Anthem of the Seas carries around 4,900 passengers across 18 decks. For travellers over 50, the most practical cabins sit mid-ship on Decks 8–11, close to lifts and central amenities. Accessible staterooms are available in several categories; confirm availability directly with Royal Caribbean. Mobility rating: Moderate — the ship is large and distances between venues are real. Australians typically board via Sydney homeport sailings or fly to Southampton/Singapore; confirm current itineraries at royalcaribbean.com.
Why the deck plan matters more than the brochure photo
Cruise brochures sell the experience. The deck plan sells the reality. On Anthem of the Seas, the gap between a well-chosen cabin and a poorly chosen one is measured in hundreds of metres of corridor walking per day — and for a 69-year-old travelling solo from Victoria, that adds up before the ship has even left port.
Anthem of the Seas runs 18 decks. The lowest guest decks sit around Deck 3; the highest public spaces extend to Deck 15 and the North Star observation capsule above that. The main cabin decks run from roughly Deck 3 through to Deck 14. Lifts are clustered in two main banks — forward and aft — with a mid-ship bank on some decks. Knowing which bank is closest to your cabin, and whether that bank actually stops at the deck you need, is the first thing to check on the plan.
Royal Caribbean publishes interactive deck plans on its website. The version worth using is the interactive one at royalcaribbean.com, not the static PDF — it lets you click individual cabin numbers to see the category, square footage, and whether an obstructed view applies. Spend twenty minutes there before you speak to a travel agent or call the cruise line. You'll ask much better questions.
How Anthem of the Seas is laid out: the basics
The ship is divided into three vertical zones by the lift banks: forward (bow), mid-ship, and aft (stern). Mid-ship is the sweet spot for stability at sea — less motion than the bow or stern — and for proximity to the central lifts. For anyone with balance concerns or who simply doesn't want to feel every swell, mid-ship is worth paying a modest premium to secure.
Horizontally, Anthem is wide enough that port (left, when facing forward) and starboard (right) cabins can face quite different things depending on itinerary and docking orientation. This matters less on a ship this size than it does on a small river cruiser, but it's worth knowing. If you want afternoon sun on your balcony in a specific port, you'll need to know which side of the ship faces the dock — and that changes port to port. Royal Caribbean's port guides and forums on Cruise Critic Australia are useful here.
Key public decks to orient yourself around: Deck 4 and 5 carry the Royal Esplanade and main atrium, guest services, and several dining venues. Deck 14 and 15 carry the SeaPlex, North Star, and outdoor pools. The main dining room spans multiple decks in the aft section — check the plan for which deck your assigned dining level sits on, then count the lifts between your cabin and that deck. It's a useful proxy for how much corridor time you're signing up for every evening.
Choosing a cabin: the over-50 priorities
The single most important variable is lift proximity. On Anthem of the Seas, aim for a cabin no more than four or five doors from a lift bank. The mid-ship lift cluster is the most versatile — it serves the widest range of decks and deposits you closest to the main thoroughfares. Forward lifts are useful if your cabin is in the bow third; aft lifts serve the rear dining and pool areas efficiently. What you want to avoid is a cabin at the very end of a long corridor, far from any lift bank, on a deck where the lift doesn't stop at a useful dining level without a floor-change.
Cabin size is the next variable. Standard inside cabins on Anthem run roughly 17–18 square metres — functional, but not generous if you're solo and want to spread out. Ocean-view and balcony cabins add meaningful space. The large balcony cabins (categories 2B and above, roughly) offer noticeably more floor space and a proper sitting area. Solo travellers should note that Royal Caribbean does offer Studio cabins on some ships in its fleet — confirm whether Anthem carries a dedicated solo cabin category, as this changes between sailings and refits. At time of writing, Anthem's solo options were more limited than ships like Navigator of the Seas; call the line directly to confirm current configuration.
Deck 8, 9, 10, and 11 mid-ship are broadly considered the most practical cabin decks for older travellers: high enough to avoid port noise when docked, close to central lifts, and within a reasonable walk of the main atrium. Decks 6 and 7 are also viable. Decks 12 and above are popular for balcony views but add distance from the main dining and entertainment decks below — not a dealbreaker, but factor it in.
Accessible staterooms: what to know and what to ask
Royal Caribbean designates accessible staterooms across several categories on Anthem of the Seas — inside, ocean view, balcony, and suite. Accessible cabins are larger, with roll-in showers, lower bed heights, turning radius for wheelchairs, and grab rails. They're not exclusively for wheelchair users; anyone who benefits from a larger bathroom, a shower without a step-over lip, or extra floor space has a legitimate reason to book one.
