By Kay Showker
Royal Caribbean Line’s newest ship, Anthem of the Seas is the most innovative cruise ship to launch this year and the most technologically advanced one on the high seas.
Built to appeal to tech-savvy passengers with never-before-seen features and to millennials with a great variety of options and the fastest Internet at sea, Anthem of the Seas is truly a cruise ship for the 21st century like no other. An almost identical twin of her sister, Quantum of the Seas, which debuted last year, Anthem’s technology is even more advanced.
Considerably different in layout from Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, the Anthem and her twin were designed for colder-weather cruising – Quantum in China; Anthem in New Jersey — with extensive interior elements including a large covered pool area and SeaPlex, a flexible interior sports court in place of the usually outdoor slides and waterpark.
New and enhanced technological features are everywhere from the North Star, a glass observation capsule that takes riders 300 feet above the ocean for great panoramic views, at one end, to the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator – the first at sea – at the other end. In between are two robotic bartenders; UBS ports in cabins; RFID bracelets to open your cabin door or search for your photos at the fully digital Photo Gallery; dozens of iPad stations in public places for checking activities and dining reservations; virtual balconies in every interior cabin, and more.
But often it’s the technology behind what you see, that’s really mind-blowing like the electronic genius of the huge dancing screens in the Two70 show lounge where technology and live performers come together in a spectacular, multidimensional presentation never seen before on land or sea.
The 167,800 ton Anthem, spanning 18 decks, has 2,090 cabins and suites for 4,180 guests, double occupancy. There are five categories of standard cabins (Interior, Oceanview, Balcony) ranging in size from 166 to 198 sq. feet with balconies from 55 to 119 sq. feet; and 12 types of suites (Junior, Spa Junior, Family Junior, Grand, Superior Grand, Owner’s, Sky Loft, Grand Loft, Owner’s Loft, Royal Loft, Royal Family, Family Connected) from 267 to 1,640 sq. feet plus their balconies.
All accommodations, with soft, easy-to-like décor, have desk/dressing table with two USB ports and standard plugs, chair, hairdryer, queen bed that can be split for twins, and mounted television. Most have a sofa bed that sleeps two; bathroom with glass-enclosed shower (upper category suites have tubs); and ample closet and drawer space. The Anthem web site pictures each of the categories along with their specific features and amenities.
Two new cabin features are the 28 Studios for singles – 12 with balconies – a first for the cruise industry; the remainder, along with all interiors, have a large virtual balcony (80-inch HD screen) and are furnished with a double bed. The new Family Connected Suites combine a Junior Suite and balconied Oceanview with a Studio. The cruise lines claims this combination sleeps 10 passengers, but even with two to four children, it would still be close quarters for all.
Dining options on Anthem of the Seas are many and varied. Of a total of 19 venues, 11 are included in the basic cruise fare, four have set prices and four have a la carte priced menus. Instead of one or two main dining rooms, Anthem has four, grouped together on Decks 3 and 4 aft. For them, Royal Caribbean has a new concept, Dynamic Dining, with two options. The most flexible option has no fixed seating times or tables like a landside restaurant; the second, Dynamic Dining Classic has passengers dining at 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. with the same group and waiters each night, rotating to a different restaurant each night(similar to Disney Cruise Line). Reservations can be made in advance of your cruise online or by your travel agent or onboard at Guest Services or on Royal IQ, a free app.
Of the restaurants included in the cruise fare, each of the four main restaurants — The Grande, American Icon, Silk, and Chic – has its own menus with décor meant to reflect the different experiences. On Deck 3, The Grande is the most formal of the group with white gloved waiters, luxury décor and piano music in the background for enjoying European-inspired cuisine; Chic, stylish and contemporary, meant to be the trendiest, offers a sophisticated menu with such selections as beef carpaccio and rack of lamb. Silk on Deck 4 has a variety of Asian dishes and Asian décor to match. The largest tables have lazy Susannes in Chinese tradition. These three venues serve dinner only, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Also on Deck 4, American Icon Grill serves three meals and focuses on American regional specialties.
Two other venues on Deck 4 are Cafe Promenade for coffee and snacks, open 6 to 3 a.m. Next door, Sorrento’s makes four different kinds of pizzas including gluten-free pizza. One deck up, The Cafe @ Two70, a casual venue attached to Two70 entertainment center, offers a Continental breakfast and lunch/dinner of soups, salads, wraps, sandwiches and desserts, until 7:30 p.m.
Devinly Decadence, at the Solarium on Deck 14, is named after celebrity chef, Devin Alexander, who creates menus for the television weight-loss show “The Biggest Loser.” For Anthem, she created imaginative dishes with fewer than 500 calories — many gluten-free. Devinly Decadence serves three means and is also in the Dynamic Dining concept.
