One woman’s bizarre stunt in Juneau, Alaska caught the attention of Royal Caribbean passengers, and her dangerous jump into the harbor was captured on video.

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas was docked in Juneau, Alaska when passenger Bailey Shelton recorded a woman purposely jumping into the harbor. The viral video, which has almost 500k views, was shared on TikTok by Shelton on June 14, 2025.

In the recording, Shelton shows a woman sprinting across the wooden pier before leaping into the cold harbor water below. Surprisingly, she was dressed in only a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals. Other guests in the background can be seen wearing pants, coats, and hats. 

Shelton can be heard in the video gasping, “No way! No way! No way!” as the woman begins running. The woman clearly leaps off the edge of the pier, plunging more than a few feet into the icy harbor below. Following a large splash, the woman eventually surfaces in the green, murky water and begins swimming back towards the pier. Along with Shelton, many other cruise guests on the pier watched in shock.

Shelton captioned the TikTok video, “She was a local clearly. I had layers and I was still cold.” However, it’s unclear if the woman was a local Juneau resident, as she technically could be a guest aboard Anthem of the Seas. 

Based on Shelton’s post, the stunt likely occurred when Anthem of the Seas was docked in Juneau on June 8, 2025 after departing from Seattle, Washington on a 7-night cruise through Alaska. Anthem of the Seas is offering round-trip itineraries to Alaska over the summer. The 7-night itinerary visited ports of call throughout Alaska, including Juneau, Skagway and Tracy Arm Fjord, along with a stop in Victoria, Canada.

Even in the summer, Alaska can still be quite cold. For mid-June, the average temperature in Juneau can drop in the 40s with highs only in the mid-60s.  However, the water temperature in the harbor is often much cooler, averaging between 48 degrees Fahrenheit and 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

While the stunt itself is dangerous, there are also increased risks of jumping into water that cold. Hypothermia can set in within minutes without proper thermal protection, such as a wetsuit. This condition occurs when your core body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. You also risk triggering cold shock or losing control of your muscles due to the cold water temperature.

The viral TikTok video has left many viewers shocked by the deliberate and dangerous stunt. 

Most of the time, these incidents are accidental when cruise passengers fall into harbor water. However, the video shows this was clearly not an accident, as the woman takes an obvious running start across the pier before jumping into the water.

In the comment section, many viewers state the obvious dangers of jumping into a cruise ship harbor. Some of these risks include polluted water, hidden debris, pilings beneath the surface, and risk of electric shock from stray currents.

“Harbor water is super gross,” reads the top comment. “So dangerous. You have no idea what is lurking right under the surface, could be a steel rod [or a] sunken wooden pillar,” replied another viewer.

One commenter replied similarly, “Nice. You do realize electricity could be present in that water, right?” Another echoed this sentiment, “So dangerous. Electrical power could have killed her”.

Electric shock drowning occurs when an electrical current leaks into the water, often from a nearby boat or marina. The shock then passes through the person’s body while in the water. This can cause muscle paralysis, numbness and even cardiac arrest. For this reason, swimmers are discouraged from jumping into harbor water.

“As someone who grew up in Juneau, YES it’s super dangerous because of obstacles under the water,” stated one responder. One local replied, “I live in Alaska and you could not PAY me to go into that water.”

Not to mention, there have been cruise ship passengers who have fallen into harbor water and sustained serious injuries. Some have even been killed when falling into the harbor. Just a few weeks ago, a woman fell from the gangway on Norwegian Epic when the cruise ship broke loose from its mooring in Sicily. The woman plunged into the ocean water and was rushed to the hospital with injuries from the incident.

Along with the physical risks of jumping into the harbor, the woman could also be in trouble with port authorities or the cruise line itself. While it’s unclear whether she was a passenger, Royal Caribbean could choose to ban her from future sailings if she was indeed a guest. Cruise lines have previously banned passengers for reckless behavior that puts the safety of others at risk.

At the time of publication, the woman did not appear to have sustained any injuries from the stunt. In addition, Royal Caribbean has not commented publicly about the incident.

Ever wonder how much it costs to cruise, including all the extra costs and related purchases you have to make?

Last month, I embarked on an epic adventure to Asia with my parents and sister. Because of the pandemic, we still had unused cruise credits that we wanted to apply for a sailing. We eventually settled on an incredible 12-night repositioning cruise from Singapore to Japan with stops in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

We were ecstatic to find this unique itinerary aboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. This repositioning cruise is part of the ship’s transition between Australia and Alaska, so this particular itinerary is only offered once in the fall and spring.

My family booked the itinerary right after it was available, and we secured two balcony cabins next to one another. Anthem of the Seas had just completed her dry dock in Singapore, so we had fresh beds and carpet in our cabins! Although this Quantum class ship isn’t the newest vessel in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, the 10-year-old ship has aged gracefully and still feels quite modern and fresh.

Because I was traveling with my sister, we were able to split the costs of our stateroom, hotels, and transfers. For my portion of the trip, I paid $6,773 for the entire vacation. With 14 total nights of vacation, the cost was $483 per person for each night of the trip.

Here’s a full breakdown of what I spent for my 12-night Asia cruise on Anthem of the Seas, which includes travel-related expenses, onboard purchases, souvenirs, and transportation costs.

My sister and I split the cost of the cabin, costing me $2,888 for a standard balcony stateroom.

Typically, I prefer booking interior cabins to save money while cruising. Because of this, my sister and I normally book the cheapest inside cabin we can find, although we prefer spending a little extra to avoid booking guarantee cabins.

When we booked this cruise, we were pleasantly surprised to find a reasonably priced standard balcony stateroom. Since my parents always book a balcony cabin, and the only option near them was another balcony cabin, it made sense for us to do the same. We were even able to select a connecting stateroom right next to theirs, so we knew we wouldn’t end up with noisy neighbors.

We reserved cabins 11268 and 11266, located on Deck 11. This was a great spot to stay, and we appreciated the convenient location onboard Anthem of the Seas. 

Read more: Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship Balcony Cabin: Review, Photos

For instance, we were only a few decks below the Windjammer buffet. Before meeting for our excursions, we could quickly grab breakfast on Deck 14 and scurry back to our cabin to finish getting ready. Nothing ever felt too far from our stateroom, so I would definitely book this cabin again.

Most importantly, the cabin was very comfortable for our 12-night stay and featured a functional, modern design. The bathroom was especially spacious, and the shower was one of the largest I’ve had on a cruise ship.

We had more than enough space to unpack and settle in without feeling cramped. The cabin offered two wardrobe closets, plus ample shelving and drawer space. The connecting cabins were an added bonus—we loved the convenience of moving between the two rooms and sharing the balconies.

The cruise fare was $5,776 for the two of us, which included port fees and taxes. Splitting this with my sister, my portion was $2,888, or $240 per night. This cruise fare is a little higher than I typically like to pay; however, the unique sailing was in high demand, and cabins booked up quickly. A few months later, only suites were available to book for $10,000 each! 

We forgot to prepay our gratuities, which we normally do before embarkation. This resulted in a daily charge of $18.50 to our shipboard account, or $222 total for my gratuities. 

For this trip, the cruise fare and gratuities comprised about 45.91% of the total expenses for this trip. This was the priciest expense of the entire trip, as expected!

I spent $2,302 on flights, which arrived in Singapore and departed from Tokyo.

In addition to the cruise fare, I was shocked by the cost of airfare for this cruise! Because our cruise was departing from Singapore and concluding in Tokyo, I booked a multi-city itinerary. Since it takes more than 30 hours to reach Singapore from Florida, I wanted to have a few buffer days for any potential travel delays or cancellations. This would also give us a few days to adjust to the new timezone before boarding our cruise.

