goldesq

First world problems.

Just a quick add to this since I was in a similar 'boat'. I booked a guarantee Grand Suite large balcony. I confirmed from RCCL that the beds split before paying for the room. I put on the reservation for split beds and also emailed the concierge to ensure the beds split when we arrive (our last names are the same but we are 40 years apart in age). I was traveling with my dad so sharing a bed is not an option.. The cruise was two weeks out and almost sold out. We were upgraded to a Sky Loft and on the ship while talking with the room attendant when we first met, we found out the bed did NOT split. My only option was the couch. I was furious.

I was even more furious when, after one night sleeping on the couch, I could not stand upright. I was in enormous pain that got worse day by day. Even with a topper, I was a mess.

Moral: Don't assume the couch is a great solution. (Also, three people behind me in the guest relations line were there to complain of bad backs due to the actual mattresses (not even couches) in their rooms).

As I sit here typing this, days after returning home, my back is still killing me. It throbs and I still have such issues walking for more than a few minutes time.

If anything was to happen, what will she do?

Oh come on, stop it. Maybe she just wants to 'know'...know that everyone is ok/healthy, the baby was born, the gender, etc. She is a grandma for goodness sake!!!

I think turkeys and warthogs should be included in the list of acceptable animals.

Just a heads up...two times there is a smoked tomato soup...totally different and very delicious.

Thanks everyone.

Do you give tips to the bar staff or not and if you do, how much? Do you wait until the end or do it daily? There is usually 3 in there every night. Curious on everyone's experiences.

Had an incident, the other day in the Theatre. I waited on line for the doors to open. Wife & I had reservations for the show. I make my way down to the seats. Their are two women discussing how many seats they need to save for family & friends. I avoid them as they are saving a row. I move to go into the next row. One of them blocks my path to save an additional row. I become the bad guy for not letting them do their thing. I take a seat. I’m told that they need the seats. I could have easily moved. They turned the table on me. Family eventually comes in. Woman gets ship staff. I immediately leave. I get compensated to my satisfaction. I don’t understand what part of the English language translates to No saving of seats are permitted. Next showing had Officer Staff in front of stage to insure no repeat performance. I guess the rules are for everyone else. I know it would have been easier to let people do whatever they want. I wonder if they reserved the Solarium so they could all sit together. They should have just chartered their own cruise. Case closed.

you are a far nicer person then me. If someone is saving more than one seat, I usually just sit there anyway. I do understand a bit now about saving seats as I have to sometimes save one for my father who has mobility issues. I won’t go into it much but he needs a hard seat with a back so he can get up off the seat with his cane. If the seat is soft and deep with coushion s, he can’t get up. Most seats are like that in lounges. He also needs an aisle seat for his legs. He also walks so slow so if I didn’t save one, we would never have a seat. Not funny but funny.

Even when he has not been with me, I sometimes will take one of those multiple (not one) saved seats. I just don’t care sometimes. and yes, I do make reservations for shows where you can make them. We are even in a suite so we get reserved seats but still saving multiple seats is so rampant. I feel for you!

It's long been my goal to sail with as many cruise lines as I can and was finally able to book a cruise on Anthem for next April. While I've posted in the Royal forums from time to time I can't say that I've spent a lot of time here but now I have a lot of research to do. Anthem looks amazing and we can't wait to see her in person! Looking forward to visiting Coco Cay but of course with this itinerary the rest is "been there, done that many times". So a few general questions:

 

1. We are wait listed for early dining, how well does Royal do their version of my time dining?

2. What does the deluxe drink package cost? It's not available in the planner to even look at right now.

3. Does Royal at 15% or 18% to bar purchases?

4. MDR and buffet are included in the cruise fare, what other venues are included? What are some of the prices of the surcharge venues (IIRC Johnny Rockets is around $4.95)?

5. Does Royal charge for using North Star or Ripcord and if so how much?

6. I may have to do some class work while onboard, how is the internet service?

 

I'm sure there will be other questions as time goes on but hopefully those will be gleaned from the boards.

I am on the ship now so the most recent answers are:

1. I actually have not eaten there as I am eating daily in the Coastal Kitchen but friends of ours really enjoy it. They just go when they want or make a reservation between 9 and 4 for that evening's meal.

2. They have sales all the time so wait for a sale. I think its too early to even book it now for your trip. Drink prices a la carte are from 9 to 13 on average plus 18%.

3. 18%

4. Johnny Rockets is a la carte. I truly never saw anyone ever there.

5. For NorthStar no and there is no no show fee. However, there were stand by lists on this cruise yet there were sometimes, that NO ONE was going on it like when in Labadee around 130-4 PM. That day, I was sitting at the North Star Bar after lunch and wanted to take a second ride (I had no reservation for that day) up. I had to wait for a few others to show up (they said they wouldn't ride with just one or two people) before they would let us up. I never ventured to Rip Cord.

6. The internet service, other than for video streaming, is really the best I have ever encountered on a ship. Once onboard, after a day or two, they do have sales so if you can wait, I would recommend it. Otherwise the streaming (I used streaming for Sirius radio) package is 19.95 a day.

I for one don't really believe their story. Way too many holes in it.

