We Sail on Sunday and She Doesn't Know! (I think) A Cruise on Anthem, 3/13 - 3/20

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, Broons77 said:

I know I've seen others saying they haven't gotten them either. 

There are shortages of various things - some cabin stewards may not get some. 

[exm]

I didn’t get one either last week on Anthem. Is this something you may need to request?

[ticketsunlimited]

On 3/22/2022 at 9:22 PM, Broons77 said:

 

Odd.  I know I've seen others saying they haven't gotten them either.  Are you seeing any in Guest Services?

 

@Sunshine3601, if you're on the board and see this, are you getting a Cruise Compass delivered?

BROONS77,  it was a pleasure meeting you and your wife last week on the cruise.  Your wife is a sweetheart and we are so glad we where able to meet you.

I have been away from the discussions the past week as we have had a whirlwind of is life changing things happen since returning.

Our United flight 3627 out of Newark was a very traumatic event for us.  We took off as planned and made it almost all the way to Maine before the Pilot announced the emergency brake indicator showed that all of the airplane wheels where locked.  We spent the next 45 minutes preparing for a crash landing back at Newark as we had to turn back because Portland was not equipped for the situation.  The crew was rattled but did a great job calming the passengers and showing us what we needed to do to prepare for the worse.  They had us all empty our pockets so in the event we had to use the emergency slides there was no risk of popping them.

The whole event was a page right out of the Sully movie as the pilot came on as we approached the runway shouting Brace, Brace, Brace.  The flight attendants yelled Brace, heads down, stay down for what seamed forever.

As you know by me typing this we made it safely (by the grace of God) with the runways lined with fire trucks and ambulances as the airport runways where closed for our landing.

Something we can chalk up to a life changing eye opener.  It just goes to show how delicate life is and really stresses the fact to enjoy life to the fullest when we can.  

I'll finish by stressing this point by saying my mom passed away last night (80 years old) peacefully with the family as she got a kidney infection when we were cruising and had to be placed in hospice the day we landed.  I truly believe god let us land safely to see my mom the last days of her life.

I want everyone on the fence about booking their vacations to get it done today.  As I have said in my posts in the past.  LIFE IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL.

 

[DaniDanielle]

So happy you are safe but so sorry about your mom.

 

[Dorh]

Broons77, Thank you for this great post.  I enjoyed following you and your family on Anthem. You are blessed to have a wonderful family. We are looking  forward to sailing Anthem next week.  

[Broons77]

1 hour ago, ticketsunlimited said:

LIFE IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL.

 

 

I don't even know where to begin after reading that except to say that we're so glad you're safe and so sorry to hear of your mom.

 

I couldn't think of a better summary of this thread than the above.  Peace to you and your family.

[orkaren1]

On 3/14/2022 at 9:41 AM, Broons77 said:

 

  I have one major beef that i want to get out of the way, then will get to the good stuff.  RC NEEDS to get family bathrooms on board. 

I totally agree with you on this.  We were on Harmony of the Seas not long before shutdown.  My husband is wheelchair dependant and prior to the cruise I contacted RCL disability office to inquire about companion restrooms on the ship.  I was told there was one on the entire ship, just outside Central Park.  This is  about the only thing that was not well thought out for accessibility on RC ships.

[MadamG2U]

So glad you and family made it home safe.  Prayers for you and family in the passing of your mother.

[cyntil8ing]

On 3/19/2022 at 10:14 AM, exm said:

Here’s a picture of us docked next to 4 (!) other ships in Nassau.

 

 

Here's me waving from the Carnival ship. Last time I was in Nassau (in December), I was on Anthem.

[lenquixote66]

On 3/9/2022 at 11:24 PM, Broons77 said:

So I guess I'm doing this.  I can't promise @twangster or @Radio level reporting, but I'll do my best.  I lead a busy life and while I love my CC board time, I do need to be practical.  Especially given what I'm attempting.  So here's the deal.

 

Last fall, RC ran a sale and had some crazy low fares on Anthem to the Bahamas/PDCC.  I priced out a cabin and sat there staring at it.  My stepdaughter came in the room and asked what I was staring at, because I looked like I was willing the monitor to burst into flame.  I asked her if she felt like going to the Bahamas in March and 15 seconds later I was filling out the booking info.  2 inside cabins (our first time in interiors!), myself and DW in one and stepdaughter (henceforth known as DD) and her friend in the other.  Ridiculously short money, even for insides.  First post-covid cruise, ahead of a prebooked cruise in May that was supposed to be our first cruise back.

