We were originally booked on the Norwegian Breakaway but switched to the Anthem in order to leave from Bayonne instead of New York (Bayonne was much more convenient). I thought NCL and RCI were comparable; I was wrong.

Check-in at Cape Liberty was an unorganized disgrace. Although I had checked in online, providing both my photo and my credit card, this meant nothing to RCI at the port. I walked through the doors to find a SEA of people, all of whom were facing what appeared to be a blank wall. I located an RCI representative, and explained that I had checked in and just needed to have someone review my passport. I was instructed to wait in line for security (although others were being ushered through TWO separate security screening lines, this was in addition to the third special line marked for suite guests). Once through security, I again asked an RCI representative to review my passport, only to be told to "Sit in the white seats". I did as I was instructed. Eventually, someone approached me and checked me in. I asked what I had done wrong, only to learn that the sea of people that greeted my on arrival were huddled around a few RCI reps who were checking people in BEFORE security. THESE were the people being ushered through security (now I know). The entire ordeal took 1 hour and 20 minutes...and I had uploaded a photo and checked in online!.

The ship is beautiful and the stateroom a delight (see below). The entire ship is immaculately clean and very fresh. There are many small areas where you can sit and read a book. Read more