Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas is one of the most family-friendly cruise ships currently sailing. With large open decks, clearly structured daily schedules and a wide variety of activity zones, it can work well for families travelling with autistic children.
Cruises can reduce many of the logistical stresses of travel. You unpack once, your accommodation stays the same and meals follow predictable routines. For many autistic children, this level of consistency makes a cruise easier to manage than constantly moving between hotels.
At the same time, cruise ships are busy environments. They combine entertainment, restaurants, pools, shows and port days within a contained floating city. Planning ahead helps you use the ship’s structure to your advantage while avoiding the most overwhelming moments.
This page is your step-by-step Anthem of the Seas planning guide. Instead of simply listing attractions onboard, it walks you through how to plan a cruise with an autistic child — from booking the right cabin to understanding the ship layout, choosing manageable activities and preparing for embarkation day.
If you follow this in order, you can plan your entire Anthem of the Seas cruise with confidence.
Step 1: Before You Book – Cruise Planning and Practical Considerations
Before choosing your sailing, there are a few practical decisions that can significantly affect how comfortable the cruise feels for your family.
Choosing the right itinerary
Royal Caribbean operates Anthem of the Seas on a range of itineraries including Northern Europe, Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings. The sailing we did was during Anthem of the Seas stint in South East Asia, boarding in Singapore and visiting George Town (Penang) and Patong (Phuket).
When travelling with an autistic child, itinerary pace matters as much as destination.
Consider:
- Number of sea days (we find sea days balance out the harder port days)
- Length of port stops
- Flight distance to the embarkation port
- Climate and temperature
- Whether ports involve tender boats or docked piers
For many families, cruises with several sea days offer more regulation time because you are not constantly transitioning on and off the ship.
Cabin choice
Cabin location can make a significant difference.
Inside cabins:
- Completely dark sleeping environment
- Often quieter
- No visual stimulation from outside
- Usually the lowest cost
We had an inside cabin (two actually) and this one had a very large digital window to display views of the outside world – really cool but it does get very warm which radiates to the sofa bed and it can be uncomfortable at night.
Balcony cabins:
- Access to fresh air
- Private quiet space away from crowds
- Useful decompression area
If your child becomes overwhelmed easily, a balcony cabin can act as a calm retreat.
Also consider cabin location.
Mid-ship cabins often feel more stable for children prone to motion sickness, and cabins away from lifts and main entertainment venues are usually quieter.
Dining preferences
Royal Caribbean offers both traditional fixed dining times and flexible “My Time Dining”.
Some autistic children benefit from eating at the same time and table each evening. In this case, traditional dining can provide valuable predictability.
If flexibility matters more, My Time Dining allows you to choose when you eat each evening.
Special dietary needs
If your child has restricted eating or food allergies, inform the cruise line before departure. Royal Caribbean is generally good at accommodating dietary needs when given advance notice.
Read: Royal Caribbean special dietary needs
Step 2: Embarkation Day and Boarding the Ship
Embarkation day is the most intense part of the cruise experience.
Thousands of passengers may board within a few hours. Queues, announcements and security screening can create a sensory-heavy environment.
Preparing for embarkation
Consider:
- Booking early arrival times
- Using priority boarding if available
- Packing sensory supports in your carry-on
- Bringing familiar snacks
Your checked luggage may take several hours to reach your cabin, so ensure essentials stay with you.
Once onboard, many experienced cruisers recommend avoiding the buffet initially. It is often extremely crowded during the first hours.
Instead, explore quieter areas of the ship while cabins are being prepared.
Step 3: Understanding the Layout of Anthem of the Seas
Anthem of the Seas is a large ship, but its layout is relatively structured.
Key areas include:
Royal Esplanade
The central promenade with cafés, shops and entertainment spaces. This is one of the busiest parts of the ship.
Pool deck
Main outdoor pool area with loungers, bars and family pools. This space can become crowded during peak afternoon hours.
SeaPlex
One of the ship’s standout features — a large indoor activity space used for roller skating, bumper cars and sports.
Kids play area
There is a play room near the kids club rooms that anyone can use, and parents can stay to play with their kids.
North Star
A glass capsule that lifts passengers high above the ship for panoramic views.
Two70
A multi-purpose entertainment venue with floor-to-ceiling windows and large digital screens.
Understanding where these areas sit within the ship helps you move between quieter and busier spaces more easily.
Step 4: Getting Around the Ship
Large cruise ships can initially feel disorienting.
Anthem of the Seas has multiple lift banks and staircases connecting its decks. During peak times — especially before shows and dinner — lifts can become busy.
If your child struggles with crowd density, consider using stairs for shorter distances.
The Royal Caribbean app is extremely helpful for navigating the ship and checking daily schedules. There are also maps around the ship which explain where you are and where nearby places of interest are.
Step 5: Choosing Activities That Suit Your Child
One of the advantages of a large ship is choice. You can design each day based on your child’s regulation levels.
Popular activities on Anthem of the Seas include:
North Star observation capsule
A slow, controlled ride offering panoramic sea views. For some children the predictable motion can be calming.
SeaPlex
Indoor sports arena used for:
- Bumper cars
- Roller skating
- Basketball
- Circus activities
Because this area operates on scheduled sessions, you can choose quieter time slots.
RipCord by iFLY
Indoor skydiving simulator. Suitable for older children and adults who enjoy sensory experiences involving movement.
Outdoor pools
The ship has both family pools and adult-only pool areas.
Morning swimming sessions are often calmer before the afternoon crowds arrive.
Entertainment shows
Large theatre productions take place most evenings. If your child struggles with loud noise or dark environments, choose seats near the exit for easy breaks.
Step 6: Managing Sensory Overload on a Cruise Ship
Cruise ships combine many sensory elements:
- Bright lighting
- Announcements
- Music
- Crowds
- Movement
Planning quiet spaces is essential.
Quieter areas on Anthem of the Seas often include:
- Upper outdoor decks
- Early morning pool areas
- The walking track
- Your private balcony
Building daily quiet time into your cruise schedule can prevent sensory overload later in the day.
Step 7: Visual Planning and Familiarisation
Before your cruise, show your child:
- Ship tour videos
- Cabin walkthroughs
- Pool deck footage
- Embarkation day videos
Seeing the ship in advance helps reduce uncertainty.
Visual planning and familiarisation resources
Many cruise lines also publish deck plans online. Reviewing these together can help your child understand the ship layout.
Step 8: Visual Supports and PECS
If your child uses visual communication, preparing visual supports in advance can make the cruise far smoother.
- Cruise PECS pack – coming soon
- Free travel PECS
- Bumper pack of travel PECS
Cruise ships follow structured daily routines — breakfast, activities, dinner and evening shows — which can be represented clearly using visual schedules.
Affiliate and booking information
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Planning to explore more cruise travel resources? You may also find these helpful:
- Cruising with autistic children
- Royal Caribbean with autistic children – coming soon
- Singapore with autistic children
This Anthem of the Seas guide is designed to help families move from uncertainty to confidence. With preparation, realistic expectations and thoughtful pacing, a cruise can become one of the most manageable forms of travel for families with autistic children.
For more cruise advice, check out my cruise archives.