Anthem of the Seas is coming to Sydney for her first Australian visit. And this guide has everything you need to know about the 4905-capacity ship. Anthem is a Quantum Class ship, the same as Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas.

The arrival of Anthem is an interesting one for the Australian market. It is Quantum Class Ship, the same as Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas. The truth is if you’re looking for something completely new and different, you won’t find it in Anthem. But if you love the ships sailing in Australia now, you’ll be delighted to know not too much has changed.

However, this doesn’t mean there’s nothing new coming to Australia on Anthem. Here Cruise Passenger covered five brand new things you can expect with the arrival of Anthem of the Seas.

If you’ve never had the experience of sailing on a Quantum Class ship, Anthem of the Seas will provide all the expected thrills.

Anthem has been cruising since 2015. They currently have scheduled sailings across the world, from the United States to Europe to Asia, before arriving in Australia come 2025.

The ship has 24 scheduled itineraries across Australia. These range from three to 18-nights. And they offer ample chances for Aussies to check out a new ship completely new to their shores.

Anthem arriving in Australia presents an interesting scenario. Potentially some cruisers were expecting, or hoping, that Royal Caribbean would bring a more modern ship to Australia.

If you’re rather looking at hopping on Anthem for your first cruise or first time with Royal Caribbean, the short of it is that it’s a classic Royal Caribbean ship. Expect an extensive range of entertainment options and a lively, buzzing ship. While there are definitely places to escape to for more tranquility, the ships’ strength lies in providing family fun and facilitating a holiday that doesn’t have a dull moment.

Anthem of the Seas at a Glance

Anthem of the Seas packs in up to 4905 guests across 16 decks. The ship has five main dining options, seven ‘signature restaurants’ and eight further ‘laid back’ eateries. Across the 2090 staterooms there are 378 interiors and 1571 rooms with a balcony.
Anthem doesn’t represent a major change from the Quantum Class ships that have been sailing in Australia. If you loved those you’ll probably love Anthem as well. If you didn’t, Anthem probably won’t change your mind.
It’s still a long time until Anthem arrives in Australia. And its possible modifications could be made to the ship to suit the Aussie market.
When Anthem arrives, sailing out of Brisbane will be Voyager of the Seas. Voyager has a smaller capacity, however still offering a wide range of entertainment. If you’re willing to sacrifice some amenities for less of a crowd, then Voyager could be the go-to move.

Things to do Anthem of the Seas

Anthem of the Seas has Royal Caribbean’s famous RipCord by iFly, a skydiving simulator with ocean views mixed in. Guests generally get one complementary use of the RipCord before having to pay for further uses.
Anthem also has the North Star, a favourite activity on Australia’s previous Quantum Class ship. The North Star is huge observation pod that hoists you up above the ship with panoramic sea views on offer.
Also found on the anthem is FlowRider, a surfing simulator looking out over the ocean.
Anthem of the Seas also has all the Royal Caribbean family entertainment you’d expect. Like a climbing wall, bumper cars, sports courts, game shows, jewellery making, archery, the splash park, circus activities, pool-side movies, an arcade and more.
There’s also more adult entertainment onboard. You’ll find the adult only relaxation area, latin dance classes, the large casino and the fully equipped Vitality Spa.

Entertainment onboard

A great bonus of Anthem of the Seas arriving is that it will arrive with stage shows that haven’t been in Australia. We Will Rock You is an award-winning production. It offers a range of Queen sing-a-longs in a futuristic world where rock ‘n’ roll has been banned. The Gift is an original production, where after the death of a mother, her family become estranged from one another. That is, until the mother contacts them from the spirit world and they embark on a journey of interpersonal discovery together.
As far as bars and lounges go, there are a total of nine options. For great ocean views and a drink in your hand you can head to the North Star Bar. You can dance the night away with live Latin music you can head to Boleros, to drink poolside Pool Bar. Or Sunshine Bar is the go, and you can find Royal Caribbean’s famous bionic bartenders at Bionic Bar. Come the nightlife Two70 transforms into a hub of entertainment, with audiovisual productions including everything from acrobatic performances of robotic demonstrations, most nights you can catch Spectra’s Cabaret. The Schooner bar is the ships piano bar. It’s perfect for a sing-a-long. You can drink upscale wine and small bits are Vintages Wine Bar. And the English Pub has the most extensive range of beers on the ship.

