 Expert Review |  | | | | |
| | | | | Overview
On paper, Mariner of the Seas, the last of Royal Caribbean's five Voyager-class vessels, should read a big "ho-hum." After all, we've had five years to get accustomed to this ship -- since 1999, when Voyager itself debuted, then was followed by Explorer, Adventure, and Navigator of the Seas. At 138,000-tons and carrying 3,114 passengers (and that's double occupancy not total capacity), these ships, until the launch of Cunard's Queen Mary 2, have held the biggest-ever award. But whether your cruise on Mariner of the Seas is your first-ever Voyager-class experience, or you're a veteran, there's nothing routine on this ship. First, a few changes/improvements that you'll find on Mariner of the Seas: Balconies on this ship are built outside the vessel's superstructure rather than inside, as they were with the first three in the family. The difference? Balconies are less cave-like, more light-filled, which also translates into airier cabins, as well (this is also the case on Navigator of the Seas). The addition of Chops Grill gives Mariner of the Seas two alternative restaurants (as does Navigator of the Seas; the first three just have Portofino). The pool area, decorated by Romero Britto, a South Florida artist known for his joyful, exuberant designs, looks like a fabulous scene from St. Tropez. The ship has significant features designed for disabled passengers, such as a hydraulic lift in a pool and in a whirlpool. Vintages, a wine bar designed to resemble a cozy wine cellar, has replaced the sports bar found on the first three Voyager-class ships (though the 19th hole, upstairs, still offers a sports theme). Service was consistently outstanding -- from cabin stewards to wait staff at the alternative restaurants to the really fabulous (and high energy) "kids" who sing, dance and serve burgers at Johnny Rockets. Onboard crew remembered names, preferences (at dinner, my waiter automatically brought me herbal tea), and often went out of their way to accommodate special requests. In fact, that's precisely one of the reasons why, despite its size, Mariner of the Seas just didn't feel that big. Beyond that, the ship's design makes every effort to create a smaller-ship feel. What was fun about discovering Mariner was that you could pretty much divide the ship into neighborhoods, such as the promenade and the sports & recreation area. Another reason: activities, whether during sea days or in the post-dinner evening hours, were so well scheduled and organized that it kept passengers spread out on all parts of the ship. We never really felt crowded. | | |  top | | | | Dining
Royal Caribbean is one of the few cruise lines left to maintain cruising's traditional set-time, set-tablemates dining experiences (during dinnertime on Mariner of the Seas; breakfast and lunch are open seating) -- and its main restaurant, quite elegant, spans three decks. Design is centered on a music theme and each of the three levels is given a name that correlates (such as deck three's Rhapsody in Blue, deck four's Sound of Music, and deck five's Top Hat & Tails). Architects did a great job of carving out dining niches throughout the room, so the only time you really feel the size is sitting at or near the captain's table, located in the atrium on deck three. For best people watching, request a table on the atrium on deck four. Most are set for four-, six-, eight- (and beyond) and tables for two are very hard to come by. Breakfast and lunch are open seating though you shouldn't take that to mean that you can necessarily snare a quiet little table for two or dine sans-strangers - the on-duty maitre d on several occasions seemed to regard passengers who made such requests as nuisances. At dinner, there are two seatings and your tablemates are pre-determined. Cuisine is generally well-prepared if not innovative (Royal Caribbean makes no pretense to being a gourmet dining cruise line). Each menu includes healthy fare options, vegetarian dishes, and a standard in-case-nothing-else-appeals selection of entrees; you may want to beware of the "ranch steak" cut of beef on the latter list -- even the waiters recommended against it. The Windjammer, Mariner of the Seas' buffet restaurant, is open for breakfast and lunch, and featured generally mediocre steam-table cuisine. Kudos must be given, however, to the "egg" station at breakfast, where you can request a variety of prepared-to-order dishes, and the carving station at lunch. Somewhat appalling was the buffet's "grill" at lunchtime, which, instead of the freshly grilled burgers and chicken you might expect just handed-over steam-table fare. The Windjammer is also open for dinner and is an option for those nights when flexibility is preferred. The buffet then features the same items as are on the main dining room menu but be forewarned: quality was especially mediocre (on our visit, the "roasted tom turkey," served that same night in the dining room, was dried out and lukewarm). Jade is the ship's Asian-influenced buffet area. It's located adjacent to the Windjammer and features selections representing Chinese, Indian and Japanese cuisines (sometimes an eclectic mix of all three). Its biggest draw, at night only, is fresh