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Today is the day!!! Here are a couple teasers... more pics of area and menu once I'm back on the ship. Holy crap tho lol

They are moving with the water but only so much. Seems like they are floating to me. 20200201_103102.mp4

Some more pictures as I walked around with my backpack loaded with camera stuff and my valuables while I waited for my hotel room to be ready. Did I mention it's hot here and with the sun rising higher in the sky it was getting hotter before noon when many of these pictures were taken. I had a 4:35am bridge climb booked so I wanted to find the meeting place in the daylight today. I had also learned you can walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge so I then set off to find that path. Looking back and down to the Campbells Cove area I walked around before. Great views of the Sydney Opera House from here. If you look through the mesh of the fence you will some bridge climbers getting ready for their ascent. I'm not sure I'd want to do the bridge climb in the heat of the day so make sure you plan your booking times carefully if you are thinking about doing this in the summer. Constant ferry traffic into and out of Circular Quay.

Last few for now

It's a raft you can hang on or sit on. Here are some pics of the beach club.

Here today. 2nd day they are open. It's amazing. I'll post more pics here later.

Friendly reminder, please don't quote photos and repeat them. Thank you! With just my camera around my neck it felt great walking around. With a fresh batch of sunscreen on I wandered back down to the cruise terminal to see how it was going. 2:18pm: A few guests still arriving but it appears the majority are already on board. Photographers note - the sun has come around from this morning. Earlier the sun was on the Opera House side of Circular Quay but in the afternoon it is on the bridge side of the Quay. I had visions of watching Voyager sail away from the bridge but I could feel the time zones starting to weigh on me so I decided this park would suffice. I spotted some bridge climbers beginning their ascent. Good lord people, could you pick a hotter time of the day to climb the bridge? My stomach knew what time it was so I went back to James Squires right beside the ship. Fish and Chips: From my air conditioned and beer laden bar seat I noted the group had made it to the summit. Voyager was supposed to sail at 4:30pm so I went back to the park near the base of the bridge and waited. And waited. Maybe if I just rest my eyes for a minute. Maybe falling asleep in a public park with my camera wasn't a great idea. Half hour overdue I gave up and wandered back to my hotel. The Rocks area was decorated for the Lunar Festival. Street vendors along the back side of my hotel. From my hotel Campbells Cove is just down that road to the right about 100m. The hotel has a rooftop pool so I thought I'd check it out while I was sticky and hot from walking around. With that a long cold shower was in order and time for a nap. I later learned that Voyager didn't leave until after 7pm. She's on a cruise to nowhere I think. Absent of the PVSA they can do those cruises down under. I suspect that's why she took her time departing. I'm glad I didn't hang around the park for her departure.

We have come to the determination that we are cruise people. This entire trip has been amazing. The staff has been wonderful, the experiences have been great, and the memories will last. Very sad it's almost over! Today I got some alone time on the suite deck to unwind, we toured the bridge, saw the hideaway heist show (another amazing show!!), got dressed up for formal night, and the kid got sick a bit at the main dining room... I don't blame her lobster night made me want to yack too(good thing we had a great lunch at CK!). I recognized a few people in the audience from the Columbus musical. It's odd they seem to want to deny they are in the shows but then gush a bit at compliments. The guy was impressed that I knew he was the main shark, my daughter got a kick out of the one girl when I said I knew she was a cheeseburger.

Here are the menus

Day -2 continued... My hotel for this stay in the Holiday Inn. At least I booked the Holiday Inn. My confirmation email says the Holiday Inn. However at 55 George Street one will find the Rydges hotel. Fortunately they had a reservation for me. My room wasn't ready at 9am which I already knew it most likely would not be but they offered to store my luggage. The Rydges is very convenient to the Overseas Passenger Terminal and the entire Circular Quay area. Located in "The Rocks" area it's very convenient to a lot. With a cruise ship in port I took the opportunity to look around so I could plan my luggage drop off and arrival for my cruise. Around 9am there were debarking guests still coming out of the terminal. The Overseas Passenger Terminal entrance. The other end of the terminal has a restaurant/bar.

