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Our Grease show also changed to 10:30 from 8:00 but I was pleased because I hadn't gotten around to changing our dinner time, which we booked for 7:30 every night across the board. I was just getting around to being conscious of the fact that if we wanted to eat in the dining room that night we were going have to eat at 5:30 and was planning on changing our dinner reservations. So glad I wasn't my usual organized self or I'd have let go of a 7:30 dinner for no good reason.

We hate eating early; cuts into the pool deck time.

After horrendous issues with Quantum reservations, and a shortened Anthem cruise (started a day late) and having to rebook some of those shows/dinners, I was not going to let Harmony get me upset anymore. But I sure can understand and sympathize with those who are planners. We are going with another couple, and for the last five years have managed to link our reservations - but not this year. So it required us to book separately for each and every item.

So many issues could be avoided if RCCL didn't open dining up so far in advance, and just opened everything up at the same time. Also, it was so clear from the schedule that dinner wasn't going to work well with whatever day you picked for Grease, so who knows why they didn't offer up a late show at the get go?

It wasn't your imagination... We sat off the NJ coast for quite a while after leaving on time. When we left the dining room at 10:30, we noticed the ship was moving fast.

 

Also, at some point in the afternoon they were not allowing anyone to go out on the decks.

 

It was never explained to us why we weren't moving for that time period.

 

 

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There were humpback whales in the Hudson this weekend (two of them) - perhaps a whale was being guided out. (but I don't know why they wouldn't allow you on deck if that's the case).

ValerieJo, it's listed in the cruise compasses that Andrew posted in his other thread. First post and the 5th picture lists entertainment. $8.99 per person.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2422639

We did Escape on Anthem. It was an OK thing to do leaving from NY in the winter - fun enough way to pass the time. I was conflicted as to whether to do this in January, but given the charge, the decision is easy. I won't bother with it if there's sun and warmth to be had outside,

Have you read the thread so far?

Nasty much? Yes, I read the thread.

Looking at an 11:08 a.m. flight off Harmony (Jet Blue). Do you think I should go for it? The noon flight is twice the price.

I had a wonderful mojito at the Two70 bar.

We've been on Celebrity twice - both times Summit (Bermuda and S. Carib). We began with RCL - originally traveling with our kids and now have 7 sailings on RCL. We've enjoyed them but my plan is to get to diamond (we're emerald now) and then switch to Celebrity as we've preferred the service and food and how many times can you see the aqua shows, or go up in the fancy crane? RCL has a lot of "been there, done that" attractions but Celebrity just has a really nice vibe. (Although some people think Celebrity is boring.)

Interesting comment regarding the St. Johns Catamaran snorkel. We did this excursion twice - in recent years, (2013 and 2015) and also did a similar one in 2002 - different outfit but same location for snorkeling.

The difference in the reef is astonishing. Years ago we had just about the best snorkeling ever - beautiful coral and tons of fish. More recently, drastic difference in quality. Way fewer fish and bleached out coral. Shocking and sad, really.

Call them if it doesn't say on the certificate. The goodies have since changed and you'd be entitled to what they were when you booked, not the current offers.

It looks like the menu from the Anthem. Of the complimentary venues on Anthem, we enjoyed the Solarium for dinner far and away above the others and were sorry that we had waited until near the end of the cruise to try it. We waited because when it was Devinely Decadence on the Quantum we didn't like it at all.

Kim, While on board the Anthem in January like yourself I booked a D8 for the Harmony under their current(at the time) promotion a BOGO with the second person's fare half priced. The deal from the woman who's their Next Cruise Ambassador or person in charge of the Next Cruise Department was that if we put down $100.00 for the April 2017 sailing we would get that back while on board the Anthem as OBC, so it was like holding a room without a deposit and got back the deposit. When the prices came out for 2017 sailings I checked because I wanted to move the booking to July instead of April. The price skyrocketed to over 1,000 for the same category D8. With that thought of the high price jump I decided to book the Adventure in April of 2017 with our first booking number, no deposit was required because it was transferred from my original booking in January. ALTHOUGH we wont have any OBC from Royal but a $120. gift card from Costco Travel where we always book through them or have our booking on board the ship transferred to them. I guess the bottom line here is that Royal is not consistent with what they tell one person to another. This is not the first time that we've encountered some problems where our friends got a benefit we didn't and vice versa. We've sent a letter to upper management and either received NO response or a "form" letter saying their sorry about any inconvenience that we encountered. We'll wait a couple of years when the Harmony will be more affordable.

Thanks for your response. We booked through a guy. All I have is the $200 OBC underlined as proof of what he said - and of course my friend's confirmation of it.

A new ship = 's charging more money and they'll still get it from people who don't mind paying outrageous prices although we're not one of them. Last January while on board the Anthem we did a "Next Cruise" on the Harmony for April 2017 for $3,214.84 We decided after we got home that we didn't want to do it in April and opted for July 2017. Well, well when prices became available......the price of our D8 from April to July 2017 jumped up $1,100.00. !!!!!! humm..no thanks !

As a result we just booked the Adventure for April 2017. With that price on a soon to be "Enhanced" awesome we're paying $1,909.90 for two people for the 7 nighter. BOTH prices included the Insurance.

Jumping the price $1,100.00 between April and July turned us away also. We'll wait and do the Harmony in a year or so, the price difference of $1,304.94 sure made a difference !

