LIVE from Anthem of the Seas, 23 September to 5 October 2022, "Discover the Canaries"

[FionaMG]

There was no show for us this evening since it was WWRY and it was right over our dinner time, so we went to the Big Music Game Show instead, just to spectate.

We had intended on getting seats near the door so we could make a discreet exit if it was rubbish. Fat chance! We got there 25 minutes before and it was already packed, so we ended up in the middle of a row on the balcony about as far from the door as was physically possible and still be in the same room. 😂

Anyway it was quite entertaining and we lasted until the end of round two, by which time some other people had already left so we didn't have too many legs to clamber over.

 

 

 

 

[njkruzer]

45 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

Fingers crossed for you. 🤞

The couple of curries I've had we're good.

It's for dh, not my thing!

[FionaMG]

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

You must have received Royal's generic answer for questions? Sorry that has been discontinued.........we no longer do that. 🤣 ☹️

Possibly but they definitely weren't given out at Captain's Corner on Odyssey in May. From what Alina said, it sounded like she had pushed for it for us so I'm happy. 😊

[FionaMG]

Officers' biographies. 

 

[njkruzer]

1 minute ago, FionaMG said:

Possibly but they definitely weren't given out at Captain's Corner on Odyssey in May. From what Alina said, it sounded like she had pushed for it for us so I'm happy. 😊

We pushed and it on Jewel on TA.

[FionaMG]

2 minutes ago, njkruzer said:

It's for dh, not my thing!

Fingers crossed for him then! 😊🤞

[Tin can]

6 hours ago, FionaMG said:

Officers' biographies. 

 

 

Thanks for that, interesting that apart from Joff its different officers from our June cruise. I don't know why but I assumed it would be the same Captain, Hotel Director etc for the UK season.

[FionaMG]

Lanzarote today and we will be going to Puerto del Carmen which we visited several times on land holidays in our younger days. It will be interesting to see how much it's changed.

 

Today's compass

 

 

 

 

 

[FionaMG]

We had a very pleasant few hours in Puerto del Carmen. I booked us on Royal's beach transfer, not something I would normally do, but I knew from past experience that getting from the port of Arrecife to PdelC by public transport is a bit of a pain. The cost of the two transfer tickets during one of Royal's sales was actually slightly cheaper then getting a taxi there and back and I still had some Next Cruise OBC to burn, so in this case it made sense.

 

For anyone with more than 2 people in their party or wanting to go and come back on their own schedule, there were plenty of taxis right beside the ship. Cost each way is about 27 euros.

 

We had 3 and a half hours in PdelC, which was plenty to spend some time on the beach, have an ice cream and a little wander, so it worked out just fine.

 

It looks pretty much the same as the last time we visited a long time ago. Nice seafront promenade with souvenir shops, bars and restaurants. We decided we need to come back for a short break in the winter.

 

Great beach

 

 

 

Some local plants:

Crown of thorns 

 

Golden barrel

 

 

Edited September 28, 2022 by FionaMG
Pressed enter before I uploaded the pics, duh.

[FionaMG]

I took the plunge and used the spa voucher to get my nails done. It's absolutely not my cup of tea and they wouldn't have got me in the door without the voucher but I guess since it only cost me an extra 20 dollars it's fine. 

What does everyone think? Did I pick a good colour? 😂

[FionaMG]

Tonight's dinner menu

 

Pumpkin soup and arancini, both good but the arancini were very filling.

 

 

Steak au poivre, medium rare, very tasty and very tender. 

 

Herb-crusted salmon (DH wasn't very hungry after eating 3 ice creams over the course of the day. (He passed on dessert). 😂

 

Warm chocolate cookie a la mode. Omg, I thought I'd died and gone to chocolate heaven. Wish I had had space for a second helping!

[FionaMG]

After dinner I managed to catch the last 20 minutes of We Will Rock You. It looked like it would have been a good show. I just wish that they had put one of the evening shows on at 6 pm instead of having them both at 7.45. That would have let us see the whole show instead of just the very end. 😕

 

 

[dani negreanu]

48 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

What does everyone think? Did I pick a good color? 😂

 

I absolutely love the color. I think it becomes you, and also has some glitter in it 😁

[FionaMG]

36 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

I absolutely love the color. I think it becomes you, and also has some glitter in it 😁

🥰🥰🥰

[FionaMG]

So with no show to go to and DH making a further contribution to the casino I went for a little wander and discovered that some of the art installations have information plaques next to them.

