Cape Liberty Cruise Port

I've been out of this port three times. I like this port. It's easy to get to, traffic is not too backed up on the roads near it. But it gets a little backed up when you get to the ship and everyone's trying to drop off luggage. But everything goes smooth. Once you park, it's an easy walk to security and security goes smooth. The views from the ship when you get on are great. You can see the Statue of Liberty from the ship. And coming back, when you get close to the port you could see the lights from New York & the bridges, it's absolutely beautiful.

You do not want to miss the views when you set sail from this cruise port! Jaw dropping views of the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Make sure you get a good seat for this lookout. This terminal is also well set up to deal with a high volume of passengers. Staff here operate efficiently and effectively and are super kind. Security here is a breeze. Took us about 15 minutes to drop our bags and get on our cruise ship.

Cape Liberty Cruise Port, located on the New York Harbor waterfront in Bayonne, offers a striking blend of convenience and scenery. As you approach, you see the backdrop of Manhattan’s skyline and the Statue of Liberty in the distance, a reminder of the port’s name and its historic location. The terminal itself is modern and efficient, designed to handle large ships with ease. The check-in process is streamlined, with helpful staff guiding passengers through security and boarding. Inside, the atmosphere is bright and functional—more focused on smooth travel than luxury, but with clear signage and plenty of seating One of the highlights of departing from Cape Liberty is the sailaway experience: as the ship glides out of port, you’re treated to panoramic views of the Hudson River, the New York City skyline, the iconic Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and of course, the Statue of Liberty. Many passengers gather on deck with cameras in hand to capture the moment.

Sailed with RCI out of here Feb 2026. Parking: I recommend arriving at the port 45-60 minutes before your scheduled time, unless you are the first available time slot for boarding. We got there around 1100 for a 1200 slot. There were two lines of slow moving traffic from down the access road all the way to the ship. It moved pretty consistently, just slowly. Be patient and stay in your lane and you should be at the luggage drop in plenty of time. Dropping our bags was simple and took 30s. From there it's a straight shot to the parking garage, with people directing you there or back out of the terminal area. There was plenty of space in the garage. Again, people are there to hand you a ticket (with the scan code for paying) and to the next available space. We were on Odyssey of the Seas but it seemed like there were plenty of spaces for those on larger ships as well. Paying is easy, scan the code which takes you to a web page, enter some info and submit it and done. You can do this on that day or the day you return. I did the latter and it knew the day I had arrived automatically. From there it's a short walk back to the terminal. Check-in: Super easy! Staff directs you to and through security then to the next available check-in person. They do it all with iPads and it took about 5 minutes or less for our family of 5. Then you walk through the terminal and board your ship. It was so simple I can't even remember where/when we were handed our Sea Passes during the process. I think the check-in person gave them to us... LOL Departure: The reverse of arrival! Walked off the ship and through the baggage claim area. We brought our bags with us and just kept walking, following staff directions until we landed in front of a Customs station. Those of us with passports looked at a camera and were cleared, the two youngest had BC's and were questioned while we did this. Again, done in less than 5 minutes and out we walked to get in line for the elevator at the parking garage. Pro tip: If you can, send someone up the stairs to bring the car down to the luggage loading area on Level 1. It's easy to get to, just turn left BEFORE you leave the garage on Level 1. There were staff there to direct you to a parking spot where you can load up your luggage and head on out. No need to stop to swipe/insert a ticket or anything. You stop before the gate, a picture is taken of your plate and the gate goes up as long as you registered using the code from arrival. This code is on the ticket they gave you when you parked and also plastered on every wall of every level in the stair well and elevator waiting area. Follow the GPS or everyone else to find the highway, it's super easy!!

Last week was on vacation with friends and family to Bermuda First time from NJ …. Cape Liberty Royal Caribbean Cruise Port, located on the northeastern coast, offers a fantastic experience. The terminal is well-organized and efficient, making check-in and boarding smooth and hassle-free. The staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful, ensuring a pleasant experience from start to finish. One of the highlights is the stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty as you set sail. The port facilities are clean and well-maintained, providing a comfortable environment for travelers. Overall, Cape Liberty is a top-notch cruise port that enhances the overall cruising experience. Highly recommend!

Our ship, the Celebrity Silhouette, when departing the port, did a wonderful drive around the day very close to the Statue of Liberty, it then went really close to give a magnificent view of the New York City skyline. And then the best part was when the ship passed directly under a major bridge. Almost didn't think we were going to make it at first.

Cape liberty is a favorite port for me because its close to home, I've never actually had an issue going out here, parking at the port is easy, not too expensive and convenient when you get off the ship with your luggage.

Overall, it was a good experience. Since it was our fourth cruise, we knew check-in could get crowded. Just stay patient and respectful—everyone’s in the same line, organized by pre-booked boarding times. Arriving early doesn’t speed things up; it only means waiting longer. Relax and go with the flow for a smoother start.

I just got off the Symphony of the Seas a few days ago, and holy moly, it was the EASIEST embarkation AND disembarkation I have ever experienced. I am genuinely and thoroughly impressed with the service at Cape Liberty - whether this is a testament to the crew or Royal Caribbean itself, I don't know (likely a bit of both). My last cruise was about a decade ago from this port, and with all of the new security protocols / technology, this port really has it down pat. First, some information - we chose a later check-in time, which the cruise line recommends for easy embarkation. After experiencing this, I also would recommend booking a later check in time for a few reasons. I know everyone wants to start their vacation and get on the ship, but at 10am (which is when we disembarked), the line literally goes around the block and between the check-ins and check-outs, so it's a little chaotic. (Plus, your room is ready when you go on later.) Our window was 1 to 1:30, and we experienced none of that rush or chaos. Sure, the line was a little long for drop off, but that is to be expected. When we got to the actual building, we waltzed right in and got on a very short security line. There were quite a few lines open and we breezed right through security. Obviously, I know people are literally traveling from all over the world and don't have the luxury of picking a time, but to be honest with you...if you are traveling into this port, you will notice the area is really built up. I highly suggest hanging out at once of the coffee shops or even Costco and waiting to get on. I am a local - the port is only 25 minutes away from where I live - so I had plenty of time to get there. Once we got passed security, the RC reps checked our passport and kindly retook our biometric photo. You only have to show your passport once if you agree to the biometric scan, which is crazy. From there on out, we were on the ship. Now, for disembarking...it was just as easy, if not EASIER. Our group number was called 40 minutes early, and we decided to take a gamble and use the luggage service instead of carrying everything off the ship. Everything was neatly organized by number when it was time for us to pick up our luggage and we were off the ship in less than a half hour. Our ride was actually late because we anticipated it would take forever! I wish RC would do shorter cruises from this port because I would cruise all the time. I know it's technically not possible because of the climate, lol. This cruise really re-invigorated my love for cruises itself, and it was a genuine pleasure to experience Cape Liberty Cruise Port once again!

Very orderly and organized. It was only a slight delay getting into the port as traffic directors slowed traffic. Curb check in for luggage done quickly and efficiently. Very impressive!

What an easy port to travel from! We parked at the park and sail (5 minute shuttle drive) and were easily able to embark upon arrival. Checkin was easy and smooth. Will definitely leave from here again!

This port is efficient, small and easy to navigate which is pretty much all you need from a port.

New way of paying for parking is so ridculous- was better the old way!! New way of paying for parking is so ridculous- was better the old way!! New way of paying for parking is so ridculous- was better the old way!!

