Quantum Class
Anthem of the Seas: The Complete Insider's Guide
Every neighborhood, every dining spot, the headline shows, and the planning moves that matter on Anthem of the Seas, free to read in full.
Start here: the five moves that matter Anthem of the Seas is the second Quantum-class ship, launched in 2015. She sails Alaska in the northern summer and Sydney in the southern summer in 2026-27. She looks like Quantum of the Seas but runs differently: no Dynamic Dining, a Broadway headliner, and her own entertainment lineup. Plan for Anthem, not her sister.
Learn the four dining rooms on day one
Anthem scrapped Dynamic Dining in 2016. Now it is Chic and The Grande (traditional fixed seating) plus American Icon and Silk (My Time Dining), all with the fleet rotating menu. Work through all four across your sailing.
Eat strategically on day one
Windjammer is the default first meal, but the calmer move is the Cafe @ Two70: hot-pressed sandwiches and made-toorder salads with a panoramic sailaway view.
Book the two headliners first
We Will Rock You in the Royal Theater and Spectra's Cabaret in Two70 are the capacity-constrained shows. Reserve them in the app the moment you connect to ship Wi-Fi, then build dinners around the showtimes.
Decide your splurge nights early
Wonderland (the whimsical tasting menu), Jamie's Italian, Chops Grille, and Izumi are the signature paid tables. Book them in Cruise Planner before you sail, not once you are already busy at sea.
Match your plan to your sailing
Alaska 7-nighters revolve around glacier and port days; Sydney 3-4 night getaways are sprints where you lock the headliners; 9-11 night South Pacific and New Zealand sailings let you pace by deck. On repositionings, the ship is the destination.
Final authority: Operating hours, age/height rules, prices, menus, reservations, and even show lineups can change by sailing. Use this guide to plan; use the app and Cruise Compass to execute.
Inside 03 Ship at a glance
13 Pools & thrills
17 Budget strategy
04-05 Signature venues
14 Families & cabins
18 Game plan
06-09 Dining
15 Hidden gems
19 Packing checklist
10 Bars & nightlife
16 Homeports & ports
20 Sources
11-12 Shows
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Anthem at a glance 169K
1,138 ft
4,180
2,090
Gross Tons
Length
Guests, Double
STATEROOMS APPROX.
Occupancy
The quick profile Class: Quantum class, the second of her kind (2015). Quantum came first in 2014; Ovation, Odyssey, and Spectrum followed the same blueprint.
A fast mental map
Forward
Royal Theater • Music Hall • Solarium
Entered service: April 2015; built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany at a cost of US$940 million; christened by godmother Emma Wilby.
Midship
Royal Esplanade • Bionic Bar • Windjammer
Scale: 168,666 gross tons, 4,180 guests at double occupancy (up to about 4,905), with about 1,500 crew across 16 decks.
AFT Two70 • SeaPlex • FlowRider
Refurbishment: she has never had a major refurbishment. A full dry dock planned for 2020 was cancelled, and later dry docks were maintenance only. Deployment: Seattle in summer 2026 (7-night Alaska roundtrips), Sydney from October 2026 to April 2027 (3-11 night South Pacific and New Zealand sailings), then Alaska again May to September 2027 with open-jaw Vancouver/Seward sailings. The differentiators: We Will Rock You as the Broadway headliner, The Gift and Spectra's Cabaret as originals, four main dining rooms instead of Dynamic Dining, and the Bionic Bar's robot bartenders on deck 5.
How the ship flows The Royal Esplanade spans decks 3 to 5 as the indoor spine (there is no Royal Promenade on Quantum-class ships). Two70 anchors the aft on decks 4 and 5. The Royal Theater and Music Hall sit forward on decks 3 and 4. The pool deck, Solarium, and Windjammer occupy deck 14, with the spa and SeaPlex on decks 15 and 16 and the North Star, RipCord, and FlowRider up on deck 16.
