Anthem of the Seas to leave UK after maiden season

[Max, Warwickshire]

As an interesting comparison Max, my 14 nights in Cuba included direct flights with Virgin Atlantic, 4 nights all inclusive, 3 nights bed & breakfast, Visas, 7 night cruise and over 200 miles of transfers came to similar money to an Ocean View around the Med on Anthem this coming August.

As much as I would love a 'look see' on one of the sea monsters I doubt if they will ever be on my bucket list, when with a little imagination there are so many other far more interesting options available at similar money............Wilba

In all seriousness, Wilba, you missed your vocation if you weren't a travel agent!

After years of really what amounts to package-holiday booking we started to research our own cruise trips around 2 years ago after reading a few of yours and others' posts about DIY. Now we'd never go back. We've still got a lot to learn, particularly about flights and when to book them, but we've saved a small fortune already, and we love the flexibility of it all. We got flights and 2 nights' hotel (one night either end of the cruise) last year for just over half the price Azamara wanted to include flights in their price.

I used to get all hung up about the possibility of missing departures etc but the key as you've said many times on here before is to have a plan B or backup.

[Wilba]

In all seriousness, Wilba, you missed your vocation if you weren't a travel agent!

After years of really what amounts to package-holiday booking we started to research our own cruise trips around 2 years ago after reading a few of yours and others' posts about DIY. Now we'd never go back. We've still got a lot to learn, particularly about flights and when to book them, but we've saved a small fortune already, and we love the flexibility of it all. We got flights and 2 nights' hotel (one night either end of the cruise) last year for just over half the price Azamara wanted to include flights in their price.

I used to get all hung up about the possibility of missing departures etc but the key as you've said many times on here before is to have a plan B or backup.

In this instance Max I actually used a TA as I only put the plan together 6 weeks before departure. Flights were at a premium at the time and after extensive research I found that Cruise Cuba could only be booked three ways in the UK.

There are only two agents I found that can book this cruise in the UK, the other option booking direct on the Canadian Cruise Cuba website.

I packaged the deal myself and presented my exact requirements to both agents. Both came back with a very similar price, both undercutting the cruise and flights by a considerable amount.

I didn't hesitate!........After a haggle of course.......Wilba

[Royston1, Royston1]

Having seen the headline prices for RCI, I am glad we took the plunge and books Carnival Vista for summer 2016. It might not include a drinks package but the base costs is much lower.

[Pigwigeon, Bath]

Very disappointed to see Anthem leave after just one season. And they are giving us the old Independence and the even older Navigator back again, and it appears they aren't even bothering with anything out of Harwich. Putting all their eggs into a Chinese made basket it appears with both Quantum and Ovation being posted there......to become floating smoke filled casinos. Given that P&O seem to advertise that reruns of TV favourites (Last of the Summer Wine I presume) as the highlight of their entertainment programme, I would have thought that the UK market was RCIs for the taking. A missed opportunity.

[Max, Warwickshire]

Very disappointed to see Anthem leave after just one season. And they are giving us the old Independence and the even older Navigator back again, and it appears they aren't even bothering with anything out of Harwich. Putting all their eggs into a Chinese made basket it appears with both Quantum and Ovation being posted there......to become floating smoke filled casinos. Given that P&O seem to advertise that reruns of TV favourites (Last of the Summer Wine I presume) as the highlight of their entertainment programme, I would have thought that the UK market was RCIs for the taking. A missed opportunity.

I think you may have given the reason why RCI favour the Chinese market.

Apart from the huge pool of available customers in China, they do, as a rule, like to gamble. Apparently the new mega ships were designed so that the available Casino space could be doubled without too much trouble, and cruise lines make much more money from gambling than European sight-seeing trips.