Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Sea
When you sail on a ship like the Mariner of the Seas, the fifth in the Voyager class series by Royal Caribbean International, you have to ask yourself this question:
Is bigger really better, or is bigger just..bigger?
I suppose the answer lies with the individual - and what they are looking for in a vacation.
I have to hand it to RCCL for having the most innovative product on the market. For sure, the Mariner and her sisters have more bells and whistles than any vessels afloat. From the ice skating studio to a two-level gothic disco to a three-tiered main dining room, a rock climbing wall, in-line skating track, miniature golf course, basketball court, Johnny Rockets "dining car"...well let's just say the possibilities are endless.
Add to that a deck of convention space, an expansive children's facility and arcade, a state of the art multi-level show room and more lounges and retreats than I can even count...plus, a first ever "boulevard" of shops, eateries, bars and hangouts that you just never get tired of frequenting. Who wouldn't want to try a cruise on the Mariner?
It seems we have run out of destinations. I mean, how many times can you sail to the Eastern or Western Caribbean without truly having "been there and done that?" So in effect, the ship becomes the destination. And the Mariner is quite a destination.
If the venues I mention above don't strike your fancy, then visit the two-level spa and fitness center. Or go to the Solarium - which is absolutely spectacular. Complete with a swimming pool, two covered Jacuzzis, a shower, a full bar and nice padded lounge chairs - you have found heaven on the high seas. Or, for more action, head to the main pool and jacuzzi "pavilion" where there is likely to be live music and a host of other activities.
Wanna gamble? Well you have not seen anything like this! When you walk into the casino.you walk over a plexiglass floor that uncovers loads of trinkets, gold coins, toys and other memorabilia. It is impossible to walk over it without stopping and seeing half of your childhood below. Definitely a fun way to start your evening of winning or "donating".
Bored yet? Impossible! Go ice-skating, but better yet, make sure you don't miss the ice show. Better than ice capades! Creative, fun, beautiful..and everyone gets a great seat. I simply loved it! And if you want to have a group function down there, a wood floor covers the rink. GREAT concept! I have to say that the ice show made the onboard production shows in the theater seem really weak. I was not impressed with the entertainment - but it is obvious the ship has the capabilities. They just need some better material and talent. Costumes and sets were awesome with wonderful effects.
The food onboard was no better than average. Remember, they are serving over 3,000 passengers - but still, the quality and creativity should be better. My biggest problem is, that it was so run of the mill. Certainly no "Celebrity". Maybe the two companies should talk to each other more. I tried the Jade buffet for dinner - which is the one alternative restaurant on the Lido deck that you do not have to pay a surcharge for. And I found out why...it was not very good. I am told that Chops and Portofino - the $20 pp surcharge restaurants are quite nice. After all, they only serve 85 people at a time - so that is probably a big part of it. The venues are both lovely and perfect to take over for small group dinners. Chops is a Chicago-style steak house, while Portofino is of course, Italian. Although I was not impressed by the food, the service was very attentive and good. There were some crew members in the buffet area who did not speak English all that well, but for the most part, I was happy to see that the staff was working at full speed.
The cabins are fantastic. I particularly liked the fact that the showers have circular doors, and not curtains. What a difference! No more wet floors. The ship has lovely colors throughout, which flow into the cabins. There are a number of balcony and suite categories - and large groups will be happy to have everyone in the same categories. It is hard to go back to a standard outside, once you have enjoyed a veranda!
The artwork onboard is a little funky, but I really liked it. It was definitely a little on the pop culture side, with lots of art done in tin, wood and other interesting media. I loved the objects flying overhead. On one end of the ship there are airplanes, and on another, multicolored sails. The "boulevard" is a hoot, with various objects suspended overhead. There is a moving sculpture that continually projects itself out of the ceiling, kind of like a gyroscope. And there is a multitude of other creations to examine, hanging at various heights. A host of cabins actually look onto the boulevard. They are called promenade cabins. Basically, they are inside cabins with a view. Not so sure they would work for incentive groups, but they are most certainly unique. But please remember to keep the curtains closed when you undress..or you may become the ship's first exhibitionist!
Any way you slice it, the Mariner of the Seas is a fun time. She sails the Eastern and Western Caribbean out of Port Canaveral (Orlando) year 'round. I promise..you can't help but have a good time!
For more information on the Mariner of the Seas, or any of the other Royal Caribbean products, visit their website at www.rccl.com.
