Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas: Bermuda & Boston

“Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama…” – The Beach Boys

I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about a blog post (other than the first one)! I know it’s been a while, but between work and grad school, the traveling had to take a back seat (hehe). SAD, I know! We did take a trip to the Mall of America back in February/March, which I still plan to blog about in the future because it was such an awesome experience.

Before I dive into Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, if you have not read my post on cruising in general, read that first! I will be using some terminology that I covered in that post and to keep this post from taking a half hour to read,

Now that I’ve got your engine revving, I’m going to tell you all about the incredible Anthem of the Seas. The Anthem is the second ship to be built in the high-tech (and newest) class of RCI ships, the Quantum class. The Quantum class of ships are the highest-tech ships in the world. Literally.

Let me start with some of the incredible features that the Anthem has:

• WOW Bands: Picture something somewhat similar to Disney’s Magic Bands. WOW Bands are waterproof, plastic bracelets with RFID chips inside them that serve as your SeaPass Card, identification, room key, and credit card. The only thing for which the WOW Band cannot be used is getting on and off the ship (this requires the physical SeaPass Card). When arriving on board, WOW Bands are available at the Guest Services desk. They are only $4.99 and worth it.
• Royal IQ & VOOM: Royal IQ is the RCI app that is used onboard the Anthem and other Quantum class ships. The app can only accessed when connected to the ship’s WiFi. This app serves as your Cruise Compass (the daily activities planner), calendar, way to make reservations for dinner/shows/activities, menu browser, and instant messaging platform (with a messaging or internet package). There are iPads set up in stations around the ship that can be used to access Royal IQ, in case you decide to completely disconnect while on board. We received a free internet package for booking this cruise on board our last cruise. VOOM is the fastest WiFi at sea, offering speeds akin to what one would find on land with plenty of bandwidth for streaming video and sharing to social media.
• Virtual Balconies: This is one of the coolest innovations on any ship out there. There are different types of staterooms on cruise ships. The most common are interior staterooms (which do not include a natural window), ocean view staterooms (just a window), balcony rooms, and suites. Interior staterooms are going to be the least expensive (and typically smallest) rooms. Some people may feel uneasy about getting an interior stateroom because of the claustrophobic feeling of not having a window. Royal Caribbean’s solution for this was the invention of the virtual balcony. No longer does one need to worry about not having a view of what’s going on outside. No longer does one need to run up to one of the top decks to view a sunset. Virtual Balconies are floor-to-ceiling 4K screens vertically-mounted onto the wall. High definition/frame rate cameras are strategically placed around the ship to give a LIVE FEED view of the outside. There was no lag, no pixilation, and the sound can even be turned on to hear what’s going on outside. There’s a small remote in your stateroom to control whether you want sound or not and whether or not you want it on or not. There are even closable curtains to give it a homey feel. Very impressive! If you would like to learn more about how these amazing feats of technology work, here is a video from Royal Caribbean.
• Bionic Bar: Have you ever had a drink mixed by a robot? It can happen on the Anthem of the Seas! Bionic Bar by Makr Shakr is the coolest way to enjoy drink at sea. The order is placed via an iPad at the Bionic Bar. After that, onlookers watch as robotic arms mix the drinks! Bottles of alcohol (and other ingredients needed) hang from the ceiling. Here’s a video of the Bionic Bar in action.
• Two70: Two70 is the swankiest venue to hit the high seas. During the day, you can lounge on the comfy chairs and love seats and have gorgeous, 270 degree view of the ocean at the aft (back) of the ship. Cafe Two70 is attached, where you can grab breakfast, lunch, or a snack (they have the BEST Caesar Salads!). At night, the space is completely transformed into the hottest spot on board. They have super high-definition TV screens on robotic arms. The screens can move in all directions, which especially comes in handy during the “Robo Shows” offered during the day. Vistarama is a new technology featured on the Anthem. Eighteen projectors transform the windows in Two70 into incredible, real-life scenes. Plus the 12K resolution makes the picture quality insane. Two70 hosts Spectra’s Caberet which is a show that features acrobatics. This is also the venue where they hosted the crazy, adults-only game show: The Quest. Two70 also has a bar, and upstairs is the home of The Library with a book collection, computer area, and a variety of board games.

