JLMoran

Hi there, @Chrispy560, welcome to the boards!
I haven't personally done this, but just from what I know about how checked luggage is piled up in massive carts or bins with dozens or even hundreds of other pieces, so that any given piece could have several hundred pounds of other stuff on top of it, I'd strongly recommend you bring both the stroller and car seat as carry-on items.

You should laugh, life is far to short to worry about things. 
What may appear as sarcasm is in fact just a weird sense of humour, nothing i say here i wouldnt say to my wifes face but she gives as good as she gets which is why we have been together 23 wonderful years. 
Admittedly the best times have been when shes sleeping that way shes not nipping my ear lol 

My son is the same way... and he hasn't been on a cruise yet! I started showing the kids pictures of our past cruises, and we have talked about AO and the water slides. He's been all in ever since. I've created a monster, and we don't sail for 280 something more days!

After the previous nights fun we docked in St Kitts, for some strange reason my wife decided against having breakfast, she believes it must have been the pizza at 1am that made her unwell, nothing to do with the 7 or 8 alcoholic drinks she consumed.
St Kitts
Nothing planned so we just walked about the port and enjoyed the sight of a Puerto Rican invasion of st kitts. Ive read elsewhere on other forums how some people will no longer sail out of san juan due to the fact the ship is full of Latinos whos only objective is to have fun. What an entrance they made to this beautiful island, lead by a small band the marched off the ship singing songs and carrying their national flag. 
Found out the best cure for a hangover is retail therapy, its amazing how quickly my wife recovered will looking at perfumes and jewellery. 
Back on ship had a walk about to parts we hadnt been to yet, a game of golf which my wife won ( she cheated but i let her off) was followed by a trip to johnny Rockets. After all the talk about Johnny Rockets milkshakesi had to try them out. Ok i now understsnd why everyone raves about them.
Another late night in various bars but pleased to say my wife decided to leave her singing voice in stateroom.
Antigua
Up early, breakfast and off ship
Decided to have a beach day, taxi to valley church beach $8 pp each way if sharing. $5 per chair $10 for an umbrella, $4 or $5 a beer, free wifi 
Great beach to just relax only downside was that beach is made of shell not sand which can be sore on feet. Water itself drops very steeply its either up to your knees or over your head, no inbetween so care is needed.
Had read about Pams massage on beach so went to beach hut and booked half hour session, $55 per couple and worth every penny. 
Taxi came back after our 4hrs as agreed and we headed back to port for more shopping.
Dinner was MDR for 1st time cant fault the food or service.
Evening was spent at ice show, few bars and karaoke just taking in all the different sights and experiences. 
As we walked along the promade heading back to room my wife stopped outside one of the outlets and completely shocked me! The sign above the entrance said " Next Cruise" and my wifes only words were " should be book our next cruise now?" 
Told her we would wait and plan! Im not in the YOLO group yet lol
St Lucia next nothing planned 
 

