Anthem of the Seas

The 2015-built Anthem of the Seas cruise ship is the 2nd Quantum-class Royal Caribbean liner, with sisterships Quantum OTS (2014) and Ovation OTS (2016). Similarly designed are the "Quantum Ultra-Class" Spectrum OTS (2019) and Odyssey OTS (2020).

The vessel (IMO number 9656101) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000274) and registered in Nassau.

Next is shown a Quantum-class ship as looked from above.

History - construction and ownership

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is a US company, trademarked brand and subsidiary owned by Royal Caribbean Group (RCG/shipowner). RCI was established in 1968 and currently has over 1/5 of the worldwide cruise market. RCI also has RCG's largest fleet by both vessel number and GT tonnage (ship sizes and capacities).

All RCI liners have names ending with "of the Seas".

The 5000-passenger ship Anthem OTS is a Quantum-Class vessel which by size is a significantly decreased (168000 GT-tons) version of RCI's Oasis-Class (225300 GT). However, with the new class RCI introduced several facilities and amenities (later implemented fleetwide) that made the brand more popular than ever.

Decks and Cabins

Anthem of the Seas staterooms (2091 total, in 33 grades) include 129 Suites, 1436 Balcony, 148 Oceanview, 378 Inside (including Virtual Balcony), and also 28 Studios (Balcony and Interior). Most cabins are sized 180-200 ft2 / 17-19 m2. Most cabin balconies are sized 55 ft2 / 5 m2. The largest is the Royal Loft Suite (1660 ft2 / 152 m2 plus 620 ft2 / 58 m2 wraparound terrace). Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 22.

The boat has 16 decks, of which 15 are passenger-accessible and 9 with cabins.

The new “Royal Suite Class” booking category (suite accommodations only) provides the ship’s highest paying passengers with the ultimate all-inclusive cruise experience of Royal Caribbean, marked by Coastal Kitchen exclusive access, 24-hour personal butler service, included gratuities, all-inclusive drinks, free Internet and thermal suite unlimited access.

Anthem OTS also has RCI's Virtual Balcony Interior cabins (with floor-ceiling 4K UHD screens that receive real-time video streaming from the ship's outside cameras). Compared to the Oasis-class, Quantum-class liners have larger staterooms, more connected cabins (for families with kids) and Studios (designed for solo travelers).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Passengers on Anthem of the Seas are offered plenty of dining options to choose from (25 onboard dining options, of which 14 complimentary), with multiple choices for light bites as well. Reservations for all restaurants can be made online ahead of the cruise. Though not required, reservations are definitely recommended to ensure guests get to eat where they want, when they want.

Food and service at the main restaurants, Silk, Chic, American Icon and The Grande, is varied and offers an array of experiences. Anthem provides 200 seats more than Quantum among its main dining rooms. Additionally, more waiters have been assigned to address complaints about service. Each of the four main restaurants already has two versions of the menu, with regional dishes also been added.

Follows the complete list of Anthem of the Seas restaurants and food bars.

• The Grande (one of the four dining rooms; two fixed dinner seatings and "My Time Dining")
• Chic Restaurant (one of the four dining rooms)
• American Icon Grill (one of the four dining rooms)
• The Silk (Asian cuisine, one of the four dining rooms)
• La Patisserie (specialty coffee and teas bar; offers fresh-made pastries and sweets)
• Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine
• Johnny Rockets (fast food restaurant, complimentary)
• Windjammer Marketplace buffet restaurant (offers Early Breakfast at 6:30 a.m., Breakfast between 7:00-11:30 a.m., Lunch 11.30-3:30 p.m. and Dinner 6.30-9:00 p.m.)
• Chops Grille (steakhouse/seafood)
• Chef’s Table (14-guest capacity, gourmet private dining package)
• Sorrento’s (Italian restaurant)
• Jamie's Italian Restaurant (menu, deck 5) is a 132-seat trattoria restaurant (at surcharge USD 30 pp dinner, USD 20 pp lunch/sea days only) via partnership with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
• Izumi (73-seat Asian/Japanese restaurant)
• The Cafe @ Two70 (casual dining marketplace)
• Coastal Kitchen (Suite passengers only restaurant)
• Solarium Bistro (healthy dining menu, ex-“Devinly Decadence”)
• SeaPlex Dog House (complimentary)