Day -4 (or is it -2?) I booked my flights on Delta using Skymiles. Then as we got closer and with the thought of 14 hours in one airplane seat on my mind I upgraded to Premium Select. This gets you more legroom, more space between seats, a larger TV and an upgraded meal service. The menu: Somewhere around the equator the pilot couldn't line up with the equatorial gate so we had to run along near the equator until he found it. We crossed a few time zones along the way. With 90 minutes left it was time for our breakfast so last map photo, I promise. While boarding I spotted some Royal luggage tags on some carry on bags. The couple across the isle where boarding HAL on Saturday and the lady next to me was taking a sampler cruise on Voyager next. Coming off the plane... smack. There's that summer heat and humidity that Australia if famous for. Walking through the duty shops towards immigration I spotted a passport kiosk just after the shops on the right that was empty so I did the passport scan thing and got my ticket. That got me through to luggage where 10 minutes later our luggage started flowing. I queued up to leave and handed my ticket and passenger record I filled out in flight and that was it. My passport already had the eTA so it was all very easy. This morning I would take the train to downtown. The train was packed with morning commuters but I managed with my suitcase and backpack. No opportunity to take pictures when you are a sardine in a sardine can. Coming off the train at the Circular Quay station and low and behold... Voyager of the Seas! I walked towards my hotel in the direction of the ship spotting a very good doggie.

This is really hard for me to say but it’s day..S....I...X. Always goes by way too fast! This morning Taylor and we’re up and out at around 650 for our excursion. We ate a bite at the Jammer. The others were having breakfast delivered to the suite at 8. We went down to Studio B. At this point both of us were going through Star Class withdrawals. We had to sit with people we didn’t even know!,??. After about 30 minutes we walked down the pier to the nice guides holding the various excursion signs. We only chose our tour yesterday and really picked it at random. Sounded like fun. Dune Buggy and snorkeling. Not at the same time though?. I had visions of being loaded onto a bus or van and being taken to a place where we would chug along in cool dune buggies down sandy roads lined with palm trees. Nope. We walked about three blocks from the pier to find our buggy parking lot. Each is a four seater. Taylor and I got two passengers, a Bf and Gf in their 20’s. They rode with us because they couldn’t drive a stick shift. Youth. They were reassured after I told them I haven’t been involved in an auto accident since we left Miami. And off we went. About 15-18 little buggies filled with tourists. Driving through town. Around horses, trucks, busses, motorcycles. Through traffic circles. I’m amazed this tour even exists. During our lunch stop folks were eating chicken tacos and slamming tequila. Before driving back! It was awesome?. Our snorkel stop was at beautiful little beach area. Taylor had never snorkeled before. I had done it years ago before God made fish. But we pressed on. Donned the vests, masks and fins that I’m sure were sanitized in a bucket of tequila or something. We saw some beautiful fish and amazing coral. We spent about an hour there before we took the buggy brigade back on the road to our lunch stop. You basically drive around the entire island before you get back to the port. We made a memory and that’s what this is all about. Tonight dinner is in CK. Then we have the comedy show. I’m hearing rumors of laser tag, we shall see. I hear that our friend Djuro just might have been reading this blog. If that’s true Taylor and I missed you today! I’ll see you tonight my friend.

You know that crazy feeling of booking a cruise and then the build up each day of that excitement as you get closer each day. We hit 99 days today and now its getting real! I love that excitement. Our 6 year old son reads the new number almost every day. We will make our final payment in about 8 days and then we can register everyone. Print out cruise tickets and luggage tags. God this is just the best! Now to book another one for 2021 so that feeling never goes away. ?

My in law from florida freezing in 75 degree weather: Me:

Just as I was coming off the bridge the hotel called to let me know my room was ready. The Rydges is an older hotel but that's understandable being that I am in Old Sydney. The hotel has worked out fine and it has blessed air conditioning. It's been well used on these 1,000° days with 10,000% humidity. And to think I thought Cuba in July was hot. King deluxe room: What a relief getting my albatross (camera equipment and backpack ) off my neck.

Day 5 - Sint Maarten After room service breakfast, we headed out for a shore excursion: St Maarten Beach Rendezvous. This included a bus ride to Kim Sha beach, the use of a lounge chair, and lunch. It was $5 extra for a beach umbrella, which was totally worth it. Lunch tickets were provided for the Greenhouse Restaurant. The choices were baked grouper in creole sauce, bang bang shrimp sandwich, beef kebab, chicken in lemon sauce. Here are photos of the grouper and shrimp sandwich: After getting back on the ship, we quickly got ready for dinner at Jamie’s Italian. Our waiter told us that he has been working for RCI for 11 years in specialty dining. That’s pretty amazing! We’re trying to be smarter about our choices, so the Tagliatelle Bolognese and Penne Carbonara are smaller portions. Still couldn’t finish everything. Had to split a dessert: tiramisu. After dinner we stopped at the Bionic Bar for a cherry coke for our son. It’s become a bit of a thing. ? Show tonight was a ventriloquist. I’m pretty sure that we saw his show on DCL. Really funny. Day 6 is Antigua. We have another excursion planned: Catamaran Sail, Snorkel, and Beach Cruise. North Star is reserved again at 5 PM. Followed by dinner at CK. Spectra Cabaret at 830PM.

