Royal Caribbean Blog

Do you have a cruise booked on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas? If so, there is so much to see and do onboard that is not to be missed.  Of course, with a ship of this size and as many activities onboard as there are, it is easy to overlook some aspects of the ship.

We present our list of the top ten hidden secrets and gems that you should not overlook if you get the chance to sail on Anthem of the Seas.

10. Secret door to the Solarium

The adults-only Solarium at the front of Anthem of the Seas is a popular destination for guests who love the enclosed windows, always warm temperatures and incredible pool.  Did you know there is a secret door that leads directly into the Solarium without having to go back out to the stairwells first?

On deck 13 forward, if you walk all the way forward past all the staterooms, there is a door that leads right out to the lower level of the Solarium.

9. Thermal spa pass

Royal Caribbean's Vitality Spa has always been the perfect place to indulge in a little, "me time," and on Anthem of the Seas, you will find one of the best ways to relax ever in the thermal spa.

Guests can purchase a pass to the thermal spa for $99 per person ($179 per couple) that gets guests access to

• Heated stone chairs
• Rainforest shower room
• Infrared sauna
• Steam room

The price quoted is for the duration of the cruise and is not just a tremendous value, but also a great way to forget all of your troubles.

8. The "Hershey kiss" chair

If you want to score points for taking a selfie in the coolest chair onboard Anthem of the Seas, check out this chair that reminds us of a Hershey Kiss.

Located in the Via, near Vintages Wine Bar, this chair is a large pear shaped chair that has an opening for one or more guests to jump in and relax.

The chair is more show than function, but we dare you not to take photos of yourself in there to share with others!

7. Open play room for kids

If you have younger children that need to get burn some energy (especially before nap time), there is an open play area in Adventure Ocean that is available for use throughout the day stocked full of toys.

On Anthem of the Seas, the open play area is available for all young children, and features a slide, building blocks, tunnels, toy kitchens and much more.

Parents will find seating around the edge of the play area to monitor the kids (and likely stream something on Netflix via Royal Caribbean's amazing Voom internet).

6. Bridge wings

Looking for the best view of Anthem of the Seas? Then you want to check out the wing viewing areas that are located all the way forward, near the Solarium.

There are wing viewing spots on both sides of the ship, and they are small platforms that extend away from the ship, giving guests amazing views every time.

These wing viewing areas are perfect for sailaways or just getting a great photo of Anthem of the Seas.

To get to the wing viewing areas, go all the way forward on deck 14, then walk through the Solarium all the way to the front and go left or right to find a door that leads to them.

5. Beer selection at Brass & Bock

If you are a beer lover, and especially enjoy craft beers, the spot onboard Anthem of the Seas for you is the Brass & Bock pub.

Unfortunately, craft beers are a rare commodity on Royal Caribbean ships but the Brass & Bock pub is stocked full of some wonderful microbrews.

While you are enjoying a great beer, be sure to order something off the pub food menu.  Their burger and fried pickles are outstanding.

4. Planks at Jamie's Italian

Jamie's Italian specialty restaurant is a real winner with guests, who continuously report back glowing reviews of the food offered here.  If you are wondering what the best thing is on the menu: it is the meat planks.

The menu is comprised of Jamie’s Italian Famous Plank piled high with cured meats, pickles and tempting cheeses. It is perfect for sharing with everyone at the table and you will really find it is the perfect way to start any meal at Jamie's Italian.

3. Best uncrowded spot for breakfast: Cafe @ Two70

If you want to have breakfast somewhere on Anthem of the Seas without a large crowd, try Cafe @ Two70.  Royal Caribbean describes this as a "European" style breakfast, and you will find a bagel bar, yogurts, fruit, pastries and some breakfast sandwiches too.

The best part of breakfast here is the view, because you can take your food out to Two70, and enjoy a wonderful view of the ocean.

2. See through floor

It can be easy to forget just how large a ship Anthem of the Seas is, so head to deck 13 aft and walk up to deck 14, where you will get a pretty good reminder.

Royal Caribbean added this see-through floor for one of the steps, which allows guests to peer down more than 10 decks to the Royal Esplanade.  Be sure to bring your camera, especially when kids see this for the first time.

