Anthem Review- March 7-19, 2016

[rockon391]

In writing it's 300 points per day on your card. She did us right away. She didn't make us wait until the next cruise. I'm not sure why. We didn't ask questions as we were extremely happy about the free drinks that came along as a perk. She put a vip sticker on our card and she gave my husband a nice rci casino royale green polo shirt and I got a rci casino tee shirt. Winning the free cruise on the last night was icing on the cake!!

 

...so is that like spending $300 per day in the casino?

[gaylemh]

...so is that like spending $300 per day in the casino?

 

Nope it's $5.00 per point in the slots.

[rockon391]

Nope it's $5.00 per point in the slots.

 

Lol...so $1500 per day! Yeah they better be handing you a free cruise :)!

 

Will definitely stick to just buying a bev pkg.

[cruisenfever]

I agree, I was told it was May when the changes were to take effect and they were very factual about why. (Too many complaints from the upper tier C & A) How could that be an April Fools joke? It could be a rumor, which I hope it is, but not an April fools joke.

WOW, we've never had any influence before..........wonder why all of a sudden now??

Just emailed my travel agent about it. She said at this point, it's just a rumor, but she's heard it too. She said they won't know anything until Royal Caribbean puts out a statement.

I talked with C&A and was told DD Classic will no longer be an option, it will only be DD Choice. And, like your TA said, nothing is official until RCI puts it in writing.

Edited March 21, 2016 by cruisenfever

[Clarea]

I talked with C&A and was told DD Classic will no longer be an option, it will only be DD Choice. And, like your TA said, nothing is official until RCI puts it in writing.

If it's true, I'm sorry to hear that. I expect other ships to go to all MTD sometime too. There are just too many spots in traditional that go unused every night.

[gaylemh]

 

Lol...so $1500 per day! Yeah they better be handing you a free cruise :)!

 

Will definitely stick to just buying a bev pkg.

 

It's not actually $1500 of your money per day. If you keep playing with your wins it's a lot less.

[cruisenfever]

If it's true, I'm sorry to hear that. I expect other ships to go to all MTD sometime too. There are just too many spots in traditional that go unused every night.

Absolutely agree. Noticed that on our b2b2b on Jewel this past Dec/Jan. MTD was filled to capacity where Traditional below always had empty tables.

[robtulipe]

It's not actually $1500 of your money per day. If you keep playing with your wins it's a lot less.

 

I wouldn't play the slots onboard with that kind of money input as they are way too tight. I noticed a pattern for the roll call member slot pulls on our cruises over the last few years. Pay out seems to average around two thirds of what is put in. Same happened on the Anthem cruise we just came back from. The pay out was $10 per participant which cost $15 to be part of.

I go mainly for the prizes the casino offers for these roll call tournaments as it is very unlikely the group will come out ahead. I won an extra $20 at blackjack using the match bet coupons I got at that recent cruise slot pull. :D

At least with the table games there is very little the casino can do to improve their take. They already have their dealers hitting their soft 17 hand and have the double 0 on the roulette wheel. They try with offering side bets on the blackjack but it isn't obligatory to play this.

Edited March 21, 2016 by robtulipe

[gaylemh]

I never had any luck in the casino on the ships until I sailed on Anthem. In January I hit a Jackpot for $1500 and another for $600, plus a few $100 and $200. My 3/7 cruise I hit a $700 and a few $200. So came out ahead on both sailings. We'll see if my luck holds out in April, but I doubt it.

[robtulipe]

Absolutely agree. Noticed that on our b2b2b on Jewel this past Dec/Jan. MTD was filled to capacity where Traditional below always had empty tables.

 

That's the great thing about MTD or DD, if you have a reservation and you don't show up they will assign you table to others once 15 minutes past the reserved time if it is needed.

[Clarea]

That's the great thing about MTD or DD, if you have a reservation and you don't show up they will assign you table to others once 15 minutes past the reserved time if it is needed.

It would be nice if they could implement something like that for traditional dining too.

[Merion_Mom]

One other thing I forgot to mention is that when you order a drink from the Bionic Bar they still add an 18% tip!!! I was not happy being forced to tip a robot!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

That money DOES go to the staff. It is put into the crew welfare fund.

[Croozin Soozin]

I talked with C&A and was told DD Classic will no longer be an option, it will only be DD Choice. And, like your TA said, nothing is official until RCI puts it in writing.

 

So what you're saying is that traditional (Classic) will be done away with and MTD (Choice) will be the only option? I wouldn't mind that at all!

 

But I'm glad I'll be able to experience all the different restaurants on my upcoming cruise if they're going to do away with them and have the same menu in every dining room.

[robtulipe]

It would be nice if they could implement something like that for traditional dining too.