It's not a bad port - it's small, easy to navigate around as long as you follow road signs, and getting on is pretty easy. There's a good amount of parking in a garage next to the port, and "off site " parking a trek away the length of a building or two, but as other reviews mentioned it is expensive. Now for departure.... This shows the stark difference between an American cruise port and say, a Canadian one. The Canadians place periodic benches in their terminals, giving people a place to regroup and rest, almost as though considering humans may not feel well waking up so early in the morning. The New Jersey Cruise Port, on the other hand, is one militant employee away from leading the departing passengers in a round of "left, left, left right left". Stop? Breathe? Not according to these employees! It's like watching livestock being herded. The only seating is the plastic chairs put out for the employees, even though you can see how the hallway was designed to provide space for benches! Maybe the money was decided to go towards something else? I can't think of what it could have been, definitely not for a customer comfort. The only saving grace is the cruise port is smaller, and the facial recognition customs lines move quickly. If you're a party of two or less, here's hoping you don't need a porter! I was ready to tip my two remaining twenties for help, but they blew past my trying to flag them down for a larger group.

excellent service on and off for wheelchair patrons Parked in haniapped in adjacent garage. Car hit while we were at sea. Bayonne police referred to Port Authority police who referred to cruise port. Repeated messages not returned.. called Royal /caribbean and was disconnected by customer service. Terrible end to 13 person anniversary cruise.

Clean port with kind staff. Easy to navigate through. Each time we went through this port it was a seamless and easy experience. The only thing I had an issue with is that we showed up within our time frame and we have to sit in chairs lined in rows. Each row was being called one at a time to go through the last process before going up the escalator to the boat. It didn't take too long though, maybe an extra 20ish minutes.

After taking 7 cruises out of this port I guess I'll review it, haha. Prior to the expansion everyone was bussed after parking but last year we had such a great experience I thought that was the end of that, easy, quick drop off with parking in the garage. Now, flash forward, summer 2023, I will review that experience as it's freshest in my memory. First off, come early, drop off your baggage first and TIP YOUR PORTERS!! Then this time instead of going into the garage we were directed to a parking lot a ways away and it was a Stressful 30 minutes to park, but once we did we hopped on a continuous bus that took us to cape liberty. Check In for us, atleast this time was a breeze (last year with covid tests at port was stressful) Now lies the issue, we were traveling with a group of 19, all my siblings, their spouses, their children and our mother, Our mom who requested to arrive separately (even though we offered to drive) is in her 70s, can have confusion and is disabled and uses a walker. She didn't know she needed her passport out. She packed it! So for 2 hours, cape liberty officials left her in the terminal: crying. (The sound of her crying will just haunt me) while all her kids were onboard, she's disabled mind you, my brother, a lawyer went into the terminal, spoke with officials, they still wouldn't let her on or give her a solution!! Have your passports folks!! So there were 10 of us running around trying to find her luggage on the ship with her passport: finally, an officer on deck 5, I went crying to and told him the situation, when 2 seconds later he said they were bringing her onboard, how is it, he could handle it but not the people at cape liberty, she's 70 and in a walker? They found her passport and all was well and she enjoyed her cruise with her 19 children and grandchildren. So unnecessary to put her through that!! My advice, arrive early, tip your porters, have your passport and ID with you. Arriving home. We had a lot of luggage. We saw the porters there offering. But last time. They only brought to the edge of customs but man oh man do I wish we got them this time. What a horrible walk to the car with all that luggage, 2 toddlers and then I saw porters having brought luggage to others cars it was worth it to get them, trust me!! Customs is a breeze now with facial recognition,

My first Royal Caribbean cruise experience, sailing out of this port was seamless. We didn't check any luggage coming in or out of this port. I brought only carry-ons so it was relatively easy to take the luggage around with me. I picked a later time to check in due to scheduling issues and the whole process did not take a long time. We were on the ship within minutes from x-raying our bags, to going to the check in people without any delays. Honestly probably under 10 minutes. Coming back, the walk was a little farther and maybe because there were a lot more people trying to leave at once, it did take a longer time to get out of the port. From lugging around our carry ons to going to security checks. If you check your luggage, they basically bring it downstairs for you closer to the exit so you have to leave the ship and then retrieve it accordingly after. Might be helpful if you have a lot of belongings, or if you wanted to spend a little more time on the ship prior to departing. Didn't use the parking as we used car service.

MORTY WHERED DID YA PUT THE TICKETTT!!! Irene! I told you it was in my glasses case, you packed that?! it writes itself, the dump out is worth just coming down here to watch it unfold. I suppose when you been here once, you get the gist. I made a giant ass circle looking for a prepay, which btw, the dude was just at the gate doing it all for you . customs was a breeze, escalators worked and old people stopping short in chokepoints? oh yes , now we're cruising parkings now up to 30$ a day, I had no issues after a week. yelp isn't in Bermuda, so this might be all you get yolks (yelp folks)

Parking is a bit expensive but what do you expect? It's a cruise terminal. Paid $270 for 9 days. Process getting through and onto the ship is FAST. Literally took us minutes. Also getting off is just as quicker if not quicker. All our luggage was wanting for us when we got off the ship, and getting through customs took seconds. They scan your face now and don't have to show a passport at all. Excellent staff who is very friendly.

They have this port down to a science. You pull up. Drop your luggage and park. Then you walk to board with just your carry on. Parking is $175 for a 7.day cruise. Don't forget to tip your baggage porter. Love sailing out of a local port!

I have been cruising with RCCL for over 15 years and have been to countless cruises and always have a good to excellent experience. My Anthem of the Seas cruise was not the best by still enjoyable. Going back to RCCL ships just like going home. We have our usual balcony room as I really enjoy my sea day listening to the wave and enjoying the ocean breeze. The food and service at the main dining room did exceed my expectation. Never a wait for a table even when we opt for My Time Dining. We have dinner at Wonderland and Chops which were both so so. Aside from the usual issue of getting a lounger on a Sea Day by the pool but there were so many empty lounge chairs in different areas of the Ship which people never utilized. Getting on and off the Ship was a breeze. It always amazes me how RCCL figured out the logistic and make the process runs so smoothly. Till next time!

I sailed on Anthem of the Seas on a cruise through the Western Caribbean. This ship is one of Royal Caribbean International's Quantum Class cruise liners. It's massive! There's so much to cover when reviewing this cruise ship. Below are some takeaways and notes about features/areas of the ship that I checked out. CABIN ROOM (BALCONY): We were on Deck 7 and had a balcony room towards the aft. It was on the side of Windjammer and Two70. This was the first time that we stayed in a balcony room. It was spacious with lots of storage. I loved the room. ROYAL THEATER: During the cruise, there were two musical theater performances. One was called "The Gift". The plot wasn't clear, at least to me, my husband, and a few people around us. The other was a Queen-inspired musical called, "We Will Rock You," and it was pretty good. TWO70: You need to check out this area of the ship. At night, the show 'Spectre's Caberet' and other activities. During the day, the floor-to-ceiling windows provide amazing views of the ocean and people can sit in the two-level area to read and play games. There's also a café in there. The coolest thing about Two70 are the Robo Screens; must see. BUMPER CARS: These were fun. The line for bumper cars wind around the rink, but it moves fast. If you are interested in this, make sure to check the Compass (daily schedule) to see the hours. It's not open all day, only select hours. MAIN DINING ROOM: We were assigned first seating for dinner (6:30pm) at CHIC. You have lots of options for dining on Royal Caribbean. Our waiter and assistant at our table were fantastic! So friendly and welcoming. Also, they gave my vegetarian husband recommendations and also arranged for him to have Indian curry (off menu). Tip: The assumption is that you order one appetizer, one main entree, and one dessert. If you wanted, you can order two appetizers and even two desserts. I didn't do this, but I heard you can also order the entree as an appetizer (smaller portion). I found this out from a cruise savvy diner seated next to our table. You can also go to the main dining room for breakfast and lunch. We didn't get a chance to do this, but wanted to try it. WINDJAMMER: If you want the cruise ship buffet experience, you go the Deck 15 and go here. You can do buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food was really good, and the service staff bussing the tables and taking drink orders were on point and friendly. For breakfast, my favorite thing was the made-to-order, omelet station. Also, each night for dinner, the Windjammer usually had a theme for the food (like different cuisines from around the world). Lastly, the dessert station was awesome. SCHOONER BAR: Schooner ended up being where I stopped by the bar to get a bottle of water at the end of the night. Like the other bars, it was open late. The bars on the ship, Sorrentos, and one café are open until about 2am. SOLARIUM: I would go here. It's like a sauna inside the enclosed area, but there are lots of places to lounge. I thought it was less rowdy than the pool areas in the middle of the upper deck. I liked to relax there.

