Anthem of the Seas Embarkation Day: our UNFILTERED first impressions

[@VacationVictoria]

Love your videos. Been waiting for this series. We’ve cruised all Disney(5 cruises) Did Anthem out of NJ in April for our son’s 16th birthday- so far you are off to a better start than us- lol. We’re done with RC. Trying Constellation for New Years- loved your series on it so thought we’d give it a try.

[@TravellingWithTeens]

Thank you so much! Your kind comment nearly made Beth cry!!! Tell us what happened on RCCL… we’re still onboard (and still forming our opinions) so would love to know your experience!

[@VacationVictoria]

Well- our cruise was packed for spring break. Weather was not great so all inside venues were jam packed. Very long lines to do just about anything- haha. Had anytime dining- very long waits even with reservations- not an issue for you with suite dining- which looks awesome. I think expectations were too high- since I compared everything to Disney. Like you we don’t drink and had no drink packages and were pushed to get the refreshment package anytime we ordered a soda at dinner or main dining room lunch so we just stopped. It was also hard to get seats for trivia so I would go early to get seats. I think we’ve decided smaller ships are better for us. Have a great cruise!!

[@TravellingWithTeens]

@VacationVictoria your first sentence said it all! It’s British school break here, and there are OVER A THOUSAND KIDS onboard. The pool areas are carnage. But we agree, this would be a very different experience for us if we weren’t in a suite, and we think we prefer smaller ships. Constellation is still our favourite! Thanks for supporting our channel, and while you’re on The Connie at Xmas, we’ll be on the NCL Prima - hope you enjoy that one too!

[@VacationVictoria]

Oh- I forgot to tell you about the library space above 270. It’s lovely- great views, quiet space. We played chess up there. No one was ever there 😊

[@TravellingWithTeens]

@VacationVictoria thanks for the tip! We’ll check that out tonight!

[@raymonddickson8937]

Hope its as good Wednesday coming last Europe trip.

[@TravellingWithTeens]

Bon voyage!

[@cruisingwiththe4bs]

Excellent stuff, do have soft spot for anthem! Shame next year that the 14 day uk med cruise will disappear when Indy returns. Wow 8 times for specialty dinning, this has regularly been a problem with MSC sad to see its spread to Royal. Did you consider two cabins rather than a suite? (We coming towards that time) teens going free is amazing though

[@TravellingWithTeens]

We tend to stick with one room where we can and the suite gave us loads of space (the bathroom was huge!) plus there was a curtain that pulls over and separated the two areas so we kind of had two rooms anyway. As long as they have separate beds they don’t mind being with us but they refuse to share! If it’s bunk beds they do one cruise on, one cruise off 😊. We are on the Celebrity Beyond next summer and we’ve booked two cabins (inside for them and balcony for us) so will probably not want to go back to one room after that!! Agree that it’s a shame they are doing away with the 14 day cruises from the UK.

[@cruisingwiththe4bs]

@@TravellingWithTeens perfect when add in the curtain must say that bathroom was masssssive

[@TravellingWithTeens]

@cruisingwiththe4bs we know! Two sinks!!!

[@TravellingWithTeens]

By the way, we don’t know how we’ve never subbed you, but we’ve just fixed that!

[@cruisingwiththe4bs]

@@TravellingWithTeens that’s hilarious I relished the exactly same thing this afternoon and thought why I hadn’t and realised that we bang on about subscribing to our channel but barely ever do to anyone else and rely on the recommendations KZbin gives us but we have for you now haha.

[@Solomumtoone]

Really looking forward to this series, looks fantastic already x

[@TravellingWithTeens]

We’re still onboard, and there is SO much more to share with you guys! Thanks for supporting our channel, and see you next week!

[@cruisefraterpoultons]

Great first day, the suite is gorgeous and the ship so far looks amazing. Our first ever cruise back in 2010 was on Oasis of the seas which got us hooked on cruising. Love Royal Caribbean ships, the food choices and quality are good and the entertainment is the best out of all the cruise lines we have tried so far. You got a great deal with free kids places. Enjoy the rest of your cruise 🤩

[@TravellingWithTeens]

Thank you! We have certainly fallen in love with Royal. So much choice and the nicest crew we have ever had.

[@BenjaminLeon-xi9ex]

The parking garage that you saw at the port. Is a storage facility for auto dealerships. The automobile manufacturer ships the vehicles out and has them stored in a parking garage. As dealerships need vehicles, they order a certain amount of vehicles to get picked up and then they get delivered to the dealership after they paid their Port fees and expenses.