sushi. The primo dining experience onboard occurs at Mariner of the Seas' two alternative restaurants. Chops Grille features a steakhouse scenario and Portofino is a northern Italian-themed restaurant. Service and cuisine was exceptional at both. Dinner generally lasts 2 1/2 hours or so. While these are reservation-preferred restaurants (and can book up early), the first night of any cruise tends to be very slow so walk-ins are accepted. Otherwise, peak times occur around 7 - 8:30 p.m.; if reservations seem tough-to-snare (and they can be), go earlier or later. Each levies a $20 per person service fee -- and it's worth every cent. Not to be missed, either (and on our cruise, particularly around noon, it appeared that most of the passengers on the ship were attempting to eat there at the same time!), is Johnny Rocket's. Sit inside, and enjoy impromptu wait staff song and dance performances with your burgers and onion rings. Outside, in Mariner's only outdoor dining arena, you can sit in red booths and admire the view (but you'll miss the show). There's a $4.95 cover charge to eat Johnny Rocket's food (no matter how much you order, the fee is still the same) and iced tea, milk shakes and draft beer are a'la carte). A couple of hints: If you don't like to wait in line, aim to arrive at 11:30 a.m., just after it opens, or after 3 p.m. (and anytime at night). Another tip: you can order food "to go" and there's no extra charge. You can order room service around-the-clock on Mariner of the Seas. The "main" menu is relatively unimaginative but offers the basics (Caesar salad, pizza, burgers). Breakfast items include hot dishes as well as continental fare. At mealtimes, some of the main restaurant entrees are available. Service was consistently efficient and pleasant. Another great source for quick "round-the-clock" snacks is the Cafe at the Promenade. Mornings you can get croissant and danish; otherwise, there are sandwiches, pizza and a vegetarian-empanada-of-the-day. Seattle's Best coffee is served; there's no charge for the basic brew but espresso and cappuccino are sold at an extra fee. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream is adjacent (for an extra fee). There's free frozen yogurt at Sprinkles, just down the Promenade. Royal Caribbean offers all-you-can-drink soda cards ($28 per week for kids, $42 for adults) but the price is so outrageous it converted this diet Coke aficionado to iced tea for the duration. | | | | top | | | | Public Rooms
You need more than a week -- and perhaps an all-at-sea-itinerary -- to experience all of Mariner of the Seas' public rooms! The main focus, especially indoors, is the ship's fabulous Promenade. It's the pulse of this vessel. It's lined with shops (the usual cruise style boutiques, selling logo items, duty free liquor, perfume and cruise-wear), bars like the British-esque Wig & Gavel pub, the cave-like Vintages wine bar and the bland-but-okay-somewhat-elegant Champagne Bar but the highlight is the 24-hour Cafe at the Promenade, which is a great place to snack and people watch. Off the main promenade in various directions lies the Lotus Lounge, the ship's secondary theater (entertainment ranges from line dancing classes to cooking workshops) and the Connoisseur's Lounge (a very elegant, cozy cigar bar). Connected to the Promenade via various stairways were additional entertainment arenas, including the Casino Royale, the Schooner Bar, Bolero's, the Savoy Theater and the Dragon's Lair disco. Tucked away a deck lower -- and easy to miss -- is the ship's intimate cinema. Studio B is located near the dining rooms; it houses the ship's ice skating performances and activities as well as occasional adult-only comedy shows. Other public areas include a very well-stocked library -- and kudos to Mariner of the Seas for leaving bookcases unlocked (!) throughout the entire cruise. The CyberZone never seemed over-crowded (charge: 50 cents per minute) though many folks reported problems connecting via America Online. For a great view, the Viking Crown Lounge area, sitting atop the main pool, is divided into four rooms. Ellington's, which transforms into a jazz club at night, is almost as popular during the day as a spot for quiet reading (and a birds-eye view of the scene around the pool!). Other areas include the 19th Hole sports bar and two game/crafts rooms. We loved the Vintages Wine Bar, a new addition to Voyager class ships, beginning with Navigator of the Seas -- with its cozy wine-cave feel but ultimately concluded its quieter, more peaceful ambiance was out of place on the Promenade. In a contrasting situation, the fabulous and colorfully electric Bolero's, on deck four under the Champagne Bar, seemed to get bypassed as well -- and it seems as if its more lively ambiance would be more appropriate for the Promenade. | | | | top | | | | Cabins
