Royal Caribbean opened up bookings to the public for the first time for one of its newest cruise ships, Anthem of the Seas.

Anthem of the Seas, the second in the Quantum-class of cruise ships Royal Caribbean is actively constructing, will have its maiden sailing out of Southampton, England in April 2015.

She will offer 3 to 14-night cruises from Southampton in her first season.  

The inaugural cruise on Anthem of the Seas will be a 14-night cruise to Spain and the Mediterranean.

Anthem of the Seas is the sister ship of Quantum of the Seas, which launches in November 2014.  There is still yet a third unnamed Quantum-class cruise ship that will also be built.

Royal Caribbean and Meyer Werft have joined forces again to build Quantum of the Seas & Anthem of the Seas. This collaborative partnership has led to new levels in shipbuilding.

Royal Caribbean announced today that Adventure of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas will join Anthem of the Seas for a large Royal Caribbean presence in the UK in 2015.

Anthem of the Seas will offer 19 cruises to the Spanish, French and Italian rivieras, and the Canary Islands on three- to 16-night itineraries, and then reposition in late-October 2015 to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and sail five-night short Caribbean, six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries through April 2016 for its first winter season. 

Anthem of the Seas’ summer 2015 Europe cruises will be available for member bookings starting Feb. 26, 2014 and the ship’s winter 2015-16 Caribbean cruises will be open for members starting Mar. 12, 2014. Bookings for the general public on Anthem of the Seas’ summer 2015 Europe cruises and winter 2015-16 Caribbean sailings will be opened on Mar. 3 and 20, 2014, respectively. 

Serenade of the Seas will also be operating in the North Sea in summer 2015, and offer a range of Scandinavia and Russia, as well as Norwegian Fjords, sailings from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden. Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas will open for booking on Feb. 26, 2014. 

Adventure of the Seas will sail three- to 16-night, roundtrip itineraries to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, or Madeira, Azores and Canary Islands. The ship also will sail two trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyages – a 12-night itinerary from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Southampton on May 3, 2015, and from Southampton to Port Canaveral, Fla. on a 15-night return itinerary on Oct. 16. 

Brilliance of the Seas will reposition from Tampa, Fla. to its homeport of Harwich, England, on a 14-night trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyage on May 4, 2015, and continue with 12-night roundtrip Scandinavia and Russia sailings from mid-May through August. A July 29 sailing will take guests on a special 12-night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland itinerary, featuring an overnight call at Reykjavik, Iceland. 

For its part, Serenade of the Seas also will offer vacationers seven- to 13-night Scandinavia, Russia and Norwegian Fjord itineraries from May through August. The ship will sail from Copenhagen from May through June and in the month of August, bookending sailings from Stockholm from mid-June through July. 

Vacationers also can choose four repositioning cruises on Serenade of the Seas. The April 11, 2015, sailing will take guests on a 13-night Caribbean itinerary from New Orleans, La., to Boston, Mass., followed by a 15-night trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyage to Copenhagen via the North Sea. Finally, a 16-night westbound trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyage from Copenhagen to Cape Liberty via Iceland will depart on Aug. 30.

Royal Caribbean has tapped Cathelco to help protect Quantum of the Seas' hull and seawater pipework systems.

The Cathelco pipework anti-fouling systems will protect a total of 20 seachests on each vessel serving extensive shipboard equipment including freshwater evaporators, reverse osmosis systems, air conditioning chillers and sea water cooling pumps. The AF system will also protect a number of fire fighting pumps and their associated pipework.

In addition, all Quantum class ships will be supplied with Cathelco impressed current cathodic protection systems (ICCP) which safeguards the hull surfaces against corrosion. 

The 250 amp forward system will have an arrangement of two 125 C-Max disc anodes and reference electrodes wired to a thyristor control panel and mounted port and starboard. The more powerful 350 amp aft system will have two 175 amp C-Max disc anodes and reference electrodes. C-Max anodes are compact, lightweight and have the advantage of being diver changeable for easy replacement without drydocking.

Quantum of the Seas is currently under construction in Meyer Werft ship yard in Papenburg, Germany. Quantum is due for delivery in autumn 2014 with sister ship Anthem of the Seas to follow in the spring of 2015.

