Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	333
Accommodation	200	119
Food	400	221
Service	400	260
Entertainment	100	66
Cruise	400	47

How this score is created

When first introduced, this ship (together with its two sisters, Monarch of the Seas and Sovereign of the Seas) was an innovative vessel. Royal Caribbean International’s trademark Viking Crown lounge and bar surrounds the funnel and provides a stunning view. The open deck space is very cramped when full, as aboard any large ship, although there seems to be plenty of it. There is a basketball court.

The interior layout is a little awkward, as it is designed in a vertical stack, with most of the public rooms located aft, and the accommodation located forward (this ensures quiet areas) There is, however, an impressive array of spacious and elegant public rooms, although the decor calls to mind the IKEA school of interior design. A stunning five-deck-high Centrum lobby has cascading stairways and two glass-walled elevators. The ship had a complete make-over in 2007 when all cabins were refreshed, and more casual eating options introduced.

There is a decent two-level showlounge and a decent array of shops, albeit with lots of tacky merchandise. Casino gamers will find blackjack, craps, Caribbean stud poker and roulette tables, plus an array of slot machines in Casino Royale. Among the public rooms, the library is a nice feature for quite relaxation, and there is a decent selection of books. The entertainment program is quite sound, and there is a decent range of children’s/teens’ programs and cheerful youth counselors.

This smart-looking resort ship provides a well tuned, yet impersonal, short cruise experience (3- and 4-day Bahamas cruises year-round from Miami) for a lot of passengers. The dress code is very casual. In the final analysis, you will probably be overwhelmed by the public spaces, and under whelmed by the size of the cabins. Because the public rooms are mostly located aft (accommodation is located in the forward section of the ship), there is often a long wait for elevators, particularly at peak times (after dinner, shows, and talks).

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publications 2008