Nice port to cruise from. Very organized and easy to get on and off ship. Only gets 4 stars because parking is a rip off

I recently went on my first cruise and took a trip with my family to Bermuda on Anthem of the Seas. My husband and I stayed in a balcony suite on Deck 8. I was expecting to feel really cramped in any of the staterooms, but the size and condition of the room turned out much better than I expected. It definitely helped to have a balcony to open up the space. The bathroom was tiny, but everything looked well-kept and the shower had good pressure and a good range or temperatures to adjust to (even better than most hotels we stay in). There was too much food on board, so we never got tired of anything. We chose the traditional dining experience and ate a variety of dishes each night in the main dining room. There was also a cafe open for 24 hours where we could grab coffee, tea, and a selection of snacks any time we wanted. The onboard activities were fun, but I wish they had scheduled more activities on cruising days and in the evenings. A lot of fun activities were in the early to mid morning when I was still sleeping. Some of the activities get booked up very quickly. I highly recommend booking appointments for the North Star and iFly as soon as you can--these activities were free and worth the time and experience. I tried to book an escape room session for my group on our first day, but all the slots were already taken! The entertainment was pretty good too. We really enjoyed all the late night comedy shows, and there were other musicals and productions for people of all ages to enjoy. Overall, we all had a lot of fun and enjoyed our entire trip. Our cruise was for 5 nights, which was a good amount of time considering the number of activities on board and the amount of food we kept consuming.

We just completed a 7 day cruise to the Bahamas, wowza! Where do I begin? Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas, I have seen your best as well as your questionable, all in all? I'm still a fan of the cruise line. The six of us (two girlfriends in tow) had adjoining cabins. The housekeeping staff opened the balcony partitions between the rooms which made it nice to sit outside while underway. First, I highly recommend purchasing the ultimate drink package. When you walk onboard, there is a Starbucks! When I saw it I said, they're going to lose money on this one. Then, walking into the Windjammer buffet there is a fresh orange juice squeezer. I put it together the second I saw it, Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice & Titos Vodka. Boom! Some mornings I'd switch it up with a Bloody Mary made with Titos. Mmmm Titos.. Bionic Bar - All week before leaving I've been saying to my family: ROBOTS! Picture a robot making me a drink. Keep them coming Rosie! I went to the bar and almost all week there were technical difficulties. All said and done, human bartender thankyouverymuch. Smoking, there are two sections (That I saw) to smoke. Outside by the pool has a roped area as well as another smoking area on deck 5 with outdoor furniture. Another cruise line had a cigar room with leather chairs?? Uncool Royal Caribbean.. I'd grab a Glenfiddich single malt and cigars I brought from home and relaxed. I'm on vacation baby! Shows - I was a little disappointed with the two shows. I saw We Will Rock You in Vegas 2005. This show didn't have the same vibe, it didn't totally rock me. The clubs at night were sultry and sexy. They had dancers come out from the ceiling! Very impressive The specialty restaurants blew me away! Jamies Italian - Who is this guy? He looks like a plumber, not someone who makes incredible Italian food. 5 Yelp stars from me, separate review to follow. Wonderland - Everything blew us away, it was that magical. From the restaurant to the decorations, 5 Yelp Stars from me, separate review to follow. Chefs Table - 5 Yelp stars, this comes highly recommended. Picture very intimate dining with 12 different couples. Wine parings with each course and the head chef comes out and explains each item. I liked the sommelier explanation explaining each pairing. Very cool and not to be missed. Izumi - Wowza. Very small restaurant but to the point. Separate review to follow. Michael's Pub - This is the star of the ship. It's where all the true beer drinkers gather for a pint. Having the unlimited drink package makes this place magical! I ordered the drink they're known for, Gin and Tonic made with actual juniper berries! You have to ask them this signature drink or they'll make you a regular Gin & Tonic which you can get that anywhere. Also, the Fish & Chips? Ta die for. Windjammer Restaurant - I'd always have a Screwdriver or Bloody Mary to get my morning started. Then, its standard fare with Omelets, Cereal, Eggs and Crepes. That's right! Every morning my wife and I would split a crepe stuffed with chocolate and bananas, chocolate and strawberries and chocolate & chocolate. Mmm mm! Chops - The Steakhouse. Really? This place was an epic fail, the meat was off and they wanted to up charge me for a rib eye. All of the sides were brought out at different times, we're 6 people and it wasn't enough. Pass pass pass The regular restaurants - Everyone who didn't pay for specialty restaurants is waiting online to get in. The food was better than the steakhouse but it was kinda of pain in the butt to get seating for 6. Northstar - Fun! Sign up for this early, it's worth seeing. iFly - My leg that I broke a few years ago was flaring up, I passed. But my sons did this and it was lotsa fun! Young & Old, don't let age stop you. Bumper cars - I bashed the HELL out of people! This was a lot of fun The ship itself was majestic, very open and fun. The shopping was a little strange, lots of very high end stores. If you want to buy a Anthem of The Seas tee/sweat shirt? There was a limited shopping selections. All in all, we had a great time onboard and would recommend this cruise ship as well as the itinerary.

Easy to get to from Newark Airport. Our ride share took us down some pretty scenic streets before arriving to the port. Pretty simple signage and there are plenty of law enforcement in the entry area. We got dropped off for our cruise, gave the porters our bags and made our way inside. I suggest going earlier than suggested for a cruise check in to avoid the rush of people doing the same thing. 1st thing inside is to have your paper sea pass ready to show with passport in hand. The TSA line for security went very quickly and lines get monitored to open more for quick movement. Same as airport for security if you have TSA pre. No taking off shoes or taking out laptops. Once through security, look for signage for your cabin category and head to the checkin counter. That went very quickly and we were sitting in our own chairs waiting for the cruise gangway doors to open. We were told it would be close to 11:30 am before they were open but the suite level door opened at 10:30 and we were in a suite, we boarded and were on the ship by 10:35. Our original boarding time was 12:15 but I guess we lucked out. From the higher decks, we could watch all the goings on at the port or look out to the other side of the ship and see the beautiful NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Nice experience! Tip: plenty of bathrooms in the waiting area and cold water too.

