After waiting fifteen years, my wife finally talked me into signing up for a 12-day southern Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. Should you decide to book this particular cruise, I am confident that you will thoroughly enjoy the experience based upon the quality of the food and drinks, daily activities, nightly entertainment (includes live shows and casino gambling), off-shore excursions, on-board shopping, the gym and spa facilities as well as lectures, workshops and even art auctions. For families with kids, there are babysitting services available for younger children and age-appropriate activities for older children and teens. A unique attraction on board Anthem of the Seas is the North Star Experience. You enter a sphere attached to a mechanical arm and are then lifted approximately ten stories high, where you are treated to a bird's eye view of both the ship and the ocean. This is truly a must-do activity.

When booking a cruise, we expect a professional, courteous and attentive staff. Every crew member with whom I had contact has been extremely polite and helpful. Several staff members deserve recognition for their outstanding service: 1.) Sookraj from Mauritius, who tended to our stateroom twice each day with a huge smile and some pleasant conversation (I learned much about Mauritius); 2.) Veleacha from Australia, who offered passengers advice on where to shop for the best bargains, along with discount coupons for many of the shops surrounding each port of call and 3.) Michael from the Netherlands, who conducted fitness classes as well as seminars and private consultations on maintaining a healthy body through proper nutrition and moderate exercise.

One of the major highlights of our cruise were the shows. “Sparta's Cabaret” and “We Will Rock You” were simply outstanding; the acting and singing, combined with special effects using light, sound and projection screens, were definitely worthy of being on Broadway. Read more