Final thoughts, in no particular order:
I am not a fan of the WOW band. Every time I wore it, my wrist would sweat like crazy even when the surrounding area was chilly with air conditioning; it didn't matter how loosely I'd wear it, something about the band's material just doesn't agree with my skin. And while the tap terminals were all in reach everywhere I tried using it, it was awkward to do so unless I rotated the band to put the medallion on the inside of my wrist; and then I'd have to flip it back around when I wanted to unlock our cabin door. I gave up by Day 2 and just carried my Sea Pass card everywhere.
The Junior Suite was absolutely a really nice splurge, and much nicer than a regular balcony. But I still had a couple of nitpicks.
The separate tub and shower are nice in concept, but I was the only person to use the tub, and that was only once to soak my aching feet for a bit. The shower door can't be closed tightly from inside the shower, as there's no handle on the inside; even when it was as well-sealed as we could managed, the gap between the door and bottom of the door frame allowed a good bit of water to get out onto the bathroom floor, making for slightly slippery tile and a wet bath mat. I completely agree with what others here have said about the crowd flow in The Via on deck 4, and Royal Esplanade on deck 5; those areas have far too many choke points, which are worse on days that the shops have displays set up in the corridor.
Generally, pretty small potatoes. On the whole, Anthem is a pretty good ship and I'm glad to have this option in my "backyard", so that I can take cruises without having to fly to Florida or another port. But how does Anthem compare to Freedom?
Anthem didn't really feel all that much bigger than Freedom, or (when not in the Via or Esplanade) any more crowded than Freedom Anthem is much better when it comes to the top-tier headline shows (Spectra's Cabaret and We Will Rock You); but if I decide to sail Anthem regularly, how many times can I really see those before it starts to wear thin? I know they don't change out shows more than once every decade or so, when the ships undergo major refurbishments, and Anthem's only been in service for 3 years; a long way to go before there's a change on that front. At the same time, I felt Anthem's other available theater entertainment was a little worse than Freedom's (see The Las Vegas Tenors) Maybe short sailings like this one don't get as good a set of performers as longer sailings, and if I take a longer sailing I'll find that it's better overall. Certainly, after reading @firebuck's blog, that does seem to be a good possibility, as we had no cover band; no extra shows in Two70 besides Tonight at Two70, one robo show, and Spectra; and none of the other extra performances that he'd noted on his 7-night trip. North Star is a very nice feature on this ship, but the reality is that if you're not in port then all you have to look at from up there is the ship. But Freedom doesn't have it at all, so still a point for Anthem. Vintages on Anthem was a disappointment compared to Freedom. The wine selection was far smaller, and the vast majority of what was offered was only available as full bottles, not by the glass. Bearing in mind that I only had one experience with it, I found the American Icon Grille MDR on Anthem disappointing. I much preferred the multi-story grand dining room on Freedom, and I have to say that I'm glad the newer ships like Symphony are going back to that design. Hopefully whatever follows Spectrum of the Seas in the Quantum class will also follow suit. That said, I have no idea if my impressions would have been different if I'd eaten dinner in one of the other dining rooms like Grande or Chic. As a ship, Anthem's overall quality and design was for the most part quite a bit nicer than Freedom. While a modern ship, it didn't have the metal-and-glass ultra-modern decor and style of other new ships like Seaside, which I definitely appreciated. I loved the design and decor of Coastal Kitchen, that was definitely one of my favorite spaces on the whole ship. I thought the Solarium on Anthem was light years better and nicer than Freedom's; having four hot tubs instead of two definitely doesn't hurt It was nice having Izumi available on Anthem instead of the to-go cart that Freedom had There were small room details on Anthem that I really appreciated and others that I found a bit disappointing As weird as it sounds, the balcony door was a high point of the room. The ones on Freedom were an exercise in testing my strength, where the ones on Anthem slid incredibly easily while still locking securely. At the risk of maybe sounding a bit too much like @monorailmedic, I really appreciate the engineering and design that went into those balcony doors on Anthem The USB outlets, while nice to have, were the low-power variety that can only charge phones and other devices at a trickle; it was a good thing I still brought my Anker charging hub So speaking as an adult passenger, I have to say that Anthem wins this competition against Freedom. How would she rate, though, if it were my teenage kids sailing on her?
Honestly, my older daughter probably wouldn't be any more impressed or enjoy the sea days any better. I know she'd almost certainly love Spectra and We Will Rock You, and she might appreciate the live band(s) in the Music Hall. But those are all evening activities.During the daytime, I think she'd still find herself somewhat bored since she doesn't like just sitting around at a pool doing nothing, isn't a trivia buff, and (oddly, given she's a singer) isn't into karaoke.
My younger daughter would definitely love all the extra dining options and chances to try some different styles of cuisine. If we could get a JS for CK access she'd probably think that she'd died and gone to heaven. I'm guessing she'd also appreciate all the art on display throughout the ship, as she's the artist of the family, and would also enjoy the live band(s) in the Music Hall. We'd have to go on a sailing with more kids, though, as she would want to have some people to socialize with.
 