Sailed New England (Boston - MA, Portland and Bar Harbor - ME, St. John and Halifax - Canada) on a 9-day cruise. In the past, I've sailed with Princess and Holland America which in my opinion both have better food, but I would consider Royal Caribbean as my all-around preferred cruise line to date despite it generally being higher in cost. FOOD: There were four restaurants that we rotated to each day - Chic (European), Silk (Asian fusion), Grande (formal) and American Icon. I wasn't a fan of Silk since the Asian flavors weren't too apparent. The Grande was my favorite of the four - everything I had there was delicious. The American Icon was open every morning for breakfast, and on 'at sea' days, it was open for lunch. The Windjammer buffet has many options for all meals, but it can be difficult to find a seat during peak times. As a lighter alternative, Cafe 270 offers deli items like fresh sandwiches, salads and desserts - plus an amazing view out the back of the ship. We ate once at Chops Grill, which had the BEST filet mignon, paired with delicious shareable side items. Jamie's Italian was also pretty good....most guests get the famous antipasto "plank" and I would recommend the lamb chops and truffle pasta. STATEROOM: My family of four stayed in two 'Inside' staterooms, each one being the perfect size for two people. They were connected cabins with two middle doors so we could easily share toiletries and bathrooms. This was SO convenient and I would recommend for families. The 'Inside' cabins have a virtual balcony, which makes the room feel a little more open by providing a real-time "view" of the outside without the extra cost of a real balcony. ENTERTAINMENT: Out of all the production shows, I enjoyed Spectra's Cabaret the most - very high-energy and mostly various dance/acrobatics. I didn't care for the story line of We Will Rock You, which is a 2-hour show. There were a couple comedians and musical performances (pianist and band), all of which I enjoyed for the most part. Would have been nice to have a magician or illusionist. Our cruise director, Abe, was very memorable and had plenty of fun activities planned throughout the entire cruise. ACTIVITIES: The "Cruise Compass" daily planner was full of activities from morning to midnight. Abe even hosted a morning show every day and walked through the daily schedule. Visit the Seaplex often, which offered roller skating, bumper cars and acrobatics. iFly and the rock wall are right next door. Experiencing the North Star is a must as it gives you an amazing view 300 feet up (kind of difficult to get photos without a reflection though). **TIP: It's best to go up in the North Star when at a port for a 360 degree view of a town rather than just of the ocean. As for hosted events, bingo was offered on "at sea" days and there were a a couple game shows played as well (e.g. Love & Marriage). Visit Cafe 270 not only for the view, but for the Vistarama shows on their futuristic robotic screens. SERVICE: Service was great all around the ship. Our room stewards made our room look polished each night and left all of our belongings untouched. At dinner, our waitstaff took the time to describe the menu and their recommended dish of the night. We really enjoyed the traditional dining - our waiters genuinely engaged in conversation with us, which was nice because it gave us some insight on their background as well. Even some of the crew (like photographers or a waiter we had once) that we didn't interact with daily recognized us around the ship and would always greet us with a smile! The crew definitely made our experience that much more memorable. SHIP: I loved the ship, which was both elegant and modern. Even though there were more than 4000 guests on board, it never felt too crowded, even during our time at sea. There is a wide range of technology on board such as iPads in the shore excursion office, the professional photos system and the amazing Bionic Bar! WiFi packages are available - although the connection wasn't the best, it was good enough for checking email and basic browsing.

As a Diamond member / multi cruiser, you can read my review with confidence.... This ship is spectacular! CLEAN, modern, many of amenities/activities, well planned design - they paid attention to the detail! I like this best of all the Royal ships. Loads of speciality restaurants and shops and bars, awesome pool space, nice spa, etc. Staff for most part (minus William from loyalty desk - who completely offended me!!!) was attentive. The North Star, IFly (skydiving), Solarium pool (relaxing and kid free), spa with sauna/steam, Wonderland & Chops, wine bar, and the We Will Rock You broadway show were highlights. They also had a great Journey Tribute band on board our trip. The lowlights: --Chefs table (excellent wine, good service, but disappointing food) --Spectra's Cabaret (weird show, way too "out there" for my taste). --They made some odd management choices that they should work to fix for future -- I.e. they turn on announcements in all staterooms for crew drills and day of disembarkation (super annoying and unnecessary--- most of the ships don't do this). -- itinerary is a bit strange. We chose this cruise for the ship rather than ports, but I really think they need to switch the ports up a bit! --Lastly, their entertainment wasn't as good as other ships (the club DJ was particularly awful) and their just wasn't as many evening options (shows, entertainers) as other Royal ships. That said, this ship is beautiful and well worth a try!

Most of the reviews that I have read or of the Anthem of the Seas ship itself. I will post a separate review of the ship. This review is of the Cape Liberty Cruise PORT. I found the port terminal to be very efficient. I have been on 15 cruises and this port is very easy to get into and get on board the ship as well as leaving the ship and working your way to customs to leave the port terminal. The port terminal has several helpful crew people to help with luggage, parking and the ship boarding process. Customs and luggage retrieval was easy and smooth. I found the waiting to board the ship a bit annoying, as they have rows of seats that they coral you into. I don't like this part of the process, I found the closeness to others very uncomfortable, but I understand the reasoning. Parking was easy with the staff helping direct traffic as well as handing you a ticket and guiding you to a parking floor in the parking garage. The ticket process for paying was just as easy. Two machines one that takes only cash and other that takes only credit cards. Traffic in early in the morning is light but by 11 am it can be heavy and a nightmare. I found it to be an easy smooth port to move in and out of.

Ok I have sailed 50+ cruises as well as 3 cruises in the last 6 months. This is by far my most favorite ship! Before you would go out of NJ and most passengers were locals now they are from everywhere. Anthem is their newest class ship Quantum Class. Also Anthem is one of three in this class so the only way to see this class ship is go to China or NJ. Obviously NJ being my homeland was my choice. It is a technology ship so here is the differences. When you Check In online at home you can also upload your photo so they don't take it onboard thus saving time. You don't get room keys until you get to your stateroom. Than you need to insert your card inside the cabin so the lights can come on. Also you are saving energy. When you go to Guest Services and when necessary you are lead to an IPad that has what you were looking for. In my case I forgot what reservations I had made. This will also come up on my tv in my cabin a calender by person. I.e. my Mom was at the Spa and I was Snorkeling in Bermuda. Wi-Fi rates were very affordable and it was like I was still on land. The restaurant choices as well as the quality of the food was amazing. We ate at the following venues Windjammer buffet when we boarded for lunch as well as breakfast. They had a reserved table that was wheelchair accessible. Wonderland for dinner first night was amazing and we got to try everything. Than Jamie's Italian for great pasta made onboard Mom had the lambchops. Third night was Sushi at Izumi again got assorted best of what they do and it was over the top. Complimented by some nice Japanese beer. Forth night Chops had a 16 oz. Ribeye. Last night went to Main Dining room and had lobster tail. Now Culinararily speaking this was all amazing. The cheesecake I can close my eyes and I'm in NY. As well as the late night pizza I got after the show the last night. Everyone was up I guess no one wanted it to end including me. Also while onboard we had great shows and a very funny comedian. I got something off my bucket list and I flew with I-fly onboard. There was also bumper cars and an observation deck that goes over the ocean. Hey lots to see and do for my next cruise onboard Anthem of the Seas. But hey I came to rest and so I did on the balcony of my cabin catching the sun, watching the waves, and drinking champagne.

The absolute BEST port I have been to!! We got dropped off at the front where the guys were loading our bags from our bus onto huge carts full of luggage to board the ship. They were very helpful. Walking in there were workers telling us to have our passports and boarding passes out. Very smooth process. We was then directed to the xray machines, felt like I was stepping through an airport security, VERY thorough..safe. Then we were directed into a line which went very quickly to get our room keys. Then we walked over and got a picture taken, which we wasn't forced to do, of us and the cruise ship in the background on a green screen. Then we went aboard the ship. Not far to walk at all. Very nice customer service in all areas. Very smooth and fast service- Same thing coming back. Fast and quick service. The immigration was very quick and they welcomed us back to our good ol' USA!! Would definitely take another cruise out of this port---

Cape Liberty (Bayonne) Cruise Port is honestly one of the smaller cruise ports that I have ever been in. Currently, only 3 ships go in and out of the port, two Royal Caribbean and a Celebrity ship. It was odd in the sense that it was an extremely short walk from security to check-in and then to the ship. Pro's: + It is relatively small. Compared to other Ports that I have been too, there really isn't a long walk from your point of entry/exit to and from the ship + Currently, only one ship at a time docks and offloads/departs during the day + Transportation- There is a parking right next the port. If you don't drive, there were taxis and Ubers readily available. + Great views of the Manhattan Skyline in/out of the port Con's: -If you drive, parking will set you back $20/day - This port is kind of hidden, and there is really nothing around it. You will need a ride into the port - The drop off area has a small amount of space for cars and can get backed up, even with people directing traffic - Security, think similar to the airport, takes longer than it should due to a combination of the number of scanners/x-ray machines and the lack of knowledge of fellow passengers on how one is supposed to go through security. - If you are used to purchasing soda/water/other goods at the port, your out of luck. They had a small pop-up of lanyards.

