Anthem of the Seas Returns to Sydney for Encore Season

Royal Caribbean Encore Season

Anthem of the Seas has returned to Sydney for an encore summer season, bringing 21 voyages across Australia, the South Pacific, and New Zealand. The Royal Caribbean ship joins Quantum of the Seas in Brisbane as the cruise line begins its biggest local summer season yet. 

Anthem of the Seas Returns to Sydney for Encore Season
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The programme ranges from three-night getaways to 12-night New Zealand journeys. Families also have Wiggly-themed holidays to consider, while the ship offers dining, entertainment, active attractions, panoramic views, spa facilities, and adults-only spaces.

Shorter Voyages Put More Choice into the Sydney Season

Travellers do not need to commit to a long itinerary to join the season. Anthem’s schedule starts with three-night voyages and builds through a mix of Australian and South Pacific options lasting up to nine nights.

Anthem of the Sea NorthStar

Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Three- to Eight-Night Voyages Stay Closer to Home

The ship will operate three- to eight-night voyages visiting Hobart and Queensland. These shorter journeys give travellers a range of durations within the Australian programme.

A three-night sailing presents a different time commitment from an eight-night itinerary. Hobart and Queensland also give the shorter programme two Australian destination options, named by Royal Caribbean. Travellers looking for a more compact voyage therefore have several durations to compare before moving into the longer South Pacific and New Zealand schedules.

South Pacific Escapes Run for Seven to Nine Nights

Seven- to nine-night itineraries will head into the South Pacific. The listed destinations include Noumea in New Caledonia, along with Port Vila and Mystery Island in Vanuatu.

These voyages extend the programme beyond Australian ports while remaining shorter than the longest New Zealand itineraries. Travellers interested in an international cruise from Sydney have a seven- to nine-night range to consider. The three named South Pacific destinations also distinguish these voyages from the shorter Australian options.

Twenty-One Voyages Create a Broad Summer Programme

Anthem will operate 21 voyages during the season. The programme combines short Australian sailings, South Pacific journeys, and longer New Zealand itineraries.

This spread gives travellers several ways to match voyage length with the region they want to visit. A three-night Australian sailing sits at one end of the schedule, while the longest New Zealand journeys reach 12 nights. The breadth of durations and destinations is one of the clearest features of Royal Caribbean’s local summer programme.

New Zealand Adds the Season’s Longer Itineraries

The longer end of the programme focuses on New Zealand. These itineraries run from nine to 12 nights and include several named destinations across the country, giving travellers more time away than the shorter Australian and South Pacific voyages.

New Zealand Voyages Run for Nine to 12 Nights

The ship will operate New Zealand journeys ranging from nine to 12 nights. These are the longest itineraries identified in the local programme.

Their duration creates a clear step up from the three- to eight-night Australian cruises and seven- to nine-night South Pacific sailings. Travellers seeking a longer regional journey therefore have a defined option within the same season. Voyage length provides a simple starting point when comparing the three itinerary groups.

Anthem of the Sea Flowrider

Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Five New Zealand Destinations Are Named

The listed New Zealand calls include Picton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Milford Sound. These destinations form the named port and scenic-call line-up for the longer itineraries.

The schedule gives travellers several New Zealand stops to consider within journeys lasting up to 12 nights. Picton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin appear alongside Milford Sound in the supplied itinerary details. For travellers primarily interested in New Zealand, these voyages contain the strongest concentration of destinations named for the season.

Sydney Connects Several Holiday Styles

The season brings several itinerary types together from Sydney. Travellers have Australian, South Pacific, and New Zealand journeys to compare within the same ship programme.

Royal Caribbean Australia and New Zealand vice president and managing director Gavin Smith highlighted the mix of short weekenders, South Pacific holidays, and New Zealand adventures. He also pointed to the convenience of unpacking once during the trip. The schedule, therefore, gives travellers a range of journey lengths while keeping Sydney at the centre of Anthem’s season.

Family Programming and Onboard Attractions Add Another Layer

The itinerary is only part of the story.

Royal Caribbean is also bringing Wiggly-themed holidays into the season alongside the ship’s existing dining, entertainment, active attractions, panoramic views, spa facilities, and adults-only areas.

Wiggly-Themed Holidays Focus on Families

Selected holidays will feature The Wiggles and their Wiggly Friends. Families will be able to sail alongside the group while attending live concerts and character events.

The themed holidays add dedicated programming to selected departures. Families interested in The Wiggles, therefore, have a specific type of sailing to consider within the wider 21-voyage season. Live concerts and character events form the core of the announced Wiggly programme.

Active Attractions Range From Skydiving to Surfing

Guests aboard Anthem have access to RipCord by iFly, a skydiving simulator. The FlowRider surf simulator provides another active attraction during the voyage.

These experiences sit alongside the ship’s dining and entertainment programme. They give guests two named activity-based attractions to consider during their time aboard. The combination of simulated skydiving and surfing adds another dimension to the onboard line-up described by Royal Caribbean.

Anthem of the Sea Sailing

Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean

North Star, Vitality Spa, and the Solarium Add More Choice

The North Star observation capsule provides panoramic ocean views. Vitality Spa and the adults-only Solarium offer two other spaces named in the ship’s onboard programme.

These venues sit alongside the more active RipCord by iFly and FlowRider attractions. Their inclusion gives guests several different types of onboard experiences across the same voyage. Dining, entertainment, activity attractions, ocean views, spa time, and an adults-only area all form part of the ship’s offering.


With 21 voyages spanning Australia, the South Pacific, and New Zealand, our Cruise Finder gives you a practical place to review relevant Royal Caribbean sailings. Start with how many nights you want to travel, then compare the regions and itineraries suited to your plans.

Shorter Hobart and Queensland trips sit alongside seven- to nine-night South Pacific holidays and longer New Zealand journeys. Cruise Finder gives you a useful starting point for reviewing the broader range of available sailings.

Plan Your Royal Caribbean Summer Voyage

Royal Caribbean’s Sydney programme gives travellers a wide choice of journey lengths and destinations, from three-night breaks to 12-night New Zealand voyages. Wiggly-themed holidays and a broad range of onboard attractions add further variety to the season.

If you want help comparing the 21 voyages and deciding which itinerary best fits your time, destination preferences, and travel style, speak with the S.W. Black Travel team for practical guidance before booking.

 

S.W. Black Travel

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