Jax

We went to the Intrepid Sea. Air & Space Museum. 13+ is $33. If you have teens that are interested in this it is worth a visit. You can easily spend a couple hours there. And yup if you haven’t figured it out yet, I always fall for the photos!

We are ??, so it had to be really awful to rate it any lower. ?

Yup!

Here are some final thoughts on our first sailing with Royal. It was a great trip and we would definitely sail with Royal again. Maybe try an Oasis class ship next time but we would also sail on Anthem again. Specialty Dining ️️️️️ Royal excels in specialty dining. Chops, Izumi and Jaime’s offered excellent food quality. CK was good too but it had quite limited menu selections. Johnny Rockets, Sorentos and Sea Plex Doghouse are great alternatives when looking for a faster and more casual alternative. In Room Dining ️️️ We placed orders through our genie and 2 out of 3 were incorrect so I couldn’t rate them higher. On board activities ️️️️ We tried North Star, I fly, Wave Rider, Bumper Cars, Escape Room. We never had a chance to try climbing wall due to limited hours and weather related closures. Activities were a lot of fun! The only criticism is that not all venues recognized star class preferred access without genie being present. It may have been due to the fact that our genie didn’t accompany us on the initial visit; who knows but eventually we were allowed access. Zoom WIFI ️️️️️ We were impressed with the quality of the connection. Didn’t work great on our deck but otherwise loved it! On board Photography ️️️️️ Evening photography starts at 5 and usually goes till 10. Good selection of backgrounds. They are set up on decks 3,4 and 5. You can view and download pictures while on-board through RCCL photo site. It’s great for those wanting to post pictures while on board. If you purchase the unlimited digital package a photo book is 50% off. They could do a better job of having photographers in specialty restaurants but overall it exceeded expectations. Thermal suite ️️️️️ Our experience was a good one. Nothing fancy but it has all the basics. It was never busy during the times we went. Entertainment was average. We felt it was better on DCL. Headliners ️️️️ Gift ️ Spectras Cabaret ️ We Will Rock You ️️️ Embarkation/Disembarkation ️️️️️ This process was smooth and efficient. Star class benefits are great! Biggest perk was not having to put luggage out the night before and a personalized escort on and off the ship. Grand Loft Suite 10320 ️️️️ We loved the suite, particularly the AFT deck as it was not windy and offered great views. We didn’t mind the smaller suite and split bathroom on main floor as we liked the views from the additional decks. Didn’t like having to walk to and from mid ship to elevators but that was expected going in. Our suite on DCL was on deck 11 or 12 forward where the Spa was located. The only traffic was other concierge guests. While we missed the reduced traffic and close proximity to the concierge lounge, spa and elevators we still preferred our suite on Royal over the 1 BR family on DCL. Despite HVAC issues for our first 4 days I treated that as a one off and didn’t factor it in my review. In hindsight I should have requested a meeting with the hotel maintenance manager earlier as once he was made aware of the problem we had a team of HVAC people in our suite finding the problem. I was initially worried about protocol and how that may affect our genie. Concierge Lounge ️️️ The lounge fell short for us. The hours of concierge staff are very limited, there is no access to beverages such as pop or bottled waters outside of their happy hours. We had lunch delivered there and had to run back to our suite for our beverages. DCL concierge lounge was open from 6am-10pm daily and always staffed by 1-2 concierge staff who could take care of any requests right away. You had access to all non alcoholic beverages during opening hours. It seemed like an under utilized space the 4 or 5 times we were there. Tipping in Star Class This was an area of confusion for us. We weren’t expecting to get zero bills on-board so when we received a zero bill from specialty restaurants it said that an 18% gratuity had been added. I asked our genie about it and he confirmed that 18% gratuity was paid out on whatever the bill would have been. So $200 = $36 tip but that we could tip over and above that for exceptional service if we wanted. In Coastal Kitchen we didn’t get a bill so we had to tip in cash which we rarely carried around with us. Coming from DCL we assumed the gratuity process at the end of the cruise would be similar and were expecting envelopes to be left in our stateroom the night before disembarkation. It all worked out but we will be more organized next time now that we have figured this out! Thoughts on Star Class Highlights were Laundry, Specialty Dining, Embarkation/Disembarkation, WIFI, bridge tour and the on-board activities. Expectations of our genie were met in terms of the basics offered and described on the website. But having seen other genies in action we wish the program was consistent. Our itinerary change and HVAC issues consumed early interactions with our genie so under other circumstances our impressions may have been different. The genie survey now seems like a waste of time. When people invest their time to complete this, there is an expectation that it will be used in some way. Otherwise why are we doing it. We celebrated Lindsay’s 50th on DCL so in comparison my 50th on Royal was a let down. We found that specialty restaurants didn’t make the connection to our beverage package when we provided our stateroom number. On several occasions the waiters were embarrassed after asking us if we had a beverage package, only to find out we were star class. We laughed it off but you could tell the servers felt uncomfortable having asked. The process for star class priority at activities was inconsistent as not all recognized priority access without genie being with us. Our genie said this sailing had a high number of last minute changes so our experience may be a one off but on at least 3 occasions we were in the middle of an activity when our genie messaged us about a time change that required us to be somewhere in 10-15 minutes or lose out on the activity. So at times we felt we were rushing from activity to activity. But if not for our genie we may have missed out completely! ? It would be great if the Royal app and genie schedule interfaced together as it became difficult to keep track of our schedule and changes. I think next time I would be more organized and input our itinerary in my iPhone with reminders. Would we do star class again? Yes, absolutely! Because of the program basics that appeal to us that you can’t purchase. Given the set up at the concierge lounge I don’t think Sky Class would be a good fit. With missing out on our visit to Coco Cay due to the itinerary change and with the FCC it just makes sense to sail with Royal again. It was a great family vacation and I can’t wait to book our next cruise!

