A Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas cruise costs $699–$1,200 per person for an interior cabin on a 7-night sailing, with balconies running $1,100–$2,200 and suites climbing to $3,500–$8,000+. Total all-in costs including drinks, gratuities, and excursions typically land between $1,800–$4,500 per person for a week.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean markets Anthem of the Seas fares starting at $499 per person — but that number is a fantasy for most travelers. By the time you add gratuities, a drink package, Wi-Fi, and one or two shore excursions, your actual spend is 2–3x the advertised cabin rate. Here's what a week on one of Royal Caribbean's flashiest Quantum-class ships actually costs in 2025–2026.
Anthem of the Seas Cabin Fares: What You'll Actually Pay
Anthem of the Seas sails primarily from Cape Liberty (Bayonne, NJ) on Caribbean and Bermuda itineraries, with seasonal repositioning to Europe. Prices below reflect 7-night sailings booked 3–6 months out — the sweet spot for decent pricing without scraping the barrel on cabin selection.
| Cabin Type | Budget (Early Saver / Off-Peak) | Mid-Range (Standard) | Splurge (Peak / Last Minute) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior | $699–$849 pp | $950–$1,200 pp | $1,300–$1,600 pp |
| Ocean View | $849–$1,050 pp | $1,100–$1,400 pp | $1,500–$1,900 pp |
| Balcony | $1,100–$1,500 pp | $1,600–$2,200 pp | $2,400–$3,200 pp |
| Junior Suite | $1,800–$2,400 pp | $2,500–$3,500 pp | $3,800–$5,000 pp |
| Grand Suite / Above | $3,500–$5,000 pp | $5,500–$7,000 pp | $7,500–$10,000+ pp |
All prices per person, double occupancy, 7-night sailing. Solo travelers pay a single supplement of roughly 150–200% of the per-person rate.
Key note: Anthem's Virtual Balcony interior cabins (floor-to-ceiling real-time screens showing ocean views) are a legitimately smart buy at $800–$1,100 pp — you get the feel of a balcony without the price.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The Full Cost Breakdown: What You're Really Spending
The cabin fare is just the entry ticket. Here's where Anthem of the Seas eats your wallet:
| Add-On | Cost Per Person (7 Nights) | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities (auto-charged) | $189–$210 | Mandatory effectively |
| Deluxe Beverage Package | $630–$770 ($90–$110/day) | Only if you drink 5+ paid drinks/day |
| Voom Surf + Stream Wi-Fi | $175–$280 (1 device) | Steep — buy only if essential |
| Shore Excursions (per port) | $80–$250 pp per excursion | Mix Royal and independent |
| Specialty Dining (per meal) | $35–$75 pp | Chops Grille, Jamie's Italian, etc. |
| Spa Treatments | $120–$350 per session | Skip or book port-day discounts |
| Photos Package | $250–$350 | Overpriced — cherry-pick individual shots |
| Casino / Shopping / Arcade | $0–$500+ | You already know |
Realistic all-in cost for a couple on a 7-night Anthem sailing:
- Budget approach: $2,200–$2,800 per person (interior cabin, no drink package, 1–2 independent excursions)
- Mid-range approach: $3,200–$4,200 per person (balcony, drink package, 2–3 excursions, one specialty dinner)
- Go-all-out approach: $5,500–$9,000+ per person (suite, all packages bundled, multiple specialty dinners)
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Key Factors That Drive Anthem of the Seas Pricing
1. Itinerary and Season Anthem's Bermuda sailings (May–September) are consistently pricier than Caribbean runs — Bermuda is a premium destination and the ship docks in King's Wharf for multiple days. Caribbean 7-nights out of Cape Liberty in January–March hit the lowest fares of the year. Thanksgiving and spring break weeks spike 40–70% above baseline.
2. Cabin Location on a Quantum-Class Ship Anthem has 16 decks. Higher decks and mid-ship locations command premiums of $150–$400 pp over the same cabin category on lower or stern/bow positions. The difference in experience is marginal — the price difference is not.
