ROYAL CARIBBEAN · QUANTUM CLASS
Anthem feels like a sophisticated family resort crossed with a theater ship.
TRAVELER FIT
A strong studio-equipped ship for solos who enjoy organized activity and shows.
One of Royal's best ships for families traveling through unreliable weather.
An excellent entertainment-and-itinerary choice for active couples.
ABOUT THE SHIP
Anthem of the Seas is the entertainment-led member of the original Quantum class. Its hardware matches the class formula—North Star, iFLY, SeaPlex, Two70, an indoor family pool, a glass Solarium, and the curved Royal Esplanade—but its show lineup gives the ship a distinct identity. We Will Rock You supplies a full-scale jukebox musical, Spectra's Cabaret exploits Two70's screens and robotics, and The Gift adds a Royal Theater production that is more narrative than a standard revue.
The ship is particularly effective on cool or unpredictable itineraries. Alaska from Seattle and Australia or New Zealand from Sydney both benefit from the indoor family pool, SeaPlex, Two70, and protected Solarium when outside decks are compromised. During fine weather the ship opens up, but it never feels as connected to the sea as a glass-heavy Celebrity ship or as open as Oasis class.
Anthem's vibe changes noticeably with itinerary and school calendar. It can feel calm and adult-friendly in Vintages, the Solarium, the pub, and Two70 by day, then become a dense family resort around SeaPlex, elevators, and dining entrances on holiday sailings. Passenger reactions range from loving its chilled rhythm and free adults-only retreat to finding the entertainment atmosphere too quiet or the cabin corridors too noisy when many third and fourth berths are occupied.
Food is a mixture of dependable breadth and familiar Royal pressure points. The included program covers four main dining rooms, Windjammer, Dog House, Two70 café, Sorrento's, Café Promenade, Solarium Bistro, and suite-only Coastal Kitchen. Jamie's Italian, Chops, Izumi, Wonderland, Chef's Table, Johnny Rockets, and La Patisserie create enough paid variety for a longer sailing without turning every meal into an upgrade.
Anthem is easiest to sell to families and couples who place real value on shows and all-weather amenities. It is also a credible solo ship because of studio cabins and abundant programmed activity. Guests seeking a constant deck party, huge outdoor pool resort, or the newest Royal quick-service dining concepts should understand that Anthem is polished and capable rather than brand-new or relentlessly loud.
Best for: theater lovers, Alaska and Australia travelers, families needing indoor options, and couples who like structured entertainment.
Signature identity: We Will Rock You, Spectra's Cabaret, The Gift, and one of Royal's strongest all-weather layouts.
Crowd reality: the ship disperses well between major events, but elevators, SeaPlex, Windjammer, and dining check-in compress sharply on school-break cruises.
Primary tradeoff: an excellent interior resort that offers fewer effortless ocean views and less outdoor spectacle than newer Royal classes.
Anthem feels like a sophisticated family resort crossed with a theater ship. It can be surprisingly chilled between events, then switches rapidly into full-capacity show, dining, and SeaPlex mode.
Daytime: Alaska scenery or port touring, SeaPlex, North Star, iFLY, Solarium, trivia, and youth programming.
Evening: We Will Rock You, Spectra's Cabaret, The Gift, piano, pub music, Latin dancing, and specialty dining.
Most common friction: show-release crowds, limited attraction slots, elevator demand, and family noise on peak weeks.
Anthem currently uses Seattle for seasonal Alaska cruises and transitions to Sydney for Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific programs. Alaska routes commonly include Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Victoria, and Dawes Glacier or other scenic cruising, while Sydney programs range from short Australian coastal getaways to New Zealand and island voyages. Longer repositioning sailings connect the regions.
DINING
Quantum class divides the included dinner program among American Icon Grill, Chic, Silk, and The Grande rather than one multilevel dining hall. They now operate as parts of Royal Caribbean's rotating fleetwide menu program, with traditional seating and My Time Dining assigned according to the booking. The distinct rooms create a more restaurant-like scale, although their neighboring entrances can become congested at prime times. Breakfast and lunch are served on selected days, and keeping the same table and service team usually produces the most personal experience.
The main buffet serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner through carving, international, bakery, salad, dessert, and familiar family-food stations. It has the range to carry an entire cruise, but embarkation lunch and sea-day breakfast are its pressure points. Walk the full room before choosing food because the quieter aft stations are easy to miss. Quality varies more by dish and holding time than by the size of the selection.
