Winter Break on the Athem (2/17-25) - A Trip Report

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

11 minutes ago, MKESail said:

I may have missed it, did you need to make reservations at Solarium Bistro? For dinner and otherwise?

They say yes for dinner - last night it was pretty open.

 

Breakfast and Lunch, no.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Do  you remember if the Solarium Bistro was open for lunch the day you board?

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

22 minutes ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

Do  you remember if the Solarium Bistro was open for lunch the day you board?

I don’t think so. I didn’t make it up there, but I don’t think the hours sheet indicated it was.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

The Women of Wine tasting was really nice. (Well, except the Riesling which none of us liked. 🤣🤣)

 

 

 

 

And now I shall nap.

[TeachNY]

2 hours ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

Do  you remember if the Solarium Bistro was open for lunch the day you board?

Yes it was. I’m on board now and that was where we had our embarkation lunch. 

[TeachNY]

3 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

If you don't mind me asking, What is the current price on weekly Thermal Suite pass?

It was $119 + gratuities. 

[nelblu]

Just off Anthem and at 4:30 this was the scene as we entered the NY/NJ harbor.🤣

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Well, I had been warned about The Gift from various posts on here. 
 

I lasted 5 minutes and bailed.

 

Ick!

[perfect match]

On 2/17/2024 at 6:15 PM, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

I definitely see myself coming back here! I was contemplating trying either the salmon or tilapia just to see if my taste buds have forgotten my choking experience when I was in 1st grade…but I have had 2 friends who developed sudden fish allergies, and I am not sure that a ship is the place to try fish just in case my reaction was really my body protecting me

I’m one of those people with seafood allergies that have gotten way worse since I got older. There is no way I would risk trying fish on a cruise ship! Any reaction at all would totally ruin a cruise for me. I don’t even test my luck at home any more. At this point for me “Fish are friends, not food! “ ! 
 

12 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

Ha! I just hoofed it from aft to forward and got to the theater just as the port shopping sales pitch was letting out. Slipped in and got in line and got the bracelet anyway!

 

 Good timing! You got the best of both worlds!  😀😂

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Got an elephant for my towel animal last night

 

 

I opted for evening service, which given the sea days works well for me - I can read and chill on my balcony during the day and not feel like I have to be out. I can plan evening stuff around 5-8 much easier as dinner is in there.

 

Some random pics from around…

 

 

 

 

This morning is overcast but nice.

 

 

I had a nibble for breakfast, then got a shower and THEN decided to walk around the walk/run track. Did about 2 miles. Probably should have reversed walking and showering, but oh well.

 

Watched some people on the Flow Rider and in the iFly. Grabbed a mimosa at the Effy mimosa party.

 

The temps are nice enough now I can read in shorts and a t-shirt on my balcony, so I am doing that until lunch at Chops.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Chops Grille for lunch. It was good. I was bummed that the famous tots can’t be gluten-free (and the “fries” seemed to be baked) but the filet was wonderful and I always love a wedge salad. (Also ice cream is the only gf dessert option, though the chef made a “chocolate custard” also which tasted like regular chocolate pudding.) I enjoyed it, but I am glad I went at lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Popped by the Bionic Bar after - just the novelty of it. Got a “Sunshine” for a cloudy day.

[teddie]

1 hour ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

Chops Grille for lunch. It was good. I was bummed that the famous tots can’t be gluten-free (and the “fries” seemed to be baked) but the filet was wonderful and I always love a wedge salad. (Also ice cream is the only gf dessert option, though the chef made a “chocolate custard” also which tasted like regular chocolate pudding.) I enjoyed it, but I am glad I went at lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Popped by the Bionic Bar after - just the novelty of it. Got a “Sunshine” for a cloudy day.

Love me some food porn!  Looks yummy!

 

Teddie

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

 

I have a reservation for this on Day 5, but decided to try the stand-by “line”. The crew members checking people in let the 3 or 4 of us waiting in early. 😄

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

I enjoyed Spectra’s Cabaret a lot. Will likely go back on my reservation day. Spectra looked like a young Billy Porter and was amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

[Tatka]

Terry Lavell is great!!! 
We hoped to see him on 1/7 sailing as he was aboard … but he didn’t perform. 
 

Nice review. 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

The trip to Disney was good. It was great to see my best friend and her fiancé! Lunch was at Disney Springs at Summer House on the Lake and was yummy! I took Disney transportation back to the Polynesian (I walked over there from our drop off at the Transportation and Ticket Canter (TTC) to get to Disney Springs - might take a little longer but saves on Uber costs!!) and got a Dole Whip with coconut rum, then took the monorail to the TTC and hopped onto the Epcot line to just ride around Future World. There was no one waiting so I stayed on to get back to the TTC. There were 2 busses - I was on the first one that left at 4:15 (our meeting time was 4:30) and we tapped back onto the ship at 5:30 - scheduled all-aboard. We are obviously waiting on at least the second Disney bus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Chicken tacos)

 

 

 

 

 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Random observation… Most people I thought opted for the buffet at night to NOT dress up. But there sure are a lot of people who are very dressy eating in here.

[teddie]

37 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

Random observation… Most people I thought opted for the buffet at night to NOT dress up. But there sure are a lot of people who are very dressy eating in here.

I love to dress up and I really like Anthem's buffets.  I approve, lol!

Teddie

[perfect match]

Good use of Disney transportation! Guess with a cat named Merida I shouldn’t be surprised that you know your way around WDW. 

 

 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

 

We are pulling into CocoCay. We are the first ones here. I can see…I think it is Liberty we are with today pausing off in the distance.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

 

 

Current situation!! Beach bed 71 at South Beach!! Even though it (and 72) are at the end, that means NOTHING but sea and sand in front of me!!

 

The only thing is the bass from Hideaway carries since the areas essentially back up to each other. (So I can only imagine how loud it is there!) But other than that, perfect!

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Current situation improved!

 

 

Just waiting on the straw that comes with the cup. The girl said she didn’t want to make me wait and will bring it later!

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Uh, ok… THIS is service! All that was missing was the straw - which I didn’t even know about, and she brought me a whole new one for no charge! It is currently chilling in the cooler.

 

 

Internet is very spotty right now. Currently just on my included data.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Back on board - just showered, which was apparently everyone else’s idea as the water pressure sucked! 🤣🤣

 

It was a fabulous day! I did get stung by a baby jellyfish…right on my bikini line, so NOT going to first aid for that one! It’s not a bad sting…just a bit ouchie!

 

I went over to Skipper Grill for taco bar, which was yummy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were chickens in the bushes behind my bed. I named these two Clucky and Plucky.

 

[teddie]

8 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

 

Current situation!! Beach bed 71 at South Beach!! Even though it (and 72) are at the end, that means NOTHING but sea and sand in front of me!!

 

The only thing is the bass from Hideaway carries since the areas essentially back up to each other. (So I can only imagine how loud it is there!) But other than that, perfect!

How nice to treat yourself to a beach bed!

 

Teddie