Megaships are usually not my own personal thing, but I wanted to check out Anthem of the Seas, since it is a brand new ship that is sailing out of Cape Liberty, NJ which means NO FLYING for my East Coast clients! That is a huge selling point in my book!
It’s a sister ship to the Quantum of the Seas, and it’s actually not as ginormous as I thought–guest capacity is 4,180 passengers, so it is not in the same class as the true mega ships like RCI’s Allure of the Seas (5,494 passengers!).
This looks to be a fun ship for all ages, but especially for families. LOTS to do–The SeaPlex multistory sports complex is pretty impressive, with its changeable surface, so you can ride bumper cars one night, ice skate the next and maybe even roller derby. Or–just shoot hoops.
The second story SeaPlex has Xbox stations, foosball tables, air hockey, pool, ping pong and lots of other games set amidst comfy chair and couches. And, there’s a DJ!
Outside, there’s the usual RCI Rock climbing wall (which seemed a little small for this size ship), plus 4 outdoor pools, the FlowRider Surf Simulator and something new called RipChord by iFly, which is simulated sky diving. And of course, the North Star, the capsule that can take 14 passengers up for a 360 view of the ship and sea.
Here’s one of the pools:
The main theater is running ‘We Will Rock You”, but there is also something called Music Hall that features live music, and also Two70, a multistory area that features comfy seating while watching Cirque Du Soleil-type aerial shows (and an ice bar!), all complimentary. Below is a not-very-good pic of Two70–
There are over 20 restaurants, several are complimentary and the others are specialty that require an upcharge, like the Chef’s Table and Wonderland. There is NO main dining room on this ship–Royal Caribbean has instead provided 4 smaller dining venues that have different themes to replace the one main dining room. It’s nice to have additional choices that are still comp. here are some dining room pics:
Here is a pic of Wonderland, a new specialty restaurant with an Alice in Wonderland theme:
There is also the passenger favorite Bionic Bar, where you order on an iPad and two robots mix your drinks (but deliver in paper cups, bummer).
We toured several staterooms but very quickly, as paying passengers were actually embarking to go on a 10 day Caribbean cruise. This ship has several Loft Suite categories, and they are stunning:
A regular Veranda Stateroom looks like this:
And here is a peek at one of their interior staterooms with a “virtual” balcony (which is a live webcam shot from outside the ship). Nice techno innovation. Really looks like a window!
There is a large spa onboard, fitness center, casino and some upscale shops including Coach and Tiffany. And of course, there are plenty of kid clubs (organized by age) to keep your children busy, including a roomy Teen Club.
The Anthem sails to Bermuda all summer long, and you can park your car right at the Cape Liberty terminal and get right onboard. It’s a great option for multi-generational family trips and people who like to have a lot of activity options. You can do do as much–or as little–as you like. No dounbt all those loyal RCI passengers will love this new baby!
