moshek

Agree with comments about taste of Anthem menus, I was disappointed too when in Chic on second evening we couldn't have a main course from that restaurant. Service was also terrible that night.

Dynamic dining is a great concept and I really wanted to try it out but didn't get the chance. I felt RC explanation treated us like children as if we couldn't work out that on a 3 night cruise we wouldn't get to try all the complimentary restaurants. No RC we spent time looking at the different dining options and then choosing those we wanted to try, making bookings and then once on board finding out that we were not getting the dining concept we had booked.

On a good note entertainment was fantastic, loved WWRY, Spectra's Cabaret and evenings in Music Hall especially Wild Boys playing 80s music.

I struggled with orientation on this cruise could never quite work out whether I was going forward or to aft when walking along corridor to stateroom.

Well unless they inform me of changes I am going to play dumb.

I booked Jamie's in September last year for our 3 night sailing in 2 weeks time - there is no option to change booking now as all complimentary restaurants are fully booked on website.

I have paid cover charge for a table d'hote menu which is still shown on cruise planner and that is what I will expect - can't see us getting 3 course meal for the $50 OBC they are supposedly going to give me.

Michelle

Very interested reading this thread as wasn't aware of some of the proposed changes.

Things I am glad about :-

adding flowrider - my teens loved this on Indy and this was the main reason we booked explorer rather than the more expensive anthem for our 2 week summer cruise, so glad this is going ahead was really worried RCI would change their mind

virtual balconies - we have a suite on deck 10 and interior cabin opposite so looks like my teens will have one of these (doubt it will make up lack of suite perks for them though!!)

Sad about :-

loss of nightclub (deck 3) - not that I went very often but we have persuaded my reluctant 19 year old daughter to travel with us - she loves clubbing so I am just hoping the new offering will be ok or she may moan she should have just gone to Maga!

deck space on deck 12 - I like to sunbathe on deck 12 forward as quieter than around pool and I refuse to get up at crack of dawn to get bed in solarium, this space no longer exists due to new cabins (may just have to lie out on balcony more often

That all said I am looking forward to my summer break with family in July, but first a little 3 night trip in 3 weeks on Anthem with hubbie. Oh how these next few weeks are going to drag.

I am sailing on Anthem 3 nighter in May and had booked our dining reservations and when I went to book Spectra it told me I had a clash - dinner is 7.30-9.30 and Spectra is 9.30. It let me go ahead and book anyway - we doubt it will take us 2 hours to have dinner it is just the 2 of us - if service is very slow I may have to forgo pudding!

I did look at changing dining time but next only had 6.30 or earlier available so I have left it going to turn up 15-20 mins early and hope table is ready.

We are sailing on one of the 3 nighters in May too. I checked online planner today still no entertainment or spa etc options available. Seems very strange as I booked dining options back in early October.

Preference must be a geographical thing!

I would have liked Mamma Mia but We will rock you will be good too especially with a predominantly UK audience - anyone who has been on Indy for Rock Britannia would agree.

I have seen Jersey Boys in UK and didn't like it, probably because I am just a little too young for that era and didn't know story.

I am going on a 3 night sampler in Anthem's second week.

On our recent cruise children were not permitted in the Viking lounge area after 10pm or in the champagne bar.

Sailed on IOS last month.

Set sail documents tell you boarding is 11 - 3.30 but a few days before leaving we received email outlining the staggered boarding according to decks.

However we arrived at terminal around 1 - 1 1/2 hours before our allotted time and had no problem checking in, not asked which deck e were on as we entered terminal building so I think it is really just to spread arrivals out. There were 4 ships boarding that day roads were busy from before M3 with combination of port traffic and south coast holidaymakers.

Michelle x

On Indy's last sailing (26th July - 9th Aug).

We had 4 production shows by the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers- Invitation to Dance, Once Upon a Time, a circus show and Centrestage.

We also had 60's band (the Koots), a couple of comedians, comedy juggler, Soul Sensation (Motown group) and a few others.

