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Winter Break on the Athem (2/17-25) - A Trip Report

WrittenOnYourHeart
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WrittenOnYourHeart Great Review Rare

WrittenOnYourHeart

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Hi all!

 

Now that it's one week to go - and since the next week will be crazy getting through school activities plus Ash Wednesday, I figured I'd go ahead and start it so it's underway.

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My name's Beth. I teach Special Ed in the NYC public schools. My first cruise was in 1982 when my family went on the Emerald Seas - then not another until 2013 when we went on the Disney Dream as part of a family trip to celebrate my parents' 45th anniversary. Since then I've been on 6 more Disney cruises (all their ships but the Wish), Holland America (1), Royal (3), fathom (2), Celebrity (2). Needless to say, I love cruising. 😄

 

My cat Merida

merida.jpg.8790f8f8f6e4174f2276aada989b1e7d.jpg

is back to her normal self after giving me quite the scare over New Year's. She'll be home with a friend coming and checking on her twice a day. I was extra nervous when she wasn't being her normal self because in 2020 I was preparing to go on the Celebrity Edge and my tuxedo cat Mo died of undetected heart issues (exactly 4 years ago today as my FB memories told me) so I did not want history repeating itself. But she's back to acting like she should have Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" playing as she waits a whole TWO MINUTES for her feeder to turn each morning, so I'm breathing much easier.

 

I've never been on anything as big as Anthem, so I'm a bit nervous, but I'm also excited - to get away if nothing else. The pricing was right - I snagged a really good price on a solo balcony, and my amazing TA got me one with the larger balcony - and I don't have to fly...just a simple Uber ride under the river (usually that's the quickest from where I live in Brooklyn...I suppose it could be over a bridge if traffic is weirdly heavy early Saturday morning). I'll be in 6248. So even if the adult Solarium is packed, I'll have my balcony to relax and read on.

 

We are scheduled to hit Port Canaveral/Orlando, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, and Nassau. Orlando I'm taking the ship shuttle to Disney World and will get myself to Disney Springs where I'm going to be able to meet up with my best friend for lunch and hanging out. Perfect Day I booked a pass for Hideaway Beach when it was at a really good price, so if I can't find a quiet place and it's too loud I won't feel like I have to stay to make it worth it. Nassau is one I've been to enough times I'm 99% sure I'm just going to stay on the ship. The first sea day (ie the second day of the cruise) I've booked the "Women of Wine Tasting Experience" which looks good.

 

I will have internet, but no drink package. I'd personally rather carry on a bottle of wine (sadly solos are limited to one even though a 2-person cabin could have 2 even if only 1 over 21 drinks, but it is what it is), a 12-pack of Diet Coke, and put a set amount on my account. I am not a non-drinker, but I had the beverage package on Celebrity this past summer as I was in their Aqua Class before they unbundled the AI package and made it optional, and I just drank more than I should have to justify the price. I've got My Time Dining, which I'd rather have than traditional and be put at a table with others, but I don't like how late they start the reservations for that now (my last RCCL MTD reservations started at almost the same time as the early seating), so I may stick with Windjammer for dinner. We'll see.

 

So...that starts this off I think. Now to begin packing. Like I said, it's going to be a fairly busy week between school and Ash Wednesday, so I'm better packing now when I can take my time and not rush since rushing is when I forget things. I just have to get the princess off my packing cubes.

 

merida2.thumb.jpg.29fbc004c78faac50d57b38f16e75a70.jpg

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Croozin Soozin

Croozin Soozin

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I'm looking forward to your trip report.  Anthem is my favorite ship - been on her many times but haven't cruised in four years, since Covid started and disrupted cruising.  Then I moved from Pennsylvania to North Carolina three years ago, so cruising out of NJ is not convenient anymore.

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oddly excitered

oddly excitered

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See you onboard! We have done this cruise four times on Anthem and still super excited to board, we love the ship and getting away in the winter. I will be interested to see your perspective with your vast experience on other lines.