Anthem was the first Quantum-class ship on which in 2017 was introduced the new Royal Caribbean specialty dining package.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Anthem OTS (and all Quantum-Class liners) feature as unique facilities "iFly by RipCord" (skydiving simulator at a fee, reservations are required) and "North Star" (jewel-shaped glass capsule) rising 300 ft (92 m) above sea level for 360-degree views above the ship. North Star is at a fee and also can be privately booked (for special events). At "iFly by RipCord", each passenger is fitted with goggles, helmet and jumpsuit before jumping into the chamber (1-min sessions). These vessels also have Bionic Bar where "bartending robots" mix up cocktails ordered via a tablet.

The Royal Theater hosts the major production show onboard the Anthem, "We Will Rock You", a 90-minute musical that sets Queen's greatest hits to a story set in the future. The result is an exceptional show and spectacular event that makes everyone want to sing and dance along.

Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Youth programs (Adventure Ocean, Royal Babies, Royal Tots, Dream Works experience), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of Anthem of the Seas lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Royal Theater (1299-seat, features 3D Movies, aerial acrobatic performances and Broadway-style productions)
• Music Hall (2-deck high live entertainment venue)
• Two70° Lounge (3-deck high relaxation observation lounge with live entertainment)
• Photo Gallery and Shop; SeaTrek Shop (diving equipment)
• Crown Lounge (fka Diamond Club Lounge & Bar for past guests only); Concierge Club and Lounge (suite- and past guests only); Card Room
• Brass and Bock Pub (former Michael’s Genuine Pub), Bionic Bar, NorthStar Bar
• The Via (an area between the boutique shops and restaurants on deck 5; with the Vintages wine bar, Port Merchants and Jamie’s)
• Casino Royale
• Outdoor Movie Screen
• Cafe Promenade (24-hour; serves snacks and drinks, as well as Starbucks specialty coffee)
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center; 10 jacuzzis (2 are cantilevered); 4 pools
• Solarium lounge (includes Solarium Cafe, pool bar and adults-only pool area); Solarium Bar
• Video Games Arcade; The Living Room and Night Club teen areas; Royal Babies and Tots Nursery; Adventure Ocean kids lounge area; Workshop (family venue); H2O Zone family and kids area
• SeaPlex (sports complex, with roller-skating, bumper cars, circus school, full-sized basketball court); North Star; FlowRider (surf simulator); RipCord by iFly; Jogging Track; Rock-climbing Wall.

Itineraries

Anthem of the Seas itinerary program is based on cruises in Europe with departures from homeport Southampton England, as well as on Caribbean voyages out of NYC (Port Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ).

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in late-March 2021 Royal Caribbean scheduled for Anthem OTS a summer season in the UK with 4-night cruises-to-nowhere (beginning July 7/first-time for RCI) and 5- to 8-night "British Isles" itineraries (beginning July 15) roundtrip from Southampton. The mini-cruises are without call ports, while the longer voyages visit the popular UK ports Liverpool, Kirkwall (Orkney Island, Scotland), Belfast (Ireland). Bookings opened on April 7, but for UK residents only

In May 2023, RCI announced that Anthem OTS will be deployed in Asia and homeported in Singapore in 2024-2025 (November through March) replacing Spectrum OTS (Singapore-homeported since 2020). Spectrum will be redeployed to China and homeported in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Anthem OTS's Singapore itineraries are 3-4-5-night roundtrips visiting Malaysia (Penang) and Thailand (Phuket). The new 8-night "Bali Getaway" itinerary visits Bali Indonesia's ports Celukan Bawang and Benoa Harbour, as well as Lombok Indonesia's port Lembar. Another new itinerary is the 10-night "Vietnam and Thailand" voyage that visits Vietnam's ports Nha Trang, Phu My-Saigon, and Chan May-Da Nang, and Thailand's port Laem Chabang-Bangkok (overnight stay).

In winter 2025-2026 (November through April) Anthem OTS will be deployed in Australia (inaugural season) and homeported in Sydney NSW. RCI's Australian fleet also includes Voyager of the Seas (homeported in Brisbane QLD). Anthem OTS had scheduled 24 voyages with lengths from 3- to 18 nights.