[@TravellingWithTeens]

Thank you so much! I knew somebody would have the answer… wish I had a prize for you haha

[@daniak7468]

Haha, the Pinnacle people are so funny.

[@TravellingWithTeens]

It’s the badges!

[@doodles3075]

How many beds were in the suite?

[@TravellingWithTeens]

So two single beds (which can be one double bed) in the ‘bedroom’ - and then a double sofa bed in the ‘living room’.

[@doodles3075]

@TravellingWithTeens ahhh thankyou I can remember just seeing the double. I think when they get to teens, it becomes more expensive, even though they are still classed as children. A lot of places have 2 x double beds and expect them to share. There's absolutely no way my 2 would ( 1x boy 1x girl mid teens), so unless it has beds the way the suite is, I would have to get 2 x rooms. Were the children going free all the time or a deal?

[@TravellingWithTeens]

Kids sailed free (they slept in the twin beds, we took the sofa bed, with the curtain dividing us). Ours won’t share either! We generally make do with bunk beds and/or a combination of Murphy bed and sofa bedding a cabin… but weee having two cabins for the next time next summer!!! Can’t wait

[@4192pt]

How busy was the Solarium on sea vs port days? Did you find the whole ship managed the crowds okay?

[@TravellingWithTeens]

Kind of equal, really. We’re on a 14-day cruise from the UK to Spain, and it’s a crowded ship… there really isn’t a subbed to be had anywhere unless you reserve them with a towel very early (which we just saw many people doing at 7am and which you aren’t supposed to do!). The ship handles crowds extremely well, foot traffic flows so nicely… apart from near the pools and solarium I’m afraid. At least on this cruise

[@Amylifegames]

I was on the same ship as you guys

[@TravellingWithTeens]

Fantastic cruise, wasn’t it?!

[@BenjaminLeon-xi9ex]

By the way, would you be interested in purchasing the unlimited dining package during your cruise?

[@TravellingWithTeens]

lol absolutely not! To be fair, we never got asked that… though we understand many people were!

[@TravellingWithTeens]

Hive YOU sailed Royal Caribbean before?! Let us know and say hello below!!!

[@Njb2510]

We just got off the ship this morning. We definitely loved it but a lot to improve I’d say.

[@TravellingWithTeens]

@Njb2510 agreed on both counts! What do you find needs improving?

[@Njb2510]

@@TravellingWithTeens staff are overly attentive whilst not actually providing the level of service they seem to think they are. The constant ‘do you want some meal package’ from day one makes you want it even less. In the dining room it’s almost ole the serving staff are playing characters to the point where it really detracts from the experience and made us just do the buffet a good few nights to be away from it. Plus being so close to other tables isn’t great! Found a lot of the non-restaurant staff rude for very little reason. Especially around entertainment venues. Outside space is good though compared to last year on Princess.

[@TravellingWithTeens]

@Njb2510 interesting! Thanks for sharing your view! We didn’t think the outside space was good at all, but really liked the staff (apart from the pushy ones selling restaurants)

[@Njb2510]

@@TravellingWithTeens solarium especially, was mostly fine. We didn’t go full outside (if that makes sense) and yesterday was a breeze for seating.

[@annekirkpatrick7197]

Would you like to book specialty dining? 😂

[@TravellingWithTeens]

I KNOW! And the thing is, yesterday, we finally relented! Jamie’s Italian tonight!!!

[@gazm4751]

Hi, Why no beers ? Your on holiday life's too short have a beer

[@TravellingWithTeens]

We’ve had tons! We just prefer zero alcohol ones!

[@Dadjokeswithmydaughter]

Great video! Looking forward to our first time on Royal Caribbean this spring with one of my Daughters. Just got off the Wish for our 10th Disney cruise so it will be interesting to see how we like Royal Caribbean. How many flights of stairs did you get? I had 113 flights of stairs and 22,000 steps on my biggest day on the Wish.

[@TravellingWithTeens]

Sea day tomorrow, and I’m doing a ship tour, so I’ll give you the running (walking?) total!

[@TravellingWithTeens]

@dadjokeswithmydaughter what ship you going on?

[@Dadjokeswithmydaughter]

@@TravellingWithTeens Voyager of the sea.

[@Dadjokeswithmydaughter]

@@TravellingWithTeens you will beat me just like the last cruise you were on. 🤣

[@TravellingWithTeens]

@Dadjokeswithmydaughter probably! Because you’re from Grand Rapids or wherever