So Anthem was definitely a winner for us. But far more than Anthem, Bermuda was the standout of this trip. It is such a beautiful place, and so different from the Caribbean island experience, that we left wanting to get back as soon as we could. There's still a lot of the island we haven't seen, particularly Hamilton, and we want to see some of the other beaches that are considered the best on the island.
I hadn't really planned on doing another cruise for 2019, seeing as I'm holding out hope for a 2020 CA/NE cruise in the summer. But over the last two weeks we found ourselves looking at what our options were for getting back next October or November. And then the BOGO60 sale stuck around through November, and before I knew it we ended up booking this exact same trip again for October of 2019! Just a regular balcony this time, and only because we lucked out with a really good rate that keeps the monthly pay-down low. 2020 is still on the radar, just waiting for the itineraries to come out and any announcement from Matt!
 
So that's all of it. Apologies for taking almost a month from the trip ending to finally get this wrapped up, especially when some of you have been looking for this ahead of your own upcoming sailings on Anthem; work and regular life have been keeping me tied up since getting back, and photo editing always takes longer than I expect.
Thanks for following along! I'll be back next October for the repeat voyage!

Headliner Show: Stage to Screen

 
 

I dropped by Izumi to ask how it will work tomorrow for my UDP visit here on Oasis.  
I booked UDP during the Izumi $50 fixed price days with the UDP terms and conditions modified to remove any reference of cover charge.
I'll get a $35 credit like the old days.  
It's almost like the ship never heard of the fixed price thing and with it now absent from the cruise planner it makes me wonder if it was pulled quickly based on the immediate and inevitable feedback such a price point seemed to demand.  
At any rate, back to Izumi business as usual.  

Unfortunately no, Anthem only has the sushi option.

Go check the prices for a Disney cruise that week.  That will make you feel better ?
 

No.  I take little breaks between.  Enough to go home and feed the dog...

So.  The final 2 days of the cruise were sea days.  Friday was Black friday and they had big sales on  the promenade both friday and Saturday.  Both days offered many opportunities for trivia and both days had the afternoon Splish Splash diving show scheduled.  Friday night was increadibly wavy so they ended up cancelling the show for saturday afternoon.  I had wanted to do the guacomole tasting class at sabor on Friday, but the class was full and required reservations.  When I saw it was going to be offered again at 10:45 am on Saturday I immediately signed up via the app.  
Friday we went back to lunch in the dining room and ordered off the menu this time.   I got empanadas.  Friday night was the second formal night so it was lobster night in the main dining room.  My favorite.  One thing I really liked about Oasis is that I could use my diamond drink coupons in the main dining room.  They have not always allowed that on all ships, but some of the diamond plus and Pinnacle members told me in the lounge that had recently changed and that you could now use them in the dining room fleet wide.  I really enjoyed it to be able to order a glass of wine at dinner.   Both friday and saturday afternoon, we did the martini tasting in the Champagne bar.  It was a very popular class.  We made 5 different martini's each day.  For the second class on saturday, he only charged us $10 unstead of $15. I enjoyed getting to mix up the different cocktails   Friday night we also had reservations for come fly with me after dinner.  I enjoyed the show, but it had more of a production feel than some of those types of shows I have seen on the older ships in the old days in the centrum that I used to love so much!   We had reservations for cats on saturday afteroon.  I would have liked to have seen it, but the boat was so rocky friday night that I did not sleep well, and I was not up for sitting through a 3 hour long show.   I did get to see the set for it, which was super impressive!
On all 3 sea days, the casino offered $2 mimosas which is fantastic if you don't have a drink package!   On saturday, it was time for my guacomole class at sabor.  I thought we would get to participate more like I did in the sushi class last spring on grandeur, but this was more of a watch the guy make the guacomole class.  It was still very interesting, and I enjoyed some of the tips and tricks.  I don't typically like tomotoes, but the fact that they grill theres' for the guacomole made all the difference to me and use the garlic paste.  The guacomole and chips lived up to the "HYPE" that I hear about on RCL blog!   We all got to order lunch and got a specialty margarita with the class.  I ordered the Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita which was amazing!  I could have easily drank 2!    For my entree, I ordered the steak Quesodilla whcih as also good.   Some of the couples in the class ordered one of each of the entrees and split them, a great idea!  Some people came to the class and did not eat because they did not realize lunch was included and they already had plans.  To me, lunch coming with the class was one of the key elements!   I was full by the end of lunch, but the waiter convinced me to try the churros.  They were hot and well worth it!    Overall, I enjoyed the experience and enjoyed getting to try sabor, their margaritas, and getting to learn how to make more spectacular guac!  
Oh and I forgot to mention I also did the landscaping tour in central park on saturday morning after Twangster suggested it.  It was super interesting since the guy who gave the tour has been at Oasis the whole time, and there were challenges with design the garden on the first Oasis ship.  The story about how they spent so much time working on it on the transatlantic prior to the inaugaral sailing out of florida was impressive!  

