Sarah

Hello, booked this cruise last week, travelling with my friend Tracey. I haven't sailed with Royal Caribbean since 2018 and not been on the Anthem before. Looking forward to being at sea again. Norway is beautiful - I have cruised there a few times - so enjoy cruise 1

My experience of sleeping in a bunk in an inside room is the pic with the twin beds underneath - I must say the bunk was very comfortable and I was up there for 12 nights! I don't think the bunk was put away each night but that didn't matter to us

A very balanced review. I have cruised both Royal and P&O but I don't have children. I would say that there's lots more for children on a Royal ship. P&O is cheaper. In my opinion the food is comparable. I would research the facilities each ship has. I would certainly cruise with either company - the itinerary is key for me

Your seapass card is used to access your room (as a keycard), shown at the bars (for your drink package) and to purchase items onboard (you'll link a credit card to it). Enjoy your first cruise!

Wow, so much cake!! How are you managing to eat it all?!

@Pooch thanks for your quick response

I've been very nervous about booking a cruise (it's been so long since my last one). I am completely vaccinated and have been very careful throughout the pandemic so as not to cause worry and additional stress to my vulnerable elderly parents or pass covid on to them. Are there separate areas on the ships for unvaccinated passengers?

@Mike.s thanks very much - strangely I can't see the 7th July cruise that I saw at the TA but I will look further

@berkeleykel thanks for the info, I shall persevere

Thanks - it must be the way I'm searching - when I put in July 2023 & Southampton it says: We've circled the globe and couldn't find any sailings

I spotted an advert in local travel agent window yesterday for a cruise on Anthem next July. I've looked on the Royal Caribbean website and cannot find the cruise - in fact I can't find any from Southampton or any on Anthem!!

It must be different from the UK. When I do my online check-in travel insurance is essential as I have to supply all the details. Didn't realise it was optional elsewhere

If you're not flying I don't think there is a restriction to the amount you can bring but I seem to recall that each bag should not weigh more than 20/25kg so that the porters can move them

Thank you @Love 2 cruise and @GregD for your fab reviews. Enjoy your time in London

the railway at Flam is fab and the trip is so quick. I love Stavanger - one of my favourite excursions is the boat out to Pulipt Rock

I hope you both have a great cruise. I live on the Isle of Wight and will be out on my balcony this evening to watch you sail through the Solent.

Thank you for the update; hope you feel better soon

Thank you for your blog so far. I've cruised with Royal before but I'm thinking of trying my first solo cruise so I'm learning lots from your perspective

Thanks for your review so far. I may just have to get myself booked on Anthem when she's back in the UK this year

Fabulous review; I have cruise envy!

I've had a GTY room several times and have always had the cabin assigned very quickly and it's never changed. Enjoy Alaska ?

@Cruisemad888 if booking in the UK we are not able to take advantage of price drops like those booking in the US - UK bookings (as far as I know) are protected by ABTA / ATOL and usually command a higher price. The only "solution" is to cancel, forfeit deposit and rebook.

I have used Panet Criuise in the past (they advertise on the Ideal World shopoing channel and are part of Iglu). The first couple of times was ok and then they made a mistake with some of our info (names, date of birth etc) - which you think they'd have had from previous bookings and then they got my email address wrong so there were issues. To be honest I wasn't that impressed and the last couple of cruises I have booked I have done so directly with the company as Planet / Iglu were not offering any extra incentives (OBC etc) to book with them. Oh and they forgot to add our Crown & Anchor numbers to the booking which was something else to sort out

Thanks Jane for a fab live blog

I priced up a cruise from Southampton to sail this year. I looked at the solo price and the price if I added a non-travelling mystery companion. The solo price was more than having two people in the cabin!! Ridiculous. In the end I chose to sail with another company. I only wanted a week's cruise, I didn't mind where to put me onto diamond level in C&A. Oh well, there's always next year to try!