Anthem of the Seas Review: After two sailings, Is this ship still worth it?
Our experience: 7 Nights vs 9 Nights.
We’ve now sailed on Anthem twice — once on a 7-night itinerary and again on a 9-night sailing — which gives us a much clearer perspective than a single trip snapshot.
The first cruise impressed us with its scale and entertainment.
The second allowed us to notice the small details — the things that really matter on a longer voyage. And that’s where the nuance comes in.
Anthem of the Seas in dock at Lisbon - Team Five Travels Original Photo
Balcony Cabin Review: Space, Storage & Family Reality
We genuinely like the balcony cabins on Anthem.
Storage is clever.
The bathroom is modern.
Balcony privacy is good.
Beds are comfortable.
But here’s the reality for a family of four.
With the sofa bed down and no longer receiving a second evening turn-down service (part of wider industry cost adjustments), the usable space tightens considerably.
When everyone is getting ready in the evening:
The walkway between sofa bed and dressing mirror is narrow
It becomes a “one person at a time” situation
The room feels noticeably smaller than during the day
It’s not a deal breaker — but it’s something families should be aware of, especially on longer sailings.
For couples? Absolutely fine. For four sharing and dressing simultaneously? Expect choreography.
That’s the kind of detail you only really notice on cruise number two.
Wayfinder board around the Anthem of the Seas - help to navigate around the ship.
Dining: Consistently Strong
The restaurants on both sailings were reliably good.
We particularly enjoyed:
The variety and organisation in Windjammer
The consistency of service in the Main Dining Room
The ability to mix included and specialty without pressure
Windjammer deserves special mention. For a buffet at sea, it’s exceptionally well run — and on both cruises we found ourselves returning more than we expected.
On a 9-night sailing especially, that consistency matters.
Read our food reviews here":
Pool Deck - Anthem of the Seas
Ship Design: Inward Facing vs Outward Facing
This is where Anthem becomes more interesting from a strategic perspective. Like many ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet, Anthem is largely inward-facing.
The Royal Esplanade and central spaces feel enclosed and entertainment-led rather than ocean-led.
If you compare that to something like Arvia, which is noticeably more outward-facing with large glass atriums and significant natural light in shared areas, the difference is clear.
Arvia feels brighter and more connected to the sea in its central spaces.
Anthem feels more like a self-contained resort.
Neither is wrong — they just create different atmospheres.
Where Anthem Wins: Climate Versatility
Here’s where Anthem quietly excels.
Because of:
The indoor pool
The enclosed central areas
The protected entertainment venues
She’s incredibly versatile for mixed or cooler climates.
For Southampton departures — especially outside peak summer — that’s a genuine advantage.
An outward-facing design looks beautiful in the Caribbean.
An inward-facing design is far more forgiving in Northern Europe.
This is where itinerary and departure port really matter when choosing your ship.
Activities: What Anthem Is Like Day to Day
Anthem is built for people who like to do things between ports — and that’s where she justifies being a bigger ship.
You’ve got the headline attractions that get talked about the most (and are genuinely fun), but what matters more is the rhythm: sea days feel busy, structured and full of options. If your family likes a plan and variety, this ship suits you. If you want open decks, ocean views and quiet wandering, you’ll need to deliberately seek the calmer spaces.
If you want the full breakdown of what’s worth booking (and what isn’t), we’ve covered that separately here:
👉 Anthem of the Seas Speciality Dining Guide
👉 Anthem of the Seas Shows & Entertainment Guide
Tip for families: Decide early what matters most (activities vs chill time). Anthem rewards planning, especially on longer sailings.
Shows & Evening Entertainment: Big Ship Energy (With Planning)
Evenings on Anthem feel very “Royal Caribbean” — slick production, strong venues, and plenty happening at the same time.
On both our 7-night and 9-night sailings, entertainment was one of the highlights, but it’s also an area where you’ll get the best experience if you plan ahead. Popular shows fill up quickly, and the ship’s scale means you can lose time bouncing between venues if you’re not intentional.
Rather than listing everything here, we’ve pulled our full thoughts into a dedicated post (including what we’d prioritise on a 7 vs 9 night):
The Honest Take After Two Cruises
After sailing twice, our view is more balanced.
Anthem is:
✔️ Brilliant for families who want activity
✔️ Reliable for UK departures
✔️ Strong on entertainment and food
But:
Cabins feel tighter for four without evening turn-down (as sofa bed stays out)
Central spaces prioritise entertainment over ocean views
You need to lean into the “resort at sea” feel
It’s a ship that works best when you engage with it.
Final thoughts
Anthem of the Seas is a strong, well-rounded ship with enough variety to suit families, couples and mixed-age groups. If you’re new to cruising — or new to Royal Caribbean — it’s an easy ship to understand and enjoy, particularly from Southampton.
Before the UK staycation sailings, we probably wouldn’t have viewed a cruise like this as a first-choice holiday. But those sailings genuinely shifted our perspective. They opened up a different way of travelling — one that blends entertainment, convenience and variety in a way traditional land-based holidays simply can’t.
If you’re weighing up whether Anthem is right for you, we’ve covered dining, shows and practical planning across the wider cruise series to help you make a properly informed decision.
And if you still have questions, feel free to message us on Instagram — or explore our YouTube channel where we share more detailed cruise, Disney and all-inclusive resort content to help you plan with confidence.