Anthem of the Seas offers travelers a unique cruise experience with signature dining, top notch entertainment, and some “firsts” at sea that you will only find on this class of ship.

This week, we countdown our Top 10 Reasons to take an Anthem of the Seas cruise. After reading this post, you too may feel the need to cruise on this mega ship! Don’t worry, she has plans to be sailing from Cape Liberty through 2019 (and perhaps beyond).

If you are planning an Anthem of the Seas cruise and need a place to stay pre-cruise or post cruise, our Best Places to Stay Near Cape Liberty Cruise Port can help you find the right hotel for you and your family.

Anthem of the Seas

Top Ten Reasons to Take an Anthem of the Seas Cruise

Itineraries

While many ships offer the same 7 night cruises or rotate between an eastern and western Caribbean itinerary, Anthem of the Seas’ itineraries are as diverse as the ship herself. Being stationed in the New York area means an Anthem of the Seas cruise can take you to many different places. Depending on the time of year you want to sail, the ship can take you to popular islands in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, or perhaps even to Bermuda.

If you are looking for something even a bit more different, in the fall, the ship sails to a number of New England ports including Boston, MA, Portland, Maine, and Nova Scotia. This dynamic ship not only visits various regions, but it also offers itineraries ranging from 4 days to 12 days, allowing travelers with various vacation budgets to travel on this new “smart ship”.

The Design and Art Work

One element of the Quantum class ships that sets them apart is the design. The staterooms offer modern furniture and some of the best cruise cabin layouts in the industry. Even though she is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, venues still feel warm and intimate, making you forget that there are over 4,000 fellow guests sailing on the ship.

Gigi on Deck of Anthem of the Seas

Anthem of the Seas also shines in its decor and artwork. From Gigi the over-sized giraffe sculpture, to digital photography, to elevator art, creative masterpieces are spread throughout the ship adding to the ship’s ambiance. You might just feel like you are in a floating art museum.

WiFi at Sea

The cruise industry has been making leaps and bounds recently in technology by adding features and amenities that remind us of home. One of the biggest additions is internet at sea. While many ships still have dial up speeds, when you take an Anthem of the Seas cruise you will experience Voom, the fastest internet at sea.

Royal IQ App – Royal Caribbean International ©

While onboard, you can use the Royal IQ app to check out show times or make dinner reservations. Voom also allows you to check your email, post to social media, and even stream audio and video. Now, you can Skype with your friends and family back home to show them some video of your adventures on the ship.

SeaPlex

One of our favorite venues on Anthem of the Seas is the multi-purpose indoor sports area known as the SeaPlex. Want to act like a kid again? Well, with a visit to the SeaPlex, you can give the bumper cars a spin, participate in the circus school, or join in a roller skating derby as you skate to the music of the 70’s and 80’s.

Taking a Spin in the Seaplex

The Seaplex also offers the Xbox Lounge where you can play video games against new friends you made on the ship or even your friends back home. There is also ping pong, air hockey, foosball, and other table games if you prefer more hands-on gaming. Add some indoor basketball, soccer, and volleyball to the fun; and top it off with a food truck serving fresh hot dogs and snacks!

North Star

Rising over three hundred feet above sea level is one of the exclusive attractions you will find on Anthem of the Seas, the Royal Caribbean North Star. This aerial gondola offers complimentary rides that will bring you up and over the ship for a one of a kind bird’s eye view.

North Star

Great views are virtually guaranteed no matter when you decide to take the flight. Many travelers recommend taking a ride in North Star while you are docked at a port of call, as well as trying to time the trip during sunset. There can be excessive wait times during peak hours, so do plan your trip accordingly. Reservations are recommended.

Two70

Your living room by day and high energy entertainment venue at night, there is never a bad time to stop in at Two70. The Cafe at Two70 offers breakfast and lunch serving paninis, pastries, soups, and salads, and is one of our favorite eateries on the ship. During the afternoon, the Robo Screens feature interactive high definition RoboShows which are definitely worth watching.

Two70

At night, Two70 turns into a theater with the exclusive show created for Anthem of the Seas, Spectra’s Cabaret. Following the performances, don’t be surprised if a dance party breaks out on the stage as the DJ begins spinning. You can dance the night away while sipping on some signature cocktails offered at the Two70 bar.

Ripcord by iFly

While the North Star will take you to new heights, it is the Ripcord by iFly that will really get your heart pounding. During your Anthem of the Seas cruise, you can spend 60 seconds “flying” with this first sky dive simulator at sea.

Ripcord by iFly

Following a safety briefing and instructions, groups of about 12 cruisers are taken every half hour to the air tunnel on the back of the ship. Here, the powerful fans generate wind speeds of over 100 miles per hour, allowing you to simulate the feeling of free falling from an airplane. It is exhilarating, fun, and oddly more difficult than we expected, but don’t worry- it is open to all ages and fitness levels, and the staff will help you as much as you need.

We Will Rock

There is plenty of entertainment on the ship with shows in Two70, the Music Hall, and live music at the various bars and lounges, but the true star of the Anthem of the Seas’ entertainment is sure to be the award winning musical, We Will Rock You. This featured production show in the ship’s main theater is a full length musical featuring music from British rock band Queen.

We Will Rock You on Anthem of the Seas

No matter your taste in music, this musical comedy with plenty of pop culture references and head bopping tunes will get you up and on your feet as you sing along, making this show one of the highlights of an Anthem of the Seas cruise.

Specialty Restaurants

The cuisine is also a favorite of any cruise vacation, and Anthem of the Seas delivers in the food category as well. Besides your traditional main dining room options, an Anthem of the Seas cruise offers plenty of specialty dining options. For those looking for something a bit more experimental, there is Wonderland. This Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant offers distinct food pairings in an eclectic menu.

In addition to the cruiser favorites Chops Grille and Izumi, Anthem of the Seas also offers the Solarium Bistro and Jamie’s Italian as signature dining options. We can’t get enough of Jamie Oliver’s casual, yet tasty Italian dishes.

Nightlife

Like New York city, Anthem of the Seas never sleeps. For those looking to enjoy a few pints in a cozy neighborhood bar, there is Michael’s Genuine Pub with craft beer and a la carte appetizers. For wine connoisseurs, there is Vintages wine bar, located in the Via, offering great views of the ship and a large wine menu. If you like live music, the Music Hall drums up nightly entertainment with Tribute Bands covering some of the most popular rock bands including U2, the Police, and the Princess’ favorite Bon Jovi.

The Stage at the Music Hall

For the techie crowd, the Bionic Bar serves up cocktails from two robot bartenders, with a DJ and plenty of house music. Even the Royal Caribbean favorite, the Schooner Bar, gets a slight face-lift while still hosting piano tunes. Each bar features signature cocktails which means you need to get to a drink at every venue. Hey, don’t worry, you are not driving the ship!

Comments

Have you sailed on an Anthem of the Seas cruise or have plans to in the near future? What is your favorite element of the ship? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences on the new Quantum class ships.