1. The best views of NYC are on the port side

If you are booking a balcony or oceanview stateroom and want to ensure you get a great view of New York City while docked in Cape Liberty (and on your way out to sea), then very likely you will want to book a room on the port side of the ship.

We should mention that Anthem of the Seas does not always dock in the same way, but most often we see the port side of the ship facing the Statue of Liberty and the skyline of Manhattan.

Regardless of which side the ship docks or where your stateroom is, be sure to go to the bridge wing that we noted in secret number 6 to get the perfect vantage point of this iconic skyline.

Did we miss any Anthem of the Seas secrets? Share them in our comments!

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 192 is available for downloading, in which we share with you our five rules for getting the best price on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

A Royal Caribbean cruise represents an excellent value, and this week we share our strategy for getting a great deal on any Royal Caribbean sailing.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 192. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Vintages is well-known across Royal Caribbean ships as being the spot onboard to grab a glass (or bottle) of wine, but they also serve up tapas for guests to enjoy.

Vintages has offered tapas for a while now, but in the name of "research," we wanted to try it out for ourselves to see what is offered.

Tapas are small plates of food that originated in Spain.  Traditional tapas are mix of appetizers or snacks, but they are served closer to a small plate in style.

On Navigator of the Seas, we tried the tapas option, which costs guest $5 for a plank full of meets, cheeses and fruit.

Tapas are available each evening in Vintages, beginning at 5pm.  It takes just a few minutes to prepare, at which point the server brings out your serving.

You will find grapes, prosciutto, salami, brie and more.

Do you want to try the tapas at Vintages? Let us know in the comments!

Towering over 150 feet above sea level, the Ultimate Abyss on Harmony of the Seas launches thrill seekers into a serpentine of twists and turns on the world's biggest ship. Guests climb to the slide's glass platform, taking in the view from the top of the tallest slide at sea. From there, sliders launch into 216 feet of tunnels, whizzing past multi-sensory effects and blast onto the Boardwalk 10 decks below.

The AquaTheater suites for Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas are awaiting installation at the STX France shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, and we have some photos of the ship's progress to share.

Our friends at Saint Nazaire, une ville à la mer posted these photos.

© Hervé GLAIS

Odds are if you take a Royal Caribbean cruise to somewhere in the Caribbean, there is a good chance you will stop in Nassau, Bahamas.  Nassau is one of the busiest cruise ports in the region, and offers quite a variety of shore excursions to consider.

On a recent stop in Nassau while on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas, we decided to check out a well-respected resort just steps away from the port that offers a day pass for guests to enjoy their facilities without breaking our budget.  

Description

Located a short walk from the cruise terminal in Nassau, the British Colonial Hilton resort faces the entrance to Nassau harbor, and offers guests full access to the resort's pristine beach and pool. Guests that want to enjoy pool and beach time will find a convenient option on lovely grounds. The resort underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2009.

We reserved our spot at the British Colonial Hilton through a third-party website, ResortForADay.com.  The site will reserve each person a place at the resort, which only sells a limited amount of day passes. The day pass includes

• $40 food and beverage credit per paid adult
• $20 food and beverage credit per paid child
• Beach access
• Beachfront swimming pool
• Towels, pool chairs and lounges
• Beach chairs and lounges, umbrellas
• Non-motorized water sports: kayaks, snorkeling gear

Transportation to and from the resort is not provided, but considering the location of the British Colonial Hilton to the cruise port, it is largely unnecessary if a leisurely 10 minute walk is not out of the question. If you need to take a cab, the price is $9.00 based on two and $3.00 for each additional person. The cab ride is also 10 minutes away from the hotel.

Arriving at the resort, you will enter the cavernous lobby to check-in.  The day pass is good from 9am until sunset. The bar takes the last food orders at 4.30pm with the bar closing at 5pm. Guest are welcome to stay in outdoor pool / beach area until sunset, however the lifeguard leaves at 5:00.

Following check-in, guests receive a special wristband and can then head to the pool and/or beach.