I'm going to use the old addage...if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

Day 9 Lunch at Windjammer 

 

Ice Cream before boarding

DAY 9 - ST JOHNS, ANTIGUA

I paid for past Thanksgiving on Anthem in the Balcony Cat 5D not even Suite so it might help you feel better for what you paid. I paid almost $1200 Each person. I, my hubby and a 6 yrs old son total cost almost $3500+
$2000 per person on the Suite is really great price IMO. I know you feel bad today. Just think it is what it is and don't let it ruin your trip. ?

That was part of the issue -  it would have helped a lot if I had just not known ( and I don’t believe that the poster meant to cause a create a problem).
But hopefully most people can understand it was less about money and more about feeling guilty. At least that was part of what I needed, just for somebody to understand and maybe make me feel better. I have no doubt your intent was to help ?  
I had crossed my fingers when I posted that I wouldn’t get any of those post that basically said “you’re stupid for feeling this way” and I am thankful there was little of that and way more hugs! ❤️
Lynn

@Lovetocruise2002 @Susie @JLMoran @KJ1231
 do really appreciate all of you trying to walk me back from the ledge or genade cabinet (just kidding on the second, I don’t really have one ?). I felt so guilty that I had made such a rotten decision,  it’s a truly miserable feeling ☹️ I did understand it was a holiday, but you also have to remember that I thought it was still a super good buy for a holiday, and now I realize it was not. 
The points are all valid, and I really didn’t think this morning  about those two weeks at the first of December always being really low -  but it was still really painful for it to be double ( and I’m sure any of you would probably feel the same as saying those numbers ?). 
I am going to kick in my inner @lovetocruise2002 and watch those prices like someone possessed (my her that is lol). 
@KJ1231  ouch on those kiddie prices, that is insane!
thanks again, group hug!!!! ?
Lynn

I have not read the thread that you and Sabrina are referencing....but if the facts are accurate - that the lower priced cruise is in early Dec and the one you are on is over either Christmas or NY, let me say that that those 2 cruising weeks are as far apart in pricing as you can get.  Typically, the cheapest weeks of the year to cruise are the first 2 weeks of December and the most expensive weeks to cruise are the last 2 weeks of December.
There could well be some issues related to timing - if the original booker happened to catch the booking before the rooms converted over to full suites benefits, that is just their good luck, but not necessarily your bad luck.  It is what it is.  Booking over Christmas or NY is as pricey as it gets - and booking suites over the holidays is a double whammy.
It all comes down to attitude...(or the ability to fool yourself.  Whichever makes it the easiest to accept).  Feel fortunate that you were even able to GET a suite on a holiday cruise.  Expensive as they are, they go FAST and the fact that you have one (or 2, from what it sounds like) is a tremendous bit of good luck.  There is nothing like the Holidays in a suite.  It's as good as it gets.
Nobody likes to think that they are paying too much for something.  If this is something that your family want, then it is worth whatever it costs.  I learned a long time ago not to worry about what someone else paid.  That is their business.  Mine is how much I am willing to pay for what I want.  Many MANY people do not think that suites are worth the price - nor do they think that dining packages or drink packages are worth the extra price.  We do.  We like having whatever we want, whenever we want it.  That's what makes us happy.  So, whatever it costs...that's what it costs.  Sometimes I find the cost too high.  That's why I do not have any current bookings on any Oasis class ships, even though they are my favorite.  The price for what I want (Star Class) is just too high on the new O class ships right now !  I am cruising Star Class on Anthem during the winter b/c it's at a price I am willing to pay.
I don't mean this to sound like a lecture.  It's a pep talk even if it sounds like a lecture.
?

