Anthem of the Seas

Last updated

Anthem of the Seas - Cruise Ship in Hamburg (16720740030).jpg
Anthem of the Seas in Hamburg, Germany
History
Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg Bahamas
NameAnthem of the Seas
Owner Royal Caribbean Group
Operator House Flag of Royal Caribbean International.svg Royal Caribbean International
Port of registry Nassau, Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas
Ordered14 February 2011 [1]
Builder Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany [2]
CostUS$940 Million (2015) [3]
Laid down19 November 2013 [1]
Launched21 February 2015 [1]
Sponsored byEmma Wilby
Christened20 April 2015 [4]
Completed10 April 2015 [1]
Acquired10 April 2015 [5]
Maiden voyage22 April 2015 [6]
In service2015–present [6]
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and type Quantum-class cruise ship
Tonnage168,666 GT [7]
Length347.06 m (1,139 ft) [7]
Beam
  • 49.4 m (162 ft) (max) [7]
  • 41.4 m (136 ft) (waterline) [7]
Draught8.8 m (29 ft) [7]
Decks16 (14 passenger-accessible) [8]
Installed power
  • 2 ×  Wärtsilä 12V46F (2 × 14,400 kW) [7]
  • 2 ×  Wärtsilä 16V46F (2 × 19,200 kW) [7]
  • 2 ×  Cat 3516C HD (2 × 2,500 kW) [7]
Propulsion
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) [10]
Capacity
  • 4,180 passengers (double occupancy) [8]
  • 4,905 passengers (maximum occupancy) [8]

Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the second ship of her class. The Quantum class is the fourth largest class of cruise ships behind MSC Cruises's Meraviglia class and Royal Caribbean International's Icon class and Oasis class by gross tonnage. [2]

Contents

Concept and construction

Anthem of the Seas docked at the Santa Catalina cruise terminal in Las Palmas, Canary Islands. El Crucero Anthem of The Seas en el muelle de Santa Catalina de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. (18146334606).jpg
Anthem of the Seas docked at the Santa Catalina cruise terminal in Las Palmas, Canary Islands.

On 11 February 2011, Royal Caribbean announced that they had ordered a new class of ships from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the first of which was scheduled to be delivered by autumn 2014. At the time, the project was code-named "Project Sunshine". [11] Later that year, two 20.5-megawatt ABB Azipod XO propulsion units were ordered for that ship. [9]

On 29 February 2012 the company announced that a second "Project Sunshine" ship had been ordered and would be delivered by Spring 2015, [12] and ordered identical Azipod propulsion units shortly thereafter. [9] Just under a year later, on 31 January 2013, Royal Caribbean announced the official name of the new class of ships, Quantum Class, as well as the names of the first two ships in the class, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas. [2] [13] The keel was laid on 19 November 2013. [14]

Service history

Anthem of the Seas was delivered to Royal Caribbean on 10 April 2015. [5] She arrived at her first homeport, Southampton, England, on 15 April 2015, to prepare for her maiden European summer season. [15] At a ceremony held in Southampton on 20 April 2015, she was christened by Emma Wilby, a British travel agent chosen after a search for a travel agent who could sing, and also because she exemplified "grace, beauty, a social conscious (sic) and a sense of adventure." [4] In addition to being a travel agent, Wilby is a military wife who sings in the Military Wives Choir in Kinloss, Scotland. [16]

The christening ceremony took place in the vessel's Royal Theatre in front of 1,300 guests. It began with a procession, followed by performances by the Reading Scottish Pipe Band, and Only Boys Aloud, a boys' choir from Wales. Wilby then sang Katy Perry's hit song "Firework", after which she pushed a button to send a very large bottle of Perrier-Jouët champagne down a zipline on the ship's top deck, from the North Star gondola thrill ride into a wall bearing the ship's name. [4] [16]

Facilities

Anthem of the Seas Section in Kiel Canal. Section for Anthem of the Seas in Kiel Canal.JPG
Anthem of the Seas Section in Kiel Canal.