Mariner of the Seas continues the Voyager-class tradition of reasonably priced and high quantity of balcony staterooms (707 of 1,557 fall into this category). Otherwise, there are four other stateroom categories -- suites, outsides, and insides -- and the most unusual, which is the atrium-view (looking onto the Promenade). Standard cabins are beautifully decorated in light primary colors and light woods. All staterooms come with queen-converting-to-twin beds, television with interactive services (you can order room service, for instance, though we found it easier just to pick up the phone), pay-per-view flicks, and numerous channels (RCTV does an outstanding job, featuring everything from a Promenade cam which shows the action inside the ship to "Retro TV" channel, featuring camp classic sitcoms, to news and sports channels). Cabins have mini-fridges that are minimally stocked with soft drinks and juices. We found there was plenty of room to stash our own sodas and such. Other features include a desk/vanity area, and a seating area with loveseat or full-length couch (some fold out). Cabins with balconies are equipped with two basic chairs and a small table. The balconies have glass panels. Bathrooms are basic -- only suites have tubs. The showers, however, have those wonderful half-round sliding doors, a fabulous improvement over icky, clingy shower curtains. Soap and shampoo is provided. Hair dryers are located in the vanity rather than in the bathroom. Suites come in a variety of configurations. The Royal Suite is the ship's prime stateroom, featuring an elaborately furnished living room -- wet bar, dining table, and entertainment center -- and a separate bedroom with king bed and its own balcony. The bathroom is spacious and ultra-luxe, and includes a whirlpool tub, separate shower and bidet. On the lower range (of suites!), the grand ocean view is basically an expanded version of a standard verandah stateroom (and with an upgraded bathroom). All suiteholders are entitled to use the Concierge Lounge on Deck 9. This windowless room features continental breakfast and a cocktail hour. Upon request, the concierge on duty handles special requests for reservations -- the alternative restaurants, spa, etc. though on our trip she made a point to tell us "it is just as easy to make the call yourself." In-cabin Internet access is available in all staterooms for a set price. The relatively reasonable charge is $100 for the full week. A tip: the ship only has a limited number of set-ups for Internet access (we were told 40 kits and that they regularly "sell out"); make your request as soon as possible after embarking. | | | | top | | | | Entertainment
Where do you even begin? It can be very hard to relax on Mariner of the Seas -- even on sea days -- because of the head-spinning array of activities that literally run from dawn to dusk and, naturally, well beyond! The ship's entertainment staff offers an intriguing blend of options and there is literally something to do for the most traditional passenger as well as the completely contemporary traveler. Highlights? During the day: On the traditional cruise activity scale, there is bingo, dance lessons (line dancing), horse racing, art auctions, seminars ranging from "eat more to weigh less" to gemstones, Sexy Legs (Mr.) contests, bridge pairing, art and craft workshops, and films in the tiny cinema. More unusual activities include rock climbing wall competitions, and "Ice Under the Big Top," the ship's ice skating show -- not to be missed. Poolside, throughout the day, there was a fabulous live band that played a blend of Caribbean and American songs. Throughout the day and night: There's often some type of performance along the Promenade, such as "Circus on the Seas" performances by Krooze Komics or instrumental trios or mini-comedy shows. At night, the lounges swing into full party mode (at differing decibel levels). Theatrically speaking, while Royal Caribbean offers the usual lavish Vegas-style main showroom music and dance extravaganza ("Front Row" starring the Royal Caribbean Singers & Dancers!), what really captivated the crowd on our cruise was the audience participation programming. Chief among them was "Karaoke Idol Search," which was a series of auditions throughout the week, culminating in a well-attended "finals." And all of Royal Caribbean's ships offer the Love and Marriage Show (a take-off of television's "The Newlywed Game"), but that doesn't make it any less hysterical. Beyond performances, lounges all offered "trademark" style entertainment at night. At the Wig & Gavel pub, a mournful guitarist-singer sang mellow tunes and rock classics. Bolero featured Latin dance music. The Schooner Bar's pianist played pop and torch songs. Ellington's is the place for jazz. The Lotus Lounge, when not otherwise engaged in karaoke competitions, was the prime dance venue and the Dragon's Lair, the ship's disco that didn't even open until 10 p.m. (!) was the destination for late-night reveling (and featured a d.j. spinning discs). | | | | top | | | | Fitness and Recreation