No, the shuttles that go to Horseshoe Bay from the dockyard are actually just regular vans, not even buses at all. Five rows of seats, 3 or 4 passengers to a row. You definitely learn what a sardine feels like in the can if you ride one of these, as they don't like to travel less than full.
In this photo, the shuttles actually are parked in the mini parking lot just below the red dot / triangle you can see in between the two ships. If you want a transit pass, the booth for that was located right next to that red dot / triangle (or maybe IS the dot / triangle), on the stretch of dock closer to the upper ship in the photo.
From what I was told by someone who took the Pink Bus, it's more than a little bit -- that drops you off at the official bus stop on the main road, and from there you have to walk down the road to Horseshoe Bay, which is a fairly steep hill road, on a wooden walkway next to the road. It was described as a somewhat long and slightly strenuous walk, between a quarter and a half mile if I had to SWAG the distance. The shuttles actually go down that hill road and drop you off / pick you up right at the entrance to the beach area.
So depending on whether you have any mobility limits like I do, or you have any smaller kids in your group who might not appreciate a decent hike down and then back uphill to get to the bus, I'd argue it's worth the extra $2 per person to take the shuttle. I certainly didn't mind paying it. ? 

Just adding a comment!  after posting these photos of Chef's table.  I went back and looked at the photos of Chef's table in March.  It was fun to see how different each of the dishes looked despite it being the exact same menu!  Both the scallops and lobster roll, as well as the presentation of the filet looked completely different.  On grandeur, the contents of the bisque were poured into the bowl and then the soup was poured over it.  This time the soup was presented in a different style bowl and had a more smoky flavor!  I loved both dinners, but the Chef and the dinner on Oasis were by far my favorite.  Interestingly, the Chef on Oasis was also on Grandeur with us in March, but he was not the Chef doing Chef's table on Grandeur as he did more of the specialty dining.   On Oasis, the Chef assigned to Chef's table is also the Chef for Coastal Kitchen.  He said he likes this assignment the best because he has more room for interpretation and to tweak the dishes!  I am really glad we did it on Thanksgiving night, and was suprised there were not more people as the table was full on most of the other nights. 

Day #5 Thanksgiving- St. Maarten
Day 5 was St. Maarten.  We got into port earlier today, so the gangway was not as crowded with everyone getting off at once.  We origonally had a catamaran booked that Twangster had reviewed earlier this year and that I had gotten at one of the cruise planner sales, but before the cruise, I decided we just wanted to explore the island since it had been a while since we had been to St. Maarten.   We decided to do Bernard's Island #1 tour.  We started out by crossing over to the French side and seeing some of the beautiful views.  I enjoyed some of the photo stops along the coast.  We got several small waters throughout the tour ( they also had sodas) , and a small glass of rum punch.  We also had an iguana stop, but we saw them in several locations on the tour. Around lunch time we stopped downtown on the french side and had 1 hour of free time.  Greg and I went to the french bakery and split a ham sandwich.   After walking through the market, I went into the small store and purchased a bottled Corona for the road for 1.5 Euros or $1.75.  I did not have an opener with me, but the guide opened it for me.  We continued touring the island and then headed back towards the dutch side and to Maho beach.  Maho beach and the bar were heavily crowded that day.  We got to see a couple of planes land while we parked the tour bus, but overall we had seen enough without going in and hanging out in the crowded area.  We got 45 of free time here, but Greg and I sat at the little outside seating area instead by the convenience store and purchased more 3 beers which came with 1 free wifi access code. It was a relaxing place to sit with music playing, and watching all of the cab drivers hang out.  We also saw a couple of crew members sitting here on a tour while waiting for the rest of their party to explore the Maho beach area.   Origonally, we had planned to be dropped off downtown, but we decided to head back to the ship at the end of the tour and relax a little before the Chef's table that we had scheduled at 6:30pm in the suite lounge.   There was also a special champagne toast on the ship that night since it was thanksgiving. 
We had a few diamond drinks in the lounge and then headed to the suite lounge on the 14th floor where we were handed our glass of CAVA for the palate cleanser.  There was only one other couple doing Chef's table with us tonight, and it was there first time.  We did in in March on RCL on Grandeur of the Seas and we have done it once on Celebrity Millenium on an Alaska cruise.   The menu on Oasis was the same menu that we had on Grandeur in March, but it was fun to experience a different Chefs interpretation of the menu in a different setting.  I got the scallops, tomato soup which was amazaing, lobster roll, ( this was different than on Grandeur), and the filet mignon.  Everything was absolutely delicious.  the chef also brought a plate of the pasta for Greg and I to share, and he suprised us with a 3rd entree of turkey and cranberry sauce to share since it was thanksgiving.  I only ate a few bites of the turkey because the beef and the pasta were both so amazing!   We ended with a beautiful chocolate Martini, and the World, one of my favorite deserts!   This was definately an amazing experience and Greg and I both agreed that this was our favorite thing from the week! 