Anthem of the Seas has 16 passenger-accessible decks with a total of 2090 passenger cabins. Her facilities include a Wave Loch Flowrider surf simulator, a rock-climbing wall, a skydiving simulator, swimming pools, a solarium, a Spa and Fitness Center, a theater and a casino. [8]

Incidents

On 7 February 2016, the ship was struck by "extreme wind and sea conditions" off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina while sailing south from Bayonne, New Jersey to Port Canaveral, Florida. The ship was caught in 30-foot (9.1 m) waves and a 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) apparent wind. Passengers were advised to stay in their cabins, as the rocking of the ship overturned furniture and caused damage in public areas and cabins, including collapsing part of a suspended ceiling and rendering one of the ship's two azipod propulsion units inoperable. [17] Royal Caribbean reported that only four passengers suffered minor injuries. The ship resumed sailing on 8 February, returning to port in the New York area to avoid further bad weather that had been forecast. Passengers were refunded their full cruise fare, and received a credit for 50% of their fare toward a future cruise within the next year. [18] [19]

On 4 September 2016, Anthem of the Seas was again confronted with stormy conditions generated from the nearby Hurricane Hermine, which was a post-tropical cyclone at the time. The ship experienced gusts of up to 90 mph. Again, passengers were confined to their staterooms to ride out the storm. However, this one caused less damage than the previous incident. [20]

On 7 February 2020, the ship was quarantined due to the coronavirus. A passenger from the 27 January 2020 sailing had traveled through mainland China where the virus was widespread at the time. Royal Caribbean got the test results back from the CDC on 8 February 2020, and the guest tested negative. The ship was cleared to sail on 10 February 2020. All 5,000 passengers due to sail on 7 February sailing had to find their own arrangements for lodging and ended up sailing to Bermuda for four days instead of the Bahamas for eight. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Caribbean International</span> Norwegian–American cruise line

Royal Caribbean International (RCI), previously known as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is a cruise line brand founded in 1968 in Norway and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997. Based in Miami, Florida, it is the largest cruise line by revenue and second largest by passengers counts. In 2018, Royal Caribbean International controlled 19.2% of the worldwide cruise market by passengers and 14.0% by revenue. As of August 2024, the line operates 28 ships and has four additional ships on order and 2 ships were planned but did not announced the launch date.

<i>Jewel of the Seas</i> Cruise ship

GTS Jewel of the Seas is a Radiance-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean. The ship was completed in the spring of 2004 with her maiden voyage in May of that year.

<i>Norwegian Dawn</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Dawn is a cruise ship that entered service in 2002 and is in operation with Norwegian Cruise Line.

<i>Norwegian Star</i> Ship from 2001

Norwegian Star is a Dawn-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Ordered by and intended for Star Cruises, it was originally named SuperStar Libra before being transferred to NCL. Norwegian Star is a Panamax cruise ship; its 294-meter-length (965 ft) and 32.2-meter-beam (105.6 ft) nears the limit for ships transiting the Panama Canal through the original set of locks.

<i>Serenade of the Seas</i> Radiance-class cruise ship

GTS Serenade of the Seas is a Radiance-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. She was completed in 2003.

<i>Freedom</i>-class cruise ship Group of Royal Caribbean cruise ships

The Freedom class is a group of three cruise ships for Royal Caribbean International. The first ship of the class, Freedom of the Seas, was the largest passenger ship in the world, and the largest ever built in terms of passenger capacity and gross tonnage, when it was built in 2006. These two records were then shared by all three ships until the construction of Oasis of the Seas was completed in November 2009.

<i>Radiance</i>-class cruise ship Royal Caribbean ships built 2001–2004

The Radiance class is a class of four cruise ships operated by Royal Caribbean built between 2001 and 2004 at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The class was preceded by the Voyager class and succeeded by the Freedom class.

<i>Celebrity Equinox</i> Solstice-class cruise ship

Celebrity Equinox is a Solstice-class cruise ship built by Meyer Werft in Germany. Celebrity Equinox is the second of the five Solstice-class vessels, owned and operated by Celebrity Cruises. She is a sister ship of Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette, and the Celebrity Reflection. Construction officially started in September 2007. Celebrity Equinox left the shipyard in June 2009 and entered commercial service for Celebrity Cruises on July 31, 2009.

<i>Celebrity Silhouette</i> Solstice-class cruise ship

Celebrity Silhouette is a Solstice-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. She was ordered with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft in May 2007 and was delivered in July 2011 as the fourth Solstice-class ship in the fleet.

<i>Quantum</i>-class cruise ship Cruise ship class

The Quantum class is a class of cruise ships from Royal Caribbean International, previously known by the code name Project Sunshine.

