Anthem of the Seas. Newbie to RCCL

[caddykid12]

Pros and Cons about anthem. Doing 5 night to Bermuda. Booked ripcord, north star, we will rock you, spectra cabaret.

 

Share your pro tips with me. What must i try? What doesn't work best . Plan on trying bumper cars. Do you need to register prior? 

 

Woukd love to hear it all

[Clarea]

Good start on Anthem: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?type=forums_topic&search_and_or=or&search_in=titles&nodes=51&q=anthem

[stevea36]

10 minutes ago, caddykid12 said:

Pros and Cons about anthem. Doing 5 night to Bermuda. Booked ripcord, north star, we will rock you, spectra cabaret.

 

Share your pro tips with me. What must i try? What doesn't work best . Plan on trying bumper cars. Do you need to register prior? 

 

Woukd love to hear it all

 

Best bet for bumper cars, go on the first day, possible even before you cabin is ready.   usually little or no wait at this time.

 

Steve

[reallyitsmema]

Make sure you download the Royal IQ app before you board.  You can connect to Royal wifi for free with the app and once registered, you can see everything that is in your cruise planner and lots more.

[AshleyDillo]

Cafe 270 has complimentary breakfast and lunch which will allow you to avoid crowds in the Windjammer.

[sparks1093]

If you are an early riser you'll need to go to Cafe Promenade for your morning coffee. We just did Anthem last month and loved it. My review is in my signature. We didn't do bumper cars so can't help there. Loved The Gift and We Will Rock You, Spectra's (to us) was okay but not one of our favs.

Edited May 13, 2019 by sparks1093

[hallux]

Catch the fireworks in Two70 on the last night.

[marci22]

I agree, download the Royal IQ app. It lets you bookmark various activities so you can look at your daily planner and know where you have to be. 

[stevea36]

1 hour ago, reallyitsmema said:

Make sure you download the Royal IQ app before you board.  You can connect to Royal wifi for free with the app and once registered, you can see everything that is in your cruise planner and lots more.

Unless things have changed there is a charge of $7.95 per device to use the app.

 

[reallyitsmema]

Just now, stevea36 said:

Unless things have changed there is a charge of $7.95 per device to use the app.

 

 

There has never been a charge to use the app.  There is a charge to use the chat feature in the app and that is $7.95 per device.

[138east]

Check out the Solarium Bistro which is complimentary for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Find the observation “wing” areas in the Solarium (automatic door button). In Cafe 270 check out the balcony area - library, computer area, and quiet area.  Check out the outdoor dining area at the back of the Windjammer.p

[BPrigge]

We enjoyed the Bermuda cruise on Anthem.  We went while my wife was pregnant and it was the height of Zika infection rates.  Bermuda remained Zika free so it was really our only option.  Make sure you don't leave the North Star for the final day.  We did and the winds were too high.  We had to skip it.  The Bionic Bar is a fun gimmick, but skip it for the first couple days.  By day 3 it clears out and will be more fun as there won't be much of a wait.  Don't go to the beach that is right in port, it is not that great.  Hop a cab to a better beach if you can.  The casino will open at night while docked, but is closed during the day.

[dodgestang]

Con.....only has 2 elevator banks....really needed a 3rd one....if you have a stateroom in the back of the ship its a loooooong walk 😉

 

Bumper cars hit hard....because with some wide open spaces both of you can get up a good head of steam....look close you will see everyone who rode the b-cars has a red mark on the side of their neck from the seat belt.  Not a complain...just letting you know.

Edited May 13, 2019 by dodgestang

[njkruzer]

Ridden the bumper cars but never had a red mark.  Love them and the ship.

[hp_slash]

Something  very sparsely advertised on the ship is the escape room. It's up on Deck 15 near the SeaPlex. When I sailed to Bermuda last November I booked the escape room at Guest Services the first day and basically got the last open slots the whole 7 nights, so book early.  It's very fun and something different to do on a cruise ship.

 

Try the specialty hot dogs at the SeaPlex during the day. I can't eat them but my husband said they were great.

[BermudaBound2014]

Book escape room immediately upon boarding. It's complimentary on Anthem. Don't miss the tribute band both in music hall and their concert in 270.  Book Ifly early in the week in case it's canceled. This will also give you opportunity to do stand by again later in the week. It's that fun. Try to avoid esplanade during busy times, Anthem doesn't move people well and can feel more crowded than other ships her size. 

[caddykid12]

Interesting about spectra on the last night. I do have the 9pm-955pm show booked. Fireworks are always fun!

 

North star i have booked on the way down on june 30th. So usually not to windy

 

Main question is do all 4 MDR have the same menu??? Or each one is different 

[stevea36]

24 minutes ago, caddykid12 said:

Interesting about spectra on the last night. I do have the 9pm-955pm show booked. Fireworks are always fun!

 

North star i have booked on the way down on june 30th. So usually not to windy

 

Main question is do all 4 MDR have the same menu??? Or each one is different 

All of the MDRs have the same menu

 

[Baron Barracuda]

Try the great roast beef sandwich in 270.  At the adjoining salad station ask for a plate of shrimp.

 

Can't do I-fly without socks.

 

For sailaway from NJ the "secret door" on port side of solarium opens onto wing platform with great view of NYC.  Usually not crowded.

[247vacation]

Bumper cars were a lot of fun but were not running when we got on the ship. It was just set up for basketball. They ran the bumper cars on the 2 sea days but not for very long. If you get there and there is a line stick around because it moves pretty quickly and it is entertaining to watch. 

 

[Merion_Mom]

7 hours ago, dodgestang said:

Con.....only has 2 elevator banks....really needed a 3rd one....if you have a stateroom in the back of the ship its a loooooong walk 😉

 

Bumper cars hit hard....because with some wide open spaces both of you can get up a good head of steam....look close you will see everyone who rode the b-cars has a red mark on the side of their neck from the seat belt.  Not a complain...just letting you know.

 

 

All Royal Caribbean ships have two sets of elevators.

[sparks1093]

15 hours ago, hallux said:

Catch the fireworks in Two70 on the last night.

I second this, it was pretty cool. The CD will also have a show in Two70 designed to show off the venue's entertainment features and that's worth catching, too. It will be in the Compass early on if they have it.

[Iamcruzin]

Were they offering discounts to the specialty restaurants on board? We are interested in Wonderland.

[Lady Hudson]

2 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

Were they offering discounts to the specialty restaurants on board? We are interested in Wonderland.

We got the best price for Wonderland by buying a dining package, if you are interested.  Went once to Chops, once to Jamie’s, and once to Wonderland.  All for $79 pp with the taxes and gratuities included.  Bills came with $0 balance and a place for extra gratuity, which we added a bit.  This was different then booking onboard where taxes and gratuities are added to bill.  I really like Wonderland because it is so different.  We enjoyed the experience.  Katherine

[Merion_Mom]

1 hour ago, Lady Hudson said:

We got the best price for Wonderland by buying a dining package, if you are interested.  Went once to Chops, once to Jamie’s, and once to Wonderland.  All for $79 pp with the taxes and gratuities included.  Bills came with $0 balance and a place for extra gratuity, which we added a bit.  This was different then booking onboard where taxes and gratuities are added to bill.  I really like Wonderland because it is so different.  We enjoyed the experience.  Katherine

 

Unfortunately, the price is up to $89 now.  😞