We much prefer cruising out of Cape Liberty in Bayonne than NYC. It is much more civilized and organized. This time we were sailing on the first cruise out of NJ on the Summit, and things seemed a bit less organized. People were being trained, so our waiting line time for our sea pass cards was a bit longer than previously. Even with that, it was pleasant and went very smoothly. We arrived via Uber, dropped off our luggage, and walked into the terminal. We were on the ship within an hour of arrival at the port.

It's a Nice Terminal but there is one 3-lane road that enters it. It filters down to a 1-lane road with 2 shoulders. Their security wasn't stopping the vehicles driving on the shoulders which made it dangerous. As far as cruises go, it is solely a Royal Caribbean cruise terminal port. Our ship, Anthem of the Seas, started check-Ins around 11am. FYI - something that should have taken 20 mins, took us over 1-hr from Newark. Make sure your shuttle or transportation company picks you up at 10am. It they pick you up after 10:30 (from the Newark area), expect the long wait. Great views of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty from there.

I've been on Anthem of The Seas twice so far. This is the only cruise ship I've ever been on. Royal Caribbean is amazing and I highly recommend this cruise line. I'm actually planning my next cruise with Anthem now. I drive from Long Island. The trip is quick, takes an hour and a half without traffic. I try to get there early so I'm able to board and start my trip as early as possible. Check in is nice and quick. Boarding usually starts at around 10:45-11am. As for the the ship, it's amazing. This is a clean and child friendly ship. They have so many features. Plenty of areas to enjoy. They have flow rider which is the surfing/boogie boarding wave runner. They also have 2 pools. The North Star gives views of the ocean. They have a basketball court, trapeze school, bumper cars and other activities. I've met so many great people. The food is amazing. They have so many things to choose from. I love eating in the dining room. I tried the sushi making class last time I went. The teacher was great. He didn't rush anyone and showed everyone step by step what to do. It came out amazing. I highly recommend it. So many comedy shows each trip. We will rock you is also my favorite. If you've never been on a ship, I highly recommend the Royal Caribbean fleet. Anthem is great. Nice and close to my home so traveling there is quick.

This review is for the port alone, not the ship Adventure of the Seas. Pave your parking lot. My nearly brand new suitcase had its wheels demolished by the crappy pavements from the mile walk from my parking spot to the bag drop off. Then it took almost two hours to go through security and get on the ship.

Having traveled on this ship 5 times in 3 years, I can honestly say that she is my favorite. Never a disappoint even though staff changes. Love the food. Speciality resteraunts. And shows and activities. Absolutely love Terry as Spectra!. I could spend a week onboard enjoying the ship. Who needs an island.

So convenient for New Yorkers, instead of flying to Florida for a cruise. The port was easy and lines minimal. Coming back, they had facial recognition, so you didn't need to pull out your passport. Parking was a few feet away; make sure you don't lose your parking receipt. You pay at one of the many machines upon return. A bit pricey at $22/day. A bit confusing finding entrance where you have to drop off luggage and then go between two warehouses into the parking lot.

I chose this itinerary as a surprise for my husband for our 32nd anniversary. Overall, the ship is lovely and modern, but because it's meant for cold-weather sailings there's a lot of indoor spaces which seem to become overcrowded. I think that was the only downside for me. Cabin: Our cabin, 8152, was great. It was extremely clean and had a great deal of storage: bins over the bed, closets and drawers on either side of the bed, drawers in the desk and underbed storage. Udiana kept our cabin looking great and entertained us with towel animals. Dining: We had breakfast at Cafe 270 most days. It was a lot less crowded than the Windjammer and we were able to grab and go. The guys working there were very friendly and the barista made great lattes. I had bought the coffee card and made good use of it. We ordered rooms service for breakfast on our Halifax day. It showed up exactly on schedule and was accurate. We only ate in the dining room once, in American Icon, and I was severely disappointed. We were seated directly across from the waiter's station and it was noisy. Our waited was curt and grumpy, completely unlike the rest of the crew we encountered. We didn't go back after that. I had ordered fish and it was bland, unseasoned and rather unappealing. My husband had the delicious osso bucco. I had wanted the fish because it was lighter, but I was disappointed and sorry I didn't ask to change. If the waiter had been more attentive I might have, but I should have spoken up. Specialty dining was spectacular. On our first night we ate at Chops Grille. We really enjoyed it, but it wasn't our fave of the specialty places. On our second night we hit Jamie's Italian.My review is up on Yelp. On our anniversay we had dinner in Wonderland. What a delight! I posted a separate review here on Yelp. On our last night we ate dinner in the Solarium Bistro. Much quieter than the main dining hall! Entertainment and Activities: We made reservations for the Northstar, The Gift, We Will Rock You, and Spectra's Cabaret. I thought the Northstar was fun and loved taking pictures from up on high. We both disliked The Gift. It began like a cross between A Christmas Carol and Titanic, morphed into Peter Pan and some other stuff, and just totally bored us. We walked out. I found the sound difficult. Why on earth did a musical about the Victorian Era feature songs from the 70s - 90s? It was all over the place. My husband's review? If this is a Gift, give it back! We really enjoyed We Will Rock You. The singing and acting were good, and the storyline was simple but fun. The staging was great. It was a fun, toe-tapping experience. I loved Spectra's Cabaret, it was bright and imaginative. My husband liked it but didn't love it. Music venues: We liked the cover band in the Music Hall, and we listened to a lot of jazz in Boleros. I have to say that out of all the cruises I've been on (all with Royal), the music seemed weakest on this ship. I heard some really great jazz and singing on Enchantment and Majesty last year, so I was surprised things seemed to bland on Anthem. I think it was a little too Wonder Bread for my taste, give me some seasoning. Comedy: We liked Derrick Cameron and his comedy. I never really felt like the Cruise Director (Dru) was engaged with the passengers the way the Directors were on the smaller ships. I barely saw him. We didn't rollerskate, iFly, or use the bumper cars because I'm recovering from a back injury. I tried to get my husband to do some of that without me but he couldn't. Speaking of my back: there were times when I left certain venues because all the low seating was already taken. I can't sit on barstools. Not enough back support and it hurts too much for a short, injured person to get up on to it. I thought I was the only one until I heard some women talking in 270 about the same thing - they felt that a lot of the seating wasn't friendly for anyone who was short or disabled. Favorite place on board was the Solarium. Summation: Liked the cruise, loved the ports, loved the Solarium, loved the specialty dining, and we're going again (this time to Bermuda) in October. However, I do wish they had better flow for the crowds.

Anthem of the Seas is one of the larger quantum ships from Royal Caribbean. I have been on more than a few cruises, and didn't particularly like going on such a large ship. Since it is a rather new ship that mitigated my negativity knowing I had to navigate three football fields from bow to aft. It does indeed carry up to 5000 people. Cape Liberty where the ship is moored is very convenient to us New Jerseyians. I am about 40 minutes from my door to the dock. Royal Theatre holds about 1300. Acoustics great, seating is not great in areas near the support poles.They couldn't eliminate them due to the immense weight, so I'm told. Even so the seating could have been more angular. Can't be explained in words but when you sit there in an unobstructed seat, you will understand. Now, in the aft section is the most technically advanced theatre to date The Two 70. Agreed with all the most up to date Technology. There are two levels.... 3/4 separate stages that rise and fall and cast can enter/exit them or better yet through portals in the ceiling. The drawback, not as bad as the Royal theater, is the support columns. Too many encumbered seats. Dining rooms are hugh and handle a voluminous amount of people at the same time. A credit to the staff. Food is above average. (B+). My dislike is that they nickel and dime you. On the menu is an addendum stating 3 to 4 premiere dinners that cost extra. Having been on quite a few cruises this is a first. For example, surf and turf $34.95. And this is daily in the main dining halls. These are not specialty restaurants that have been promoted in most cruise lines the past 10 years. Not to my liking. Library, too small, and too few PC'S (4-5) Internet Package is fast, The fastest I've seen on board. Staff great Accommodations excellent Hourly activities are fair North Star, Ripcord, Seaplex, sport activities Flo rider all excellent. Excursions: Be very clear what's included and what is not. There's no free lunch on this cruise. When they start cooking the popcorn in the promenade you will pay close to four dollars for a box of popcorn , a rip. (C'mon now, p corn is cheappp!) It will be a spectacle, but when that wears off you have an average plus ship. 3.5 stars.