Also on Deck 14, Windjammer Marketplace is Royal Caribbean’s traditional lido buffet where three meals are available. On Anthem, it’s been expanded with numerous food stations for Salads, Sweets and made-to-order omelets, and many others. Passengers are greeted at the entrance by a crewmember who points to a hand-washing area they are expected to use. Breakfast, 6:30 to 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:30 to 3:30 p.m.; dinner, 6 to 9 p.m. Next door, Coastal Kitchen, reserved for passengers in suites, offers a blend of Mediterranean and California-style cuisine. Breakfast and lunch are limited to Grand Suites and above; passengers in Junior Suites and higher can dine here, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. One deck up in SeaPlex is the Dog House, mostly a stop for hot dogs with all the trimmings. Daily, 11:30 to 7 p.m.
Specialty venues with a fee offer more intimate settings and presumably, higher quality of cuisine and service, and great variety. Generally, passengers need reservations and if they plan to frequent several outlets, they can save by booking them online in advance: Book three restaurants and get a 20% discount; four, 25%; and five, 30%. Children ages 5 and younger dine for free; those 6 to 12 have special menus and cost $8 per child; 13 and older pay adult prices.
All set price restaurants are on Deck 5 and include Jamie’s Italian ($30) by Jamie Oliver, a popular U.K. chef known for promoting family-style Italian dining. On Anthem, his menu features classic Italian selections and items on “planks,” or boards, with cured meats, cheeses, olives or vegetables, meant to be shared. The rustic Italian décor provides an Italian village setting with dried peppers and sausages hanging from the walls. Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m.; dinner, 6 to 9:30 p.m.
The innovative Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine ($45) is funky and fun and meant to recall Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in its setting and its cuisine that features molecular gastronomy style — dry ice, dishes that aren’t what they appear to be with unexpected flavors and aromas. From the entrance where you are greeted by an enormous hand to the decorative high-back chairs to the menu board which is blank – you must paint a wash over it to see the selections – surprises await. The dishes are playful as much as original – and probably not to everyone’s liking – but you’re here for the experience. Dinner only, 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Chops Grille ($35), Anthem’s steakhouse, offers lobster and sea food specialties as well as meat and a variety of side dishes to be enjoyed in a familiar setting of dark wood and low lights. Some items, such as dry-aged steaks, have an additional charge. Dinner only, 6 to 9:30 p.m. In a private area Prime Table @ Chops Grille ($95), a high-end steakhouse, serves a five-course dinner with selected wine pairings, for 12 to 16 people. If it doesn’t have a minimum number of people, it might be canceled.
The a la carte restaurants include Michael’s Genuine Pub on Deck 4, a partnership with well-known Miami chef Michael Schwartz. A sports bar in a pub setting with dark wood paneling offers a selection of craft beers, including Michael’s brew; daily, 11 to 1 a.m. Nearby on the promenade, La Patisserie has delicious pastries and espresso drinks at New York prices. Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. On the promenade on Deck 5, Izumi Japanese Cuisine is a sushi bar enclosed by tall, red glass screens and decorated with Asian art. Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m.; dinner, 6 to 9 p.m. The ever-popular Johnny Rockets is found on Deck 14 in the pool area offering their familiar burgers, fries, and shakes.
If you’re still hunger, Room Service is available 24/7. Some items do not have a charge, some do, and there’s a $4.95 late-night charge between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Anthem’s entertainment and diversions can keep passengers active from morning to the wee hours. Topping the list of only-on-Anthem and Quantum is a skydiving simulator on Decks 15/16. After
watching an instructional video, participants dress in a jumpsuit, helmet, shoes, and goggles and head up one deck to the iFly by RipCord, a tall glass cylinder which you enter with an instructor who helps you balance your body while being blown around by strong air shooting at you in all direction. A flight last 60 seconds but probably seems ten times longer. The first “flight” is free for passengers over age 3.
When you are ready for more challenges, FlowRider, a surfing simulator, also on Deck 16, is free of charge and so is the nearby a rock climbing wall watched over by the ship’s mascot, a big giraffe statue. Private instructions are available for a fee for all three activities.
For something easy, head to the North Star, a glass-enclosed capsule attached to a mechanical arm that rises 300 feet above the ship and rotates slowly to provide 360-degree views of the landscape or seascape, depending on the ship’s location. Riding North Star is free, but you can book it for a special occasion, such as weddings, for a fee.
In The SeaPlex, a large indoor court, passengers can roller skate, try their skill at driving a bumper car, or learn some tricks at the circus school. The court can also be step up for basketball. On the balcony encircling the court, passengers can play air hockey, table tennis, or games in the Xbox video lounge.