Angelo’s Italian Pizza on Broadway ️️️️️ This was some of the best Italian food we have eaten. I highly recommend! We lucked out and went early. By the time we left around 6pm there was a long line waiting to get in.

Staying at Trump International, Central Park was a great choice. It is directly across the street from Central Park. We received an upgrade to a corner 1 bedroom suite overlooking Columbus Circle, had a bottle of champagne delivered to our room upon arrival. The hotel offers complimentary access to its spa which has a steam sauna and infrared sauna .Complimentary water is delivered to your room during morning servicing and nightly turndown. There is a full kitchen with toaster so we have been enjoying morning bagels ?. Whole Foods store is right across the street making it very convenient to pick up anything you need. The hotel has a complimentary car service for guests which has been great! It’s based on availability but we have lucked out a few times.

Disembarkation is so much better with star class. Another perk I love! We didn’t have to put our luggage out the night before (I didn’t realize sky class had to), had a porter come in the morning to collect our luggage, Andres and the porter accompanied us all the way to customs before handing us off to a terminal porter. It took about 20 minutes in total. We didn’t have any problems adding our ? tip to our on-board account. You just pick up a gratuity form at guest services. Life without star class has set in; we had to find and pay for our own lunch and we miss our ?. We have started looking at Oasis class ships for our next cruise. Port Transportation: Dial 7 was waiting for us as scheduled and we had a quick trip to Trump International at Central Park. An SUV cost $130 with tolls and taxes. Thanks for following along and sharing your expertise throughout the BLOG. This is a great forum and I hope some of what I posted may help you plan a future cruise. Over the next few days I will share some final thoughts.

Thanks for following along and sharing your insights! Much appreciated. I will stay in touch about the FCC.

Thanks for following along and sharing your insight! I really appreciate it. So .... on that note I am curious whether you book direct with royal or TA??

Do you normally book direct through royal or travel agent?

I phoned guest services and I am sending Lindsay to pick up gratuity form. We can add ? tip.

We assumed we could charge the tip to our on board account like DCL. We do not travel with a lot of US cash. Do you know if this is possible?? I can’t believe I didn’t bring a card or cash ?