I was on the Royal Caribbean Anthem Of The Seas. It was a Thanksgiving sailing. The terminal is huge and I have been here several times before to go on cruises. I generally drive and park there direct at the terminal as it is relatively inexpensive. Getting on and off the ship was no issue at all and the terminal itself is set up great, The only problem I have is the line of cars that stretch almost a mile waiting to drop off passengers or bags. You need to wait in that line regardless of weather you are just dropping off or parking. There should be a separate way in if you are parking so you can avoid that huge 1 hour delay waiting in line as the car moves 10 feet every minute???? I give the port 5 stars for friendly helpful staff and ease of getting on and off ship, But as far as getting to the parking lot and parking your car I give them 1 star They really need to work on the line that forms to get into the port.

Definitely a trek to get here.....way back in the middle of no where. My family and I were going on a cruise leaving out of Cape Liberty. Once arriving at the ship port we were a little unclear of where we needed to be because as we were arriving people were departing. Everyone was mixed in together. We were able to stop an employee and get some clarity as to where we needed to be. Once we figured that out the experience was smooth. We checked in our bags and proceeded to the terminal to which we went through metal detectors, and proceeded to a line with shop staff that checked us in using IPads. When were then seated and waited until our row was called to board the ship. Overall the check was smoothed.

We were on the Anthem of the Seas in 3/2016 and we loved it so much that we returned on 12/2016. On this cruise, it was a 7 night itinerary to Port Canaveral, Coco Cay, and Nassau Bahamas. Here are my highlights: Stayed in Junior Family Mini Suite - The room is larger compared to a standard balcony and has two bathrooms (one full and the other half without shower). Overall, the room was great. We also had a wonderful room attendant, Carole Riley. She was very attentive to our needs. Coastal Kitchen - Staying in the Junior Family Suite allowed us access to the restaurant but only for dinner. It is located on deck 14th, right outside of the Windjammer café. The night we visited, they were serving lobster and it was delicious! It was one of the better meals I had on the ship. Windjammer - Typical buffet style food. On certain days (you have to find it), the food options were great. I love when they make fresh donuts. On my 03/2016, they had them on Day 1 and on my 12/2016 cruise, they had it on the last night. It is a must try option. Self-served Ice Cream - I love this feature and it is near the outdoor pool bar. A must try option at least once, if you like soft ice cream. Parking - We drove to the port and the parking structure is next to the terminal. Drop off the bags and passengers at the terminal first, then go park the car. The cost for 7 days is $140.00 and you pay upon your return. On the return, we got off the ship around 8am and the lot was already a quarter empty, there was no hassle to get to the car. Have the family wait on level 1 and drive down to pick them and the bags up. Left the lot in 10 minutes. Wonderland - The food was unexpectedly good. We were a party of six and they served almost everything on the menu for us to try. It was fun on the first try but nothing served that wants me to come back again. For example, Oasis and Allure of the Seas both have the best Lasagna served by Giovanni's Table. Every time I cruise on either ship, I must eat at Giovanni's Table. Chops Grill - The food option seems limited to the filet and strip. Both come in different sizes. But on Norwegian, there were more options of cuts. I was spoiled by this and can't find anything positive about the menu. The food and service are good but it is not something I must have. Overall, we had a great time on the cruise and would definitely sail again with Royal Caribbean.

Cruise date March 5th-12th 2017 out of Bayonne, NJ, with ports in Cape Canaveral, FL, Cocoacay, Bahamas, and Nassau, Bahamas. Arrival/check-in -- Very efficient and well run. You're given a suggested arrival time but you can arrive earlier. It will not get your luggage to your room any sooner but you have plenty of time to look around once you're on board waiting for your room to be ready. This was our first cruise and did not know what to expect. Thought we'd be bored stuck on a ship for most of the time but they really do offer a huge variety of things to do. Of course you can tan, lay by the pool and drink frozen cocktails all day but my company was not down with that plan. Loved the shows and comedy shows, all the restaurants (be very careful and research the heck out of what restaurants you're allowed to for free and which have a cover charge ($42pp in one we went to). Enjoyed the private balcony were we could tan in the buff and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. Food was really great, from the buffet style of the marketplace with hundreds of offerings to the exquisite dining in the American Grill (definitely not a burger joint, this fancy restaurant was at least 4 stars). We walked the track, took the stairs everywhere, and just walking from one end of the ship your always moving and we all still gained 10lbs that week anyway. Best thing to mention is the staff. From the staff that cleans your room (you have the same person all week) to roaming employees to the wait staff in the restaurants to the bartenders they all know the answer to any question you can ask. Our room person was amazing. Totally going to butcher his name Yurham? He was just amazing. Your room will be cleaned up 3x a day. We were a group of 7 total all in a row celebrating a relatives 50th bday and she's mentally handicap and he was so awesome, he left a new towel animal every day for us. I don't know what he's paid but he deserves a raise! We made sure he was compensated well at the end of our week. The spa was amazing but really expensive. On the ship charges add up and sneak up on you at the end of the week bcuz no cash is exchanged. You are able to check your account balance on the TV so you can keep tabs on how much you've spent. Cruises are expensive! The only thing you need actual money for is the casino and off the ship excursions, and a credit card or cash for up charges at dinner. I would rate the staff and the food 5 stars. However I did not enjoy this trip for the amount that was actually spent by the end. 3 stars for: Royal gives you a time slot to be off the boat, naturally, but our 2nd stop on Royal's island Cocoacay we had to be back on board by 4:30. Why? Nassau is only 2 miles away, we pulled anchor and sat off the island all night til they started the short trip to Nassau early morning. There isn't port fees on their own island, why make us get back on the boat by 4:30? I understand why in Nassau bcuz of port fees and other ships pulling in. But what a waste of half a day, you can't get off till 10am anyway. The good thing was they served full lunch on the island and you could take the tender back and forth from the ship if you needed to. The 2 day ride home felt like prison. Too much time being confined. No fault of Royal but Nassau is gross. Sewer and trash smells, straw market was way overpriced even for a tourist trap. We went diving so were able to get off the ship earlier than everyone else but i didn't even enjoy the diving. Swimming or dicing the bottom isn't a hard sand bottom. It's like walking on 4-5" of mud so you sink. I would only return to the Bahamas of we were going to Sandals resort and even then I'd have to think long and hard about it, and it wouldn't be by ship. Would much rather be at our timeshare in Aruba or in the Caymans.

We were on the Adventure of the Seas. This is a mega cruise ship (3,100 passengers + crew). You've got 3,100 people converging on a cruise ship & security is tight (you're 1 mile from ground zero). If you arrive early, bring your patience, register on-line & act like an adult, you'll find this facility is well organized. If you show up late, no valid passport, you did not register on-line or you show up with a chip on your shoulder - yea you're going to have a problem. From the time we gave the suitcases to the stevedore we were in the Windjammer enjoying lunch in 45 minutes. Who can ask for anything more. The terminal was clean and safe. Getting off the ship was also well organized, but you have to bring your patience & act like an adult. If you decided to book a 10:30 departure from EWR - yea you're going to have problems. If you have a valid US passport, they use facial recognition & no need to speak to DHS. All the luggage was neatly organized in the terminal.

This was probably the easiest port of ever gone to when it came to parking, checking in, and boarding the ship. Driving in from Brooklyn, took a lot less time than we expected. The whole process was seamless and took under 30 minutes from start to finish. I was on the ship within an hour of parking my vehicle. The employees at the port are very friendly. My only real gripe is the price of the parking. $20 A-day seems a bit steep even though the Parking structure is attached to the building where you board the ship. We will surely try to take ships from this port again.