 

Background info - DW is disabled, confined to a wheelchair much of the time and has a pretty poor quality of life due to an aggressive form of early onset Parkinson's Disease.  She relies on me for most everything, dressing, bathing, etc, and doesn't get out of the house too much, especially during a long New England winter.  So I decided to just not tell her and spring it on her the morning of.  I can't think of anything more fun.  Waking up and rather than just another dreary week in dreary March, she finds out she's getting on a boat to the Bahamas into the warm sun.  She gets to sit on an actual beach on Coco Cay and maybe even put her feet in the warm water.  These are things she hasn't been able to do in some time now.  Yep, this is the way to go to spread some joy where it's much needed,

 

The plan is this.  I texted our common friend David who spends quite a bit of time in NYC to let him know my plans and set the stage.  He was to text DW saying he was to be in NYC and wanted to get together for dinner.  She would tell me, and after a bit of complaining about a long ride in March to NYC, I grudgingly agreed to take her and immediately booked 2 rooms at the Hyatt in Jersey City, giggling all the while.  So we are driving down on Saturday, followed by DD and her friend in another car, unbeknownst to DW.  We will have a light dinner in the bar with David on Saturday night, and then on Sunday morning I will roll her down to the lobby, step over to the front desk to check out, DD and friend will pop out to surprise her and I will place her boarding pass in her hand and tell her what she's doing for the next week.  A simple reveal is best I think.

 

Leading up to this weekend, there's been a flurry of activity unbeknownst to her.  Many Amazon deliveries under her nose, hidden bags of clothes and various cruise related items stashed in the closet.  I gave DD my credit card a few weeks ago along with orders to clothes shop for mom and she did a great job getting some really cute stuff.  The trip to NY/NJ provided a convenient cover story for me to get her a hair appointment yesterday for a cut, and tomorrow I'll color it for her (I'm 6'3"/280 and a whiz at hair color - who knew?).  She hasn't seen our friend David in quite a while and is excited to look her best so none of this will seem out of the ordinary.  And while she was out yesterday getting the haircut, I was at home packing our bags and getting all that stuff in order.  These are all now tagged and downstairs in the garage in the back of my truck where she'll never see them.  Everything seems to be falling right into place.  Proper planning prevents p*** poor performance.

 

Now about those pesky covid tests...

 

I had stopped by the house of a good friend this past weekend to help with a small home repair (this actually did happen).  Friday morning DW will be told that I received a text from said friend that she had tested positive and that we've got to go get tested.  I'll casually mention that I just made us drive through appointments as it was just as easy as the home tests.  I don't think she'll question it.  Results for both of us are set to be emailed to my email box.  I have the proctored tests as a backup, but if those come into play, the jig is up.  Fingers crossed it doesn't come to that.

 

So here we are.  As Mr Petty once said, the waiting is the hardest part.  3+ days to go.  I'll try to post a little something daily between now and Sunday for those that want to follow along.  If people seem to like hearing about our adventure, maybe I'll carry it over to a live report from Anthem as I'm bringing the laptop with me.  Pretty sure that ship has to be close to the record holder for live CC reports but if so, what's one more.  I'm hoping that friend of DD will video the big reveal Sunday morning.  If she does and it's fit for public consumption, I'll try to post that as well.

 

One last thing, if you enjoy this thread, and don't have a favorite charity, might I suggest that you look into supporting a Parkinsons related cause.  It's truly a horrible disease that really needs to be made to go away.  DW and many many others would be greatly appreciative.

 

Let's cruise!!!!!

You are a wonderful human being and should be lauded by everyone.I can identify with your wife as I am disabled with Parkinson’s,Spinal Stenosis and 12 other medical issues.I am in bed 21 hours a day .The only time I leave the house is to go to doctors visits and hospitals.I am totally dependent on my wife who does everything for me.The only pleasure I have in life aside from my children and grandchildren is reading the wonderful posts on CC.My closest friends have all passed away in recent years.I have only one living close friend but he too is disabled and we last saw each other in 2011.
I am not complaining.I had a very nice life till becoming ill and frankly I never expected to still be on the planet.

 I hope that your wife had a wonderful time.I can visualize the smile on her face and yours .

[Broons77]

3 hours ago, orkaren1 said:

I totally agree with you on this.  We were on Harmony of the Seas not long before shutdown.  My husband is wheelchair dependant and prior to the cruise I contacted RCL disability office to inquire about companion restrooms on the ship.  I was told there was one on the entire ship, just outside Central Park.  This is  about the only thing that was not well thought out for accessibility on RC ships.

 

As it happens, there's actually 5 family bathrooms I was able to find on Anthem and I listed them on my last big post.  But only one on Harmony is terrible for a ship that big.

[cruisequeen4ever]

I know this is from last spring, but I was so touched by your surprise for your dear wife and the cruise blog, that I had to comment. When you’re a caregiver, you go many days with a lot of work and not a lot of praise. You are an A+ husband, and your wife is blessed to have you love her in sickness and in health. I hope you 2 can keep cruising for many years to come