CRUISING: EES and ETIAS + Royal Caribbean and children

Next Spring the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be introduced at a cost of €7 (approx. £6) for three years, or in other words what is in effect a visa will be required for travel when entering the European Union.  For UK citizens Ireland will be exempt one would guess.   

THIS STORY HAS BEEN REVISED.  SEE OCTOBER TNU  www.travelnewsupdate.co.uk/article/834

Also to watch out for is the EU EES (Entry/Exit System) which comes into force 10 November 2024 for all non-EU citizens. It is automated (as with Brits passing into the UK) but includes fingerprints. How this is implemented remains to be seen.   

The ETIAS rule will be applied for all UK cruise port departures and is the responsibility of the cruise lines. The similar American ESTA system has now been in place for some years, with a quick 48-hour turnaround, and checked at the departing airport.  With ETIAS it is suggested that the delivery will be much quicker.

The Royal Caribbean Group has been quick to respond to an enquiry noting that it will signpost guests to the relevant website once firm details are known.  For transatlantic sailings, as an example, its cruise lines (Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Silversea) send reminders about ESTA and where to apply, and will follow with ETIAS.  It will be clients’ responsibility to ensure they have the mandatory paperwork. Boarding would be denied for any guest without the appropriate documentation.

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

https://cruising.org


ANTHEM OF THE SEAS Cruise with children

Malcolm Ginsberg, Editor-in-Chief of TNU (and previously BTN), has over the years taken his children, and later grandchildren, on cruises.  They have always proved to be very popular.  

Seven nights on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas late August 2024 has been the best to date.  And not only the Ginsberg's, there were many similar groups on board.

This report has been produced entirely at sea using Royal Caribbean’s VOOM wi-fi system.

Ginsberg and wife Linda have been on Anthem of the Seas previously, joining the ship for her naming trip back in 2015 (www.btnews.co.uk/article/8772), and also the first short post-Covid cruise to Liverpool and Belfast in 2021 (www.btnews.co.uk/article/18446).

This time around it was the full package, seven nights from Southampton into the (extremely smooth) Bay of Biscay.  Eight strong with two daughters, a 19-year-old fellow (who could not buy an acholic drink on board due to US licensing rules – it is an American-registered ship), a young lady just about to be allowed to drive a car, a 13-year-old grandson, and the little sister now 11.  

(See in TNU this month ON TOUR: La Rochelle, Bilbao, La Coruna and Le Havre).  

Just to put the whole trip in perspective Anthem of the Seas, with 4,800 guests on this trip and 1,600 crew, was Royal Caribbean’s largest liner when introduced, 'The Billion Dollar Cruise Ship'.  It is now dwarfed by Icon of the Seas, based in Miami with a maximum of 7,514 passengers.  

Just under two-thirds of the holidaymakers were British, one-third North American, with the residue from 50 nations.  The ship operates in dollars for any on-board services, and there is an 18% tipping rate for the bars and speciality restaurants and a suggested $18 per person per day service charge.  When you take a look at the final bill (your credit card details are taken when boarding) it is never quite as bad as it seems, one dollar currently coming out at around £0.75.

Having the children with has a major advantage when it comes to Royal Caribbean’s remarkable app which allows you to communicate with all of your party at any time. No phoning around mind you.  It is quietly done by text.  The youngsters can train the parents and grandparents on how to use the app as a mobile device.  It is the lifeblood of the ship and offers just about everything you need to know including the deck layout, an activity diary, where you can add your own commitments, dining, spa, fitness, and excursions.  Any paperwork is frowned upon although restaurant orders are manually taken down.  An inferior competitor has automated this task on an iPad. 

VOOM wi-fi is chargeable, the Royal Caribbean app is on a different wi-fi.

Boarding at Southampton could not be easier providing you stick to your advised arrival time.  Passengers with accessibly problems were particularly well looked after and this was extended to the official parking where one’s luggage was collected.  On the ship itself most doors are electric and the ship offers 34 wheelchair accessible staterooms.

We took one balcony cabin, and three inside, all nearby and close to the forward bank of elevators.  The typical staterooms on Anthem of the Seas are large by cruise ship standards with a useful veranda where two can easily take the complimentary breakfast.  There is a hot one available charged at $7.95 per person room delivery, and also 24-hour room service for all staterooms.

One very popular feature on Anthem of the Seas is the inside ‘virtual’ cabins, offering a live video, port and starboard, bow and stern.  It really brightens up the room during daylight hours.  The actual square foot area for standard staterooms, outboard or inside, are the same.  

On this cruise there were around 1,200 kids, aged 17 and under.  Twenty licensed staff are based in an enclosed area on deck 11/12 called 'Adventure Ocean'.  On sea days sessions run from 09:00 to 12:00, 14:00 to 17:00 and 19:00 to 22:00.  There is a late-night zone 22:00 to 01:00 at $10 per hour.  For port days parents and guardians can leave their charges at 09:00 and collect by 17:00 with the evening hours the same as a sea day.  For the very little ones (tots from 6 to 36 months) there is a charge of $6 per hour before 18:00 and $8 after that time.  With what is termed 'Aquanauts' (3- to 5-year-olds) they must be potty trained.

For teenagers The Living Room is a popular place for youngsters from 12 to 17 to socialise and meet up, open similar hours to Adenture Ocean, during the day and until late.

It is impossible in a report such as this to mention all the activities on board from the very young to those less able (see below), suffice to say that there is the 24-hour Café Promenade serving sandwiches and cakes for the night owls and the day starts in the gym with a stretch class at 07:00.  And at the other extreme The Music Hall, a two-storey entertainment centre, offers a DJ set into the early hours.  

The North Star takes you 300ft into the air, free on port days. RipCord by IFLY is a skydiving experience at sea, FlowRider is a surf riding machine and SeaPlex claims to be the largest indoor activity space at sea with bumper cars, a circus school with flying trapeze and roller skating plus a disco and gaming arcade.

When it comes to eating there are 18 outlets with the main dining room offering two sittings or 'My Time' to a high standard.  There is the Chefs Table available, Chops Grill is excellent with succulent steaks, Izumi Japanese Cuisine is another alternative and Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver follows the theme of its name. All these are chargeable but not so the ice cream stand or the Seaplex Doghouse

Themed dining nights are part of the package 'Flavors Across the Caribbean' being typical and also an Italian evening. The main Windjammer self-service café on deck 14 is huge, but staff abound to help and among the many stations are one for Asian food and one for kids, where adults can get what Brits call 'chips' at any time.

Just to give an idea of the size of the operation, during a typical week 15,600 lbs are consumed, 8,000 lbs of ice-cream, and getting on for 20,000 bottles and cans of beer.  The daily fresh bread is outstanding, needing 16,500 lbs of flour for the seven days.

Cruise ships have a reputation for top class entertainment, but some rely on recorded music and even miming.  Not so here, with a ten-piece orchestra and 20 dancers and singers.  

The 1,400 seat Royal Theatre was the venue for a series of top quality production shows including a two-hour spectacular rendition of 'We Will Rock You'.  Visting performers now are part of the cruise ship circuit (rather like the Music Halls of one hundred years ago, our favourite on the trip (and for all ages) Pete Matthews, comedian and juggler.  He was on the maiden voyage too.

How did our party enjoy the trip?  “The best ever” came the response with hardly a moan and enough sun loungers for a rest between activities.  Seven nights is not really enough to begin to try everything.  

www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en?country=GBR

www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/cruise-ships/anthem-of-the-seas

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