I'm really torn on this review. I feel that three stars is probably a little light, but 4 stars is too high. That being said, I would like to add that a few of the things that would be easily fixable and they would be an easy 4 star review, possible a 5 star review. First, once on-board they have a required safety presentation. Now, Ive heard about these from other people where they explain how/where the life boats are, how to use life vests, etc. So they gather everyone in a coupe areas that have some randomly placed, relatively small tv screens, which they start showing a video. Video is an attempt to have fun and is set up in a spy/agent pursuit scene that misses the mark and doesn't do anything to properly prepare guests in the event of an emergency. Overall rating 1 star. Housekeeping, for our room was very hit or miss. So each person in housekeeping is assigned a certain number of rooms. Our person was a little overly bossy and tried to put us on a schedule that worked best for her, not necessarily us. Additionally, we called housekeeping for something and the next time each of us saw her she lectured us about coming and finding her (yes, going out to hunt her down instead of calling) so she wouldn't get in trouble. Overall housekeeping experience 2 stars. Activities. Anthem of the Seas has stuff for all ages. To be fair I didn't look at the stuff for kids, but they had an arcade and bumper cars. Several pools (adult only areas too) as well as hot tubs (4 stars), indoor skydiving (3 stars...just not as good as the walk in locations), surfing (4 stars) and several different shows. The gift (musical/play 3 stars).Cabaret (can't remember the name 3 stars), The Las Vegas Tenors (excellent performances 4 stars), We Will Rock You (their version of a full broadway play - Music 4 stars, story/acting 3 stars). Casino. This was fun and what you would expect. Kind of fun to people watch in here as well. From small buy ins to high dollar tables there is something here for everyone. 4 stars (it is a casino so the likelihood of actually winning is kind of slim...bot for what it is). Spa. This was a huge disappointment. We scheduled a massage session and it couldn't have been any worse. Very disappointed in the price and overall experience. From what I found out later this is a hit or miss experience. Some people did have a good experience. I would recommend try at your own risk. I wouldn't be back though. Food/Bars. So they do excel at the food and drinks services. There are several restaurants to choose between. In addition to the ones that are included they have a couple others that you have to pay extra for. Sushi and Wonderland (a unique dining experience) plus a few others that were offered for an additional fee. Wanted to try Wonderland, but they indicated it took a minimum of 2 hours and it was our last day and we already had other plans. The nightly dinner in the formal dining room was very good! The wait staff was top notch.....couldn't have asked for better service. I would have been happy with the dining experience at any walk in restaurant. They were spot on and proud to provide a memorable experience. The food, for the most part was really good. Each night they had three new apps, main dishes and desserts to go along with 3 carry overs that are there every night. The main buffet had a diverse assortment of different styles of food from American to Mexican to Italian to asian inspired. Always something fresh and good to be found here. Drink Package. They offer several different drink packages. Depending on what you are going to drink I would recommend getting this to save $$. If you drink alcohol it only takes 3 drink per day to pay for the unlimited offering. Several drink specials (daily changing) to go along with traditional mixed drinks and beer offerings Also, they have packages that are exclusive to soda, juices, coffee, water, tea....or just a soda package...or just a bottled water package. Something for everyone. This was my first cruise and it was overall a really good time. It is something I would do again, and I think I learned a lot that would be useful if I find myself on another cruise in the future. Overall experience could have easily been swayed with just some small tweaks. I would recommend Anthem to anyone that likes cruising or anyone that is looking for a first time cruise experience. Also, almost forgot the North Star. This is their capsule they use to lift 14 guest about 150 feet above the deck of the boat for a viewing session. Really cool! I would recommend trying to time it so that you can be up at any of the ports. I would give them another try without any hesitation.

First time on a cruise ever with my boyfriend and we experienced the sailing through a Hurricane, fun times! My boyfriend and I came with his mom, sister + bro in-law, and nephew on their labor day cruise on Anthem of the Seas. My boyfriend and I had never been on a cruise so we were super excited, but didn't expect to sail through and feel the effects of Hurricane Hermine. It's truly an enormous and beautiful ship with somewhat fine technology. Our rooms were on the 13th deck and the room I stayed at with my boyfriend located at the front of the ship and we had a wider balcony compared to his sister's room. Our room was very spacious with more than enough storage space. We also had the beverage package (non-alcoholic version) so I was able to enjoy all of the iced coffees and americanos I wanted. Additionally, we had the WiFi package too , but the connection wasn't great. Food at the Windjammer Cafe was decent and had an array of hot and cold foods. My boyfriend and I would run up there for a late night snack since most nights we had dinner at 5-5:30PM and that was too early. Overall I though the dining options were okay. We really wanted to dress up for the formal night at The Grande, but we couldn't make a reservation and they also weren't accepting walk-ins. However, I did get to try the Grande for lunch on the second day/Hurricane day and it was delicious. I wasn't a fan of Silk at all! I thought the food wasn't good at all and wouldn't really survive if they were an actual restaurant in NYC. The food was Asian Fusion, but if it's an Asian restaurant where's the chopsticks? The decor at Chic was modern and trendy, came here for dinner + brunch. American Icon Grill was one of my favorites as they had an amazing French Onion Soup! I must admit that the day of the hurricane it was uncomfortable to eat at any restaurant and walk around, but I survived and didn't feel sick amazingly since I took a motion sickness pill for the first time before I boarded the ship. The crew and staff were proactive and had barf bags available at your room and in the stairway. They also cancelled a lot of activities and didn't let anyone outside. Our room attendant Daisy was fabulous! She was fun, friendly, and accommodating. If we needed an extra towel or toilet paper she was always ready, willing, and able to give it to us. The Bionic Bar was pretty interesting, but there were a few times we passed by and it was closed during the day of the Hurricane and closed at one point for rebooting. I really enjoyed the 5th floor with all of the open space to walk around and comfortable seating areas. I also liked the solarium. The recreational activities rooms/space upstairs at 15th or 16th floor was great too! Lines at Guest Services was always a disaster especially the day before we returned back to New Jersey. The fourth floor shopping area was okay, nothing too great. I did like the deals they had on the liquor, pretty good compared to NYC. There was an afternoon while we were in Bermuda, I didn't realize how windy it was outside and accidentally opened our balcony door when the wind just blew our bed sheets over the top and our cabinet door off. The room attendant told us she would speak to the maintenance people and said we probably won't have a new cabinet door until the next day which was our last morning on the ship. Fortunately after we returned from dinner, it was back on the cabinet. We had a new door! The biggest flaw I had was that there was someone near our room that was "smoking up" and it was really bad. The first time it happened was before the ship started to leave the dock in New Jersey. We reported it to the security people, but they couldn't seem to find the person that was doing this. It made our room and the outside literally stink! I don't know how the cruise staff lets people like this on the ship and destroy part of our stay. On our last night, our luggage had to be outside of our room between 10-10:30PM and when we returned back to the terminal/dock our luggage were highly organized and recognizable. I love their neatness and organization skills. Room for improvement: - Free movies every night - Better security/check points for people that may be smuggling weed up the ship - Better WiFi/internet connection