Voyager-class ships -- and Mariner of the Seas is no exception -- are famous for their "get out there" philosophy to onboard recreation and a whole huge area, aft, is dedicated to the pursuit of athleticism. There is, of course, the rock climbing wall (instruction is available), along with a golf simulator, full-court basketball, ping pong, roller blading rink and miniature golf. The ship offers a handful of ice-skating opportunities on sea days at Studio B. The ship's main pool area -- fabulously decorated in vivid colors -- is a scene in its own right and features two adjacent pools, jumbo-tea-cup-sized whirlpools (and normal ones, too), and stadium "lounge seating." One interesting note: one of the pools and a whirlpool has hydraulic lifts for the disabled. The solarium pool is an adults-only area. It's lovely; lounges are outfitted with cushy blue-covered cushions. The only downside: the area is in shadow for long periods of the day, due to its placement; sun worshippers are pretty much limited to high-noon. And the area itself is fairly small (and, alas, quite popular); on sea days we saw quite a bit of un-monitored chair saving, from 8 a.m. onwards. The pool is flanked by two larger whirlpools. We loved Mariner of the Seas' "ShipShape" Center. A two-level fitness facility/spa, it features a generous-enough work out room (in which is held various classes; some, like spinning and yoga, charge a $10 fee), an indoor pool that was partly a huge whirlpool and small thalassotherapy pool, plenty of fitness equipment (we never saw a crowd) and the spa itself. The facility features men's and women's locker rooms with steam and sauna. The spa and beauty salon, operated by the ubiquitous Steiner Leisure, Ltd., offered an excellent range of treatments (massages, facials, Ionithermie Algae Detox). Service in the spa was outstanding -- and the quality of the treatments themselves was very high. A couple of caveats. There's a "relaxation" room where customers wait for their treatments that is anything but calming (just replacing the hideously uncomfortable iron chairs would be a start) and frequently was the site of spa-related classes and lectures. And the prices for treatments have risen to seemingly breathtaking levels, with a basic massage now costing $120 (the industry average is $99) and up. A manicure is $44; a pedicure is $61. The spa did offer "discounts" on port-of-call days (and as the cruise wound down) but that just brought the prices down to industry-normal levels. And beware: treatment employees engage, way-too-aggressively, in the much-loathed "Steiner Product Pitch" at the end of your appointment. The products are also over-priced. Just say no. | | | | top | | | | Family
Mariner of the Seas is an outstanding choice for family cruisers. The facilities on this ship are among the largest in the industry -- encompassing 22,000 square feet -- and including computer stations, art and craft workshops, science areas, and a video arcade. The ship is making a real effort to court families with teenagers -- these young folks have three rooms-to-call-home, including a nightclub (Fuel), a hang-out (The Living Room) and The Back Deck, which is a teen-only outdoor area. We missed having a kids-only pool area like those on Royal Caribbean's Radiance-class ships, however. Beyond the facilities -- and by no means an afterthought! -- is Royal Caribbean's excellent Adventure Ocean Youth Program. It divides kids into age-appropriate groups. For instance, the program for ages 3 -5, the Aquanauts, may feature activities like "toilet paper soccer," storytime, and Adventure Family NovelQuest (a family game). Explorers (ages 6 -8) play backwards bingo, make their own surfboards and engage in adventure-oriented science activities. Voyagers (ages 9 - 11) play foosball and capture the flag as well as engage in science experiments ranging from earthquakes to hailstorms. Even the teens are divided into two groups. Navigators (ages 12 - 14) has "open mic" karaoke contests and a rock wall challenge. And the coolest group (ages 15 - 17), so cool they don't have a kitschy name, have their own toga parties and group skates. Generally, activities at Adventure Ocean cease during lunch and dinner times but there is the occasional organized meal outing (to Johnny Rocket's, for instance). | | | | top | | | | Fellow Passengers
While most passengers hail from the U.S., the ship does attract folks from other countries (and publishes the daily "Cruise Compass" in a variety of languages). Age-wise, Mariner of the Seas appeals to a wide variety and it seems whatever the age, passengers tended to be very active in spirit. | | | | top | | | | Dress Code
During the day, dress is casual. At night, the ship has two formal nights (some men wear suits rather than tuxes); the rest were labeled semi-formal, and casual. That is, of course, if you're dining in any of the ship's main restaurants. Dress at the alterative eateries is semi-formal (business attire) and dinners at the Windjammer Buffet are casual. We noticed that on formal night passengers really did get into the elegant spirit of the evening -- for dinner, anyway -- then rushed back to cabins to change into more comfortable clothing for the evening's activities. | | | | top | | | | Gratuity
Royal Caribbean recommends $3.50 per person, per day to the dining room waiter; $3.50 per person, per day to the cabin steward; $2 per person, per day to the assistant waiter. Royal Caribbean also recommends $0.75 per person, per day to the headwaiter, but we don't necessarily unless the service was special. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to bar tabs. | | | | top | | | | | Expert reviews are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation. | |  | |
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