Up Top
North Star • RipCord • Sports court
Reserve early Anthem's signature attractions are capacitylimited. We Will Rock You, Spectra's Cabaret, North Star rides, and RipCord sessions all run on reservations or timed tickets. Book them on day one.
Orientation move: Walk the Royal Esplanade end to end on embarkation afternoon, then ride the glass elevators up to deck 14 and walk the full pool deck. That loop teaches you the ship's spine in twenty minutes.
Sources: Royal Caribbean fleet materials, Meyer Werft records, 2026-2027 deployment releases, and 2026 ship-tour reporting.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
The venues that define Anthem
Two70
SeaPlex
The signature Quantum-class venue on decks 4 and 5 aft. By day a panoramic lounge with 270degree windows; by night Vistarama (18 projectors forming an ambient surface over 100 feet wide) turns it into an aerialist and multimedia theater. Home of Spectra's Cabaret and the Cafe @ Two70.
The largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea, on decks 15 and 16 aft. It rotates through the day between bumper cars (the only ones at sea), a roller-skating rink, a full sports court, circus school, and arcade and Xbox zones. Best for: families, sea days, bad weather
Best for: the wow factor, sailaway views, evening shows
The North Star
RipCord by iFly
The glass observation capsule on a mechanical arm, rising 300 feet above sea level with 360degree views. It holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship. Reservations required and rides are weather permitting.
The first skydiving simulator at sea: a vertical wind tunnel that floats you on a column of air. The first flight is typically complimentary; longer sessions on sea days carry a fee. Reservations required; athletic wear and closed-toe shoes.
Best for: sailaway, glacier days, photographers
skydived
Best for: thrill-seekers, first-timers who never
Planning rule: Two70, SeaPlex, the North Star, and RipCord are Anthem's four signature venues. See all four in your first two days; everything else on the ship is the supporting cast.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
The social core and the quiet side
Royal Esplanade
Music Hall
Decks 3 to 5: the indoor spine with shops, the Bionic Bar's robot bartenders, Cafe Promenade (24 hours), Sorrento's pizza, La Patisserie, Vintages wine bar, live music, and themed popup events. Quantum-class ships have no traditional Royal Promenade; this is its replacement.
The two-story live music venue on decks 3 and 4 forward, with its own two bars and billiard tables. House and tribute bands, DJs, SHUSH! silent parties, and decade theme parties. Guests call it the ship's party hub. Best for: live music, dancing, theme nights
Best for: strolling, people-watching, late-night food
The Solarium
Vitality Spa & Fitness
The adults-only retreat forward on deck 14 under a glass canopy: cascading pools, whirlpools, loungers, the Solarium Bar, and the Solarium Bistro. Officially 16 and older, though some sailings enforce 18+. The calmest daytime space on the ship.
The spa, thermal suite, salon, and a large fitness center on the upper decks. The wellness counterweight to a thrill-forward ship. Best for: workouts, spa days, quiet miles
Best for: adults wanting quiet, sea days
Who suits what Thrill-seekers live at SeaPlex, the North Star, and the FlowRider; show-goers at Two70 and the Royal Theater; night owls at the Music Hall; and adults wanting calm at the Solarium and Vintages.
First-timer move: Start at Two70 for the view, walk the Royal Esplanade, then head up to deck 16 to spot the North Star arm. You have now seen the ship's greatest hits in one loop.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Complimentary dining: the four main dining rooms Forget Dynamic Dining: Anthem scrapped it in April 2016. She now runs the fleet-standard setup with four complimentary full-service restaurants, all serving the rotating fleetwide menu. Chic
Deck 3
Contemporary cuisine with modern presentation: the date-night room of the four. Traditional fixed seating; slightly dressier feel. Best for: a smarter evening out
The Grande
Deck 3
The elegant, formal dining room: the most traditional room, known for lobster night. Dress code skews formal; a jacket is suggested for men. Traditional fixed seating. Best for: traditionalists; formal night
American Icon Grill
Deck 4
Silk
Deck 4
American comfort food in a relaxed setting: the most familiar of the four rooms and the easiest first-night pick. My Time Dining (flexible timing).
