Luxury Holiday Championship: Anthem of the Seas vs Burj Al Arab

Regularly cited as the world’s most luxurious hotel; the Burj Al Arab has become a symbol of the prosperity in Dubai. Known as the ‘World’s only Seven Star Hotel’ since its opening in 1999; the hotel was designed to look like the sail of a ship.

So how does the Burj Al Arab compare to Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Anthem of the Seas, which is due to take to the open waters early next year?

Round 1 – Restaurants

Both the Burj Al Arab and Anthem of the Seas boast an array of restaurants that offer culinary delights inspired by every corner of the globe. However the Burj Al Arab only offers diners 9 different restaurants to enjoy in the hotel, whereas the Anthem of the Seas has 19 different dining options for passengers.

From formal dining and steakhouses with four week dry-aged steaks to Jamie Oliver’s first Italian restaurant on the seas; the Anthem of the Seas has options to suit every palate.

Winner: Anthem of the Seas

Round 2 – Views

At 1,056ft tall, the Burj Al Arab towers over the Anthem of the Seas and the upper level restaurants and lounges offer incredible panoramic views over Dubai and the sea. However, the view will remain largely the same from one day to the next, with the only piqued excitement coming when a luxury cruise liner ventures over the horizon.

This is starkly contrasting to the views offered by the Anthem of the Seas which will take in Paris, Bilbao, Gibraltar, Barcelona, Nice, Rome, Florence, Malaga, Seville, Lisbon, Madeira and many more in just its first month of operation.

Winner: Anthem of the Seas

Round 3 – Activities

The Burj Al Arab houses a spa with enviable views and a number of bar lounges for guests to while away the hours. However the Anthem of the Seas offers such luxuries and trumps the hotel with a number of incredibly and unique activities for passengers to enjoy.

The Quantum Class of ships from Royal Caribbean are the first to offer a skydiving experience at sea with the iFly simulator, and the North Star Observation Pod offers unparalleled seascapes, lifting passengers 300ft in the air.

Winner: Anthem of the Seas

Round 4 – Capacity

Despite its impressive size, 39% of the Burj Al Arab’s total height is non-occupiable. The hotel has 202 rooms for guests. This is less than 10% of the number of rooms aboard the Anthem of the Seas, which contains a stunning 2,090 staterooms.

Winner: Anthem of the Seas

Round 5 – Publicity Stunts

The Burj Al Arab has developed a keen sense for self-promotion and publicity and its rooftop helipad has played host to a number of stunts, most notably Tiger Woods driving a golf ball into the ocean. Other stunts include Andre Agassi and Roger Federer facing off in a tennis match, Rory McIlroy performing a bunker shot and former F1 driver, David Coulthard, doing donuts.

The Anthem of the Seas has so far refrained from such publicity stunts, simply revealing liner facts and details.

Winner: Burj Al Arab

Overall: Anthem of the Seas

If you want to book your place on the championship-winning Anthem of the Seas – visit the dedicated page or call on 0808 2746 777 for a selection of great deals.

Images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credits: Philip Leara, Joi Ito, Prayitno, Ooznu, Keith Allison