Not only does this ship feature amazing technological advances that you won’t find on any other ship, it is home to so many cool, new venues, activities, as well as dining options.

• RipCord by iFly: Indoor skydiving at sea. More on this later…
• SeaPlex: A new venue featured on the Quantum class ships. Where else can you play ping-pong, Xbox, basketball, kickball, ride bumper cars, AND fly from a trapeze?? Nowhere!
• Dynamic Dining: Traditionally, cruise ships feature one, giant, 3-level dining room where you go and eat each night. On the Anthem, you can choose from 4 complimentary restaurants that all have their own theme in terms of decor and food. The menus changed in each restaurant mid-week so if you loved one restaurant over the other, during the second half of your cruise you could go back to that same restaurant and experience a whole new menu. This is the best innovation (in my opinion) for cruising in general. One of the million reasons why I LOVE Royal Caribbean is that they aren’t afraid to try new things. Dynamic Dining is the future of cruise dining, and where better to try it out for the first time other than on the incredible Anthem of the Seas?

So that’s JUST the cool new technology and activities featured on the Anthem.

Now, I’m going to go deck by deck and tell you about each and every venue you will experience on the Anthem. From restaurants, to cool new music venues, to shops, to skydiving. YES, skydiving.

Speaking of diving, let’s dive on in:

Deck 3:

• Casino Royale: Want to make a bet, play the slots, or grab a drink? You can do it all at Casino Royale. The casinos on RCI ships are always a hoppin’ spot on the ship. There are tons of slot machines (bright and shiny new ones on this ship!), video poker machines, blackjack tables, craps, roulette, and Texas Hold ’em. What’s amazing about RCI (and a lot LESS intimidating than Vegas) is that you can walk up to any table where there’s a dealer, and if no one else is there to play, they will give you lessons on the game! Pretty cool! My mother-in-law doubled her money on a slot machine on her 3rd pull! If you keep an eye on your Cruise Compass, you will see certain times when the table games are cheaper and when they are having competitions. Casino Royale is also one of the few designated smoking areas on board.
• Music Hall (bottom level): Music Hall is a new venue to RCI ships, and, boy, is it AWESOME! This is one of my favorite venues on this ship. It’s a two-story venue where you can go enjoy dance classes during the day, and live music at night. The 70’s Disco Party was held in Music Hall on night 2 of the cruise. There are 2 bars (one upstairs and one downstairs), plenty of seating, a giant dance floor, AND 3 billiards tables upstairs!  We saw Aerosmith cover band “Walk the Line,” and they were INCREDIBLE. I am a HUGE Aerosmith fan, so I was a little skeptical at first, but once they got the show going, I was impressed! They look and sound just like Aerosmith. You don’t want to miss this show!
• Chic & The Grande: The first 2 of the 4 complimentary Dynamic Dining restaurant options. Chic is kind of like walking into one of the Kardashian’s houses and eating dinner with them. Everything is clean, white, sparkly, and, for the lack of a better term: Chic. The Grande is for those that LOVE formal night. Every night at The Grande is formal night-Men MUST have a sport coat. One menu is used for the first half of the trip, and then they change the menu for the second half. For the whole trip, there are 3 basic dishes that stay on both menus. For this trip it was a chicken dish, a fish dish, and a steak dish. You can check out the menu on the touchscreen outside of the restaurants as well as on your stateroom TV.