Pan-Asian influenced room: the adventurous pick, with flavors and a look unlike the other three. My Time Dining (flexible timing).
Best for: your first night; classic comfort food
Best for: variety; breaking the steak-and-potatoes rut
How to work the four rooms: Pick traditional seating in Chic or The Grande if you want the same table and waitstaff nightly, or My Time Dining in American Icon or Silk if you want flexibility. Try a different room each night and save The Grande for formal night. Dining-room lineup per Royal Caribbean materials and December 2025 cruiser dining guides; confirm hours and seating rules in the app.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Complimentary dining: more included stops The everyday workhorses Windjammer Marketplace, deck 14: the big buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with global stations and an on-site bakery. Solarium Bistro, deck 14: lighter Mediterranean-style buffet inside the adults-only Solarium; the calmest included meal on the ship. Reservations recommended. Coastal Kitchen, deck 14: lighter, fresh fare for suite guests, including a quiet lunch and dinner away from the crowds.
What seasoned cruisers say The four dining rooms get the attention, but the smart money is on the quieter rooms. Solarium Bistro for calm, the Cafe @ Two70 for the view, and the Dog House when the kids are deep in SeaPlex. Windjammer at peak hours is the one line worth avoiding. Cafe Promenade at 6 a.m. is the sleeper move for early risers: breakfast bites a full hour before the Windjammer opens.
The Cafe @ Two70, deck 5: paninis, soups, and salads made to order, with the best sailaway view of any free lunch spot. Widely called the best complimentary lunch venue on board.
Best included-food crawl: Solarium Bistro breakfast, a Dog House hot dog at SeaPlex, the Cafe @ Two70 for a sailaway lunch, and a late-night Sorrento's slice. Four stops, zero dollars.
One tip to remember On port mornings, ordering continental breakfast in beats the buffet rush.
Snacks and late-night Cafe Promenade, deck 5: open 24 hours for snacks, pastries, and sandwiches; breakfast bites start at 6 a.m., before the Windjammer opens. Specialty coffee drinks carry a charge. Sorrento's, deck 4/5: New Yorkstyle pizza by the slice, open late. SeaPlex Dog House, deck 15: the first food truck at sea, serving gourmet hot dogs inside SeaPlex. Room service: continental breakfast is included; other orders carry a delivery fee.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Specialty dining: the complete paid lineup Anthem's specialty lineup is built for experience seekers: a multisensory tasting menu, a rustic Italian trattoria, a classic steakhouse, and Japanese, plus the line's most intimate table. Wonderland
Jamie's Italian
Imaginative Cuisine: a whimsical, multi-sensory tasting menu where the menu arrives as a paint palette and the dishes play with molecular tricks. Six elements: sun, sea, ice, earth, fire, and dreams. Dinner only; the ship's most talked-about table.
Jamie Oliver's rustic Italian on deck 5: handmade pastas, flatbreads, and crowd-pleasing sharing plates. Lunch and dinner; check Cruise Planner for current pricing.
Chops Grille
Izumi
Royal Caribbean's classic steakhouse: prime cuts and seafood, dinner only. The special-occasion pick.
Japanese: sushi and a la carte hot dishes plus fixed-price hibachi. Lunch and dinner.
Chef's Table
Johnny Rockets
An intimate multi-course dinner with wine pairings alongside the executive chef and sommelier. Limited seats; books fast.
The classic burger bar, counter-service style on Anthem rather than table service. Lunch and dinner carry a cover charge.
Venue lineup cross-checked against current ship reporting and Royal Caribbean materials. Check the app for current prices.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Specialty dining: casual extras and packages Vintages
La Patisserie
The cozy wine bar on the Royal Esplanade with tapas and global wines. Guests call it the quietest evening drink spot on the ship; ideal before a specialty dinner.
The French cafe: pastries, macarons, and specialty coffees and teas. The afternoon treat stop.
