Anthem of the Seas

Back in March, I packed up for a quick weekend cruise to nowhere aboard Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. One thing you will quickly come to learn about me is that I absolutely love cruising. So when I was in desperate need of a weekend away to reset and recharge, booking this trip was a no brainer, even if it meant going alone. (More on that in a later post). And with cruises to nowhere quickly becoming a thing of the past, I could not pass up the opportunity.

FRIDAY | EMBARKATION DAY

Arriving in port and seeing the ship for the first time is always an exciting moment and this time was no different. At first glance I was in awe. This ship is HUGE! I couldn't wait to board, but first I had to make my way through security and check-in. After an hour of confusion in Cape Liberty's new (and much needed) cruise terminal, check-in was complete and it was finally time to board the ship.

Now, if there is one sound that officially starts any cruise vacation, it's the "ding" that sounds when your Seapass card is scanned for the first time. I look forward to it every time I board as it unoffiicially rings in the start of vacation. It is truly one of my favorite sounds.

After a lengthy muster drill, it was time for sailaway. I opted for the Solarium (the adults-only pool area) as it has two outdoor "wings," perfect for departure. Even though the day started out dreary and snowy, we had perfectly blue and sunny skies for departure.

After about an hour, I went indoors to explore the ship a bit before dinner. I picked up a WOW band, a bracelet with a chip inside that serves as your Seapass card. Between the convenience (ie not having to have a separate wristlet or pockets) and the use of technology, it quickly became one of my favorite things about the cruise.

Dinner time! I met a few other solo travelers at sailaway and met with one of them for dinner at The Grande. We were seated at a large table but were soon joined by a few other solo travelers. Dinner was good as always, but the complimentary champagne was even better.  I enjoyed getting to know this group of fearless women and hearing about their travels all over the world. It was extremely inspiring to me.

I tried to do some more exploring but after a hectic week at work, I was ready for bed. One down, two more to go!

SATURDAY | AT SEA

Saturday was off to a rocky start due to the rough winter waters of the Atlantic. I failed to take Dramamine before setting sail so I knew I was in for it. It was just a matter of when it would catch up to me. (That and all the champagne from the night before...)

It was only after 7, but I was rested and ready to start the day. Wanting to get a workout in (because, pizza), I started with a few laps around the track. Since it is outdoors, the jogging track is one of my favorite ways to work out on a cruise, so this was one workout I was actually excited for. While I was content with the workout I got in, I decided to head to the gym.

Friends, learn from my experience: lingering nausea + a rocky ship + a treadmill = failure.

I lasted about 15 minutes before I had to call it quits. I didn't feel sick, but I also didn't feel great. It was still early so I went to Cafe 270 to pick up a breakfast sandwich. While I was there, one of the servers and I started chatting and he recommended green apples for the nausea. I took three.

By the time I got back to the room and start eating, I was done for. I had never been sea sick like this before, but I had also never cruised in such choppy waters. It took a few hours to recover, but by noon I was feeling better and able to leave the room. I did have a blissful nap, and since I am physically unable to nap in my normal life, I considered it to be a victory of sorts.

Since I had booked three weeks before sailing, all of the major attractions like the North Star and Ripcord by iFly were booked solid. Still, there was plenty to do around the ship. The afternoon was spent shopping in duty-free (habit) and taking in the ship. I also spent a good part of the day outdoors as the air was balmy and kind of warm as we were by the Carolinas.





I had dinner plans at American Icon with one of the solo travelers that I had met and like the night before, it was delicious. (So good I actually had two desserts...)

I was able to book tickets for one of the shows, Spectra's Cabaret, and when I say it was EVERYTHING, it was everything. It was truly incredible. As someone who is a huge fan of aerial art and trains among some of the best in New York City, this show completely blew me away and inspired me to keep up my training.



The seas remained pretty choppy all day and by the time the show was over, the ship was really rocking. I didn't want to risk getting sick again, so I decided head back to the room for a movie and some room service. I really just wanted some tea, but the room service burgers are SO good, I couldn't help it.

SUNDAY | AT SEA

It was another early morning, so I got myself up and went for my last morning at the track. It was clear we were heading back north as it was freezing outside. I wasn't outside very long before I went back to the room to shower and change. My only plan for the day was to spend it by the pool in the Solarium. As it was 8 in the morning, I had my choice of chairs, so  I quickly picked one and settled in for the day.

Around 4pm, I finally left the Solarium and made my way back to my room to get ready for dinner. I met with my two new solo friends and we had our last dinner at Chic. The decor like almost every other venue on the ship was beautiful. The food of course was delicious and as it was our last night, the champagne was in abundance. (I also had this dark chocolate, sea salt cake that was out of this world! Chocolate gives me debilitating reflux, but it was worth it!)



After dinner, we took pictures around the ship and went to the farewell show. We ended the night with Michael Jackson trivia (which we almost won) and a round of drinks as we said our goodbyes. I was so grateful that I ran into this incredible group. I did some last minute shopping (namely some macarons from La Patisserie...) and went back to my stateroom to pack.

MONDAY | BACK HOME :(

One thing I appreciate about the day you return to port, is that they don't kick you off right away. I took my time getting ready and then made my way over to The Cafe @Two70 for a light breakfast. Two70 easily became my favorite area on Anthem, as it offers a place to relax indoors and incredible views during the day.  I spent a few more minutes in reflection, then went back to my room to grab my things and head on home. I didn't get to do everything I wanted to (not enough time!), but Anthem will be docked in NYC for some time, so I am sure I will get the opportunity soon...

Before I go, if you are a solo traveler, you will LOVE the solo cabin. It is the perfect size for one, with plenty of storage. I normally stay away from inside rooms, but the addition of the Virtual Balcony made it completely worth it. It's not the best quality, but see the below video for a quick tour of the room.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOZwxqFmzBE&t=92s[/embed]