Service and quality has dropped over the years.

Item: Anthem of the Seas
Rating: 3.4
Author: TomfromMA

Anthem of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

TomfromMA

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 48

Overall rating:

3.4 out of 5

Verified Review

8 Night Bahamas (Cape Liberty Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 29, 2018

Ship: Anthem of the Seas

Cabin number: 11590

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

The overall cruise quality experience has diminished over the years with these mega ships. They have become overcrowded floating shopping center with aggressive marketing of extras for items that once were all inclusive in the price of the cruise ticket. In order to get better dinning experience you now have to pay extra.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Entertainment

4 out of 5

Children's Programs

I don't have Kids

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

It felt at times that the service was impeded due to staff being overworked. This was extremely obvious in the main dining room during dinner time. From previous experience the servers used to be more engaging with us but this was no longer the case. It always felt like there were stretched thin.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

The size of the ship is to small for its capacity. At many times it felt like the ship was overcrowded to the extent of what you see in a mall during holiday shopping season.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Rooms seem to be significantly smaller than some older ships. Rooms were clean but a lot of things that used to be standard such as bath robes or turning over the rooms at night now required you request them.

Ship tip

Don't, if you have experience sailing with other cruise lines. Overall the experience was horrifically lower than any cruise liner I have sailed with before.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

2 out of 5

Area around the port where littered with trash and not very visually appealing.

Thumbs Up 2

Port Canaveral, Florida

2 out of 5

Nothing to do here during the holiday season unless your willing to dish out loads of cash only to be able to ride 2 rides at the overcrowded parks Disney World of Universal Studio.

Thumbs Up 2

Nassau, Bahamas

5 out of 5

It's a shame that You spend only one day here. We spent the day at the Atlantis Resort and had a wonderful experience.

Thumbs Up 12

Cococay (Cruise Line's Private Island)

3 out of 5

It's just an Island with a beach. It has so much potential even without there planned amusement park but they do not seem to be really creative.

Thumbs Up 1

Disembarkation

3 out of 5

Getting out of the port took a lot of time with all the traffic.

6 Comments

Cruisers4Lyfe 2 months ago

Thanks for sharing

Thumbs Up 0

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skstokes 5 years ago

How many of the changes are because people have requested or complained. More kids cruise now and parents want stuff for them to do, hence the slides, flow riders, etc on RCCL not to mention all the stuff to do on newer NCL ships. Nothing ever stays the same.

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Woobiescoobie 5 years ago

We didn’t perceive the service to be downgraded on our last cruise, but then again we were on a smaller ship so the crew to passengers ratio was better than it would be on a mega ship. But definitely the cruise industry is headed more toward an a ‘more options available’ scenario where they can charge more. Cruising used to be the upscale all inclusive way to travel. Not so now. Cruising is for everyone now and is possible at several price points depending on the cruise line and the ship. The bigger the ship, the more available extra options you have for additional $$$. Still a great overall value though, especially on repositioning cruises.

Thumbs Up 0

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lawhouse2 5 years ago

I agree the standards have fallen, food is not as good, service poorer everything they can is suddenly an extra.

Thumbs Up 2

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JohnGBLewis 5 years ago

We noticed that the menus in the main dining areas had shrunk but if you ask your waiter nicely they will bring you anything you want

Thumbs Up 3

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Woobiescoobie 5 years ago

Cruising wise yes, we think the cruise lines are definitely moving away from the all-inclusive experience. My first cruise in 1997 alcoholic beverages, casino and excursions were extra but that was it. Noticed this most in the main dining room where food quality was 'good' and menu items in specialty dining is what main dining rooms used to offer. The business model is definitely moon and changing for sure. Cruising is not strictly an upscale vacation like it was years ago.

Thumbs Up 1

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