Deck 4

• Royal Esplanade: Deck 4 is home to the Royal Esplanade. The Royal Esplanade is basically the “main street” of the ship. Here on the Royal Esplanade your will find a variety of restaurants and snack spots, 2 Coke FreeStyle machines, high-end shopping spots, The Shop (home to Royal Caribbean apparel), Port Merchants (where you can buy tax and duty free alcohol/tobacco), and more!
• Food
  • Sorrento’s: So obviously I have to start with our favorite part of the Esplanade: Sorrento’s! Sorrento’s is mainly a pizzeria, with a few other items as well. They serve up traditional cheese and pepperoni as well as other varieties of pizza. Sorrento’s opens up at around 11am and stays open until 3am. If you need a hot snack, Sorrento’s is the place to get it. This is one of the places that Will and I miss the most when we come home; we just love that free pizza! This is also the location of the aforementioned Coke Freestyle machines.
  • Cafe Promenade: This snack spot is joined directly to Sorrento’s. Cafe Promenade offers all sorts of complimentary snacks including: small sandwiches, cookies & other small desserts, coffee, hot chocolate, and tea. We loved grabbing a slice at Sorrento’s and then getting our favorite Coconut Ranger cookies from Cafe Promenade. There was never a time that I did not see Cafe Promenade open, and they always had both sandwiches and sweets available.
  • La Patisserie: This cozy coffee shop is located directly across from Cafe Promenade. This sweet shop offers up slices of homemade cakes, macarons, Starbucks coffee, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! This is not a complimentary coffee shop. The decor in La Patisserie is beautiful! Bright pinks and white are the color scheme, and they have the cutest tea kettle decorations. This is a great little spot to grab a slice of cake and a cup of coffee after dinner. It’s such a cozy spot with substantial seating. There are also Royal IQ iPads available here. Finally, the Morning Show that comes on every day on your stateroom TV is filmed here! For new cruisers, the Morning Show features the cruise director and activities manager goofing off and informing you on the days activities.
  • Michael’s Genuine Pub: One thing that Will especially wanted on a cruise was craft beer. RCI finally has it with Michael’s Genuine Pub. Michael’s offers typical pub food at reasonable prices (this is not a complimentary restaurant!). Will and I had the fish and chips, and they were delicious. They are a full-service bar with craft beer, cocktails, and wine. All recipes and craft beers are chosen by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Shwartz. Michael’s is situated right in the middle of the Royal Esplanade with seating right outside the pub (so you can do some great people watching). Live music happens most nights in Michael’s too!
  • Silk and American Icon Grill: Silk and American Icon Grill are the other 2 complimentary dining rooms available on the Anthem. Again, like Chic and The Grande, the menus rotate midway through your cruise. American Icon Grill offers up a variety of American cuisine. Awesome salads, meat and pasta dishes, and more. We had a wonderful dinner and awesome wait staff at American Icon Grill. Also, for the cheapest souvenir on the open seas, you will find a Pressed Penny machine in this restaurant! For 51¢, you can bring home a souvenir exclusive to the Anthem. Silk is an Asian inspired restaurant offering up Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian food. I LOVED THIS RESTAURANT! I found the portions were bigger here than the other restaurants. We loved it so much, we went twice! Not only is the food delicious and beautifully presented, the decor of Silk is breathtaking. As you enter there is a HUGE dining room table with giant, high back chairs with an awesome Chinese lantern chandelier overhead. Beautiful reds, pinks, and oranges decorate this restaurant. It’s (in my opinion) the most beautifully-decorated restaurant on the ship. You can’t go wrong eating at Silk!
• Drinks & Dancing
  • Boleros: Boleros is a latin-themed club found on must RCI ships. Here, you can salsa to live music or grab a drink at the full service bar. Ole!
  • Music Hall: This is the upper level of the two-story venue. This level is home to 3 billiards tables and another full service bar. There’s also plenty of seating to view the dance floor and stage.
  • Diamond Club: The Diamond Club is located through Music Hall. This club is exclusively for Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle members of the Crown and Anchor Society. Here you can find complimentary continental breakfast, and drinks!
• Shopping
  • Impulse, Sundials, and Prince & Greene: These three stores are joined together, directly across from Music Hall. Impulse is a makeup and perfume heaven! You will find brands like Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder, and more. What’s awesome about shopping onboard is that everything is tax and duty free! I was able to buy my usual Estée Lauder eyeliner at a cheaper price, PLUS no tax! Sundials is a sunglasses shop with several famous name brands including Maui Jim and Ray Ban. Finally, Prince & Greene is an upscale clothing store for all your clothing needs. About midway through the cruise, there was a $10 t-shirt sale on Royal Caribbean t-shirts! It was held in Prince & Greene. If you decide to go, know that people start lining up early! They arrange the shirts in sections by size the night before. I scoped out what I wanted, arrived early to stand in line, and got both of my shirts in no time.
  • Regalia Luxury Watches: If you’re in need of a new timepiece, check out Regalia. You will be able to find items by Cartier as well.
  • The Shop: The spot to find all your Royal Caribbean brand gear. From t-shirts to water bottles, to towels and Christmas ornaments: anything RCI you want, you can get!
  • Port Merchants: The place to buy all your tax and duty free liquor and tobacco products.
• Guest Services & Loyalty Desk: Guest Services is where you can go with all of your Anthem of the Seas questions. If you have any questions about your bill, stateroom, WOW Bands, or need to make a reservation for a show or attraction. The Loyalty Desk is where you can get signed up to be a part of the Crown and Anchor Society (free). They can also check your points and let you know which level you are within the Society.
  • The Royal Theater: The bottom level of the gorgeous Royal Theater. The theater seats 1,299 people and is home to all the major broadway-style productions and evening headliners. On the Anthem, the main show is We Will Rock You, a broadway show that is a tribute to one of my favorite bands: Queen! It was amazing! There were so many Queen songs, lots of dancing, and great singing. You’ll LOVE it! This is where Love and Marriage and Name that Tune game shows take place as well.