I booked economy seats with Delta Air Lines, which included connections in Atlanta and Seoul, South Korea. The flights were grueling, but I was thankful to receive free upgrades to Comfort Plus on my long-haul segments. Although the extra legroom was welcomed, nothing really makes a 14-hour flight very enjoyable.

I spent $2,302 for the entire flight, or about 34% of the trip’s overall cost. Luckily, this included two free checked bags, which I took advantage of.

Unfortunately, my trip home from Tokyo was more disruptive. My sister and I were stranded in Japan for 24 hours when our flight to Atlanta was cancelled due to maintenance issues. The flight was rescheduled for the following day so they could fix the plane, but we had to spend an additional night in Japan.

Thankfully, we both purchased travel insurance, and these expenses (upwards of $500 for hotel, food, and transportation) were covered.

We booked excursions through Royal Caribbean for about $340 each.

Originally, we had booked excursions for all five port stops of our itinerary, costing around $500 each. Most of these were full-day tours, although we had half-day stops in Tokyo and Jeju Island, South Korea. 

We had never visited these countries before, so we felt Royal Caribbean’s excursions were the best choices for convenience and safety. Additionally, some of the ports were far away from the actual city. For example, Ho Chi Minh was nearly two hours from where the ship docked.

After boarding in Singapore, we received notice that our excursion in Japan was cancelled. Supposedly, the ship couldn’t sail at full speed due to the recent dry dock, so we had to leave South Korea earlier than expected.

With the revised itinerary, we wouldn’t reach Tokyo until an hour or two after our originally scheduled afternoon arrival. Since face-to-face immigration is required in Japan, the delayed arrival and expected slow processing led to the cancellation of all ship-sponsored excursions. In the end, that saved us about $150.

In addition, we received a 50% refund for our excursion in Jeju Island, South Korea. This was already a half-day tour because we had a short stay; however, it was down pouring when we arrived. The cruise line offered guests a full refund if they wanted to cancel their excursion that morning, which I thought was generous.

We decided to take the excursion anyway, and it ended up only costing us about $50. In the end, we agreed the money was well spent on these cruise-sponsored excursions, especially in Vietnam. In fact, we ended up departing late from Vietnam due to a huge traffic jam that delayed other excursions from returning to the ship on time. I bet those passengers were thankful they booked an excursion through the cruise line!

We only spent about $340 on excursions, or 5% of our trip’s total cost — this was one of our cheapest expenses for the entire vacation!

Onboard expenses, including internet and specialty dining, totaled $402.

Overall, I didn’t spend much money onboard our ship. Most of our time was spent exploring ashore, and I took advantage of the complimentary activities and amenities onboard. Prior to boarding, I booked VOOM Surf + Stream internet for $250 - this would provide Wi-Fi access for the entire cruise.

The internet was reliably fast, and I never had issues with connecting onboard. We did experience some blackouts while cruising from Hong Kong to Taiwan, but Royal Caribbean reimbursed us for a few days. 

In addition, our family also decided to treat ourselves to two specialty dining experiences during the cruise. Anthem of the Seas offers a variety of specialty restaurants to choose from, including Chops Grille, Jamie’s Italian, Izumi Sushi, and Wonderland.

We used our Diamond Plus loyalty benefit to take advantage of the BOGO specialty dining offer, choosing to dine at Chops Grille and Jamie’s Italian. On a longer itinerary, I do appreciate the change-of-pace for a more upscale, intimate dining experience.

Both meals were excellent, though service at Jamie’s Italian was noticeably slow. One crew member mentioned the staff was still finding their rhythm again after the ship’s break from regular operations during dry dock, which may have contributed to the isolated experience.

Surprisingly, the main dining room impressed us night after night. We had consistently great food, attentive service, and a smooth dining experience each night. Although this hasn’t always been the case on my recent Royal Caribbean cruises, I was impressed with the main dining room experience on Anthem of the Seas.

I didn’t purchase any drinks during this cruise, as our five daily Diamond Plus drink vouchers were more than sufficient. I enjoyed specialty coffee each morning, followed by a few drinks in the evenings or by the pool on a sea day.

In the end, these onboard expenses were minimal compared to the total cost of the trip. I only spent $402 for internet and specialty dining, or about 5.95% of the entire vacation budget.

For this trip, we spent about $239 each on hotels and transfers.

It’s always best practice to arrive to your cruise port at least one day before embarkation. If your flights get delayed or cancelled, you don’t want to risk missing your entire vacation! When flying internationally or long distances for a cruise, I prefer to arrive two days prior to embarkation.

For this cruise, we arrived two nights before our cruise started, giving us one full day in Singapore and two nights in a hotel. At first, we booked our hotels directly through Marriott. But, I worked with my travel agent, Hayley with Fora Travel, and she ended up saving us $200 on the hotels!

My sister and I split the hotel cost, so my portion was only $164 for two nights at the Four Points Sheraton in Singapore. We had to spend $405 for our unexpected night in Tokyo after our flight was cancelled, as it was last minute and during Japan’s very busy Golden Week. Thankfully, these expenses were covered by the airline and travel insurance. 

In addition, we booked private transfers from the Singapore airport to our hotel, followed by another transfer to the port. We had so much luggage that our transfer had to bring a second car just to transport the suitcases - whoops! Thankfully, we split the cost of the transfers between the four of us. 

In addition, we booked a transfer through Royal Caribbean to the Tokyo airport when we struggled to find any other options. My sister and I spent an additional $90 on transfers after our flight was cancelled, but this was also covered by travel insurance.

I spent about $239 for the hotels and transfers - or about 3.5% of the total trip cost. However, this total would have been much higher if I hadn’t purchased travel insurance for the unexpected costs with the cancelled flight. Take this as a reminder to always have travel insurance!

I budgeted $100 for cash tips, which I provided to crew members on the last night of the cruise.

In addition to the onboard daily gratuities, I also brought cash for tips at the end of the cruise. This is always an expense that I budget for, as I want to ensure the crew members are rewarded for their hard-working service.

We decided to provide additional tips to our waiters in the main dining room, along with the head waiter. All of them provided excellent service for the entirety of the cruise, and we felt it was deserved. Finally, we also tipped our stateroom attendant on the last day for dealing with our messy room for 12 nights!

My sister and I provided cash tips totaling $100 each, which is only about 1.5% of the total trip cost.

Finally, I spent around $280 for in-port purchases and souvenirs.

I’ll admit, I love to shop for souvenirs and treasures during my cruises. Each of these destinations had incredible shops to purchase trinkets and goodies. We first started at the famous Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, where I found a myriad of souvenirs to bring home.

Our next ports offered even more chances to shop, especially in Hong Kong, where I couldn’t resist splurging. I picked up a stylish leather backpack for just $40 and a knock-off designer purse for $20. I also stocked up on Nespresso pods at a local grocery store for a fraction of the price I usually pay back home.

I also collect Starbucks mugs from each destination that I visit, so I came home with four new mugs to add to my collection. These are each about $20, and I was thrilled to find unique designs from each country.

Surprisingly, we purchased very little food or drinks during our time ashore. Most of our excursions included lunches with massive buffets, so we never felt the need to purchase our own food. We prioritized eating most of our meals on the ship, as Anthem of the Seas has plenty of included dining options to enjoy.

Overall, I spent around $280 on in-port purchases for this trip, or about 4.13% of the trip cost. Most of these purchases were souvenirs, trinkets, Starbucks mugs, and unique treasures. I was thankful for packing a second suitcase to bring home all of my new travel goodies!