Michael's Genuine Pub
Solarium Bistro (specialty dinner)
The gastropub with craft beer. Pub food has historically been included on Quantum-class ships with drinks a la carte; verify the current setup onboard.
The healthy buffet transforms into a paid specialty dinner on select evenings.
Coastal Kitchen
Sorrento's and Cafe Promenade
Lighter, fresh fare for suite guests; reservations made onboard.
Already covered as included stops, but worth repeating: the two late-night safety nets on the Royal Esplanade.
Spend smart: Book specialty dining in Cruise Planner before sailing; packages and per-night offers are usually cheaper in advance than onboard. Lunches can be lower-priced than dinner.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Prices move Cover charges vary by ship, sailing, and season. Confirm in the app or Cruise Planner for your date.
Bars and nightlife: choose your atmosphere Robot bartenders, a two-story rock venue, and Latin dance floors: Anthem's bar scene runs from novelty to nightclub. Bionic Bar
Music Hall
Two70 Bar
Robot bartenders on deck 5: design your cocktail on a tablet and watch two robotic arms shake, stir, and strain it. Worth one visit even for non-drinkers.
The two-story live-music venue on decks 3 and 4: house and tribute bands, themed party nights, DJs, and dancing. Anthem's main late-night dance floor.
Drinks with the 270-degree view in Two70, best at sunset before the evening show. Arrive early for the prime window seats.
Boleros
Schooner Bar
Vintages
Latin club on deck 4 with a live four-piece band: mojitos, caipirinhas, and salsa dancing.
The signature nautical piano singalong bar on deck 5, for a calmer crowd.
The cozy wine bar with tapas on deck 5. The quietest evening drink spot on the ship.
North Star Bar
Pool Bar & Sky Bar
Casino Royale
Champagne and cocktails on deck 15 beside the North Star boarding area. The highest drink on the ship.
Poolside service on deck 14: the Pool Bar for the main deck, the Sky Bar up top.
The gaming floor with its own bar service, on deck 3 beside the Music Hall.
Diamond Lounge The loyalty-tier exclusive lounge on deck 4; the Suite Lounge and Concierge Club serve suite guests.
Venue lineup cross-checked against current ship reporting and Royal Caribbean materials. Diamond Lounge and the Concierge Club serve loyalty members; the Suite Lounge serves suite guests.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
The signature productions Three headline productions, all included: a Broadway musical, an original fantasy show, and the immersive Two70 spectacular. Know which ones need reservations before you board. R O YA L T H E AT E R • D E C K S 3 - 4
We Will Rock You The full Queen and Ben Elton Broadway musical: the headline show, roughly 120 minutes. Reservations required; book before the cruise or on day one.
R O YA L T H E AT E R • D E C K S 3 - 4
The Gift An original Royal Caribbean production created exclusively for Anthem: a fantasy and illusion musical journey, roughly 45 minutes.
Two70 • Decks 4-5
Spectra's Cabaret Created by Moment Factory exclusively for Two70 on Anthem, featuring the Maestro and his Agents of Rhythm: an electric multi-dimensional cabaret, roughly 55 minutes. Reservations required.
Music Hall • Decks 3-4
Live music and theme nights House and tribute bands, SHUSH! silent parties, decade dance parties, karaoke finals, and late-night DJs. The Music Hall is where the ship's nightlife concentrates after the theater shows end.
Show strategy: Connect to ship Wi-Fi the moment you board and reserve We Will Rock You and Spectra's Cabaret first; they are the two headliners with real capacity constraints. Then plan one Royal Theater night for The Gift. Entertainment lineup per Royal Caribbean's official 2026 entertainment brochure and September 2026 cruiser entertainment schedules.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Beyond the big shows Between the headliners, the ship runs a full program: live bands, guest entertainers, karaoke, dancing, and late-night comedy. More entertainment Music Hall: house and tribute bands (lineups rotate by sailing), themed party nights, and late-night dancing. Two70 by night: late-night adult comedy, theme parties, and game shows like The Quest. Guest headliners: rotating singers, musicians, magicians, and variety acts in the Royal Theater.