So it’s our final night ?. We’ll grab breakfast in CK in the morning. Back to suite by 8:30. Andreas has arranged for a porter. Transportation p/u scheduled for 9:15 and off to Central Park hotel where hopefully we will get an early check in ?. I need your help as I have no idea how we tip our ?. DCL left envelopes in our stateroom so I assumed a similar process. But nothing has been left in our suite. Help please! We have always added our tips to our stateroom onboard account.

One of our highlights today was a private bridge tour! Access on DCL was restricted to all guests. So we were very happy to hear we would get a chance to visit it on Anthem. We were allowed to take pictures but no recording of video. We spent about 30 minutes with the 2nd officer and were treated to champagne and other beverages. As traffic was light and weather conditions optimal only a 1st and 2nd officer along with a spotter are required on the bridge. Some interesting trivia: the ship carries 3000 tonne of fuel which = 3,000,000 liters. This was a great star class perk for our family! Loved every minute of it.

I received the letter offering a 20% FCC as a goodwill gesture for the extensive HVAC problems we had for the first 4 days. This was not something we initiated or asked for or even knew existed so we appreciate their steps to make it right. I will receive a certificate within 30 day’s outlining the amounts per person and other details. This definitely motivates me to find our next cruise. We are thinking oasis class ships, maybe out of Miami. Let me know your recommendations!

We purchased the couples thermal package. I wish it was still included in star class benefits. I wasn’t aware of the 1 complimentary use.

Andreas ordered lunch in for us today. Pizza, Caesar salad and wings. Room service got everything right with the order ???? I am getting better at double checking the order before they leave. I ordered way too much pizza. I thought the small individual ones would be delivered but we each got a large from Sorentos. ? We told the in room dining attendant Clive he may as well stay for lunch. Rookie mistake was not checking out the hotdogs in the Sea Plex DogHouse before day 8. We have been going to Johnny Rockets all week but Lindsay and Reyd grabbed one this morning. It was the best hotdog they have ever eaten! It offers New York style hotdogs - offering gourmet hotdogs and sausages and wide selection of buns and toppings. I am going to try later today.

It has been great all week. It’s felt like we have been at home using ours as we have never had anyone in there with us. I usually go in about 9 - 9:30 am and Lindsay goes in a bit earlier. I didn’t know what to expect but it has been great!

There’s a ton of stuff happening on our last sea day. Check out Day 8 cruise compass. Our highlights today are to hit the thermal suite, I Fly, Bridge tour, hopefully wave rider will be open as it’s currently raining pretty hard, Supper at Chops, attend headliner comedy show starring Greg Vaccariello and fireworks later tonight. Oh and I gave Harry our last 2 bags of laundry. (I will miss Harry ?) And I can’t forget making the final selections for the photo book.

I sure will miss this view from bed ?

Reyd’s first I Fly experience ? Photographer got some great shots. Just another reason the photo package is so great!

Andreas is presenting me with the paperwork and details of our FCC tomorrow. I am interested to hear how these work as it’s all new to me! Fingers crossed it works out for you.

Unlimited Photo package - I just found out that when you purchase the unlimited digital package you get a photo book at 50% off ????so tomorrow will be spent widdling down 200+ pictures to 34. ? Wish me luck!

We have a great final day planned tomorrow. The boys are going to try stand up Wave Rider and hopefully the climbing wall — weather has restricted its hours; cold initially and then winds. We hope the weather cooperates ?. Then 1 final I fly session followed by the bridge tour which Reyd and I are super excited about!! Supper at Chops and Lindsays last chance for the seafood tower followed by a headliner finale. Good news is that we do not have to put out our luggage tomorrow night ???? Andres will meet us at our suite with a porter and they will take us as far as customs before handing us off to a terminal porter. We are planning breakfast at Coastal Kitchen Saturday morning. Andres says he has a few good hiding spots for us in life boats ? if only it were that easy ?.