Above: Royal Caribbean Cruise
Lines Navigator of the Seas Cruise Ship.
Ship info
The Navigator of the Seas cruise ship departs from
Miami, Florida. Throughout the year, she offers ocean cruises to Eastern
Caribbean and Western Caribbean .
Check Dates & Prices for cruises to Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean .
Began service: December, 2002 Guest capacity: 3,114 Total staff: 1,181 Length: 1,020 feet Passenger decks: 14 CDC
inspection score: 97
Navigator of the Seas Overview
Navigator of the Seas is the fourth in Royal
Caribbean'sVoyager Class, the biggest vessels
in the world. The ship sports some of the industry's most amazing
features: a rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, an indoor, mall-like
promenade, basketball court and in-line skating track. Although she
is a member of the Voyager family, she has her own look and amenities.
This ship has more exterior glass (in balcony cabins) than her predecessors,
a wine bar for appreciation and entertainment, expanded youth facilities,
a new Plaza area with a variety of dining options (both no-fee and
fee), the first Latin jazz bar at sea, and the first sea-going Ben
& Jerry's ice cream parlor. Active cruisers of any age will love
the Navigator of the Seas.
Cabins
Of the total 1,557 staterooms, 939
are ocean view and of those, 707 have balconies.
There are 618 interior cabins, but of those, 138
offer a Promenade View. All staterooms have beds
that convert to queen-size configuration with mini-bar, hair dryer,
TV's with closed-circuit and satellite programming options, phone,
and individually-controlled air conditioning. Each cabin provides
unlimited Internet access for guests who have a laptop onboard (charge
is $100 for a seven day cruise). There are a dozen categories of suites,
including a lavish Royal Suite, featuring a separate bedroom with
king-size bed, private balcony with hot tub, spacious bathroom with
whirlpool, living room with sofa-bed, wet bar, dining table, entertainment
center -and yes, even a baby grand piano. The top categories of suites,
Royal, Owner's, Royal Family,
and Grand Ocean View Suite guests have access to
the Concierge Club on Deck 9 for
spa and dining reservations and shore excursion bookings.
Dining
There are many options to satisfy your appetite. A new dining
venue for Royal Caribbean is the line's first Asian fusion restaurant,
Jade. The restaurant, housed within the Plaza
area on Deck 11. Jade (no-fee),
is buffet-style, serving dishes from Southeast Asia. Passengers can
enjoy a pre-dinner sake, tea or traditional cocktail at the Plaza
Bar, with its backdrop of cascading water, at the entrance
to the Plaza area.
The three-story main dining room has three levels, each named after
famous ballets: Swan Lake, Coppelia
and The Nutcracker. Dinner is served in two traditional
seatings; breakfasts and lunches are open seating. Service was outstanding,
with attention to detail. Vegetarian and ShipShape
items (low in fat and cholesterol) are featured. There aren't too
many tables for two in the dining room, but are plentiful in the alternative
dining venues.
Two with fees ($20 per person each) are Chops Grille
on Deck 11, serving traditional steakhouse fare including
steaks and chops, seafood, and family-style mashed potatoes. Portofino
is a romantic, ocean-view restaurant serving Northern Italian cuisine.
Johnny Rockets features burgers, fries, and thick
shakes. There's a $3.95 per person charge -- whether you eat in the
restaurant or order for take-out. Beverages are available for an extra
charge.
The Windjammer Cafe serves buffet-style breakfast,
lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner. Several stations include salad/sandwich/soup,
meat carvery, entrees, burgers, breads, thirst quenchers and frozen
yogurts. As part of RCI's new Golden Anchor Standard
of service, waiters come around the Windjammer offering
coffee, iced tea and lemonade to diners.
The Cafe Promenade is a good spot for a quick breakfast,
lunch or snack. This no-fee sidewalk cafe, great for people-watching,
serves fruits, rolls, sandwiches, pizza, cookies and Seattle's Best
Coffee. Also on the Royal Promenade is Ben
& Jerry's ice cream shop, with 16 of the company's famous
flavors. Next door to Ben & Jerry's is Sprinkles,
a free frozen yogurt station.
There is 24-hour room service with a variety of meals and snacks.
Entertainment
The1,350-seat, Art Deco-style Metropolis Theater,
features Broadway-style productions and variety shows. An ice extravaganza
in Studio B on Deck 3, "Ice
Dancin'," features an international cast including Russian,
Canadian and American skaters. There is piano music in the Schooner
Bar, and Latin jazz and drinks in Boleros.
The IxtapaLounge has karaoke and
themed night parties. Smokers will enjoy the Connoisseur Club,
a cigar lounge housed within the Ixtapa Lounge. You
can sample a pint or two at the Two Poets Pub or
sip champagne at the Champagne Bar. There is smooth
live jazz at the CosmopolitanClub
in the Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 14.