How to win show night Before sailing Note the three headliners in your app: We Will Rock You, The Gift, Spectra's Cabaret.
Day 1 Book We Will Rock You and Spectra's Cabaret on Wi-Fi; pick midweek slots. Dinner early or late around your chosen showtime.
Sea days Spread the Royal Theater shows across midweek nights; save the Music Hall and Boleros for the bookend evenings.
Before the show Arrive 20-30 minutes early for good seats, especially for Spectra's Cabaret, where sightlines from the upper rear are poor.
Boleros: live Latin music with salsa dancing. Schooner Bar: piano sing-alongs with a calmer crowd. Royal Esplanade: live music, themed pop-up events, and parades along the indoor spine. Two70 by day: the venue doubles as a lounge with 270-degree views; check the app for daytime programming. Sea Screen: outdoor movies by the pool on select nights. Not on Anthem: there is no ice rink, no ice show, and no AquaTheater on Quantum-class ships, so do not go looking for them.
Best pairing: A Chops Grille dinner before We Will Rock You in the Royal Theater, or Two70 Bar drinks at sunset before Spectra's Cabaret in the same venue.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Pools, slides, and high-adrenaline attractions Anthem's thrills are her identity: a glass capsule 300 feet up, a skydiving tunnel, the largest indoor sports complex at sea, and a surf simulator. The signature thrills North Star: the glass observation capsule on deck 16, rising 300 feet above sea level with 360-degree views. Reservations required; rides are weather permitting. Check the app for current ride pricing on your sailing.
The pool lineup Main pool deck: the outdoor lido pool midship on deck 14, with the Sea Screen outdoor movie display and the Pool Bar. Indoor pool: the covered pool aft with a retractable roof: the bad-weather backup.
RipCord by iFly: the first skydiving simulator at sea, also on deck 16. The first flight is typically complimentary; longer paid sessions are available on sea days. Reservations required.
H2O Zone: the kids aqua park by the outdoor pool. Anthem has the original H2O Zone; there is no Splashaway Bay.
FlowRider: the surf simulator on deck 16 aft, included in your fare; private lessons cost extra.
Solarium: the adults-only (16+) retreat forward, with its own pools, whirlpools, the Solarium Bar, and the Solarium Bistro.
SeaPlex: bumper cars (free), roller skating, the circus school, basketball, table tennis, and the arcade. The schedule rotates; check the app. Lines get cut when capacity is reached, so arrive early. Laser tag: glow-in-the-dark battles in the SeaPlex arena; a fee applies. Rock walls: twin 30-foot climbing walls, complimentary.
Sky Bar: drinks service on the upper pool deck.
Fees and rules RipCord's first flight is typically free; laser tag and extended RipCord sessions carry fees. Age, height, and weight minimums apply; confirm in the app for your sailing.
Timing: Ride the North Star at sailaway or on a glacier sceniccruising day for the best views. Book RipCord early in the sailing; the popular slots go first.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Families, teens, and cabins SeaPlex is the family magnet, the youth spaces are purpose-built, and the cabins include the fleet's most famous interior: the Virtual Balcony. Youth programming
Cabins worth knowing
Adventure Ocean: the kids club with age-grouped programming for ages 3-11, including the Voyagers group (9-12) with sports tournaments, scavenger hunts, and talent shows.
Virtual Balcony interiors: Anthem has them too. Floor-to-ceiling 80-inch LED screens show real-time sights and sounds of the sea. The smart budget pick if a real balcony is out of reach.
Royal Babies & Tots: nursery programming for ages 6 months to 3 years, at an hourly fee of about US$9.
Ocean-view and balcony staterooms: the standard lineup across the midship and aft decks.
Teens 12-17: The Living Room (laid-back hangout) and Fuel (teen nightclub, open until 2 a.m.), with DJ workshops, toga parties, karaoke, pool parties, and sports tournaments. Teens come and go freely. SeaPlex: the family headquarters: bumper cars, roller skating, circus school, basketball, and the arcade, all under one roof.
