Peek inside the bridge of world's hottest new cruise ship
ABOARD THE ANTHEM OF THE SEAS -- Always wondered what it's like on the bridge of a giant cruise ship? Our new video tour in the carousel below offers a first-hand look.
Shot on board Royal Caribbean's new Anthem of the Seas, which was christened last week in Southampton, England, the video offers a complete 360 degree view of the ship's bridge in a special player that you can control.
Scroll left and right while the video is playing to move around the bridge on your own while listening to Anthem captain Claus Andersen talk about what makes it so special .
Located at the front of Deck 12, Anthem of the Seas' bridge spans its entire 135-foot-wide superstructure from port to starboard. Indeed, as is common on giant cruise ships, it extends beyond the sides of the ship so that deck officers can look down the sides of the vessel. There are duplicates of the ship's navigational controls at a console at each bridge wing.
The 168,667-ton Anthem of the Seas 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.
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.
With the addition of Anthem, Royal Caribbean now has 23 vessels.
Anthem will home port in Southampton 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 last week was among a handful of U.S. media outlets to get early access to Anthem of the Seas. For our 'first look' tour of the ship, click through the carousel below. For more of our coverage, including nearly 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
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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
Small changes mark Royal Caribbean's latest megaship
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