New giant cruise ship to set sail on maiden voyage
SOUTHAMPTON, UK -- It's a big day for cruise fans as the biggest new ship of the year sets sail on its maiden voyage.
With 16 public decks and room for nearly 5,000 passengers, Royal Caribbean's new Anthem of the Seas is the third largest cruise ship ever built. Constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, it departs today from Southampton, UK on an eight-night voyage to France and Spain.
The 168,667-ton vessel is a sister ship to Royal Caribbean's much-ballyhooed Quantum of the Seas, which debuted in October with a number of first-for-the-industry features including a deck-top ride into the sky and a bar with robot bartenders. Both concepts also appear on Anthem.
The ships are being billed as the most technologically advanced cruise vessels ever. They boast super speedy Internet (a first for the cruise industry) and an all-digital check-in process that is cutting sidewalk-to-ship boarding times to under 10 minutes. Other gee-whiz features include the first skydiving simulators at sea and the first bumper cars at sea.
Anthem and Quantum are tied as the third largest cruise vessels ever built, smaller in size only to two other Royal Caribbean ships: Four-year-old Allure of the Seas and five-year-old Oasis of the Seas (watch the videos in the carousel below for a look at Anthem and Quantum's hottest amenities).
With the addition of Anthem, Royal Caribbean now has 23 vessels.
Anthem was christened Monday in Southampton in front of more than 1,000 invited guests. The ship will home port in the city through October for sailings to the Mediterranean and Canary Islands before permanently moving to the New York area. It'll sail out of New Jersey's Cape Liberty Cruise Port to Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Canada and New England.
USA TODAY Cruise this week is among a handful of U.S. media outlets getting early access to Anthem of the Seas. For our 'first look' tour of the ship, click through the carousel at the top of this page. Click through the carousel below for a first look at Anthem's swankiest suites. For more of our coverage, including more than half a dozen videos, follow the links at the bottom of this page or head to USA TODAY's Cruise Hub.
Live from Anthem of the Seas
Video: Man vs. machine: Who makes the ultimate cocktail?
First look: Inside the super suites on Anthem of the Seas
Video: The luxurious suite feature you just can't get at home
Photo tour: Inside Anthem of the Seas' swankiest suites
Third largest cruise ship ever christened by singing godmother
Video: Why your next vacation needs a 'fairy' godmother
Video: Sail onto the water in Anthem of the Seas in 30 seconds
Video: Take a 360 degree tour of Anthem's most luxurious suite
Watch 'terrified' reporter on Anthem's edge
Video: Inside look at Royal Caribbean's Quantum class
Video: Dangle over the edge of Anthem of the Seas
Photo tour: Inside the new Anthem of the Seas
Meet Gigi, Anthem of the Seas' giant mascot
Video: Meet Anthem of the Seas' 32-foot mascot
Video: Soar above Anthem of the Seas as it sails into Southampton
First look: Inside Anthem of the Seas