Junior Suites: larger cabins with a bigger balcony and Coastal Kitchen access. Grand Suites and above: full suite perks: Coastal Kitchen, the Suite Lounge, priority boarding, and concierge service. Cabin strategy: the best cabins are decks 7-10. Light sleepers should avoid decks 3, 6, and 13, which sit under or over busy public venues.
Family thrills: the North Star, the FlowRider, and the rock walls work for a wide age range.
Family split strategy: While the kids are in SeaPlex or Adventure Ocean, take over the adults-only Solarium: quiet pool, grown-up drinks, zero splashing.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Ten hidden gems worth building into your week Everyone knows the North Star and the Bionic Bar. These are the ones cruisers tell their friends about later. 01 The Cafe @ Two70 at sailaway
02 Vintages, the quiet drink
Paninis, soups, and salads with floor-to-ceiling aft views. The best free lunch seat on embarkation day, and a gorgeous quiet lounge on sea days.
A well-stocked wine bar that sits nearly empty most evenings. The ideal pre- or post-dinner nightcap.
03 Solarium Bistro breakfast
04 The deck 7-10 rule
Skip the Windjammer crush: quiet, hardly any lines, and one of the calmest morning meals aboard.
The best cabins sit on decks 7-10. If you are a light sleeper, avoid decks 3, 6, and 13, which sit under or over busy public venues.
05 Bumper cars: arrive early
06 Two70 show seating
SeaPlex lines get cut when capacity is reached. On a recent sailing the doors opened at 10 a.m. and the line was out the door by 10:15.
For Spectra's Cabaret or The Quest, sit low near the front or on the balcony. Sightlines from the upper rear are poor even with the big screens.
07 The 6 a.m. breakfast
08 Quiet sun loungers
Cafe Promenade serves breakfast bites from 6 a.m., a full hour before the Windjammer opens. Early risers eat first and eat alone.
The lido deck sides near the Sea Screen are noisy. Head toward the stern or forward ends for restful loungers, and the Solarium for adults-only calm.
09 The Grande on formal night
10 The My Time queue hack
The elegant dining room's lobster night is the standout dinner of the cruise. Jacket suggested for men; save this room for the formal evening.
For small parties, skip the first queue line at the dining room: it is for large groups and can be misleading.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Embarkation, homeports, and your ports Anthem works a true two-hemisphere 2026-27: Alaska in the northern summer, Sydney in the southern summer, with transpacific repositionings each shoulder season. The three seasons
Port notes
Summer 2026, Seattle: 7-night roundtrip Alaska (Skagway, Sitka, Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier).
Hobart, Tasmania: Salamanca Place markets, the waterfront, and MONA.
Fall 2026 repositioning: Sep 29, 12-night Vancouver to Honolulu; Oct 11, 18-night Honolulu to Sydney.
Noumea, New Caledonia: French-Pacific blend: markets, the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, lagoon trips.
Oct 30, 2026 to Apr 14, 2027, Sydney: 3-night getaways, 4-night Hobart getaways, 9-night South Pacific (Noumea, Mystery Island, Port Vila), and 9/11-night New Zealand (Milford, Doubtful, and Dusky Sounds, Dunedin, Lyttelton, Picton, Bay of Islands). Spring 2027: Apr 14 transpacific Sydney to Honolulu (about 15-16 nights); Apr 29, 8-night Honolulu to Vancouver. May 7 to Sep 26, 2027, Alaska: 7-night open-jaw Vancouver/Seward with Hubbard Glacier scenic cruising and first-ever cruisetours (Denali). Finale: 9night roundtrip Vancouver, Sep 17. Beyond this guide's window: Anthem returns to Sydney for the 2027-28 Australian summer. Covered in the January 2027 audit.
