Anthem of the Seas - Review - Southern Caribbean - Jan 28, 2018 - Feb 9, 2018

[LABCHICK]

I am really enjoying your review. We were on the same cruise as you and our cabin was a few cabins away from you. I'll be back on the Anthem in July. Really looking forward to the return visit.

[Leslie K]

Thursday 2/1/18

 

Old Street looks pretty bad. The car that sits in the middle of the street is a mess. The Belgian Chocolate shop wasn’t there anymore. I was hoping to stock up on tons of goodies from there.

 

 

I was on this cruise with you. The Belgium Chocolate shop was open in its new location that was noted on the map the ship provided. They also have a smaller shop at the port that was open. The shop in town did not have as many different chocolates as in years past but they’ve only been reopened a short time and are rebuilding their business. Town was quite empty compared to years past and I think less ships are stopping this year. I hope it will be better when I return next year. Lots of rebuilding going on in town and the construction sounds was quite different from years past.

 

 

 

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[CrusinHarry]

Following. We will be on the Anthem in October heading to Bermuda. Your review is outstanding.

 

 

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[Keith1010]

Really have enjoyed this review.

 

Keith

[Tony O]

We were on the cruise also and saw the yacht. It was the EclipseIt was the 2nd largest private yacht in the world. It was over 500 feet long and cost over $500 million dollars.

The yacht is owned by a Russian businessman.

[njaloha]

Your positive review gives me hope..... Suite life is sweet. Interesting to see similarities between CK menu and Luminae, Celebrity suite restaurant.

 

 

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[Noreen411]

Your positive review gives me hope..... Suite life is sweet. Interesting to see similarities between CK menu and Luminae, Celebrity suite restaurant.

 

 

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We are doing our first cruise on Celebrity. On the Reflection in a Royal Suite for my 50th birthday in April.

 

I am interested in the differences and similarities too

 

 

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[Noreen411]

Following. We will be on the Anthem in October heading to Bermuda. Your review is outstanding.

 

 

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Thank you for the kind words.

 

We were on Anthem to Bermuda summer 2017 and it’s a great trip.

 

Bermuda is so fun. Don’t miss HorseShoe Bay if you like the beach.

 

 

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[JaniceB]

Enjoying your trip review, looking forward to more.

[Noreen411]

I was on this cruise with you. The Belgium Chocolate shop was open in its new location that was noted on the map the ship provided. They also have a smaller shop at the port that was open. The shop in town did not have as many different chocolates as in years past but they’ve only been reopened a short time and are rebuilding their business. Town was quite empty compared to years past and I think less ships are stopping this year. I hope it will be better when I return next year. Lots of rebuilding going on in town and the construction sounds was quite different from years past.

 

 

 

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I can’t believe I missed it.

 

While I made sure to bring the map home to include in the review, I guess I should have looked at it while we were there.

 

Thank you

 

 

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[njaloha]

We are doing our first cruise on Celebrity. On the Reflection in a Royal Suite for my 50th birthday in April.

 

I am interested in the differences and similarities too

 

 

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I'm looking forward to reading your review for that cruise. Always wanted to sail the Reflection.

It will be a different experience across the board. Celebrity cruises are different from RCCL to begin with. Much quieter except on Silent Disco night. :D Seriously, there's tons of entertainment just no rock climbing walls or flow-riders etc. Nice casino, and great specialty dining.

No suite sun deck reserved for suite guests and the pool is crowded and a bit chaotic. I prefer my own balcony and don't need to bake in the sun.

We spend a lot of time in Michael's Club and really love Luminae.

[Noreen411]

I'm looking forward to reading your review for that cruise. Always wanted to sail the Reflection.

 

It will be a different experience across the board. Celebrity cruises are different from RCCL to begin with. Much quieter except on Silent Disco night. :D Seriously, there's tons of entertainment just no rock climbing walls or flow-riders etc. Nice casino, and great specialty dining.

 

No suite sun deck reserved for suite guests and the pool is crowded and a bit chaotic. I prefer my own balcony and don't need to bake in the sun.

 

We spend a lot of time in Michael's Club and really love Luminae.

 

 

 

Hi

 

I plan to do a review for that cruise too.

Thank you for the info

 

 

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[Noreen411]

Day 6 Compass and Planner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Noreen411]

Antigua Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Noreen411]

Friday 2/2/18 - Antigua

 

We both went to the gym around 6am today and it was pretty empty.

