Which thrills on Anthem of the Seas are actually worth planning around? The short answer: the North Star observation capsule and RipCord by iFly are the two you should reserve the moment booking opens, because they run limited sessions and fill fast. Around them, Anthem stacks a FlowRider surf simulator, the SeaPlex indoor sports arena with bumper cars, the multi-story Two70 with its Vistarama and Roboscreen shows, a rock wall, and both an outdoor and a glass-roofed indoor pool. This guide walks through each Quantum-Class signature attraction on Anthem of the Seas North Star RipCord experiences included, explaining what to expect, who each one suits, and exactly how to book early so you are not left watching from the sidelines.
Anthem is a Royal Caribbean Quantum-Class ship of around 168,000 gross tons, with roughly 16 guest decks and space for about 4,180 guests at double occupancy. In her Australia and New Zealand season she sails round-trip from Sydney to the South Pacific and New Zealand, and that itinerary is part of why these attractions matter. A lot of her showpiece thrills are engineered for variable weather, so a cool day on the Tasman crossing does not shut down your fun. The North Star still climbs, RipCord still flies in its enclosed tunnel, and SeaPlex keeps the kids moving indoors. Understanding how each venue works, and when to grab a slot, turns a good cruise into one where you actually do the things Anthem is famous for.
North Star: the 300-foot observation capsule
North Star is the attraction guests remember most, and for good reason. It is a jewel-shaped glass observation capsule mounted on a long mechanical arm that lifts you about 300 feet above the sea for a full 360-degree view. You step into an enclosed pod with glass on every side, the arm swings out over the edge of the ship, and you rise slowly while the deck, the funnel, and eventually the whole ship shrink beneath you. The horizon opens up in every direction, and on a clear day the sense of height and space is genuinely spectacular. It is calm rather than white-knuckle, so it appeals to a wide range of people, from small children to grandparents who would never go near RipCord.
What makes North Star special on this ship is the scenery it hangs above. Rising over Sydney Harbour on departure, you get the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and the whole sweep of the city laid out below you, a view most visitors to Sydney never get from that angle. Later in the voyage, drifting through Milford Sound and the Fiordland, the capsule becomes a slow-motion viewing platform for Mitre Peak and the towering waterfalls of the fjord. Because the ship cruises the fjord rather than docking, the deck experience and a North Star ride complement each other perfectly. If your sailing includes scenic Fiordland cruising, a capsule slot timed for that morning is one of the best things you can book on the whole cruise.
How and when to reserve North Star
North Star is often complimentary on sea days, which is the key to booking it smartly. On those days the ship offers timed ascents that you reserve, and they do fill, so treat it like any other limited-capacity activity. On port days or during special scenic cruising, the ride may run as a paid, longer, or specially timed experience instead. The practical approach is simple: open the Royal Caribbean app as soon as you board, check the daily schedule for North Star sessions, and reserve a slot for a sea day, ideally one with good forecast light. Always confirm the current arrangement in the app, because whether a session is complimentary or paid can vary by sailing and by day.
- Book on a sea day when sessions are most likely complimentary and most numerous.
- Aim for morning or late-afternoon light for the clearest, most photogenic views.
- If your itinerary includes Fiordland or a marquee harbour arrival, prioritise a slot around that moment.
- Check the app on embarkation day; reservations open early and popular times go first.
- Bring a jacket even on warm days, and keep phones on a wrist strap for photos through the glass.
Who does it suit? Almost everyone. It is the rare Anthem thrill that works for a nervous flyer, a toddler, and an adrenaline junkie in the same family. If you only reserve one thing on the ship, reserve this. For a broader look at how the ship’s headline features fit together, the overview of what to expect on Anthem of the Seas is a useful companion read.
RipCord by iFly: skydiving without the parachute
RipCord by iFly is Anthem’s skydiving simulator, a vertical wind tunnel that suspends you on a powerful column of air so you experience the sensation of freefall in a controlled, enclosed chamber. You suit up in a flight suit, helmet, and goggles, get a short safety briefing and a set of hand signals, then step into the tunnel where an instructor is with you the entire time. The wind lifts you off the mesh floor and you float, belly-down, learning to hold a stable position. It is exhilarating and, importantly, safe and beginner-friendly, because the instructor controls the airflow and stays within arm’s reach to guide you.
Because RipCord runs inside an enclosed tunnel rather than out in the open, weather barely affects it, which is a real advantage on an Australia and New Zealand itinerary where sea days can be cool or blustery. A gusty afternoon on the Tasman is no obstacle to a flight. First-timers often assume they need to be athletic; they do not. The air does the lifting. What you bring is a willingness to relax into the position the instructor teaches, because tension is what makes people wobble. Most guests get one or two short flights in a session, and those few minutes of actual flight time feel far longer while you are in them.
Who RipCord suits and how to book it early
RipCord suits curious first-timers, older kids, teens, and adults who want a genuine adrenaline hit without needing any skill or fitness. There are sensible participation requirements around health and age, so anyone with back, neck, heart, or shoulder concerns, or who is pregnant, should sit this one out and enjoy North Star instead. Comfortable clothing works fine; you pull the flight suit over it. Leave loose jewellery and glasses in the cubby, since goggles go over the eyes.
