We sailed on Anthem of the Seas last year for a 4-night cruise out of Singapore and we’re finally sharing the full vlog of our trip!
If you’ve watched the video, you’ll know we packed a lot into a short amount of time. But while the video shows you what we did, it doesn’t really capture what we thought of the ship itself.
Is a massive ship like this too crowded for a short trip? Is the food actually good? And is the soda package really worth the money?
By the way, if you’re looking for a guide of what’s on board, check out our tour of Anthem of the Seas here.
But if you want to know our personal highlights, then keep reading. Here’s our honest review of the experience.
The Itinerary
We sailed a short but sweet 4-night itinerary from Singapore to Penang in Malaysia and Phuket in Thailand. We decided to book shore excursions in both ports to make the most of our time.
- In Penang, we did the UNESCO World Heritage walking tour. It was a great way to soak up the culture and learn all about the history of George Town. We took our own detour to the clan jetties on the way back to the ship. We booked the ship’s walking tour but the cruise terminal in Penang is actually right in the city centre. If we were doing it again, we’d just walk off the ship and book this private George Town heritage tour. It covers the same history but you can move at your own pace.
- In Phuket, we did an island tour that packed in all the major sights. We visited the Wat Chalong temple, Phuket Old Town, a Cashew Nut factory and even fit in some shopping before heading back to the ship. We took the tender boat to Patong Beach and joined the ship’s bus tour from there. However, you can easily book a Phuket Highlights Tour independently. Most operators will pick you up right from the Patong area where the tender drops you off and they visit the exact same spots like Wat Chalong and the Cashew Factory for a lower price.
Embarkation
Sailing out of Singapore (Marina Bay Cruise Centre) is incredibly efficient. It’s one of the best cruise terminals we’ve been to.
We actually flew in a few days early to visit Universal Studios Singapore and to explore the city. We stayed in the city centre which was just a short taxi ride to the port. If you’re looking for somewhere convenient, check out hotels near the Marina Bay Cruise Centre here.
The main reason it was so smooth was that we’d already completed the check-in on the Royal Caribbean app and selected a specific arrival time. Once we arrived, we simply dropped our luggage at the curb and walked straight through. The security and immigration lines moved fast so we went from the taxi to the ship in record time.
Ship Design & Layout
Having sailed on Oasis of the Seas, Anthem feels quite different. It’s a Quantum Class ship so instead of the open-air neighbourhoods like Central Park or the Boardwalk you get on Oasis Class, everything is focused indoors.
Since it was originally built for colder climates, the layout relies heavily on indoor spaces like the SeaPlex and Two70. This actually works great for the humid Asian weather and the air conditioning is a lifesaver. It can be incredibly humid outside and we also had to deal with a bit of rain too on our cruise.
However, the layout does have some pinch points. The central hub of the ship is the Royal Esplanade, a two-storey indoor strip lined with shops, pubs and cafes. While it looks impressive, it’s the main thoroughfare for everyone. During peak times (like after a show or during a sale), it gets bottlenecked and feels very narrow. We found the Windjammer buffet had a similar issue. The layout of the food stations is a bit tight, making it chaotic to navigate at busy times like breakfast and lunch.
If you want space, head to the Solarium at the very front. It’s an adults-only, glass-enclosed area with pools and hot tubs. It was the one spot where the design felt open and airy and we enjoyed spending a bit of quiet time in here.
The Cabin
We stayed in an Interior Cabin with a Virtual Balcony. If you haven’t seen this before, it’s basically an inside room with a massive floor-to-ceiling screen on the wall that shows a live feed of the view outside.
It sounds a lot more impressive than it actually is. We thought it was a bit of a gimmick but it does make the room feel a little bit bigger and brighter. You can even have the sound of waves which we got bored of after a couple of minutes.
The room design is clever. There’s cabinets over the bed for extra storage though we always pack a few magnetic hooks to stick on the metal walls for hanging up our lanyards and day bags. There’s also plenty of USB ports for charging our cameras and phones. The bathroom is small but it has a proper glass shower door instead of a curtain which we liked. We found the bed comfortable and slept well.
Dining & Drinks
We bought the Soda Package for this trip and it was the best money we spent on Anthem of the Seas!
It’s not just about getting unlimited refills, it’s about the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. If you haven’t used one before, it’s a touchscreen dispenser that lets you mix and match over 100 flavours. You get a special cup with a chip in it and place it on the machine. You can get flavours you’d never find in a shop like Strawberry Coke, Vanilla Sprite or Grape Fanta. We found ourselves trying a different random drink every time just because we could.
One thing we loved about Anthem is that there’s so many places to eat that are included in the cruise fare. We didn’t try any of the speciality dining places on our sailing.
Here’s where we ate for free:
- Windjammer Buffet: Since we were sailing in Asia, the Asian food stations here were amazing. The curries, noodle dishes and stir-fries were fresh and genuinely spicy, just how we like it. Although as we said earlier, it gets very busy!
- The Cafe @ Two70: This was our hidden gem for lunch. It’s much quieter than the buffet and has great toasted sandwiches, soups and salads. Plus, you get to eat with an impressive view of the ocean.
- SeaPlex Dog House: It’s inside the sports hall and it’s a quick spot to grab a hot dog after a round of bumper cars.
- Main Dining Room: We found the food quality good and the service solid. It was much better than our Royal Caribbean cruise out of Miami.
- Sorrento’s: The pizza at Sorrento’s isn’t going to win awards, but at 11 PM after a show? It’s fine. Think we’ve been spoiled with MSC pizza to be honest!
Entertainment & Activities
This is where Anthem of the Seas really stood out for us. We loved how much there was to do. The only thing was that because it was a short cruise, we felt like we were packing everything into a short time.
The SeaPlex is the massive indoor sports hall and it’s a real hub of energy. It changes throughout the day, so one minute it’s a basketball court and the next, it’s a bumper car arena. They also set up Laser Tag in here, which was surprisingly competitive. Denis won.
One of our favourite things to do was the Royal Society of Puzzles. It’s an escape room-style game where you work as a team to solve clues. We were much better at it than we expected and really enjoyed playing. You usually have to book this as soon as you get on board because spots go fast.
If you’re into adrenaline, there’s plenty here. You have the FlowRider surf simulator, the RipCord by iFly skydiving tunnel and the rock climbing wall (beside the giant giraffe called Gigi!). We didn’t try these ourselves because we didn’t have the time but they looked like great fun. Even just watching people try the FlowRider is top-tier entertainment!
There’s also the North Star, a glass observation capsule that lifts you high above the ship for 360-degree views. It’s the iconic feature of this ship, though we skipped it this time.
Royal Caribbean is known for its entertainment and this ship didn’t disappoint.
- We Will Rock You: This is the big production in the main theatre. We had wanted to see this show years ago on the West End but missed it so we were delighted to see it on the ship. The quality of the singers and the set design is honestly as good as a land-based theatre. Definitely don’t miss this one.
- Two70: This venue transforms at night for Spectra’s Cabaret. It involves robotic screens that dance and aerialists dropping from the ceiling. We found the show brilliant and oddly nostalgic. It’s weird, colourful and very cool.
The Verdict on Anthem of The Seas
So, was a 4-night cruise on Anthem of the Seas worth it?
Yes! Absolutely, although we would have loved it to be longer. Because there was so much to do between the Laser Tag, the shows and the ports, we were never bored for a second but it also felt a bit rushed at times.
It’s not a ship for peace and quiet and the sheer size of it can be overwhelming at first. But if you are looking for a quick getaway that feels packed with action, great food and high-tech entertainment, this is it.
