Cabin Plusses and Minuses - location

• #11268 - TransPacific sailing - Our cabin was to the rear of the mid-ship section, so both sets of elevators were “north” or forward of us.  (Port side, which is left when facing forward.)  The cabin was a connected balcony - not our first choice because connected rooms are a little less soundproof than standard.  Fortunately, there were not particular sound issues, despite also having interior rooms across the hall.  We seemed to be insulated from any above- or below-deck noises, too.
  • While not our top choice of cabins, we were happy to have a balcony - for the view, and the occasional fresh air option.  The entire sailing was a bit chilly, so we didn’t spend much time out on the balcony.
  • Across ocean sailings are often reasonably-priced on a per-night basis.  Our initial pricing was $3,047 (without insurance or gratuities, which we pay separately).  Several weeks out, we noted a price drop and requested same.  (RC does not notify you; they are responsive to requests for price adjustments, if offered.  This is why it pays to have a travel agent who monitors prices, or to spend time yourself.  Our adjustment was $921, resulting in a net $2,126, or $152/night total - not per person.)
    • Again, the $921 adjustment was there for the asking - but had Not been offered.
  • Deck 11 was good, but not great, for access to our most-visited spots.  Fitness/gym is on 16; Solarium is on 14; Theatre and Esplanade are on 5; English Pub and Sorrento's pizza are on 4; Music Hall and Casino are on 3.

• #10694 - Alaska (Seattle RT) - This cabin is a little further back, although I wouldn’t consider it fully “rear.”  It is Starboard (or right side when facing forward).  While some cruisers swear by their preference of Port or Starboard, we are more concerned with Front, Mid and Rear.  Also, deck level as compared to potential noise issues above and below; along with whether there are cabins across the hall.  
  • Deck 10 was also good, with little variation to note.  We were a little further away from the elevators than usual, with no cabins across the hall.  A crew access door was near, but we did not experience any unusual noise, or door closures.  We heard some activity during the day, but not during sleep hours.
  • Elevator access - from our closest bank of elevators, it was a straight shot up four levels to the WindJammer buffet, and 5-7 levels down to the Main Dining Room, with easy access to the Casino.  The Theatre and Two70 (also a theatre) were in the front of the ship on levels four and five.

Anthem of the Seas Cabin Location Recommendation

After a full week of moving about the ship, we definitely would have preferred a closer proximity to the elevators.  It was surprising to see that there were another 15 cabins further to the rear than ours, in addition to the rear facing suites.  I would prefer a cabin in the 10670-10680 range - still out of range of elevator activity, with the ability to save on some steps.  (There is plenty of areas to explore on the ship and accumulate as many steps as you want.)

Children’s Activities

• Neither the Transpacific nor the Alaskan cruise had a large contingent of children, as might be expected for the length of voyage (Tokyo to Seattle) and school schedule (September for Alaska).
• The net-divided space of SeaPlex has various uses - from bumper cars to laser tag, which utilizes blow-up barriers to construct a temporary maze.
• If you look closely at the photos, you can see an “XBOX” label, and a special space where the Anthem provides controllers to connect to large screens.  A small group of teens were locked in on this opportunity.

Dining (also, see Tips)

• We enjoyed the Main Dining Room (MDR) for most dinners, .
• We enjoyed one specialty dining option - Chops.  Having eaten there 3x, I can report consistent positive eating experiences.  Steaks are tender and prepared to our liking.  We dined at lunch for a very reasonable cost - $24 each, plus 18% gratuity, which is included in the pre-paid charge.
• With dinner as our main meal, we varied breakfast and lunch times to mostly avoid the busiest rush.
  • It’s not hard to run into the WJ, grab a bowl of oatmeal and return to your cabin for a quiet meal.
• Check your Ship App for up-to-date venue hours; breakfast or lunch times vary between port and sea days.

Vitality Fitness Center

As is his habit (especially on a cruise with many sea days), Greg visited the gym regularly (on the TransPacific, but not on Alaskan cruise).  The stationary bikes and free weights were adequate and not overly busy.  With a flexible schedule and sea days, it’s easy to step out and return another time if our timing is off, or a noisy class is in session (infrequently).