To book early, use the same app-first strategy as North Star. Complimentary or introductory flight sessions appear on the daily schedule and can be reserved, and these go quickly because each flight only takes a few minutes and the queue is long. Reserve a slot in the app on boarding day, and consider a sea-day session so you are not trading it against a port you want to explore. If your family wants to fly together, book adjacent times early rather than hoping to walk up. Confirm the current session format and any fees in the app, as these can differ by sailing.
FlowRider: the surf simulator on the top deck
The FlowRider is Anthem’s surf simulator, a sheet of water pumped up an angled surface at high speed so you can bodyboard or stand-up flowboard against the current. It is out on the top deck, and it draws a crowd of both participants and spectators, because wipeouts are part of the entertainment. Beginners almost always start on the bodyboard, lying down and getting a feel for the flow before anyone attempts to stand. Instructors are on hand to launch you and coach your balance, and the soft, forgiving surface means falling is more splash than injury.
FlowRider suits active guests, teens, and anyone with a competitive streak who does not mind falling in front of an audience. It is more physically demanding than North Star or RipCord, so it rewards a bit of persistence; your first few tries will end in the water. Sessions are usually offered as complimentary open times throughout the cruise, and some slots split beginner bodyboarding from advanced stand-up flowboarding, so check which is which. On an Australia and New Zealand sailing the FlowRider is at its best on warm South Pacific sea days near islands like Nouméa or Mystery Island.
- Start on the bodyboard; standing up is a later-in-the-week goal, not a first-session one.
- Wear the provided or appropriate swimwear; loose clothing catches the flow awkwardly.
- Go on warm sea days early, before the deck fills; check the app for beginner versus advanced times.
- Watch a session first to learn the instructor’s launch rhythm before you queue.
SeaPlex: the largest indoor active space at sea
SeaPlex is Anthem’s indoor activity arena and the largest active space at sea, which makes it one of the most valuable venues on an Australia and New Zealand itinerary. When the wind picks up on a New Zealand crossing and the outdoor decks empty, SeaPlex keeps going. Inside a single high-ceilinged hall the ship runs bumper cars, roller skating, basketball, and an arcade, with the floor reconfigured through the day for different activities. The bumper cars are the crowd favourite and a genuine novelty at sea. It is a lifesaver for families with energetic kids who need to burn off steam regardless of the weather.
SeaPlex suits families, teens, and groups of friends, and much of it runs on a walk-up or scheduled-session basis rather than advance reservation. The bumper cars in particular operate in timed sessions with limited cars, so the booking-early logic still applies: check the app for the day’s SeaPlex schedule, note when bumper cars and skating run, and turn up a few minutes ahead. Because it is indoors and weather-proof, SeaPlex is where you steer the family on a grey Tasman day, saving the outdoor thrills for the sunshine. If you are travelling with children, it is worth reading up on the ship’s kids’ programming alongside this; the full Anthem of the Seas cruise guide covers how these family spaces work together.
Two70: Vistarama by day, Roboscreen shows by night
Two70 is Anthem’s most inventive venue and a completely different kind of thrill from the physical attractions. It is a multi-story lounge at the aft of the ship with a vast wall of glass that, by day, frames the wake and the passing sea in one of the calmest, most beautiful spots on board. By night the glass transforms. The venue’s Vistarama turns the wall into an enormous immersive screen wrapping the room in projected imagery, and the Roboscreens, articulated video panels mounted on robotic arms, move and dance to create shows that combine live performers with technology in a way you will not have seen elsewhere.
Two70 suits everyone, from couples wanting a quiet daytime perch to families catching an evening production. The daytime lounge is open seating and needs no booking; simply wander in, grab a seat by the glass, and watch the Fiordland or the South Pacific slide past. The evening shows are the ones to plan around. They run on a schedule that appears in the app, and popular performances draw crowds, so arrive early for a good seat, or check whether any require a reservation. Because the itinerary changes the light through the glass so dramatically, Two70 rewards visiting more than once: a Milford Sound morning and a mid-ocean night are two entirely different experiences in the same room.
The rock wall and the pools
The rock wall is the classic Royal Caribbean climb, a tall outdoor wall with several routes of varying difficulty and staff who fit your harness and belay you up. It suits anyone who wants a quick challenge with a view, from first-time climbers to kids meeting the height requirement. It usually runs on open, complimentary sessions rather than reservations, so check the app for times and go when the deck is quiet, since climbing is more pleasant without a long line behind you. On a warm sea day it is a satisfying way to earn your lunch.
Anthem’s pools are a story of clever design for changeable weather. There is the open outdoor pool deck for warm days, and, crucially, a glass-roofed indoor pool that stays warm and usable when a New Zealand day turns cool or wet. Alongside it, the glass-domed, adults-only Solarium offers a calmer, grown-up retreat under the same weather-proof principle. This pairing is one of Anthem’s smartest features for the Australia and New Zealand climate: you are rarely forced out of the water by the forecast. None of the pools need booking, but the indoor pool and Solarium fill up on the very days everyone wants them, so claim a lounger early on cooler mornings.
