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A City at SeaSetting Sail Aboard a Mega-LinerBy Felicity Long
A two-night pre-inaugural cruise aboard the spanking new Adventure of the Seas, the third and last in Royal Caribbean’s Voyager series, the largest class of cruise ships in the world, put these fears to rest. The reasons for this change of heart are many, but the first and most important – and you’re going to have to trust me on this – is that it doesn’t feel huge. Having traveled on several smaller RCI ships, I found no appreciable difference in the overall ambience of the ship compared to the others. Yes, there are such special features as an ice-skating rink, in-line skating track and rock climbing wall, but while just walking around and eating in the various dining areas, I was not conscious of or oppressed by its massive size. One reason for this illusion is the plethora of nooks and crannies where my husband and I could relax for a quiet cocktail, surf the net or stroll in relative privacy. For another, the three-tiered dining room – called the Mozart, Vivaldi and Strauss, respectively -- splits up the seating into manageable areas. Add to that an opulent chandelier of mammoth proportions, live concert piano music and food served with a flourish, and you get the idea. The cuisine, by the way, included light versions of traditional favorites, such as consommé, salad with asparagus and lobster in a light citrus sauce, while the full, caloric versions were also available. Passengers can opt for a less formal buffet meal at the Windjammer, where we were lured to breakfast by the omelet man and fresh fruits. Other eateries include Portofinos, where you can have a romantic dinner, and Johnny Rockets, a 50’s style diner where children can choose from such kid-pleasing fare as burgers and shakes.
Our stateroom came with the all-important veranda, which alleviates that closed-in feeling and offers great views, especially when coming into and out of ports. But even the smaller, inside staterooms have been designed to offer an illusion of space, either with an oversized “porthole” mirror or a window-seat view overlooking the Royal Promenade.
Children are another important market for Royal Caribbean, and they are not neglected on this ship. On the contrary, with some 600 children expected on board in the summer – and 900 at Easter – the ship is decked out with the latest in family-friendly fare. One of the most important improvements in the already highly touted Adventure Ocean program is a change from four to five age groups on board the ship. Groups start at age 3 – potty-trained only -- and go up in three-year increments, which means your 12-year-old won’t be hanging around with a group of older teens.
With all this on-board activity, it’s easy to forget that this ship floats, which means that passengers will have a range of ports of call and shore excursions from which to choose. The itineraries will cover the Caribbean year-round, including San Juan, Puerto Rico, Oranjestad, Aruba, Willemstad, Curacao, Philipsburg, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Once back on board, adults can unwind at the ShipShape fitness center and spa, which features oversized treatment rooms and such specialty treatments as a seaweed wrap, massage with volcanic stones, and an exotic couples massage called a razul. Before or after dinner, depending on your seating, you can take in a show at the four-tier Lyric theater, take your chances at the casino or watch the ice-skating show. And if all those romantic dinners, moonlight strolls and couples massages do the trick … there’s even a wedding chapel on board. FOR MORE INFORMATION:Royal
Caribbean International courtesy of Royal Caribbean International |
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TM
Until
recently, the idea of a giant cruise ship didn’t thrill me. Only a
recent convert to the idea of cruising to begin with, the concept of
“bigger is better” seemed to me to be counter-intuitive. Why would
anyone want to be on a massive structure teeming with throngs of
passengers as it makes its unwieldy way across the sea?
One
place where I appreciated the ship’s generous size was our deluxe
oceanview stateroom with veranda. There was no need to elbow my mate aside
to navigate this room, which featured a double bed, seating area,
full-sized bathroom and, best of all, plenty of storage space. 
The
promenade is a bustling “street” set up in an atrium between decks
that offers such attractions as boutiques for perfume and jewelry, a pub
and café with outdoor seating, the Connoisseur Club for an evening brandy
and plenty of so-called street performances. Here clowns, musicians and
jugglers appear at regular intervals and passengers dance and party the
night away. Surprisingly, the senior market has reacted strongly in favor
of the promenade, according to a cruise official, because older passengers
can watch the lively goings-on from the comfort of their cafe and pub
perches.
Otherwise
known as Club Ocean, the children’s facilities are divided into four
rooms and offer such enticements as a
The
ice skating rink, which features very professional shows at night, is open
to passengers during certain designated hours during the day. An Adventure
Beach water slide also is available for children, while adults can lounge
at the pool, play golf, shoot hoops, inline skate or try the rock climbing
wall.