absolutely awesome cruise

Item: Anthem of the Seas
Rating: 4.5
Author: guesswho21900

Anthem of the Seas Cruise Review

guesswho21900

Contributor Level: Second Mate

64 Days Till Next Cruise

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 9

Helpful Votes: 136

Overall rating:

4.5 out of 5

15 Night Transatlantic (Southampton To Cape Liberty)

Sail date: October 15, 2023

Ship: Anthem of the Seas

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 13560

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

Overall another wonderful cruise. As I have said on previous reviews from all my other cruises, I never have a bad cruise. It's what you make of it. I always enjoy cruising, but I will say this, every time I get on a royal Caribbean ship, I see them Nickle and Diming you more and more. Which is getting more and more frustrating. I have 1 cruise left and then I am Diamond on Royal. Once I turn Diamond, I will be trying other cruise lines.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Absolutely perfect. No complaints. Southampton was great.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Main dining hall was great. We ate in the grande and we had a wonderful wait staff. Igede and Sunny were absolutely amazing as always. As far as specialty restaurants, they were good. Love Wonderland.

The Grande

5 out of 5

Outstanding on this cruise. Igede and Sunny were absolutely amazing waiters. Much improved food quality from the last royal cruise I was on. The sunshine bar in the Solarium was absolutely great as well. Christopher, Anthony, Bernie, Oldemar were absolutely amazing bartenders. They gave us 15 days of wonderful drinks. And thanks to them for the extra special drinks.

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Always something to do. Credit to the entertainment staff for keeping us busy for 15 nights.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Music hall band Iconic was great and the bar staff there was also great.

The Royal Theater

3 out of 5

Ok, I'm giving a 3 instead of a 5 because the seats in the theater desperately need replacement. They are as hard as a rock. And the royal theater needs major upgrades and work. Very outdated theater, and need to change up the shows. I've seen The Gift 5 times now and we will rock you is getting really old same with Spectra's in 270. So same old same old with Royal theater.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Waiters Igede and Sunny were absolutely awesome. Igede is Family to us, we have had him for 3 straight cruises now via request. Yes, we sail on the Anthem alot. Stateroom Attendant Vishant was awesome. Did our room every day between 5 and 7 pm via request.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Giving 4 stars. My wife and I love the ship layout. And it fits us perfectly. Common areas were always cleaned. Maintenance, ship well maintained but is showing some age now considering it's pushing 10 years old. DEFINITELY needs a dry dock for a good 2 or 3 months to make some upgrades, and fix somethings around the ship. Bionic bar is a hit and miss works sometimes, doesn't work sometimes. It was that same on my last cruise on Anthem. My opinion do away with bionic bar and put in Playmakers.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Vishant was awesome

Ship tip

Take advantage of the sunshine bar in the Solarium

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

1 out of 5

Absolutely a cluster f---. No other way to describe it.

Thumbs Up 1

Vigo, Spain

3 out of 5

It was ok, I felt it was for visitors. Other than the beautiful cathedral.

Thumbs Up 0

Southampton (London), England

5 out of 5

Very easy on, my limo was able to drop us off right at the front entrance.

Thumbs Up 0

Tenerife, Canary Islands

5 out of 5

Another beautiful place. No complaints. Want to go back to both islands.

Thumbs Up 0

Lanzarote, Canary Islands

5 out of 5

Beautiful island, went to the black sand beach and swam in the ocean.

Thumbs Up 0

Lisbon, Portugal

5 out of 5

Absolutely breathtaking.

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

1 out of 5

Absolutely horrifying, and any other pronouns that would describe horrific.

9 Comments

Gwbigdog 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing

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bonvoyage507 1 year ago

I’ve never had a bad cruise you’re exactly right you get what you put into it it is getting pricey, but still enjoy the relaxation on a cruise ship. Nothing better.

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Cruisersenior 1 year ago

Can’t agree with you more regarding the nickel and diming. Between the increase in prices, and the decrease in service, the mediocre food in the dining room I am trying other lines too. already diamond but I’m looking forward to a change. Thanks for the review.

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Tony131065 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, we go with the same attitude as you, make the most of every cruise, they all have good and bad points

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Dumfy75 1 year ago

Good review, glad you enjoyed your cruise

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javawoody 1 year ago

Great attitude,thanks for sharing

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cruising2004 1 year ago

Great attitude, great itinerary, and great detailed review. Glad you enjoyed your cruise.

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oldgolfer 1 year ago

Why would you change when you get Diamond status?

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bubbles60 1 year ago

Great itinerary. I agree about the nickle and diming.

Thumbs Up 0

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Other reviews of this sailing

Shame about the weather!

Another wonderful cruise

Great cruise