Blog Archives

9 Ways to Get Physical on Anthem of the Seas (and 1 Bonus Way)

4/22/2015

By John Roberts

The latest and greatest cruise ship on the planet is launched. I sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest toy, Anthem of the Seas, this week out of Southampton port (England) for a two-day voyage in the English Channel toward Guernsey and back. Anthem of the Seas is the second in class and sister ship to Quantum of the Seas, which I checked out last year.

Two days is enough to get just a small sample of all these technology-laden mega-vessels (4,180 passengers) have to offer. With the Quantum class, Royal Caribbean has tried to create something for everyone: flashy shows, a wide variety of restaurants, artistic design touches throughout.

But I care mostly about what type of active pursuits I can enjoy onboard, and with just two days on Anthem, I concentrated on checking out the adventurous side of this brand-new ship.

So, with that in mind, here are nine fun ways to get physical onboard Anthem of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas skydiving

Full disclosure: Not me!

1. Skydive: The RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator is a blast. Really, a blast of high-powered air that keeps you aloft as you learn to fly, dip, duck and dive in a tunnel. Like that wind-blown hair look? How about funny pictures of you with your cheeks flapping? You get all that and quite a rush during your free 90-second sessions. You can even sign up for one-on-one lessons (fee) to advance your skills.

Outdoor pool on Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas

The main pool on Anthem of the Seas.

3. Swim: The pools are smallish on Anthem, but a wide variety exists to splash around and play. Choose among a traditional pool, wave pool waterpark with fountains, three-level glass pool in the Solarium -- some spaces with wading lounge chairs -- an indoor pool with retractable roof and a small lazy river (this is probably for kids mainly, but give it a quick whirl).

Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas Gigi the giraffe

Grab on, climb up and meet Gigi.

2. Rock climb: The popular rock climbing wall found on many Royal Caribbean ships comes to Anthem, too. But this time, you get to scale the wall while coming face to face with Gigi, the giant giraffe mascot that keeps watch over the wall. Always great photo ops there.

4. Roller skate: The SeaPlex activity space on Anthem of the Seas is a versatile area that is converted for multiple activities throughout your sailing. Lace up the skates and try to stay on your feet. That is a workout in itself for me. I used to be pretty good on rollerblades, but I'm out of practice on the four-wheelers. A DJ booth drops down from the ceiling to pump up the volume for skating/dancing parties, too.

Basketball in SeaPlex on Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas

6. Shoot hoops: Full-court indoor basketball is available in SeaPlex. So, you can pop in to shoot a few jumpers or join a game during open-play sessions.

5. Swing from the trapeze: Sign up for circus school on Anthem and hang in there. A trapeze is installed in SeaPlex, and passengers can learn to perform aerial acrobatics. I snapped this picture of a 68-year-old woman celebrating her birthday by getting in the swing of things.

7. Run the track: Anthem of the Seas features a nice outdoors running track, clearly marked with lanes for runners and walkers. But the lounge chairs are packed in tight in some areas. So, be very careful (Working out on a Cruise Ship) and announce your presence clearly to others who might be oblivious to the fact they are milling on the track. Or get your miles in when the area is not so crowded.

FlowRider on Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas

Also not me.

8. Ride the waves: Royal Caribbean's famous FlowRider is on Anthem. You can surf or boogie board while gazing out at the sunset. This is a fun and physical way to enjoy the cooling waters.

Fitness center on Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas

C'mon. No slacking. You've got to earn that baked Alaska.

9. Hit the gym: No excuses for not getting in a few workouts during your trip on Anthem of the Seas. You'll love how spacious the gym is on this ship. It's the best I've seen on a cruise ship (matching the fitness center on Quantum of the Seas). All sorts of free weights, versatile machines, space for classes and a spinning room.

Bonus activity (no picture included): I'm sure you can figure out what to do on your own in your cabin if you want to get physical. But please, if you head to the balcony, make sure it's under the cover of the night.

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas sails out of Southampton, England, until October when it comes to its permanent homeport at Cape Liberty New Jersey.

As the Brits say: Cheers!

Travel fit! Travel happy!

JR

Book a Cruise this Summer and Enjoy up to $750 Onboard Credit with Expedia! Expires 6/29/15

0 Comments

A Q&A With Un-Cruise Adventures CEO Capt. Dan Blanchard

4/3/2015

2 Comments

By John Roberts

It's not often that a cruise company will tell you that the ship is not the most important part of your vacation. Un-Cruise Adventures, however, is not at all like your typical cruise line. The Seattle-based line traces its history to two decades of taking passengers on exciting voyages with a focus on the destinations and experience.

And during its period of rapid growth in recent years, Un-Cruise Adventures is setting a course for even more exciting places to explore. The line owns a longtime presence in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and it has expanded operations in the Columbia and Snake rivers. Ship itineraries also include Mexico, Hawaii and Central America.

Also, Un-Cruise Adventures makes its debut in the Galapagos in early 2016.

These locations all feature spectacular scenery and wildlife, and Un-Cruise aims to enhance the experience with a full range of adventures you can enjoy as part of your cruise. Kayaking, hiking, skiff tours, standup paddleboarding, snorkeling and shore hikes are some of the options available and designed to get you up close to birds, other creatures and natural features at your destinations.

