver is very beautiful city. We found it easily walkable, though it's not an easy walk if all the way from QEP to Downtown. However Downtown by itself is definitely easily walkable. And, yes, Fly over Canada must be similar ( or even the same) ride as that at Epcot. We never went to Epcot, so for us it was a first time experience. It's a lot of fun. We loved it. Very short wait too unlike what I read about Disney parks. It can be easily done on embarkation day.