Deck 5

• The Royal Esplanade: The Royal Esplanade continues on a second level on the Anthem. This is different than most RCI ships. You can enjoy restaurants and the famous Bionic Bar on Deck 5 Forward.
• Food and Drink
  • Chops Grille & Prime Table: Chops Grille is a non-complimentary steakhouse aboard the Anthem (and all Royal Caribbean ships). We usually eat at Chops when we cruise, but since this cruise had so many new restaurant choices we did not eat here while on the Anthem. From past experiences, Chops is a fabulous dinner and worth the cover price of $35/person. The setting is very intimate and the food is amazing. What is special about Chops on the Anthem is Prime Table. This is a private, 14-person dining experience. Taste wine and indulge in a fabulous 5 course meal.
  • Izumi: Izumi is your sushi one stop shop. This is a small venue where you can indulge in your favorite Japanese cuisine. This is also non-complimentary.
  • Wonderland: Another Royal Caribbean exclusive, you will never eat anywhere like Wonderland. This non-complimentary restaurant is too unique to even describe. If you are a risk-taker or a foodie, this is the place for you.
  • Schooner Bar: Schooner is home to most of the trivia activities that go on on board the Anthem, and most other RCI ships. The Schooner has a rustic, sailboat theme. Dark woods and dim lights, with plenty of seating, as well as a piano with a bar attached and stools, so you can literally get up close and personal with performers. The Anthem is home to Matt Yee’s Outrageous Sing Along Show (Adults Only) at the Schooner. This show was held literally every night of the cruise. Unfortunately, we never had a chance to go, but as we would walk by and this show was going on it was always PACKED and Matt Yee was going to town on that piano and always with some sort of crazy wig or hat on. I would definitely try to catch one of his shows while on board!
  • Bionic Bar: I’ve already touched on this above, so I won’t go on much about it here. Definitely go to Bionic Bar, even if it’s just to watch it in action.
  • The Royal Theater: Level 2 of the Royal Theater is located on this deck. Will and I always choose the upper level of the Royal Theater because it’s typically less crowded (especially for handicap seating), and you get great views of the whole theater.
• The Via: The Via is the most elegant part of the Anthem. It almost feels as if you are walking through a museum. It is beautifully lit, there is beautiful artwork, a gorgeous statue, exquisite dining options, and the best seating you’ll find on the ship. As you walk in The Via, you will notice to the right fine dining options, and to the left, ample seating to relax. In the middle, there is a giant, silver statue: a prime spot for photos on nights that you get dressed up. The Via is also home to the famous “Hershey Kiss” chair! This white, wicker chair is in shape of a Hershey Kiss. Inside is a plush cushion and pillows so you can crawl inside and relax. It makes for a fun photo op. As you continue down the hall, there are several comfortable chairs and couches for lounging.  Caution: these chairs induce the desire for napping! Several nights, we walked by and saw the same people stretched out reading a book. It’s an oddly relaxing area of the ship, even though it’s located in one of the busier areas. The ambiance gives it a relaxing feel, so I think as people walk through, they are just naturally relaxed and quiet. If you follow the walkway you’ll eventually end up at the Aft of the ship and arrive at Two70.
