moshek

We are also just waiting, due to sail on Odyssey on 21st May, flying to Rome from UK. International travel from UK is banned until 17th May at earliest, our flight is booked for 19th. Add to that Italy have banned UK travellers indefinitely. I am in no doubt we will not be going. We already shifted this cruise from last year on explorer .

We are on the same cruise and having same thoughts on Crete and Mykonos. We have tours booked for all the other ports so going to just have a bit of a wander at these two rather than anything organised. Be good to have some relaxing days at the beginning of cruise. Mediterranean cruises are always so full on!

Thank you, was looking for info and couldn’t find it in any of the RC maps etc

Quick question about day in Labadee

We have zipline booked for 10am, what do people do with belongings you bring off ship whilst you are doing zipline e.g. beach bag with towels, had a sudden panic about what I would do.

Thank you 

Laser tag was added during refurb last year. It is held in studio B so is limited as they also have to fit in ice shows and ice skating sessions. It is free and when we were on last summer it was a case of just turning up and standing in line.

Just visited Marseille on Indy. The ship provide a shuttle €18 return but don’t tell you about the free port shuttle bus about 5-10 minute walk from terminal, follow green lines.

As we are family of 4 we got a taxi from outside terminal to port area where land train goes from for around €20 each way.

Land train up to Notre-Dame was excellent, €8 each.

Wow this thread really took off whilst I was asleep!

 

Just a couple of thoughts...

 

Might I suggest that anyone concerned about teenagers "running loose" avoid independence during the summer. You might, heaven forbid, see an unsupervised 16 year old playing laser tag. Just a bit of friendly advice.

 

No AO don't let kids self sign out on port days.

No, I won't be far from the ship. We don't do excursions.

 

But as I said, I wasn't asking for parental advice, I'm comfortable with the level of freedom and responsibility and trust I place in my children. I asked for the rules, and I now have them RCI said it's OK by them.

 

Thanks all, x

 

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Love it and totally agree with you!

We are also sailing on Independence this summer and I will have a 20 year old and 17 (2 weeks to 18) year old with me. Whilst they will be coming off at some ports they will not want to come off all the time. They have been cruising ever summer for the last 5 years and we have never had an issue leaving them on board. We, as parents, set out clear ground rules for behaviour and they have followed them.

When we leave ship they know where we are going, what time we expect to be back and of course both have mobile phones they can contact us on if required.

Summer on Indy is very busy with children and teenagers so yes a few may be unruly but the majority are just enjoying their holiday. My sons spend their time at the flowrider and sports court not rampaging round the ship.

Michelle x

We are planning to visit in early July when cruising on Indy. We are going to get HOHO bus to Sagrada Familia and plan to prebook tickets which include tower. My question is which tower would you choose - Nativity or Passion? I can't make my mind up.

I have just taken the plunge and booked this transatlantic tonight. Done 5 x 14 nights from Southampton to med so it's time for a change. Hubby wanted to do a Caribbean so this kind of fits the bill with bonus of just one way flight (I am not a keen flyer) and no jet lag on return to UK

My TA used to ask for final payment 8 weeks before Royal wanted it so this time round I booked direct

I have just been looking at drinks package costs today.

My last 2 cruises I had premium package but this time I think we are going for replenish. We are on a 2 week med cruise and price difference is over £300 ($450) each. I found I preferred frozen virgin cocktails during day as they were more refreshing that alcohol versions. I will just pay for any extra alcoholic drinks we decide to have - glass of wine at dinner probably once I have used 2 carry on bottles.

My 2 eldest teens had one this year on deck 10 of explorer (they were across the corridor from our suite). They kept the curtain drawn over it most of the time and yes it was on side wall with chair in front - piled high with clothes they didn't bother putting away!

Cocktails are around $14 (including 18%), glass of wine $12 so $66 a day if you have 3 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine. Add in you could have a couple of sodas during day or some bottled water it is worth looking at premium package.

