• Anthem of the Seas is coming to Australia for its first ever season.
• While it’s largest similar to the Royal Caribbean ships we’ve seen in recent years, it does have a few unique features that are important to know.
• We’ve got you covered with itineraries, new features and hidden spots on the ship.

Anthem of the Seas will arrive in Sydney on October 31, 2025 for its first ever Australian season. The ship is also a Quantum-class ship like the other Royal Caribbean ships we’ve seen in recent years such as Ovation or Quantum. B`1ut just like any other ships, it has its own unique charm and hidden surprises. 

Royal Caribbean cruisers are quite loyal and enjoy repeat cruises, so having a new ship in town will offer something fresh and new.

Anthem won’t just be a one-hit wonder out of Sydney – it’s already scheduled to come again for the 2026/27 season. 

This guide has you covered on our picks for itineraries, what will be new for those who have already sailed with Royal Caribbean and a few insider tips on how to best enjoy the ship.

What’s new for Aussies?

Anthem of the Seas is not dissimilar from ships like Quantum and Ovation which have sailed in Australia before. However, there are definitely some new features for Aussies. 

While many Aussies hoped for a different Royal Caribbean class ship, Anthem of the Seas will have new features never seen before in this market. Here’s a few picks for some new places to check out on Anthem that you won’t find on the ships that have sailed Down Under.

Johnny Rockets 

Johnny Rockets is a popular American chain restaurant that also exists on Anthem of the Seas. It has an old school, classic diner vibe, offering a retro feel. 

The menu looks something you might imagine, with options like a Chicken Club Sandwich or hot dogs with loaded fries. Johnny Rockets is also known for its milkshakes, so don’t hesitate to give them a try.

It’s not included dining so you will have to pay, but it’s a la carte and generally priced pretty reasonably, so if you’re a fan of American food it’s definitely worth a visit. 

We Will Rock You 

We Will Rock You is a classic show on Anthem of the Seas, written by comedian and author Ben Elton. The world famous show was running in London for over 12-years. 

The whole storyline takes place in the future, where rock ‘n’ roll has been banned, but a group of citizens band together to bring it back to life and fight back against those who are banning it. 

You can enjoy a range of Queen songs, reimagined with extremely extravagant production and costuming.

Watch ‘The Gift’

The storyline follows a family that has become estranged since their mother passed away, and the shows weaves between reality and more a spiritual universe and perspective.

Insider tips for Anthem of the Seas

• For something different make sure you make it to the ‘circus school’ at the Sea Plex. Here you can live out your Circus de Soleil dreams and learn to fly through the air on a trapeze and plenty more. 
• The Music Hall is your go-to move for a late-night drink and dance, as well as a mixture of tribute and original music shows. If you want something even louder, head downstairs for another bar, which has a bit more of a nightclub vibe.
• If you’re travelling without kids or have a few moments to yourself, the adults-only Solarium pool is the place to go to enjoy some pool tranquility, away from the madness of the main pool.
• Head to Two70 during the day and you can generally enjoy a series of different craft workshops, some boardgames, and there’s an internet cafe with great wifi for if you’re looking to get some work done. 
• If the Windjammer is packed and you’re not in the mood for crowds, give Cafe 270 a go instead. 
• As far as late night food goes, Sorrento’s or the Cafe Promenade will generally be your best options. 
• If you’re lucky, you might catch a happy hour at Boleros. While there’s no set schedule, you may occasionally see a two for one promo for margaritas or other beverages at Boleros, so keep an eye out. 

Which itinerary to go for?

Visiting the neighbours?

If you’re looking to get over to New Zealand, Anthem of the Seas has plenty of options available. However, the sailings can get pricey.

The good news is that there this is still a sailing to New Zealand that starts for about $240 a day, a good $50-60 cheaper per day than the other options.

This 10-night New Zealand cruise leaves on December 1, 2025, and you’ll get to visit five-ports in New Zealand through the sailings.

Looking for something snappy?

If you just want to get on the ship and take it for a spin, the way to do this is to go on a two-night cruise, which starts from just $589. Your two options will be on January 17 or February 13. 

If you’re looking to cruise one extra night, you should for the South Coast Getaway option, which visits Eden during a three-night cruise and starts from $979. 

Make it down to Tassie

Anthem has one option for a cruise down to Hobart, leaving on March 8, the five-night cruise starts from $1429. Cruisers will get two days in Hobart, giving them the chance to enjoy an excursion one day and simply explore the city for another. 

Something sunny?

If you want to make it over to the South Pacific on Anthem of the Seas, there are plenty of options. These cruises are generally quite short, but if you want the most time away, you can opt for a nine-night South Pacific cruise, with dates on February 27, January 8 and March 13.

