skyhawk352

Thanks for the great info. How do you make dinner reservations?

You can make reservations in advance by logging into you account on the Royal Caribbean website and selecting the cruise. It'll give you the opportunity to select dining as well as shows in advance.

XTCS, yes, St Maarten was a tad busy. Not the best scheduling to have 5 huge ships in port at the same time. There were over 18k cruise passengers with us on the island that day. Being that we were the last to arrive, that's why we lucked out with the light traffic in the morning. Unless you returned back to the ship after 5:30pm (the last of the 'all aboard' times of the other ships), traffic was inevitable unfortunately. Could have been worse though, two days prior 7 ships were in.

Couldn't you book the reservation onboard, with the Next Cruise benefit and any additional benefit that you're entitled to for Emerald and then call once home to update the reservation to the diamond balcony additional discount?

Yes, as EMBflyer stated you can hold yours plus 3 others. That applies to each person traveling, so if you're traveling as a couple, each of you could book 3 other cabins. It's best to have their information in advance, full legal names and dates of birth.

I went there for dinner twice on the recent 12-night Caribbean sailing. The salad/appetizer was buffet style, dinner was served, and then dessert is buffet. The menu was the same both nights. Personally? I thought the food was okay, but I felt the dining room had a better selection. I didn't take a picture of the menu, but here was an assortment of 6 or so items for an entree, plus 3 'specialty' options that you could pay more for. Their known for their 2lb lobster, which was lower in cost in the Solarium Bistro than in the MDR. Larger too.

They don't officially have lunch, but more of a brunch menu we found.

Hope that helps..

I live on Long Island, so have never done the taxi from Red Hook to Newark. The distance is relatively the same from Red Hook, but the headache factor with traffic if the taxi goes thru the city, or the toll cost if they take Verezzano Bridge over to Jersey to me wouldn't be worth it, unless the cost of the airfare was dramatically lower.

Thanks Garavar!

I know the formula for the C&A Points changes in 2011, does anyone remember what the old program was and how points were accumulated. I seem to recall that longer sailings got bonus points? Something like that.. Thanks!

More than likely you'll find flights for JFK as they have the nonstop London to NY route. Newark (EWR) typically would offer nonstop flights from London as well, but unless you're staying in NYC as a pre-stay, I probably wouldn't recommend that.

We just got back from Anthem today and you have to log off before it lets you log on the other device.

I too just got back from Anthem today. Perhaps it has to do with the type of devices being used, but my friend and I split an Internet plan and when one logged on, the other got booted.

Like Kim said, there have been many Alpha Alpha Alpha calls on this ship. One last night as well, after we left Puerto Rico enroute to St Maarten. Sadly it happens all the time.

I very surprised that you were told that there would be only 2 formal nights. A 12 night cruise traditionally has 3. So does a 11 and even a 10 night cruise. Who advised you of this?

Also remember that day 1 is embarkation day so day 9 is when Anthem will be in port, St. Kitts, so I highly doubt there will be a formal night that evening if there are really only two formal nights with three sea days following that port stop.

It will be on day 10 or 11 which are the first two sea days back to Bayonne and my money is on it will be the evening of day 11 or the middle sea day back. ;)

I was advised by RCCL that there were only 2 formal nights on this sailing. As for my math, yes, I'm on vacation mode. Clearly lacking in the calendar skills, but it would be one of the first 2 sea days. Being that we'll change our clocks back one of those days as well, not sure if that'll make a difference either.

I'm on the Anthem now as well. I was advised we'll have 2 formal nights. Being that we have 3 at sea days on the return, the 2nd formal will be on day 9 or 10.

Yes, the days at sea that we've had, the Windjammer has been quite crowded. Especially if you're looking for a table for a full table for 4. Sharing a table, if you're a party of 2, seems readily available.

Does anyone know if the Anthem will have a murder mystery dinner on a 12 day sailing?

I am just going by what you said, I looked for the post because I wanted to see what people had to say or if they did indeed ignore you. I found no such post.

 

It Sometimes, even with doing research, we get something we dislike. I booked a hump cabin on Brilliance because so many said they are great and aren't noisy. Worst cabin I have ever had! Live and learn.

Do you mind me asking what about the hump cabin you didn't like? I have one for an upcoming cruise..

Has anyone eaten dinner in here? Now that they're doing away with the dynamic dining, does that mean the menu in here will be the same as the MDR? Even though it was meant to be a semi healthier alternative? Thanks!

Hi! I know there are promotions to purchase the Internet access for the entire cruise in advance, but does anyone who recently sailed know if they run promotions while onboard? I don't really need Internet access for the entire 12-night cruise. Just a day here or there while at sea. If it makes a difference, I'll be on the Anthem. Thanks!

Yes I saw those tables as well. You're good to go.

Thanks! Mom will be happy. Yay! Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

I don't mean to make this a scavenger hunt, but do you know if they have 3-Card poker as well?

 

Why not talk to a Travel agent or Cunard Direct. If you manage to arrange a Virgin Flight with Cunard, then use your miles to try and upgrade.

If you were to go this route, you may want to check with Virgin as some airlines have restrictions with upgrades and what type of fares can be upgraded. Sometimes bundled or contracted airfares cannot be upgraded.

10010 is up on deck 10, the cabins that have the obstructed lifeboat view are down on deck 8. If you're out on your balcony, look down and to the left, sure you'll be able to see the lifeboats, but they shouldn't be bothering your view.

Expect a lot of delays. There's a massive renovation project at LGA and traffic is horrendous. Hope you don't have an early flight..

Even though you booked at the same time, with two individual booking numbers, that sounds as if it would count as 2 separate trips. If it was booked as one trip, you'd have one confirmation number for the full voyage. Have fun!

Here's a link to the balls with their descriptions.. Hope it helps!

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/life-on-board/theme_nights

For the Caribbean sailing last month on the QM2, the Entertainment Director was Joanna Haley.

Is it walkable, yes. But it's a 'healthy' walk. Plus don't forget once you do get to town you'll be walking more in a direction away from the dock, so an even further walk back. I'd probably recommend the water shuttle each way, or walking into town and then taking the shuttle back.

On a side note, at Amber Cove we were told it's a 5 minute walk also. It definitely was not. I walked from the port to the point that you'll see of the left hand side pulling in with the gazebo, and that was 25-30 minutes.

In St Thomas we docked in Crown Bay. That was a 2-mile walk into town. There were plenty of shuttles into town if you wished to take one, I believe they were asking $4 pp each way.

Have a great cruise!

Karin