By Rod & Melody. Our September 2022 sailing to Portugal, Spain and the Canary Islands.
Our Sailing: September 2022, with stops in Lisbon, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and A Coruña, plus a sea day crossing the Bay of Biscay
Anthem of the Seas took us to the Canary Islands. For Rod, it was a homecoming of sorts. He lived in the Canary Islands for two years and speaks fluent Spanish, so this itinerary meant a lot to him.
We filmed this trip as quick port Shorts instead of a full series, so this Ship Log is shorter than our others. Here's what to know about Anthem and the ports we saw from her decks.
What Anthem Is
Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum Class ship that debuted in 2015. She's smaller than the Oasis Class ships, with a different layout. Instead of a boardwalk and a park, she has big indoor spaces built for any weather, which makes her a good fit for itineraries in cooler climates.
Signature features on Quantum Class ships include the North Star, a glass capsule that lifts you high above the ship for the view. There's also RipCord by iFLY, a skydiving simulator, and the SeaPlex, an indoor sports and activity space. At the back of the ship, Two70 has floor-to-ceiling windows and turns into a show venue at night.
In 2026 Anthem splits her year between Sydney, Australia, and summer Alaska cruises from Seattle.
✈ PRO TIP: Ride the North Star on a port day. The view over the port is the best photo you'll get of the city from the ship. Book a time slot in the app, since it's weather dependent and fills up.
The Ports We Saw
Most of what we filmed on this trip was the view from the ship in each port. Here's where we stopped:
Lisbon, Portugal
Arrecife, Lanzarote
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A Coruña, Spain
We'll add a full guide for each of these ports as we write them. Until then, the Shorts below give you a quick look at each sail-in.
We finished with a sea day crossing the Bay of Biscay. It can be rough, so if you get seasick, pack your remedy before this leg.
Tell us in the comments: Would you pick a Canary Islands cruise or a Mediterranean cruise for your next trip to Spain?
✈ PRO TIP: Pack layers for a fall sailing in this region. Northern Spain and the Bay of Biscay can be cool and windy even when the Canaries are warm.
What We Pack for an Anthem Sailing
A packable rain jacket for northern Spain and windy sea days
Motion sickness bands for the Bay of Biscay
Magnetic hooks for the steel cabin walls
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Before You Sail: Quick Tips
Don't wait to book the North Star and RipCord. Reserve them in the app early in the cruise.
Don't skip the sail-ins. Get on deck early for each port arrival.
Don't pack only for warm weather on a fall Europe itinerary.
Anthem showed us a part of Spain we'd never cruised before. We'd go back to the Canary Islands in a heartbeat.
Book a cruise: Compare Anthem of the Seas sailings on Expedia
More of Spain: 3 days in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca
Another ship we love: Freedom of the Seas
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