 

When we both got to the gym together on vacation we have a pretty good routine where Scott usually finishes a little before me and heads back tothe cabin. When I finish, I stop at the Patisserie for my iced mocha and water, then head up to the cabin. Usually by the time I get up to the cabin, he’s just about done showering and getting dressed.

 

We had breakfast in Coastal Kitchen.

 

I had scrambled eggs and sausage

 

 

Scott had a ham and cheese omelet and sausage.

 

 

At breakfast we sometimes have a different waiter, but he knows us too by now. He’ll bring Scott his coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice and me a Coke with a straw.

[Noreen411]

Friday 2/2/18 - Antigua - Continued

 

We met Brenda, Charlie and a few others in the group at 8:30 in front of Boleros to get off the ship together. We filled up two taxis to go to Beach Limerz where Brenda arranged reservations for us all.

 

Beach Limerz has two different options. An all inclusive option for maybe $65 per person. They also have a pay as you go option for $25 a person. We did the pay as you go since we don’t usually eat at the beach but the $25 would go towards our chair and umbrella rental.

 

It’s a very nice set up with lounge chairs and umbrellas. It isn’t huge but it’s very nice. The water was a little rough (it doesn’t look rough in the pictures but it was).

 

There is a restaurant and bar area as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Noreen411]

Friday 2/2/18 - Antigua -Continued

 

Some more pictures from Beach Limerz:

 

This shows how the lounge chairs and umbrellas were set up

 

 

 

Outside the restaurant/bar:

 

 

Another view of the water from near the restaurant/bar:

 

 

The bar area:

 

 

Near the back of the bar were the bathrooms. Just one ladies room and one men’s room. Since it wasn’t super crowded there wasn’t ever a long wait. Maybe one or two people ahead of you.

 

Part of the dining area:

 

 

There were also tall tables along the railing where people were eating. Everyone that ate said the food was very good. One lady in the group had an issue that her food didn’t show up until we were about to leave.

 

 

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[Noreen411]

Friday 2/2/18 - Antigua - Continued

 

Few more pictures from Beach Limerz:

 

I thought these fish shapes stones on the floor were adorable:

 

Another picture of the water:

 

One of the guys in the group, Tim, went right into the water and was knocked over by a wave. He came out with his finger bent at an abnormal angle. Most of us thought it was broken.

 

Scott went with Tim in the ambulance to the hospital. I offered to go as well but Scott said I should stay with the group and enjoy the day. Tim’s daughter also stayed with the group at the beach. After Tim came out of the water bloody and with his bent finger, the rest of the group was a little leery of going into the water so most of us stayed on our lounge chairs and maybe dipped our feet in the water but nobody else went swimming. The woman who ran the place said the water isn’t usually this rough.

 

A few people left the beach by 1ish but at that point we were waiting to hear from Scott and Tim to see how things were going and if they were planning to come back to the beach.

 

We heard from them that Tim dislocated his finger but they wouldn’t make it back to the beach and just head back to the ship with the group.

 

The rest of us left Beach Limerz around 2:30. Scott and Tim got to the pier around the same time we did. I met up with them. After they X Ray’d his finger and determined it was dislocated they were able to pop it back and put him in a splint. While they didn’t have very good things to say about the hospital administration, they said the doctors were great. The ambulance driver even tried to shake them down for cash to take them to the hospital.

 

Scott has a sarcastic sense of humor and said he kept things amusing while they were waiting. At one point he said the doctor was looking at the X-ray and scratching his head so Scott starting saying he’s trying to figure out if it’s a finger or a toe. He told us some other stories about keeping Tim amused. He told Tim “Don’t worry it’s won’t hurt when they pop your finger back”. He knew it would since he’s dislocated fingers himself but didn’t want him to be scared. When the doctor came in and told Tim it will hurt, Tim gave Scott a look like “What???” And Scott said he lied.

 

We browsed in some of the shops a bit then got back on the ship.

 

There were chocolate covered strawberries in the room.

 

 

Our bag of laundry that we sent out was returned. Everything was folded very nicely. Even the socks and underwear.

 

 

We showered and changed then went up to the Concierge Lounge. We see the Captain here and in Coastal Kitchen almost daily. It’s nice that he makes an effort to check in with people to see how their trip is going.

