Imagine our excitement and joy when we were told we had won a cruise! We only had a short time to prepare. Boarding was relatively easy using a lot of technology and we had a lovely balcony cabin. We had a very nice cabin steward called Muhammed who looked after us very well. Our cruise got better for us when we met the waiters and head waiter in the dining room. The care and attention to detail combined with their friendly manner put them all above and beyond normal staff we have met in the past on this and other cruise lines. We cannot commend them sufficiently for their work and dedication which resulted in us experiencing above and beyond our expectations.
We do not mean to play down the other excellent staff we met and interacted with throughout our cruise. We have to say the food was wonderful. On sea days it was good to explore this wonderful ship, with quite a lot of shops, very expensive jewellery and a ship’s shop selling Royal Caribbean merchandise and souvenirs. There were a lot of speciality restaurants where you could eat and cafes too! We went to Johnny Rockets - delicious milkshakes and burgers, great for lunch! The entertainment was excellent, ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Frankie and the Dreamers.’ We had a really great time. The ship (Anthem of the Seas) is ideal for families.
We would like to say a special thanks to the Head of Passenger Services who made time for us to pass on our grateful thanks to Royal Caribbean for our wonderful cruise. We would like to thank everyone for this wonderful cruise and a special thank you to Liam, Sally and Gill, the Concierge Team at ROL Cruise, for making it all happen for us.
Mo
Hi Mo! Congratulations on winning our Royal Caribbean competition. How did Royal Caribbean International differ from other cruise lines you’ve sailed with?
We found Royal Caribbean to be really unique - Anthem of the Seas has such a wide range of activities.
As Mo explained, Royal Caribbean is unlike any other cruise line. Their dedication to innovation outshines, with fascinating features and unmissable itineraries on each and every ship. Anthem of the Seas was the second in Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking Quantum Class. She is brimming with more incredible state-of-the-art technology, world-class dining and spectacular entertainment than any other cruise ship in the world.
You mentioned the ease of embarkation due to technology. Could you tell us a bit more about the technology used?
We had to complete everything online prior to embarking - even the medical questionnaire the night before sailing.
Royal Caribbean passengers can use the Royal App to check-in and access their embarkation pass as well as book activities, make dining reservations and much more. Guests also require access to the NHS app for their COVID-19 passport and proof of their COVID-19 vaccination alongside proof of their negative PCR test result.
How did you find the lead up to embarkation in this post-COVID-19 world? Was the testing process simple?
Yes, once we booked the appointment, the testing process was simple.
Like Mo says, the testing process is seamless. In order to embark on a Royal Caribbean cruise, a negative PCR test is required - this can be taken three days prior to embarkation, with results received as soon as 24 hours after. On this particular cruise, a PCR test to return wasn’t required as it was a voyage around the British Isles but may be on other itineraries.
Royal Caribbean is renowned for its incredible service. Did the updated health and safety regulations on board impact your opportunity to build relationships with Anthem of the Seas’ fabulous crew?
We didn’t find that our relationships with the crew were impacted. We had to wear masks all the time except for while eating and drinking, this was slightly different to usual but nothing we didn’t get used to.
Following the pandemic, Royal Caribbean International has implemented new measures to ensure all passengers are as safe as they possibly can be. Because of this, hand sanitiser can be found at more points around the ship, mask-wearing is required while in public spaces and the overall capacity is reduced (while Mo was on Anthem of the Seas capacity was at 60% which works out at 2,943 passengers of a potential 4,905).
The cruise lines incredible innovation is what sets them apart from the rest. What were the standout features of Anthem of the Seas?
Anthem of the Seas is a truly beautiful ship with so many beautiful features.
As mentioned, Anthem of the Seas has many incredible standout features. Some of our favourites include the SeaPlex, a one-stop shop for fun activities including dodgems and Circus School, the North Star, a glass capsule that offers 360-degree panoramic views and FlowRider, an exhilarating surf simulator.
The milkshakes and burgers at Johnny Rockets sound delicious! Which other restaurants did you get the opportunity to dine at?
The main dining option was excellent so we dined there every evening because the waiters were so wonderful! We enjoyed afternoon tea in La Patisserie and were going to try Jamie’s Italian (which looked really good) but we sadly ran out of time.
Anthem of the Seas impressive dining venues leave guests spoilt for choice! There are eight complimentary dining options available including the Main Dining Room, where Mo dined each night, Sorrento’s and Dog House as well as nine speciality dining restaurants including Wonderland (a must-visit), Izumi and Chops Grille. Read all about Anthem of the Seas dining options here.
Were there any noticeable differences with the dining experience on board?
We absolutely loved the breakfasts on board. The food was so good we both put on weight!
While moving around in restaurants, guests must wear masks. But other than that, dining is as normal - passengers even have access to the on board buffets!
Royal Caribbean hosts some of the most impressive entertainment at sea! Did the theatre experience differ in any way?
The entertainment was superb! It was like going to a West End show every evening.
Royal Caribbean’s entertainment is unrivalled. Across the fleet, guests can enjoy award-winning shows in the grand theatres, live music from resident pianists, vocalists and other musicians in bars and restaurants, choreographed acrobatics and high diving shows in the outdoor AquaTheater (only on Oasis Class ships) and much, much more. Currently, passengers are not required to wear face masks while watching live entertainment.
What was the most memorable part of your voyage?
We loved all of it, we didn’t want to disembark!
You’ve been a very loyal customer of ours over the years and for that we thank you! Could you tell us why you choose to book with ROL Cruise time and time again?
We’ve tried the rest and ROL Cruise is the best! Par excellence.
Well, we can’t argue with that! Thank you for your time, Mo.
