Chillin’ like a villain RCL Anthem May 2024.Day 2. Board ship

[vampiress88]

Day 2

We were up at 7.30am, got showered and dressed and went to the hotel breakfast for 8.30am. I’d booked the room to include breakfast at about £25 more. It really wasn’t worth that. All the food was cold even though it was under the hot light, the orange juice was nice though which was annoying as I can’t drink if I am travelling and the pain au chocolat wasn’t bad but it was way over priced for the quality. We shouldn’t have bothered. In fact the cookies from M&S yesterday would have been better for breakfast but we weren’t to know.

We went back to the room, packed our stuff and were on the road by 9.30am. I had to put another £28.50 in the car at the petrol station. We had a quick toilet stop at services on M3 then got to ABparking for 11.30am. We had parked with them before but I didnt really remember and couldn’t direct Scott to where they were.

We packed and left our luggage outside near the boot of the car as it was getting collected by the trolley instead. We went to check in, scanned our tickets, gave our passport and went through security then onto the ship.

It wasn’t busy at all and couldn’t have taken more that 20 minutes which was great compared to last time we cruised from Southampton. It was dead easy. I will go as far to say this was the best embarkation for a cruise we have ever had and I like that I can get on before lunch time too.

As we got on we had a glass of fizz each, Scott drank mine. That was as quite a nice touch, although not necessary. We did our muster station at the two70 and got a free lemonade from the machine in cafe next to it. The kids also got coconut cookies whilst we decided what to do. We then went to kids club on deck 12 to register the kids, they will be in the same group as there aren’t many on board. I do prefer doing this online as with other cruises really.

We were getting a bit peckish so headed to the buffet for lunch. We got some more of the free drinks which were great they had some lovely ones like the lemonade and the ice tea from the machines but the food choice wasn’t great. There was lots that looked nice but most was vegetarian.

Scott got a rotti and chips. Me,Scarlett and Georgia got some chicken and chips off the kids station. The bbq chicken we tried wasn’t nice it was all slimy. Wasn’t a great start when we thought it would be better food on here than we usually have. We were persuaded to try royal Caribbean as forums for years have said how much better it is for food, entertainment and the kids. I really do hope it is worth the extra as it’s a good 30% more expensive.

On the way back from the buffet we passed the free ice cream. Now I love ice cream and this wasn’t that. I don’t know what it was but I didn’t like it. It hasn’t that strange plastic taste that I don’t like and unfortunately there isn’t any other paid for ice cream that I could have had either.

The kids thought it was good and that was ok until Georgia dropped it in the indoor pool area in front of lots of people. I got some napkins from the bar and cleaned it up. As no one seemed to even bother to come clean it after I had told them about the spill. I’m not sure if more of the staff were busy due to it being embarkation day. Maybe doing the muster station and giving out the free fizz.

Our rooms were ready now so we went and our cases were there shortly after. I found this really we’ll organised and better than what we usually have.

We got unpacked and I changed my boots to trainers and it was much better. The bumper cars and rock climbing was on so I thought today would be the quietest just in case. So we went and joined the line for the bumper cars. Took about 10mins and we all got a car each. Was great apart from Scott chasing me. But we had fun and this was the first time the girls had ever done this.

For me and Scott it was a little nostalgic but we were missing the electric wire at the top now that everything is electric cars it’s not exactly the same feeling. Think more of the dodgems 20 years ago at the seaside and that’s what we missed. They have proper seatbelts and everything now. Not just a little thing you slip an arm through, and no sparks coming down all the time either.

After this the kids did rock climbing. Georgia got about 6 feet up then got scared and came back down. Scarlett got over half way but then it started getting harder as it wasn’t a flat part of the wall anymore, she did try the other side but again it got too hard and she then came down. She did really well though. I did think that Scarlett wouldn’t have gotten as far as she did. I was very proud of her.

It was only 3ish and we didn’t have a table booked for dinner until 7.45pm tonight as the only times I could actuallly book on the app for anytime dining was always 7.30ish so the kids went swimming for an hour while we watched before we went to the schooner bar for the 5pm quiz.

We were really terrible at it as always but quizzes are my very favourite, and the kids weren’t too fussed for being there either. Scott did find that he enjoyed the peanut butter whiskey neat though so that’s the drink on this ship for him. Since he doesn’t like the look of most of the beers.

As the kids were bored they tried kids club while we got showered and ready for dinner. We then all went down to dinner in chic. We didn’t like the table here as it was in a walk way and my chair kept getting bumped into.

Me and Scott had the crab cake and Georgia had the prawn cocktail.

Neither were nice, something was strange with the prawns.

Georgia had mac and cheese, Scarlett had burger and me and Scott had prime rib.

I’m not sure why I expected it to be an actual rib but it was more like a beef dinner at a Sunday lunch pub. Then key lime pie for dessert for all but Georgia who had cookies. We enjoyed the key lime but it wasn’t a patch on the ones in Florida.

It was 9pm now and quite late and it had been a long day so back to the room, all ready for bed and asleep by 10.30. Sea day tomorrow so don’t need an alarm but do need to put the clocks 1hr forward.
The £ is really $ (spreadsheet didn’t like not pounds)

Heiniken £8.25
Mocktail £8.00
Heiniken £8.25
Coke £3.50
Heiniken £8.25
Cocktail £15.00
Coke £3.50
Whiskey £9.99
£64.74