• Note - The Alaskan cruise provided some great views to distract you from your exercise efforts.

Japan Port Photos

Ports

Tokyo to Seattle (April 2025) - 2 ports in Japan (after 1 port cancellation) - We had visited Tokyo before the cruise, so this post addresses only the ports in Japan on days 3 and 4.  From Seattle, we departed the same day for a family gathering.  (The ship overnighted in Seattle, but we had made arrangements to depart on the first day of arrival - these plans must be discussed with Guest Services early in the cruise.  Of course, we had also informed RC at the time of booking.)

• Aomori, Japan - we took a brisk walk across a bridge to a combined market/view (from an A-frame building).  The view was nice and not expensive.  The market had common wares.  There was a town to explore that would have required a bit more walking.  We saved our energy for the next day.

• (**Top 3 Port in 2025**) Hakodate, Japan - the weather was threatening (cold with possible rain), but we ventured out.  A reasonably priced taxi took us to the most popular site - with Tremendous Cherry Blossoms!  Our luck was at a height.  Cherry Blossoms are notoriously fickle in blooming to a schedule - having lived in the D.C. area, we know this as a fact.  Weather held and we were dressed appropriately.  We took a lengthy walk around the Goryokaku Fort and Park before queuing up for the Tower.  Price of admission is 1200 Japanese Yen (about $8, subject to change).  While crowded, the staffed elevators maintained a constant flow of visitors up and back, after a 20 minute wait.  The view was worth the cost and time.

  • There are excursions available, but we choose to make our way without adding bus trips whenever possible. 

  • Cabs were plentiful in both directions.  It was raining after our Tower visit, so we hopped in and returned to port.  Cost was $15-$20 each way.  It might be walkable for some, but we chose not to traverse the 2x 2.5 miles by foot.  Credit cards are accepted.  We didn’t know the price until after the trip and neither driver spoke English (nor did we speak the native language).  The use of Google Translate helpfully improved our communication.

Ports

Seattle RT (Alaska) - In addition to the port of debarkation/embarkation, 4 port visits were scheduled and executed.  Typical temperatures in September range from 50 to 60, but we experienced slightly warmer days.  Much of our “just in case” layers went unused.  The only challenging time was about 45 minutes on the return from the Victoria Whale Watch, as the boat sped toward the port during falling temperatures.  Daily forecasts suggested a possibility of rain, but we were never impacted.  We carried an umbrella on one threatening day, but never opened it.

