Family Cruising with Royal Caribbean – My Experience on Anthem of the Seas
In August, we set off from Southampton on Anthem of the Seas, and let me tell you, cruising from the UK is such a breeze compared to battling the chaos of airports during school holidays! From parking the car to sitting down in the buffet, it only took us 40 minutes. Talk about stress-free!
We had an amazing 9-night cruise to Spain and Portugal, stopping at beautiful ports like Vigo, Cadiz, La Coruna, and Lisbon.
Royal Caribbean really knows how to keep families entertained. The kids had endless fun with activities like the FlowRider surf simulator, bumper cars, rock climbing, and even Ripcord by iFly skydiving. There was an H2O Zone for splashing around and an indoor pool that was open until 11pm – a real treat for late-night swims when things were quieter. I loved relaxing nearby whilst the children splashed about with my favourite cocktail, the Curacao Cosmo, in hand.
School holidays onboard can be busy, but Anthem has plenty of chill-out spaces too. The adults-only Solarium was my go-to for some peace and quiet. It’s a lovely space with a pool, whirlpools, and even a bistro serving Mediterranean-inspired dishes – all included in your fare!
Speaking of food, there’s so much choice included in your cruise fare. The Windjammer buffet, Café Promenade, Seaplex Hot Dog, and Sorrento’s Pizza were great casual options. The main dining room was a standout for us, though. We loved the My Time Dining flexibility, and the kids even tried adventurous dishes like escargot and seafood. The waiters were so lovely with them, often entertaining them with magic tricks or dancing around the dining room.
The entertainment was next-level. We were blown away by the Broadway musical We Will Rock You, and Spectra’s Cabaret was this futuristic, cutting-edge mix of live performance and cinema. The kids especially loved the silent disco, which quickly became a family favourite!
We treated ourselves to a balcony cabin, and it was totally worth it. There was loads of storage, a big comfy bed for us, and a double sofa bed for the kids. Pro tip: bring magnetic hooks for extra storage space on the cabin walls. My favourite part? Watching the sunsets with a coffee or a cocktail from our private balcony – so peaceful. Plus you can have continental breakfast delivered to the cabin for free, so we often enjoyed a croissant and coffee with a view of our next port of call. For those of you with kids don’t worry you can lock the balcony door at the top so your little people can’t get out there without you.
In summary, Royal Caribbean nails family cruising. It’s packed with activities, has fantastic food options, and offers itineraries that keep everyone happy. While Anthem is moving on from the UK, Independence of the Seas is taking its place in 2025, and Liberty of the Seas is coming in 2026. Definitely worth considering if you're thinking about a family cruise!