The Royal Esplanade counter serves included pizza by the slice, rotating specialty pies, and late-evening food after many venues have closed. It is efficient rather than artisanal, but it is one of the class's most reliable gap-fillers. Expect a sudden line when a theater or Two70 performance releases.
This extended-hours Esplanade café supplies included sandwiches, pastries, cookies, and light snacks. Espresso drinks and other premium beverages cost extra or require eligible package coverage. Seating belongs to a busy public corridor, so the venue works better as a pickup point than a peaceful café.
The aft café serves included breakfast items, soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries, and grab-and-go food beside the class's best wall of glass. It is one of the strongest casual lunches onboard because guests can eat in Two70 while watching the wake. Rehearsals and private events can reduce seating, and its hours are narrower than Café Promenade.
The SeaPlex hot-dog counter serves included sausages and toppings during limited daytime and early-evening hours. It is particularly useful for families who do not want to leave the activity complex. The menu is narrow and the hours move with the ship's program, so it should not be treated as an all-day restaurant.
The forward Solarium restaurant generally offers lighter Mediterranean-leaning breakfast and lunch buffets and a quieter dinner format that may require reservations. Its calmer room and healthier choices make it a useful alternative to Windjammer. Dinner inclusions, menu format, and access can vary by sailing, so the app controls.
The suite restaurant combines Mediterranean and California influences in a smaller room with repeat service. Access depends on the exact Royal Suite Class category and meal period; it is not a general complimentary venue. Junior Suite access is especially subject to space and current rules.
The pool-deck soft-serve station is included and predictably popular in warm weather. It is a snack rather than a meal, and operating hours contract outside peak daytime periods. Lines are usually shortest while the ship is in port.
Royal Caribbean's steakhouse serves steaks, seafood, substantial starters, shared sides, and rich desserts for a cover charge or dining-package reservation. Selected premium cuts can still carry supplements. It is a dependable celebration restaurant, but the meal needs enough time and prime reservations should be made before boarding.
The casual specialty restaurant serves shareable antipasti, handmade-style pasta, meat and seafood entrées, and substantial desserts. The room is approachable for families and more energetic than formal. Portions reward sharing, while package rules and menu availability follow the booked sailing.
Izumi offers sushi, sashimi, rolls, Japanese-inspired starters, noodle and rice dishes, and desserts under Royal's current à-la-carte or package-credit rules. It works for a quick lunch or a paced dinner, but the dining room is compact. Package allowances and premium items should be checked rather than assumed.
Wonderland turns dinner into a sequence of imaginative small plates, unusual textures, theatrical presentation, and themed service. The concept and room are part of the price. Adventurous diners often remember it as a signature night; selective eaters should preview the menu and discuss substitutions before committing.
A small group receives a hosted multi-course dinner with wine pairings and culinary narration. The price reflects the limited capacity, long format, and beverages as much as any one dish. It is best for adults who enjoy communal dining and a fixed evening schedule.
The diner serves burgers, fries, sandwiches, shakes, and nostalgic American comfort food for a cover charge or individual pricing under the current ship program. It is casual and family-friendly, but it competes directly with several included lunch options. Milkshakes and package treatment should be confirmed separately.
Macarons, chocolates, pastries, and espresso drinks are priced separately. Coffee-package and beverage-package coverage varies by item and outlet. The location is convenient for an Esplanade break, although it is not a substitute for the included snack cafés.
Continental breakfast is generally available without the standard room-service delivery charge, while hot breakfast and the broader all-day menu carry the current service fee. Premium items and beverages may cost more. The in-room menu and app are the controlling sources for timing and price.
BARS
Two robotic arms mix programmed drinks ordered through touchscreens. The machinery is the attraction and an easy conversation starter, although a human bartender remains better for nuanced modifications and actual hospitality. It can feel like a technology exhibit between bursts of demand.
Royal's nautical piano bar hosts trivia, singalongs, live piano, and a broad cocktail menu. Its position off the Esplanade makes it a dependable meeting point. Seats fill quickly for popular musicians and evening trivia.
The two-level live-music room presents cover bands, dancing, parties, and later-night programming. The lower level has the strongest sightlines while the balcony offers overflow seating and a more observational experience. It is intentionally loud once the band starts.