This one relates to the four circular pieces at the entrance to The Via that I posted earlier in the thread:

 

This piece is also in the immediate vicinity:

 

 

Just outside two70 there is an interesting sculpture that I had not noticed before, probably since the area has always been busy the few times we've been in there:

 

 

 

And these cheerful pieces were in the "Art Gallery", which I think is a euphemism for the place where they keep art auction items on display:

 

 

 

 

[FionaMG]

Today we are in Gran Canária, where it is supposed to be partly cloudy, although at the moment it is entirely cloudy. Hoping it will open up soon as the plan is to walk to Las Canteras beach. Hopefully it will clear up by the time we're ready to go.

 

Today's compass:

 

 

 

 

[FionaMG]

There are a couple of boats tied up alongside us, right outside our window at breakfast. I wonder what they're doing?

 

[FionaMG]

And an even bigger one now. I wonder if it's something to do with the scheduled engine maintenance that caused our itinerary to be somewhat altered. We didn't lose any ports but our time in most of them was cut short from the original schedule.

 

[tfo2000]

On 9/26/2022 at 9:22 AM, vjmatty said:

 

This does look like a quieter option than the WJ if you don't feel like waiting for table service and want more variety.  How would you compare it to 270 or the solarium for breakfast, neither of which I have been to on Anthem.

 

[tfo2000]

Loved the Solarium for breakfast and lunch.  Quiet and much more civilized than WJ.  Problem with the Solarium was that it opened late some mornings (or not at all) when we had to leave at 8:45 for an excursion.  Many of the same basic items you can find in the WJ to eat.  Cafe 270 was rarely busy for breakfast (unless there was an activity in the next door 270 lounge).  Had cold cereal, oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches made to order similar to Egg McMuffins or panini, fruit, bagels toasted for you and spreads put on for you, regular hot beverages and specialty coffees.  You could eat your meal on some long communal tables outside of 270 or inside the 270 lounge.  Sink to wash your hands outside of the solarium upon entry but nothing outside the 270. 

[FionaMG]

So I got it totally wrong. 😂

We're refueling; they just made an announcement about it.

 

[tfo2000]

On 9/26/2022 at 6:50 PM, Merion_Mom said:

@FionaMG

 

First, thank you for taking us all along with you.

 

Second, is The Gift back yet?

We sailed on Anthem on September 11.  The Gift was presented.  Hard to get the plot but excellent production values, singing and dancing.  My wife had tears in her eyes at the end of the show.  The lead actress in the show was outstanding throughout the cruise and in several different shows (she will play the villain in We Will Rock You)

[tfo2000]

Fiona, we were on Anthem on Sept. 11-23.  Your reporting is spot on and it has brought back some very nice memories for us. Love the pictures and the cruise compass reprints. Keep up the great work and enjoy the rest of the cruise.

 

[icsys]

I've noticed that the cruise compass states that Spanish tax (VAT at 10%) will be added to all bar and restaurant sales whilst sailing in Spanish waters. I'm quite surprised at this as the Canaries are VAT exempt?

[vjmatty]

2 hours ago, tfo2000 said:

Loved the Solarium for breakfast and lunch.  Quiet and much more civilized than WJ.  Problem with the Solarium was that it opened late some mornings (or not at all) when we had to leave at 8:45 for an excursion.  Many of the same basic items you can find in the WJ to eat.  Cafe 270 was rarely busy for breakfast (unless there was an activity in the next door 270 lounge).  Had cold cereal, oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches made to order similar to Egg McMuffins or panini, fruit, bagels toasted for you and spreads put on for you, regular hot beverages and specialty coffees.  You could eat your meal on some long communal tables outside of 270 or inside the 270 lounge.  Sink to wash your hands outside of the solarium upon entry but nothing outside the 270. 

Thank you! Our sailing had 8 sea days out of 12 so hopefully they’ll both be a nice alternative.