An Abbreviated 4 Night 12 Night Anthem Cruise (mini media blowout)

[DEIx15x8]

It’s a bit later than I had hoped to be posting these, but a lot has been going on. I sailed on the Anthem of the Seas’ April 17th 12 night Southern Caribbean cruise, but unfortunately only made it as far as Puerto Rico on the 20th before having to abruptly depart to head home. That won’t be the end though, we have rebooked for 12/1, the next 12 night Southern Caribbean sailing.

 

I was on the Quantum of the Seas’ 8 Night Inaugural Sailing as well as the 11 night Southern Caribbean sailing that followed it in 2014 so this wasn’t my first Quantum Class experience, though a lot has changed since then. If anyone followed my massive Quantum review thread (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2137565) or the 19 night theCruiseView info vlog series (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2158075) you know that the Quantum class quickly became my favorite despite how troubled those first sailings were. Luckily this sailing was about as opposite as a sailing could be right until it’s sudden end. All of the entertainment and activities that made the Quantum class so special remained while all of the frustrations and flaws seemed to have been fixed.

 

As with all of my post trip reports I have a ton of photos, 2500+ actually.

 

Photos (2,500+):

Day 1 - 4/17/17 Cape Liberty (728): https://photos.app.goo.gl/IGOMHQum0GHAGxLm1

Day 2 - 4/18/17 Day at Sea (439): https://photos.app.goo.gl/ylvZP2ybNBHIQzf72

Day 3 - 4/19/17 Day at Sea (1,281): https://photos.app.goo.gl/kT4TKNuCVLQRjUr42

Day 4 - 4/20/17 Puerto Rico (100): https://photos.app.goo.gl/fym63jsTdqlHFcVp1

 

 

I will also be posting several videos as they get uploaded to Youtube over the next week starting with the actual departure from Bayonne.

 

 

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As well as it's timelapse. Unfortunately since the cruise was shortened and I had so much going on while we arrived in San Juan the timelapse is only for the Bayonne departure.

 

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Videos:

Bayonne NJ Departure (4/17):

Bayonne NJ Departure 4K Timelapse (4/17):

Puerto Rico Arrival with Brilliance of the Seas and Carnival Sunshine (4/20):

North Star: Bayonne NJ (4/17):

North Star: At Sea + Time-lapse (4/19):

Captain’s Reception (4/18):

Two70 Tonight (4/17):

 

I’ll keep posting the rest of the videos as they are uploaded and try to answer any questions that I can. I may post the three episodes of theCruiseView that I have to this thread to simplify things. I unfortunately only got to film one interview before departing, and it wasn’t tossed to in any of the days I filmed. It was an incredible revisit with Captain Srecko Ban on the bridge for a discussion of how things were with Quantum in China and the journey over there. I’m still trying to decide if I’m going to force it onto the end of an existing episode, film something to end the third, or film a fourth episode from home to cover the Puerto Rico arrival and toss to that interview. No matter what I’ll be sharing it though and when it comes to detailed information you don’t see anywhere else, I think that interview ranks number 1.

[Yorkvillain]

Incredible stuff as always. Well done.

[DEIx15x8]

Incredible stuff as always. Well done.

 

Thank you! Today I have a pair of North Star rides. IMO there is no experience that makes you realize your on a Quantum class cruise like taking a ride on the North Star just after lunch in Two70. It's become my tradition, and one that I plan to do again in December. The view in Cape Liberty isn't the nicest, but you do get to see NYC and experience something you can't do on land right from the moment you board.

 

 

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[Joe12]

I always really enjoy your work. Sorry your trip was cut short, hopefully you will enjoy Round 2 in December! Excited to see the interview with Captain Srecko Ban, that sounds interesting.

[LESLIEKURZ]

Did you have reservations for the North Star on embarkation day or did you just do walk on? We'd like to try to get on in port and weren't sure how that worked.

[DEIx15x8]

Thanks Joe12!

 

Did you have reservations for the North Star on embarkation day or did you just do walk on? We'd like to try to get on in port and weren't sure how that worked.

 

Since embarkation day can be unpredictable with regards to when guests will get onboard the ship they don't do any reservations. It usually opens some time between 12 and 1 on a first come first served basis. They operated until the muster drill and then as she departs (as the shadow can be seen in the timelapse video) they begin doing more rides once under the bridge. I'm not sure how late they operated to, but I would guess probably around 5.

 

On sea days they require reservations, but if you wait around and someone doesn't show you may be able to get a ride. Here was our ride on a beautiful sunny sea day on the morning of day 3. I also took my GoPro along for this ride and got a nice timelapse for the video as well.

 

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[DEIx15x8]

Today I have the Captain's Reception from the 4/17/17 sailing. I always love these receptions so it's great to see it returned to the Quantum Class ships. During this sailing there were members that we had sailed with on both the Jewel in 2015 as well as the Quantum in 2014. That's what always makes them so much fun, finding all the crew that you've sailed with previously.

 

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[DEIx15x8]

During our Quantum Sailings they didn't have all the shows up and running yet, but I got an overview of what "An Evening With..." would entail when it launches. On Anthem that event was replaced by Two70 Tonight. If your not familiar with it, the event is hosted by the Cruise Director on the first night offering an hour long preview of all the capabilities of Two70. This includes technical overviews, RoboScreens, Vistaramas, aerialists, singers, and dancers. Here's the show from 4/17 hosted by Dru Pavlov.

 

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[DEIx15x8]

The last of the main videos from my 4/17 sailing is the arrival into San Juan. It was a beautiful morning with perfect conditions (compared to the rain and wind on Quantum). Just as we arrived I could see the Carnival Sunshine departing in the distance. As we pulled in we had to go to customs and got lunch so I missed the horn battle with the Brilliance of the Seas which was docked across from us, but I saw her departure from our balcony shortly afterwards as she sailed past the fort.



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I still have 3-4 episodes of theCruiseView to edit and post. Hope everyone enjoys it and stays tuned!

[DEIx15x8]

The first day of theCruiseView from this sailing went live this morning. In this episode I have all the usual items such as the location, weather, compass, and menus. As well as a continuation of the Quantum Class timeline from day 1 of the Quantum series 3 years ago to catch things up to today. As I've mentioned before sailing the Anthem was night and day compared to the Quantum 2.5 years earlier and this series while shortened, will thoroughly capture that. I hope you enjoy and stay tuned for the next 3 episodes!

 

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[DEIx15x8]

Day 2 of theCruiseView takes a look at the surprising new breakfast options available, as night 2 we feature the return of the captain’s welcome moment to the Quantum Class, and the Gift makes its sailing debut. I also took a quick preview of Spectra’s Cabaret.

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[DEIx15x8]

Day 3 of theCruiseView from 4/19 features the last sea day heading south with the international men’s belly flop competition during the day and Spectra’s Cabaret at night.

I have one more episode left to release that I just filmed a few days ago to cover the Puerto Rico morning and it includes my interview with Captain Ban.

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[JPV072900]

Sorry to hear that you had to cut your trip short. Hope everyone's okay. :-(

[DEIx15x8]

I have the final episode of theCruiseView from my shortened 4/17 sailing on the Anthem of the Seas. This was the end of the sailing for us so it's a rather short episode, but it features a great interview with Captain Srecko Ban where he discusses the Quantum of the Seas' journey over to Asia and everything that they did to ensure the safety of the ship. I hope you enjoy.

 

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[Joe12]

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. Only a few days until December 2nd - hope you have a great time!