Not getting internet this time so I won't be able to comment until after we are back but maybe we can catch up in person.

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teddie

teddie

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Looking forward to more!  I will be on this ship/itinerary for the third time in March.  It's so convenient sailing out of Bayonne, and I've reached the point where I don't care where the ship goes, as long as I can get to cruising.  Anthem was the largest ship we've sailed so far.  I won't go any bigger, but we do like it very much.

PS Anthem has an excellent Windjammer, and the Solarium Bistro is also an excellent buffet for all three meals.

 

Teddie

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seeing the sights

seeing the sights

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As you get off we get on 2/25/24 First cruise in about 8 years, Have fun and keep us posted.

Any blackjack players? I will be that 64YO guy with suspenders on sitting at a table having fun.

As a side note we sailed out of Bayonne through super storm Sandy..........good times!

Edited by seeing the sights
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WrittenOnYourHeart Great Review Rare

WrittenOnYourHeart

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I will note a few things:

 

* I am not a casino person - don’t understand it, don’t do it. So no reports on that.

 

* I’m also pretty picky about my entertainment - I have walked out of previous shows, so I try to get a seat on an end and further back so I won’t be a disturbance. 🤣🤣

 

* I am gluten-free, allergic to peanuts, and while not allergic to fish I avoid it due to choking to the point of gagging on a bone that somehow got in a fish stick…it was such a severe reaction my body still reacts the same way to anything with the taste or texture of fish. I have gone back and forth about Wonderland given those restrictions. I am not currently reserved, but I may try and talk with them to see if a meal is possible with my parameters since I loved Eden on Celebrity Edge.

 

I think those are all of my quirks. 🤣🤣

 

Oh yeah - I may try the spa raffle and see if my RCCL spa raffle luck continues. So far I am 3 for 3 for winning - usually the $150 spa credit.

 

 

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mousemom11

mousemom11

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37 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

IMG_8913.thumb.jpeg.04bb0f84e5f023af2742cd89ac41973c.jpeg

The princess surrendered the packing cubes but has moved onto the backpack.

Our cat does the same thing when we pack. Merida is very cute. Glad her health issues have resolved. Looking forward to following along.

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ecslady

ecslady

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23 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

I will note a few things:

 

* I am not a casino person - don’t understand it, don’t do it. So no reports on that.

 

* I’m also pretty picky about my entertainment - I have walked out of previous shows, so I try to get a seat on an end and further back so I won’t be a disturbance. 🤣🤣

 

* I am gluten-free, allergic to peanuts, and while not allergic to fish I avoid it due to choking to the point of gagging on a bone that somehow got in a fish stick…it was such a severe reaction my body still reacts the same way to anything with the taste or texture of fish. I have gone back and forth about Wonderland given those restrictions. I am not currently reserved, but I may try and talk with them to see if a meal is possible with my parameters since I loved Eden on Celebrity Edge.

 

I think those are all of my quirks. 🤣🤣

 

Oh yeah - I may try the spa raffle and see if my RCCL spa raffle luck continues. So far I am 3 for 3 for winning - usually the $150 spa credit.

 

 

 

I am looking forward to your gluten free reports, as I am gluten free also. I have not eaten any specialty restaurants since having to go GF.. Also wondering how Anthem does GF, as each ship seems to do it differently from the cruises I've been on since going GF.

 

So thanks in advance and enjoy your cruise!

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jojo412

jojo412

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Following along! Will be on the Anthem the week after Easter!  Hoping it won't be too crowded since it's in-between NJ spring break (1st week april) and NYC's  (last week April). I'm work in the education field as well 🙂

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Coralc

Coralc

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1 hour ago, TeachInNYC said:

See you onboard! I am on the same sailing and also a NYC DOE teacher!

Welcome to Cruise Critic! We are looking forward to hearing about your cruise, too. ☺️

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