Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	429
Accommodation	200	166
Food	400	246
Service	400	302
Entertainment	100	81
Cruise	400	294

How this score is created

This is one of a pair of ships for this popular cruise line (sister to Enchantment of the Seas). The vessel has an attractive contemporary profile, with a single funnel located well aft (almost a throwback to some ship designs used in the 1950s), and has a nicely rounded stern (rather like the older Sovereign of the Seas-class ships), and a Viking Crown Lounge is set amidships. This, together with the forward mast, provides three distinct focal points in its exterior profile. There is a wrap-around promenade deck outdoors (there are no cushioned pads for the tacky home patio-style plastic sunloungers, however).

A large Viking Crown Lounge (a trademark of all Royal Caribbean International ships) sits between funnel and mast at the top of the atrium lobby, and overlooks the forward section of the swimming pool deck, with access provided from stairway off the central atrium.

The principal interior focal point is a seven-deck-high Centrum (atrium lobby), which provides a good meeting point (the Purser’s Desk and Shore Excursion Desk are located on one of the lower levels). Many public entertainment rooms and facilities can be located off the atrium.

This ship has good interior passenger flow. There is a good, varied collection of artworks (including several sculptures), principally by British artists, with classical music, ballet and theater themes. The casino is large and glitzy, and has a fascinating, somewhat theatrical glass-covered, but under-floor exhibit. The children’s and teens’ facilities are good, much expanded from previous ships in the fleet.

A neat champagne terrace bar sits forward of the lower level of the two-deck-high dining room. There is a good use of tropical plants throughout the public rooms, which helps counteract the rather plain and clinical pastel wall colors, while huge murals of opera scenes adorn several stairways. There are good children’s and teens’ facilities – larger than those of previous ships in the fleet. The onboard currency is the US dollar.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publications 2008