LIVE – Anthem’s First Trip to the Caribbean Picture Review 11/10/15

Hello again Cruise Critic family – It’s Ken and Paulette. We are Diamond Plus cruisers from the great City of NY. We had originally booked an 8 day Anthem in December, but changed to the first revenue sailing out of Bayonne to the Caribbean. This is a 12 day cruise visiting Puerto Rico, Barbados, Martinique, St Kitts, and St Martin. Not only are we doing a live review, we are also broadcasting live on Periscope, screen name @kcjarvis. We worked until 11:30 am and then took the 1 hour trip to Cape Liberty. The weather was dreary, but the traffic getting to the port was good.

Love at 1st sight

It took us about 20 mins to get to the bag drop area, due to Port congestion, but after we dropped the bags, it only took us 4 mins for curb side check in.

Passport swipe

Mastercard swipe

No we don't have a cold

No we don't have a fever

No we haven't been to West Africa

No we don't have ebola...

Then quickly through security and on to the ship

Nice! Checking out your scopes right now. Have fun!

Nice connection on the scopes. And I love that you can now rewind or fast forward.

Have a great cruise. Always enjoy your trip reports.

Forgot to note - We were actively tracking Tropical Storm Kate

Slightly long wait for an elevator to get us to Owners Suite 12634

Houston - I think we have a problem

A quick trip to Guest Services to "fix" the issue

Signed up for Voom - $210 with DP discount for 2 devices for the 12 days of unlimited use.

25 Megs at Sea????? AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

Then to the muster drill, which took 25 mins due to a technical error with the presentation. Luckily, we were sitting indoors, at the American Icon Grill. I still can't get that "Wash your hands" song out of my head... UGH

Hi Ken and Paulette:

Subscribed and looking forward to following.

Sunset last night on Periscope was sooooo beautiful!

Thanks for taking us along.

Following. Have a fantastic time :)

Looking forward to the review! We will be on Anthem this January.

74 days to go but who's counting?

Thanks for the first impression. Been on the Anthem some weeks ago and enjoyed it!

Can you confirm that WOW bands are no longer free?

If you have a chance, ask if you can re-use them on another cruise (if they can be re-programmed).

Thanks and have a great cruise!

Looking forward to your live updates! Thanks for doing this!

BTW now that you mentioned the Wash your hands song, I have it stuck in my head from remembering it from Oasis two months ago.

Can you confirm that WOW bands are no longer free?

 

Thanks and have a great cruise!

Would like to know this as well!

Great start - looking forward to more of your review, thank you for the live report

As you have time, if you can, would you mind posting pricing of drinks, menus? Wondering if anything changed from the European and transatlantic sailings

Enjoy your cruise we will not be on the Anthem until June

Hello, I was very excited to see your post. Your reviews are always very informative and fun to follow.

We will be on Anthem in January, in a Grand Suite. So if you can post if you see anything different done for suites on Anthem, I would like to know.

Also, if you ever have a chance to pick at 12246, I heard that the horrible partition on the balcony was removed (hopefully);)

I would love to know who is the concierge and their email address.

Sorry, for all the questions, but I cant wait to be on her!

Have a wonderful trip and enjoy.:)

Looking forward to the rest of your review! In just about 7 months it will be our turn:D

After the drill, we headed back to the cabin, for a rainy sailaway. The Capt announced we would be 30 mins late due to late luggage loading.

And we are under way!!!!!!!

The NY Fire Dept Fire boat gave us a water cannon salute.

Thank you so much for scoping & reviewing your trip!! I am following you in periscope (my name is under princessnady)

Is there a charge for the wow bands?

Looking forward to seeing your PR scope tomorrow

Oops, missed the morning scope! My bad!

:):D

Passing under the Giovanni da Verrazzano Narrows Bridge down the Ambrose Channel heading out of New York Harbor...

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Passing under the Giovanni da Verrazzano Narrows Bridge down the Ambrose Channel heading out of New York Harbor...

 

j7ARV_B5Vmo

I could go under this bring 1,000 times and it never gets old. So far we have sailed out of Bayonne 14 times and love it.

That evening, we had an amazing meal at Coastal Kitchen!!!!!!

Serrano Ham wrapped Dates

Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread

Black Almond Punch

Lobster Tails

Beef Tenderloin

We had a rocking and rolling night with 20 waves

At 9:30am, it was time for the Meet and Mingle. There was some confusion due to a time change and a venue change.

The Slot Pull followed the M&M. There was some more confusion, but i'll change the names to protect the guilty or is it the innocent????

At 2pm, it was time for the Cabin Crawl. I have to say, this was the most organized cabin crawl I've ever been on. OK fine, I admit it - I was the organizer. HAHA

We saw an Owner's Suite, a Superior Grand Suite, a Grand Suite, a Junior Suite, a Superior Ocean View Balcony, and 2 Obstructed View Balconies.

Here is an Obstructed View Balcony

Here is an Obstructed View Balcony with no obstruction - #6566

Grand Suite on the Hump

Owners Suite

I'm so excited to follow your blog :) I love love love the pictures!

Great Day 2 sunset

Headliner Show

Cruise Director - Ken Rush

Comedian Rondell Sheridan was so funny!!!!

Then off to 270 for some live music

Is there much dancing done on the Anthem?