Anthem of the Seas vs Harmony of the Seas

What's the main difference between Anthem of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas?

The biggest difference comes down to size and ship class. Harmony of the Seas belongs to Royal Caribbean's massive Oasis Class fleet, weighing in at 226,963 gross tons and carrying up to 6,687 guests when fully loaded. Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum Class ship that's about 26% smaller at 168,666 gross tons with a maximum capacity of 4,905 guests.

Think of it this way: Harmony feels like a floating resort city with distinct neighborhoods, while Anthem offers a more intimate (though still incredibly modern) cruise experience. Harmony stretches 362 meters long compared to Anthem's 348 meters, but those extra few meters translate to significantly more space and amenities.

Which ship has better entertainment options?

Both ships pack impressive entertainment, but they take different approaches. Anthem of the Seas features the Queen-inspired musical "We Will Rock You" and the spectacular Two70 venue – a high-tech entertainment space that combines massive LED screens with Cirque du Soleil-style performances. The SeaPlex indoor activity center offers bumper cars, roller skating, air hockey, and Xbox gaming all under one roof.

Harmony of the Seas counters with the classic musical "Grease," The Attic Comedy Club for laughs, and Jazz on 4 for music lovers. Its crown jewel is the Ultimate Abyss – a 10-story dry slide that's basically a controlled free fall. The ship's neighborhood concept means entertainment is spread across seven distinct areas, creating more variety but requiring more walking.

Which is better for families with kids?

Harmony takes the win for families with younger children. Splashaway Bay water park is specifically designed for toddlers and young kids, with age-appropriate water features and smaller slides. The ship's size means more dining options and activities spread across different areas, so everyone can find their happy place.

Anthem appeals more to families with older children and teenagers. The SeaPlex offers activities that tweens and teens actually want to do – bumper cars and video games beat kiddie pools any day for that age group. The escape room experience adds another layer of teen-friendly entertainment.

How do the cabins compare?

Anthem of the Seas offers slightly larger starting cabins, which can make a real difference during sea days or when you're trying to get ready for dinner. The ship's more traditional layout means shorter walks to elevators and public areas.

Harmony's cabins start a bit smaller, but the trade-off is access to those seven distinct neighborhoods. You're not just booking a room – you're choosing which area of this floating city becomes your home base. Some guests love the exploration aspect, while others find it exhausting to navigate such a massive ship.

What about dining and food options?

Harmony of the Seas wins on sheer quantity. The larger ship accommodates more restaurants, bars, and specialty dining venues spread across its neighborhoods. You'll find everything from casual grab-and-go spots to elegant specialty restaurants, often with shorter wait times despite the higher passenger count.

Anthem focuses on quality over quantity. While it has fewer dining venues overall, the restaurants tend to be less crowded, and service often feels more attentive. The ship's smaller size means less walking between dinner and evening entertainment.

Which itineraries do these ships typically sail?

This might actually decide your choice for you. Anthem of the Seas splits time between the northeastern United States and Europe, making it perfect if you don't want to fly to Florida or if you're already in Europe. The ship handles various European routes and Caribbean cruises from New York area ports.

Harmony of the Seas primarily operates Caribbean cruises from Port Everglades in Florida. If you're dreaming of tropical islands and don't mind flying to Fort Lauderdale, Harmony offers more consistent warm-weather itineraries with shorter sailing times to the Caribbean.

Which ship offers better value for money?

Anthem typically costs less due to its smaller size and older build date (2015 vs. 2016), but "value" depends on what you're seeking. If you want the newest, biggest, and most comprehensive cruise experience, Harmony justifies its higher price tag.

Anthem delivers excellent value for guests who prefer slightly larger cabins, shorter lines, and don't need every single amenity under the sun. The ship still offers modern Quantum Class features without the premium pricing of Oasis Class ships.

How crowded do these ships feel?

Despite carrying more passengers, Harmony often feels less crowded thanks to its neighborhood design spreading people across seven distinct areas. The ship's massive size provides more space per person for lounging, dining, and activities.

Anthem can feel more crowded in common areas during peak times, but the flip side is a more social atmosphere where you're likely to run into the same people and make friends. Some cruisers prefer this community feel over Harmony's resort-style anonymity.

Which ship should you choose?

Choose Anthem of the Seas if you want slightly larger cabins, prefer Queen music over Grease, have older kids or teens, want to sail from the Northeast or Europe, or like a more intimate cruise experience with cutting-edge technology.

Pick Harmony of the Seas if you're traveling with young children, want the most dining and entertainment options possible, prefer Caribbean itineraries from Florida, or dream of sailing on one of the world's largest cruise ships with that floating city experience.

Both ships represent Royal Caribbean at its finest – your choice comes down to personal preferences rather than one being objectively better than the other.