We also booked that April 2017 sailing when on Anthem last January. They gave us a $200 OBC and said that we could cancel and rebook something else, since I told the next cruise "ambassador" that there was no way we would sail in April. (We only do winters.) So I booked Harmony and tried to move the reservation and was told that the credit was ONLY for the April 17 sailing of the Anthem. Did you have a similar problem? I feel hoodwinked. I composed a letter to Bayley, but haven't mailed it yet.

Kim

We prefer the lower decks to be closer to the water. We have had oceanviews on deck 3, and balconies on any number of decks. While the preference is balcony (even though we hardly use it), if the oceanview price is right, no problem taking it. You can lie on the bed and look out at the ocean and it's right there. And if it's a little rough, the waves wash against the window (especially on Windstar on deck 2), which we think is a lot of fun. Although I could see where others would be uncomfortable. The lower decks are also closer to the promenades and easy to get a glass of ice water before bed.

No problem with hallways. How many cabin crawls are you going to participate in that this should make a difference? I've also not noticed a difference in width of hallway between decks, but that would not be important to me as we don't have scooters, wheelchairs, strollers etc. that would require some room to maneuver, so if there is a difference it wouldn't register.

We've been on the Summit twice (once to Bermuda) and we love the ship, but I can tell you that our kids, when they were teenagers, would have been bored. We took them on the Voyager class ships (we don't take them away anymore - they can take themselves now) and they had a ball. So Freedom would be even better.

I also think for teens the Western itinerary is preferable to the ABCs as there are more active excursions available and better snorkeling, if that's what you plan to do. I have never enjoyed Aruba. It always seems to be unbearably hot the three times we've been.

We've only been on one Carnival ship and wouldn't go again.

Yes, you'll be crowded with four in one cabin, but you'll never be there except to sleep. We've always felt that our balconies have gone to waste.

Have a great time!

You might want to try Chankaanab in Cozumel. Even though it's a taxi ride from the pier, the snorkeling is very good right off the beach, and they have other amusements there as well - sea lion show, small nature walk, decent restaurant. There's a charge to get in though. We had a nice day there.

With how long you are going to be in Bermuda and how far you have to travel to get to the ship. If you are closer to the Anthem, I would go for it. My reasoning is how far you have to travel when you get OFF of the ship.

If you're driving to Bayonne, I'd switch gears and go on the Summit. It's an elegant ship and you get 3 days in Bermuda. Five days on Anthem is probably not enough - I don't know how they'd accommodate everyone for all the shows.

That is incredibly unfortunate.

 

Silk's decor is hideous.

I liked Silk's decor the best of the complimentary restaurants on Quantum and Anthem. The food on the other hand...

I loved the ambiance of Silk and thought it was beautiful. The food - not so much.

Complaints are so subjective, and also so varied depending on what's important to an individual.

People are saying they liked Chic - we had some poor food there. I loved my hibatchi steak at Silk, our friends were unhappy with theirs. Salad in the Grande missing candied walnuts and cranberries. Asked the waiter to bring them. Not the end of the world.

I loved WWRY. Spectra's Cabaret not as good as Quantum's Starwater, but certainly wouldn't have walked out on it. Had terrible seats on the side for The Gift, so not fair to judge, but really, they should at least stage the production so the audience can see it. Liked all the other shows.

Massage was great and no pressure to buy products. But nipped that in the bud by saying, "No, I am not interested in a recommendation for an exfoliation product."

No seating in Music Hall. Well then you just have to dance! We thought CD Abe was great; have heard others didn't think he was so good.

Pizza is bad; pizza is good - whatever. Eat it or not. OK for late night snack. Who cares? Not I.

Customer service didn't smile. Did you?

NorthStar and Ifly closed during our reservation time. We made new ones. (And I think once Anthem has a few more years under her, NorthStar will be much more available as it's nice, but not something I'd wait on line for again. I would think repeaters would feel the same way.)

Bottom line, we think Anthem is a great ship. But I don't think we'll go again next year as the Western Caribbean itinerary we were cheated out of (11-day cruise in January rather than 12-day due to weather) is not being repeated again. And while it was great to drive to the port, there's a lot to be said for beginning your sail-away outdoors on the pool deck, instead of in Two70 or the Solarium.

The problem with that is that you will then be driving the wrong way once you make that right as soon as you drive past the first building. You'll be driving against traffic........too dangerous to attempt.

Ha. Been there done that. Hadn't meant to though.

 

 

 

-Does it look like you can build a top class golf course on Cuba or not? (A Scots view!!)

We'll be happy to sell the land Castro stole from us to a golf course developer.

We've stayed at both Hyatt Pier 66 and Springhill Suites. Hyatt is much, much nicer. Cab to the port was less $ than the hotel shuttle, but I don't remember by how much. No free breakfast, but gorgeous pool area and lovely to walk around and see the yachts. On campus restaurants were good.

Springhill was fine - price was right - free shuttles from airport and then to cruise port. The area isn't all that nice, but it was fine for the one night. There's an outdoor shopping mall where we picked up some last minute things, and also walked to a Cuban restaurant (which wasn't very good).

I previously posted this Quote, and after reading the letter you all received on the current sailing, I sure hope anyone on the January 25th sailing will be calling Miami to see that we also get our 50% future cruise credit.

Agree, we got shafted.

We kind of liked the mini golf on both Allure and Oasis, and they seemed to be fairly well utilized. Missed it on Anthem and Quantum, as sometimes there wasn't that much to do, especially when we'd done all the major highlights (and it was too nice to be indoors playing foozball).

Not formal in Grande on the last night either.