The pool area is located just outside the lobby, past the lush garden. It is a good sized pool, with a shallow and deep end, suitable for anyone that is comfortable to swim.

There are also lots of lounge chairs surrounding the pool, but shaded spots are quite limited.  In fact, at the pool the only shad provided comes from trees, so if shade is important to you, be sure to arrive early in the morning to grab a spot.  If all else fails, there is shade under the bar.

The beach area is quite large, and offers a great view of Nassau harbor.  In fact, it is a fantastic spot to watch cruise ships arriving or leaving, provided you happen to be there when such an event occurs.

Your day pass admission also includes a food and beverage credit, which is enough money to cover a lunch entree and cocktail.  The patio bar food and drink pricing is on the expensive side. Most entrees are around $20 and a cocktail will set you back about $15.  Keep in mind that your food and beverage credit does not cover gratuity or taxes.

Hanging out in the Bahamas #travel https://t.co/8XoqFoXwQw

— Royal Caribbean Blog (@theRCLblog) March 23, 2017

Comments

When we considered the British Colonial Hilton, we wanted to spend our day in Nassau with the option of spending our time in the ocean of pool without spending a ton.  We travel with two young children (ages six and two), so trying to predict if the pool or beach will be to their liking is always tough, and the British Colonial Hilton seemed to fit our group needs.

For the price, I felt like we got exactly what we wanted from our day at the Hilton.  While other resort day pass excursions may have offered more to do than the British Colonial Hilton, we felt like the resort offered a great experience at a reasonable price. The resort grounds are immaculately well-kept, and our kids had a blast swimming for nearly the entire day in the pool.

The most obvious alternative we considered was a day pass to the nearby Atlantis resort, but the price difference was massive.  Certainly Atlantis offers quite a bit more to do in an even more luxurious backdrop, however, the price for us was too much to consider.

The two negatives that I noticed from my time at the British Colonial Hilton were the lack of shade at the pool, and the very high price for food and drink.  We were lucky to have arrived before most of the other day pass guests, because we snagged shade under one of the few trees by the pool.  The food and drink prices are something to be aware of, and I would advise only indulging enough to use up your credits.  The cocktail prices make Royal Caribbean's drink prices look like a bargain, so your best bet is to skip the binge drinking for somewhere else.

Overall, we really enjoyed our time at the British Colonial Hilton because it was exactly what we were looking for: a relaxing spot for pool and beach time that would suit our family's needs. 

Cost: $65 per adult, $30 per child (ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free).

Happy weekend! We hope Spring is starting to arrive where you live.  Regardless of the weather, it is time to sit back, relax, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean news!

Gather three of your closest, thrill seeking friends and you could win a free Royal Caribbean cruise as part of the cruise line's new contest.

Royal Caribbean is holding a contest to find Instagram adventure seekers who want to travel the world and compete for the title of "World's Most Adventurous Squad".

Royal Caribbean will hold five adventure-themed Instagram challenges. Each challenge will run for 72 hours on Royal Caribbean’s Instagram account starting on March 29 and through April 12. To take part in the challenge, adventurers simply post their photo to Instagram, tag three friends that will comprise their squad and use the hashtag #AdventureSquad and #Contest.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean added shorts to the approved clothing list for casual night in the main dining room.
• Anthem of the Seas had a propulsion problem, and had to alter her itinerary.
• Freedom of the Seas will call San Juan, Puerto Rico its new home in 2018-2019.
• We shared a spotlight look at the CocoCay Beach Bungalows.
• Speaking of CocoCay, we also shared a construction progress photo report earlier this week.
• Did you see Royal Caribbean's April Fools Day joke for this year?
• We shared a photo tour of the AquaTheater Suite on Harmony of the Seas.
• Check out our full review of Jamie's Italian on Anthem of the Seas.
• Royal Caribbean released a new Symphony of the Seas construction photo update.
• Empress of the Seas is now offering luggage storage for guests who board early.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 191st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring a full review of Matt's recent Anthem of the Seas cruise.

In this episode, Matt shares a review of his recent sailing on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. It was a fun-filled cruise to the Bahamas, and Matt shares his experiences onboard and onshore.  

