This was our second cruise with Royal Caribbean and when we decided to book, we opted to go on the Anthem of the Seas as it was such a new boat and the deal we got was amazing.
Embarkation went so smoothly and is the reason I prefer to cruise from the UK rather than have the stress of the airport. The ship was fantastic, it ticked all the boxes and more. However the only disappointment for me, there didn't seem to be a lot of bars and there wasn't enough outside space. We actually preferred the set up in the Adventure of the Seas (this being the only other RC ship we have been on). The service was fantastic especially Erdi and Daniel in the Schooner Bar. Our holiday was made excellent by the staff.
We only did a couple of the shore excursions, one in Rome where the only disappointment was our tour guide liked to walk fast, not that easy in 40 degrees especially when there are elderly people. Went up the Rock in Gibraltar and saw the Aquarium in Lisbon.
We opted for the obstructed view as it was slightly cheaper than a normal Balcony cabin. On booking they informed us that it was 75% obstructed so we were slightly concerned that we wouldn't see a lot. However we needn't ave worried. The view was fine, yes we had a lifeboat and the metal strut in front of us but it did not interfere with our view. My in-laws had cabin 6166 that was a 50% obstructed view and they could see plenty. If you are looking to save a bit and would like a Balcony cabin,I can recommend the obstructed view cabins.