The bar supports daytime wake watching and evening multimedia shows in Two70. It is convenient before a performance and quieter during much of the day. Service can become heavily compressed immediately before reserved productions.
The outdoor upper-deck bar serves cocktails, beer, wine, and package drinks beside the observation capsule. Sailaway and scenic cruising are its natural moments. Wind, temperature, and limited shelter make it seasonal in practice.
The Latin lounge pairs mojitos and tropical drinks with salsa, merengue, dance classes, and live music when scheduled. Its open edge allows energy to spill into the Esplanade. It is lively without being a full nightclub.
The wine bar offers bottles, glasses, flights, and a quieter adult setting within the ship's central dining zone. It is useful for conversation and a pre-dinner drink. Selection and package-eligible pours vary by sailing.
The pub provides beer, cocktails, acoustic performances, and a contained alternative to the open Esplanade. It works especially well for an evening conversation between larger shows. The room is small enough that a popular guitarist changes the entire atmosphere.
These bars handle frozen drinks, beer, juices, tropical cocktails, and high-volume beverage-package orders around the outdoor and glass-protected pool zones. Pool service slows on sunny sea days. Sunshine Bar is the calmer daytime choice when Solarium access and operating hours align.
The casino bar serves players and supplies a later-night option when other rooms are closing. Machine noise, sports screens, and the current smoking policy define the environment more than design. It is convenient for gaming rather than intimate.
STATEROOMS & SUITES
Anthem of the Seas offers one of Royal Caribbean's most varied room ladders: true solo cabins, Virtual Balcony interiors, conventional ocean views, standard and obstructed balconies, larger-balcony variations, junior suites, connected family arrangements, and dramatic two-level lofts. Start with occupancy and view, then inspect the exact cabin for obstruction, bed orientation, connecting doors, balcony geometry, nearby public space, and current Royal Suite Class benefits.
Windowless rooms plus promenade, neighborhood, and Virtual Balcony variations that create very different views and privacy conditions.
Most interior rooms use a floor-to-ceiling Virtual Balcony display showing a live exterior camera feed. It can be switched off for complete darkness. Standard rooms provide twin beds converting to a Royal King, a sofa or chair, desk, storage, and a compact shower bath; occupancy, upper berths, and accessible circulation vary by cabin.
Purpose-built one-person rooms use a full-size bed, compact storage, private bath, and Virtual Balcony without requiring a conventional double room. The fare is not automatically cheaper than a discounted standard cabin, so compare totals. Inventory is genuinely scarce and often disappears early.
Fixed-window rooms ranging from compact standards to panoramic and family layouts.
A sealed window supplies daylight without the balcony premium. Spacious and forward-facing versions add floor area or unusually large glass, but bow locations can experience more motion and may require curtains at night near navigation sightlines. Exact window shape, occupancy, and bed placement vary.
Traditional sea-facing balconies and neighborhood-facing rooms whose noise, privacy, and outlook differ substantially.
The core balcony room typically combines roughly 180 to 200 square feet inside with a compact private veranda. Alternating bed-near-balcony and sofa-near-balcony layouts change circulation. Check connecting doors, occupancy, overhang, balcony dividers, and what is directly above and below.
Many lower-deck balconies look across lifeboats, davits, or ship structure. Obstruction ranges from a compromised downward view to a lifeboat dominating the horizon, so the category alone is insufficient. They can be strong values when daylight and outdoor air matter more than photography.
These cabins gain veranda depth or unusual geometry without necessarily adding much interior space. Extra outdoor room is useful for scenic cruising and room-service breakfast, while shade, wind, structural obstruction, and public-deck exposure can reduce its value. Inspect the exact plan rather than buying the category name.
Designed for one guest, these compact rooms add a true step-out balcony, full-size bed, storage, and private shower bath. They are among Royal Caribbean's most appealing solo products because the traveler receives private outdoor space without buying a double cabin. Availability is limited and selected views may be obstructed.
Linked rooms and multi-room combinations designed to keep larger families together without forcing everyone into one sleeping space.
Selected clusters combine multiple doors, bedrooms, baths, and room types for extended families while preserving privacy. The marketed name and exact components vary by ship and sales year. These work best when every cabin number and occupancy is confirmed as one connected unit before deposit.
