Anthem of the Seas Itinerary

What Anthem of the Seas's Autumn Australia / New Zealand Season Is Actually Like

Our database files this stretch under "autumn". That's true if you're reading this in the Northern Hemisphere, and Anthem of the Seas is about to ignore it completely. She spends the period hauling herself from Honolulu to Sydney, where spring is busy turning into summer. At Sydney's Observatory Hill the average daily high is 23.6°C in November, 25.2°C in December and 25.9°C in January. Overnight lows run from 15.6°C to 18.7°C. Pack sunscreen, not a scarf, and leave the pumpkin spice at home.

Here is what we could confirm about each sailing. Our own records don't list ports for any of them (rude, but here we are), so the details below come from retailer itineraries and may change. Check your booking before you plan around them.

We couldn't confirm ports for the other 9-night dates, the 3-night sailing on 20 Nov or the 8-night sailing on 24 Jan 2027. We haven't guessed, because inventing a port list is how you end up with a very angry comment section.

The crossing

The Honolulu sailing is really a repositioning cruise: the ship has to get to Sydney, and you're invited along. You get three French Polynesian stops in a row, which is the glamorous bit. Then comes a long run to Tauranga, the usual jumping-off point for Rotorua's geothermal sights, roughly an hour inland. That's a lot of sea days. It suits people who actually like sea days, and it will be a long, rocky road for anyone who treats them as an endurance test. One Australian retailer listed inside cabins from A$1,599 per person on its 18-night listing. Prices move faster than a buffet queue at 6pm, so check before you plan around that number.

The South Pacific loops

Now for the weather drama. Cyclone season officially runs from November to April and usually peaks between January and March. Vanuatu and New Caledonia typically see two or three cyclones pass nearby each year. The November and December departures come before that peak, but itineraries can still change for weather, so travel insurance is worth having. Think of it as a very boring souvenir you hope never to use. Mystery Island is small and undeveloped, so treat it as a beach day, not a shopping day. There is no bargain sarong emporium waiting for you.

New Zealand

Fiordland is cool and wet whatever the calendar says, and it doesn't care about your holiday photos. Milford Sound is one of the wettest inhabited places in New Zealand, and the yearly average high is only about 14.5°C. The upside is that rain also sets off hundreds of temporary waterfalls, so a grey day isn't a wasted one. It's the scenery equivalent of a plot twist. The 28 December sailing is a holiday cruise, so expect families and a busier ship than a mid-November sailing. Plan your quiet corner of the deck accordingly.

Which length suits whom

• 3 nights: a taster for first-timers, with no port stops listed. Think of it as a ship-shaped sampler platter.
• 8 and 9 nights: the best value for warm-water beach time. The 2 November sailing has two sea days out and three back, while the 11 December sailing has two each way, so expect a fair few days at sea between the beach stops.
• 9 and 11 nights (New Zealand): the best choice if scenery matters more than sunbathing.
• 19 nights: for travellers who want Polynesia and New Zealand on one booking and can commit to being at sea for a while.

What to pack

Pack a hat, strong sunscreen, swimwear and a light layer for evenings. Add a proper rain jacket and a warm mid-layer for Fiordland and Tauranga. The Honolulu crossing needs both sets of clothes, so yes, your suitcase will be a bit of a diva. If you're booking an inside cabin, our cabin size guide will help you choose.

About the ship

Anthem is a 168,666-ton Quantum Class ship that carries 4,180 passengers and about 1,500 crew. Our records show a 2025 refurbishment, and her latest CDC inspection score is a perfect 100, from 11 June 2026. You can check that on our CDC inspection lookup. For more on the ship, see her ship page.