In the end, I paid $6,773 for my 12-night Asia cruise on Anthem of the Seas.

Cruise expenses can add up quickly, and even with minimal onboard purchases and add-ons, I still spent close to $7,000 for this vacation with my parents and sister. The biggest expenses for this trip included the cruise fare itself for $2,888 and airfare for $2,302. Both of these categories accounted for 76% of the total vacation cost, followed by onboard expenses and excursions.

I cherish time with my family, especially because my husband and I live across the country from them. This was money well spent, and I loved being able to visit such diverse, culturally-rich ports of call. I’d rather spend this amount of money seeing new places in the world than visiting the same Caribbean destinations over and over again.

Cruising in a balcony stateroom is a luxury that I don't always want to pay for. However, I splurged for an upgraded room on my 12-night cruise instead of settling for a tiny, windowless cabin - and it made all the difference!

I just returned from a culturally-immersive, whirlwind cruise in Asia aboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. This 12-night repositioning cruise departed from Singapore to far-flung destinations in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. 

This wasn’t my first time sailing on Anthem of the Seas. My husband and I cruised on the same ship back in June 2022 when we visited the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal. 

I was thrilled to be back on Anthem of the Seas, one of my favorite ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. I’ve always been a fan of the Quantum Class overall - it offers unique itineraries and contemporary features while maintaining a manageable, not-too-overwhelming size.

For this bucket-list itinerary, I traveled with my sister, Angie, and our parents. We had rolled-over cruise credit from multiple cancelled and rescheduled sailings, dating all the way back to 2020. The four of us have been wanting to visit these ports of call, and this cruise on Anthem of the Seas fit our schedules perfectly.

Because of the longer itinerary, my sister and I decided to splurge on a balcony cabin. Having a bit of extra space, both inside the stateroom and on a private veranda, seemed worth the upgrade. 

Typically, my sister and I prefer to save money by booking interior cabins. However, I’ve found that newer ships often have more affordable balconies because there are simply more cabins available to book. Fortunately, when we booked the cruise about 18 months ago, the price for a balcony was surprisingly reasonable.

We ended up in cabin 11268 on Deck 11, while our parents booked the adjoining stateroom next door in 11266. It was our first time trying connecting cabins, and we were curious to see how that setup might enhance the experience.

We paid a nightly rate of $240 per person for the 12-night cruise, which is a little pricey.

Roayl Caribbean only offers this unique itinerary in the fall and spring when the cruise line repositions ships between Asia and Alaska. For this reason, the demand seems to be higher due to the limited number of sailings offered.

For the two of us, we paid $5,776.16 for our balcony cabin, or $2,888 each. This includes port fees and taxes, but we forgot to prepay gratuities. This resulted in an unfortunately unexpected cost of $222 by the end of our cruise! I won’t forget again about prepaying gratuities.

We paid around $240 per person, per night for this sailing, which is definitely higher than what we typically spend on a cruise. In fact, it was nearly double the daily rate we paid for a repositioning cruise just last fall with Celebrity Cruises!

Even so, this felt like a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and we decided the splurge was worth it. This proved to be a smart move, as just a few months later, prices skyrocketed to nearly $10,000 per person with only suites remaining.

Our ship had just completed dry dock, so our cabin was recently refreshed.

Cruise ships receive routine maintenance during dry dock, which occurs every five years or so. When we booked this cruise, we hadn’t realized that Anthem of the Seas would be coming out of a 30-day dry dock in Singapore just before our sailing.

Although I’ve been on many cruises, I’ve never sailed on a ship immediately after dry dock. As such, we were eager to see what was updated or added during this maintenance. According to crew members, all cabins received brand-new beds and carpeting. 

When we boarded in Singapore and made our way to the cabin, we were very impressed with the cabin’s condition. After traveling more than 24 hours to Asia, we couldn’t wait to get settled, unpack our bags, and make this stateroom our home for the next 12 nights.

The balcony stateroom was spacious, modern and well-appointed.

Royal Caribbean debuted Anthem of the Seas in 2015, and we happened to be onboard for her 10th birthday! Despite being a decade old, the ship still feels incredibly fresh, especially in our stateroom.

Our cabin had the feel of something you’d find on one of Royal Caribbean’s latest ships, with its sleek design and contemporary touches. The stateroom was spacious with a thoughtful layout and very little wasted space. For this particular stateroom, our beds were located near the balcony door while the couch and bathroom were closer to the entrance.

The balcony stateroom featured a palette of blue and grey tones, including a blue couch and navy blue accent wall. The geometric light fixtures and textured carpeting added personality to the stateroom without being too distracting. The warm lighting felt inviting and cozy, so it was easy to make ourselves at home.

The layout is better suited for keeping your beds together instead of separate.

Like any cruise cabin, we had the option to keep our beds together in the king configuration or two twin beds. My sister insists on having the beds separated, so we each had our own twin bed. These tiny beds always reminds me of my college dorm room, although the brand-new beds were very comfortable.

Each bed had its own nightstand, but ours were squished together to create one big nightstand. A small bedside lamp was on each side, and my side of the bed had an outlet. I prefer to keep my phone charging during the night, but my phone plug was protruding into my pillow. I know what you’re thinking, first world problems!

This functionality would definitely work better with the beds together, as the nightstand would be directly under the lamp with no spacing issues. Even still, I loved being able to peak out of the balcony each morning when we pulled into new ports of call. I was giddy like Christmas morning when we arrived to Vietnam, and I could watch it all from my bed.

We had plenty of storage to unpack our five suitcases.

We had quite a bit to unpack between our carry-on bags and checked luggage. Thankfully, the cabin had plenty of storage. There were two wardrobe closets in this stateroom: one with hanging space and the other with shelves and drawers. I used one closet with hanging space while my sister unpacked her belongings into the shelving of the other closet. 

Since I brought more clothes, I also took advantage of the drawers built into the vanity. Between the closet space and drawers, everything fit comfortably. We were also able to slide our suitcases under the beds, which helped keep the room clutter-free.

I was impressed with all of the storage available in this cabin. For instance, under the TV, there was a small shelf where we could store smaller belongings. We ended up using this for all of the documents that we received regarding immigration, excursion tickets and daily compasses.

There were multiple outlets and USB ports to keep our devices charged.

For such a big adventure, we had a plethora of devices that needed to be charged daily between the two of us. Cameras, phones, tablets, watches, headphones and more all needed to be charged every night before the following day's adventure. 

I was relieved to find a full charging station built into the cabin vanity, complete with two U.S. outlets and two USB ports. There was also a European outlet, which came in handy with our travel adapter. My sister and I were able to keep all of our devices charged without any issue.

Considering some older ships only have one or two outlets for charging, we appreciated having so many outlets. It’s a small touch, but it’s an important functionality of any cruise cabin.

Having connecting staterooms ended up being a lifesaver.

With my parents in the cabin next to us, we asked our room steward to unlock the connecting doors. He also opened the balcony between the two cabins, so we had one big balcony between our two staterooms.

The connecting rooms were extremely convenient for the four of us traveling together. In particular, my mom ended up sleeping on our couch for a few nights when my dad came down with a nasty cold. She didn’t want to be up all night with him coughing, so she asked our cabin steward to make the couch into a makeshift bed. She was surprised how comfortable the couch was!

Having the connecting rooms allowed for easy access between the two cabins, and my mom ended up sleeping on the couch for nearly half of the cruise. We will definitely look at booking connecting staterooms again in the future.