Junior Suites through multi-level lofts and family flagships, with benefits controlled by the exact Royal Suite Class or ship-specific category.
Junior Suites add meaningful floor space, a sitting zone, larger balcony, and an upgraded or split bathroom. They do not receive every full-suite privilege, and Coastal Kitchen access can be capacity-controlled. Buy the room for the room, then verify the current Royal Suite Class and Crown & Anchor benefits separately.
One-bedroom Grand Suites provide a separated sleeping area, living room, larger bath, storage, and substantial balcony. Two-bedroom versions add sleeping rooms and bathrooms for families. Their suite-program tier makes lounge, concierge, dining, internet, and priority details part of the value.
This broad single-level suite includes a separate bedroom, living and dining area, large balcony, upgraded bath, and extensive storage. It suits couples who entertain or families using the sofa bed. Compare both the physical layout and current Sky-level service against the fare.
Two-level lofts use double-height aft glass, a living room and balcony below, and a bedroom and bath above. The architecture creates a dramatic wake view, while stairs and the long walk to forward venues can be inconvenient. Exact balcony geometry, second sleeping area, and suite tier differ by category.
A two-level apartment with wraparound balcony, open living and dining space, upstairs bedroom, multiple baths, and broad aft views. It normally qualifies for top Royal Suite Class service. Stern vibration, sun exposure, stairs, and distance from forward venues should be weighed against the space and service.
The ship's largest conventional accommodation combines two levels, multiple sleeping and bathing zones, extensive living and dining space, panoramic glass, and a very large balcony. Star Class and Royal Genie service are integral to the product. It is designed for a high-budget family or celebratory group rather than a couple seeking a slightly larger bedroom.
SPECIAL SPACES
By day, nearly three stories of aft glass frame the wake, casual seating, and Café @ Two70. At night, projection technology and six articulated robotic screens transform the room for multimedia productions. The space is one of Quantum class's defining achievements, but sightlines vary dramatically and early arrival matters for headline shows.
The indoor activity hall changes among bumper cars, basketball, pickleball, roller skating, dance classes, and other scheduled uses. Upper-level seating, games, and the Dog House let families remain in the zone for hours. It is superb bad-weather insurance, although popular bumper-car sessions process only a fraction of the ship.
The glass observation capsule rises on a mechanical arm for high views over the ship and surrounding water. Operation depends on wind, maintenance, port restrictions, and the published schedule; selected premium or extended experiences can carry a fee. Reserve early when scenery makes the ride more than a novelty.
The vertical wind tunnel provides a supervised simulated-skydiving session with training, safety gear, and strict time slots. Capacity is low relative to demand, and age, health, clothing, and weight rules apply. Included versus paid sessions vary, and a temporary operational outage should never be treated as impossible.
The class combines a weather-protected family pool, a compact outdoor pool zone, and a large forward adults-only Solarium under glass. That layout is exceptionally useful in Alaska, the North Atlantic, and cold departure weather. In hot climates, the relatively small open-air pool can feel undersized and the enclosed Solarium can become humid.
The stern sports zone combines Royal's surf simulator, climbing wall, court programming, and open-air activity space. Core sessions are generally included while lessons or special blocks may cost extra. Weather, footwear, height, and operating-hour restrictions matter.
Age-banded children's programming, teen areas, family activities, arcade games, and nursery services where offered provide structured alternatives to the pool. Registration should be completed early, and nursery care may carry fees and capacity limits. Current age bands and sign-out rules should be checked before sailing.
The curved shopping, dining, bar, and circulation spine replaces the long straight Royal Promenade. It feels more intimate and design-forward but develops bottlenecks during sales, parties, and show transitions. The adjoining Via is a quieter art-lined passage connecting specialty restaurants.
The forward fitness center provides cardio, weights, classes, and broad views, while the spa sells treatments, salon services, and selected thermal access. Classes and thermal facilities may cost extra or be bundled with spa-category rooms. Sea-day treatment times and popular classes should be booked early.
We Will Rock You uses Queen's catalog in a full-length theatrical production and is the ship's headline conventional show. Spectra's Cabaret combines performers with Two70's projection and robotic-screen system, while The Gift delivers a more visual original story in the theater. Show schedules and reservation requirements vary, so anchor the evening plan in the app rather than assuming every performance repeats nightly.