You’ll get to visit Noumea, Mystery Island and Port Vila, and then have a few extra days at sea to enjoy the ship. 

RED HOOK — The giant cruise ship MSC Meraviglia currently towers over the Western Brooklyn waterfront. But come fall 2026, the 2,224-room vessel, which has been operating out of the Red Hook Cruise Terminal for almost three years, will be setting sail for a new homeport in Miami, according to publication Cruise Critic, which broke the news Wednesday. 

MSC has canceled five months of 2027’s sailings from Brooklyn, offering alternatives to booked passengers. The cruise line recently opened the “world’s largest cruise terminal” at PortMiami, Cruise Critic says.

The ship, which carries more than 5,600 people, was ranked the sixth-largest cruise ship in the world when it burst onto the scene in 2017, according to another cruise site, Cruise Hive. But its 2023 arrival in isolated Red Hook brought hours of gridlock every time its passengers disembarked en mass, resulting in traffic jams, bus delays and unsafe walking and biking conditions. 

Some Cruise Critic readers speculated that MSC might have been having trouble filling the enormous ship in a homeport that “is difficult to reach if you don’t have a car and where it’s eye-wateringly expensive to park if you do.”

The vessel also brought toxic diesel exhaust to the neighborhood, as the electrical shore power hookup on the pier was not initially positioned to properly connect to the vessel’s system.

In February 2024, the Red Hook Business Alliance wrote in an opinion piece published in the Brooklyn Eagle, “New York City’s haphazardly executed surge in cruise ship dockings, combined with the neglect of the cruise terminal, port infrastructure and the absence of planning for traffic or tourism, has dropped a mess of toxins and traffic on Red Hook’s residents and small business economy.”

The traffic conditions currently existing in Red Hook and along the Columbia Street Waterfront District — including deliveries to and from last-mile warehouses and vehicles bypassing the dilapidated Brooklyn-Queens Expressway — have raised major questions about the New York City Economic Development Corp’s Brooklyn Marine Terminal plans, which critics say is devoid of major traffic planning. 

The proposed 122-acre waterfront mega-development would bring as many as 18,000 new residents to a stretch from Atlantic Avenue to Red Hook on the East River, an area encompassing the Cruise Terminal.

The MSC Meraviglia’s last day in Brooklyn will be April 6, 2026. The line doesn’t yet have plans to replace it with another vessel, Cruise Critic reports.

Steripower GmbH & Co. KG and FHCS Professional, through its brands Vileda Professional and Vermop, announced a partnership to develop and deliver hygiene solutions for the cruise industry.

According to a press release, the companies will combine their strengths to create innovative and sustainable products for both maritime and river cruise ships.

“Our partnership with Vileda Professional is an important step toward maintaining and enhancing the already high hygiene standards onboard cruise and river cruise ships,” said Jan B. Rombach, owner and managing director of Steripower GmbH & Co. KG.

“By combining our long-standing professional experience in cleaning and hand hygiene, we can further develop existing solutions, products, and services for the cruise sector. We look forward to the synergies this partnership will create. Together we are strong,” he added.

Described as an established and responsible partner in the cruise industry, Steripower currently supplies touchless hand sanitizers for vessels sailing worldwide.

Through its brands Vileda Professional and Vermop, FHCS Professional offers cleaning cloths made with recycled materials, as well as floor cleaning systems, cleaning trolleys and digital solutions.

The companies said that, by combining their expertise and resources, they aim to further develop existing solutions, products and services within the cruise industry.

A special focus is also currently being put on sustainability, with the promotion of items that include r-MicroTuff Swift, a cleaning cloth made from recycled PET bottles.

“I’ve been active in the cruise industry since 1988, serving in various roles onboard different cruise ships, spending 25 years at sea. Since 2007, I’ve been responsible for the global cruise division at Steripower,” Arno Ahrens-Boehm, managing director at Steripower Cruise, said.

“We’re excited about this new challenge and the opportunity to explore new paths in the cruise sector together with Vileda Professional & Vermop,” he added.

“This partnership with Steripower is a significant step for us in expanding our presence in the maritime sector. Together, we are pooling our expertise to develop innovative, sustainable and user-friendly hygiene solutions for cruise and river cruise ships,” said Christian Nowak, general manager at FHCS Professional DACH and managing director at Vileda GmbH.

“Our shared goal is to ensure the highest hygiene standards on board, protecting guests, crew and the environment. This partnership marks an important milestone toward future-oriented, sustainable hygiene solutions for the maritime industry.”