{This review is long overdue! My trip was in May '17 to Bermuda, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, & Labadee Haiti} Absolutely Wonderful Vacation! Where do I even begin? From the moment I pulled up to this beautiful ship, to every activity offered, to the service received... I had one of the best vacations a person could hope for. Extremely easy to get to Cape Liberty. I live on Long Island so I knew it would be a bit of a drive. It was a smooth ride the entire way. The new opening of the Bayonne Bridge makes the commute so convenient and takes hours off the drive. Got to the ship early, pulling up and waiting in line took only a few minutes. Everyone working in the loading zones were very organized and helpful. Immediately upon pulling up to this huge ship, it was almost overwhelming (in the best way possible). Anthem is gorgeous on the inside & out. We chose to park our car right at Cape Liberty in their parking garage. It was amazing, so close and very safe... I would do it again! Parking was roughly $20 per day...not bad at all! Going through security was quick. Everything was moving in a timely fashion. Make sure to check in online at home before boarding. Wow! No words can even describe how stunning this ship is! So many details, artwork, and places to see! You truly have to see it to believe it! Stateroom: Decided on a Superior Balcony Room that fit up to 4 passengers. There was a king size bed and a queen size pull out sofa. Both beds weren't the most comfortable but you make do. The balcony was gorgeous and a nice relaxing place to go. The bathroom was rather large with a large walk in shower. I was impressed. The entire room was gorgeous and really exceeded my expectations. Things to do: There are really so many things to do that we all loved as a family. The pools are amazing! Make sure you book North Star! We didn't try ifly but I heard from other passengers that it was awesome and a must do. They also offer things like circus school, bumper cars, roller skating and much more. So many fun activities like bingo, karaoke, trivia just to name a few. The musicals/plays were great. The cast for each play/musical/game show and any other production put on were spectacular, very talent group of individuals. *Drew Pavlov was an absolutely amazing Cruise Director!! Now for the Dining Room- Had My Time Dining and I thought it could have been a little more organized (We spoke to the Manager Wilbrow about the disorganization and he handled the situation wonderfully, for the rest of the trip we had pleasant dining experiences). Next time I'm sticking with traditional dining times. Food was AMAZING. Each night out waitress Beija would give us recommendations and we loved every single thing we tried. Our server Oleg was also wonderful. We were more than satisfied with the service in the American Icon Dining Room. Windjammer Buffet was good. Loved the fact that they make you wash your hands before entering. It really brings down the risk of getting sick. Some passengers were reluctant to wash their hands which grossed me out. *I brought my own hand sanitizer down to the buffet which worked out well! They also have Purel machines all over the ship! Many people are giving bad reviews because the ship is so large and fits so many passengers. I personally loved the fact that Anthem is big. It is an experience...so much to see and do! And it really is easy to figure out where everything was located. It took my family about 3 days to get acclimated to the ship in it's entirety. People seem to be exaggerating when they say they got lost. If at anytime you feel lost, there are so many staff members and fellow passengers around that would gladly point you in the right direction. Not to mention all the maps and interactive screens that will help show you where to go. Each time we docked at a port of call, the staff members worked diligently to ensure a quick and safe exit off the ship. It made me laugh because we had docked next to the Carnival Miracle in Puerto Rico. Miracle doesn't even compare! The ports of call were absolutely amazing!! Loved the trip so much I'm actually looking into going again! Food- A+ Entertainment- A+ Stateroom- A+ Service- A+ Overall Experience- A++++

Not too bad checking in and people are pretty nice and welcoming. After coming back from our cruise, and after customs and all, we lost our ID somewhere between the building and our cab... I went crazy trying to find it, calling the police dept and port aurthority and.... the lady i spoke with helped me find it the next day as she went above and beyond asking staff and actually calling me back to let me know. Great customer service!!

They should train all cruise ports on loading and off loading people. Their execution was seamless and awesome!!!!

What a mess!! Upon arrival we had a 45 min wait in traffic to get to the terminal. When we returned today we stood in the rain over an hour waiting on our ride due to traffic. They could certainly do with a traffic pattern make over! They held traffic delivery passengers but did not have a way to let departing passengers leave. What a mess. Will never have a Bayonne cruise departure again. And I will tell everyone I know to avoid it.

We've sailed out of this port on several occasions but it's been several years and since our last visit, they have added a multi-story parking garage. So glad they did as it did make our whole embarkation process that much easier. As you drive into the port, you will first pass the loading/unloading area where you can drop off your bags and any passengers you wish to. Then you head right for the parking garage, which is adjacent to the terminal. They give you a ticket, park your car, and then walk to the terminal. You don't pay for your parking until you return and there are several pay stations available with someone nearby assisting should you need it and to help speed the process along. We chose to walk off the ship and we got through customs within 5 minutes and within about 10 minutes, we were in our car heading home. All in all, not a bad port to cruise in and out of.

I began to write a tip and then realized it was becoming long winded. To make a very long and dramatic story short, our family of 9 left Bayonne NJ last April over the spring break on a 10 day cruise. The weather was spectacular, which was lucky for us, as friend Bill S had sails a few weeks earlier and it was very chilly. I had done so much research, that I begged my parents to cancel due to an overwhelming number of scathing reviews. Not just the little paragraphs here on Yelp... but the large number on cruise blogs too. Terrible, horrible reviews. I lost many nights sleep worrying about safety and hygiene and wasting so many thousands of dollars on a terrible voyage. WE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES !!!!! We found not one criticism to be true. Every detail, every aspect of our trip was 5 star... from the dining to the shows to the pools to the amenities... the staff, crew, excursions... everything ! The ship was immaculate and filled to capacity. We ate every night at the same large round table in Chic. Loved our waiter... We loved the menu choices and found the quality to be great.. everyone was pleased. If someone actually complains about the main buffets, they are mistaken. I never really ate any of the prepared or hot dishes... stuck to the salads and fruits, simple meats and chicken etc... stir fry and fish. But there was plenty for every type of diet or restriction. My sister was able to enjoy gluten free crepes every morning. Never was there a time that anyone was hungry. We did not dine in any specialty restaurants as we were very happy with our nightly table. If you are a fine diner then perhaps I can see that this trip isn't going to wow you... but we were extremely pleased. I loved the coffee... loved the tiny bran muffins. On Easter, the most gorgeous display of pasteurized and sweets were put out. We took some excursions and had fun, but you could easily stay on board and enjoy the empty ship. Loved the beach on the island that we visited... Please feel free to message me if you have any questions. I am super picky and couldn't find a single complaint. I never slept so well in my life.. never once felt the boat rock. Our bed was the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in and our room was large and the deck was great. Enjoy !!!

Having sailed on the Quantum a year earlier, I was expecting the same experience. Unfortunately, I sailed the week after the first storm debacle and I was a little disappointed that we were not given the option to cancel, given the ship's damaged condition. The first thing I noticed upon boarding was that a few of the elevators were not working the entire duration of the ship. Given the the 4500 passengers on the ship, it soon became an annoyance, although I guess it's not the worst thing to be forced to take stairs. The indoor pools were also impacted by broken panels and we were not able to swim until we reached FL, in which case, everyone left the ship for their excursions. The halls were extremely cold due to the missing panels, which were fixed during the Port Canaveral stop. Wifi was passable but not great. I don't know if the staff was traumatized by the previous week, but wait service was not as cordial as I remember on the Anthem, with the exception of a few stellar waiters at Silk. I probably won't be taking another cruise with the quantum class.

Just returned from a cruise on April 7. Our first RC Cruise was with Allure Of The Seas and we were clearly spoiled as Anthem is far inferior. Despite being a huge ship we found most spaces pretty cramped. The Kids Club was a joke for our nine year old. The kids are confined to a small, hot room so we decided to keep her with us. It was great for our 19-month old though The food is incredibly mediocre. The windjammer buffet is a zoo as many have stated. While there is a ton of food the common thread is lack of flavor. Everything has a very bland taste. Cuts of meat are often fatty. I was sick of it after a few days. The main dining room for dinner, while having great servers, the food is also bland with limited choices. Unless you pay for an up charge restaurant everyone eats the same menu regardless of dining room. Presentation is lacking and there is only so much you can eat of boring food while on vacation Many have complained about things like people leaving out towels on chairs early in the AM and that there is one ice cream machine. Didn't find the one machine to be a problem but the towel situation seems unavoidable as the staff does not want confrontation. Excursions seemed fine except Port Canaveral. They offer trips to Disney, Universal, Sea World and a few others. We did Sea World and it was fine despite the limited time however it makes no sense to do Disney as with those lines you'll get just a few rides at most and will have a sad child because you need to leave early. Just avoid all together. Entertainment was fine. We Will Rock You was solid, as was the Journey Cover band. Overall it was ok, nothing great and nothing horrible. Just not the experience that Allure caliber ships provide