Aft of the ship spanning Decks 5 and 6, Two70, a multi-level entertainment room with floor-to-ceiling windows can be covered by 100-foot-wide, 20-foot-tall HD screens spanning 270 degrees, on to which lifelike images are projected thanks to the venue’s Vistarama technology. During afternoon tea, passengers might enjoy music by a virtual symphony orchestra projected on the screens. At another time, passengers are mesmerized by six choreographed Roboscreens mounted above the windows, as they twist, spin and dance separately or in concert, sometime with dancers projected on them, or with intricate graphs forming endless patterns in a first-of-its-kind visual, multi-media shows that can only be seen on Anthem of the Seas.
In the evening, “Spectra’s Cabaret,” a new show created by Royal Caribbean Productions, seamlessly fuses Vistarama technology and entertainment with music and special effects while fabulous singers, dancers and acrobats rise from the floor on different stages around the room and drop from the ceiling to perform, leaving their audience surprised and awestruck as they watch the fact-paced show, not knowing what they will see next. The show is stage twice per night on certain evenings. Tip: The best seats are in the front balcony from where all the action is in full view.
The second floor of the Two70 lounge has a library, a craft workshop, card room, and Internet cafe. Anthem’s Internet is fast — fast enough to stream video – but it’s not cheap. The daily fee is $29.95, or a package for the cruise duration is $15 per day for one device; $20 per day for two devices.
Other Anthem nightspots are Boleros, Deck 4, where you’ll dance to a Latin beat; Schooner Bar, Deck 5, a passenger favorite piano and fun bar throughout Royal Caribbean’s fleet. A piano player takes requests from those sitting on the bench surrounding the piano. Also on Deck 5, the Bionic Bar is worth placing an order at least once to watch the robotic arms mix, pour it into a cup, and deliver your drink to you. Further aft on the Royal Esplanade, Vintages Wine Bar is a good people-watching place.
At the ship’s bow, the Royal Theater, the main show room spans three decks and features two headliners: The British musical, “We Will Rock You,” set 300 years in the future on iPlanet, where life is regimented and mechanical and rock-and-roll doesn’t exist. A group of “Bohemians” seek to find and recreate the lost music. Rock alternates with “The Gift,” an original production created for Anthem and other variety shows.
Music Hall, on Decks 3/4, is a large, glitzy nightclub with live music for dance into the wee hours. There’s a bar on both the lower and upper levels. During the day, the venue is used for dance classes and comedy improv workshops.
Unlike most cruise ships where the casino is at the center of activity, Anthem’s Casino Royale is tucked away on Deck 3. Lined with slot machines on all sides and few gaming tables at the center, it’s one of the few places where smoking is allowed.
Anthem of the Seas has three main pools, all on Deck 14. The central one has two whirlpools and a giant movie screen frequently showing sports events. In one corner is an ice cream bar. Nearby, the H2O Zone has a wave pool for young children and a splash pool for babies. A second, quieter pool with its own bar and whirlpools has a retractable roof. Further forward is the adults-only Solarium pool in a serene, garden setting. It has a juice/smoothie bar — for a fee.
The Vitality Spa and Fitness Center span two decks at the top of the ship forward. The spa has 19 treatment rooms, including two for couples. Day passes ($30 per day or $20 with the purchase of a treatment) and weekly passes are available. Treatments are on the high side ($125 for a facial, for example). The spa also offers some teen-specific options. There’s a hair salon and nail bar for manicures and pedicures ($50 for 45 minutes).
Anthem has a very large, well equipped gym with great sea views to enjoy while you work out. There’s a spacious studio for fitness classes and specialty session like Body Sculpt and a cycling studio. A jogging track with a lane for runners and one for walkers encircles Deck 15. A sign indicates the starting point; just under three laps is a mile.
In addition to family cabins, kids pools, and kids-sized deck chairs, Anthem of the Seas offers Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean’s youth program, with special facilities and activities for children, 6 months to 17 years of age. Adventure Ocean, open 9 a.m. to noon; 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m., covers a large area of Desks 11 and 12 forward with six rooms, including a nursery. The rooms are divided by age and activity for children up to 11 years of age. A separate area for teens ages 12- to 17 is located mid-ship on Deck 15, and includes a teens-only disco. Nearby is the video arcade.
Parents register at the beginning of the cruise and must sign kids in/out each time they use the facilities. Kids are given wristband to be worn at all times. A full program, similar to those on other Royal Caribbean ships, is available daily. From 5 to 7 p.m., the youth staff takes kids to a dedicated area in the Windjammer Cafe for dinner. There’s no added fee for this, but child-setting services in the club from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for ages 3 and 11 costs $10 per hour, per child. The charge for Royal Babies & Tots for children ages 6 months to 3 years is $6 per child, per hour, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and $8 per hour after 6 p.m. Family-friendly shore excursions are indicated by a symbol; none are specifically for teens.
Anthem shopping area is rather small, considering its size. It has a duty-free store and the boutiques of Bulgari, Hublot and Prince & Greene. There’s also a small conference center, with AV equipment aft on Deck 13.