3. Royal Caribbean's "Always Included" vs. Bundled Packages Royal Caribbean periodically runs promotions bundling drinks + Wi-Fi + gratuities into the base fare. When these promotions run, the effective discount can be $400–$700 pp compared to buying à la carte. Always check if a bundle promo is active before booking. The savings are real.
4. Booking Timing
- 18–24 months out: Lowest guaranteed prices, widest cabin selection
- 3–6 months out: Good balance of price and availability
- Last-minute (under 30 days): Can find deals on interiors but suites and balconies are usually gone or overpriced
- Royal Caribbean's Sales Events (Black Friday, Wave Season in Jan–Feb, Summer sales): Often 30% off or free drink packages
5. Departure Port — Cape Liberty vs. European Ports Anthem repositions to Southampton (UK) for European sailings. European itineraries (Norwegian Fjords, Canaries, Mediterranean) run $1,400–$3,500 pp for standard cabins on 12–14 night sailings — higher per-night cost but often better value per experience.
Practical Tips to Cut Anthem of the Seas Costs
Skip the Royal Caribbean drink package if you're a light drinker. The Deluxe Beverage Package at $90–$110/person/day only pays off if you consume 5–6 alcoholic drinks daily (each priced at $13–$16 on board). If you're splitting a bottle of wine at dinner and having a couple of beers poolside, you'll save money paying as you go.
Book specialty dining before you sail. Pre-cruise specialty dining reservations on the Royal Caribbean app are typically 20–30% cheaper than buying the same dinner on board. Chops Grille runs $59 pp on board — pre-book it for $45 pp.
Use Voom Wi-Fi strategically. Buy a single-device plan and hotspot your travel partner's phone. One Voom Surf + Stream plan at $25–$40/day beats buying two devices at $50–$70/day combined. Royal Caribbean technically discourages this, but it works.
Mix Royal Caribbean excursions with independent operators for port stops. Royal's excursions carry a price premium of 30–50% over local operators for similar tours. In Nassau, Coco Cay is a Royal-owned island where you do need their transport — but in Bermuda, the public ferry system is excellent and a $20 transit pass beats a $120 Royal sightseeing tour.
Target January–March Caribbean sailings from Cape Liberty. These are consistently the lowest-priced Anthem itineraries. Yes, the New Jersey departure in February isn't glamorous, but you're at sea by that evening and in warm water within two days. The savings of $300–$600 pp over peak season are worth it.
Watch for Royal's "Kids Sail Free" promotions. For families, these promos can reduce the third and fourth berth costs to port fees and taxes only (~$100–$200 per child) — a massive saving on a 3-4 person cabin.
Is Anthem of the Seas Worth the Price? Who It's Best For
Anthem is a tech-forward megaship with genuinely impressive features: the North Star observation pod, iFly skydiving simulator, RipCord by iFly, bumper cars, and the Two70° entertainment venue. These aren't gimmicks — they're legitimate differentiators that justify paying a slight premium over older Royal ships.
| Traveler Type | Best Cabin Choice | Budget Target (7 nights, all-in) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo budget traveler | Interior (Virtual Balcony) | $1,800–$2,400 pp |
| Couple, first-time cruiser | Balcony + no drink package | $2,800–$3,500 pp |
| Family of 4 | Interior or OV, kids sail free promo | $1,500–$2,200 pp (per adult) |
| Couple, premium experience | Junior Suite + drink bundle | $4,000–$5,500 pp |
| Special occasion / luxury | Grand Suite + all packages | $7,000–$10,000+ pp |
If you're cross-shopping Anthem against Norwegian's Escape or Celebrity's Edge, Anthem wins on onboard activities and family value; Celebrity Edge wins on food and adult atmosphere; Norwegian wins on freestyle flexibility. Anthem is the right call if you want things to do at sea.
Before you book, run your specific sailing dates and cabin preferences through CruiseMutiny to see a full cost breakdown — including which bundled promotions are actually saving you money versus padding Royal Caribbean's margins.