The practical reality: accessible cabins are limited in number and are among the first to sell on popular sailings. If you have any mobility consideration at all — a replaced hip, balance issues, a partner who uses a walking frame — raise it at booking, not three weeks before departure. Royal Caribbean's accessibility team can advise on which specific cabin numbers meet your needs. The accessible cabins page at royalcaribbean.com/resources/accessible-cruising is the right starting point; follow up with a direct call to confirm current availability on your sailing.
One thing many solo travellers over 50 don't realise: if you book an accessible cabin and don't genuinely need it, Royal Caribbean may reassign it closer to departure if a passenger with a disability requires it. Book the right cabin for your actual needs, and document any medical requirements your travel insurer or GP can support.
Quiet decks versus busy decks — and where to find both
Deck 14 and 15 are where the energy concentrates during the day: SeaPlex, outdoor pools, sun decks, the bumper cars, the ifly skydiving simulator. Brilliant if that's your scene. If your preference runs to a book and a quiet afternoon, these decks between 11am and 4pm are not it. The good news is that Anthem has enough physical depth that you can be genuinely removed from the noise by two or three decks.
The solarium — an adults-only indoor pool and thermal suite area — is one of the genuinely useful spaces on Anthem for the over-50 traveller. It runs quieter than the main pool deck, offers seating that doesn't require clambering onto a sun lounger, and is enclosed, so it's comfortable regardless of weather. Its location on the deck plan is worth memorising on day one. It typically sits forward on one of the upper public decks — confirm the exact deck on the current plan, as post-refit changes do occur.
Evening noise is a different question. Cabins directly below or above the main pool deck, the SeaPlex, or the Two70 entertainment venue can carry sound into the night. The deck plan, combined with Cruise Critic forum reviews from recent Anthem sailings, will tell you which cabin numbers have had noise complaints. It's worth an hour of research before you lock in a cabin number.
What does a day on a big ship actually look like? The shape of the day
On a sea day, the rhythm is largely yours to set — which is either liberating or disorienting depending on your temperament. Here's a realistic account of how the ship's geography plays out across a typical day. Breakfast in the main dining room (Deck 3 or 4 aft, depending on your assigned level) runs from roughly 7:30am to 9:30am. The Windjammer buffet on Deck 14 opens earlier, around 7:00am, and is the faster option if you're not precious about formality. Getting from a mid-ship Deck 9 cabin to the Windjammer means a lift ride of five to seven decks and a walk of perhaps two to three minutes. Not arduous. From a forward Deck 6 cabin to the aft main dining room, you're looking at a five-minute walk plus the lift — call it eight minutes door to door on a slow morning.
Midday tends to be the busiest period on the pool decks. If you want a sun lounger without a territorial towel war, claim it before 9:30am or after 3:30pm. The solarium is a reliable alternative at any hour. Lunch runs from roughly 12:00 to 1:30pm in the main dining room (open seating at lunch on most sailings — confirm with your cruise documents). Afternoon is genuinely free time: the ship is big enough to lose yourself in, which is both the point and occasionally the problem. The Two70 venue at the aft end of Deck 5 is a good sit-down option in the afternoon — floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable seating, and usually quiet until the evening shows begin.
Dinner service typically runs in two seatings (early around 5:30pm, late around 8:00pm) or My Time Dining for flexible timing. For solo travellers, My Time Dining allows you to request a table for one or to be seated with others — worth specifying your preference at check-in. Evening entertainment in the Royal Theatre (forward, Decks 3–4) runs roughly 7:00pm and 9:30pm shows. The walk from a mid-ship cabin to the theatre is manageable; from the aft balcony cabins on Deck 10, it's a genuine hike. Factor that into your cabin choice if evening shows are a priority.
Solo traveller perspective: the single supplement and the social geometry
Royal Caribbean charges a single supplement on Anthem of the Seas — typically 100% of the double-occupancy rate on standard cabins, which means you're paying for two to occupy one cabin. On a 10-night sailing where the per-person price is around $2,000, that's an additional $2,000 in real money. This is not unusual in ocean cruising, but it's worth stating plainly because it's the single biggest financial variable for solo travellers and it's rarely headline news in the promotional material.