Great review, we were on her in July/August. Loved the singing captain at top tier event too x

When I was on Anthem earlier this year Café 270 opened for lunch as well on embarkation day.

Hi, I am booked on a 5-Night Bermuda cruise in May 2016. I'm a little confused with the Dining and Entertainment on the Anthem.

 

1. From what I am reading here I will be able to book my dining about 8 months out, is that correct?

yes I sailed in May and booked dining mid-Sept

2. For each of the complimentary restaurants...which are the ones that are most like the traditional dining on other ships?

The Grande is formal dining, Silk is Asian style food, Chic and American Icon are like MDR menus mixture of dishes

 

5. I will also want to pre-book the shows. What shows are available to pre-book and what times are they? I will need to know that in order to make my dining reservations.

If you are eating around 6/6.30 you will have no problem we went to see Spectras Cabaret at 9pm and there was an earlier show too, WWRY was later 10pm I think we went to see it

6. Regarding activities such as North Star, I-Fly and bumper cars...Can you pre-book the times for those as well?

Bumper cars are open usually a few hours a day it will show you in cruise compass and in seaplex, no pre-booking required just queue up as if you were at fun fair. We didn't have north star booking available just queued. Note whilst in port north star will only go up and down not out to sides

 

Sorry for all of the questions...Thanks in advance for any help!!

We sailed 3 nights in May, can't answer all your questions as so much info to take in when we were there, hope this helps

Michelle

Don't be daft. Every detail gladly received.

 

I notice they mention possible unavailability of escargot (worldwide shortage) on the menu - did you, or anyone else, notice difficulty getting them?

Menu has been saying that for past 3 summers - never had a problem with being unavailable, my teenage son has them almost every evening when he comes to MDR.

Something I will mentioned about 'My Time Dining' for those who are on it. I'm on the early dinner seating on deck 3 and every night at around 7.45pm having finished my dinner and travelling on the aft elevators going up the decks. Everytime going past deck 5, I can see the long line for the MDR going out to the elevators. It looked like a long wait to me at that time.

I would agree this looked like a problem on our cruise too (the one before yours). We did MTD booked at 6.30/6.45pm and were always seated straight away but when we were leaving (usually around 8pm) the queues were out beyond photographers area. Strange because on previous cruises we have also done MTD at 6.30 and on leaving restaurant would be little queue if any.

Possibly due to fact that they have added extra staterooms and obviously having to fit more people into each floor of MDR.

Aviv was lush!

My teens would agree with you, for the first time ever they wanted to give a WOW envelope at end of cruise to Aviv because he was so great.

Michelle x

Drinks vouchers are only for diamond, diamond plus and pinnacle. Suite guests receive free drinks for a few hours each evening in concierge club (limited menu).

We are emerald and recently had grand suite, no vouchers for us.

There is no swim/splash area on Explorer for children not fully potty trained, also no tots nursery for leaving young children. The area where the kids splash pool was is now just a wasted empty space.

WE were on last explorer cruise and whilst I didn't venture into that area at back of deck 12 my teens told me there was table tennis, some sunbeds and table and chairs there. Seemed to be a popular hang out as overspill for teen club which is not big enough in summer months.

Both Anthem and Explorer have had starboard side towards the cruise terminal in Southampton this year. At sailaway ship has reversed out then turned before passing the cunard ships.

Love it, it is very recent (this summer).

Are there shade umbrellas in the suite areas you have mentioned Moshek?

thanks

No unfortunately not, I never actually manage to sunbathe for a full day, usually 2-3 hours then go off and do something else, so it didn't bother me.

Michelle x

If you go on to gifts and gear in your cruise planner online you can order room decorations and cake (vanilla or chocolate last time I looked). We had room decorated 3 summers ago for son's 13th birthday - door decoration and stuff hanging from ceiling inside cabin. You could of course take your own decorations lots of people to banners on door and balloons etc.