RCI Anthem Gay Ship Review: 7 Wonders
By Troy Petenbrink
As MeetMeOnBoard reported in November , Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas is now sailing from the New York City area out of Cape Liberty cruise port. The ship is being touted as the cruise line’s “newest and most technologically advanced cruise ship” – and it is.
I was among a group of journalists who joined travel agents and high-level loyalty club passengers for a two-day cruise designed to introduce the ship’s unique offerings. Keeping my sleep to a minimum, I explored the ship from top to bottom and aft to bow. Here is the best of what I found.
Bionic Bar
Bionic Bar onboard Anthem of the Seas offers drinks mixed by robots.
Once onboard, I beelined it to Anthem of the Seas’ Bionic Bar. There was no passing up the opportunity to geek out and get a cocktail. At the bar there are two robotic arms mixing up drink orders placed by passengers using a touchpad. I was fascinated and entertained by the technology and enjoyed my drink (or two).
North Star
North Star observatory onboard Anthem of the Seas.
I wasn’t initially sold on North Star. It wasn’t clear to me what the big deal was in having an observation ride on a cruise ship. It wasn’t until I took my first ride and was 300 feet above sea level that the wow-factor of North Star became clear. To put it simply, the views from the glass enclosed capsule are awesome.
Dynamic Dining
Dining on Anthem of the Seas is an appealing experience.
There is no going hungry on Anthem of the Seas. The ship’s Dynamic Dining experience gives guests more than a dozen different restaurant concepts, including four complimentary main dining restaurants as well as grab and go outlets, 24-hour room service and specialty restaurants available at additional charges. You are also able to choose between Dynamic Dining Choice, which allows guests to decide when, where, and with whom to dine each evening, and Dynamic Dining Classic, which is designed for those who prefer a more traditional experience.
SeaPlex
The bumper cars are just one of many fun things to do in the SeaPlex onboard Anthem of the Seas.
I became a big kid the moment I stepped into SeaPlex. Billed as the largest indoor activity space at sea, SeaPlex offers full-court indoor basketball, bumper cars, roller skating, and a circus school, complete with trapeze training. There is even a “floating” DJ booth to help elevate the fun.
RipCord by iFLY
A simulated skydiving experience onboard Anthem of the Seas is yet one more interesting activity.
Royal Caribbean scored big points and broke new ground when it put a FlowRider surf simulator on the Freedom of the Seas. They not only included FlowRider on the Anthem of the Seas , but upped their game by adding a skydiving simulator on the ship. I found RipCord by iFLY totally rad.
Two70
The Two70 Lounge on Anthem of the Seas sets a high bar for onboard leisure areas.
Two70 has to be experienced to truly appreciate it – and understand it. During the day it is a lounge offering 270-degree panoramic sea views provided by vast, floor-to-ceiling glass windows that span almost three decks high. When covered by blinds, the wall of windows becomes the backdrop for a state-of-the-art video projection system. High definition videos are also shown on six 100” screens that move on robotic arms. In addition, Two70’s dance floor doubles as a stage for Anthem of the Sea’s show, “Spectra’s Cabaret.”
VOOM
One of the key areas where Royal Caribbean is way ahead of other cruise lines is in providing passenger’s Internet access. Anthem of the Seas boasts the fastest internet at sea wireless speeds that match fast broadband connections onshore. I was able to connect my laptop and my mobile phone and do everything from checking emails and streaming videos to capturing and sharing my cruise photos (I’m a #selfie maniac).
A Second Opinion
MeetMeOnBoard members Martin Aranot-Lopez and his partner Roger Lopez took their first cruise together in 2006 and recently celebrated 1,400 cruise nights with Royal Caribbean. As frequent cruisers and members of Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program, the couple was invited to be part of the same introductory cruise that I was on. I was lucky enough to catch up with them and get their thoughts on the Anthem of the Seas.
“The ship overall is simply amazing and the decor outstanding — very clean and contemporary. And staterooms are extra spacious and modern,” said Aranot-Lopez. “Entertainment wise, we absolutely loved Two70. Its show Spectra’s Cabaret was so amazing, we saw it seven times. ”
“And although apprehensive at first, we loved the simulated skydiving with RipCord. As for the dining, the food at Jamie’s Italian by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver (one of the specialty dining options) was superb with great portions,” added Aranot-Lopez.
Have you sailed Anthem of the Seas? What did you think? Comment below.
All photos credit: Royal Caribbean International
Note: the author sailed as a guest of Royal Caribbean International. All opinions are those of the author and this RCI Anthem gay ship review has not been reviewed or approved by the cruise line.
