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

[sandebeach]

Have a great cruise @Broons77

[Tee & Chilli]

What a wonderful surprise. May you have a fantastic cruise. 

[TVLady3]

Sooo Happy that it all worked out with this surprise. And yes, I have tears of joy as I post this. May you all have a wonderful cruise!

[wandb]

This has been such a heartwarming thread to follow. I agree that it should be shared with RCI. They will be crying tears of joy along with the rest of us!!

 

I hope you have an amazing week on this cruise. You all deserve it!

Well done Mr. Brooms77!!

[perfect match]

I’m a bit late getting here today, but like everyone else here I’m crying happy tears too! I’m so glad everything went according to your well made plan and that you and your family are now enjoying your cruise. I’m so very happy for all of you!

[Jandex]

Happily following from Sydney, Australia!

I made DH watch the video this morning.  What a wonderful heartwarming story. I am living vicariously through you all while we wait for cruising to be given the green light to go ahead in Australia. 
Enjoy! 
 

[soremekun]

11 hours ago, registrar said:

Is that normal for all that smoke from the stack????

Yes, that's the smoke from the casino... from the previous cruise.

Edited March 14, 2022 by soremekun

[oshunreef]

Just read this. Watched the reveal video and got emotional. What a wonderful husband and family! Enjoy your cruise and make fantastic memories! 🎉🍾💕

[Broons77]

Good Morning from Anthem somewhere off the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula.  We're playing tag with the Norwegian Getaway and Carnival Legend.  I saw what looked to be a large sailboat off the port side earlier this morning as well.

 

i had wanted to post something last night, but was out of gas.  Between the excitement of the day, and all the normal day one stuff we all know and love, time ran short and DW and i crashed after dinner and a couple of drinks.  Well, OK, I had most of the drinks. 😄 

 

So, as far as the big surprise, I'd recommend this to anyone but I know not all would see this as she did.  DW is someone that likes to look nice, but being on a ship trumps whatever blouse or necklace I may not have brought.  After we unpacked, she said I did a pretty good job.  She's got shorts, shirts, bathing suits and a couple of nice outfits, along with a few pieces of bling I know she likes so I think we're good.  I'm not exaggerating when I say this whole thing was probably a tier 2 lifetime moment, coming in just after things like births, weddings and such.  We'll all remember this forever.  And the reaction to this thread has been incredible.  I showed it to DW as we were having lunch and you all made her cry again.  Thanks to all for coming along on the ride, it's made this whole thing even better as if that was possible.  Love to all of you.

 

So now that we're past all that, I'm still kind of flabbergasted that we're actually on a cruise again!  Our first cruise was on this ship in 2018, and I'm kind of surprised how little i actually remembered of her.  What i do remember of all things is the smell.  But I'm quickly reacclimating and we've been able to find our way around with little trouble.

 

So thoughts about the ship after day one.  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.  DW needs help with using the bathroom and as far as I've been able to tell, there's just men's and women's rooms.  I haven't found any single person/family bathrooms outside of our cabin.  I asked several crew if there was one anywhere and most just pointed me towards the nearest bathroom saying it was accessible.  I then figured I try a bathroom in a quiet part of the ship so we went to the casino which was closed and the bathrooms were all empty.  So I wheeled DW quickly into the handicapped stall in the men's room and sure enough right after, the door burst open and 5 guys came in to use it.  Not having a bathroom handy for us is a major bummer, I'm curious what others in our situation do.

 

With that out of the way, getting on board was SUCH a breeze.  I truly hope RC keeps with the strict boarding times.  We were on board in literally 15 mins after we got in the terminal.  Our longest wait was for the security person to search her wheelchair pouch.  There was no wait for anything, it was faaaaaaaantastic.  And also can't say enough about the new process for the emergency drill.  That needs to stay.  The only thing I can see that would keep that from happening are the folks that get distracted by the bars and forget to check in, lol

 

Once on board, we checked in for the muster and headed straight to Two70 for lunch, drinks and to dump our bags.  I enjoyed a tasty kummelweck in honor of @Sunshine3601, had some drinks and few other bites and waited for cabins.  Cabins were opened around 1:30 and when we got up there the bags were already being delivered!  A welcome surprise, we corralled all our luggage and was able to get everything unpacked before dinner.