IMHO, suites are not as worth it if not sailing in an Oasis or Quantum class ship.  The lack of complimentary VOOM is my major gripe too.  We still book it because we like the space and the double points.  The trade off is that suites are slightly lower in price on your non-O/Q class ships.  Here is a letter from the concierge for a full suite that I have booked on Navigator this summer.  I assume it will be similar for your Adventure booking:
Dear Suite Guest,
It is my pleasure to welcome you onboard the beautiful Navigator of the Seas. We are honored that you have selected Royal Caribbean International for your cruise vacation. 
My name is ___ your Concierge onboard. I am available to assist you with any special requests you may have throughout your cruise vacation. My hours in the Concierge 
Lounge are daily from 8:00 am to 11:00 am and 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm. 
As a Suite guest, you are offered exclusive amenities and services not available to other guests onboard Navigator of the Seas. For your convenience, 
here is a brief summary of those services: 
·        Use of the Concierge Lounge, Deck 9 aft.
·        Spa Bathrobes for use onboard. 
·        Upgraded amenities for the bathroom. 
·        Complimentary pressing service for the first Formal night.
·        Continental Breakfast served daily in the Concierge Lounge, From 7:30 am to 10:00 am 
·        Hors d'oeuvres, petit fours and complimentary bar setup served in the lounge every evening before and after dinner from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm. 
·        A la Carte Breakfast served daily in Chop’s Restaurant on Sea Days from 8:00 am to 10:00 am and in Port days from 7:00 am to 9:00 am. 
·        Daily menus displayed and pre-ordering for your dinner wine. 
·        Limited VIP lounge chair set-up near the Pool Bar area between Decks 11 and 12 ( no chairs reservation ). 
·        Full Dining Room room-service privilege (available when Dining Room is open). 
·        Reservations for any of our specialty restaurants, sports activities, Shore excursions! Salon and Spa services, etc. 
·        Our new additions i.e. Chef's Table, Sabor, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi  Restaurant ,Chops Grille ,get booked early, to avoid disappointment we suggest you make your reservations early. 
·        Arrangements for private parties. 
·        Reserved private seating during breakfast and lunch in Chop’s Grill restaurant (please see your service personnel for directions). 
·        Business services such as copies, etc. 
·        Cocktail party hosted by the Captain (invitations will be sent). 
·        Reserved VIP seats for production shows the suite area will be open 15 minutes prior to show time (please show Cruise Director’s staffs your Gold SeaPass card at the entrance). 
The Concierge Lounge is a private area accessible on a 24 hour basis with your Sea Pass Card. 
We respectfully request that guests follow a smart casual dress code when visiting the Lounge (no swim or pool attire is allowed, footwear is required at all times). 
To ensure all our guests are able to enjoy this exclusive lounge we require that all guests 21 years and younger must be well behaved and accompanied by a parent 
or guardian at all times. 
Please come and see me in the Concierge Lounge or contact me by dialing 8903 from any vessel’s phone. If there is any way I can be of assistance to make your cruise vacation 
more enjoyable, please do not hesitate to ask. We hope you will have the vacation of a lifetime onboard the Navigator of the Seas. 
Best Regards, 
 

Your son sounds a lot like my daughter.  She always has two questions:
When is the next cruise? Is the next cruise a group cruise? (She is disappointed if the answer is no)