Royal Caribbean has hired marketing firm TVC in an effort to reach a younger audience in the United Kingdom.  Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship Anthem of the Seas will be based in Southampton and the hiring is in conjunction with the announcement.

The project work will build up to the new ship sailing out from Southampton in April 2015, with couples and families among the key younger groups targeted.

TVC client service director James Myers believes his company can help Royal Caribbean reach a new group of people, "The brief is about reaching a new audience, and reaching people who would not normally consider cruising."

The six-figure deal will use music to evoke "holidays and good times" to help Royal Caribbean expand its share of the UK cruise market.

"Reaching a new audience is seen as difficult, so we're trying to help dispel the myth that a cruise holiday may not be the coolest, most credible way to spend a holiday."

Royal Caribbean announced today that Anthem of the Seas, the second cruise ship in the brand new Quantum-class, will be home ported in Southampton, England in April 2015.

The new Quantum-class ship news was announced from the UK trade and press at a special event in London this afternoon.

Anthem of the Seas will spend its time between Southampton, offering Mediterranean cruises and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offering Caribbean cruises during the winter months.

The move is a play by Royal Caribbean to get a bigger piece of the £2.5 billion pie that Brits spend on cruising each year.

The 4,180-passenger Anthem of the Seas is being built in Papenberg, Germany.

UPDATE 12:50pm: Royal Caribbean did confirm that itineraries for Anthem of the Seas will go on sale in early 2014, along with more announcements about entertainemnt onboard.

Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's second Quantum-class cruise ship that is under construction, had her keel-laying ceremony today in Meyer Werft shipyard.

The first block for Anthem of the Seas put in place and marks the official start of construction of Anthem of the Seas.

Anthem of the Seas will be ready for service sometime in Spring 2015.

Royal Caribbean in the United Kingdom is beginning to spin up the public relations machine to prepare its fans for a big announcement on November 21, 2013.  Many are speculatiing it will be the formal announcement that Anthem of the Seas, the new Quantum-class cruise ship, will be based out of Southampton, England.

Royal Caribbean UK is teasing the event with the phrase, "A date that'll be music to your ears", which seems to play on the ship's name of Anthem.

The special event will be held in London at 4:30pm local time.

There's been speculation for months that Anthem of the Seas will be based in the UK, with a cruise port schedule site tipping many off earlier this year.  Royal Caribbean has been quiet on details for Anthem of the Seas beyond it had its first steel cutting back in August.

Anthem of the Seas will be the second Quantum-class ship behind sister ship Quantum of the Seas.  She is expected to debut in the spring of 2015.

Royal Caribbean announced today that interior designer and HGTV star Genevieve Gorder is the first advisor for the design of Quantum of the Seas.  Gorder is the first member of the Quantum Experience Advisors program, that features a group of celebrity experts in fields such as design, sports & fitness, entertainment and others who will work hand-in-hand with Royal Caribbean’s internal teams to provide their expertise to help shape interior design, key amenities and activities on the Quantum-class.

The Quantum Experience Advisors is bringing these industry professionals in to help ensure every aspect of the guest experience has been maximized to the fullest extent.

Gorder will be tasked with being the Quantum Experience Advisor for Design.  Gorder is collaborating with Royal Caribbean’s newbuild and design team to offer insights and opinions and influence the décor and furnishings of the loft and suite accommodations onboard Quantum of the Seas.

Working in secret since May 2013, Gorder has reviewed plans, fabrics, carpets and furnishings for the ship’s luxurious accommodations.  Gorder and her team have helped to provide a more cohesive look and feel to the onboard suites and lofts.

Royal Caribbean Executive Vice President of Operations, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, commented on the announcement, "Our teams at Royal Caribbean are always leading the charge in terms of delivering innovative and industry-leading ships and programming and now, by teaming up with some of the brightest and most talented professionals in their respective fields, we are sure to make the Quantum-class some of the most amazing ships to ever set sail.  Guest experience is our number one priority and ourQuantum Experience Advisors are bringing fresh insights, opinions and perspectives to help us deliver the kinds of WOW moments that can only be found on Royal Caribbean."

Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas are set to debut in November 2014 and April 2015 respectively.