Royal Caribbean Just Brought Its Most Advanced Ship to Australia—And It's About to Change Everything
Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas debuts in Sydney, bringing cutting-edge features like indoor skydiving and Broadway shows to Australian waters for the entire 2025-26 summer season.
If you’ve been watching the Australian cruise scene, you already know something big just happened. On October 31, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas made its spectacular debut in Sydney Harbour, and this isn’t just another ship arrival—it’s a game-changer for Down Under cruisers.
According to Travel and Tour World, this marks Royal Caribbean’s “growing presence and long-term commitment to the Australian market,” bringing one of the industry’s most innovative vessels to the region for the entire 2025-26 summer season.
Why This Ship Is Different
The Anthem of the Seas isn’t your typical cruise ship. As a Quantum Class vessel, it’s packed with features that were practically science fiction just a decade ago. This is a ship that lets you experience indoor skydiving over the ocean at RipCord by iFly, race around in bumper cars, or lace up roller skates at SeaPlex—the largest indoor sports complex at sea.
But the innovation goes beyond the adrenaline-pumping activities. The ship brings world-class entertainment to Australian waters, including a full production of “We Will Rock You,” the Olivier Award-winning musical celebrating Queen’s greatest hits. When you combine that with specialty dining options like Jamie’s Italian and Johnny Rockets Express, you’re looking at a vessel that delivers a vacation experience most Australian cruisers have never had access to in their home market.
What This Means for Australian Cruisers
Here’s what makes this deployment so significant: Anthem of the Seas is offering 24 different voyages ranging from quick two-night coastal escapes to epic 18-night adventures across the South Pacific. That level of variety is unprecedented for the Australian market.
The options break down like this:
Short Getaways: Five cruises ranging from 2 to 4 nights for those weekend escape vibes, plus a special 5-night journey to Hobart, Tasmania.
New Zealand Exploration: Multiple 9 to 12-night voyages that showcase the best of New Zealand’s stunning coastline and ports.
Holiday Magic: Special festive sailings for Christmas and New Year celebrations, giving families a completely new way to ring in the holidays.
Extended Adventures: For those with more time, longer South Pacific explorations that venture beyond the usual Australia-New Zealand circuit.
This variety means Australian cruisers no longer need to fly to the U.S. or Europe to experience Royal Caribbean’s most innovative ships and diverse itineraries. The vacation you’ve been dreaming about just became accessible from your home port.
The Bigger Picture
The arrival of Anthem of the Seas represents more than just one impressive ship coming to Australian waters. It signals cruise lines’ confidence in the region’s demand and their willingness to invest in bringing premium, cutting-edge vessels Down Under.
Royal Caribbean isn’t stopping here, either. The Voyager of the Seas is set to return to Brisbane on December 1, 2025, offering 22 new itineraries from that homeport, including a 25-night Transpacific voyage to Seattle. Together, these deployments represent Royal Caribbean’s biggest Australian summer season yet.
And here’s a fun bonus for families: six exclusive “Wiggly-themed” cruises will feature The Wiggles with live concerts and character events aboard both ships. If you’ve got young kids who can’t get enough of the iconic Australian children’s entertainers, this is your moment.
What Sets Anthem Apart in the Australian Market
While Australians have access to several quality cruise ships, the Anthem of the Seas brings features that simply haven’t been available in the region before. The indoor skydiving simulator alone is worth the price of admission—imagine free-falling over the ocean without ever leaving the ship.
The SeaPlex facility represents another leap forward. This isn’t just a small activity area; it’s a massive indoor space where you can play basketball, try the flying trapeze, or participate in circus workshops. At night, it transforms into a roller skating rink or bumper car arena. This kind of multi-purpose venue is extremely rare on cruise ships, and having it available on Australian itineraries opens up entirely new possibilities for family vacations and group travel.
The Entertainment Factor
Royal Caribbean has always been known for pushing boundaries with onboard entertainment, and Anthem of the Seas delivers this in spades. The “We Will Rock You” production brings Broadway-caliber theater to sea, featuring Queen’s legendary music in a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Beyond the main theater, the ship offers diverse entertainment options from live bands to aerial performances in the Royal Theater. The Music Hall pays tribute to British rock, while Two70° combines technology and artistry with floor-to-ceiling windows that transform into a massive digital display for Vistarama shows.
This depth of entertainment means you won’t be bored during sea days—in fact, you might find yourself wishing the itinerary had more sea days just to experience everything the ship offers.
Timing Couldn’t Be Better
The ship’s arrival for the Australian summer season (November through March) positions it perfectly for travelers looking to escape the northern hemisphere winter or for locals seeking a unique way to experience their own backyard. The variety of itinerary lengths means it works for everything from a quick birthday celebration to a once-in-a-lifetime extended vacation.
The timing also coincides with peak holiday travel, when families are looking for memorable experiences that please multiple generations. The Anthem of the Seas delivers exactly that—grandparents can enjoy specialty dining and theater shows, parents can unwind at the solarium, and kids can burn energy at SeaPlex or the H2O Zone water park.
What This Says About Australia’s Cruise Future
When major cruise lines deploy their newest, most innovative ships to a region, it’s a clear vote of confidence in that market. The Anthem of the Seas deployment suggests Royal Caribbean sees Australia as a growth market worthy of significant investment, not just a place to send older ships during repositioning seasons.
This trend benefits all Australian cruisers because it raises the bar for what’s expected in the region. As Royal Caribbean brings more premium ships Down Under, other cruise lines will likely follow suit to remain competitive. That means more choices, better features, and more innovative experiences for travelers who prefer to cruise from Australian ports rather than flying overseas.
Making the Most of This Opportunity
If you’re considering an Australian cruise in the 2025-26 season, the Anthem of the Seas represents a unique opportunity to experience one of the industry’s most advanced ships without the hassle and expense of international travel to reach it. The variety of itinerary options means there’s likely a perfect sailing for your schedule and interests, whether you’re looking for a quick coastal cruise or an extended South Pacific adventure.
The ship’s capacity and range of activities also make it ideal for groups—whether that’s a family reunion, friends’ getaway, or corporate retreat. Few vacation options can accommodate diverse age ranges and interests as seamlessly as a modern cruise ship like the Anthem of the Seas.
The deployment of Anthem of the Seas to Sydney marks a significant moment for Australian cruising. It’s not just about one impressive ship coming to town—it’s about what that ship represents for the future of cruising in the region. For Australian travelers who’ve been watching enviously as new ship innovations launched in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, this is your chance to experience the cutting edge of cruise travel from your own backyard.
With 24 different voyages to choose from and features that set new standards for the Australian market, the Anthem of the Seas isn’t visiting Sydney—it’s raising the bar for what cruisers Down Under can expect from their vacations. And that’s something worth celebrating, whether you’re planning to book one of these sailings or simply appreciate what it means for the industry’s commitment to the region.
Source: Travel and Tour World - Sydney Welcomes Anthem of the Seas