Finally a picture of you ! Hooray ! ...before a God made fish... that’s a good one !

Day 7. I might have to ask @Matt to change the title of this posting to ”I think I’ll Slip On Down To The O-Asis and.....

I don't see it that way at all. I think of it as "a la carte pricing". Instead of charging a much higher fee, and making everything included, you pay for what you do want to use. If everything was complimentary, you'd still be paying for it, and probably paying for things you might not want. Some people don't drink alcohol - should they be subsidizing my consumption? I don't want photos, no point having that cost blanketed in when I have no need or want for them. If the price of the extras matches your perceived value of it, go for it. If not, there's still plenty to do.

Campbells Cove and the Circular Quay area has some historical interest. This is where the first colonist arrived in Australia. The area has recently been transformed and is very pleasant to walk around. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a dominant landmark in the area. I'll be climbing it in the morning.

Simple to me...they're faithful Carnival cruisers, who dare to speak the name, of a company, with a "sea name" ?

What's included in the Coco Beach Club and its cabanas?

Here are the menus and book that came in the cabana.

Did the comedy show last night with Taylor and Kaitlyn. As usual Allan had our seats ready and our drinks on the table. The two comedians, I don’t remember either of their names?, were ok. Not great but funny. But the best thing was the lady who sat to my right. Silver hair, impeccably dressed and radiated beauty. She is older than me. And that’s saying something because I’m like Georgie Burns kind of old. And he’s dead I think. She was maybe 80. And she laughed with tears in her eyes the entire time. It was such a joy for me to watch her enjoy the evening. I watched her more than the show. Breakfast this morning was in the Solarium Bistro. It was good. Crowded and it’s the same food as the Windjammer but presented differently. Taylor, Katie and Shari did the laser tag. Stacy and I went to the Promenade and picked up a shirt for me and one for the great guy back home that is taking care of our home and pets. (I pay him too..I’m not that cheap). We all joined up again on the boardwalk to see Djuro and watch the LAST DAY fun! Lunch at Portside. Take your appetite when you go there. After all of that I went off solo to do the bridge tour. I’m going to go out on a limb here, but I think it’s very similar to the Harmony and the Allure?

Day 6 - Antigua We had room service breakfast again. Today’s excursion was Catamaran Sail, Snorkel, and Beach Cruise. It was great. We saw spiny lobster, moon jellyfish, yellowtail snapper, puffer fish, trigger fish, brain coral, and grouper while snorkeling at a reef. ???? After the snorkeling, there was an open bar, including rum punch. They also passed out sandwich triangles in both cheese and tuna varieties. Then, we stopped at a beach for about 30 minutes for swimming before heading back to the ship. I would definitely recommend it. This is the catamaran in front of Anthem. We were back on the ship by 1PM and decided to stop at Windjammer for lunch, as we hadn’t really been there except for breakfast on one day. It was eh. We then went to the Patisserie for lattes. Then, Johnny Rockets again for our son. ? After a little time in the Seaplex, we made it back to the suite for chocolate covered strawberry o’clock. Will be headed to North Star at 5PM, followed by dinner at CK.

Not crowded at all. It's also not completely finished. Multiple cabanas in my row are not ready for people. Even mine has a few things not completely finished. Music player thing not working. Some items like the poles should have rope around them. The cabana next to me had no curtains but mine did. Not sure most people would have even noticed. This is how the poles should look This is how one of the others looks Some of the other people's cabanas had them all missing.

I will write to the Anthem Concierge and see if he knows the answer

20200131_195424.mp4

I completely know the feeling of your whole post- I am about 40 days out for my mother/daughter cruise... and then we have booked another cruise for March 2021 with my 9yr old and 5yr old. My 5yr old asks me almost every day-- mom, how many more days until we go on our cruise? I hate to break her little heart when I say- 400+ days out LOL It will be worth the wait though. She will be 7 by then and my son will be 11. These will be great memories!

Thank you everyone I finally got logged in!

