Perfect 10
Anthem of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 40
11 Night Eastern Caribbean (Cape Liberty Roundtip)
Sail date: December 10, 2018
Ship: Anthem of the Seas
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 12570
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
Anthem of the Seas is a beautiful ship with everything a cruiser could want. Our 11 day itinerary was a perfect blend of ports and days at sea. We had a wonderful time, and can't wait til our next cruise. It'll be soon, and it'll be on Royal Caribbean.Embarkation
We arrived at 10am, and were walking onto the ship at 11 am. It was incredibly easy, and we only waited because the ship was not ready for boarding immediately. We sat for about 30min, and wereguided onto the ship. SO EASY! Great job.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Staff and service was excellent at all times. We tried almost every option available, and were never disappointed.
WONDERLAND is a MUST! It was probably our most memorable evening on board the ship. Iljber was our server, and he was superior in every way. Ask for him.
Marco at the pub, and Budi, Hongwei and Junior at the pool bar were always attentive, and happy to see you. I loved hanging out with these guys. I can't say enough about the staff. They really went the extra mile to make your cruise memorable.
Windjammer was average, as usual. It was chaos in there, and difficult to find a seat. Anyone who has cruised RC in the past know what I mean. If you really want to avoid the Windjammer, the Solarium is a GREAT option. Buffet breakfast, and sit down dining for dinner. Both were great, and the dinner option has buffet style appetizers while your dinner is being prepared. Solarium is a little quicker too, if your pressed for time and trying to make it to other events.
We had no issues with Food/Drink. Great variety, service & quality. Get the beverage package.... well worth it if you enjoy cocktails throughout your vacation.
Onboard Activities
I-Fly, flowrider, pools, and fitness center were all great! Reserve I-Fly and Northstar before your cruise. We did, and the reservations were in the system, and everything was too easy. Just show up, and GO. It appeared that if you didn't make reservations prior to boarding, then it would be difficult to enjoy these options. They're free and worth your time. Northstar was ok, but we did it at sea. There wasn't a lot to see, but we got some great pics of the ship up there.
The fitness center is huge, and never crowded. I hit it 4 of the 11 days. I intended to get there more often, but there's just too much to do. Anthem is a phenomenal ship, and we just loved being aboard her.
The 3 pools were perfectly separated and tailored to specific crowds. The solarium was very mellow, bright and kid-free. The outdoor pool was always buzzing and the sun was great. Getting a chair is definitely a challenge. Very crowded, and lots of people were reserving chairs early in the day.
The rock wall seemed to be closed quite often. I'm not sure why, as we had great weather for the most part.
The music hall has pool tables! First time I've seen this, but I thought it was very cool.
Flowrider looked awesome... I did not take the plunge, but I watched several times.... Very entertaining.
ALSO, the Royal IQ app is great for making reservations, checking your bill, or looking at the Daily Compass... Definitely download this app before your board. It's free, and starts working as soon as you're onboard.
Entertainment
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED "We will Rock You". Great Queen tribute, with a good story and awesome production. Reserve it before you board, and you won't be disappointed. We loved it. It's nearly 2 hrs, but just excellent.
The Gift was entertaining, but a little hard to follow. The production and actors/singers/ dancers were very good, and the same for SPECTRA. If you enjoy a live show, don't miss any of them. The performers are all excellent, especially the singers. Wow.... Powerful.
Children's Programs
This was our first solo cruise, sans kids. They're all grown.
Service and Staff
Dayson was our room attendant and did a great job. Everything was perfect throughout our 11 days, and we never needed a thing. It was always there when we needed anything. Towel animals were awesome every day.
Bar and restaurant staff were just superb throughout. I already lauded them, so I won't continue to beat that drum, but they were great.
Retail staff were very knowledgeable and ready to assist you, or answer any questions. They were happy to show any merchandise, and provide any information you desired. They were not high-pressure regarding pushing the merchandise, but happy to assist you if you wanted to make a purchase.
We will definitely be back to Royal Caribbean, and the main reason is the staff. They were definitely ready to make your vacation a memorable experience. If there's something specific you want or need, don't be afraid to ask. If it's possible, you'll get it.
I did see a few too many cranky cruisers. Just remember to answer kindness with kindness, and remember to smile. You're on vacation!!!
Ship Quality
Anthem of the Seas was the largest ship we've ever cruised. 4,500 people is a lot, but for the most part you didn't get the feeling of being overcrowded. Elevators could be a challenge periodically, and the waits could feel long..... But the stairs work too.
We loved the layout of the ship, and the many amenities onboard. Whether we were going to a show, or a cruise director activity, trivia, dance class, enrichment seminar, or any of the other countless activities, there was always something to do. The problem was trying to do fit everything in to your schedule.
Anthem still looks like a new ship, and we had a fantastic time on her.
Cabin / Stateroom
Our cabin was very nice, with adequate space for the 2 of us. Plenty of room for storage, and the oversize balcony was nice... not huge, but it was a few extra feet. Everything in the room worked well, and we had no mechanical issues. The bed was SUPER comfortable. My wife & I slept great... probably better than we sleep at home.
Our cabin was exactly as expected, and for the limited time we spent in the room, it was the perfect accommodation.
Ship tip
The Solarium Cafe is an underused venue. Because of this, there's no wait for meals. The food is very good, and it makes for a nice option for breakfast buffet, or a sit-down dinner. The sit down dinner offers a fixed menu for the most part. The appetizers, soups and salads are buffet style while your dinner is being prepared. Great option, especially if you want to avoid the craziness of the Windjammer.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey
Embarkation/Disembarkation point. Nothing to see here, but the ease of beginning and ending your vacation is seamless. We were on the ship within an hour of arrival, and off the ship in a similar amount of time. I couldn't believe how smoothly things went. Very impressive operation.
Love Old San Juan. We walked the town, visited the old fort, and had dinner at a street café.... and a little shopping too. Fantastic day.
Magan's Bay. Beach day, and I love this place. Picturesque. You honestly cannot believe beautiful places like this exist in the world. We arranged our own transportation instead of an excursion. All went smoothly.
First time at St. Kitts. We found a great tour guide who showed us the island, and dropped us at a beach near Frigatte Bay, then returned to pick us up at our convenience. Beautiful beach and a great time. We loved it. Chrystal clear, warm water, restaurant/bar, chairs & umbrellas. Everything we needed.
Another day at the beach. We loved it. We arranged our own transportation again, and had no issues. Very relaxing day.
Our favorite port. We shopped, we beached, we walked... Everything is at your fingertips. The duty-free prices for liquor, tobacco, and perfumes are the best of any island we've ever visited. LOVE IT!!!!
Disembarkation
Amazing. I was in the car and headed for the turnpike in about an hour. Very simple, and fast. Lots of porters to assist with bags if you need help... Don't forget to tip them. We were through Customs quikly, and on the road. $20.00/ day to park, so $200.00 due upon our return. Not cheap, but it's much better than NYC ($50/day!!!)