Our cabin location was convenient and quiet.

Our balcony cabin was located near midship, but closer to the ship’s aft. Located on Deck 11, we found this stateroom to have a central, accessible location. We were near the aft elevators, so we were never too far from our stateroom.

In addition, were only a few decks below the Windjammer buffet. During early mornings before excursions, we were able to quickly grab breakfast and head back to our cabin to get ready.

Most importantly, our cabin was wonderfully quiet - we never heard any noise from the hallway, and our neighbors were completely silent the entire trip. Because our deck was above and below other cabins, we never had to worry about noise from the public venues. There’s nothing worse than being kept awake by a nearby lounge or pool part!

Of course, the balcony was one of the highlights.

Because we normally book inside cabins, it was a luxury to have our own private balcony! The balcony install included two chairs with footrests and a small table to use. During this cruise, we had so much beautiful scenery - from the luscious jungle in the outskirts of Vietnam to the iconic skyline of Hong Kong.

I loved being able to use our balcony throughout this cruise. One morning, I ordered complimentary room service as we arrived into Hong Kong while enjoying my morning breakfast. Later that night, we watched the nightly light show across the bay from our balcony as the ship departed. It was a memory I will never forget.

One of the best surprises about our cabin was being able to share the balcony with the connecting rooms. We hadn’t realized the divider could be removed when you book adjoining cabins, and it made it so much easier - and more fun - to enjoy the space together.

The bathroom was functionally designed, too.

There’s nothing worse than feeling squeezed into a tiny capsule shower on a cruise. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here. Cruise ship bathrooms have come a long way, and the showers in particular are now much more spacious and comfortable to use.

Like most Royal Caribbean ships, our shower was stocked with the standard 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash combo. For this reason, I always bring my own shower toiletries when cruising. We did receive upgraded amenities because of our loyalty status, but I still preferred using the products I packed from home.

We had no issues with water temperature or pressure in our cabin, but we did hear some complaints from other guests. Some reported having minimal hot water at times, while others experienced very low water pressure in the shower. It may have been tied to the ship’s recent dry dock, but issues like that can definitely impact the overall cabin experience.

Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to book this cabin again.

For our 12-night cruise, this balcony cabin truly became our home away from home. After long, hot, and humid days exploring culturally-diverse ports across Asia, there was nothing better than coming back to this comfortable and quiet cabin. Whether we were cooling off in the air conditioning, unpacking our souvenirs, or simply relaxing on the couch after a full day of exploring, this stateroom was perfect for us.

I wouldn’t hesitate to book this same cabin again, whether on Anthem of the Seas or any other Quantum Class ship. The layout was thoughtfully designed, the decor was modern, and the location was incredibly convenient for getting around the ship. We also had plenty of storage and connectivity in the stateroom, which is important for longer, port-intensive itineraries.

Having our own balcony was definitely a highlight for this cruise, especially with all of the bucket-list destinations we visited. I don’t think it’s always necessary to splurge on a balcony, but this was certainly worthwhile on this itinerary with unforgettable sights to see.

As someone that cruises a lot, I've heard from other cruisers about "secret" cabins on Royal Caribbean ships.

When new ships come out, the layout of the ship sometimes creates unique configurations.  If you're creative enough, they can end up being a really smart idea.

Even though there are lots of suites available to book for a family to share, they can be very expensive and may not have more than one bathroom. If you have teenagers, this is important.

On Anthem of the Seas there's a trio of rooms you could book to hack together to create your own giant space with much more room than any suite.

But there's a catch: This trick won't include any of the suite perks.

Three cabins combined

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Jason Brooks shared this tip on how he recently went on Anthem of the Seas and took full advantage of this "three bedroom suite" idea.

If you look at the deck plans for Anthem of the Seas, there is a trio of rooms that combine together as the layout of the ship curves.

This occurs across decks 6 through 13 with the following grouping of cabin numbers:

• 230
• 232
• 228

• 632
• 630
• 628

Cabins ending in 232, 230 or 632, 630 have a private door that leads to the main door for each cabin. You can close the outside door, providing privacy to go between these two cabins.

The third cabin comes with the room ending in 228 or 628, as it's a standard balcony cabin with a connecting balcony.

If you can book all three rooms together for a sailing, you could get your own three bedroom suite, with space for everyone.

The Junior Suite is the "master bedroom" with 267 square feet of space

If you imagine these trio of cabins as rooms within a bigger suite, I'd imagine this would be the room the parents or leader of the group would take.

Greg Brockman took photos of this cabin on his sailing, showing off what you get.

For cabin 9632, it's a category J1 Junior Suite. Despite the name, it's not a full suite and doesn't have all the amenities of a Grand Suite.

Nonetheless, it's a big room that can handle up to four passengers.

There's a ton of natural light thanks to the double set of windows, one of which is the door to your balcony.

The room has a king size bed that can be combined or split up. There's also a double sofa bed in this room as well.

One thing I love about Quantum Class ships is how much storage space there is.  You certainly won't run out of space to put all your belongings, even on a longer sailing.

Not only does this room share a common private hallway with 9630, but the balcony is the secret sauce to all of this. It's balcony could open up to 9628 (balcony room).

The studio is perfect for kids or a friend

Next door to the Junior Suite is a Studio Interior cabin, and it's small, but perfect for one person.

Ordinarily booking someone in a room by themselves incurs a penalty known as the single supplement fee.  But studio rooms are exempt from this!

Kaitlyn Swing shared photos of cabin 7630, and it gives you a good idea of the space.

This room was meant for one person, so there's enough room for just one person.

It's an inside cabin, which means there's no windows or natural light. However, it does have a virtual balcony.  This means you get a real-time view from outside the ship on a high definition screen that can be turned on or off. There's even a curtain for the "balcony".

The room has its own private bathroom with shower and toilet.

It's the perfect room for an older teen or friend of the family traveling with you.

The connecting balcony room finishes the trio

The Junior Suite and Studio Interior are a good option for some, but if you want a kids room, I'd go one step further with this hack and get the balcony room that combines to that private hallway.

The balcony room has a connecting door that opens up to the hallway the other two cabins share, and it's a neat option for larger families.

Plus, the balcony connects to the Junior Suite's balcony as well.

This is a standard oceanview balcony with 198 square feet of living space, with room for up to two guests.

I'd recommend this be the kids room or the spot for your parents.

Don't book this combo on two decks

While this trio of secret rooms exists on decks six through thirteen, I wouldn't book it on two of the decks.

If you book it on deck six, you'll get an obstructed balcony because of the lifeboats.  

It might save you money by going with deck six, but the view will be ruined and that could be very disappointing.

I also wouldn't book this on deck 13 either.

The issue with the cabins on this deck is because of the extended overhang from the pool deck that makes the balcony feel more like a cave.

Likewise, there is noise bleed that can occur from deck 14 with the Windjammer, pool, and Solarium above you.

Stick to decks 7 through 12 to ensure you're clear of these issues.

How different is Anthem of the Seas from Oasis of the Seas?

Both Royal Caribbean ships come from different classes, but are similar in that they've become cruiser favorites. 

Both ships have been known to sail similar itineraries, both offering a host of exciting activities onboard.

So which one is better, and how do the two compare?

The most obvious difference is that the two ships are from different Royal Caribbean classes. Think of it ship classes like car models in how they are grouped together.

Oasis of the Seas, launched in 2009, was the first ship in the famous Oasis Class.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Oasis Class Ships by Age

Anthem of the Seas, in contrast, was released later, in 2015, as the second vessel in the Quantum Class.