 

Dinner was in the MDR at Americal Icon.  We showed up early for MTD, but they were able to seat us, and I enjoyed a crab cake, prime rib and warm chocolate hazelnut cake.  I enjoyed it very much, but seemed to be the only one out of the four of us that did.  DW (spaghetti bolognese), DD (Polenta) and friend (prime rib) were none too impressed, but all of them are picky so I just ignored them and enjoyed.  Being that I'm not a total monster, I did take DW up to the Windjammer so she could get something else.  She grabbed some fried chicken, butter chicken and a couple of side dishes.  I had a chicken enchilada, and 3 more vodka/cranberries 🤪

 

Special kudos to the crew who pushed DW through the buffet so I could grab a plate for myself.  Our waiter Nittin told us that we were sailing at 2986 - they were expecting 3200.  Aside from the line at Guest Services (which was my fault for going at the worst possible time), there were no lines and I think the longest wait I had for anything was 5 minutes at the bar in Two70.  I absolutely LOVE this.  Enough people on board for some good vacation energy, but not so many that everyone is getting in your way.

 

So today is at sea.  We're heading up for some breakfast #2, I need to make some dinner reservations, and that's it for today's plans.  Other than that, it's a day long bar crawl and drink package abuse.  I'll try to post some pics later today and also want to post about the accessible cabin for those that are interested.  Spoiler alert, it's been so nice...

[Sunshine3601]

Thank you for the Kummelweck.   I will have mine next Sunday.

I'm so happy everything worked out for you and your family.💞

Re family bathrooms.   I think there is one located on deck 4  and on deck 5 near aft elevator,  when you come out of american icon look to the left near womens room.   I hope I'm right.

If not may I suggest you take her into ladies room.   I think most women will be very understanding that you are assisting your wife and she may feel more comfortable in ladies room.

 

How is the weather today?  Probably to chilly for pool deck?

Edited March 14, 2022 by Sunshine3601

[Broons77]

35 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Thank you for the Kummelweck.   I will have mine next Sunday.

I'm so happy everything worked out for you and your family.💞

Re family bathrooms.   I think there is one located on deck 4  and on deck 5 near aft elevator,  when you come out of american icon look to the left near womens room.   I hope I'm right.

If not may I suggest you take her into ladies room.   I think most women will be very understanding that you are assisting your wife and she may feel more comfortable in ladies room.

 

How is the weather today?  Probably to chilly for pool deck?

 

Thank you! And I will check the bathroom there. Regardless, it would be nice to have a couple more, but I know space is money. 

 

Probably in the 60s today. Pool bar will need to wait until Florida for me. 😁

 

 

[reallyitsmema]

6 minutes ago, Broons77 said:

 

Thank you! And I will check the bathroom there. Regardless, it would be nice to have a couple more, but I know space is money. 

 

Probably in the 60s today. Pool bar will need to wait until Florida for me. 😁

 

 

 

I have been racking my brain trying to think of family bathrooms on Anthem and the only place I think there might be one is on deck 14 by the bathrooms outside the Windjammer.  Looking at the deckplans, there is something between the mens and ladies rooms, not sure if that is one or is a service closet.  I would check there.  We have sailed Anthem a bunch and I just don't remember any.  The ladies room in Two70 has a large accessible room in it to the right as you go in, opposite the stalls.  Many don't realize it is there but if you just push the button the door will open.  I am sure someone would act as a lookout for you so that you could bring your wife into that one.  Ladies is on left as you come into Two70, near the stairs, it is not near the mens that is way in the back right.

[mom2tcdx2]

Interesting on the restrooms, I know on Carnival they have quite a few of single stall wheelchair accessible restrooms located all over the ship.  Kind of surprised that Royal wouldn't have the same?  Seems like something they should make sure they offer.  

[jk04]

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

If not may I suggest you take her into ladies room.   I think most women will be very understanding that you are assisting your wife and she may feel more comfortable in ladies room.

I know I would have no issue and even try to help if possible.  These little things many people don't think about....

[reallyitsmema]

25 minutes ago, mom2tcdx2 said:

Interesting on the restrooms, I know on Carnival they have quite a few of single stall wheelchair accessible restrooms located all over the ship.  Kind of surprised that Royal wouldn't have the same?  Seems like something they should make sure they offer.  