• Food and Drinks
  • Jamie’s Italian: MY FAVORITE!! Jamie Oliver is a world-renowned British chef who makes some of the most amazing Italian food on the planet, in my opinion. This restaurant is the only non-complimentary restaurant on the Anthem where you can enjoy indoor or outdoor seating. I loved the design and the colors used in this restaurant. The food was to die for. Fresh pasta made every day. Need I say more? The bread they bring out comes in this cute little bucket, and you get a variety of hard and soft with drizzled olive oil and spices over them. They then give you a plate with olive oil and balsamic mixed together for you to dip, The appetizer I chose (and totally suggest) was the Crab and Avocado Bruschetta. According to the menu it is, “Sourdough topped with Devonshire crab, avocado & yogurt, with apple, chill, mint, & lemon.” It was delicious and a good sized portion. Will got the Crispy Squid (yuck!), but he said it was delicious. There are several other options, including the famous meat and cheese plank. My step-father-in-law is vegan, and the restaurant went above and beyond to accommodate his needs. He was able to order an appetizer, main course, and dessert with no issues. If you have any food allergies/sensitivities, or if you are vegetarian or vegan, let your waiter know, and they will be sure to accommodate you. This is true not just at Jamie’s, but at all restaurants on board (including the Windjammer!). For my main course, I chose the Penne Comodoro, which is fresh penne pasta with tomatoes, garlic, and basil, and topped with mozzarella. My mouth is watering. Finally for dessert, I got the lemon meringue cheesecake. Jamie’s cover charge is $25 for lunch or $30 for dinner. Totally worth every penny.
  • Cafe Two70: This is a hidden gem on this cruise. Cafe Two70 offers both breakfast and lunch. This is probably the healthiest restaurant on the Anthem. The best thing (in my opinion) is the custom salad bar. The Caesar Salads are so good! Will and I would grab a salad, and then take it to Sorrento’s to eat with our pizza. It was a lighter lunch while avoiding all the lines of the Windjammer. Cafe Two70 also offers small sandwiches with chips, a dessert case, and smoothies. The food is all complimentary, but the smoothie bar does cost. After you get your food you can walk straight into Two70, where there is ample seating (couches and low tables and high top tables and chairs).
  • Vintages: Vintages is a wine bar onboard the Anthem. Vintages is a cozy and classy bar where you can sample wine from one of the many wine dispensers. There’s also a full service bar located in Vintages as well.
• Shops
  • Hublot & Bvigari: Hublot is a fancy Swiss watch shop and Bvigari features Italian jewelry, fragrances, and timepieces.
  • NextCruise: The spot to book your next cruise! I ALWAYS suggest to book while on board. You will get the very best deal, and it’s also (in my opinion) more informational and quicker to talk to a person as opposed to just booking online. There is a sign-up sheet at NextCruise the day that you embark, so you can sign up to meet with a NextCruise representative on a day and time that works best for you.
  • Two70: I already talked about Two70, but you will find it on this deck of the Anthem. There is a upper level of Two70 as well, but the only way to access it is from inside Two70.
  • Art Gallery, Photo Gallery, & Shore Excursions: These are all self-explanatory and found on this deck of the Anthem.