Seriously?? Do you really think someone would waste their time and, of all things they could possibly ever do in the world, post a fake story about their safe being emptied?

My question exactly! What "bathroom" alarm? I've never seen an alarm in a bathroom.I've been cruising for decades and this is the first time I've ever heard someone that had belongings stolen from a safe. Was the safe even locked? Staff can't open it only security and you can open it. If the safe was not working (would not lock) why would you leave things in it?

It’s been mentioned already....they r in handicap accessible rooms.

So, tell me about this tomato soup. I’ve never ever ordered it anywhere since my only experience has been Campbell out of a can which I find disgusting. Is this way different?

Ok I can say is it’s fresh . Fresh tomatoes puréed in a bowl with herbs. What can be bad?

Campbell’s anything is full of chemicals, coloring, and other garbage.

Are you on Oasis?

 

No tomato soup on Allure this past March

 

Not sure about Harmony

 

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I am on Anthem. (See my signature).

Is there anyway you can post the menu's in the order of the day they are offered. We are trying to plan our visit to Chops one night were the MDR isn't as appealing.

 

TIA,

Sorry, but no. I cant post photos and also, its halfway through and I don't keep the print menus that are placed in the room.

However, when you board, u can go to your tv and you can read all the menus. They are posted by day on the tv. Then you can make your dining decisions.

Ask and ye shall receive. :)

But please ask in advance as I asked last night thinking maybe they had some tomato soup hiding somewhere....alas, no. No hidden tomato soup. But yes, asking in advance will bring you treasures the next day.

One frequent cruiser told me he asked if they ever had BBQ ribs on the ship and they said sometimes. The next day, boom, a huge platter of bbq ribs came his way. When someone next to his table inquired about them, they too received a huge platter of ribs the next day.

I don't know if they do this for all, or just Pinnacle peeps or suite guests though so don't rely on this info as definitive.

Thank you for your help Bob, goldesq, Sue and Merion_mom!!!

 

Can't wait to try out CK!!! Can we get the Tomato Soup for dinner? It would be be husband's favorite!!

Now that I see the lunch menu does change slightly during the cruise, I would suggest when you see tomato soup, order it. It might later disappear. For the first few days at lunch, the tomato soup was on the menu. Then yesterday it was not there. The waiter promised that it would reappear later.

Also, on night one, there is tomato soup on the menu. It is DIFFERENT than the lunch tomato soup. Shockingly, it is EVEN BETTER than the lunch tomato soup. I dream about those soups and I am still on the cruise. LOL

BTW, if you can get the waiters Kresmir and Sladan in the CK dining room, you will be VERY happy.

Enjoying your cruise report.

Next question is.. When your in port of call locations is Anthem the only ship or are you one of many ships vying for excursions restaurants, shops???

 

 

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Every cruise is different. My cruise will be different then yours.

So far though, we have been the only ship in each port. Trust me, ports are equipped to handle multiple ships anyway.

The restaurants or should I say one restaurant in st Martin, hard rock, was barely used. Old San Juan can handle anything . Bermuda also can handle anything as well.

Same goes for shops. There aren’t many now in st Martin downtown that are open or worth going to. I’ve not been off the ship yet for OLd San Juan but I’m sure they can handle tons of shoppers as I’ve been there many times before (but not post hurricane). Bermuda at least in Hamilton doesn’t have too much open but they can handle crowds ( but there aren’t any).

Today was st Martin day and I found the rum. Some stores have it but seems old or in limited flavors. The store that does have a lot and the same price as everyone is right when u get off the water taxis, the big ‘ fancy’ liquor store. 2 for 30. Those are the big bottles.

Are you saving the cruise compasses? Does anyone know if someone has them already for this 9 day cruise they have shared?

I might have them but I can’t post them. I. Ertainly don’t mean to save them but I don’t think I’ve tossed any yet either. If you really want them, I can mail them to you.

Happy Cruising hope all is well. We are on your itinerary also in few weeks if you can let us know how many and where the Freestyle coke machines are located on board??

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

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I don’t look for them as I’m not on any beverage plan but I did see one in the WindJammer. Sorry.

You will have to make reservations onboard.

Half the CK is empty at 7 when we go so you can even make reservations that afternoon for the evening. It’s so empty.

i was not impressed with lunch in ck however dinner is excellent and so much better than the main dining room or wj... the chef even comes out to talk with you and explain some of his recipes.. not that i could replicate them... even the tomato soup has around 16 ingredients... lol

I love lunch in CK. That spinach and shrimp salad is KILLER! The chicken sandwich is a close second. The tomato soup at lunch is also FANTASTIC. The tomato soup at dinner on the first night was BEYOND FANTASTIC. I would kill for either recipe.

Limited menu but I like having lunch in CK. Good service, food well presented and overall a more pleasant experience than eating in WJ or MDR. Plus, if your suite is on deck 17 then it is so convenient.

Coastal on Anthem is deck 14. I don't think Anthem has a deck 17. :)

I've never seen this rum before. Used to have a T-share condo in St. M ... 2 weeks back to back.

 

We bought Rum Jumbie. Liked the bottle, then loved the rum.

Rum Jumbie is more off a liquor than a typical rum. Ma Dou is a basic rum infused with fruits.