Port Vila and Mystery Island, Vanuatu: duty-free Vila and the uninhabited-island beach day at Mystery Island. New Zealand sounds: Milford, Doubtful, and Dusky Sounds are scenic cruising days; the North Star or an open deck is the viewing platform. Dunedin, Lyttelton, Picton, Bay of Islands: Scottish heritage, the Christchurch gateway, Marlborough wine country, historic Bay of Islands. Honolulu: the repositioning hub: Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, Diamond Head. Hubbard Glacier: the 2027 Alaska scenic highlight; dress warm, claim an outer-deck spot early. Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Icy Strait Point: totems and salmon, the capital, Gold Rush history, Russian heritage, wilderness excursions.
Embarkation moves Seattle: fly in the night before; the piers are a short ride from downtown. Sydney: arrive a day early and stay near the harbor; the sailaway past the Opera House is half the show. Vancouver and Seward: Canada Place is downtown and easy; Seward is the Anchorage gateway, so plan the transfer with buffer.
Repositioning note On the transpacific crossings, the ship is the destination. Book the North Star, RipCord, and the headliners across the sea days, and treat the four dining rooms as a four-night tasting tour.
Day one: muster drill, Wi-Fi on, book We Will Rock You, Spectra's Cabaret, the North Star, and RipCord, then walk the Royal Esplanade. Itineraries per Royal Caribbean releases, the official 2027 Alaska deployment PDF, and 2026-2027 sailing sheets; confirm your exact ports in Cruise Planner. Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Money: spend less, enjoy more Anthem's signature thrills mix free and paid. A little planning keeps the onboard account from becoming the vacation's biggest surprise. Packages and pricing Drink packages: do the math honestly. On 3- and 4-night Sydney getaways there are few sea days to amortize the Deluxe package; on 7-night Alaska sailings and the transpacific crossings the math improves. Specialty dining packages: book in Cruise Planner before sailing; multi-night packages usually beat onboard prices. Lunches at specialty venues can cost less than dinner. Wi-Fi: one-device plans are enough for show reservations and messaging; the whole family rarely needs full plans. Activities with fees: extended RipCord sessions and laser tag charge per person; budget them like a shore excursion. Check the app for North Star ride pricing on your sailing.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Pre-cruise moves Cruise Planner first: dining packages, drink packages, Wi-Fi, and RipCord sessions are almost always cheaper before sailing than at the pier. Headliners: We Will Rock You and Spectra's Cabaret cost nothing extra, so the only cost is planning: reserve early in the app for the night you actually want. NextCruise: book future-cruise appointments early in the sailing; day 6 and 7 queues are long with 4,000 fellow guests. Excursions: compare Royal Caribbean's tours with independent operators in Hobart, Noumea, Port Vila, and the Alaska ports.
The one rule: never buy a package onboard that you could have bought cheaper in Cruise Planner. The price only goes one direction.
A balanced game plan aboard Anthem Two templates: the 7-night rhythm and the short-getaway sprint. Adjust for your actual ports. Day 1: Embark
Board early, Cafe @ Two70 lunch, muster drill, Wi-Fi on, reserve We Will Rock You, Spectra's Cabaret, the North Star, and RipCord. Two70 Bar at sailaway; Music Hall after dinner.
Day 2: First sea day
North Star in the morning light, SeaPlex bumper cars and trapeze. Solarium afternoon. We Will Rock You in the Royal Theater.
Days 3-4: Ports
Shore days by plan; ship evenings for The Gift and the Music Hall. Wonderland or Jamie's Italian for the splurge dinner.
Day 5: Midweek sea day
Sleep in, Solarium Bistro breakfast, RipCord and FlowRider. Spectra's Cabaret in Two70, then Boleros for salsa.
Days 6-7: Wind down
Royal Esplanade morning, last specialty lunch at Jamie's, NextCruise appointment, late-night Schooner Bar sing-along.