Don't forget Anthem has a lot of indoor areas, as she was built to sail from cold weather ports. She has an indoor pool that will be warm, as well as the Seaplex with it's indoor sports courts, etc. If you're looking to sit outside and get sun, it will take a day or two. Mother Nature isn't always consistent in her east coast weather. Remember, it was in the 40s just last week - in FLORIDA. LOL

I’m sitting in the suite lounge posting about the day in Cozumel. And suddenly I realize that something has been missing on this trip. I’ve now sat through 5 performances in the main theater. There is no popcorn!!! I’m on a mission now to find out why. Maybe the Cats eat it...

Cupcake Class. Our task was to make a frog. This is not the the first time in my life that I have failed? The little cutie came in just as we were finishing so Kaitlyn invited her to join in the fun! Next up: The Escape Room. Seriously hope there’s no frogs involved.

Good morning cruisers! New to this group and can't wait to discuss ships, look at pictures and hear reviews. I started on Royal in the early 90's and have not looked back. Looking forward to hearing all your reviews and thoughts on Royal Caribbean.

I spotted a couple of the divers from fine line . Really cool people. Yeah that's a chicken sammich in my hand. Felt pretty chonky next to them

I didn’t see it but the family said the machine was alive and well this afternoon on the boardwalk. ?

We sailed on Indy for two 5 night cruises to Mexico before the amplification. We really enjoyed both and it worked well since we only had the six days to be away. Sailed Harmony this past August to the Eastern Caribbean. Incredible ship unmatched by any others and the perfect amount of time. We enjoyed it so much we’re returning to her in April for the Western Caribbean. If you can swing it I would certainly recommend Harmony over the others, but we’d also do 5 nights on Indy again if we didn’t have the 7 nights to give. Did 3 nights on Mariner last month since it was all that would work. Had fun but would stick to a minimum of 4-5 nights going forward.

We are two years out for our next cruise, and I am already so excited I've downloaded excursion brochures for similar itineraries to start my "study". My emotions are fueled by Royal's computer, which insists on sending me to the Cruise Planner even though nothing can be booked this far out. Have a great trip!

Only the Oasis and Quantum class ships have the ability to pre reserve entertainment venues. All entertainment on Indy is first come, first served.

Wait, hold on. Are you on an Oasis-class cruise, or at a Grade 5 school performance? Right now, the two sound weirdly alike. ? ?

@BunnyHutt and @Linda216 currently this setup is ONLY on Oasis

It's wasted on the young. ? BAAAA HA HA HA HA!!!!

Those were three bad contestants. I got it! Do we get a free cruise or anything cooler than a RC keychain? eta: First time in over 40 years of watching that I've seen a player ask to change their wager after Alex gave the answer. Hilarious!!

Here's the "I'm so done with school" face...and the "I'm almost on vacation face". Before the kids' dentist appointments this afternoon I still have to bake some samples for 3 consultations tommorow, so I've got the "hurry up let's get finished" face on.

I usually type logout.com in the browser when this happens to me and it has a link to sign back in.

Day 4 - Dinner at Izumi We totally overdid it. I keep thinking of that South Park episode when Cartman sings, “I’m a little piggie, here’s my snout. Oink, oink, oink. Oink, oink, oink.” I AM that little piggie. ? So, of course the meal starts with edamame. Then we had pork gyoza dumplings. I also started with the first of 3 “She’s A Geisha” cocktails. We ordered several rolls: champagne lobster in yuzu wrap, spicy crispy shrimp, spider roll, truffle creamy lobster tempura, and baked snow crab & salmon dynamite. My husband also asked for “something with octopus.” I had some trouble with the photos since the lighting in the esplanade kept casting a blue hue over everything. We ordered Tonkotsu Ramen with just noodles and broth for our son. We thought it tasted pretty good, but he did not. He was not a great fan of Izumi overall, so we ended up getting him Johnny Rockets after our meal. But now I’m off on a tangent. Redirecting... So, after feeling quite accomplished that we finished all of the above, here comes Julius with an extra “surprise” roll. Futomaki. Why????? ? How can we possibly eat more?? Oh, but we did. We had 2 little mochi ice cream balls each for dessert , then waddled over to Johnny Rockets for our son’s second bacon cheeseburger, fries, and shake of the day. Today is day 5. Yen has arranged room service breakfast from CK. We are doing a beach excursion on St. Maarten. This involves a bathing suit. It won’t be pretty. The SC food coma is real. Beware! ? Dinner will be Jamie’s tonight. Followed by a ventriloquist show.