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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Just got back from Bahamas
We just got back from a 9 day cruise on the Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas (yes, the ship that was on the news that was in the storm. We were on a few days after it came back to port after the storm.)
The ship was fine. Minimal visible damage to the ship, and anything we saw was superficial.
On the ship, we drove bumper cars, did the rock wall climbing, went in the sky diving simulator, saw some good shows, and of course ate lots of food... 
Went jet skiing with DS at Cococay (RC's private island), and did a Segway tour of Blue Lagoon Island just off of Nassau.
We left from Bayonne, NJ, so it was a long cruise up and down the coast, but the ship is so huge, with so much to do, we didn't get bored.
The only thing I would do differently if we did this cruise again, is to not go to Epcot (or any Disney/Universal) park for the Port Canaveral port. Just not enough time at the park, since we had to be at the bus by 4:30 at the latest. Other than that, the 4 of us had a great time, and would definitely go on RC again, and would definitely recommend Anthem of the Seas. A lot of their ships have different amenities and features, so we might want to try a different class of ship next time around.
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Posted 2/24/16 11:09 AM  |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Just got back from Bahamas
My aunt just went on this ship the week before the issue with the storm. She said it's SO tall that it just rocked A LOT when the water was very calm, and a lot of people were getting sick. Did you find the same?
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| Posted 2/24/16 11:32 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
Posted by BargainMama
My aunt just went on this ship the week before the issue with the storm. She said it's SO tall that it just rocked A LOT when the water was very calm, and a lot of people were getting sick. Did you find the same?
No, it wasn't bad at all. We were on decks 14 and 15 quite a bit, and we never had a real issue. I never heard of anyone on our trip getting seasick. We even had a gale storm (75mph+) the 2nd night, and it wasn't that bad on deck 9.
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| Posted 2/24/16 1:20 PM |
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jm2010
LIF Infant
Member since 8/10 241 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
We're going next Friday, for the 3 night weekend cruise. I'm not too keen on paying extra for food - did you do the complimentary restaurants or try any extra-fee ones? Any recs?
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| Posted 2/24/16 1:59 PM |
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mrsdukes
LIF Adult
Member since 1/09 943 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
Glad you had a good trip. I've been on Royal Caribbean a few times, but never on that class ship. We have been looking in to taking it, good to hear a positive report.
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| Posted 2/24/16 2:01 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
Posted by jm2010
We're going next Friday, for the 3 night weekend cruise. I'm not too keen on paying extra for food - did you do the complimentary restaurants or try any extra-fee ones? Any recs?
We did all four of the included restaurants. On our cruise, they pre-booked some of the restaurants for us. We could cancel or not show up, of course, but at least that guaranteed that we'd be able to get to eat there before all of the spots were taken. No reservations needed for lunch, just dinner. Only restaurant with strict dress code is Grande. The menus were available on-line on either the iQ app for your phone (you don't need to buy an Internet package to use their on-ship app), several kiosks around the ship, or stateroom TVs.
The WindJammer, the cafeteria style restaurant has a huge selection of food. On a 3 day cruise, you'll never get bored of what's offered.
The included restaurants are all good. I'm pretty sure it's just one huge common kitchen, since they are all next to and above/below each other. The four restaurants just have a different atmosphere/menu.
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| Posted 2/24/16 3:41 PM |
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pjt212301
LIF Adult
Member since 7/12 1215 total posts
Name:
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Just got back from Bahamas
Yay! I'm so excited to see that you enjoyed this ship. We're booked to go in August to bermuda. Regarding the app, is it user friendly? I saw some reviews that said it was not easy or inconsistent. Also, did you park in NJ or take some sort of car service?
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| Posted 2/24/16 4:00 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
Posted by pjt212301
Yay! I'm so excited to see that you enjoyed this ship. We're booked to go in August to bermuda. Regarding the app, is it user friendly? I saw some reviews that said it was not easy or inconsistent. Also, did you park in NJ or take some sort of car service?
I'm a computer guy, so I can figure out even the most convoluted app, but DW didn't have too many issues with it. Sometimes screens wouldn't appear, but that might have been because 5000 people were hitting the server at the same time... The screens showed up later on. It's not Facebook or Amazon, but it's not bad for what it is.
I parked in NJ. The parking garage is right next to the terminal. It's $20 a day, so for us, it was cheaper leaving the car there, rather than take a limo or other service.
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| Posted 2/24/16 4:34 PM |
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jm2010
LIF Infant
Member since 8/10 241 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
Posted by GoldenRod
We did all four of the included restaurants. On our cruise, they pre-booked some of the restaurants for us. We could cancel or not show up, of course, but at least that guaranteed that we'd be able to get to eat there before all of the spots were taken. No reservations needed for lunch, just dinner. Only restaurant with strict dress code is Grande. The menus were available on-line on either the iQ app for your phone (you don't need to buy an Internet package to use their on-ship app), several kiosks around the ship, or stateroom TVs.
The WindJammer, the cafeteria style restaurant has a huge selection of food. On a 3 day cruise, you'll never get bored of what's offered.
The included restaurants are all good. I'm pretty sure it's just one huge common kitchen, since they are all next to and above/below each other. The four restaurants just have a different atmosphere/menu.
thanks. will avoid grande as I've promised DH no dressing up on this cruise. I'm lucky if he takes a pair of khakis, lol.
