Key Aspects:
- Anthem of the Seas is adjusting port visits for the December 11 cruise.
- This is intended to help ensure enough time for full tendering operations.
- The ship will still be visiting all ports of call during the 8-night sailing.
Tendering can always be a tricky situation on cruises, as the small water shuttles need smooth water in order to safely ferry guests to and from the larger cruise ship.
To smooth out the tendering process on Anthem of the Seas‘ next sailing, Royal Caribbean has adjusted its port times for two South Pacific destinations. This will provide more time for the tendering operations and ensure everyone can have a fun and lengthy visit.
The impacted cruise is Anthem of the Seas‘ December 11, 2025 departure, a 9-night roundtrip voyage from Sydney.
Fortunately, the 168,666-gross-ton, Quantum-class ship will still be visiting all of her planned ports of call, just with slightly adjusted times.
“To provide you with the smoothest tendering experience in Port Vila and Mystery Island, Vanuatu, we’ve adjusted our arrival times to give you more time to enjoy everything these beautiful destinations have to offer!” the notification email sent to guests explained.
Anthem of the Seas will now visit Port Vila on Monday, December 15, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Previously, the schedule had the ship arriving one hour later, at 9 a.m.
Read Also: Beyond the Dock – Unveiling the Charm of Tender Ports
Similarly, the ship’s call to Mystery Island the next day, on Tuesday, December 16, will be from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is also one hour earlier than originally scheduled.
The call to Noumea on Sunday, December 14, has also been adjusted, with Anthem of the Seas departing New Caledonia at 2 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. This is a docked port, so guests do not need to worry about catching tenders to return to the ship earlier, but they will still need to be sure not to miss the ship.
Shore Tour Changes
Any shore excursions that have been pre-booked through Royal Caribbean will be automatically rescheduled if necessary.
Guests who may have arranged independent tours, however, should consider reaching out to their tour operator for any adjustments and to be sure their tour can still be accommodated.
If guests haven’t yet booked any tours for their South Pacific port visits, they can check the cruise line’s website or visit the Shore Excursions desk portside on Deck 5 near the Bionic Bar once they board Anthem of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean is also reminding guests that because Port Vila and Mystery Island are tender ports, guests who require mobility assistance must be able to take a few steps to get on and off the tenders.
Collapsible wheelchairs can typically be accommodated on tenders, but larger scooters or wheelchairs may not be able to use the smaller boats. Guests who require those aids may not be able to go ashore at tender ports.
Can One Hour Make a Difference?
Guests might wonder if one hour can make a significant difference for tendering operations, but yes, it can.
Because tender boats can ferry 100-200 guests at a time or more, even what seems like just a little more time can bring everyone ashore sooner than expected. This will ensure that every guest has the maximum time to explore their destinations.
Anthem of the Seas can welcome 4,180 guests at double occupancy or up to 4,905 guests when fully booked. This can mean a lot of tender trips to bring everyone to and from the ship.
Local conditions, including tidal schedules and potential rough weather, can also impact tendering. Having more time to bring guests ashore can help give everyone plenty of time to enjoy the port of call, even if some pauses in tendering might be necessary.
