Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is finally here and she's arrived in Southampton, England to begin her service in the fleet. The 167,800 gross registered ton ship packs a lot to see, do, eat, and experience. Here's what you need to know about Royal Caribbean's impressive new cruise ship.
Thrills and adventure
Anthem of the Seas is packed with thrills, starting off with North Star, the innovative glass observation capsule that takes passengers more than 300 feet above the ocean to give amazing views that were never before possible.
Ripcord by iFly offers the first skydiving simulator at sea. Passengers get the change to have the sensation of skydiving without the whole jumping out of a perfectly good airplane fear.
The SeaPlex area of the ship offers the largest indoor active space at sea, where during your cruise there will be activities like bumper cars, circus school, roller skating, basketball and more offered.
PHOTOS OF ANTHEM OF THE SEAS ARRIVAL IN SOUTHAMPTON
The FlowRider surf simulator isn't new to Anthem of the Seas, but it's yet another fun opportunity for you to try as you give surfing a try.
All four of these experiences are complimentary to passengers , but there are some private rental time available for North Star, Ripcord and the FlowRider if you want a more intimate experience.
Entertainment across the ship
If you are looking for entertainment on Anthem of the Seas, there are some really interesting shows to catch.
The Two70 venue at the aft of the ship offers a multi-deck arena that offers some really innovative and provocative shows where technology and live performers come together to deliver some very impressive shows.
The Royal Theater offers two brand new shows for guests to enjoy, "We Will Rock You" and "The Gift".
If you prefer some live music, check out the Music Hall, where there is usually live performances being held for your enjoyment. It's a great spot to hear some good tunes and to get out there and dance.
Brand new dining options
Anthem of the Seas will offer Royal Caribbean's new Dynamic Dining program, where passengers get to choose among 18 restaurants (including 5 complimentary restaurants) but without the formality of ship-wide dress codes or set dining times.
On Anthem of the Seas, passengers can choose between Dynamic Dining Choice and Dynamic Dining Classic.
Dynamic Dining Choice: Each evening, guests choose which restaurant to eat at, as well as when and with whom they want to dine with. You can make reservations in advance online or onboard the ship.
It's just like going out to a restaurant in your hometown: you can choose to call ahead and make a reservation or walk in and see if you can be seated.
Dynamic Dining Classic: For guests that prefer a more traditional dining experience, this brand new option will have a schedule of restaurants you will dine at each evening while retaining the same waiters and table mates. Each evening you will change the restaurant that you dine at but your tablemates and wait staff will be there too.
Tech, tech and more tech
Anthem of the Seas is literally packed with brand new technology that offer guests the easiest cruise experience yet.
The ship offers the fastest internet at sea, with super high fast WiFi onboard that in many cases is just as fast as the internet you have at home. Onboard Anthem of the Seas, you can stream movies from NetFlix, Facetime with friends back home and share photos very quickly.
New RFID technology in the form of WOWbands offer guests silicone bracelets that get you access to the entire ship without having to bring those SeaPass cards along with you anymore. Now all your dining reservations, activities and purchasing power is on your wrist.
Royal Caribbean also developed a brand new smartphone app for iOS and Android users called Royal iQ, where you can book entertainment and dining, track your luggage as it comes onboard the ship and communicate with other passengers seamlessly.
Then there's the Bionic Bar, where robots will take your drink orders and create your favorite concoction right in front of you.
If you book an inside stateroom on Anthem of the Seas, you will still have a great view thanks to the virtual balcony. Inside each inside stateroom is an 80-inch LED UHD television that shows real-time views from the ship. It's just like having a real balcony, but without the price!
Where will Anthem of the Seas be?
Anthem of the Seas will sail out of Southampton, UK for her inaugural season before departing for her new homeport of Cape Liberty, New Jersey later this fall.
Anthem of the Seas will spend the summer in the UK and then move across the Atlantic to the New York City area to offer cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda and Canada.
As of the posting of this blog post, she will remain in Cape Liberty for the foreseeable future.
