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Hey...that's me in the blue jumpsuit at 10:10 through 10:20!! So cool to have made it into one of your vids. I always get so much info from your posts, keep up the nice work!!
We were on Anthem in Summer 2021. The main dining room had some of the very best food I have had on a cruise ship, and I looked forward each day to going back. The staff were so helpful & willing to go off-menu if requested. I think we must have been on a different Anthem of the Seas.
Hello Mark. I’m glad you had a more positive experience. The service was certainly friendly, I’ll give you that. But there was never any other of having anything off the menu, but everything we tried from the menu was either mediocre or poor. Hopefully our next cruise with RC will be more positive. All the best!
@@ChristianLehrer We've never thought that the food served in the MDR on Royal Caribbean ship's has been particularly good, but it was awful on Anthem. It's tempting to blame it on the restart of cruise operations, but I'd question why the food in the Windjammer and Speciality Restaurants remains at the high standards they've always been at. The poor experience in the MDR doesn't put us sailing with Royal Caribbean though, and they remain one of our favourite cruise lines!
@@sailawaymag Thanks for the detailed reply, it’s really appreciated. Perhaps the low capacity summer of 2021 actually gave it a boost with fewer people to serve? So far have only been on a couple of their smaller ships, wonder if that makes a difference? Please know totally agree that Royal advertising is mis-leading. I got my trips deeply discounted so not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised by the value for money spent. Still, to me MDR is like a nice family style restaurant like Sizzler in the US, not Michelin dining for sure! 😉. Am booked on Anthem, Oct 2023, because it was a great deal for transatlantic from Southhampton, with stops in Vigo, Lisbon, Tenerife and Lazarote, and even Bermuda to NY. It’s a deal for a cruise on Anthem, yet your great video really helps me have realistic expectations. Thank you guys!
Thanks for the review guys, It’s a stunning ship and definitely a favourite of mine! I love the buffet and hardly ever eat in the main dining... only because I never really like what’s on the menu each night! Also can’t believe the waiting you had to do in the beginning!!
Hello Dan. Yes, she is certainly a stunning ship - had holiday blues ever since we came home. Have you been on any other RC ship belonging to the Quantum Class?
We were on 1/9/22 and the ship was late getting in. Everyone had an exact time in which to arrive at the port. If you arrived at your given time, your wait was minimal. We had a 12 noon time and were in the terminal by 12:30 and on the ship within 15 minutes of that.
I said in the video that the ship was late getting in. We received an email at 10pm the night before asking us to get to the terminal an hour after our original slot. Our original slot was at 12. We were kicked out of of our hotel at 11:30 with 2 large cases and 2 smaller ones - we had nowhere to go. We assumed we would be able to wait in the terminal, not be forced to wait outside like children in a playground. Sounds like you had a very positive experience, it took more than 15 minutes to get through the security arches alone as most were closed. We arrived after our given time, and it still took more than 2 hours to get on. That queue outside the terminal was not normal, and it shouldn’t be excused either. It was unacceptable, and the elderly and vulnerable in particular should have been allowed to wait inside the terminal. That wouldn’t happen in my home country, and feel disappointed that RC and the port authority didn’t show more consideration to their guests.
For some reason people seem to crowd closely during a belly flop contest. That may be the reason. Also I sailed Anthem before Covid and the main dining room food was actually better than Chops!
Belly flop contests were banned in this cruise, because of COVID. Making a mockery of the busy pool! Interesting, maybe the standards have fell since COVID - that seems to have happened on many ships! All the best :)
oh I didnt realise the iFly was more money! Also can i just ask, you said that the Bionic bar was a certain price, would this be included if you have a drinks package? Great video! :)
Hey Leah! Thanks for your comment and feedback! Unfortunately iFly is classed as an extra charge venue, but maybe give it a go on port days when it’s free. Also, the bionic bar is included in your drinks package - and in our experience, served the best cocktails on the whole ship. Hope you have a marvellous time :)
Another great review Jay. I encourage you to sail on the Celebrity Edge when you get the chance. The main dining and casual dining on that ship is absolutely incredible.
Thank you :) I’m glad you found it helpful! Celebrity Edge has been top of my list for sometime, hoping to do that class of ship either this year or next! It’s stunning!
Thanks Stephen :) yeah it’s weird. Usually if the food is bad on a ship, it’s a running theme throughout the ship. But RC a just seem to struggle with their main dining, odd!
Hello Cliff, yes it was pretty bad. Unfortunately, there was no offer of warm clothing or hot drinks. Dan and I are young and healthy, but we felt more concerned for the elderly that were queuing outside in the cold. Its as though the port authority and Royal Caribbean had given no foresight to this, and did not consider the well being of their older, more vulnerable guests. Very disappointing.