Oasis is larger, with the capacity for more passengers

Although Oasis of the Seas was released before Anthem of the Seas, the oldest ship still wins out as more spacious.

Anthem has a capacity for 4,905 passengers, while Oasis of the Seas carries almost 2,000 more guests at 6,780 passengers.

Oasis of the Seas also measures 1,187 feet long to Anthem's 1,141 feet and 225,282 gross tons versus Anthem's 168,666 gross tons.

The Oasis Class as a whole, is one of Royal Caribbean's biggest classes of ships (rivaled only by the Icon Class).

While the Quantum Class features innovative and large ships, Anthem's size doesn't compare to Oasis.

Oasis of the Seas even has distinct neighborhoods to break up a large amount of space. The seven neighborhoods onboard are The Boardwalk, the Pool and Sports Zone, the Royal Promenade, Central Park, Entertainment Place, Youth Zone, and Vitality Spa and Fitness.

Oasis' age isn't necessarily a downside. She was Amplified in 2019, and now has new dining venues, waterslides, and a re-designed pool deck.

Dining venues and bars abound on both ships

Both ships have a variety of options when it comes to dining venues and bars.

Although the two share a few venues, some vary between them.

Anthem of the Seas has the following complimentary dining venues onboard:

• The Main Dining room
• Windjammer
• Seaplex Dog House
• Solarium Bistro
• Cafe @ Two70
• Sorrento's
• Cafe Promenade
• Coastal Kitchen (for suite guests only)

In contrast, Oasis of the Seas has a few more complimentary venues: 

• The Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Buffet
• Solarium Bistro
• Park Cafe
• Cafe Promenade
• Sorrento’s Pizza
• Boardwalk Dog House
• El Loco Fresh
• Vitality Cafe
• Coastal Kitchen (suites only)

If specialty dining is a priority for you, it's important to know that Anthem has fewer options than Oasis of the Seas.

Anthem has the following specialty venues:

• Chops Grille
• Chef's Table
• Jamie's Italian
• Wonderland
• Izumi Sushi
• Johnny Rockets (lunch and dinner)
• La Patisserie

Both ships feature cruiser favorites in the dining arena, such as Chops Grille and Chef's Table.

However, if you're looking for something more unique, venues such as Wonderland and Jamie's Italian put a special spin on the Royal Caribbean dining experience.

Oasis of the Seas has a multitude of specialty dining onboard, making it a great option if you're considering purchasing a specialty dining package onboard.

Oasis has 12 specialty venues:

• 150 Central Park
• Chef’s Table
• Chops Grille
• Giovanni’s Table
• Izumi Sushi & Hibachi
• Johnny Rockets (lunch and dinner)
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Portside BBQ
• Vintages Wine Bar
• Starbucks
• Sugar Beach
• Johnny Rockets

Bars abound on both ships. Nearly every pool area and lounge will have a bar nearby, as well as many of the restaurants. 

Both ships have the popular Bionic Bar, featuring robot bartenders.

There are 14 bars on Anthem of the Seas:

• Schooner Bar
• Music Hall
• Boleros
• Pool bar
• North Star bar
• Solarium Bar
• Casino bar
• Bionic Bar
• Two70 Bar
• Vintages
• Brass & Bock Pub
• Diamond Club
• Suite Lounge
• Sky bar

Oasis of the Seas has 16 bars:

• Casino bar
• Jazz on 4
• Blaze Comedy
• Diamond Club
• Spotlight Karaoke
• Boleros
• Globe & Atlas Pub
• Rising Tide Bar
• Bionic Bar
• Schooner Bar
• Playmakers
• Trellis Bar
• Vintages Wine Bar
• Music Hall
• Solarium Bar
• Wipeout Bar

Anthem features tech-savvy virtual balcony cabins

Because Anthem is a newer ship, she features technological innovations that outshine Oasis of the Seas.

Anthem has dozens of unique stateroom categories.

One innovative stateroom onboard is the virtual balcony, an HD screen that brings a live ocean view to all windowless cabins onboard.

This budget-friendly method gives cruisers the price of an interior cabin, combined with the views of a balcony cabin.

Anthem also has great staterooms for families, and even for solo travelers, such as her studio balcony cabins.

However, Oasis of the Seas has 706 more cabins onboard, with 2796 cabins to Anthem's 2090.

If you're looking at popular sailings on each ship, your preferred stateroom category on Anthem of the Seas could sell out faster. 

Read more: Oasis of the Seas Cabins to Avoid

What activities are available on each ship?

When it comes to activities and pool areas, both ships have a lot to offer.

Anthem of the Seas features the SeaPlex (an indoor sports court), the Ripcord by iFLY skydiving simulator, and the North Star observation capsule.

Oasis of the Seas has gained notoriety for its range of activities. Cruisers can ice skate, play mini-golf, ride on a zipline, use dry and water slides, play laser tag, and ride a carousel while onboard.

Both ships also have multiple pools and hot tubs, as well as the FlowRider surf simulator.

Anthem of the Seas makes for a much better ship for cold-weather sailing, thanks to its indoor facilities and activities.

On the other hand, Oasis of the Seas is a popular ship for Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries. Its size ensures that there's no end to the fun onboard.

Both vessels have Broadway musicals but differ in entertainment venues

Both Anthem of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas feature high-quality, non-stop entertainment.

However, the two ships have very different entertainment venues onboard.

Anthem's main entertainment venues are the Royal Theater, Two70, and the Music Hall.

The Royal Theater is a two-deck venue that hosts popular production shows, such as "We Will Rock You," a tribute to Queen's biggest hits.

The two-hour Broadway musical first debuted in London and has toured all over the world.

Two70 is located on Deck 5, covering the entire aft wall with panoramic windows. Six LED screens above the stage are controlled by robots to add to the visual effects.

"Spectra's Cabaret" plays inside the Two70 venue, as well as various trivia, events, and games.

The Music Hall serves as a two-deck venue suitable for live music, nightclub events, and karaoke.

On Oasis of the Seas, the main entertainment venues are the Royal Theater, the AquaTheater, and the Studio B ice-skating rink.

CATS shows in the Royal Theater. The ship’s Broadway musical tells the famous story of a tribe of cats. 

The Royal Theater also hosts comedians, game shows, and guest performers during any Oasis of the Seas sailing.

The outdoor AquaTheater features Aqua80, a thrilling water show with high diving, swimmers, acrobats, and aerialists performing to 80s era music.

Royal Caribbean has been forced to cancel a cruise due to the conflict in the region of the Red Sea.

Guests booked on the October 14, 2024 sailing of Anthem of the Seas were informed by Royal Caribbean that they have decided to cancel a Middle East cruise because of concerns for the ship's safety.

A rise of attacks since October 2023 on commercial ships in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by the Houthis has greatly impacted tourism in the area. This includes pirate activity and even drones to attack ships in the area.

There have been more than 60 recorded attacks so far, and the incidents have drawn a military response from a number of countries, including the United States.

"We have all been closely monitoring the unrest in the Red Sea and were hopeful everything would settle down. Unfortunately, due to security risks and with the safety of our guests and crew top of mind, we've made the difficult decision that Anthem of the Seas will instead have to transit around the southern tip of Africa."

Instead of sailing through the Suez Canal, Anthem of the Seas will sail without any passengers around Africa.

Anthem of the Seas was to sail through the Suez Canal as part of a repositioning from Southampton, UK to her new homeport in Singapore. It's not clear yet if any of the scheduled sailings from Singapore will be affected.

The cruise industry has had to reroute and cancel cruises as a result of violence in the area. 

