MaryS

Day 5 Coco Cay day. The Anthem and Independence were both at Coco Cay today. OMG So many people. I'm so glad that I the $50 OBC showed up in my account on black Friday because the Beach Club was the perfect place to be. I was very happy in my beach chair in the shade at the club with my lobster lunch. I heard from a few people that the water park was so busy that they were giving out scheduled times to come back for certain slides. I did walk around for a while and it was a big difference from the 2021 Anthem Christmas cruise. I think the Beach Club has spoiled me. Day 6 Nassau. I really didn't want to stay on the ship because we have 2 sea days next so I booked the Blue Lagoon Island Beach Day. The boat ride to the island is about 40 minutes then they only give you about 3 hours before you have to go back to the ship. I found a lounge chair in the shade and chilled out for a while. Lunch was included and it was the usual hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken (really good)... After lunch I walked around the island (I get bored just sitting around). Found the dolphins and sea lion area and watched them for a while then back to my chair to pack up. Would I do this again, no once is enough.

I am on the same cruise and I hope @D Altdoesn't mind if I post a bit (if I remember). I also love leaving from Bayonne. It's only an hour drive for me from PA and I was on the ship by 11:30. I'm in a balcony room and on the cruise by myself which is fine with me (my one sister has to work and my other sister doesn't "come up north". Her loss) This is my 3rd time on Anthem and my 2nd Christmas cruise on Anthem (did 2021 Christmas cruise). Day 2 sea day went to the top tier event and forgot everything they said (and it wasn't because of the free drinks). It is a packed ship and I think they said occupancy is the highest since 2019. I think they said there are around 1500 children on board too (and they've taken over the Windjammer). There are also many families from Asia. Went to Jamie's for lunch. It was just okay. Day 3 I finally was able to go to Kennedy Space Center this trip since we were in Port Canaveral until 8. I had a great time. Day4 Did a Miami/Art Deco/Little Havana tour (South Beach). The tour was okay. We did manage to lose one person at the 1st stop. She lost us as soon as we got off the bus, I have never actually visited Miami. I have been to the cruise port and airport tons of times. Saw Spectra tonight and I always enjoy it. Tomorrow is Coco Cay and I'm off to the Beach Club An OBC popped up on my account on black Friday so I used it towards the Club. I don't have a clue where the OBC came from but I didn't think twice about what I was going to use it for.

I have done the fire & ice pedicure a few times and yes it does include getting the nails painted.

Anthem - 2X (3X after the Christmas cruise) Oasis - 2X Odyssey Allure Explorer Mariner

The evening activities weren't toned down at all. We did go to all the shows (I think I fell sleep during Effectors because I don't remember it), enjoyed the Music Hall and the Schooner Bar even though we were wiped out. Most nights we were back in the cabin around 11 because we knew we needed to be up early. If funds allow I would spend more for business class or premium economy (we were on United) for the comfort and little extras. Mary

My sister and I did our 1st European cruise out of Civitavecchia this past September for my 60th birthday. We did the 8 day Odyssey of the Seas Greek cruise. We flew into Rome 2 days before cruise departure. I reserved private car service with Bob's Limo https://www.romelimousines.com/ from the airport to the hotel (70 Euro per car), the hotel to the cruise port (135 Euro per car) and from the cruise port back to the airport (135 Euro per car). I made the reservations and prepaid about a month before the cruise so I didn't have to worry about it. We stayed at the Marriott Le Meridien (I used my Bonvoy points so I'm not sure what the room cost was). I enjoyed the hotel. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The hotel itself was very clean and had a somewhat modern decor. We were really there to sleep so no complaints. The hotel was about 6 blocks from the Vatican, 6 blocks from the Spanish steps all walkable for us. The only time we took a taxi was from the hotel to the Coluseum after spending 7 hours doing a Vatican tour (I was getting tired). On the ship we had My Time Dining. We didn't make any reservations but usually went between 7-7:30 waited maybe 10 minutes at the most on line. We did reserve Teppanyaki on day 2 (sea day for my birthday) otherwise we were too tired and didn't think we would appreciate the specialty restaurants on this cruise. We had RCCL excursions booked for all the ports and 4 of the 5 ports we had to meet around 7:15 every morning in the theater and we were off the ship for at least 7-8 hours. We had 2 sea days. Day 1 we were resting from our Rome adventures and Day 8 where we didn't do much of anything because we were so exhausted. Our flight home was at 1:00PM I had arranged for the car service to pick us up at the port at 8:00AM. I think we got to the airport by 9:00. The airport was a zoo and the lines for regular check in were very long and a lot of unhappy people. We had premier access so our line was short and we were checked in within 10 minutes and on our way to duty free shopping. A European cruise is so much different from a Caribbean cruise. There is a lot of planning that needs to be done ahead of time but that makes the vacation so much more stress free when you are there.