I read about iQ - was looking fwd to checking it out. I thought the luggage tracking was cool (none of the "did they deliver it yet? ... how about now? ... now? ..." nonsense to deal with) but I'm not sure we'll have checked luggage.
Anthem will be the biggest ship we've ever been on and I was worried about crowds but you make no mention of them and it was a school vacation week, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's bearable.
one more question - did you drop off your family and then go park? I read that the traffic can be nuts and I haven't been able to find out whether there's a parking turn off before having to go through the drop off area.
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| Posted 2/25/16 11:29 AM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Just got back from Bahamas
We were on the same cruise and we had a great time. Excellent service and alot of fun. There were so many people complaining on the cruise, I just don't understand it! I was pleasantly surprised with the food and I was happy they opened up the solarium for the kids during the day even though I'm sure a bunch of adults were pissed about that lol.
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| Posted 2/28/16 12:46 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
Posted by jm2010
Posted by GoldenRod
We did all four of the included restaurants. On our cruise, they pre-booked some of the restaurants for us. We could cancel or not show up, of course, but at least that guaranteed that we'd be able to get to eat there before all of the spots were taken. No reservations needed for lunch, just dinner. Only restaurant with strict dress code is Grande. The menus were available on-line on either the iQ app for your phone (you don't need to buy an Internet package to use their on-ship app), several kiosks around the ship, or stateroom TVs.
The WindJammer, the cafeteria style restaurant has a huge selection of food. On a 3 day cruise, you'll never get bored of what's offered.
The included restaurants are all good. I'm pretty sure it's just one huge common kitchen, since they are all next to and above/below each other. The four restaurants just have a different atmosphere/menu.
thanks. will avoid grande as I've promised DH no dressing up on this cruise. I'm lucky if he takes a pair of khakis, lol.
I read about iQ - was looking fwd to checking it out. I thought the luggage tracking was cool (none of the "did they deliver it yet? ... how about now? ... now? ..." nonsense to deal with) but I'm not sure we'll have checked luggage.
Anthem will be the biggest ship we've ever been on and I was worried about crowds but you make no mention of them and it was a school vacation week, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's bearable.
one more question - did you drop off your family and then go park? I read that the traffic can be nuts and I haven't been able to find out whether there's a parking turn off before having to go through the drop off area.
Other than the Grande (and maybe some of the extra cost restaurants), you can dress casual at all of the eateries. I think the "fancier" restaurants just say no shorts and no sandals.
Crowds weren't bad. Avoid the promenade (deck 4 mid-ship) during any sales events. They have some $10 sales, special sales on watches, etc. The pools may be crowded at times, but if it's just you and DH, you can hide in the front of the ship, and kids aren't allowed up there after 6pm. They have a bar, pools, lounge chairs, etc.
For parking, I dropped of DW and DC, then continued straight ahead to the garage next door. Very simple process (there was a vehicle line to get to the unloading area, so get to the ship early). DW got our luggage checked in at the pier, then waited for me inside so we could all go through security together.
There were over 4700 passengers on board during our week (the cruise director ran though the list of countries represented, and how many from each country, plus the total), and it's a 4600 passenger capacity at double-occupancy, so it was a very full ship. There are so many bars, restaurants, lounges, and other public areas, that it doesn't feel crowded.
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| Posted 2/28/16 5:55 PM |
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jm2010
LIF Infant
Member since 8/10 241 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
Posted by GoldenRod
Other than the Grande (and maybe some of the extra cost restaurants), you can dress casual at all of the eateries. I think the "fancier" restaurants just say no shorts and no sandals.
Crowds weren't bad. Avoid the promenade (deck 4 mid-ship) during any sales events. They have some $10 sales, special sales on watches, etc. The pools may be crowded at times, but if it's just you and DH, you can hide in the front of the ship, and kids aren't allowed up there after 6pm. They have a bar, pools, lounge chairs, etc.
For parking, I dropped of DW and DC, then continued straight ahead to the garage next door. Very simple process (there was a vehicle line to get to the unloading area, so get to the ship early). DW got our luggage checked in at the pier, then waited for me inside so we could all go through security together.
There were over 4700 passengers on board during our week (the cruise director ran though the list of countries represented, and how many from each country, plus the total), and it's a 4600 passenger capacity at double-occupancy, so it was a very full ship. There are so many bars, restaurants, lounges, and other public areas, that it doesn't feel crowded.
Great - thanks so much!
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| Posted 2/29/16 5:09 PM |
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ANewDayHasCome
Love multiplies, not divides
Member since 11/12 14481 total posts
Name:
Me
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Just got back from Bahamas
I just saw on the news that this ship cut another cruise short today.
Edited with article
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/29/travel/anthem-of-seas-cruise-ship-turning-around-feat/
Message edited 2/29/2016 5:22:54 PM.
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| Posted 2/29/16 5:21 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
We got really lucky with the timing on our cruise. Even when we went, there were Gale force winds (73 mph+) the second night out. I guess February isn't a good time to be out on the ocean... then again, summer is too hot, and June - November is hurricane season...
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| Posted 2/29/16 5:28 PM |
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blessedmama
LIF Infant
Member since 2/16 341 total posts
Name:
Heather`
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Re: Just got back from Bahamas
I have been on 5 cruises in Hurricane season and only one we had to miss a stop from a storm. The problem is going out of NY and NJ.
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| Posted 2/29/16 7:27 PM |
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