Originally this year I was hoping to get down to Brazil for the first time, but when I found out the
big news and with that being the origin of the zika virus I knew we had to change our plans for our trip. We also wanted to stay away from the Caribbean for the same reason, so we narrowed it down to Hawaii and Bermuda. Bermuda ended up winning since we were able to take a cruise, and all of our meals would be taken care of plus it was a much shorter flight. (Yes, we have several cruise ports within driving distance in FL, but the Bermuda cruises go out of NY, NJ, and MD.)
Today, I'm going to talk about the gorgeous ship Royal Caribbean
Anthem of the Seas, and I'll come back next week and share more about our two days docked in Bermuda. We set sail from Bayonne, NJ which had a great view of the NYC skyline as well as the Statue of Liberty.
We were constantly in awe of the beauty of this ship, and all the advanced technology and features on board. Maybe it was because we sailed with Carnival
last year (and never again!), but I truly think the Anthem of the Seas was our favorite ship we've sailed so far. It even beat our first Mediterranean Cruise aboard the
Norwegian Epic.
*Once you go balcony, you can't ever go back*
Balcony rooms are hands down the way to go! You get extra space with a sitting area, a hair and makeup vanity, natural sunlight, and your own private balcony which is perfect for room service breakfast (always free!) in the morning or night caps in the evening.
One of my favorite spots on the ship was Two 70, which is a cafe during the day and at night it turns into a great spot to catch a show. The breakfast and lunch were both a great alternative from the windjammer buffet up on the lido deck. They served breakfast sandwiches, paninis, bagels, salads, pastries, cereal, and had a full coffee and espresso bar.
Up on the top deck was the Flowrider and Rip Cord attractions where you can simulate surfing and skydiving. Pregnant chick had to sit these 2 out *womp womp*. Next time though!
The North Star was also a great on-board attraction which lifts you over 300 feet above sea level for unparalleled 360 degree views of the sea or the port you're docked in. (On all Quantum class ships on Royal Caribbean.)
*I of course needed a North Star souvenir cup*
Vintages was a neat wine bar that also served tapas as a great pre-dinner snack. I also thought it was neat that they had machines to sample different wines like the Wine Room that the Central FL gals are familiar with.
The Bionic Bar was really neat where you order a drink from the iPads at the tables, and keep track of how your drink is being made up on the big screen as robotic arms put on a show making the drink from the bottles on the ceiling.
One of my favorite parts of cruising is always the food, as it's all-inclusive and there's so much of it. I enjoyed the extra variety on this ship as well as choosing a different restaurant each night. We tried American Icon Grill, The Grande, Chic (twice), and Chops Grille Steakhouse. All had phenomenal service, and we were able to order as much as we wanted. 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 3 desserts?! Sure! Let's just say we gained weight on this vacay!
*I need this couch and that backsplash in my house*
*There was also an on-board Starbucks and a la carte pastry and sweets shop*
Another great part of cruising is how amazing the room stewards are, they are always the friendliest people and so willing to help out with anything you need. They clean and make up your room each morning, and then do a turn-down service each evening while you're at dinner which includes fun towel animals and a copy of the next day's schedule with information on activities, restaurants, the weather forecast, and whether you're stopping at an island or enjoying a fun day at sea. Our steward Marvin rocked, and we definitely left him a little extra something at the end as well as a great review in the RCCL survey.
The SeaPlex featured an indoor basketball court, ping pong, air hockey, fooseball, an arcade, and a floor that transferred into a rollerskating rink as well as bumper cars.
The Solarium was my favorite place to relax during "at sea" days. Such a beautiful and serene adults only area with several tiered pools and hot tubs with amazing views of the ocean.
The main pool was a lot of fun too with a big screen for "movies under the stars" in the evenings and live Caribbean music during the day.
Another great after dinner spot is the casino, where H swears it's much easier to win than in the casinos back home. I'm usually just an observer...
The on-board fitness center (that I only went to once - whoops!) was equipped with any workout machine you can imagine, a full spa, yoga studio, and even a spin class room.
And the shopping.... oh the shopping on board! I am still thinking about the KS and Prada sunnies I drooled over every day. Designer bags, clothes, makeup, fragrances, and accessories were all on board with duty free pricing.
These ships (especially the bigger/newer ones) truly are beautiful giant floating resorts, equipped with whatever your heart may desire and the most accommodating crew. Cruising is hands down my favorite way to travel between all the amenities, waking up at a new island most days, amazing crew, the food, things to do, and getting dressed up and going to dinner and a show every night they really can't be beat.
What are some of your favorite cruises you've been on?
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