 

I know of a bunch of them on Oasis class ships but can't think of any on Anthem.  I will be looking when we sail Quantum in May.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

1 hour ago, Broons77 said:

DW (spaghetti bolognese), DD (Polenta) and friend (prime rib) were none too impressed, but all of them are picky so I just ignored them and enjoyed

just chiming in to say that your DW is not picky in that regard. Both DS and I found spaghetti bolognese to be worse than Hamburger helper, lol. We are NOT picky at all.

 

I am so happy you are enjoying your cruise!!!!!!!!!!! Yay!

[Broons77]

So we did locate a family bathroom right outside American Icon, which leads me to believe there has to be one or two more somewhere.  So my complaint will be with making sure crew are aware and know where to direct folks or to have them marked a bit more clearly.

 

 

[seadog67]

Thanks for the updates @Broons77! I am again glad it all went to plan and now you and your family have a whole week to enjoy the down time and relaxation. 

 

Also kudos to all posters on CC for all the advice and helpful hints they provide ( bathroom options etc. ) and in general on many threads, it's what makes this site so awesome!

 

 

[ownedbypets]

I witnessed the same bathroom problem at an airport. The husband just opened the main door and announced that he had to help his wife. No one cared and many offered to help. I held their jackets while others watched luggage and alerted other women that a man was in the ladies room. I don't think the majority of women would mind.

[reallyitsmema]

56 minutes ago, Broons77 said:

So we did locate a family bathroom right outside American Icon, which leads me to believe there has to be one or two more somewhere.  So my complaint will be with making sure crew are aware and know where to direct folks or to have them marked a bit more clearly.

 

 

 

Looking at how that bathroom near American Icon looks on the deck plans, I would definitely look on deck 14 outside the Windjammer where the mens/ladies bathrooms are located.  There is a similar unmarked square there too where I thought there might be a family restroom.

 

Edit:  Similar unmarked square deck 4 forward by the bathrooms outside the theater.  Maybe there are more than people realize.  Seems like something you might want to comment on when you get your post cruise survey.  You can't be the only one looking for these unicorns!

Edited March 14, 2022 by reallyitsmema

[Broons77]

19 hours ago, ShazM said:

So yesterday afternoon (our time) I said I would be sneakily on my phone at work this morning. I watched the video and I cried, had to run to the bathroom. Everyone was asking what had happened and why was I upset. I explained nothing had happened to me but told them about this. They have all been on their phones reading through the whole thing and there were tears from them as well. 😍

 

This got me. Thank you! 

[wendyinvt]

3 hours ago, jk04 said:

I know I would have no issue and even try to help if possible.  These little things many people don't think about....

I second (or third at this point) this, I would have no issue with a man assisting his wife (or daughter) in the ladies room. 

[PeterGavin]

7 hours ago, Broons77 said:

RC NEEDS to get family bathrooms on board.  DW needs help with using the bathroom and as far as I've been able to tell, there's just men's and women's rooms.

Even better would be a laminated card in each accessible cabin with the locations of these facilities throughout the ship to make it easier when away from the stateroom.

[Sunshine3601]

5 hours ago, Broons77 said:

So we did locate a family bathroom right outside American Icon, which leads me to believe there has to be one or two more somewhere.  So my complaint will be with making sure crew are aware and know where to direct folks or to have them marked a bit more clearly.

 

 

Glad to hear you found one near American Icon on deck 4.     Check deck 5, same area - near the aft elevators I am pretty sure there is one there too.     

All this potty talk -  LOL!

 

Curious, what was your first drink once onboard?    My go to is usually a Mojito but my last cruise I tried a Caribbean mule.   Not sure yet what my 1st drink will be next Sunday.   

Edited March 14, 2022 by Sunshine3601

[Broons77]

4 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Curious, what was your first drink once onboard?    My go to is usually a Mojito but my last cruise I tried a Caribbean mule.   Not sure yet what my 1st drink will be next Sunday.   

 

I've just been sticking with my tried and true vodka cranberries. I actually just napped off about a 8 or 9 of them as today was a big day drinking day lol. I 'm planning on branching out tomorrow.