Welcome to the Royal Caribbean blog podcast, a weekly look into the world of Royal Caribbean cruising.

I'm your host, Matt Hodgeberg, and this is episode number 189.

Getting ready for your next Royal Caribbean adventure is always exciting because of all the possibilities that lay ahead.

And this week, I've got that excitement back because I am going on a seven-night cruise aboard

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas.

In this episode, I'll be sharing with you why I booked this cruise, what our plans are, and take you through what I've got planned on board and onshore. Here we go.

If you're wondering if after all these cruises I've taken and even just in the cruises I've taken during the lifespan of this podcast,

if the excitement factor gets a little dwindled down or it fades or if in any way, I don't feel

as energetic about my cruises that are coming up as I did when I first started doing this podcast

or even before that.

The answer is a resounding no.

It is definitely still as exciting today as it's ever been. And I really am very excited

of my next cruise because, look, I don't care which cruise it is. It excites me the idea of

going on a vacation, exploring these amazing ships, and really having a kind of opportunity

to see the world and just see everything that these ships has to offer.

And it's kind of funny how I've really changed my tune over the years.

I remember my first cruise ever took on, even if it was a Royal Caribbean ship or not, was, you know,

I was more about the ports we were visiting.

And for a long time, we used to be actually disliked C days.

But now I am totally on board with team C days.

I do enjoy port days. I still enjoy

exploring these ports. But really, to me, the ship is the destination. And with Royal Caribbean,

...