"We're truly sorry for the impact that this has on your vacation plans," Royal Caribbean said in a statement to guests booked on the now cancelled cruise.

This isn't the first Royal Caribbean cruise to have changes made to avoid the Middle East.

Royal Caribbean announced its 9-month world cruise would be re-routed around Africa as well.  The original plan was for Serenade of the Seas to go through the Suez Canal in May. 

Instead of sailing through the Middle East, Serenade of the Seas will transit Africa and offer its guests an immersive tour of the continent. The 42-day route will visit a number of countries around Africa, including the Seychelles, South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, and Senegal.

Houthi attacks wrecking vacation plans

While cruises in the Middle East do not constitute a major region for sailings, it's certainly impacting many lines and people's vacations.

Attacks by the Iran-backed rebel group have prompted a military response, and the cruise industry has had to shift gears.

Royal Caribbean Group had already made changes to avoid the region when the Palestinians sparked a war with Israel on October 7. The ensuing conflict sparked the Houthis to launch their own attacks on interests in the region as a sign of support.

Carnival Corporation rerouted itineraries for 12 ships across seven brands for voyages scheduled to sail through the Red Sea through May.

This includes two world cruises on Princess cruise ships.

MSC Cruises cancelled three sailings in April to avoid the Red Sea. Instead of going through the Middle East, the MSC ships will sail with no passengers on board and go around Africa.

I heard great things about Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas, so I went onboard to see if it's as good as I read.

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships combine modern amenities with technological wonders for a fantastic cruising experience.

Many cruisers feel that Royal Caribbean got a lot right with this category, so I was excited to experience my first cruise on a Quantum Class ship.

I took my first cruise on Anthem, choosing a 7-night sailing out of Cape Liberty and stopping at Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau.

After sailing on Anthem of the Seas, I absolutely agree that this is a top-tier ship.

With 2,090 staterooms and 16 guest decks, the ship has ample space for all 4,095 passengers on board.

She’s a large ship, 1,138 feet in length and 136 wide. 

Not only was my Anthem cruise my first on a Quantum Class ship, but it was also my first time sailing out of Cape Liberty in New Jersey.

Based on this experience, I’ve written a comprehensive review of what sailing on Anthem of the Seas is like in 2024.

Capacity

Anthem comfortably holds 4,905 passengers and 1,500 crew members. However, you would never be able to tell that over 6,000 people are onboard while walking around the ship.

Each venue was spacious, with enough room to accommodate all the cruisers. I enjoyed how separated and closed-off some of the venues were. 

For example, even though the Royal Esplanade is a long, open space, it is separated into two floors, which spread out the space.

Not only that, but each venue located nearby (the Music Hall, Boleros, and the Royal Theater) is fully closed off from the Esplanade.

This ensures that you can’t see or hear everyone at the same time, which I really appreciate.

And yes, while there were chair hogs on sea days, I never experienced a moment where I couldn’t find a chair where I wanted one. There were always at least one or two available.

As a matter of fact, I found much more seating than I expected!

It seemed like most of the cruisers onboard Anthem for a 7-night cruise were families with kids, or large groups of extended family members.

Strangely enough, it was easier for me to get lost onboard than it usually is on Oasis-class ships, even though Anthem is smaller.

My theory is that the strategy of dividing the ship into neighborhoods, like Royal Caribbean does in its Oasis and Icon-Class ships, really does help you comprehend and remember the space you’re in. 

Entertainment

Anthem of the Seas had a wide variety of exciting performances, games, and events. 

Even over the seven-day cruise, I barely had enough time to see everything.

Read more: I'm new to Royal Caribbean and tried 4 different kinds of cruise ships, here's what I like about each

Two70

The first show I saw onboard was Spectra’s Cabaret, a stunning mixture of music, dance, and technology. 

I loved the song selections and the colorful, flamboyant costumes.

Two70 impressed me with its six moving LED screens and wide, comfortable seating.

I also thought it was an amazing venue for events like the Captain’s Corner and “Are You Smarter Than a Crew Member?” trivia.

The wide glass walls brought in sunlight and gorgeous sea views, while access to the library at the top of the venue made for plenty of space. 

Royal Theater

Games and shows also played in the Royal Theater, such as the popular “We Will Rock You” musical. 

While I was looking forward to seeing this performance, apparently I waited too long.

On the last two days of the cruise, which were both sea days, I decided to go and see the show. 

Days 6 and 7 each had two performances scheduled, and I attempted to go to the last three.

However, all performances were canceled due to the heavy waves and high winds. For the safety of the performers, they chose not to do the performances.

I completely understand why, but this was my first time experiencing such bad sailing conditions that the indoor shows had to be canceled!

The Royal Theater was also home to one of the most confusing musicals I’ve ever seen: “The Gift.” 

The singing and dancing were incredible, but I struggled to connect the plot with the songs chosen.

Dining

While Anthem of the Seas has a broad selection of delectable specialty restaurants, I chose to focus on the complimentary dining options for this cruise.

There’s a wide array of food included in the cruise fare on Anthem: the Main Dining Room, the Windjammer, the Cafe at Two70, Cafe Promenade, Sorrento’s Pizza, SeaPlex Dog House, and Solarium Bistro.

Main Dining Room

The Main Dining Room was very hit-or-miss. Some nights, the food was sublime. Other times, it tasted bland or wasn't warm enough.

Our waitstaff was always willing to help out, making suggestions or getting us any other dishes we preferred. I can’t blame them at all for the quality of the food!

But it was a little frustrating to look at a menu and never know if I would enjoy what I ordered.

The service and atmosphere of the Main Dining Room, however, blew me away.

Our waiters were friendly and helpful. They served us to the point of almost predicting our needs.

And I loved the soft, jazzy electronic music that played each night.

My friend and I were seated at a large table, so it seemed that another party was meant to join us. Despite us hopefully waiting each night, we ended up dining alone for the length of the cruise.

Windjammer

I can hardly believe it, but—after six cruises—I feel sick of the Windjammer buffet. 

Maybe that's just because I've been to the Windjammer so often, not only on my past cruises but also over the seven days I spent on Anthem. Or perhaps the food was subpar compared to the other Windjammers I’ve been to on Royal Caribbean ships.

Much like the Main Dining Room, I felt that the meals were hit or miss. 

For example, I usually love all the Indian food served at the Windjammer. On Anthem, however, I only enjoyed a third of the Indian dishes I tried.

Exemplary Guest Service

During meals on Anthem of the Seas, head waiters announced that the ship’s customer service has been the best-rated in the fleet for the past eight weeks.

Based on cruiser survey ratings, the ship’s waitstaff has the best service out of all the other ships.

This may sound like an easy rating to grab, but I honestly agree.

Anthem’s staff, from head waiters to bartenders to chefs, were endlessly charming and attentive. 

I definitely felt that it was some of the best service I’d experienced on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Read more: I’ve cruised on 4 Quantum Class ships. Here are 7 things Royal Caribbean got right with these mega ships

Bars

The service at the bars on Anthem of the Seas was just as ideal as on the rest of the ship.

It was quick and the bartenders were quite friendly, eager to have a conversation when they got the chance.

I also got to use the Bionic bar for the first time. The experience was delightful, but I only bothered to use it once; it felt more like a trendy sensation than a place to sit down and consistently order.

I also noticed that the robots were down for maintenance quite often, so it would have been hard to order there frequently.

The Vintages bar, located on deck 5, quickly became my favorite spot to grab a drink. 

It was open until midnight each night, growing dark and comfortably quiet with speedy service. 

