BrianB

On the Anthem…

Wifi has been fine for me. I know there are many who are experiencing problems, but I don’t know why. There’s usually one or more people at the WiFi desk with an issue.

Virtually all of my cruises have been up and down the east coast from Bayonne NJ to Florida and the Bahamas…with a Caribbean cruise in January.

I use an older Samsung Galaxy S8 and a new IPad 10. Both have no real problem with the WiFi except for the occasional drop and reload signal during the day. At night, I stream HD movies and shows from Netflix, Prime and YouTube without issue. I can even download one show while viewing another. 
I use the phone all over the ship and the iPad in my cabin. I’ve been in high, low, forward and mid cabins…all no problem. So far, I’m really liking the new WiFi…much better in comparison to the old system.

On the Anthem…..

The designated restaurant handling the Beach Club Restaurant reservations is Chops.

I go to the host desk as soon as it opens on embarkation day and make my reservation.

If I forget, I’ll get the letter delivered to my cabin on the first night or two advising me to call Chops to do it.

Here’s a copy of my email from Sept 2021 on the Oasis….

@WAAAYTOOO   I think the new changes don’t take effect until after March 10.

I wondered about that, too. I do the wash and fold service midway through the cruise…not on day one like it says.
But then again, they have been known to make mistakes on the grid. For instance, it still says the milestone free cruises are applicable only on the cruise in which you earn the milestone…but, we know that’s wrong.

On the Anthem…

I’ve found that there are times when I call regarding a question and the answer I get doesn’t seem correct.

I have learned (from these forums, thank you all!) that whenever I feel I’m not getting a correct response, I just call back and get a different agent.  Many times the first person either misunderstood my question, or had old information…or is just not capable of original thought! It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I usually get the right answer…eventually.

In my experience, the best place to get the most accurate up to date information is………here!

On both the printed and digital SetSail pass it should have ‘Sea Class’.

I have found that different terminals handle boarding priorities in different ways…and sometimes the same port does it differently each cruise, depending on who’s running the show that day.

For instance…at Port Liberty in Bayonne they used to enforce the arrival times. An agent would check your SetSail outside and if you came early, you had to wait. On my recent cruises, it’s been the same as it was pre-pandemic…just go in and get on the security line. Nobody checks your time. I don’t know if they eventually enforce the times if it gets too crowded outside. But that could be a Bayonne thing as the cold winter weather makes standing outside very uncomfortable.

**I always do my online check in as soon as it opens for each cruise so that I can get the earliest arrival time. I figure the first time I don’t do that, that’s when they will enforce the arrival times!

There’s a designated security line for suite guests and pinnacles, but sometimes that line takes longer as it leads to a single scanner. After security, there are designated check in kiosks for suites and pinnacles, but I have found every kiosk check in is quick.

Star Class has it’s own priority experience, but that’s under$tandable.

This is similar to NCL’s gamble for the Asian market when they introduced the Joy. She was specifically designed primarily for that market and was expected to be the ship of choice sailing from China.

Well, that gamble failed. NCL was forced to spend $50,000,000 more renovating a brand new ship to bring it back to the US market.

As I remember, at the post-Covid start up… NCL’s DelRio stated they would keep prices high which would result in fewer bookings. But they counted on their loyal customers to keep coming back regardless. He felt at that point, the demand for cruising was so high that having less capacity at higher prices would be more profitable. I remember he said something about how difficult it is to raise prices after lowering them to attract new customers. Doesn’t make sense to me. Pushing away prospective, new customers with high prices. Not to mention the increased spending onboard. It seems everything onboard costs much more.

Screwing over loyal customers would make them try elsewhere…and take their loyalty with them. I did.

17 hours ago, TheMaxRebo said:

That is the part I am interested to see about ... I am fine with one "full" service a day, but would rather not have to either out away or set up the extra bed space we use as a family of 5

 

Guess I would be totally cool with 1 and 1/2 services a day lol

According to my cabin attendant on the Anthem….

Passengers can choose day or evening service on the first day. Cabins with a Pullman or sofa bed will still be visited twice a day to set up/put away the extra beds, but the full cleaning will only be done once.

Whenever I have an issue logging in….I’ll go to Chrome and log in there.

You do you...........

I agree with telling her sooner. Make it a surprise celebration! Anticipation is one of the best things about cruising.

Here's a great idea...rent out a venue that holds a few thousand people and invite everyone on this blog! We'll help make it a truly memorable event!🛳

Always use locks...TSA combination locks from Amazon. 

Only once I had to go to onboard security on deck 2 because a port security worker put a sticker on my bag that said "Iron".