A simple plan for booking the thrills
The whole strategy comes down to sorting the attractions by how tightly capacity is limited, then booking in that order. The reservation-hungry pair, North Star and RipCord, come first, ideally the moment you board and open the app. The scheduled-session venues, SeaPlex bumper cars and the Two70 evening shows, come next; note their times and show up early. The open, walk-up activities, the FlowRider, the rock wall, and the pools, need timing rather than reservations, so you slot them into the gaps and steer toward warm, quiet moments.
| Attraction | Booking style | Best moment to go |
|---|---|---|
| North Star | Reserve early; often free on sea days | Fiordland cruising or a marquee harbour arrival |
| RipCord by iFly | Reserve early; limited flight slots | Any sea day; weather-proof indoors |
| FlowRider | Walk-up open sessions | Warm South Pacific sea day, early |
| SeaPlex bumper cars | Scheduled sessions; arrive ahead | Cool or wet crossing days |
| Two70 shows | Scheduled; check app, arrive early | Evenings at sea |
| Rock wall and pools | Walk-up | Quiet, warm periods; indoor pool on cool days |
One more piece of practical advice: your cabin choice affects how easily you reach all this. A midship location keeps you close to the lifts that serve the top-deck thrills and the aft venues alike, and it gives the steadiest ride on open stretches like the Tasman crossing. If you are weighing where to sleep, the notes on the best cabins on Anthem of the Seas and the wider Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas tips both help you match your room to how you plan to use the ship.
Above all, let the app run your day. It carries the live daily schedule for every one of these attractions, and because sessions, formats, and whether something is complimentary can vary by sailing, the app is the single source of truth. Reserve the limited things on embarkation day, watch the schedule for the scheduled shows, and keep the walk-up activities flexible around the weather and your ports. Do that, and you will actually experience the thrills Anthem is built around instead of reading about them afterward.
Get the complete Anthem of the Seas playbook
For a chapter-by-chapter deep dive into every thrill, venue, cabin, and port on this ship, pick up “The Ultimate Guide to Sailing on Anthem of the Seas.” It is part of the Ultimate Ship Guides series by Leo Sotropa, with clear action steps in every chapter so you board knowing exactly what to book and when.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay for North Star on Anthem of the Seas?
North Star is often complimentary on sea days, when the ship runs timed ascents you reserve in advance. On port days or during special scenic cruising it may operate as a paid or specially timed experience instead. Whether it is free depends on your sailing and the specific day, so check the daily schedule in the Royal Caribbean app and book your slot early, as complimentary sessions go quickly.
How high does North Star go?
The capsule lifts you about 300 feet above the sea, giving a full 360-degree view of the ship, the horizon, and the scenery beyond. It is a smooth, gentle rise rather than a ride, which is why it suits everyone from small children to older guests. Over Sydney Harbour or in the Fiordland, that height turns into one of the most memorable views of the whole cruise.
Is RipCord by iFly safe for beginners?
Yes. RipCord is designed for first-timers. You get a flight suit, helmet, and goggles, a short briefing, and a trained instructor who stays in the tunnel with you and controls the airflow the whole time. You do not need to be athletic, because the column of air does the lifting. There are health and age requirements, so anyone pregnant or with back, neck, heart, or shoulder issues should skip it and enjoy the ship’s gentler attractions instead.
Do these attractions run in bad weather?
Many of Anthem’s signature thrills are built for exactly this. RipCord runs inside an enclosed wind tunnel, SeaPlex is fully indoors, Two70 is an interior venue, and the ship has a glass-roofed indoor pool, so a cool or windy day on the Tasman or a New Zealand crossing does not shut down your fun. The North Star capsule is enclosed too, though its scheduling can shift with conditions. Outdoor attractions like the FlowRider and rock wall depend more on the weather, so plan those for warm days and confirm status in the app.
When should I book the thrills after boarding?
Open the Royal Caribbean app as soon as you board and reserve the two capacity-limited attractions first: North Star and RipCord by iFly. Then note the scheduled times for SeaPlex bumper cars and the Two70 evening shows and plan to arrive early for those. The FlowRider, rock wall, and pools are walk-up, so you fit them into gaps around warm, quiet moments. Booking in this order stops the popular slots from selling out before you get to them.
What is there for kids among Anthem’s attractions?
Plenty. SeaPlex is the standout for families, with bumper cars, roller skating, basketball, and an arcade all indoors and weather-proof. Older kids and teens love RipCord and the FlowRider, while North Star is gentle enough for the youngest to enjoy. The rock wall welcomes children who meet the height requirement, and Two70’s shows are family-friendly. Check the app for session times and any age or height rules for each activity.
Where are the best places to see Sydney Harbour and Milford Sound on board?
The North Star capsule is the premium vantage point for both, lifting you high above the ship for uninterrupted 360-degree views of Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour Bridge on departure and Mitre Peak and the waterfalls during Fiordland cruising. Two70’s wall of glass gives a gorgeous, seated aft view, and the open decks are ideal when the ship glides through Milford Sound rather than docking. Time a North Star slot around these moments for the best of all worlds.
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