• Sitka, Alaska - with snow-capped peaks and volcanic Mt. Edgecumbe (in the distance and not active), this first stop in Alaska offered beautiful scenery.
  • Raptor Center and Nature Walk - after a brief 15-20 minute bus ride, we were turned over to experts at the Alaska Raptor Center for a detailed discussion of the topic and an introduction to a dozen birds being rehabbed and/or protected at the site.  Only some of the injured birds will be released after months or years of care.
  • From the Raptor Center, we walked to a nearby trail and received a local’s (somewhat expert) discussion of the trees, flora and fauna…and salmon habits.  We passed over a bridge with a very good view of nature’s common occurrence.  We all knew about salmon swimming upstream, but most of us were surprised to learn that both the male and female salmon die soon after.  Evidence of this phenomena were plentiful (photos below).  It was a lengthy 90 minute walk through a forest, and we were deposited in the small town for shopping.  On our own schedule, we lined up for buses back to port.  We were one of at least two ships, and line wound around like we were at Disney World.  But the line moved quickly and we were on the bus after 15 minutes, for the return bus ride (no extra charge).
• Skagway, Alaska - Skagway is a tiny town with a few shops.  Our short bus ride was narrated by an entertaining college student who was doing a semester of distance-learning.
  • Gold Rush and Salmon - We were deposited at a makeshift replica of the “Liarsville” Gold Rush Train Camp, where four performers put on a musical skit which humorously informed us of the 1890s activities.  We also panned for gold (flakes) and everyone walked away wondering how many pennies our results were worth.  Finally, we received all-you-can-eat fixings (who doesn’t love a buffet?) with the focus on freshly-grilled salmon.  Many other offerings were available, with beer for purchase.  All of this, while listening to a guitarist/vocalist who added some musical flavor to the occasion.  A short bus ride ended the 2.5 hour excursion, with most of the group dropping off in the town for shopping, only a couple hundred yards walk from the ship.
• Juneau, Alaska - The capital of Alaska is a small city/town of under 35,000 population.  Many excursions are offered, including a trip to Mendenhall Glacier, gold panning and the Alaska State Museum.
  • Walking tour (self-guided) - We had intended to ride the tram/lift to the top of a nearby hill (not quite a mountain).  With a $60 pp cost, and mostly overcast throughout the day, we opted for a lengthy walk along the water and into town.  Our “highlight” was a whale statue about 1.5 miles from port, along with a nice view of the harbor, and three ships at port.
• Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - Victoria sits across the Straight of Juan de Fuca, with access to Puget Sound, accessible by Ferry.  Our visit was on the last full day of cruising, and our guide pointed in the general direction of Seattle, although it was not visible from the distance.  Our port time was limited to the 5pm to 10pm window.  Other ships had docked in the morning or mid-day.
  • Whale Watch - As with most excursions, our outing began with ticket distribution in the Royal Theatre.  Within 15 minutes, the group was headed to the pier by foot - no bus necessary.  We were all prepared for chilly evening, but were not disappointed to start the excursion with temperatures in the mid-60s.  As you would expect, those numbers dropped in concert with the sun.
    • There was a lengthy boarding process, and the group was divided between two boats, operated by “Orca Spirit Adventures.” The first took 70 or more, while the second got the remainder of 40.  Both boats took the same route, with the second group spending a few more minutes standing on the dock.  Safety briefings were extensive, but also light-hearted.
    • No whale sightings were guaranteed.  However, the guide was optimistic and quickly identified a young male Orca named Kodiak.  We traveled in parallel with Kodiak, keeping 200 meters away, as dictated by regulations.  Our guide provided tons of information and personal observations from many sailings.  She genuinely prefers to be on the water, but is completing her studies and can only get out once a day until graduation.  Unfortunately, we did not see any family or friends of our whale, but caught many views of his fin, tale and the occasional blowing activity.  Overall, it was worth the effort to experience this in the real world versus television, but everyone was happy to be back on shore about 9:30pm after experiencing the chill, accompanied by the speed and water bouncing of the boat.  The main distraction from our roller-coaster return was a beautiful sunset.
• Seattle, Washington - This website is devoted to cruising, with a focus on ships.  However, a natural part of cruise travel is the destination and stops along the way.  As residents of the east coast and having last visited Seattle more than 20 years ago, we took opportunity of this distant port by reacquainting ourselves with the city - and seeing new sites.  We visited for three days prior to sail date and enjoyed the main attractions:
  • Public Market Center (Pike Place Market):  A great place to walk around and find a meal.  Several restaurants can be found, along with dozens of shops, including those with large fish!
  • Space Needle:  Almost a must-see, and co-located with…
  • Chihuly Garden and Glass:  Our combined price (for seniors) of the Needle and Glass was $67.38 per person.  We purchased the tix a week in advance online.  You must select a time for the Needle, but are allowed to visit Chihuly any time that day.  We toured the tower first, and were delighted to experience the Glass exhibition after the sun set.  Most in our group gave the Chihuly a #1 rating for the entire visit of Seattle.
  • Ferris Wheel:  What can I say?  We like Ferris Wheels.  Glad we took this ride, but I have to admit it was not particularly special (compared to The London Eye, the Vegas High Roller, or the Singapore Flyer).  The park surrounding the “Seattle Great Wheel” at Pier 57 is worth the visit, whether you queue for the Wheel or not.

Alaska Port Photos - by row:  Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, Victoria and Seattle

Will We Do It Again?

In 2025, we enjoyed the Anthem during a lengthy TransPacific voyage, and again for a Seattle roundtrip to ports in Alaska and Canada.  The ship is comfortable, with adequate food and entertainment.  Live music offerings were enjoyable.  Each cruise had one must-see “Show,” which is not enough to base a decision for an extended trip.  The biggest obstacle to repeating either trip is the distance from home.  We concentrate on Florida ports and TransAtlantic travel, so there will be no west coast or Asian travel in the near future.