When I got there, my bag was waiting. They showed me the sticker and then they put the bag through the onboard xray machine with me watching. They saw nothing and declared my bag 'cleared'. I offered to open it but they said it was not necessary. Security was very courteous and apologized for the inconvenience. They said once the bag is flagged by port security...they had to wait for me to be there for them to re-scan it onboard...in case it had to be opened. Oh, well.

I never get an email offer.
I usually only gamble enough to get the dollars-off certs; 400-800+ points. But, once in a while I get a few machines that just don’t want me to leave and can rack up 2-3,000 points. Still, no email offer. Just the onboard certificate with limited sailings offered. Coincidentally the available dates are ones I already have booked. And as NextCruise can only open new bookings and not service existing…I can’t apply the certificate. Only the dollar amount after I get home. Or get an open booking with the limited time to apply it..but, again…no time available. 
My problem is I have too many bookings. 
Yep…I know how ridiculous that sounds!

Onboard the Anthem….

My room steward says the Anthem will go to once a day room service starting on April 16th. They will give the room stewards assistance and evaluate the process for that first week…to work out any issues. Then the following cruise, April 23rd will be when the policy is in full effect.

I’m on this one!

Second half of a b2b. I was lucky to be able to snag one of the new Sky Class Junior Suites. I booked as soon as it opened and was able to get the same room for both weeks. Really excited!

11 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

I'm giggling at the idea of a 5 year old trying to manage check in alone. Of course they will let her check in with her parents! My guess is they ran out of check-in slots for the 10:30 time and just bumped her over.

Hi! We’re checking in.

I have seen instances of ship excursions coming back late. They’re usually obvious as they are a disparate group of people at the same time…and there’s usually a Shorex crew member bringing up the rear. They don’t run, nor should they. Yet there are still some fellow passengers lined up on the railings jeering or cheering. I feel that’s pretty rude.

I feel sorry for those latecomers who are herding young kids, or pushing baby carriages, or the elderly doing their best shuffling along. As some in the crowd decide to cheer and jeer…you can see as they try to run. I hate that. Even the crew waiting at the ramp signal them not to run…to take their time. I know they’re probably at fault for being a little late…but I don’t want anyone getting hurt.

Then there are instances where a few latecomers are just making it. As they jog along the pier with towels flapping…sheepishly smiling up at the ship…those on the railings mostly cheer them on good-naturedly. I never hear much jeering at them. 

Lastly…the strolling individual or pair of latecomers who obviously don’t care that they’re late. Even as the crew members wave them to hurry, and the Captain even blows the horn…they still have that entitled, selfish shuffle. They seem to walk even slower as the crowd jeers them. They know the ship will wait for them. They truly believe that they’re special. They deserve every jeer they get! I know it probably wouldn’t happen…but, I’d love to see the ramp pulled up as they shuffle along. Buh-bye!

I recall a captain being asked at a Captain's Corner event if we left anyone behind at a previous port. His answer was perfect..."We didn't leave them. They left us."

Welcome aboard!

Whenever I had the Key at a tender port…we were escorted through a crew area and right to the front of the line. It was pretty cool coming out of a side door and being at the head of that long line. And there was no specific meeting time…just showed up at the meeting point and there was a crew member standing by to escort us. Good luck!

When I had the Key and boarded in Bayonne…they never looked at my assigned time. Just that I had the Key and waved me into the terminal.

Key boarding is always early. I believe the time is set at 11:00. That’s because of the Key lunch. On the Anthem, the lunch is served up until 1 or 1:30…so boarding after that is a waste. So is the carry on luggage service if you board after the rooms are available.

Just show your key symbol on your SeaPass and they should let you right in. Good luck!

The Super Bowl will be shown on many different screens around the ship. The biggest difference is…because it’s not the land-based telecast, the commercials are not the same. So we don’t get to see those great commercials. We get commercials about soccer and cricket. Otherwise it’s the same broadcast.

My experience...I'm usually solo and I tip both the waiter and assistant at each meal. Usually before I order. But that's just my thing. 

I don't know if there is a policy for the servers or not, but I pretty much get whatever I ask for...how much I want...and when I want it. The servers always check on how I'm enjoying my meal and always ask if I want more, or another item. I can't comment on the lobster/steak issue as I don't like lobster. Never ordered it!

I'm sure it's more difficult for them when they're serving more than one person, but a good server knows how to please their guests. Especially those with reasonable requests.

Good luck...and Bon Appetit!

Depending on the restaurant manager...anything is possible. Just make sure you go as soon as you board and make your requests. If there is a way to accommodate you, they will. Of course it can be more difficult if you have a larger party. But I've had changes made for a two top table several times. From early seating to later. On the Anthem, Anton is the manager at the Chic MDR and has taken care of us several times. Good luck!

I stand corrected.