Anthem of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s second Quantum-class vessel, following Quantum of the Seas (2014) and preceding Ovation of the Seas (2016). On February 11, 2011, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) announced the order for the ship, codenamed “Project Sunshine.” This marked the beginning of a new passenger ship class consisting of three units: Quantum, Anthem, and Ovation. Anthem’s order was confirmed on February 29, 2012, and on January 31, 2013, the class was officially named “Quantum Class,” along with the formal announcement of the names for Quantum and Anthem.

On February 10, 2014, Royal Caribbean revealed Anthem’s initial itinerary program, which featured 19 European cruises in the Mediterranean Sea. Ports of call included destinations along the Riviera regions of Spain, France, and Italy, as well as the Canary Islands.

The vessel was floated out of drydock on February 21, 2015, at the Meyer Werft shipyard. Following outfitting and conveyance along the River Ems to the North Sea/Baltic Sea, the ship underwent sea trials. The christening ceremony took place on April 20, 2015, in Southampton, England. The ship’s godmother, Emma Wilby, a UK cruise travel agent for Thomson UK (Marella), was selected through a Royal Caribbean competition.

Anthem’s “Inaugural Cruise” departed on April 22, 2015, with an 8-day roundtrip voyage from Southampton, visiting ports in France and Spain, including a feature call at Le Havre-Paris. A “Pre-Inaugural” 2-day cruise to nowhere was held on April 18, 2015.

In May 2017, Philippa Charlotte Middleton (sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) and James Matthews spent their honeymoon aboard Anthem. The couple was gifted a specially designed “Pippa Suite,” located adjacent to the Royal Loft Suite on deck 9. The suite featured blue plush furnishings, lilac accents, a sunrise yoga station, smoothie machine, golden goose ornaments, and Royal Genie butler service by British Butler Institute-trained staff. Their itinerary included Southern Caribbean destinations such as St Lucia, Barbados, and Antigua, departing roundtrip from New York City. After the cruise, the couple flew to St. Barts on James Matthews’ private jet.

Quantum-class ships introduced several innovative features:

• Virtual Balcony cabins – Interior staterooms with floor-to-ceiling 80-inch 4K LED screens streaming real-time ocean views
• Bionic Bar – Featuring robotic bartenders capable of mixing two drinks per minute. Beverages are ordered via app and displayed on large LED screens. The robots use 30 spirits and 21 mixers (sodas, juices, syrups, sugar, mint, limes, lemons)
• Two70° – A three-deck lounge with a café, ice bar, Cirque-style productions, and a nightclub atmosphere by night
• SeaPlex – A full-size basketball court that converts to a roller-skating arena and bumper cars arena
• RipCord by iFLY – A 23 ft (7 m) tall skydiving simulator
• North Star – A rotating observation capsule offering complimentary 360° ocean views

Ship Facts

• Beam (width): 162 ft (49 m); waterline width: 136 ft (41 m)
• Virtual balcony screen size: 80-inch 4K Ultra HD
• Jogging track length: 436 ft (133 m)
• North Star observation capsule reaches a height of 300 ft (92 m) and operates on a 15-minute rotation
• SeaPlex bumper cars: 15 units
• Each voyage provisioning includes: 25 tons of fresh fruit, 36 tons of fresh vegetables, 10 tons of fish, 79,000 eggs, 22,200 liters of still water, and 12,000 liters of sparkling water
• Construction materials: 37,000 tons of steel and 346 tons of glass; total build time: 41,600 man-hours
• Engines: Two Wartsila 12V46F (14,400 kW each), two Wartsila 16V46F (19,200 kW each), and two Caterpillar 3516C HD (2,500 kW each)
• Propulsion: Two ABB Azipod XO thrusters (20.5 MW each), four Brunvoll FU115 bow thrusters (3,500 kW each)
• Signature art piece: A 4-ton giant giraffe statue named “Gigi,” located on the top deck
• First Captain: Srecko Ban

Quantum-class ships do not feature the Viking Crown Lounge or ice-skating rink. Additionally, the Royal Promenade differs from previous classes, and the onboard entertainment lineup includes many first-at-sea experiences featured in Royal Caribbean’s marketing materials.