Adriana

Hiya! I am going to do the UDP for the first time on my upcoming cruise on Anthem. I have never done a specialty restaurant, so do not have any faves, but def some dishes and apps I am looking forward to trying. I really do not like seafood, but am hoping to try some as I am trying to get over my intense aversion to it. What are some of your favorite dishes, apps, deserts, etc you love and must have while cruising? MDR: creme brûlée and fruit bisques (have not seen in years) Windjammer: Gosh, so much, but prob runny eggs, toast and crispy bacon Coco Cay: I hear the chicken sandwich and tacos are good Jaimes: Want to try carbonara and truffle pastas, arancini and truffle fries Chops: Want to try filet, Cesar & goat cheese salads, truffle fries Wonderland: Want to try the braised beef Johnny Rockets: Bacon cheese burger, onion rings and choco milk shake Vitality spa: fruit smoothie Two70: Oh, those great salads! What are your faves or hoping to try next?

Anything you typically do right away? Not necessarily because you love it, but because you arrived early? I plan on getting there early, doing Key or UDP lunch but then not sure what to do solve I always begin with my “must dos” of unpacking, doing muster and getting things ready for the evening.

@BrianB, thanks! Around what time did you arrive at the port? Any idea when you received your bags? I will be on Anthem next week and still debating dropping off bags. How many bags did you drop off?

Oh, I also have to call my Mom and tell her I am fine! Take a few pictures of the room, check out Compass and plan the evening…including getting my outfit all set.

@Mike T, awesome spot! Perfect! Right about there is where Collins becomes beachfront (c 5th to 14th), parallel to Ocean Dr. Typically, the hotels there are decent, but they are usually so packed that they may not be in the absolute best conditions. That is more of a tourist hotel than the other full on luxury ones. However, it will be fine. Go down a few blocks north, hang west and walk Lincoln Rd. It is the local pedestrian mall with boutiques, cafes, outdoor dining, galleries, etc. Everything is expensive in South Beach, but Lincoln is must better than Ocean Dr.

@Mike T, what is the address? I can give more details on the exact area and if it is decent. The names sometimes change, but I will know by exact address.

@PRMLVM, the thermal suite is so wonderful, at least for me! I have only done it on the Anthem. I buy the full cruise pass (you can purchase by day). It gets you access to the thermal suite any time it is open. You can go to the lockers to drop off your stuff, shower if you like, have the special teas, flavored drinks or hang in the lounge area in the spa. In the thermal suite itself, there are maybe a half dozen thermal beds, showers with different settings like rain forest, storm, etc. They have spa music playing lightly. They also have a dry heat room and a sauna. I just chill on the bed, go to the different rooms for a bit, back to the bed, shower. I spend a good chunk of time in there. I find it to be so relaxing! It is one of my absolutely favorite parts of the cruise. Some feel it is a waste of time or money, don’t want to waste time in there with so much else going on or feel pressured to go if they paid for the full length of the cruise. Personally, a cruise is about relaxing and the thermal suite IS one of the things going on, so to speak. If you are not sure, just go to the spa and ask them to show it to you. Once you see it, you may feel one way or the other. I do love it!

@WAAAYTOOO, thank you!

Anyone is able to order from MDR room service when open (with service fee and tip) or only suite guests?

@AshleyDillo, thanks! That is good info to know about the pace. I had assumed that it was about the same as MDR.

Haha, @asquared17, I def would not be grabbing too many drinks as you are right that I would be hitting the deck! Try to find a soft portion of deck if you grab one too many!

Hiya! There are often plenty of thoughts and blogs about the beverage packages, how about your thoughts on the UDP? Is it needed? Absolutely not, in my opinion, there is plenty of really good free food and many options for different tastes and dietary needs. Buuut, do you want it? Have you enjoyed it? Regretted doing it or not doing? Prefer the food or atmosphere? I have never gone to one of the specialty restaurants, but for my upcoming cruise, I am solo and doing the UDP. I will still try out the Windjammer and order from MDR (creme brûlée and cheese plate) for sure. What are your UDP thoughts or experiences?

These are some great ones! I never feel like I am officially ready to go until I am unpacked, wiped things down with my Clorox wipeys (nothing to do with COVID, just always like the extra clean, purely in my mind), phones set, calls to fam informing I am fine and then ready to hit the deck with a drink.

@FloatyBoaty, now I must try a lavender martini!!

Most def! They are so great about accommodating guests! If you see something that is not on what you ordered, they will be happy to bring you that, too!

So many things are considered fire hazards now, but pretty sure the fan will be fine, especially if a little one. Worse comes to worse, they will take the plug in and you claim it after the cruise.

I don’t think I have ever gone into the pools, but have hung by them and never saw anyone at a shower before them. Pretty sure you just jump or slide on in.

@Ryan79, cool beans, thank you!! I might be visiting friends there soon.

I am all about getting the package for me for multiple reasons. I use it for fruit smoothies, teas & coffees (which I typically never drink), oodles of water, soft drinks and alcohol. I think all the water alone pays for it, haha! I like the peace that if I am at dinner and try a wine and really do not like it, I can get something else. I can get an espresso and spirit of my choice, but only have a bit of and not feel like I have to have all of it because I just shelled out $14 for it. I like trying out different special drinks and just having as much of it as I want. I really, really love the freedom and peace of it and not tallying numbers in order to stay on budget. Having said that, my next cruise, I will be going as Diamond and will have four drink vouchers each day. I still contemplated getting the package, but the price of the refreshment package was really decent and a big difference for the full package. For now, the refreshment package made more sense and if for some reason, I order more than four alcoholic drinks, out of pocket will be best as no way I will be buying like six more drinks.

You pretty much have it; those three do not have an additional charge (unless you order something like lobster). There is no fee for the Solarium Bistro, anyone can go there without paying, just make a reservation. I would prefer to go to the ones without an extra charge. For Izumi, the charge is for the hibachi, otherwise, it is a la carte and you get to spend $20 before you are charged for anything extra.

@Ryan79, good thinking! Is there a specific drink? Does it matter?

@Ryan79, right?! I want some Versailles right now!

Hiya! What are some of your Must Do things on your cruise? Besides having to unpack and get everything right away, I have to get on deck and have a drink in hand to toast and give thanks to God as we sail away. I also must go running along the jogging deck at night, sit alone and take in the evening sky, go to at least one art auction and watch as we leave each port. I also must have creme brûlée, fruit smoothies, different teas and chillax with wine on the balcony or neat spot somewhere. Oooh, and the thermal suite!! … What must you do?

There is not that much in that area. The 94th Aerosquadron restaurant is near there and one of my faves when I lived in Miami. You can go to Little Havana for some good Cuban food. Some malls nearby. If you do not have a car, you prob will not be doing much, all depends where you stay. Read the reviews; Miami, like most cities, has amazing areas but just a couple of blocks away can be a high crime area.

That is a good question. I have not noticed them to be readily available. You may want to bring along a light weight portable battery pack. For trips like that, I even use the solar ones.