We cannot recommend Anthem of the Seas

Anthem of the Seas Cruise Review to Bermuda

anthemcruise

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 44

Overall rating:

3.2 out of 5

5 Night Bermuda (Cape Liberty Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 03, 2017

Ship: Anthem of the Seas

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: Deck 7

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

We cannot recommend Royal Caribbean's Quantum class, Anthem of the Seas. Bigger is not better! Our five day cruise to Bermuda was extremely congested with long lines and people jammed everywhere. The bad and the good of Anthem: The Royal Esplanade is poorly designed with pop up stores, a large bar and an elevator bank smack in the middle. Other ships have a wide, open promenade - like RCI's smaller Freedom class, including Liberty of the Seas and ships from Princess Cruise Lines. Some elevators were out of service in both elevator banks. I wish I could attach photos of the unbelievable crowding. My aunt was actually run over by a frustrated motorized cart driver. And this is supposed to a relaxing vacation? We got an inside room to try the advertised Virtual Balcony - a large screen with live action around the ship. It was out of service almost the entire cruise. The fake window is a waste of money. With an inside cabin you also get toilets exploding all night long in every direction. The casino is an intolerable, choking smoke pit. Smoking is also allowed in the area next to a children's pool! And when the automatic doors open, smoke barrels into the hallway leading to the main dining area. Worse, cigarettes and cigars are widely promoted and sold duty free. RCI (all ships) should stop selling tobacco on US cruises and should accommodate smokers farther away from the 90% of us who don't smoke. Second hand smoke is and always will be offensive! A major problem was our Sea Pass, a combination room key, credit card and proof of identity. Anthem places these keys outside your cabin door, where anyone can steal them. One of ours was missing on Day One - we never got it. Ship's staff should have fixed this for us immediately and without asking. Instead we were told by Security to wait in this impossibly long service line. This would become OUR problem. After a long wait, we were called to the mandatory safety muster after which the entire Cruise Services was closed. It reopened after dinner with another impossible line. Fortunately, my wife had pre-booked activities, or we would not have been able to do anything on board. On Day Two we started getting voice messages that purchases we made with our other Sea Pass would be voided because the credit function on both cards had been cancelled. We could not even get a drink at a bar. I finally stopped an officer who called the Quick Response Team. A stranger had entered our room an rummaged around. Again, nobody even contacted us. We finally got new cards on Day Three, after most passengers had departed at Bermuda. Two and a half days of a five day cruise waiting in line to fix a problem that they caused. Why does Anthem place your room key and credit card where it can be so easily lost or stolen? The Windjammer cafeteria is understaffed and just plain jammed. Want a cup of coffee with breakfast? Wait in line. Want a clean table? Wait in line. Step out in the hall, get blasted with cigarette smoke. All was not bad, though. The meals were good to very good. And an all three shows were spectacular! We rode the North Star, iFly and bumper cars. There were lines for all of these, but everything was well controlled. Overall, though my family will not return to Anthem of the Seas or any other RCI Quantum ship.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

No problem considering nearly 5,000 passengers in one big room.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Too many issues. Ship is understaffed, dirty tables, long lines, some menu items not actually available, several of us served the wrong (and cheaper) fish dinner. Meals were OK, but not up to par with other cruises we had taken.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Northstar, IFly and bumper cars were fun and well organized. But sign up before boarding or end up in another long line. Pools were OK, except the children's pool where smoking is allowed nearby.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

We enjoyed all three shows.

Children's Programs

no kids

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Anthem of the Seas was clearly understaffed. They kept saying they had great service, but most of the staff seemed over worked and stressed out.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

The main promenade was designed OK, but then RCI filled it with junky pop up stores selling cheap t shirts and duty free cigarettes. It was difficult just to get through this. Although eternally crowded, everything was at least clean.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

We tried an inside cabin because of the advertised Virtual Balcony. This feature did not work on Deck 7, and nobody apologized or even recognized that it was broken. Comfort, size and cleanliness were acceptable and met our low expectation. Thin, worn out towels reminiscent of a cheap hotel.

Ship tip

If you want a stress free vacation, fly to Bermuda. And if you are older, disabled or have trouble getting around, Anthem of the Seas is not for you.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey Did not visit port

King's Wharf, Bermuda Did not visit port

Disembarkation

4 out of 5

Getting off was well organized. No problems getting to our parked car.

21 Comments

Oceangift 7 years ago

I will be on Anthem 8.9.18. It's interesting that some complaints are the same regardless of cruise line. My last RC cruise was in 2009. I'm coming back to RC just to see what has changed.