They also have an incredible Mint Berry Delight, which tastes like a sparkling blueberry mojito.

Ports of Call

For a seven-day cruise, Anthem’s itinerary was more sea-day focused. 

We only made stops at three ports: Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau, Bahamas. 

As someone who already resides in Florida, a stop at Port Canaveral was completely uninteresting. 

We stayed onboard instead and enjoyed the amenities with fewer guests around.

I did go explore on the days we visited Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau.

However, given how sea-intensive this cruise was, I would only recommend this itinerary to cruisers who are confident they’ll enjoy everything Anthem has to offer.

I loved this ship and the activities onboard, but if you prefer more exciting ports, I would advise you to choose a different cruise.

Compared to her sister ships, such as Ovation of the Seas, which travels to Alaska, Anthem had one of the more uninteresting itineraries at the time of my sailing.

Stateroom

This was my first time staying in a virtual balcony interior stateroom—a concept that debuted on Quantum of the Seas, Anthem’s sister ship.

I enjoyed being able to look at what was going on around the ship while still inside the stateroom. Just having a small view of the outside world was worth it!

Our stateroom felt clean and very modern, with navy blue and gold decorations. The design was also upgraded, but some changes were more efficient than others. I disliked how the storage was split up over multiple places in the cabin.

This month, I sailed onboard Anthem of the Seas in the cheapest cabin possible. 

It turned out to be an interior virtual balcony room, with a high-definition screen.

Anthem of the Seas is a newer Quantum Class ship, originally launched in 2015.

She has 2,090 staterooms in total, able to hold over 4,000 passengers at double occupancy.

With 16 guest decks, Anthem is a large, comfortable ship great for families and cruisers looking for multiple activities. 

Anthem of the Seas provided a high-tech, comfortable cruise experience beyond my expectations.

For my cruise on Anthem, I booked the cheapest possible room through the guarantee cabin process.

The total for this 7-night cruise (including pre-paid gratuities) was $1914.38, which breaks down to about $137 per night, per person.

Royal Caribbean assigned me the cabin for a lower overall price.

However, this meant I wasn’t assigned the room until a few weeks before the cruise.

When I arrived onboard, I realized that I had been assigned a virtual balcony stateroom—my first time seeing this type of cabin.

A virtual balcony is a method cruise ships have introduced to bring an ocean view to windowless inside cabins. 

A high-definition, 80-inch screen replaces a window in the cabin, instead playing a live feed of the view outside. The screen shows you a real-time look at what is going on outside, almost as if you did have a balcony room.

Royal Caribbean first pioneered these cabins on Quantum of the Seas, Anthem’s sister in the Quantum Class.

Read more: 10 Awesome things to do on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas

I was excited to see the strong points of this stateroom category that I've never tried.

My stateroom was located on Deck 8 towards the front of the ship, a great middle location. This made it easy for me to walk down to the Royal Esplanade on Deck 5, or to take a quick elevator ride up to the Windjammer and pool area on Deck 14. 

Because Anthem's middle decks are all dedicated to guest cabins, my travel companion and I had a very quiet area to sleep in. 

We didn’t suffer from the banging noises of the anchor below or stomping feet above.

When we first walked in, I immediately noticed the large, glowing screen on the far wall. The virtual screen stretched from the floor to the ceiling, projecting a live feed of the outside area.

Although having a live feed in the room felt eerie at first, I found that it was actually very nice to get a peek at what was going on around me. 

When it was raining, I could take a look at the screen and see the wet weather right away.

When the ship arrived at Perfect Day at CocoCay, I saw the blue waters from the comfort of my stateroom.

In a regular interior cabin, you are more cut off from the ship’s surroundings, clueless to what’s going on unless you leave the room and head to another deck.

The feed stayed on 24/7, and although Royal Caribbean’s website says you can switch the screen off, I never found a way to do so.

Unfortunately, the bright screen kept glowing into the night, even though the view was nothing but black.

We could cover it with the white and blue curtains, but they didn’t serve to completely block the blue light.

This was one disadvantage of staying in a virtual balcony cabin because I usually love the deep darkness of a windowless inside cabin.

If the curtains weren’t adjusted perfectly in front of the screen, the light still shone into the room, keeping me up at night.

To the left of the screen, I saw a quality dresser with drawers and a lamp on top. Inside the dresser was the cabin’s mini-fridge, which I didn’t use enough to tell if it kept food cold. I just stored fruit or desserts inside.

Beside the dresser, I found the cabin’s vanity/desk. 

The white chair in front was stylish and had a useful handle on the back. I could easily grab the handle to pull the chair out from the desk.

Above the table space sat a few cubbies for storage, and various ports for charging. From American to European to USB ports, this area provided several options.

The only downside here was that we left all our devices to charge on the desk, cluttering up the area.

I liked the sleek, modern look and feel of this wood furniture, but the ring light seemed dimmer than in other cabins I’ve stayed in. 

Opposite the dresser and vanity sat a long, blue couch. It was large enough for both myself and my friend to sit on it, and also leave bags and clothes there when we needed them.

The cushions and pillows matched the dark blue shade of the stateroom.

The cabin's design felt very modern, and everything was clean and tidy. However, I had one major gripe with the cabin’s layout: storage.

Typically, Royal Caribbean staterooms have one large closet in the front of the room, and various drawers and shelves throughout.

This cabin split the closet into two parts instead: one on either side of the beds.

The left side held a closet with more shelf space and a safe for security. The right side had a more traditional closet, with space and hangers for tall clothes and jackets.

My travel companion and I had to decide if we would split our clothes into both sides, leaving us to walk around the beds and each other every time it was time to put together an outfit.

Or, we could compromise and one of us could have all the shelf space, while the other got to hang all her clothes.

We went with the second option, but I still felt annoyed that the closet was split into two separate areas.

I did love the extra shelf space above the beds—these cabinets were deep and wide, and there was one above each bed.

One design problem I noticed with my cabinet was that it opened from the top, and the corner would hit the closet door each time. 

The only way I could solve this was by leaving the closet door open whenever I opened up the cabinet. 

Between the beds, there were two nightstands with large shelf space. As I am now used to, there were no USB ports or outlets in these nightstands by the beds.

And above each bed was a warm, golden lamp.

Past these beds, I found the cabin’s bathroom.

Although it was small, I thought that it was one of the most modern-looking and clean bathrooms I’ve seen.

The shower had a wide, curved door, giving us just a little more space inside.

The bathroom counter was long, with a large sink. Strangely enough, the counter beside the sink was thinner than the sink itself. 

However, there was still enough shelf space above and below the sink where I could store toiletries.

The bathroom had several hooks for items, but the size and shape seemed ill-suited to hang towels on. When I tried to hang towels on the hooks, they would slide right off.

All-in-all, the room was clean and modern, with some design changes compared to the cabin layout I’m used to. 

While I enjoyed the cabin overall, some of these design changes were less efficient than others.

Two different Royal Caribbean cruise ships have reported having an issue with their propulsion systems.

Over the past few days, cruise fans have reported being notified of a propulsion issue on Oasis of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.

Here's what we know about each ship's situation.

Anthem of the Seas

Customers with upcoming cruises on Anthem of the Seas have gotten emails from Royal Caribbean to inform them of itinerary changes because the ship must travel slower.

In the email, Royal Caribbean informed guests Anthem must sail at a reduced speed because of an issue with one of the ship's engines, "one of the ship's four engines requires maintenance which impacts our speed."

"While this impacts our ability to deliver on the original itinerary, we're confident that it will still be an exceptional cruise vacation."