I know a few previous sailings had a Queen tribute band on.

I assume these are aligned to the actual person who is Gold? Or to the stateroom? If to the individual, and I'm traveling with my two minor children who are also Gold, can I redeem some of the coupons that are clearly designed for adults?

 

 

 

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My sons are also gold C & A and got their own list of discounts for our recent sailing, obviously didn't include drinks or coffee but did have arcade deals but strangely not a Johnny rockets milkshake offer (so I had to go with them to order BOGOF).

Thanks Sinny,

 

We love Queen..hope they are still on board on 23rd sailing!

 

My hubby calls me Elsa from Frozen so the Ice Shows sound right up my street ha ha xx:)

I was onboard Indy 26th July - 9th August and we didn't have the Queen act - we had several different acts including The Zoots (60s/70s music) and a Soul music group. Looks like they vary visiting acts, the production shows onboard are the same each cruise.

Great review, thank you. I am just back from 14 nights on Indy, same ports slightly different order. Wish I had found your review before we sailed, we tend to DIY most ports and your advice is good.

xx

What a fab review, we were on same cruise and it has been great to relive the past 2 weeks over passed few hours (needed a break from the washing!)

Michelle x

Last year we were on Deck 6 middle of the hump....and had no noise problem at all...loved the deck, loved the ship....no such thing as a bad balcony cabin!!

Reassuring as we are sailing this week on Indy deck 6 mid ship, I have a balcony cabin and promenade room opposite. Reason for this choice was good view for any parades, not too long a walk for dinner (we are on MTD so deck 5) and I didn't want to be near elevators (strange I know).

Hi we are travelling on Indy this month and my 16 year old son wanted to know if anyone had used boxing ring before. He goes to a local wrestling school and wondered if it was organised use, would he be able to spar in ring, etc.

He did use gym facilities on Adventure last year so is familiar with the exercise equipment available.

Thank you

Thank you for your review, we are due to sail on Indy in 6 days time and I too had read some worrying reviews. This is only my second cruise having been bitten by the bug last year, loved our 2 weeks on Adventure last year and hoping that this year will be as good or even better.

I visited Gibraltar last year and used a fab tour guide called Carl, his website is http://www.rocktoursgibraltar.com. Unfortunately only the longest of his tours include a visit to the WW II tunnels, however he is very helpful and I would suggest messaging him and asking about designing your own tour to see exactly what you want to.

We visit Gib again this year and my teenagers requested we go with Carl again.

Another point to note is that the pools in the main area will be deep for your children, if I remember rightly they are about 4-5ft deep.

We visited Colosseum last week and I had booked and printed at home 2 adult tickets and then just went to group booking area for free tickets for my sons (13 and 15), there was a member of staff at the end of line handing them out so we didn't queue at all.

Free tickets were originally just for EU member states but I understand this has been extended to all minors, note member of staff didn't check ID for boys so didn't know whether we were British or not.

Just back from 14 nights on Adventure out of Southampton and the vast majority of guests were from the UK, probably as it was the start of English school holidays.

On every single one of our Med cruise the 12-17 year olds have been put together in one group! We never sail in July or August--perhaps then there are enough teens to split, but certainly not in May, June, September or October in the Med :)

Have loved catching up with this thread today after returning from our 14 night cruise to Med yesterday. I just wanted to add that there were over 600 teens on our cruise due to it being the beginning of UK school holidays and sailing from UK. The 12-14 and 15-17 groups did have different schedules but just did same activities in a different order. My younger son (13) went to quite a few activities but older son (15) preferred to hang out with the friends he made around the ship. There certainly wouldn't have been enough room in teen area if everyone had decided to attend.

Great review.

Laughed at comment about waiting at customs reminded me of immigration queues at Orlando Sanford airport when we visited a few Christmases ago, over one hour stood in very slow moving queue, just what you need after 9 1/2 hour flight.

We are due to set off on our first cruise in 4 days time and will be visiting Rome - very excited now x