After her conveyance of the River Ems, sea trials, dry docking in Hamburg and final fitting out at Bremerhaven, on 10th April Royal Caribbean International officially took delivery of its 23rd ship, Anthem of the Seas, at a signing ceremony held in Bremerhaven, Germany.

The ship then embarked on her delivery voyage to Southampton where she arrived at around 0800 on 15th April (above). The naming ceremony took place aboard the ship on 20th April when travel agent Godmother Emma Wilby performed the ceremony before performing a special song for more than 1,300 invited guests and dignitaries.

The 167,800gt Anthem of the Seas spans 16 guest decks, carries 4,180 guests at double occupancy and features 2,090 staterooms. In November, New York Harbour will be the ship’s permanent home, sailing regularly from Cape Liberty Cruise Port to Bermuda, the Caribbean and Canada and New England. The Quantum of the Seas has a large bear sculpture on Deck 15 and whilst in Bremerhaven the Anthem of the Seas received Gigi, a giant, four ton, 10-metre tall giraffe wearing a bright yellow swimsuit and pink buoy. Made of hard wearing carbon fibre, she is the brainchild of French artist Jean-François Fourtou, who is renowned for depicting animals outside of their natural context.

The Explorer of the Seas will join her new fleetmate at Southampton on 23rd April. Upon delivery in 2016 the third Quantum Class ship, Ovation of the Seas, will be based in China (Tianjin) once she has offered three cruise departures from Southampton in late April/early May. The Ovation will be one of five RCI ships in China on a year-round or seasonal basis.