<i>Norwegian Getaway</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Getaway is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line. She was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and was delivered to her owner on 10 January 2014. At the time of her christening she was the world's ninth-largest cruise ship with a passenger capacity of 3,969 and a crew of 1,640.

<i>Quantum of the Seas</i> Quantum-class Cruise Ship

Quantum of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship currently operated by Royal Caribbean International and is the lead ship of her class. At her time of delivery in 2014, Quantum of the Seas was the third largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage. She is currently deployed to serve the Alaskan and Australian cruise markets.

<i>Norwegian Escape</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Escape is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. She was the fleet's first Breakaway Plus-class ship to be delivered and was designed with larger dimensions and gross tonnage than her older sister ships, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, at 164,998 GT.

<i>Norwegian Joy</i> Cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Joy is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and is the second of four Breakaway Plus-class vessels in the company's fleet. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, she was delivered in April 2017.

<i>Ovation of the Seas</i> Quantum-class cruise ship

Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the third ship of her class. The Quantum class is the fourth largest class of cruise ships behind MSC Cruises's Meraviglia class, Royal Caribbean International's Oasis class, and Royal Caribbean International's Icon Class by gross tonnage.

<i>Icon</i>-class cruise ship Class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships

The Icon class is a class of cruise ships ordered by Royal Caribbean International to be built by Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland. As of 2024 this class is the largest cruise ship class ever constructed. Royal Caribbean plans to have at least four Icon-class ships, which will include Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, unnamed third and fourth ships and planned two additional ships.

<i>Norwegian Encore</i> Ship of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Norwegian Encore is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). She is the fourth Breakaway Plus-class ship in the fleet, following sister ships Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape, and Norwegian Joy, and debuted in November 2019.

<i>Spectrum of the Seas</i> Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship

Spectrum of the Seas is a Quantum-Ultra-class cruise ship currently operated by Royal Caribbean International and the first ship of the Quantum Ultra class, a modification from the company's Quantum class of ships. The ship was constructed at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and was delivered in April 2019. At 169,379 GT, she became the fifth largest ship in the fleet by gross tonnage upon delivery. She currently operates primarily in East Asia.

<i>Odyssey of the Seas</i> Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship

Odyssey of the Seas is the second Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship and the last of the class operated by Royal Caribbean International. She primarily operates in the Caribbean out of Port Everglades.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "ANTHEM OF THE SEAS - DNV GL Vessel Register". dnvgl.com. DNV GL . Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Start of Steel-Cutting for First Project Sunshine Ship". Meyer Wert. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  3. "Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship".
  4. 1 2 3 Norton Masek, Theresa (20 April 2015). "Anthem of The Seas Christened in Southampton". TravelPulse .
  5. 1 2 Sloan, Gene (10 April 2015). "Royal Caribbean takes delivery of giant new ship". USA Today . Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 Sloan, Gene (22 April 2015). "New giant cruise ship to set sail on maiden voyage". USA Today . Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Anthem of the Seas (32028)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Anthem of the Seas Fact Sheet". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 "Azipods ordered for two RCL cruise ships". The Motorship. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  10. Innovation & Technology: Shipbuilding in Papenburg (PDF). Papenburg, Germany: Meyer Werft. 2013. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  11. "Royal Caribbean Signs Letter of Intent to Build New Generation of Ships". Investor Relations. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Exercises Option to Build Second "Project Sunshine" Ship". Investor Relations. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  13. Tribou, Richard (5 February 2013). "Royal Caribbean announces names for new cruise ships". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  14. "Keel-laying of Anthem of the Seas". MEYER WERFT. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  15. "Anthem of the Seas cruise ship arrives in Southampton". BBC News Online . 15 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  16. 1 2 Stone, Deborah (20 April 2015). "Inside Look: Anthem of the Seas is officially named in Southampton". Daily Express . Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  17. "Coast Guard deciding if storm-damaged cruise ship can sail". AP.com. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  18. "Giant Royal Caribbean ship damaged in 'extreme' storm will return to port". usatoday.com. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  19. Stapleton, AnneClaire (8 February 2016). "Cruise ship turns around, calls of trip after storm". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  20. "Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Experiences Rough Sea Conditions". 5 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  21. "Anthem of the Seas cruise ship sets sail from Bayonne after coronavirus scare". newjersey.news12.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.