Anthem of the Seas Review
Very enjoyable cruise, with a little room for improvement in some areas
Rating by category
Additional details
My husband and I wanted an easy cruise vacation, without having to fly before or after, so leaving from Bayonne was the most natural choice since we live in New York's Hudson Valley. We had read about all the innovative features Quantum class ships offered since Quantum of the Seas launched in 2014, so Anthem of the Seas really piqued our interest. The itinerary was not important to us when we first booked, but as it turned out, our stop in Port Canaveral coincided with relatives also visiting the area, so we ended up being able to organize a little get together and make a stop that did not particularly thrill us into one we looked forward to.
We had checked in online for the cruise as soon as check-in became available, some 90 days before departure, and had our choice of boarding times. We chose the very earliest one, 10:30 am. The drive to the port was easy and uneventful, we arrived there earlier than we expected. The circuit to enter the parking garage winds right in front of the passenger pick-up and drop-off area, and with many passengers from the previous cruise still in the terminal, plus the new cruisers arriving, it was rather hectic but not particularly onerous for someone used to NYC traffic.
Somehow we completely missed the baggage check in area we now suppose must have been at the curb, and when we asked someone with an RCCL name tag about it, we were guided to the security area. We asked if we would be able to check our bags after going thru security, and were told this was the case. This was not how we had done it in the past, but never having left from this port before, we were willing to accept that maybe they did things differently here.
Cabin Review
Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony
Ample space and storage, the bed was by the balcony, which left a good amount of space to move around when we were both in the room getting changed or simply hanging out. The balcony is supposedly the standard size (listed as small balcony in the description), but it actually is considerably larger than many, as this cabin is at the end of the aft hump, so one side is twice as deep as the other, which makes for a trapezoidal shape which allows for two chairs with ottomans and the small table with plenty of room to walk around or stretch out. Four rooms away from the aft elevators, so easy access at all times, and there were absolutely no obstructions to the view, and no unusual noises. Would recommend this cabin to anyone.