The main Anthem of the Seas cabins to avoid are deck 13 rooms directly under the deck 14 pool deck, Windjammer and Solarium; deck 6 cabins over the Royal Theater and the Two70 complex; obstructed-view balconies above the lifeboats on decks 6 to 8; and deck 3 rooms near the Music Hall and casino. For a quiet, steady stay, book a midship cabin on decks 8 to 10, with cabins directly above and below you.
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Anthem is a Quantum-class Royal Caribbean ship, launched in 2015. It has about 2,090 cabins over nine cabin decks, and most of them are balcony rooms.
Where Anthem of the Seas Sails in 2026-27
Anthem moved to Sydney for its first Australian season in late 2025, and it’s back there for 2026-27. It arrived in Sydney on 30 October 2026 after a trans-Pacific crossing from Honolulu. The season includes 21 cruises of 3 to 11 nights to Hobart, New Zealand and the South Pacific. In summer 2027 it heads north for Alaska, sailing one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward with stops at Skagway and Ketchikan and scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier. No Royal Amplified refit has been announced for Anthem, so the layout below still applies.
Sydney sailings cross the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait, which can be rough. Motion matters more there than it does on a calm Caribbean week. In Alaska, a good balcony matters more than usual because so much of the trip is spent watching the scenery.
Anthem of the Seas Cabins to Avoid: Quick Summary
| Area | Why it can be a problem | Who should care most |
|---|---|---|
| Deck 13, under the pool deck and Windjammer | Chairs scraping, deck cleaning and buffet carts overhead, often early in the morning | Light sleepers and anyone who sleeps late |
| Deck 6, forward | Sits over the Royal Theater, so you can hear rehearsals and shows | Anyone who goes to bed early or naps |
| Deck 6 and 7, aft near Two70 | Next to the Two70 venue, which hosts live entertainment until late | Light sleepers |
| Obstructed balconies on decks 6 to 8 | Lifeboats or steel structure block the view down or out | Alaska cruisers and anyone paying for the view |
| Deck 3 | Close to the Music Hall, casino and lower-deck venues; lowest cabin deck | Light sleepers |
| Rooms by elevators and stairs | Foot traffic, chatter and elevator noise in the corridor | Light sleepers |
| Connecting cabins | The internal door carries sound from next door | Couples who aren’t travelling with the room next door |
| Far forward on any deck | You feel more pitching in a swell | Anyone prone to seasickness, especially on Tasman crossings |
1. Deck 13 Cabins Under the Pool Deck and Windjammer
Deck 14 is Anthem’s busiest outdoor deck. The main pool, the Solarium, the Windjammer buffet, the Solarium Bistro and the suite restaurant Coastal Kitchen are all up there. Deck 13 is the top cabin deck, so many of its rooms sit right under all of that activity.
The usual complaints are loungers scraping across the deck, crews hosing down and setting up early in the morning, and carts rolling through service areas over the cabins. Guest reports about some aft deck 13 rooms, near the 13600s, describe trolley and door noise starting around 7am. Some of those cabins also have recessed balconies, which get less sun and less view. Noise varies from cabin to cabin, so open the deck plan and check what sits directly above any deck 13 room before you book it. If you see a pool, buffet or galley symbol, choose another room.
2. Deck 6 Cabins Over the Royal Theater and Two70
Deck 6 is the first full cabin deck above the public decks, so it has a lot underneath it.
- Forward deck 6: These cabins are above the Royal Theater, Anthem’s main show venue, which seats about 1,300, so show and rehearsal noise can come through the floor.
- Aft deck 6: Two70 is the aft entertainment venue with the huge window wall. Its main level is on deck 5 and its upper level is on deck 6. It runs live shows and events into the evening, so cabins nearest the Two70 complex (decks 6 and, to a lesser degree, 7) are worth avoiding if you sleep lightly.
- Starboard side: On forums, past guests have warned that some starboard deck 6 cabins look down on outdoor areas used for smoking. Check the deck plan if smoke bothers you.
3. Anthem of the Seas Obstructed View Balconies (Decks 6 to 8)
On Quantum-class ships, the lifeboats hang on the outside of deck 5. The balconies just above them, on decks 6, 7 and 8, are the ones most likely to be sold as obstructed view. On the deck plan these usually show up in the 1E and 2E balcony categories.
How bad the obstruction is depends on the cabin:
- Deck 6: Where the ship narrows, the lifeboats come up to railing height. You can see out to the horizon, but not straight down to the water. Some deck 6 rooms have extended balconies with more space, which some guests think makes up for the view.
- Decks 7 and 8: The forward end of the lifeboat run includes a handful of cabins (forum posts mention the first two or three on each side) that are boxed in by steel framework. People who have stayed in them are split.
The upside is that obstructed balconies are usually priced below a standard balcony. If you mainly use the balcony for fresh air and morning coffee, one can be good value. On an Alaska sailing, where glaciers and coastline are the main event, pay the extra for a clear view. A cruise to Hobart or the South Pacific is more forgiving.