Alaska glacier day: treat Hubbard Glacier (2027) or Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier (2026) as a sea day with a view. Book the North Star for the scenic cruising window, dress warm, and let the port-heavy days rest. Short-getaway sprint (3/4 nights): Day 1: board, book everything, Spectra's Cabaret. Day 2: North Star and SeaPlex by day, We Will Rock You at night. Day 3: RipCord, Solarium, one specialty dinner. The 4-night adds a port day: spend ship time on the FlowRider and Two70. Pace yourself Seven nights is long enough to see it all and short enough to miss it by rushing. One signature venue per half-day, one headliner per night.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Pack, check, and board Documents & money
Sun, pool & sea
☐ Passport or required ID; SetSail Pass in the app
☐ Reef-safe sunscreen; the pool deck burns fast
☐ Credit card for the onboard account; some cash for ports
☐ Swimsuits, cover-ups, and water shoes for shore days
☐ Travel insurance details saved offline
☐ Motion-sickness remedies, just in case
Cabin comfort
Evenings & tech
☐ Magnetic hooks for the cabin walls (a cruiser classic)
☐ Resort-casual outfits plus one smarter evening look ☐ Athletic wear and closed-toe shoes for RipCord
☐ Nightlight; the interior cabins are truly dark ☐ Warm layers for glacier viewing days (Alaska) ☐ Lanyard or card holder for the SeaPass ☐ Light jacket for the air-conditioned theaters ☐ Power strip without surge protection; portable charger ☐ Waterproof phone pouch for shore days
Alaska to Australia, one ship. Board informed, book early, and cruise the second Quantum-class ship.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.
Sources and update note This guide was researched in September 2026. Royal Caribbean changes schedules, prices, menus, hours, and even show lineups, so always confirm in the Royal Caribbean app, Cruise Planner, and your Cruise Compass. Royal Caribbean, Anthem of the Seas ship page (2026): https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/anthem-of-the-seas; North Star, RipCord by iFly, SeaPlex, Two70, Bionic Bar, Music Hall. Royal Caribbean 2026 entertainment brochure: We Will Rock You, The Gift, and Spectra's Cabaret confirmed for Anthem of the Seas. Royal Caribbean official 2027 Alaska deployment PDF: 7-night open-jaw Vancouver/Seward sailings with Hubbard Glacier scenic cruising, May to September 2027; first-ever Anthem cruisetours including Denali. Royal Caribbean Australia/New Zealand 2025 press release: Sydney homeport October 2026 to April 2027, 3-11 night South Pacific and New Zealand sailings. Royal Caribbean 2026-2027 deployment summary: 7-night Alaska roundtrips from Seattle (summer 2026). Cruise Industry News and Seatrade Cruise News: 2027 Alaska season and Anthem's confirmed return to Sydney for the 2027-28 Australian summer (left for the January 2027 audit). CruiseFever, Cruise Hive, Travel Weekly AU: 2026-27 deployment coverage; fall 2026 repositioning via Honolulu. CruiseMapper, CruiseDig, The Cruise Nexus, InfoFlot: 2026-2027 sailing sheets used to verify the Seattle, transpacific, Sydney, and Alaska deployment dates. Royal Caribbean Blog: Dynamic Dining scrapped on Anthem on April 30, 2016; four main dining rooms (Chic, The Grande, American Icon, Silk) since. Cruise Critic and cruiser reporting (September 2026): entertainment schedules, dining venue lists, SeaPlex capacity tips, cabin advice, and show reservation guidance treated as tips, not guarantees. Wikipedia, Anthem of the Seas: class, tonnage (168,666 GT), dimensions, capacity, builder, cost, godmother, launch dates. Cover photo: "Anthem of the Seas Sydney Departure 2026.jpg" by Dannymobs, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anthem_of_the_Seas_Sydney_Departure_2026.jpg
Independent publication: This guide is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Royal Caribbean International or the Royal Caribbean Group. Ship facts were researched from public sources in September 2026; the author has made every effort to ensure accuracy but cannot guarantee that all details are current. Always verify sailing details with Royal Caribbean before booking.
Verify times, prices and access in the Royal Caribbean app.