Dining

A restaurant brand new to Australian cruising will be Johnny Rockets, an old-school American diner, with many locations around the USA and on other Royal Caribbean ships. It is a specialty restaurant and charged a la carte, not with a flat fee. Menu highlights range from the Chicken Club Sandwich to hot dogs, loaded fridges, a wide range of burgers and more.
There are eight complimentary dining options, including the Main Dining Room. Solarium Bistro offers a Mediterranean al fresco dining experience, with the privacy and tranquility of adults-only dining. For some on-the-go sandwiches and paninis you can head to the cafe at Two70, with great ocean views tossed in as well. There are plenty of different flavours on offer at the Windjammer Marketplace, with the prime rib carving station a dinner-time highlight. Sorrento’s is a classic for pizza. Sitting right on the main promenade with daily pepperoni and margarita pizza, as well as two pizzas of the day. Cafe Promenade is a quick and easy option, offering quick cafe bites like pastries and sandwiches. Coastal Kitchen is exclusively for suite-guests, offering a more upscale Mediterranean option, the breakfast smoked salmon and dinnertime flatbread are cruiser favourites. For classic cruise cuisine, you can head to the Dog House for a range of different hot dogs.

Specialty dining

Anthem of the Seas packs in nine specialty dining options. It includes the famed Chef’s Table experience, which offers a five-course wine-paired dinner, hosted by the ship’s executive chef and sommelier.
There’s also Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver, where the food comes out served on ‘planks’, offering rustic Italian dining.
Wonderland Restaurant offers a fascinating dining experience, with Alison in Wonderland-inspired decor setting the scene for interesting dishes like Japanese breadcrumbs, chicken liver balls, Korean battered kimchi, and more.
Izumi is a Royal Caribbean staple, offering fresh sushi and sashimi, with the truffle creamy lobster tempura roll offering going down as a favourite.
Chops Grille is a classic steak house, decked out with wooden decor and low lighting, where guests can try dishes like grilled sea bass, spicy jumbo shrimp, filet mignon, and more.
For a quick something, La Patisserie is the go-to spot for hot chocolate, pastries, truffles, macarons, chocolates, and more.

For kids

For those aged from six to 36 months, they’ll be in the Royal Babies & Tots program, where trained youth staff will take them through activities and let them play with a range of toys.
Adventure Ocean Aquanauts is for those aged from three to five years old, where staff will run the kids through educational and fun science programs and experiments.
Those in the six to eight years range can hang out and do arts and crafts, science games and performance workshops as part of the Explorers Program.
The voyagers group is for those from nine to 11 years old, offering sports tournaments, video game competitions, talent shows, a ship scavenger hunt and more.
The teen lounge is for teens, offering more choices between pre-planned events or simply a space to hang out and let the time pass. Teens are also able to hang out at night, from 10 pm to 2 am, however, it costs $10 per hour, per child.
Anthem of the Seas will have three Wiggles-themed itineraries during its Australian homeporting, offering a different and unique experience for kids. There are three Wiggles itineraries on Anthem of the Seas, with two options in the South Pacific and one in Queensland. The South Pacific sailings are November 20, 2025 and March 13, 2026, respectively. The Queensland sailing leaves on February 6.

Staterooms and suites

Anthem of the Seas packs in 2090 cabins, 1570 of which have balconies. The ship has has 375 rooms equipped with virtual balconies, which have floor-to-ceiling screens that display real-time ocean views and destination shots.
Cabins have three outlets, two US and one European, including one bedside. As well as two extra USB ports. There are plenty of hooks for hanging clothes and towels, and the bathrooms have an automatic nightlife.
There are four stateroom categories, interior, ocean view, balcony and mini-suite.

There are seven categories of suites. Starting from the Anthem of the Seas Grand Suite, of which there are twelve, right up to the 975 square-feet Owners Loft Suite.