I was lucky and able to get into the cruise planner about an hour ago and purchased it there.

I cancelled my original refreshment package and repurchased it at the $19.99/day price on the App for my Dec 18th cruise. Also used Amex and it's showing pending. Received emails from Royal for the refund and repurchase. I was able to purchase Voom Surf Stream online a few minutes ago foe $13.99. The site said there was a problem but Amex was charged and Royal sent me a confirm email.

Looking at the app under Dining then Main Dining room you can pull up each nights menus. Looks like day 6 which would be Friday 11/25 is lobster night. Formal night is usually day 2 which is Monday 11/21. Hope this helps

This showed up in my cruise planner today for my Anthem cruise Dec 18th

I was just able to book Spectra's Cabaret on my 12/18/22 Anthem sailing. So glad I saw this topic. I really wish that they would open up reservations for IFly and North Star too. Thanks all.

My sister ordered the chocolate birthday cake online for my birthday cruise on Odyssey in September. It was in my cabin day 1 of the cruise (my birthday was day 2). It was the best chocolate cake. It was so moist and fudgy so good. I was eating a little bit every afternoon and late night. Unfortunately our cabin steward took the cake away the morning of day 4. I was so upset!

Bermuda doesn't have a McDonald's.

Scooters (mopeds) aren't the safest anymore on the Bermuda roads. I have been going to Bermuda since the late 70's and started riding the mopeds (now scooters) back then. I love riding them but didn't feel as safe when I was riding one in 2019. My friends that have lived in Bermuda forever even told me to be careful. In 2021 & 2022 I have rented the Twizy which is a 2 person electric vehicle and I love them. This is the link to the website that rents them but you MUST reserve them online before you even get to Bermuda https://www.currentvehicles.com/. Also remember that they drive on the left.

The fee was $75.00 in 2021

Thank you for including us on your Alaska Adventure! You did an outstanding job on the blog!

Don't freak out Bermudians are very friendly and helpful. As soon as you get of the ship there should be signs for the Horseshoe Bay shuttles (or you can ask anyone right there). The shuttle takes you right to the beach entrance and costs $7.00 per person each way and I think is cash only (US dollars are used in Bermuda). Once you get to Horseshoe Bay they have chair & umbrella rentals (not sure of the price and it might be cash only too) if you want or just bring your pool towels from the ship. There are also concession stands for food and drink (i would bring cash not sure if they credit cards) and also bathrooms to change out of your wet things. Just a friendly reminder that before you head back to the shuttle make sure that your bathing suits and/or clothing are dry and that your items are not covered in sand.

I went on the Anthem of the Seas Holiday cruise this past Christmas solo. There were a lot of families which made it fun. Christmas morning they had a visit with Santa in Two70 for the kids. The majority of the families were all wearing matching Xmas pj's on Xmas morning. I think they did caroling but I missed it. I did decorate my cabin & cabin door. Also wore my reindeer antlers and slippers. Xmas eve they had a special show in the theater which was really good.. I really had a great time and would do it again.

just did the same on my laptop and it's working now

The JR on Anthem had the adult milk shakes when I was on in December. I had a few vanilla with Malibu rum shakes yum.

White screen here in Bucks County PA. Tried laptop, office PC, iphone all white screen

When going to Bermuda there is no need to do any excursions through the cruise line. All the local businesses (at Dockyard), taxi, tour guides and water sport companies know the cruise schedules. The Island Tour Centre is a main excursion company located at Dockyard (cruise terminal). This is the website: https://www.islandtourcentre.com/. Another company is BDA Watersports: https://bdawatersports.com/

Plenty of Walgreens do the rapid NAAT testing in Bucks Co, Montgomery Co, Mercer Co NJ. Here is the link https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?ban=covidtesting_LP_why_schedule

I have never done a sunset cruise but I have used Island Tour Centre (located right at Dockyard) for other activities. This is the website: https://www.islandtourcentre.com/.

My sister was a no show on our Sept. 2021 Oasis cruise and I received the 32 points. I only told RCCL when checking in at the port that my sister will not be coming. RCCL automatically gave me the points after the cruise. I never asked about the points before the cruise. I figured that if I didn't get the points I would email them and dispute it.