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Cruise Tips TV has a new video with Royal Caribbean tips and money saving tricks.

Flights of Fancy Mom has a review of their recent Freedom of the Seas cruise.

CruiseHabit shares helpful information about credit cards and changing currency in Cuba.

Cruise Radio listed their top 9 Royal Caribbean restaurants.

We love to explore the various staterooms on Royal Caribbean cruise ships and today we have a look at the Two Bedroom AquaTheater Suite stateroom on Harmony of the Seas.

This category A1 room was photographed by Frank Battiston during his stay in stateroom 8330.

Category A1 staterooms on Harmony of the Seas measure 823 square feet with an additional 772 square feet of space on the balcony.

Guests staying in this room are eligible for the Star Class benefits of the Royal Suite Class.  This includes

• Exclusive Access to Royal Genie Service
• All Day Access to Coastal Kitchen
• Complimentary Specialty Restaurants
• Complimentary Ultimate Beverage Package (for guests 21 years or older)
• Complimentary Royal Replenish Package (for guests under 21 years old)
• Complimentary Gratuities
• Complimentary VOOM - The Fastest Internet at Sea
• And more

There are two bathrooms in this suite, with the master bathroom featuring a tub.

There is also a large dining area and living room.

Of course, the compelling reason to book a room like this is the balcony.  Not only is the balcony quite large, it offers views of the ocean, Boardwalk neighborhood and the AquaTheater.

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Royal Caribbean is offering every third night free for guests that book cruises, with some bonus instant savings.

Essentially, the cruise fare is reduced to reflect every third night of the cruise vacation being free. The longer you sail, the more you will save. The offer applies to cruises that depart on or after May 1, 2017 on bookings made between April 1 - 30, 2017. Offer excludes China departures.

• 3-5 Night Sailing – 1 Free Night
• 6-8 Night Sailing – 2 Free Nights
• 9-11 Night Sailing – 3 Free Nights
• 12-14 Night Sailing – 4 Free Nights
• 15-17 Night Sailing – 5 Free Nights
• 18-20 Night Sailing – 6 Free Nights
• 21-23 Night Sailing – 7 Free Nights
• 24 Night Sailing – 8 Free Nights

If you book between April 1-4, there are bonus instant savings available. 

• 5-nights or less
  • Inside/Outside Staterooms: $25
  • Balcony/Deluxe Staterooms: $50
• 6-nights or more
  • Inside/Outside Staterooms: $75
  • Balcony/Deluxe Staterooms: $150

Anthem Bonus

Up to $200 instant savings per stateroom on Anthem of the Seas sailings departing May 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017

• Inside/Outside Staterooms: $100
• Balcony/Deluxe Staterooms: $200

Oasis Class Upgrades

Cruises booked on Oasis Class ships between April 5 - 17, 2017 will enjoy a free upgrade from an oceanview to balcony stateroom.

1-2- FREE is combinable with adjoining Dollars Off, Bonus Anthem Dollars Off, Crown & Anchor discounts, NextCruise offers and Shareholder Benefits. Dollars Off and Bonus Anthem Dollars Off is not combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts or Shareholder Benefits. 1-2-Free, Dollars Off, and Bonus Anthem Dollars Off are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including but not limited to, restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, and Military), Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates

Offer available to residents of the United States and Canada.

Royal Caribbean UK has gotten into the April Fools mood with their "announcement" of the world's first ski resort at sea, Piste of the Seas.

The Oasis Class ship will debut in 2012 that bridges the gap between anyone torn between a ski or cruise break.  The ship features five real snow runs, a lift and après-ski restaurants, bars and spa.

• The family sized chalet-style rooms on Piste of the Seas feature wood panelling.
• The ski lift will take guests up to the top of Mount Mast, allowing for wonderful views of the ocean before skiing down.
• The Alpine Spa will offer Nordic deep-tissue massages.
• Enjoy a few drinks after your skiing day at the Après Sail Bar.

If you are wondering, "Piste" is a French word that means, "a ski run of compacted snow."

Last year, Royal Caribbean UK lampooned the internet with its April Fools joke of announcing space cruises.