We will rock you was performed on two nights back in 2015 that was so everyone had the chance of seeing the show. As for dinning, when we were on in 2015 they had Dynamic dining which was terrible, and we went to the windjammer every night after the first two nights, it wasn't that the food was as bad as you have shown now it was they had you crammed in like sardines you could actually touch elbows with the person at the next table if you were not careful, and the waiters had to walk sideways between the tables in silk as they were so close to each other. Anthem was a fun ship, but the food you showed was never as bad as that when we were on.
Main Dining was particularly bad on board Anthem, however we've sailed on 8 different ships with 6 different cruise lines since cruising recommenced; and it's been out observation that main dining has deteriorated across the board. Food quality and service isn't at the level it was before the pandemic unfortunately.
are you sure The Gift was presented? I thought RC had temporarily suspended that bc if covid restrictions and replsced it with other shows, such as Frankie and the Dreamers?
WIN A CRUISE ON QUEEN MARY 2!
When you subscribe to either the hard-copy or digital-copy of Sail Away magazine, not only will you be donating £1 each month to the marine conservation charity, ORCA - you'll be entered into our cruise prize draw! Click to the link to find out more:
sailawaymagazine.com/sail-away-magazine/
We’ve been shortlisted for the WAVE AWARDS 2023 for “Favourite Travel Influencer”. If you love our videos, please show your appreciation by giving us your vote using the link below! There’s also a FREE CRUISE available - Best of luck 🤞🏻❤️
www.worldofcruising.co.uk/wave-awards-2023-vote-now
We have made it through to the FINAL 8 of the WAVE AWARDS 2023! If you love our videos, and fancy your chance of WINNING a Riviera river cruise, please give us your vote here : www.worldofcruising.co.uk/wave-awards-2023-vote-now
Hey...that's me in the blue jumpsuit at 10:10 through 10:20!! So cool to have made it into one of your vids. I always get so much info from your posts, keep up the nice work!!
Wow what a small world! Thanks for your kind posts Edith :) hope you had a great time on Anthem, we loved her a lot!
Have you sailed on Anthem of the Seas? Let us know your experience by dropping us a comment below :)
We were on Anthem in Summer 2021. The main dining room had some of the very best food I have had on a cruise ship, and I looked forward each day to going back. The staff were so helpful & willing to go off-menu if requested. I think we must have been on a different Anthem of the Seas.
Hello Mark. I’m glad you had a more positive experience. The service was certainly friendly, I’ll give you that. But there was never any other of having anything off the menu, but everything we tried from the menu was either mediocre or poor. Hopefully our next cruise with RC will be more positive. All the best!
@@sailawaymag Summer of 2021 was also the restart and Anthem sailed at lower capacity, perhaps that made a difference in the MDR?
@@ChristianLehrer We've never thought that the food served in the MDR on Royal Caribbean ship's has been particularly good, but it was awful on Anthem. It's tempting to blame it on the restart of cruise operations, but I'd question why the food in the Windjammer and Speciality Restaurants remains at the high standards they've always been at. The poor experience in the MDR doesn't put us sailing with Royal Caribbean though, and they remain one of our favourite cruise lines!
@@sailawaymag Thanks for the detailed reply, it’s really appreciated. Perhaps the low capacity summer of 2021 actually gave it a boost with fewer people to serve? So far have only been on a couple of their smaller ships, wonder if that makes a difference? Please know totally agree that Royal advertising is mis-leading. I got my trips deeply discounted so not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised by the value for money spent. Still, to me MDR is like a nice family style restaurant like Sizzler in the US, not Michelin dining for sure! 😉. Am booked on Anthem, Oct 2023, because it was a great deal for transatlantic from Southhampton, with stops in Vigo, Lisbon, Tenerife and Lazarote, and even Bermuda to NY. It’s a deal for a cruise on Anthem, yet your great video really helps me have realistic expectations. Thank you guys!
I really enjoy your videos lads, so thorough, informative and honest. I'm sure you're gonna go from strength to strength on YT 👍
Thank you :) you’re very kind! We sure hope so, we’ll keep improving our videos each time and hopefully we’ll fulfil that ambition :)
Thanks for the review guys, It’s a stunning ship and definitely a favourite of mine! I love the buffet and hardly ever eat in the main dining... only because I never really like what’s on the menu each night! Also can’t believe the waiting you had to do in the beginning!!
Hello Dan. Yes, she is certainly a stunning ship - had holiday blues ever since we came home. Have you been on any other RC ship belonging to the Quantum Class?
I will start to work in July 15th as a Guest Relation Officer,
So I am getting to know my new home.
Thanks so much Jay.