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snowaka 7 years ago

Glad to hear that Sue!!! I will be on as well!

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SuePitz 7 years ago

We will be on Anthem in 18 days. This will be our 2nd time on this ship and we could not be any more excited! Nothing and no one is perfect, yes there were a few issues last year, but that absolutely did not ruin our time. We just deal with things as they arise and are not going to let anything ruin the vacation we worked so hard for.

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cupofjoe18 7 years ago

Once you do the online check in, you print out your SetSail pass and take it to the port with you. It basically has all the same info on it as your room key, but it's paper

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mfishers 7 years ago

Haven't been on RCL in a long time. What is a SetSail Pass?

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sugar64 7 years ago

they do check in different it faster. now you dont have to fill out the slip when departing back home to get off the ship

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cupofjoe18 7 years ago

The boopboop machine ð Nope! You use our SetSail pass for everything until you have your card

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mfishers 7 years ago

You don't get your key card at check in? That's odd. Don't you have to put it into the boopboop machine to board?

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Scott518 7 years ago

My wife and I are playing our first cruise ever . We chose anthem based on the port we want to leave from and when we are going. The room key outside your door scares me a little.

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kemandell69 7 years ago

It was crowded but not as much as we thought it would. We had no problem w lines nor elevators. No problem getting drinks at the bar or pool. No lines getting on nor off at port. Bermuda was great too. We had a problem e our room key but we had pur steward take care of it and it was fixed by the time we stopped back. Sorry u had a bad experience.

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marycruisin 7 years ago

I read that the keys are matched up to the passenger photo so no one should be able to use it unless the person processing the sale or transaction is dishonest also

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cupofjoe18 7 years ago

I agree about the cards being outside the room. Very risky, although we have never had a problem. Certainly not a reason to avoid these ships Get to your room at 1pm when they open then problem solved. For crowds, all I can say is plan. Times for activities are communicated WELL in advance. Get there early enough if you don't want to deal with it. And with ships that size, you have to expect crowds at dinner if you go at peak times. Quantum class and Oasis class ships are all about planning, so if that's not for you then choose smaller ships. We had a great experience on Anthem and Harmony.

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CindeeBlair 7 years ago

A credit card scanner could take info....SMDH And why is my suitcase in front of someone else's door? But don't forget......the cameras in the hallways.

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damarie 7 years ago

And by the way, I don't like the idea of the room key outside your door...

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DottieDiehl 7 years ago

Maybe they should issue the cabin cards to everyone as you check in at the port. Seems like they dropped the ball on security. Today, dishonest people can obtain the information off the cards & steal your credit card info which could lead to further issues. I'll be sure not to book on Quantum or Harmony now that I'm aware of this

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damarie 7 years ago

I agree with you 100% on the smoking (I'm a gambler, and the casino was killing me). I remember on other ships they had a smoke free night. Your safety and property in your room another no no... I do still love RCCL, but I feel your pain...

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sugar64 7 years ago

i was on anthem of the sea i love my cruise ship great cruise. i did thought it was strange my key card was outside by my mail box but notbing waz charge extra on card . i had the best wait staff in the main dining room at deck 4. everyone have to realize nothing perfect their over 4000 people all all their workers work long hours and work very hard.the food was so good i had a great time plus was my birthday. try a ncl they are very good are maybe you need read up on your cruise so you can know more. i was on the bumper cars the line went fast. what month did you go on the cruise i was on april 17 2017 12 day cruises . plus 5days not long enough to do things u like to do

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twangster 7 years ago

Yes on Quantum and Harmony they place it outside your door. The advanced keys with RFID have to be prepared on the ship it seems, unlike other ships where the cards can be coded off the ship. I don't like this either. Way too many dishonest people.

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marycruisin 7 years ago

The room key cards are placed outside the door?

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olldbob 7 years ago

stick to land based holidays dont think cruising is for you

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CindeeBlair 7 years ago

wow....I am from Brooklyn NY and we don't trust anyone. So May 2017 my card to get in my room was stuck on the door and that felt very very strange and unsafe. Plus my suitcase was down the hall in front of someone else's door. Some things definately need to change and cigarette smoke for those who don't smoke could kill you. So sad to hear all this. Yes long lines....one lady fainted on line at the jewelry store for the free 1 carat chocolate diamond. All and all I am going again in August. lol

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Other reviews of this sailing

Mediocre at best. I hoped for more for our Babymoon!

Five Stars!

5 Nights Bermuda cruise