Royal Caribbean takes delivery of Anthem of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International on April 10 officially took delivery of its 23rd ship, Anthem of the Seas, at a signing ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany, home to the ship’s builder Meyer Werft shipyard.

The sister ship to Quantum of the Seas, which was launched in November 2014, Anthem of the Seas is being called the world’s most advanced cruise ship. According to the company, it reflects the best of Royal Caribbean’s history of innovating cruise ship design and cruise vacations.

“We’ve always broken the mold with each successive ship we build, and Anthem of the Seas is no different,” Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, said.

Other cruise line executives were equally effusive.

Anthem of the Seas under construction
“Just like every Royal Caribbean ship, Anthem of the Seas will deliver to guests its own distinctive set of amazing adventures, whether sailing in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean,” Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, added.

Anthem of the Seas will sail to Southampton, U.K., where it will be inaugurated on April 20 by its “godmother.” Travel agent Emma Wilby will christen the ship “to impart good luck and divine protection over the ship and all that sail on board,” according to Royal Caribbean. The ship will home port in Southampton through October and sail to the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.

In November, Anthem of the Seas will sail to New York and its permanent home in New York Harbor. The ship will sail regularly from Cape Liberty Cruise Port to Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Canada and New England.

Anthem of the Seas spans 16 guest decks; encompasses 167,800 gross registered tons; carries 4,180 guests at double occupancy; and features 2,090 staterooms.

The ship boasts a number of onboard innovations, such as the North Star aerial observatory, a glass capsule that provides guests panoramic views from more than 300 feet above the ocean, and the RipCord by iFLY skydiving and FlowRider surfing simulators.

Other features include the Two70 lounge, a great room by day and an immersive, multimedia entertainment spectacle at night. SeaPlex offers a variety of activities throughout the day, including bumper cars, disco roller-skating, circus school, and basketball and other sports.

Entertainment venues where guest can enjoy Royal Caribbean Productions include Music Hall, the Royal Theater, and the Royal Esplanade. Prior to or following a show, guests will be able to dine at any of 18 distinctive onboard restaurants.

More information is available at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/AnthemoftheSeas.

Although the new Quantum-class ship is being called the world's most advanced cruise ship, it is far from being the world's largest. That honor is shared by two other vessels in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

The Oasis-class Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, which debuted in 2009 and 2010 respectively, each measure 225,282 tons and carry 5,400 passengers at double occupancy. A third Oasis-class ship, Harmony of the Seas, will measure 227,000 tons, eclipsing its two record-size sisters by more than 1,700 tons. Deliver of the Harmony of the Seas is expected in early 2016.

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