BrianB

I prefer to wait. Let her get broken in a little bit. I booked Icon as soon as bookings opened, but not sailing until Sept 2024. Nine months should be enough. Plus, there’s always the possibility of repricing should the fare drop…although not very likely. For Utopia….I’m surprised they would start her off with short cruises. Maybe it’s a new idea to get first timers onboard a brand new, massive ship so that they leave wanting more. I know there’s a concern that weekend partiers will run rampant and turn off fellow cruisers, but if the prices are high it’s likely the weekend booze-cruisers would look for a better value on a different ship. I do like the b2b possibilities with multiple RC private destination stops, but if the price is high for each leg…that would make the total cost unattractive. I’ll wait and see.

Yes…you can just use your SetSail Pass before getting your SeaPass card. Or just tell them your cabin number. Your photo will show on their computer screen. At least that’s how it’s been on the ships I’ve been on so far.

Congratulations! Free WiFi!!

I did all three locations and liked South Beach the best. Not as many people…and the bar, restrooms and Snack Shack are very close. It seems most people tend to grab a spot on the beaches closer to the ship, or the water park, or the pool. South Beach is a bit of a walk…or just take the tram.

There is no charge for using towels. They will charge you if you don’t return them. Usually anyone can return them…just give your cabin number. You can check out as many towels as you need…just remember to return them before the end of the cruise.

Yes.

I’m booked! Second leg of a b2b.

I find that my requested MDR early seating is on my Cruise Receipt…but if I pre-purchase a three meal dining package on a seven day cruise, they automatically switch me over to My Time Dining. In the past, I wouldn’t notice it until I inspected my actual key card…or worse, when I went to early seating. Now…as soon as I board, I go directly to the MDR host desk and have them switch me back to early dining. And request a two-top table. I don’t like having to rush boarding and then standing in line at the host desk…sometimes for more than half and hour…but have to get there before all the slots are filled.

@abcyoyo Yes. The daily gratuity will be applied to your onboard account every day. Usually, the final two days will be applied together on the next to last day. However, the option allows you to pay the total amount before you board. There is no discount, it’s still the same price, but pre-paying is just a convenience. Some like to get all the extraneous expenses out of the way rather than have them add up each day.

Yep…that’s what I do. I have the one device package. I use both my Android phone and my iPad. I switch between both devices multiple times a day. When I log in to one while my other device is online…it gives me the option to ‘Switch Devices’ so I don’t even have to log off the first one. Very easy and convenient. You use the same login and password. Just make sure the other person isn’t in the middle of something when you bump them off.

Need more info… Why would they maybe not be able to enter Canada. What is the issue that you told Royal on the phone that resulted in them telling you that it would be okay…and the lawyer who deals with this all the time telling you it’s up to Royal. Just curious as to why a Special Visa may or may not be required in this particular circumstance. No, I don’t have any experience with this, but others on the board may…if they have more information. The good news is you still have time to go through the process of getting them approved. That would seem like the prudent thing to do…even if it means expending time and money to do it. Better to have peace of mind rather than risk being denied boarding at the pier. Good luck.

I like all the production shows that I’ve seen on the Anthem. The only difference between now and pre-pandemic is the lack of aerialists. Spectra is so much better when the performers appear suspended from the openings in the ceiling…and when they rise up out of the floor portals. It really gives the show a sense of awe. It also makes the performances more visible to those not sitting near the front. Having an interpretive-type floor dance by one or two performers is really not a good replacement for the aerial scenes…and difficult to see. Also, having the aerial performances in the Gift adds to the visual storyline. The dragon and the train are pretty impressive…but it’s still missing some of the ‘wow’ without some of the cast flying. And the bicyclist performance hasn’t been there in awhile. Just pedaling around the stage doesn’t replace the past stunt performance. I understand that the aerialists were ‘grounded’ because Royal couldn’t get certified riggers. I thought it was a temporary issue. But, after being on the Liberty and seeing the aerial performances there…it seems like there are riggers available. I hope Anthem can get them back.

I prefer mornings. I’m solo and I’m a bit of a neat freak so my room usually looks unoccupied…lol. Everything is hidden away in drawers or the closet. My bags are under the bed. All the paperwork that I get is in the flat drawer. I like the bed made as soon as possible and if the attendant is having a busy day, I’ll make it myself. I always make sure I meet my attendant on day one…and every time I see him/her during the cruise, I make the effort to chat a little bit. As long as they’re not obviously too busy. I tell my attendant that I don’t want towel animals to save him/her some time. But I do like the printed cruise compass. I reuse towels at least once. I also tell my attendant to skip my room on crew drill days and on turnaround days when I b2b. They really appreciate that. So I pretty much always have a neat room. Virtually every attendant I have had has always come back in during the evening while I was dining and did the quick pillow turn down, closed the curtains and put on the small reading lights, changed some towels and left the printed Cruise Compass on the bed. Again, I’m usually solo and this is one of the advantages. Easy to put everything away and to keep a neat room. Oh, and I tip well!