The cruise line is a perfect fit for active travelers seeking a mix of adventure levels. You can choose more hardcore excursions or a mix of soft adventure days while also enjoying a few creature comforts onboard with good food, included beverages and fellow passengers of a similar spirit, whether age 30 or 70. Ships in the fleet range in capacity from 22 to 88 passengers, and starting fares can range from $300 to $500 per passenger per day.

I chatted recently with Un-Cruise Adventures CEO Dan Blanchard (pictured above), who speaks passionately about travel in general and specifically about how his company seeks to craft adventurous, inspiring and unforgettable experiences for its passengers.

The man known as Captain Dan says voyages on his ships are "about fun and laughter and experience."

"That comes in the form of camaraderie, a feeling of doing something unique," he says. "It's off the beaten path, whether it's a physical thing on a hike or whether it's an a-ha! moment when you're out on the bow with a cup of coffee with nobody else around and just absolute silence.

"I know our guests get life-changing moments."

Here is what else he shared with In The Loop Travel in an exclusive interview:

In The Loop: You say your passengers fit a "psychographic" rather than a specific "demographic." What makes travelers who choose a voyage on Un-Cruise Adventures unique?

Capt. Dan Blanchard: When we were developing the whole idea of an adventure cruise product . . . we went to the demographic information and found that demographics didn't tell the story. Adventuresome people that get out and want experiential travel, they have a soul and spirit that doesn't really respect the clock of time. What we find is what really makes the human the person, rather than those demographic things (like age and economics). So . . . what really is the heart and soul of this person, what makes them tick? Rather than where they live. The bigger thing about people is what they have in their mind, how they like to play and what kind of things they want to experience in life. Typically, the kind of passenger that we have, maybe in their 20s, it certainly wouldn't have been uncommon for them to go to Europe on $10 a day. I hear that type of story all the time. When they were younger, they were involved in athletics or hiking. So, as they've gotten older, they still have that adventurous spirit, but they're kind of tired of throwing the 70-pound pack on. That's the kind of client we've found really attracted to us. And even though we are in the cruise industry, we are really so far away from that, so as the ships have grown bigger, it actually helps feed our business.

ITL: Specialty cruising and expeditionary adventures seem to be rising in popularity among travelers. Is this what you are seeing and hearing?

Blanchard: For the big picture, everything is indicating, from statistics and research (Adventure Travel Trade Association) . . . that there is a huge upswing for what we now call adventure travel. It wasn't that long ago, adventure travel was considered something more aggressive. It wouldn't be uncommon that you'd be roped up and in crampons or sailing across an ocean. Today, it takes in a broader aspect that's more experiential. Because of that . . . and for whatever other reasons, we are definitely seeing and all the stats are showing a huge increase in this market. And really no stopping point at this juncture. As far as growth goes, we are certainly on a growth curve. As a company, we'd like to see that stabilize. We've grown extremely fast over the last six years.

"To me, it's really about capturing the moment when the stars align and you sit there and reflect on who you are and what you're doing and the happiness of being alive and having a fast-beating heart in this world."

ITL: Where do you want to see Un-Cruise Adventures go where it isn't sailing yet?

Blanchard: There are really two or three destinations -- we're kind of heading south for the most part. I've been spending a lot of time on the Amazon, and I have to tell you, that one rocked me to the core. We've been doing the Ecuadorian are of the Amazon, the headwaters. Some of this is just feel, when you go someplace, and you have a gut reaction. When you go to the Amazon, it reminds me so much of Alaska. It's true unpredictable adventure. You're going down the river, and all of a sudden, pink dolphins are there. Or you're going into the jungle, and the bird life changes rapidly.

The other that I'm really excited about -- and it's a ways off for us. I'm very interested in what we can do eventually in the Northern Passage.

ITL: Is this type of travel more cost-prohibitive to consumers? Is growth potential limited for any reason as people age and become less active and mobile?

Blanchard: There certainly is an economic part that is demographic based. Just this last summer, I sailed with a couple for a week, one was 27, the other 29, and they were both attorneys. So, there are the few that sail when they're younger, but primarily, we're not getting that. Because they're not in a place where they can put down anywhere from a $2,500 to a $5,000 deposit. But we've tried to design and have made our itineraries where it can go from soft adventure type person to the more relaxed and truly soft adventure. In other words, people can go out on a hike during the day, a half-day or even a full-day hike. And maybe the grandparents who brought the kids are just happy to go out on a skiff and go around for a few hours to see things up close. So, we have the ability to meet that adventuresome spirit, even though their knees might not have the ability to take them the miles that they use to.

ITL: I know you have been on the water and around boats for your whole life. What have been some of your greatest memories and adventures in travel?

Blanchard: I can only answer in a very personal way. I can't say a specific destination, because to me, it's all very much in the moment. I can remember sailing across the Pacific, about halfway (he gets choked up at this point recalling the trip) . . . One of the greatest travel experiences of my life was being mid-Pacific, totally sleep-deprived and my family all asleep down below on a bright, sunny day. Just sitting on the foredeck and realizing, "My God, I've achieved a goal," which is overwhelming.

To me, it's really about capturing the moment when the stars align and you sit there and reflect on who you are and what you're doing and the happiness of being alive and having a fast-beating heart in this world.

Now, those are sentiments to spur anyone to seek a new adventure.

Thanks for reading.

Remember, always Travel fit and travel happy!

JR

2 Comments

9 Ways to Get Physical on Anthem of the Seas (and 1 Bonus Way)

A Q&A With Un-Cruise Adventures CEO Capt. Dan Blanchard

Archives

Categories