{"id":18887,"date":"2025-12-05T14:01:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T04:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.linke.com.au\/TB\/?p=18887"},"modified":"2025-12-08T12:07:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T02:07:08","slug":"sydney-to-eden-and-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.linke.com.au\/TB\/cruising\/sydney-to-eden-and-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Sydney to Eden and Back"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Anthem of the Seas felt less like a ship and more like a floating little city that we got to call home for a while. From the moment we walked on board, it was obvious this wasn\u2019t going to be a \u201csit by the pool and do nothing\u201d sort of cruise. There\u2019s always something happening, somewhere, and we happily leaned into that. In the end, we didn’t spend much time by the pool. There was too much to do and too much to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our home on Deck 6<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We were in a balcony cabin on Deck 6, forward, starboard, and it was the perfect base. Close enough to everything to nip back and change for dinner or drop bags, but far enough from the main venues to stay quiet at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stepping out onto the balcony each morning, watching the ocean slide past set the tone for the day. Inside, the cabin felt thoughtfully designed: plenty of storage, a decent-sized bathroom, and a bed that did a very good job of convincing us to sleep in \u201cjust a bit longer\u201d. Although it was a little hard, something we weren’t used to, but given our days were so full, it didn’t stop us from getting a great night’s sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flying without jumping: iFly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of my personal highlights was RipCord by iFLY, the skydiving simulator at the back of the ship. You suit up, get your safety briefing, and then suddenly you\u2019re standing at the entrance of a wind tunnel, wondering why on earth you volunteered to be blasted into the air in front of strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moment I leaned forward and the air lifted me, everything else disappeared. It was loud and a bit chaotic, but also strangely peaceful. You\u2019re weightless, trying to remember all the hand signals while also thinking, \u201cI\u2019m flying\u2026 on a cruise ship.\u201d It was over too quickly, but it\u2019s one of those experiences that sticks with you long after you\u2019ve handed back the jumpsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dodgem chaos at SeaPlex<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SeaPlex became a bit of a second home. It\u2019s this big, bright indoor space that changes personalities during the day: sports court, roller skating, circus school\u2026 and, most importantly for our friends Nejat and Natalie, bumper cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nejat and Natalie took the lead with the dodgem cars. Watching them tear around the floor, laughing and crashing into anything that moved, was entertainment in itself. The music, the lights, the squeal of tyres on the floor\u2026 it felt like being at a funfair, but you\u2019re at sea. We didn\u2019t always drive; sometimes we just stood above and watched the chaos from the viewing level, which was almost as much fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Evenings in the bars: cocktails and trivia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Evenings on Anthem quickly found a rhythm for us: pick a bar, order something interesting, and then drift into whatever activity was on. From jazz to piano to trivia to just the company of good friends, we found our groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spent time wandering between the different bars and lounges, each with its own personality. From the more relaxed pub-style spots to the livelier venues with live music and people singing along, there was always a place that matched our mood. Sampling cocktails became a gentle little mission: classics, ship specials, and a few \u201clet\u2019s-just-try-it\u201d choices that became new favourites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trivia nights were another highlight. There\u2019s something very bonding about sitting around a table, drinks in hand, arguing over song lyrics or obscure facts while the quiz host keeps things moving. Win or lose, it was all about the shared laughs and the odd moment where you surprised yourself and actually knew something useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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West End at sea: We Will Rock You<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seeing We Will Rock You<\/em> on board felt like a proper theatre night out, just with more sea involved. The production was big, polished and loud, in the best possible way. The music, of course, is familiar, but seeing Queen\u2019s songs wrapped into a full stage show with lights, sets and a very enthusiastic audience gave it a special energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were moments where you could feel the whole theatre moving together: everyone clapping along, singing quietly (or not so quietly), and getting swept up in it. It\u2019s easy to forget you\u2019re on a ship at all when the curtain goes up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Name That Tune \u2013 live on stage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We also went along to the live, TV-style adaptation of Name That Tune<\/em>. It had all the elements of the classic game show: contestants, buzzers, catchy music snippets and a host keeping everyone on their toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitting in the audience, playing along, is half the fun. You find yourself blurting out answers under your breath and then laughing when someone else beats you to it. It was nostalgic and a bit silly, in the best way, and it added to that feeling that there is always some form of entertainment waiting just around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dining: from main dining rooms to snacks on the go<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Food is a big part of any cruise, and Anthem of the Seas really leans into that. We dipped into as many options as we reasonably could without needing to be rolled off the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main dining rooms<\/strong>
Anthem\u2019s main dining rooms have their own identities \u2013 venues like American Icon Grill, Chic, Silk and The Grande each bringing a slightly different atmosphere and menu style. (thecruisingblog.com<\/a>)
Dinners there felt like \u201cproper\u201d evenings out: multi-course meals, attentive service and the chance to try dishes we wouldn\u2019t usually cook at home. It was nice to dress up a little, settle in at our table and let the courses just arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casual favourites<\/strong>
When we wanted something more relaxed, the Windjammer Marketplace buffet was our go-to. The variety makes it easy to wander around, build your own plate and sit wherever the view looked best that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also made good use of grab-and-go spots like Caf\u00e9 Promenade and Sorrento\u2019s Pizza when we just needed a quick bite between activities. (cruises.united.com<\/a>) A slice of pizza or a coffee and pastry can be exactly what you need when you\u2019ve lost track of time in trivia or SeaPlex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialty dining<\/strong>
Anthem also has a strong line-up of specialty restaurants. There\u2019s Jamie\u2019s Italian with its comforting pastas and rustic dishes, Chops Grille for a proper steak, Izumi for sushi, and Wonderland if you\u2019re in the mood for something theatrical and a bit whimsical on the plate. (Royal Caribbean<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We couldn\u2019t try everything in one sailing, but just knowing there were so many options made the ship feel like a small food district at sea. You can tailor each evening to how you feel: relaxed, special-occasion, or \u201clet\u2019s just wander and see what we find\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Other facilities that filled our days<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the headline-grabbing activities, Anthem has a long list of spaces that quietly become part of your daily rhythm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n