Sports fans can head for 19th hole, the sports bar.
A a popular late nightspot is The Dungeon, the two-story
disco with a decor of Medieval Europe.
Fitness & Recreation
One of our favorite areas on board
was the Solarium, with a pool, fountain, two Jacuzzis,
a bar, and lots of chaise lounges facing the sea. The ShipShape
Center on Deck 11 features a mirrored, ocean-view
aerobics area with spinning bikes and free weights;, ocean-view gym
with 20 Lifefitness treadmills, 14 Lifefitness elliptical cross trainers,
6 recumbent bicycles, 4 stationary bicycles, Lifefitness weight machines
and steppers, additional free weights, and a round thalassotherapy
pool. A stereo system and TV monitors provide entertainment while
you work out. The ShipShape Spa on Deck 12
is a serene oasis with ocean-view salon, 14 massage rooms, one dry
floatation room, Rasul suite and relaxation area with sea views.
Other fitness and recreational facilities include a jogging
track (five times around equals one mile) an outdoor sports deck complete
with mini-golf and golf simulator; a full-length sports court for
basketball, paddle ball and volleyball; a curvy in-line skating track;
and the Rock-Climbing wall -200 feet above the sea.
Public Areas
An $8.5 million art collection graces
the ship with 2,213 art pieces in the public spaces. The Royal
Promenade, the heart of the ship, is ideal for people watching,
and has the feel of a festive mall. A shopping, dining, and entertainment
boulevard, it is four decks tall and longer than a football field.
On special nights, the Royal Promenade comes alive
with street entertainment such as jugglers, magicians and mimes, and
at 12:30am, it is the scene of a Mardi Gras parade with music from
various parts of the world. Monumental sculptures adorn each atrium
including our favorite work of art onboard, Aquaria,
by American sculptor Larry Kirkland. This spectacular sculpture spans
the 11 levels of the Centrum atrium, and has 6,000
shimmering, hand-gilded spheres inspired by the bubbles produced by
scuba divers. An assortment of lounges range from intimate enclaves
like the Champagne Bar, Vintages,
a wine bar in association with Robert Mondavi and Beringer Blass Wine
Estates, and the Two Poets Pub; to bigger venues
like the Mayan-themed Ixtapa nightclub and the hallmark
Viking Crown, segmented into The Cosmopolitan
Club, Cloud Nine Lounge, 19th Hole
bar and the Seven Hearts game room. Other public
spaces include an ocean-view, intimate wedding chapel for 60 guests
on Deck 15, the Vegas-style Casino Royale
(with a New Orleans theme), featuring 300 slots, 8 blackjack tables,
3 Caribbean Stud Poker tables, 3 roulette wheels and a craps table.
There's also a library and a cyberlounge with 19 computer stations -charge is 50 cents
per minute (and a flat surcharge of $4.95 per transmission to send
a video postcard). Like on all Royal Caribbean ships, there is no
self-service launderette, so pack accordingly.
Kids
RCI's youth programs are second
to none, but in Navigator of the Seas, they have outdone
themselves. The Adventure Ocean facilities on Deck
12 are 22,000 sq. ft., 6,000 sq. ft. more than on any other
Royal Caribbean ship. Areas include a section for 3-5 year olds with
seven computer stations, a new art studio area and an ocean liner-themed
play area; a room for 6-8 year olds, featuring seven computer stations,
themed evenings, Adventure Science, including an
exploding volcano, and Adventure Art by Crayola projects;
and a section for 9-11 year olds, with seven computer stations, five
flat-screen TV's, and such activities as Survivor Night.
Teens have three areas to hang out in and their program. It has been
divided into two age groups: 12-14 and 15-17. Navigator has
a Back Deck, an outdoor area for teen parties with
music and buffets; Fuel is the teen disco, complete
with dance floor, Internet Cafe, four flat-screen
TV's and bar for nonalcoholic drinks; and The Living Room, a place
to hang out during the day with games, books, flat-screen TV, futuristic
furniture and Internet Cafe with seven stations.
Group baby-sitting is available from 10pm - 1am in Adventure
Ocean. Cost is $5 per hour per child. Children must be at
least three years old and fully toilet trained. In-cabin baby-sitting
is available through Guest Relations and must be
booked at least 24 hours in advance (children must be at least six
months old). The charge is $8 per hour, in cash, for up to two children
within the same family; and $10 per hour for a maximum of three children
in the same family. There is a two-hour minimum requirement.
Expert Navigator of the Seas reviews are edited by Michelle, and provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com,
an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can
help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Eastern Caribbean and Western
Caribbean .
Navigator of the Seas cruise reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced
CDC inspection. Navigator of the
Seas Score: 97