Decks 6-13: ALL staterooms with the exception of Adventure Ocean (kids club) being located on decks 11-12, and a conference center located on deck 13.

Deck 14
Sports Deck: One of the best parts of the Anthem (or any cruise) is the pool deck! There is a wide variety of seating, pool, and food/drink options on the Anthem. What is unique to the Anthem is that there are 3 pools on the ship: an adult’s only pool, an indoor pool (with a retractable roof), and an outdoor pool.

• Solarium: ADULTS ONLY- I REPEAT- ADULTS ONLY!!! Enter into a magical oasis of big, comfy, round beds, lounge chairs, whirlpools, a 3-tiered pool, a bar, restaurant, and even a swing! Another huge advantage of the Solarium is the views. The Solarium is located at the Aft of the ship. There are giant windows around the whole Solarium that even allow you to slide them open for that amazing ocean breeze. We really noticed a GIANT step-up in comfort on this ship. I will tell you that the Solarium will get full quickly on days at sea. Make sure you get down at a decent time so you can grab one of the comfiest seats (aka the beds). You will also find the famous swing in the Solarium. This awesome swing is down at the lowest level of the Solarium between the two whirlpools. You have to at least take a photo on the swing! There is an observation deck out of the Solarium which makes for a great spot for when you initially sail out. There’s full service bar as well as a complimentary restaurant (Solarium Bistro) open for lunch and dinner.
• Indoor Pool: The indoor pool is the middle pool on this deck. There is a retractable roof that they can open up or choose to keep it closed. There is plenty of seating at this pool as well. There are also 2 whirlpools located in this pool area. I noticed that most families with children often stayed in this pool more so than the others. There is a pool bar located at this pool as well.
• Outdoor Pool: The outdoor pool is the hot spot on this deck. Located at the forward of the ship, the outdoor pool has a main pool as well as whirlpools and an H2O Zone which has a small wave pool, water sprayers, and a cyclone pool. You can also grab a drink at the Sky Bar, a burger at Johnny Rockets, and watch a movie on a giant theater screen.
• The Living Room: The teen hang out spot!
• Coastal Kitchen: This is a restaurant just for suite guests…whomp whomp!
• Windjammer Marketplace: This GIANT buffet open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will encounter a variety of cuisines, a salad/fruit bar, bread bar, dessert bar, pasta bar, and more! The breakfast is pretty much the same every day, however lunch and dinner rotate. One thing I loved about this Windjammer were the hand-washing stations! I know that sounds really lame, but I’m a germ freak. On every other cruise ship. there are bathrooms located close by to the Windjammer and hand sanitizer stations as you walk into the Windjammer. This Windjammer however has hand-washing stations with 5-6 sinks where you are required to wash your hands before you enter the buffet. There is ample seating, including handicap-accessible tables and outdoor seating as well.

Deck  15
I like to call this deck the Adventure Deck! There are so many awesome things to do that you can’t find on any other ship.

• Vitality at Sea Spa: The Vitality at Sea Spa is the place for you if you enjoy working out…or not! Vitality is split into to parts: the spa, and the gym. I did actually go into the gym (to find my in-laws…), and it is a nice gym. The views are amazing, and there are plenty of available machines. They also hold classes/seminars in the lower level of the gym. Different seminars/classes include ones about haircare, makeup, and skincare. If you are more about that relaxing life, you can check out the spa side of Vitality. At the Vitality Spa, you can get your hair or nails done, get massages, or skin care treatments. These treatments doall cost. The Vitality offered a price list outside of the spa for you to get an idea before making a decision. They do offer specials and deals throughout the cruise. On our honeymoon, Will and I went and had a couples massage on one of the days that we were in port. We got an amazing deal and the massage was awesome! My tip: always check out the spa when you are in port. The majority of the passengers on the ship will get off the boat when you port, therefore they often offer some sort of deal for the few that have stayed on board. Make sure you check them out!
• North Star & North Star Bar: The North Star is one of the iconic features exclusive to the Quantum class ships. The North Star is a glass dome that about 13-14 people can fit in, and it is wheelchair accessible. It is attached to a 300 ft. arm that lays flat but then raises straight up to give you 360 degree views of the ship/surrounding areas. After the arm is fully extended, it can turn both to the left and to the right. It then straightens back up and lowers. It is a SMOOTH ride. There’s no swaying or jerking motions. I would suggest riding the North Star while ported. There is just so much more to see! We were in Bermuda the day we rode it and we got the most amazing pictures. It’s also really cool to see the ship from that level. Fully extended, the North Star is just short of being as tall as Big Ben! Apparently on the last day, they will lower the North Star over the sides of the ship- yikes! I did not witness this, but I did hear several people talking about it. It would be AWESOME to take the ride over the side, so if given the opportunity, take it! The North Star also has a bar (not IN the dome, but under it!). According to the frequently asked questions on the RCI site, you can book private rides on the North Star at sunset or sunrise. It’s also been used for marriage proposals AND wedding ceremonies! WHAT?!
• SeaPlex: This is the one venue I wish was available on all classes of Royal Caribbean ships. The SeaPlex is a venue that is one of a kind. When you walk in, it will remind you of a gymnasium. There’s a huge court with basketball goals and netting to block off the court into different sections. The SeaPlex isn’t just a basketball court, they also hold dodgeball and soccer games as well. Sometimes these activities are offered for just teens or just younger kids, or just adults. The two most interesting parts of the SeaPlex are the Circus School and bumper cars.
  • The bumper cars were a BLAST! There was typically a long line (extending 2 sides of the court), and rides last only 3 minutes. The good part is that there isn’t a limit to how much you ride, you just have to wait back in the line again. It was SO much fun, and the wait wasn’t too bad. They do allow you to take videos via your phone or GoPro which is awesome. We captured some priceless videos on our ride! It was funny to see how many adults were in line for the bumper cars – sometimes more than kids!
  • One of the most thrilling experiences you won’t find anywhere else is Circus School. At Circus School, you learn how to swing from a trapeze. It seems easy by watching, but, HOLY COW: believe me when I say it’s HARD! They offered Circus School multiple times throughout the cruise, and they do kids sessions and adult sessions. I do suggest getting there to get in line at least 30 minutes before the start time. The line forms FAST and they only take the first 40 people. They start by teaching you on the floor the technique for once you get up on the platform. Then, they get you harnessed in (again still on the floor). Next, you climb up a ladder (this was probably the most nerve-wracking part) to the platform which was roughly 30-35 feet in the air. Once on the platform, they harness you in. After that, you chalk your hands, and you’re ready to fly! Before any of the guests fly, a staff member swings from the trapeze to show you what to do once in air. They make it look effortless. I was the lucky one to go first (in the group of 40), and I stretched out, grabbed the trapeze, said a prayer, and swung. I made it about halfway out when my arms totally gave out, and I plummeted into the giant air mat! I looked like a hot mess, but it was worth it! I totally suggest doing it. How often can you say you flew at sea?!
  • The SeaPlex has a second level that is accessible by stairs or a small elevator within the SeaPlex (no outside entrance/exit into the second floor). This level is home to the Xbox station, ping pong tables, and air hockey tables. It’s a really cool hangout spot for teens and young adults.
  • If you head back downstairs, you can grab a bite to eat at the complimentary SeaPlex Doghouse. The Doghouse offers four styles of delicious hotdogs and is home to another Coke FreeStyle machine.
  • If you head out the side door you will see the Rock Wall. The rock wall is SO much fun! There are 4 different levels of difficulty on the wall. There was never really a huge wait for the rock wall.
  • Right outside of the rock wall you’ll see Gigi the Giraffe! Gigi is a HUGE giraffe, dressed in a bright yellow bathing suit with a pink inflatable donut. Gigi makes for a really cute photo op!
• Deck 15 also has running track around it and there are plenty of lounge chairs to lounge on a second level to get that ultimate tan!

Deck 16:
Can you believe that we are finally at the top of the ship?! Deck 16 is home to some exhilarating and thrill-seeking activities.

