Beautiful Ship - Death Defying Trip

Item: Anthem of the Seas
Rating: 1
Author: vettman454

Anthem of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

vettman454

Contributor Level: Cruise Director

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 64

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

Verified Review

Sail date: February 06, 2016

Ship: Anthem of the Seas

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 11682

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

If you haven't been living in a cave the past two weeks you probably saw the Anthem of the Seas in the news. We knew from the start it was going to be a rough trip. However, it is only by the grace of God that this didn't turn into a disaster dwarfing the Titanic. We didn't turn into the wind until the ship began listing. The listing was due to the winds hitting this ship broadside. It took about thirty minutes to get the ship into position to ride out the storm. The next eight hours were sheer terror. Broken glass in the bathroom and items getting tossed around the stateroom. Even I was tossed from the bathroom door onto the bed across the room. Slight injury that I chose not to report. After reaching the coast of Florida it was decided to turn the ship around. Five days at sea with no stops. Although it looks like a beautiful ship we never got to explore it or utilize it's many amenities. I have cruised out of New York before and have hit rough seas. Nothing like this. Sustained winds were 150mph. Captain himself, in an interview the next day, mentioned that we had recorded gusts at 180mph! If you choose to cruise out of New York I would strongly urge you to avoid the winter and the hurricane season (summer and fall). Guess that leaves just the spring. As a result we are getting a full refund of the cruise fare and 50% off (based on that fare) for a future cruise taken within the next twelve months. However, I am getting nothing towards my lost vacation time. I am only thankful we are still alive. For a while there I thought the ship was going to capsize.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Cabin was very modern. Shower was very nice, however, in the rough seas I thought the shower door was going to shatter as it kept swinging open and hitting the entry door.

Ship tip

Book your restaurants before you board. Cruise only in the spring before hurricane season.

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Ports of call

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

5 out of 5

Parking lot next door was very convenient.

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23 Comments

kbrown1962 7 years ago

It was predicted days before the sailing! They messed up and brought 6000 people in harms way! That simple! Horrible cruise line!

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vettman454 8 years ago

No difference between NY and NJ. You just risk running into rough weather when you leave these north east ports. I've taken at least six cruises out of these ports. Had rough weather twice, but nothing like this. I've read some of the comments above. Let me just say that I am a Vietnam veteran who served with an infantry unit and I was never before as certain that I would never see the next day as I was that night.

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ret679 8 years ago

There is no difference in sailing out of New York, or New Jersey. They are leaving from the same place. Just across the from each other. Also, I was on an 11 day cruise on the Anthem just before the storm, was perfect I'm booked for two more trips, sept. And Jan 2017 same ship.

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TheresaRichard 8 years ago

Mother Nature!

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tristanrae 8 years ago

Nov in the Caribbean is hurricane season. I am not saying you will experience one but there is a chance one could happen.

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valentinka 8 years ago

As I was reading these comments I came to realize we as passengers should be very careful when picking destination and time of the year. It is a good observation that some destinations just don't work during some times of the year and it's probably a good idea to have another plan in case of rough seas. I believe passengers should be warned, offered options and be reimbursed on the eve of the departure, if they are not ok with hurricane conditions. Cruise lines have to work out the logistics to keep passengers coming back. There are so many options out there. They are fighting for us, and it is in the human nature to wish to get the best deal. I would not critique bad reviews. I am quite an emotional person myself and would also think the cruise was ruined for me. The bottom line is we should all be responsible for making decisions. The difference is we make decisions for ourselves, and the captain represents the company.

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kimberlybehr9 8 years ago

No you're right the Titanic didn't have the technology this ship has....lol we have come along ways since then! We don't use a man and a pair of binoculars any more!

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elliemaywells 8 years ago

And seeing people compare situations like this to Titanic is quite simply embarrassing and over the top.

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elliemaywells 8 years ago

People saying you should get a free cruise, are you joking?? Was it RC's or the ships fault that the weather was bad? No! Don't even think RC should have to apologise about bad weather, they don't control it! Getting a full refund is more than enough. (On the basis that you weren't injured) You simply book a cruise in a season when you won't experience weather like that!

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anw1011 8 years ago

A little dramatic, aren't we?

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PhillyKissez 8 years ago

Im glad you safe.

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dolphin1275 8 years ago

Thank God for angels !

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deemckinney7514 8 years ago

Do you also think Nov is a bad time to cruise?

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deboftheseas 8 years ago

We did a Canada New England from Brooklyn in the summer...it wass okay heading northbound. Only time I've ever thrown up wassd the time from Cape Liberty on Explorer of the seas in May of 2009.

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deboftheseas 8 years ago

it's always rough out of Cape Liberty heading south,

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deemckinney7514 8 years ago

vettman454, I first want to say I'm grateful that you and the other passengers made it through that horrible experience. As I read your post you spoke of seasons best for cruising, well our cruise is in Nov and we are leaving out of New Jersey. Are you saying Nov is a bad time and what's the difference between leaving New York and leaving New Jersey?

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Dad2bone 8 years ago

Free cruise yea

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deboftheseas 8 years ago

I think you should get a free cruise instead of 50% off your next one

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abjiloa 8 years ago

So glad you and everyone is safe!

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joefive 8 years ago

Yes ....I was on the Jan 15 cruise as well and we did hit rough weather as well.. nothing compared to the one in mention here. I was praying for everyone aboard..almost couldn't sleep thinking of all the frightened passengers and crew aboard. Thank God a disaster did not ensue. The expertise of the captain was definitely on the ships side. Imagine if it were an unseasoned seamen at the helm. I shutter at the thought. Well thank God everyone returned safely.

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Rosettesgirl07 8 years ago

What a terrible experience! So glad your back safely. I also agree that I would not cruise out of NY again. We were also caught in a storm on Jan 15 but not of the proportion that you experienced Alls well that ends I guess. Good luck in future cruises. No one should go thru what you did.

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debbmike 8 years ago

Glad you are safe. I'm sure it was very scary! A full refund and 50% a future cruise is a pretty good compensation.

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sunshine00 8 years ago

thank god. it could have been much worse

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