Cruise ship tours: Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas

The top deck of Anthem of the Seas features a large main pool area open to the sky.

The main pool on Anthem of the Seas.

Anthem of the Seas' main pool area has a large LED screen for showing movies and other entertainment.

Anthem also has an interior pool area with a retractable glass roof that can be opened on warmer days.

Another view of the indoor/outdoor pool on Anthem of the Seas.

Lounge chairs line a shallow pool area in Anthem of the Seas' retractable glass-roofed pool area.

Perhaps the most notable feature on Anthem of the Seas' top deck is North Star -- a giant mechanical arm that takes passengers soaring above the vessel in a glass-enclosed capsule.

The view from Anthem of the Seas' North Star as the ship sails in the English Channel on April 19, 2015.

The H20 water play zone atop Anthem of the Seas.

In addition to two large hot tubs, the main pool area has a swirling wave pool.

A Johnny Rockets burger eatery is located on Deck 14 near the main pool.

Anthem of the Seas was built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, as noted on its official name plate located on Deck 14 near Johnny Rockets.

The heart of Anthem of the Seas' interior is the Royal Esplanade -- a multi-deck boulevard that's home to eateries, lounges, shops and entertainment venues.

New on Anthem of the Seas is an interactive chandelier overlooking the Royal Esplanade by artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.

A centerpiece of the ship's interior public area, the interactive chandelier by artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has 200 light bulbs that glimmer to the recorded heartbeats of previous passengers who place their hands on a monitor below it.

Also new on Anthem of the Seas is a soaring art piece the fills the multi-deck atrium near the middle of the ship.

A close-up view of the new art piece in the atrium.

Jamie's Italian on Anthem of the Seas is celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's second restaurant at sea -- the first is on sister ship Quantum of the Seas.

The Jamie's Italian eatery on Anthem of the Seas has a distinctly different color scheme than the one on sister ship Quantum of the Seas highlighted by blue and yellow chairs.

Located on Deck 5 of Anthem of the Seas along The Via, Jamie's Italian serves fresh pasta made on board daily.

A sampling of appetizers available at Jamie's Italian.

A large tuba-like reflective art piece acts as a center piece just outside of Jamie's Italian in The Via on Deck 6 on Anthem of the Seas.

Adjacent to Jamie's Italian is Vintages, Royal Caribbean's signature wine bar.

Vintages offers tastings of wines from around the world.

In addition to bartender-served drinks, Vintages is home to automatic wine dispensers.

A seating along The Via near Vintages.

Like Quantum of the Seas, Anthem has a large, living-room like multi-purpose lounge called two70 that is home to shows in the evening.

Like Quantum of the Seas, Anthem also has a casual cafe and eatery called the cafe@two70 that is connected to the two70 lounge.

The Cafe@two70 serves up breakfast burritos and bagels in the morning and sandwiches and made-to-order salads at lunchtime.

A premium coffee bar is part of the casual cafe@two70, which is connected to the two70 lounge.

A new-for-Anthem art piece just outside the two70 lounge.

An unusual cruise ship feature on Anthem of the Seas is the Bionic Bar -- a bar where the bartenders are robots.

The robot bartenders at the Bionic Bar mix drinks as passengers watch.

Located along the Royal Esplanade is Izumi, a 40-seat, extra-charge Japanese restaurant.

Like other Royal Caribbean ships, Anthem of the Seas features a Schooner Bar -- a signature lounge for the line.

chops

The Music Hall on Anthem of the Seas.

The bar at the Music Hall.

A two-story-high strip of shopping outlets along the Royal Esplanade includes an Armani store.

The Royal Esplanade is home to Michael's Genuine Pub -- the second American gastropub at sea (the first is on Quantum of the Seas).

The bar area at Michael's Genuine Pub.

Next to Michael's Genuine Pub on the Royal Esplanade is a Sorrento's pizza outlet.

Inside the Sorrento's pizza outlet on the Royal Esplanade.

Located on Deck 4 along the Royal Esplanade, the Latin-infused Boleros bar serves mojitos and margaritas.

The bar at Boleros.

A wall-length art piece by Italian artist Silvio Lorio that uses LED lights is located on Deck 5 at the entrance to the Royal Esplanade. It's called Odysseia, FOS, Fotos #15.

New on Anthem of the Seas is an art installation on Deck 5 that features works by three artists, Richard Hudson, Andrea Stanislav and Nicole Cohen.

The most fanciful restaurant on Anthem of the Seas is Wonderland, another new concept for Royal Caribbean that debuted on Quantum of the Seas.

Wonderland offers imaginative cuisine in an Alice in Wonderland-themed space.