We've had it happen a couple times on Anthem when DD is really busy that we've been given a DD classic table and waiters that was wasn't needed that evening for those who normally had that time and table. It happened when we showed up at around 5:45 or just after the classic 5:30 start time. We were told by a head waiter we were really friendly with that this was the best time to show up without a reservation.

Also we got very good service from the classic waiters when this happened unlike what happened with the OP in this situation.

Edited March 21, 2016 by robtulipe

[cruisenfever]

So what you're saying is that traditional (Classic) will be done away with and MTD (Choice) will be the only option? I wouldn't mind that at all!

 

But I'm glad I'll be able to experience all the different restaurants on my upcoming cruise if they're going to do away with them and have the same menu in every dining room.

Actually it's what C&A is saying and I am just passing on the info. ;) Nothing is official until RCI sends out an announcement.

Edited March 21, 2016 by cruisenfever

[Lady Luck T]

 

 

 

Lol...so $1500 per day! Yeah they better be handing you a free cruise :)!

 

 

 

Will definitely stick to just buying a bev pkg.

 

 

I can assure you that we didn't spend that much per day or even for the whole cruise! We had a budget and stuck to it. We played together and used one card. You are so snarky yet do not know what you are talking about. You stick to whatever you want. It means nothing to me. We had a great time, had free drinks the whole trip and won a cruise on the last night. Why try to find fault with that??? Envious maybe??? Lol. Geez!! I'm beginning to regret writing a review!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Lady Luck T]

That money DOES go to the staff. It is put into the crew welfare fund.

 

 

It's not my responsibility or desire to contribute to a crew welfare fund! I don't go on vacation to support the crew. Tipping a robot is ridiculous! .... And a ripoff

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Lady Luck T]

I wouldn't play the slots onboard with that kind of money input as they are way too tight. I noticed a pattern for the roll call member slot pulls on our cruises over the last few years. Pay out seems to average around two thirds of what is put in. Same happened on the Anthem cruise we just came back from. The pay out was $10 per participant which cost $15 to be part of.

 

I go mainly for the prizes the casino offers for these roll call tournaments as it is very unlikely the group will come out ahead. I won an extra $20 at blackjack using the match bet coupons I got at that recent cruise slot pull. :D

 

At least with the table games there is very little the casino can do to improve their take. They already have their dealers hitting their soft 17 hand and have the double 0 on the roulette wheel. They try with offering side bets on the blackjack but it isn't obligatory to play this.

 

 

We did not play any tournaments. We play in a casino because we enjoy it. We are well aware of the odds. I never mentioned if we won or lost either. People here just take things that they know nothing about and create a whole new story to suit themselves!!! I simply wrote a review and look what happens! Lol

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Lady Luck T]

 

 

 

Lol...so $1500 per day! Yeah they better be handing you a free cruise :)!

 

 

 

Will definitely stick to just buying a bev pkg.

 

 

Lol! You don't know everything! Every sea morning you get double points, you get different point calculation playing tables.., there is no way for you to preach what someone had to have spent in the casino... And I never said if we won or lost for the week. You really don't know what you are talking about.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[MommaBear55]

It's not my responsibility or desire to contribute to a crew welfare fund! I don't go on vacation to support the crew. Tipping a robot is ridiculous! .... And a ripoff

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

The times I have been at the bionic bar there was a staff member present.

[Merion_Mom]

We've had it happen a couple times on Anthem when DD is really busy that we've been given a DD classic table and waiters that was wasn't needed that evening for those who normally had that time and table. It happened when we showed up at around 5:45 or just after the classic 5:30 start time. We were told by a head waiter we were really friendly with that this was the best time to show up without a reservation.

Also we got very good service from the classic waiters when this happened unlike what happened with the OP in this situation.

 

I had that identical experience on my cruises.

[Merion_Mom]

It's not my responsibility or desire to contribute to a crew welfare fund! I don't go on vacation to support the crew. Tipping a robot is ridiculous! .... And a ripoff

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Well, aren't you just the charming human being. :cool:

 

Tipping IS supporting the crew. You have harpooned your own arguement.

[MommaBear55]

Well, aren't you just the charming human being. :cool:

 

Tipping IS supporting the crew. You have harpooned your own arguement.

 

Yup. True colors finally appear.

[CRUISEBOY305]

It's not my responsibility or desire to contribute to a crew welfare fund! I don't go on vacation to support the crew. Tipping a robot is ridiculous! .... And a ripoff

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Well, aren't you just the charming human being. :cool:

 

Tipping IS supporting the crew. You have harpooned your own arguement.

 

Such a delightful "person". :eek:

[CRUISEBOY305]

Yup. True colors finally appear.

 

and it's an ugly color I must say. :mad: