Never seen so many unhappy people on RCCL Cruise - Anthem out of UK

[gavvy]

Just now, John&LaLa said:

 

Sailed Indy last summer on a 3 day. It was fun. The Playmakers venue is spectacular

 

Will give you playmakers I liked how it was open to the casino and was modern. The rest was just dated.

 

I think people who moan about anthem haven't been on the older ships and seen his dated they are.

[molly361]

deleted

Edited June 23, 2023 by molly361

[molly361]

13 minutes ago, gavvy said:

 

Having been on both I found indy dated and in need of a good clean. I'd take anthem any day 

With all the new ships sailing from Southampton it will be interesting to see how well it goes. I won't be going anywhere near that 1990s looking bling bucket.

Boarding Indy Monday.  I have been on her several times in the past year and didn't notice any of that

[John&LaLa]

2 minutes ago, molly361 said:

Boarding Indy Monday.  I have been on her several times in the past year and didn't notice any of that

 

She's no Odyssey 

[Sunshine3601]

4 hours ago, Pandamonia said:

 

What upgraded balcony lol? I got a GTE balcony and paid for it. 

Sorry I thought I recalled you saying you were upgraded to a balcony for free.   I also thought I read that you only paid something like 1100 pp for your cabin.  Was that before or after your Fcc? 

If that's correct, that's a great price for a 12 night cruise.  

 

Edited June 23, 2023 by Sunshine3601

[Pandamonia]

1 minute ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Sorry I thought I recalled you saying you were upgraded to a balcony for free.   I also thought I read that you only paid something like 1100 pp for your cabin.  If that's correct that's a great price for a 12 night cruise.

 

yes that’s what I paid. 
 

It’s pretty criminal that some people pay double this fare to sail. 
 

I’ve seen them priced £2400pp when they want you to book on board. Uk doesn’t get price drop refund either

[KroozNut]

4 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

 

 

 

Might be our status that puts us to top of que

Might be your status... *****?

 

[KroozNut]

5 hours ago, zeberdee said:

My mistake, it was the Explorer. Too many cruises booked!😳

No excuses

[John&LaLa]

9 minutes ago, KroozNut said:

Might be your status... *****?

 

 

Not an official perk, more of a 'favor'

[Oceansaway17]

35 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

She's no Odyssey 

of course not as she is a Freedom class so no Northstar or 270.   

At least Indy has ice shows.

[John&LaLa]

27 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

of course not as she is a Freedom class so no Northstar or 270.   

At least Indy has ice shows.

Not what I meant 😉

[3kidsncats]

Sorry to hear OP didn’t enjoy their cruise.  I have to admit that I couldn’t read the entire post because it just came across to me as if maybe expectations were not reasonable enough for me to bother reading more.  But I do respect that we all have different ideas of what we like and don’t like.

 

We had a great experience on Anthem out of NJ in early 2022 — excellent service, food, and enjoyed the ship. I really don’t think any cruise line is sending ships to the European ports as a form of dumping ground for their least favorite vessels.  There is actually kind of a routine to how ships are deployed, which in this case is moving some ships from warmer areas like the Caribbean, to Europe in the summer, just like they move some from Mexico up to Alaska.

 

I absolutely disagree that having sun loungers in the shade is useless.  Some people do like to sit/lounge outside in the pool area environment, but can’t or don’t want to be in the sun.  Chair hogging by the pool is pretty universal across ships and cruise lines.  It’s obnoxious, but reality.  

 

Yes, often the same band is on all week because it’s quite expensive to fly new bands in and out of ports all week long, and a part of the draw for a band to book a shipboard gig is getting to be onboard.  

 

That’s about as far as I read 

[Pandamonia]

11 hours ago, 3kidsncats said:

Sorry to hear OP didn’t enjoy their cruise.  I have to admit that I couldn’t read the entire post because it just came across to me as if maybe expectations were not reasonable enough for me to bother reading more.  But I do respect that we all have different ideas of what we like and don’t like.

 

We had a great experience on Anthem out of NJ in early 2022 — excellent service, food, and enjoyed the ship. I really don’t think any cruise line is sending ships to the European ports as a form of dumping ground for their least favorite vessels.  There is actually kind of a routine to how ships are deployed, which in this case is moving some ships from warmer areas like the Caribbean, to Europe in the summer, just like they move some from Mexico up to Alaska.

 

I absolutely disagree that having sun loungers in the shade is useless.  Some people do like to sit/lounge outside in the pool area environment, but can’t or don’t want to be in the sun.  Chair hogging by the pool is pretty universal across ships and cruise lines.  It’s obnoxious, but reality.  

 

Yes, often the same band is on all week because it’s quite expensive to fly new bands in and out of ports all week long, and a part of the draw for a band to book a shipboard gig is getting to be onboard.  

 

That’s about as far as I read 

 

Expectations not reasonable enough ROFL.

 

You mean steaks cooked as asked that they we paid extra for? 

Sun Loungers to be put where people actually wanted to use them?

To actually have chairs at the tables near the pool bars?

staff tax increased but room attendant reduced to once per day without notice?

8 year old shows never refreshed

 

Yeh seems unreasonable that. 

[FamilyCruiserUK]

Some ships are dated its natural that the newer ships are more modern. Having been on MSC recently the decor around the ship, and in the cabins blows Royal out of the water. Just think the colour schemes in royals cabins are dated, like late 80s browns and greens/blues, reminds me of really old kitchens. I know this is their colours but still dated. However i do like the fresh el loco colours from their upgrades around the pools etc. 

As for indy cant wait if she comes to the uk to see her amp'd look. Granted shea no oasis class but will be good to see her as she is now.

As for Anthem, if only they opened up the promenade better, as i prefer that style. Just a bit squished in, where most people spend the evenings. 

[3kidsncats]

5 hours ago, Pandamonia said:

 

Expectations not reasonable enough ROFL.

 

You mean steaks cooked as asked that they we paid extra for? 

Sun Loungers to be put where people actually wanted to use them?

To actually have chairs at the tables near the pool bars?

staff tax increased but room attendant reduced to once per day without notice?

8 year old shows never refreshed

 

Yeh seems unreasonable that. 

Yes, your diatribe seemed unreasonable to me.  
 

Yes, I think loungers should be put where people actually want to use them —both in the sun and in the shade— not sure why you think because you want to be in the sun means everyone else does too. There were plenty of chairs in all the bars when I was onboard, but obviously not enough for you. There are staffing shortages across all kinds of businesses, and yet you are vehemently complaining about once a day cabin service and implying it is an issue specific to this ship..  That seems kind of ridiculous to me.  
 

Eight year old shows not being refreshed, food not the way you want it— pretty sure these are also not ship or even cruise line specific.  Your “worst ship in the fleet being dumped on Europe” angle just doesn’t work, imo. 

[little britain]

1 hour ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Some ships are dated its natural that the newer ships are more modern. Having been on MSC recently the decor around the ship, and in the cabins blows Royal out of the water. Just think the colour schemes in royals cabins are dated, like late 80s browns and greens/blues, reminds me of really old kitchens. I know this is their colours but still dated. However i do like the fresh el loco colours from their upgrades around the pools etc. 

As for indy cant wait if she comes to the uk to see her amp'd look. Granted shea no oasis class but will be good to see her as she is now.

As for Anthem, if only they opened up the promenade better, as i prefer that style. Just a bit squished in, where most people spend the evenings. 

How to compare a MSC sleek modern taupe coloured cabin with one on RCI with that 20 year old blue sofa with the white piping…🤷‍♀️

[The Fun Researcher]

On 6/22/2023 at 8:31 AM, Pandamonia said:

As I said without diamond I don’t think there is a reason to ever sail royal other than maybe to try their new ships. 
 

wont be long though until royal changes diamond drinks system to screw its customers over again. Let’s face it it’s an easy target and with all their unlimited new customer based with unlimited disposable income why do they need to keep diamond and above members happy when you can charge 20usd for a beer instead of giving them 4 free drinks per day. 
 

 

I don’t think it is too difficult for someone to budget in the cost of alcohol before hand, knowing the exorbitant price that Royal charges. We have been doing that for years.
 

I remember the glory days back in 2012 to 2014 when a simple Rum Coke was $6.50. I think it was 2015 when prices started to skyrocket and never slowed down.  I complained about it a lot back then, and still have frustrations about it, but now I just factor in that elevated cost into the overall vacation.  That is key, factoring the cost into the vacation beforehand.  There really shouldn’t be any reason to be surprised by the prices.
 

It still doesn’t keep me from sailing.  I don’t expect we will ever pay for the big package.

 

We are now Diamond and very much look forward to the four included drinks per day, but before that, I just knew that I would be spending hundreds per cruise on alcohol.  I’ve kind of given up on complaining about it and just pay the crazy prices.

[A&L_Ont]

A very interesting thread for sure. 

Edited June 24, 2023 by A&L_Ont

[3kidsncats]

6 hours ago, Pandamonia said:

lol is this a joke?

 

yes everyone wanted sunbeds that’s why there were almost daily fights over them. 

why do I care about royals staffing problems? That’s their problem. I’m not surprised they can’t get staff when they basically steal their tips and redistribute them as royal sees fit. They reduced the room changes to make more money. That’s the reason. 
 

why should I pay for and eat a steak they cannot cook correctly?

Some of you people are hilarious. Weird corporate sycophants. 

 

No, not a joke.  Your viewpoint is valid for you, but not at all for me.  Maybe it’s a Brit thing, that everyone wanted a lounger in the sun.  I’m Californian, so it’s not an imperative for me, and having worked in dermatology/cosmetic surgery for a few years, I am well aware of the consequences of laying in the sun.  
 

I never suggested you care about Royals staffing problems — I pointed out that Royal is far from the only company to have them.  Maybe try reading more carefully.

 

I had no opinion on your steak issues, other than dissatisfaction with meals is not Anthem specific.  In fact, pretty much every point I made was that the issue I have with your review is the focus on this is an Anthem problem when all your complaints are pretty common across many cruise lines.  But apparently you are too busy being offended that someone dared to disagree with you to actually respond to what was actually written

 

[swoopy2110]

It sounds like Independence will be going back to the UK in 2025.

Can't wait to read your report then on how the shows haven't changed etc. Since the last time she was there.

 

They'll also be charging high prices for a ship that is 17 years old!

[little britain]

4 hours ago, swoopy2110 said:

It sounds like Independence will be going back to the UK in 2025.

Can't wait to read your report then on how the shows haven't changed etc. Since the last time she was there.

 

They'll also be charging high prices for a ship that is 17 years old!

Independence started Grease in 2016

Anthem started We Will Rock You in 2015

Not much in it. 
 

Independence launched 2008

Anthem launched 2015

Now that’s a difference.