Depending on the itinerary, scheduled stops in Port Canaveral, Florida or Nassau, Bahamas have been dropped from the itinerary. 

The October 30 and November 5 sailings are confirmed to have had changes to their itineraries.

Royal Caribbean apologized for the change in itinerary, "We're very sorry about this change to your itinerary. We look forward to seeing you onboard."

For at least one sailing, guests received a one-day cruise fare refund in the form of an onboard credit. 

Anthem of the Seas is currently sailing from Southampton, wrapping up her 2023 European cruise season.

Oasis of the Seas

Guests on the current sailing of Oasis of the Seas received a letter in their cabin to inform them of an issue with one of the ship's propulsion pods.

The ship's captain made an announcement and a letter was sent to reconfirm the details, "As our Captain announced, an electrical component in one of our three propulsion pods needs replacing. Our crew is currently working through the repairs as we speak."

"While everything else is functioning at 100%, as a precaution we've lowered our speed, which means we'll arrive in Orlando (Port Canaveral) Florida a little later than planned."

The reduced speed has had a minimal impact on the ship's itinerary, with a delay coming into Port Canaveral by about an hour.

The letter went on to apologize for the change, "We're terribly sorry for the impact to your cruise. Please know, your safety and comfort, along with that of our crew, remain our top priorities."

Oasis of the Seas is currently homeported in Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

In a Facebook group for Oasis of the Seas, a number of cruisers confirmed the issue, but also reported everything seems fine for them.

Tanya Stark-Beakes is on Oasis of the Seas on the current sailing and said the issue doesn't seem to have much of an impact, "It’s very minor. We’ll just be a little late to Port Canaveral (it initially started with having to deliver a patient to Virginia and having to go full speed after that). We’re still moving at a good pace."

Margaret Tricarico also confirmed nothing has changed much for them, "Yes, the Captain made an announcement around 8:30 last night. It’s fine. We’re motoring along and we can see the sun starting to rise on the horizon"

Cruise ships have redundant engines for this situation

Cruise ships encountering a propulsion issue is not unheard of by any means.

Cruise ships have multiple engines, and often not all engines are running even when there are no issues. This allows the ship to give engines a break, and have backups when a situation like this arises.

In most cases, the ship is able to continue operating safely, albeit at a reduced speed.

Last month, Radiance of the Seas had a propulsion issue that required Royal Caribbean to cancel two sailings so that repairs could take place. Cancelling cruises for a propulsion issue is quite rare and indicative of an acute problem that necessitated a more prompt response.

Historically, ships with propulsion problems have been able to sail and either make repairs along the way, or hold off until a scheduled upcoming dry dock.

There will be a new Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing from Singapore in 2025.

One of the last pieces of the 2024-2025 cruise deployment has fallen into place with Royal Caribbean's announcement that Anthem of the Seas will sail from Asia for the first time ever.

Anthem of the Seas will begin sailing from Singapore in October 2024, replacing Spectrum of the Seas.

Singapore has been a stronghold for Royal Caribbean, having been the first homeport to allow cruises to restart in late 2020.

Since then, Spectrum of the Seas has sailed short 3- and 4-night cruises primarily from Singapore.

Spectrum of the Seas will shift to China, where she will sail from Shanghai and re-open China and Far East cruises for Royal Caribbean.

Spectrum will begin sailing from Shanghai, China in April 2024.

Spectrum of the Seas, sailing from Shanghai, will offer 4- and 5-night cruises visiting popular destinations in Japan. Spectrum will also offer eight sailings from Hong Kong starting in December 2024, to places in Japan, China and Vietnam.

Royal Caribbean will open bookings from July.

“This is the moment we – along with Chinese holidaymakers – have been waiting for. Our return to China is an exciting milestone that could only be marked with Spectrum of the Seas, which became a household name with Chinese families and travellers alike when it debuted in Shanghai as the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean ship in 2019,” said Bert Hernandez, senior vice president, International, Royal Caribbean International.

“We thank the government of China for establishing a pathway forward and continue to be committed to expanding the cruise industry in a region we have sailed from for more than a decade. This has also opened up a world of opportunities to expand the variety of holidays in Asia, as another award-winning ship sets sail in the region with the introduction of Anthem of the Seas in Singapore.”

Best features of Anthem of the Seas

Anthem of the Seas is one of the Quantum Class ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, and she was the second Quantum Class ship to be launched.

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is considered a great cruise ship to book for several reasons:

Innovative Features: The ship boasts innovative and exciting features like the North Star observation capsule, where guests can enjoy panoramic views, and the Ripcord by iFly indoor skydiving simulator.

Variety of Activities: Anthem of the Seas offers a wide array of activities to suit different interests and ages. From bumper cars and roller skating at the SeaPlex to surfing on the FlowRider, there are plenty of options to keep guests entertained throughout their cruise.

Entertainment Options: The ship offers Broadway-caliber shows, such as "We Will Rock You" and "The Gift," providing high-quality performances that rival those found on land.

Guests can also enjoy live music, comedy acts, and various themed parties onboard.

Dining Experiences: Anthem of the Seas provides a diverse range of dining options, including specialty restaurants such as Jamie's Italian, Wonderland, and Chops Grille. The ship also offers complimentary dining venues and casual eateries.

Family-Friendly Amenities: The ship caters to families with children, offering dedicated spaces like the H2O Zone water park and the Adventure Ocean youth program, which provides age-appropriate activities for kids and teens. 

Relaxation and Wellness: Anthem of the Seas features a tranquil Solarium, an adults-only retreat with pools and whirlpools, as well as a luxurious spa and fitness center. Guests can unwind and rejuvenate while enjoying ocean views and indulging in spa treatments.

Modern Accommodations: Anthem of the Seas offers comfortable and modern staterooms, including spacious suites, balconies, and virtual balconies. These well-appointed accommodations provide a relaxing and enjoyable environment for guests to retreat to.

Best features of Spectrum of the Seas

Spectrum of the Seas was designed for the Asian cruise market, and has a few special offerings. 

Suite Enclave – Royal Caribbean’s first and exclusive space for the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations in a private area, featuring exclusive floor access, an elevator, private restaurants and a dedicated lounge area.

Two70 – Boasting stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforming into a multidimensional theatre by night, this transformative space flaunts six agile Roboscreens, breathtaking live performers and mind-bending aerialists to create unimaginable visuals.

SeaPlex – The largest indoor active space at sea, featuring bumper cars, laser tag, fencing, archery and more.

Star Moment – A lively and energetic karaoke venue where family and friends come together to belt out and sing like stars.

Family Friendly Accommodations – From exterior balcony staterooms to interconnected rooms, to the signature two-level Ultimate Family Suite, an expansive, multiroom retreat complete with its own slide and cinema that also doubles as a karaoke stage, there’s an array of staterooms designed for the whole family.

Signature Experiences – A bold lineup of guest favourites are on deck, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the North Star, an all-glass observation capsule which ascends 300 feet above the ocean to deliver incomparable 360-degree views; and RipCord by iFly, the first sky diving experience at sea.

A World of Flavours – There are 19 dining options that serve up a variety of cuisines, including Hot Pot, an authentic Chinese dining experience; Teppanyaki, a celebration of Far East flavours cooked in Japan’s traditional teppanyaki style; and Sichuan Red, a new specialty dining experience tailored just for Spectrum, where diners can savour a bold tapestry of spices and Sichuan flavours. Signature classics include imaginative cuisine at Wonderland, American steakhouse Chops Grille and authentic rustic fare and handmade pasta at Jamie’s Italian.