All aboard the NOROVIRUS of the Seas

Anthem of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

BrenLin

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 2

Overall rating:

2.2 out of 5

7 Night Bahamas (Cape Liberty Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 07, 2018

Ship: Anthem of the Seas

Cabin type: Inside

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

All aboard the NOROVIRUS of the Seas! I’m a Platinum Royal Caribbean cruiser and have been on several Norwegian and Carnival cruises. I’m on the Anthem docked I’m Nassau as I writes this. Never again will I cruise with Royal Caribbean. They’ve gotten too greedy and are cramming too many people onto these boats. We stood in line to make reservations for all the things that sound cool like the North Star and the shows within a couple hours of boarding and were unable to get tickets for Rock of Ages and the reservations we were able to make were on port days, because everything was already filled! The food quality in the main dining rooms and customer service has plummeted to a previously unimaginable low. It’s impossible to find a chair near the pool on at sea days unless you claim your spot (against the unenforced Royal policy) before the crack of dawn. But, all of that pales in comparison to the diarrhea and severe stomach pain you may endure after eating the food. According to the CDC, most of the Norovirus infectious gastroenteritis outbreaks “occur in the food service settings like restaurants. Infected food workers are frequently the source of the outbreaks...” So many people are sick on the ship they added an insert to last nights Cruise Compass explaining that many people are sick with Norovirus and those that feel ill should go to the Medical Center for a complimentary evaluation. (How nice after getting sick after eating the food prepared on the cruise.) What they don’t tell you is that when you go to the Medical Center to report your illness, you will be quarantined to your room until you are feeling better and the next 24 hours after that. You are a prisoner and told that your room is under video surveillance, so don’t try to leave. Everyone on the ship from your stateroom attendant to the room service staff are notified that you are quarantined. What and how much and when you eat and drink is controlled. You have to call room service: After waiting an hour we were given 4 bottles of water for the first 12 hours; we called again and after waiting over an hour we were provided with a bowl of hard white rice and clear broth but nothing more to drink. My friend has been feeling fine since yesterday and asked for potatoes because she is hungry - the request was denied. Guest Services is unapologetic and lacks any compassion. They repeatedly said they are just following Royal Caribbean “protocol.” If you cruise with Royal, BRING IMODIUM. In all of our cruises and all inclusive resort vacations in Mexico, Dominican, and Jamaica - we have never experienced such severe illness and horrendous customer service.