There are ways to soften the blow. Royal Caribbean periodically runs solo supplement sales — reductions to 50–75% supplement rather than 100% — and these are worth watching if your dates are flexible. The cruise line does not currently operate a formal share-match programme on Anthem in the way some expedition cruise operators do, so if you're unwilling to pay the full supplement, a solo sale is your main lever. Set a fare alert via the Royal Caribbean website or through a cruise-specialist travel agent.
The social dimension of solo cruising on a large ship is genuinely different from a small group tour. Nobody is organising your evening or making introductions. The upside is freedom; the downside is that dinner for one in the main dining room can feel isolating if you're not proactive. The practical fix: request communal seating at booking, introduce yourself at the Singles Mingle event (Royal Caribbean runs these on most sailings — check the daily Cruise Compass), and identify the bar or venue where like-minded travellers congregate by day two. On Anthem, the Schooner Bar tends to attract an older, conversational crowd in the early evening.
Quick planning guide
| Ideal pace | One sea day built in for every two port days; avoid back-to-back early-morning excursions |
|---|---|
| Best months | Depends on itinerary region — confirm seasonal routing with Royal Caribbean |
| Suggested stay | 7–12 nights to justify the embarkation effort from Australia |
| Mobility level | Moderate — large ship with long corridors; lift access is good but distances are real |
| Cost level | Mid to upper — indicative inside cabin from around $150–$200 per person per night depending on sailing; balcony significantly more; confirm current fares at royalcaribbean.com |
| Comfort level | High — modern ship, well-maintained, large cabin bathrooms by contemporary cruise standards |
| Best for | Solo travellers and couples who want a wide range of onboard dining and entertainment without small-ship intimacy |
| Main planning consideration | Cabin position relative to lifts is everything on a ship this size — request mid-ship, lift-adjacent at booking, not as an afterthought |
Key takeaways
- Mid-ship cabins on Decks 8–11, adjacent to the central lift bank, are the most practical choice for travellers over 50 on Anthem of the Seas.
- Accessible staterooms on Anthem are limited and book early — raise any mobility consideration at the time of booking, not weeks later.
- The single supplement on Royal Caribbean typically adds 100% of the per-person fare for solo travellers — watch for periodic solo sales to reduce this.
- Decks directly below the pool area or SeaPlex can carry noise; check recent Cruise Critic forum posts for specific cabin numbers before locking in.
- The adults-only solarium is the most reliably quiet daytime venue on the ship — locate it on the deck plan on day one.
- Interactive deck plans on royalcaribbean.com allow you to click individual cabin numbers — use this tool before speaking to any agent or booking anything.
Recommended partners and links
Indicative prices only — always confirm with the operator before booking.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cabin decks on Anthem of the Seas for older travellers?
Decks 8 to 11 mid-ship are broadly the most practical for travellers over 50. They offer good lift access, central positioning between the lower dining decks and upper pool decks, and reasonable distance from the noisiest public areas. Mid-ship position also provides the most stable ride at sea.
Does Anthem of the Seas have accessible staterooms?
Yes. Royal Caribbean offers accessible staterooms across several cabin categories on Anthem of the Seas, including inside, ocean view, balcony, and suite grades. Accessible cabins feature roll-in showers, lower bed heights, and additional floor space. They are limited in number and book quickly — contact Royal Caribbean's accessibility team early in the booking process. Details at royalcaribbean.com/resources/accessible-cruising.
How much is the single supplement on Anthem of the Seas?
Royal Caribbean typically charges a 100% single supplement on Anthem of the Seas, meaning a solo traveller pays the equivalent of two fares to occupy one cabin. The line periodically offers reduced single supplements — sometimes 50–75% — on selected sailings and dates. There is no formal share-match programme. Confirm current solo pricing directly with Royal Caribbean or a cruise-specialist travel agent.
Which decks on Anthem of the Seas are the noisiest?
Decks immediately below the main pool area, the SeaPlex activity centre, and the Two70 entertainment venue are most likely to carry noise, particularly on sea days and evenings. Specific cabin numbers with noise history are documented in Cruise Critic forum reviews for recent Anthem sailings — worth checking before finalising a cabin choice.
Can Australians board Anthem of the Seas from a local port?
Royal Caribbean has operated Anthem of the Seas on Sydney homeport itineraries for the Australian market. Availability changes seasonally; the ship also sails from Southampton (UK) and other international ports. Confirm current Australian departure options and fly-cruise packages directly at royalcaribbean.com or through a travel agent. Australians flying to an overseas embarkation port should factor in flight time, jet lag, and a pre-cruise recovery night.