I booked a Sky Class Junior Suite with balcony on deck 17. I’m liking the idea of having a JS within the Suite Neighborhood and the amenities of Sky Class. I was lucky to be able to book the same JS on a b2b as soon as bookings opened. There are only eight on the ship. I hear that some cabins are within the area of the dome. Looking at some of the rendering images, it seems like these cabins may be included. Just wondering if anyone has insight about this. Thanks in advance.

If I really want something…I’ll book it and pay for it. Then, I’ll keep checking to see if the price drops as the cruise gets closer. If I decide I don’t really want to pay that price, I can cancel and get a refund. In particular, I’ll book the CocoCay Beach Club and then reprice it if the price drops. But……when I find a lower price, I book it again at the lower price BEFORE I cancel the first booking. I know others have had difficulty doing this as their Planner wouldn’t allow a double booking, but maybe because I’m usually solo it allows me to do it. This ensures that I keep my spot. There have been times where canceling first and then trying to book at the lower price results in losing both spots. The cheaper one is gone before navigating through the payment process…and the original spot is snatched up by someone else.

I would always purchase the three night dining package for a seven night cruise on the Anthem. The price was pretty steady at $109. Not bad for two visits to Chops and one Jaime’s. The problems with purchasing the package are…I can’t pre-reserve on the Cruise Planner. I had to wait until I boarded and then rush to a restaurant host desk to wait in line. Only then could I make my reservations…hoping the dates and times I wanted were available. It wasn’t too difficult for me because I’m usually solo, but I wondered how someone trying to arrange for a family or group had to manage. Always added some stress on boarding day. Also, I always choose early dining in the MDR. I love walking to my table as soon as the doors open. But whenever I purchase a three night dining package, my dining is automatically changed to MyTime. I guess they figure my spot can be released for the other four nights. Again, I would need to rush to the MDR desk, wait in line, and hope they could change me back to early dining. Plus, it’s not the total price. Oh, it says total price as you navigate through the Cruise Compass and add it to your cart…but when you go to check out, the price jumps as they add the gratuities just before payment.

I’ve noticed how some fast food places have combined raising prices with shrinking products. I really thought I was going through a mid-life growing spurt. I remember when those burgers took two hands…using two hands now risks biting my fingers! And those fries boxes seem to have shrunk too! As for the cruise prices…I have a few booked and nearly every single day I do mock bookings to check on the current price. I used to be able to find a few that dropped and I would call and reprice. But…it seems like those opportunities are becoming less and less. As I learned on these forums…I book as early as I can and get the best price as they only seem to climb as time goes on. Demand is strong.

Yes. Not to be confused with the Cruise with Confidence Promotion…which is no longer available. That program was to entice bookings right after the shutdown lifted. With this….If you book a cruise after the final payment date…then you are eligible to reprice it at a lower rate within forty eight hours of the booking date. The difference will be applied as Onboard Credit. This appears to be the only time where a cruise can be repriced at a lower rate after the final payment date. If you book prior to the final payment date…then you can reprice for a lower balance due.

It depends on the port how long it takes to get clearance from the local authorities. In my experience (mostly Florida, Bahamas, Bermuda and Caribbean) it’s been about 30 minutes after they complete tying up at the pier. The port that takes the longest is CocoCay…and Labadee. After the ship ties up, they have to unload all of the supplies (food, drink etc) that are going to be used on the island…plus the crew members, bar staff, servers, chefs. That can take over an hour. All aboard time is usually 30 minutes prior to departure. Most passengers know to be back aboard even earlier. Beats standing in line. Plus, it’s a nightmare scenario to miss the ship!

Great review! Excellent video! Loved it.

@Lombert Just curious…what sailing date was this?

@PG Cruiser Onboard Liberty now...

@twangster “The OP's rant is well deserved by Royal and other cruise lines that do the same. They wouldn't have an agenda were it not for being poorly treated in the first place.” I agree that the rant is well deserved. I addressed that in the second part of my comment. But I wanted to point out that there is the possibility that some of these ‘hit and run’ posts seem disingenuous. They appear to me to have some similarities in wording and structure. Maybe it’s because the OP was surfing the forums and found like-minded posts and picked up some phrases that rang true to their experience…or maybe they had another agenda. That could be anything from slamming a business they don’t like…to just trolling. There does seem to be quite a few of them that just pop up every now and again. One and done. Funny we never seem to get hit and run complimentary posts. Of course, some people would make an effort only to complain rather than praise, but still… Just my opinion.

@teddy……..Royal bad…me mad…so sad.