 

We stepped outside and took a picture of the sun - actually I think we did this on the way to the Concierge Lounge so slightly out of order here.

 

 

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Edited February 28, 2018 by Noreen411

[Noreen411]

Friday 2/2/18 - Antigua - Continued

 

We went to Coastal Kitchen for dinner.

 

 

For an appetizer I had the Risotto. This was good but very filling.

 

 

Scott had the salmon sashimi. He enjoyed this and it was a lighter choice

 

 

For my entree I had the lobster tail. I didn’t like the sauce and stuff that it was sitting on. There were more fava beans.

 

 

Scott had the lobster tail with lamb (Rajiv’s suggestion to make it surf and turf). He enjoyed this.

 

 

He also brought us the gnocchi to share. It was nice to try this but a smaller portion would be better; so much went to waste.

 

[Noreen411]

Friday 2/2/18 - Antigua - Continued

 

We were brought the dessert menu.

 

 

 

We both had the Baked Alaska. We really liked it.

 

 

Even though the Gift was rescheduled for tonight Scott wasn’t interested in going. We’ve seen it several times already so we went to the casino instead. I lost a bit in poker slots but did well at the 3 Card Poker Table.

 

I went up to the cabin around midnight and Scott stayed a little longer. When he got back he ordered more hot dogs from room service. I keep forgetting to take pictures of the hot dogs.

 

Tim sent a nice bottle of wine to thank Scott for going with him to the hospital today. That was very sweet of Tim. I’m sure I’ll mangle the name of the wine but it’s something like Mer Soleil. Scott said him and Tim were talking about it at the hospital and that they both liked it. I like the way they set it up in the little bag with ice to keep it cold.

 

 

We also had a towel animal - looks like a frog to me.

 

[JaniceB]

Enjoying your review. All the food looks so good!

[Noreen411]

Day 7 Compass and Planner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Noreen411]

St Lucia Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Noreen411]

Saturday 2/3/18 - St Lucia

 

Scott and I went to the gym in the morning.

 

From the treadmill I took a picture of St Lucia as we are arriving

 

 

We followed our usual routine and I stopped and took a few pictures on my way to the Patisserie then back to the cabin.

 

I always like taking pictures of the life rings with the ship name on them

 

 

 

After showering and getting dressed, we went to Coastal Kitchen for breakfast.

 

I had blueberry pancakes

 

 

Scott had French toast

 

[Noreen411]

Sunday 2/3/18 - St Lucia - Continued

 

We got our beach bag together and headed off the ship.

 

 

We are usually positive people and have fun wherever we go so this part is a bit uncomfortable for me to write. Other people’s opinions may be different, but this is our experience.

 

I told the taxi dispatcher we wanted to go to Vigie Beach. He asked why we wanted to go there and said there are many nice beaches on St Lucia, but not Vigie. We said that we made arrangements and that’s where we wanted to go.

 

Prior to sailing I read about Vigie on St Lucia and even left my name with one of the vendors who said they would have my name on a board with chairs for us.

 

The cab ride was $15 for the two of us. It was pretty close, just on the other side of the airport. When we arrived, I asked the first person who came over to us for Castro as he was holding chairs for us. The first person said he’s Castro’s friend and he would take care of us instead. We said we wanted to look for Castro. The second person I asked said Castro doesn’t work there anymore. Both of these guys offered to rent us chairs. One guy said that he had all the chairs in the area when we asked which ones are his (they were different colors). He said it would be $15 for 2 chairs. I mentioned the cruise critic rate from Castro of $10 for 2 chairs and he said he could do that. He told me that they have bathrooms which cost $1 to use.

 

We looked around a bit before deciding what to do. But we weren’t comfortable. We didn’t like the looks of the place. We were getting bad vibes and it had almost a ghetto beach feel. The water looked nice, but that was the only good thing I could say.

 

 

 

There were a few people in the water but it just wasn’t right for us so we took a cab back to the pier for $10. The cab driver taking us back said this beach is a dump why did we even go there. He said we should go to Rodney Bay which is about a $25 cab ride but it’s a nice beach. Maybe next time; we were ready to go back to the ship at this point.

 

Back at the pier we browsed a few shops and bought our usual souvenirs like T shirts for Scott, a postcard, and a Christmas Ornament.