JLMoran

Interesting. That would definitely point more to your comment that when you don't have the same wait staff, they're less inclined to go the extra mile because they assume you won't remember them any more than they'll remember you.

Following! More photos to drool over and virtual experiences to enjoy while I'm stuck in drydock!

@cruise-y, this may be as much a function of having an 8:30 reservation as having the same table and staff each night. You're at the tail end of the dining window, and while I know assuming is dangerous, I would nevertheless assume that by this point the crowd is smaller and the rush to service everyone lower.

Following!

Great blog so far, loving the sunrise pics! I hope you're a natural extra-early riser!

Not really, our two main cards are a UPromise card that we've been using for years to save up money for college books and other small edu expenses, and then my Amazon Rewards card that was really useful before this last cruise for getting the various things we needed in preparation, and generally helps with keeping the . Probably once the kids are both out of college, we'll switch over to a Chase Sapphire card or a no-fee hotel / airline card so we can start offsetting those expenses a little bit. Apologies to the OP for (as usual when @Lovetocruise2002 and I get going) taking this thread completely off-topic!

My one daughter will be too old for AO by the time they take another cruise, and the other will be at least 16 and close to the end of any teen activity participation, so AO really won't be a factor. It's more the selection of other on-board activities, whether they do them on their own or with a group of peers, and which the OP indicated there just wasn't much of. Before you can chime in about all the Oasis offerings, @Lovetocruise2002 (?) -- I'm figuring our next couple of cruises will have to sail out of Cape Liberty (or Baltimore if just the wife and I go) so that there's no airfare or hotel expenses and it's more budget-friendly overall. Limits the itinerary options, I know, but there are some nice 9-12 night options if we're willing to take the younger one out of high school for a week and the older one's college schedule isn't an issue.

@jaullram, that's an amazing price for an ATS! Great score!

Thanks for the review! Your comments about kid-friendliness (or lack thereof) were especially helpful since it cemented for me that any cruise in 2020 that involves my kids will have to exclude Grandeur and focus more on either Anthem or Adventure.

Thanks for the heads-up! Don't have check-in for a while yet, hopefully the issue is limited just to that flow. The other annoyance I've been seeing is that the "keep me logged in" checkbox has stopped being honored, so I have to log in every. single. time. I want to do my daily check of the activities and CK availability. Thank goodness I have 1Password to hold that info and make the repeated logins simpler.

Would you consider canceling his drink package and replacing it with a refreshment package? He can still get the occasional glass of wine or whatever a la carte, and depending on what you paid for the deluxe package you may well come out decently ahead there. You'd have to call Royal to put that through because of the exception to both passengers in the cabin buying the package, but it's doable.

Holy cow! I'm really glad to year your husband made it through OK and is still with you! Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery, and no more scares like that for either of you! Also glad you'll be able to make your cruise, but his health is paramount.

And welcome to the boards! Thanks for posting a live blog of your very first cruise, to Alaska no less!

If you have time, since you indicated you like bird watching, I have heard that when in Skagway you can take the walkway from the pier into town and wend your way to an old fishery that is absolutely packed with bald eagles. Not sure if you'll be able to work this around your train ride; maybe before it departs?

Is your ship only there for part of the day, rather than an overnight? Everything I've read indicates that it's pretty straightforward and inexpensive to get to Hamilton on your own from the Royal Navy Dockyard, either by water taxi or bus, and either one travels pretty regularly and isn't that long of a trip. Just curious why the ship-sponsored excursion.

HA!

By the way, am I the only one who read "OH MY!" and heard it in George Takei's voice. OHHHHH MY!

Hey, my mind isn't always in the gutter. Every so often it has to come out to feed.

BAAAAAHHHH HA HA HA HA HA HA!

I know there have been a few other threads here around table minimums on various ships, but after doing some searching I haven't found any posts specifically about Anthem. So far, I've seen from @WAAAYTOOO that Oasis class seems to be the exception with a $10 minimum bet, while all of the other ships I've found so far (Freedom, Navigator, Adventure, Grandeur, etc.) are all $5. Can anyone who's sailed Anthem recently and played any table games confirmed if the minimum there is also $5? Want to figure out my adult arcade budget for October and see if I'll be able to swing it.

Club Med in the early 90's wasn't too shabby, either. ?

Well, I guess not the crew if you go by the comments quoted from them.

Welcome aboard, @lanny68! Glad to have you join our happy family!

Hey, whaddaya think this is, a Disney ship discussion?? ??

And if they really mean that one, then they have to follow up with the Celebrity Bill!