4. Deck 3: Low Down and Near the Nightlife
Deck 3 is Anthem’s lowest cabin deck. Its ocean-view and interior rooms share the deck with the Music Hall, Casino Royale and other lower-deck venues. The Music Hall in particular has live bands and late-night crowds, and bass can carry.
The upside is that low, midship rooms move the least in a swell. If you’re more worried about seasickness than noise, a midship deck 3 cabin away from the venues is worth a look. Just keep well clear of the Music Hall end.
5. Elevator, Stairwell and Connecting Cabins
Cabins right beside the elevator lobbies and stairwells on any deck get more corridor traffic, especially late at night and around show times. A few doors down the corridor makes a real difference.
Connecting cabins are great for families. If you’re not travelling with the people next door, though, the shared door is the weakest point in the wall, and you’ll hear TVs and conversations more clearly. The deck plan marks connecting rooms, often with a small symbol or triangle, so check for it when you choose your cabin.
6. Far Forward Cabins If You Get Seasick
Anthem is a big, stable ship, but in a head sea you feel the bow pitch more than the middle of the ship. That matters on Sydney sailings across the Tasman to New Zealand or down to Hobart, and on open-water stretches in Alaska. If you know you get seasick, avoid the forward-most cabins on every deck and book midship on a lower to middle deck.
Virtual Balcony and Studio Cabins: Worth Booking or Not?
- Virtual Balcony interiors: Instead of a blank wall, these inside cabins have a floor-to-ceiling screen showing a live feed from cameras outside the ship. You get daylight and a sense of where you are without the cost of a balcony, which makes them one of Anthem’s best-value rooms. There’s no fresh air, and some people find the moving picture distracting at night. You can turn it off.
- Studio cabins: Anthem has a small number of studios for solo travellers, both interior (with virtual balconies) and with real balconies. They’re compact but avoid the full single supplement. They sell out early, so solo cruisers should book them early.
If you’re deciding between a virtual balcony and a real one, our guide to whether a balcony is worth it over an inside cabin walks through the trade-offs.
Anthem of the Seas Best Cabins to Book
These are the cabins that usually work best:
- Midship balconies on decks 8 to 10. They have cabins above and below, they’re away from the theater, Two70 and pool deck, and they’re high enough to clear the lifeboats. This is the safest choice on the ship.
- Midship deck 7 balconies (not the forward lifeboat run). Quiet and often a little cheaper.
- Deck 11 and 12 balconies away from Adventure Ocean. Good views. Check the plan, because the kids’ club areas and the Concierge Club lounge are on these decks.
- Virtual Balcony interiors in the midship zone. The best budget pick and a good choice for anyone prone to seasickness.
- Loft suites at the aft. Anthem’s two-level Royal Loft, Grand Loft and Sky Loft suites have big windows over the wake and come with Royal Suite Class perks. If your budget stretches that far, they’re among the best rooms in the Quantum class.
For Alaska in 2027 in particular, a clear-view balcony on decks 8 to 11 is a good investment. Ships typically turn during glacier viewing, so which side of the ship you’re on matters less than having an unobstructed view.
How to Check a Specific Anthem Cabin Before You Book
This is the step most cabin guides leave out, and it takes five minutes:
- Open the deck plans for the deck above and the deck below, not just your own. Your neighbours above and below matter more than the ones beside you.
- Look for venue, galley or pool symbols directly over or under your cabin. If there’s anything other than cabins, look for another room.
- Check the category code. On Anthem, the E categories (1E, 2E) usually mean an obstructed view.
- Search the cabin number for balcony photos posted by past guests. Lifeboat obstructions vary a lot from one cabin to the next.
- Avoid a guarantee fare if any of the above matters to you. You give up the right to choose the cabin in return for a lower price.
Anthem vs Its Sister Ships
Anthem shares its basic layout with Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, so most of these rules apply to the sisters too. The Quantum Ultra ships, such as Spectrum of the Seas, have some layout differences. If you’re comparing ships, see our guides to Ovation of the Seas cabins to avoid and Spectrum of the Seas cabins to avoid.
FAQs
What deck is best on Anthem of the Seas?
Decks 8 to 10 midship are generally the best. They have cabins above and below, they’re clear of the lifeboats, and they’re away from the theater, Two70 and the deck 14 pool area.
Which Anthem of the Seas balconies are obstructed?
Mostly balconies on decks 6, 7 and 8 above the lifeboats, usually sold in the 1E and 2E categories. How much of the view is blocked varies by cabin, so look up photos of the specific room.
Is deck 13 on Anthem of the Seas noisy?
Some deck 13 cabins are, because they sit under the deck 14 pool deck, Windjammer and food service areas. Check the deck plan for what is directly above the room you want.
What is the best cabin on Anthem of the Seas to avoid seasickness?
A midship cabin on a low to middle deck. Avoid the far forward cabins, which pitch the most in a swell. This matters most on Tasman Sea crossings from Sydney.
What is a Virtual Balcony cabin on Anthem of the Seas?
It’s an inside cabin with a floor-to-ceiling screen that shows a live view from outside the ship. You get natural light and a sense of the view at an interior price.