Glad you found it helpful. Hope you have a good contract, and enjoy it. All the best :)
We were on 1/9/22 and the ship was late getting in. Everyone had an exact time in which to arrive at the port. If you arrived at your given time, your wait was minimal. We had a 12 noon time and were in the terminal by 12:30 and on the ship within 15 minutes of that.
I said in the video that the ship was late getting in. We received an email at 10pm the night before asking us to get to the terminal an hour after our original slot. Our original slot was at 12. We were kicked out of of our hotel at 11:30 with 2 large cases and 2 smaller ones - we had nowhere to go. We assumed we would be able to wait in the terminal, not be forced to wait outside like children in a playground. Sounds like you had a very positive experience, it took more than 15 minutes to get through the security arches alone as most were closed. We arrived after our given time, and it still took more than 2 hours to get on. That queue outside the terminal was not normal, and it shouldn’t be excused either. It was unacceptable, and the elderly and vulnerable in particular should have been allowed to wait inside the terminal. That wouldn’t happen in my home country, and feel disappointed that RC and the port authority didn’t show more consideration to their guests.
Crazy you had to wait that long in the cold just to get on the ship!! The shore excursions look amazing though ❤️
Yeah, it was the worst embarkation ever. Thankfully it got better after that :)
To be honest not yet I’ve only stuck with Anthem, which one would you recommend?
Only done Anthem, but want to try the new sister Odyssey of the Seas! Particularly her cruise going round the Holy Land this year!
For some reason people seem to crowd closely during a belly flop contest. That may be the reason. Also I sailed Anthem before Covid and the main dining room food was actually better than Chops!
Belly flop contests were banned in this cruise, because of COVID. Making a mockery of the busy pool!
Interesting, maybe the standards have fell since COVID - that seems to have happened on many ships! All the best :)
Another great video guys. Very informative
Thank you :) glad you enjoyed it!
oh I didnt realise the iFly was more money! Also can i just ask, you said that the Bionic bar was a certain price, would this be included if you have a drinks package? Great video! :)
Hey Leah! Thanks for your comment and feedback! Unfortunately iFly is classed as an extra charge venue, but maybe give it a go on port days when it’s free. Also, the bionic bar is included in your drinks package - and in our experience, served the best cocktails on the whole ship. Hope you have a marvellous time :)
Another great review Jay. I encourage you to sail on the Celebrity Edge when you get the chance. The main dining and casual dining on that ship is absolutely incredible.
Thank you :) I’m glad you found it helpful! Celebrity Edge has been top of my list for sometime, hoping to do that class of ship either this year or next! It’s stunning!
Awesome informative video as always.
Really odd that the food in the main restaurants is bad 😕
Thanks Stephen :) yeah it’s weird. Usually if the food is bad on a ship, it’s a running theme throughout the ship. But RC a just seem to struggle with their main dining, odd!
WOW! I can’t believe you was made to stand outside in the cold. Did they even offer you teas and coffee while you all waited lol?
Hello Cliff, yes it was pretty bad. Unfortunately, there was no offer of warm clothing or hot drinks. Dan and I are young and healthy, but we felt more concerned for the elderly that were queuing outside in the cold. Its as though the port authority and Royal Caribbean had given no foresight to this, and did not consider the well being of their older, more vulnerable guests. Very disappointing.
We will rock you was performed on two nights back in 2015 that was so everyone had the chance of seeing the show.
As for dinning, when we were on in 2015 they had Dynamic dining which was terrible, and we went to the windjammer every night after the first two nights, it wasn't that the food was as bad as you have shown now it was they had you crammed in like sardines you could actually touch elbows with the person at the next table if you were not careful, and the waiters had to walk sideways between the tables in silk as they were so close to each other.
Anthem was a fun ship, but the food you showed was never as bad as that when we were on.
Main Dining was particularly bad on board Anthem, however we've sailed on 8 different ships with 6 different cruise lines since cruising recommenced; and it's been out observation that main dining has deteriorated across the board. Food quality and service isn't at the level it was before the pandemic unfortunately.
are you sure The Gift was presented? I thought RC had temporarily suspended that bc if covid restrictions and replsced it with other shows, such as Frankie and the Dreamers?
Hello! I’m pretty sure it was The Gift. We never went to see it, but thought I saw it in the Cruise Compass - but I could be wrong!
Objective of every cruise line on the planet: To shake every last penny out of each and every passenger
💙
Could not agree more with your video! We love the Anthem, but avoid the main dining room.
Thanks for the feedback Kim! :)
I believe the port difficulties are the fault of the cruise terminal company,not the cruise ship.
No, it was the cruise ship that wasn't giving clearance to the cruise terminal for boarding to commence.