Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Sea
I have to be honest. This is the first Royal Caribbean ship I have spent a full seven nights aboard. I was skeptical prior to embarking on my voyage. What can I really expect from a 138,000-ton ship that carries well over 3,000 passengers? To top it off, I chose to cruise over spring break when the ship was carrying about 3,600 guests - 1,000 of them under the age of 18! I thought I was in for a world of trouble.
Let me start by saying that the service was impeccable. I was shocked! Every crew member I encountered spoke fluent English and was eager to please. I felt it was above and beyond in the dining rooms, the cabin areas, the bars, around the pools and generally throughout the ship. Anyone who answered the phone was courteous and seemed to "own the problem" instead of easily dumping me on someone else. One morning I asked a cleaning man who was mopping the floor by the pool if he knew what time the main dining room opened for lunch. I was sure he would not only NOT speak English, but would have absolutely no clue as to the answer. To my surprise, he stopped what he was doing and reached into his pocket for a daily schedule of events and gave me the schedule. Another day, I called for room service at 5 pm and ordered at least ten items for four children. I asked how long it would take. I was told it would be 45 minutes. I asked if they could hurry it up a little as the kids were really hungry. I expected it to take well over an hour since it was probably a peak time. The food arrived within 30 minutes. I was amazed to learn that when you order room service for breakfast, the person delivering it calls you before they arrive. I don't think I have even had that happen - even on the high-end ships. These are just a few examples, but I am sure you get the idea. I was never once frustrated and it was a delight to be a passenger and not feel like a number - even on such a colossal vessel.
On the other hand, the food was generally unmemorable. I will say that the excellent service made it much easier to bear - but the food was just average. The best dining experience by far is in Chops, the alternative steak house. Portofino, the Italian option is good, but second to Chops in my opinion. The main dining room is actually three levels of the same facility - each with different names. The selections are relatively unexciting and hit or miss. You don't leave hungry but nothing is all that exciting either. But let me put this into perspective for you. We sat with a nice couple from Ohio who were on their first cruise, celebrating their 30th anniversary. In their words, "We cannot imagine anything fancier than this. The food is delicious!" So let's just say that the average person will probably find it more than acceptable - particularly those who have never cruise before - so please take what I say with a grain of salt. There are a few other dining outlets that bear mentioning. One is Johnny Rockets - the famous burger and shake joint. The Navigator charges $3.95 per person to dine there - but you can eat all you wish. Extra fees apply for sodas and malts. It is fun and a great diversion when you don't want to get dressed for the dining rooms. Windjammer is the casual/buffet eatery that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is a wide selection and you can generally find something to make you happy. On deck 5 on the Royal Promenade there is a nice little café that serves food all day and well into the evening. Here you can find pizza, sandwiches, cookies, cakes and fruit. Definintely a nice diversion. Just next door for an additional charge are a Ben and Jerry's ice cream bar and a specialty coffee stand. If you would prefer not to pay for ice cream, there are frozen yogurt machines a few feet away, as well as in Windjammer and by the main pool. Still hungry? There is a limited 24-hour room service menu. In addition, snacks are served in Windjammer pretty much throughout the day.
If you prefer to drink instead of eat, you will be extremely happy with the variety of bars and lounges on this vessel. They are EVERYWHERE! Start with the gorgeous art deco Viking Crown Lounge. This room is simply beautiful with live entertainment and a sweeping view of the sea and pool deck. Try the Champagne Bar with eclectic bubbling columns and bubbling drinks to match. Visit Vintages, an upscale and extensive wine bar. Two Poets serves a nice variety of beer, ale, sherry and other interesting and potent potables. The 19th-hole is the Navigator's sports bar. Stop by to hang with the guys, grab a drink and watch the game. The Connoisseur Club is the perfect spot for brandy and a cigar. Don't miss the nightly chocolate-covered strawberries. Yum! For drinks and great entertainment, go to the Ixtapa Lounge. The band is terrific and they actually played songs this "old lady" could sing along to. This is the same band that plays out on deck during sea days.
Speaking of entertainment - this ship has it all. This was some of the best entertainment I have seen on the big ships. The production shows were fantastic. No one walked out! I am usually the first to go, and I sat through both of them happily. It is a nice treat that the production singers do additional performances of contemporary music on the Royal Promenade during the cruise as well. Our cruise also had an impersonator, a comedian, jugglers and a few fun game shows to keep us entertained. In the Schooner Bar, you musn't miss the electric sing-a-longs with Matt Yee. Every night it was standing room only. He is quite an entertainer. There seem to be performers everywhere, and the action goes on well into the evening. If you like to watch ice skating, then head over to Studio B for a gorgeous Ice Dancin' show. There is not a bad seat in the house and you will be thoroughly entertained. On some evenings, they cover the ice with a wood floor for game shows, dance parties and other assorted fun events. What a great venue! I promise you, it is almost impossible to be bored on this ship.
If you like sports and games, then try these on for size:
The Adventure Ocean youth program is phenomenal. The staff members make all of the kids feel welcome and provide hours of enticing games, activities, crafts and shows to keep them happy and entertained. Not once did I get a call that my child wanted to be picked up. The hours are a terrific improvement over most ships. Here, the program is open all day long while the ship is in port and from 9-noon and 2-5 when the ship is at sea. Each night, the program re-opens at 7 pm for three hours. If the kids want to stay for late night until 1 am, the charge is $5 per child per hour. On days at sea, kids can eat with Adventure Ocean at 6 pm and go right into the evening events.
Overall, the Navigator of the Seas gets two thumbs up! It would be hard to find a better time elsewhere. You just can't help but have fun!