• Lowrider: The Flowrider is a surf simulator that can be found on most RCI ships. You can either boogie board or surf on the Flowrider. The Flowrider is just as much fun to watch as it is to participate. Kids are usually surprisingly talented on the Flowrider. You can actually pay for private lessons, or rent the Flowrider out for an hour to yourself. It’s a blast, but definitely watch the safety video in your stateroom to determine if you really are up for it! The staff at the Flowrider do an awesome job at helping you and giving you tips for how to ride the wave.
• Ripcord by iFly: INDOOR SKYDIVING AT SEA. I REPEAT: INDOOR SKYDIVING AT SEA! This was by far the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. If you go on the Anthem, or any Quantum class ships, you HAVE to do Ripcord. You do need to start by getting a reservation, and I suggest you go the first day. I waited to reserve on my birthday, which was day 3 of the cruise, and it was already booked that day (as well as the rest of the week). They do have a standby line, but reservations get served first. I suggest getting in line at least 30 minutes before it opens if you are doing standby. I lucked out and was able to be in the second group to fly with standby. I think it helped that we were docked in Bermuda, and most people were off the ship. The first thing you have to make sure you do before any of the physical activities is sign a waiver. These activities include: Ripcord, the Flowrider, the rock wall, bumper cars, and Circus School. The quickest and easiest way to sign these waivers are on your stateroom TV. There is a tab on the main screen when you turn your TV on where you can go to digitally sign your waivers. Your other options are to either sign your waivers at the Royal IQ iPads found around the ship, or at the actual venues of these activities. Once your waiver is signed, you and a small group of about 1-12 people are led into a room to watch a safety and training video. Here you learn all the hand signals used to communicate with your flight instructors. Once the flight instructor reviews the hand signals with you, it’s time to suit up! You are not allowed to wear any jewelry and you must have tennis shoes. If you don’t have tennis shoes, you must wear socks and they can provide you shoes. You can not be in a bathing suit or any wet clothes. I suggest wearing “gym wear” that is thin and light since you are putting on a full jumpsuit. They have plenty of sizes (children as young as 3 can ride!). Next you get goggles, earplugs, and a helmet. Once everyone is suited up, it’s time to go upstairs and FLY! The instructors are incredible. They will show you how to enter the tube. The winds in the tube blow up to 100mph. Once in the tube, you have 1 minute ride. It doesn’t sound long, but when you have 100 mph winds blowing in your face, and you have essentially no control of your body, 1 minute is plenty long! An instructor stays inside with you and will help keep your body under control. He will let go and let you fly solo as well. There are handles on the back of your jumpsuit so he can grab you if necessary. There is a second instructor outside of the tube controlling the wind speed. You keep your eyes on him initially as he uses his hand signals to make sure you are using the proper techniques to fly. Your family and friends can sit around the tube and watch you fly. Definitely have someone take photos and videos! It’s the best memento from the trip! Another thing I found really interesting about the whole skydiving experience was the relationships you make with your fellow flyers. My group included a family of 5, with a child as young as 4-5 years old. There was also 4 other women ranging in ages from 20s-70s. We were all so excited (and nervous), so it was really nice to share in our excitement with each other before and while we flew. This is a MUST do on this ship!

Ports of Call:

• Bermuda: Bermuda takes the cake for being my new favorite island. What I loved about this cruise is that we were docked for 2 days in Bermuda. Most of the time when you dock, you are typically at your port for the day (6-12 hours), so it was really cool to have the experience of being docked in the island for a full day and some change. Bermuda is awesome for many reasons. First of all, just take a look at the picture at the top of this post. Enough said. The views were amazing, and taking a ride in the North Star while ported here gave us some incredible pictures. Bermuda also was easy to navigate, and there were plenty of handicap-accessible sidewalks. Finding a beach (without paying the high prices of an excursion) was quite simple. We found a beach within a mile of the dock, where we paid $5 a person for a full day at the beach. In May, the waters were still a little chilly, but it was definitely swimmable. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars right off the dock.
• Boston: What a unique trip to travel to both Bermuda and Boston! We are huge Boston fans, so we were thrilled to get to go back. Check out my Boston blog here for ideas of what you can do in Boston! While we were there this time, our main goal was to meet up with my stepfather-in-law’s brother for lunch. We walked to a local Mexican restaurant called Papagayo to meet him. The food was great! We are huge Mexican food fans and we were very excited to get some good Mexican food while ported! On our way there, Will even got to see one of his old co-workers that we happened upon! Since we had just been to Boston about a year ago, we decided to stay on board rather than venturing off further after lunch. Later in the day, our friend Eric, who lives there, met us at the port to catch up. I will say that there isn’t much to do directly off this port. I suggest having an excursion or a plan set up if you ever cruise to Boston.

PHEW! That was a lot! I hope you are PUMPED to cruise. I know I am!

As mentioned, Will and I did book our next cruise on board (like we always do) because it’s the BEST way to save money for your future cruise. By booking on board, we were able to access the BOGO 60% off deal a day before it launched online. Because of our Crown and Anchor points, we were able to receive an additional deal for certain staterooms. We also received onboard credit of $50 for our next cruise. Currently, Royal Caribbean is running a deal of 50% off your second guest! GO BOOK NOW!

We will be cruising in December onboard Royal Caribbean’s newest, (and currently the largest cruise ship in the world) the  Harmony of the Seas. Check it out here, and stay tuned for a blog post about the Harmony!

Since the last post, I’ve become active again on Snapchat! Follow me here to see snaps of my adventures at home and abroad!

Keep Traveling,
-Cassie