The largest eatery on Anthem is the casual Windjammer Marketplace, located near the top of the ship.

Hand washing stations are located in a nook at the entrance to the Windjammer's Marketplace.

Fresh-made bread at the Windjammer's Marketplace.

A buffet station at Windjammer's.

A small outdoor seating area is available at the back of the Windjammer Marketplace overlooking the ship's stern.

Anthem of the Seas' Casino Royale is one of the largest casinos at sea, filling up a significant portion of a deck.

Casino Royale features dozens of slot machines and table games.

Located on Deck 4, the American Icon Grill is one of four large restaurants on Anthem of the Seas that are available to passengers at no extra charge.

The American Icon Grill seats 430 people and serves class American cuisine.

Also on Deck 4 is Silk, an Asian fusion restaurant that also is available to passengers at no extra charge.

Located on Deck 3, the Grande Restaurant is billed as a luxuriant nod to a bygone era and is the most formal of Quantum's four larger restaurants.

Located on Deck 3, Chic serves up contemporary cuisine in a contemporary setting.

Like Quantum of the Seas, Anthem features a multi-use indoor activity zone called SeaPlex.

Among the activities offered in SeaPlex is roller skating.

The multi-use SeaPlex on Anthem of the Seas also is used for bumper cars.

Pods in the SeaPlex are filled with games such as foosball and ping pong.

The SeaPlex Dog House, located in a food truck-like nook of the SeaPlex, serves up traditional hot dogs, brats and sausages.

A giant sculpture of a Giraffe wearing a swimsuit and buoy by artist Jean Francois Fourtou, named GiGi, is a focal point of Anthem of the Seas' exterior decks.

Like other Royal Caribbean ships, Anthem of the Seas has a rock climbing wall. It's located on Deck 15.

Sunset over the Solent River near Southampton, UK as the Anthem of the Seas heads to sea on April 18, 2015.

Anthem of the Seas' FlowRider surfing pool is located at the back of the ship on Deck 15.

Anthem of the Seas is the seventh Royal Caribbean ship with a FlowRider surfing pool.

Anthem also features RipCord by iFLY, the second skydiving simulator at sea (the first is on Quantum of the Seas).

Located at the front of the ship, the glass-enclosed Solarium is an adults-only retreat with cascading lagoons and an indoor pool.

Large hot tubs overlooking the front of the ship are among the allures of Anthem of the Seas' adults-only Solarium.

Anthem of the Seas has 2,090 cabins, more than three quarters of which are balcony cabins such as this one.

Most balcony cabins measure 198 square feet and feature two twin beds that convert to a royal king.

Most balcony cabins measure 198 square feet and feature two twin beds that convert to a royal king, a desk area and a sofa.

Built-in storage areas flank a built-in sofa in balcony cabins.

Built-in storage areas in balcony cabins include room for hanging clothes, shelving and a personal safe.

The bathroom of a standard balcony cabin found on Anthem of the Seas.

Anthem's balcony cabin bathrooms feature relatively spacious showers for a standard cabin on a cruise ship

The balcony of a balcony cabin on Anthem of the Seas.

Lounge chairs line the sides of Deck 15 on Anthem of the Seas.

The largest entertainment venue on Anthem of the Seas is the Royal Theater, which will house a production of the West End's 'We Will Rock You' and other shows.

The Royal Theater can house up to 1,300 people at once.

Located along the Royal Esplanade, La Patisserie serves up pastries and coffees is a colorful, contemporary setting.

Anthem of the Seas has a small Library located in a nook just off of the Two70 lounge.

Anthem of the Seas has a sprawling Vitality at Sea Spa located at the front of the ship on Deck 15. It offers a wide range of massages, wraps, facials and medi-spa treatments.

The Vitality Spa offers 19 treatment rooms.

The Vitality Spa also houses a hair and nail salon.

Spanning two decks, the Vitality at Seas Fitness Center offers several dozen treadmills, elliptical machines and other cardio and resistance equipment.

A separate room in the Vitality at Sea Fitness Center is dedicated to spinning classes and other fitness classes, which cost $12 per person per session.

Anthem of the Seas has a game zone called the Challenger's Arcade on Deck 15 next to the SeaPlex.

Located on Deck 11, Anthem of the Seas' Royal Babies & Tots is a play area for children ages three months to three years.

The Guest Services desk is located just off the Royal Esplanade.

The Guest Services desk area includes iPad station where passengers can make restaurant reservations, reserve shows and more.

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is registered in the Bahamas and thus flies the flag of that country off its stern.

An Anthem of the Seas life buoy at the ready atop Deck 15.