Mariner of the Seas: Royal Caribbean saved the best for last in its voyager series - New Ship Review

Early on a morning at sea aboard Royal Caribbean International's new Mariner of the Seas, I was the only guest in the main pool, but I was not alone. My companions--and they were literally everywhere I looked--were pop-art sensation Romero Britto's exhilarating butterflies, stars, hearts, fish, birds, and other footloose and fancy-free creatures and patterns. I was surrounded by color, line, artistic depictions--and the joy of the artwork was infectious. So this is how it feels to be inside a painting, I thought.

The fifth and final vessel in the line's Voyager Class, the 142,000-gross-register ton/3,114-guest Mariner of the Seas gives new meaning to the phrase state-of-the-art with her $8.5-million art collection that adorns and inspires, and in some cases has practical functions too--like vibrant canopies that shade from the sun by the main pool (pictured above) and an atrium sculpture that tells in which direction you are sailing (the six-story-high aluminum and stainless-steel creation by Larry Kirkland, inspired by 19th century planispheres, has a compass arrow that is attached to the ship's navigational system).

But above all, it is art that makes an area of the ship its own: the one-of-a-kind Pool Deck with Britto's fanciful figures and playful patterns--a total of 1,500 square feet of artwork. Britto, from Recife, Brazil, is well-known for his Absolut Britto ads and Michael Jackson's latest album cover; here he has made his colorful art embrace the pool area's two levels, including the deck/wading area, pool columns, wall panels, Jacuzzi/ band canopies, Pool Bar, and Sky Bar. A 10-foot aluminum sculpture of a carefree suffer sums it all up, seemingly saying "come on in, the water's fine."

The pop art pool is one of the exclusive characteristics of the Mariner of the Seas, which closely resembles her predecessor in the series, Navigator of the Seas, a vessel that introduced such innovations to the Voyager Class as Jade, an Asian fusion restaurant within the casual Windjammer Cafe, and more exterior glass in balcony cabins than on previous classmates--features continued on the Mariner of the Seas.

Another distinguishing characteristic of the Mariner of the Seas is the accessibility innovation of hydraulic pool/Jacuzzi lifts. Additional accessibility features include automatic doors, extra-wide corridors, 26 specially designed staterooms, Braille menus and stairwell-banister deck numbers, and devices for the hearing and visually impaired.

Yet one more new feature the Mariner brings to the Voyager Class is an expanded wine bar, Vintages, first introduced on the Navigator of the Seas in 2002, but enhanced here with an increased list of 61 wines, complimentary "splashes" of the wines so guests can taste before purchasing, and more buying options: by half glass, full glass, and bottle. Wine flights (groupings of three or four wines served in samples of two ounces each) encourage guests to expand their repertoire. Events including three levels of tastings, Spanish-language wine introduction, wine trivia with prizes, and a late-night wine and chocolate tasting are held in Vintages.

Vintages is located in the heart of the Royal Promenade on Deck 5, the innovative "horizontal atrium" introduced on the Voyager of the Seas (the series pioneer debuting in 1999) that has become a favorite passenger hub. It is lined with boutiques and varied venues like the Wig & Gavel Pub. ideal for kicking back with a pint; a Ben & Jerry's ice-cream shop with such flavors as Phish Food and Chunky Monkey; the Sprinkles free frozen yogurt station; the Cafe Promenade sidewalk cats with pizza, sandwiches, fruits, delectable cheesecake and cookies, as well as Seattle's Best Coffee; and the cozy and elegant Champagne Bar with glass torches filled with bubbling water flanking its entrance. A great place to end an evening, the four-deck-high and longer-than-a-football-field Royal Promenade has direct access to the Casino Royale on Deck 4, and sets the scene for a colorful midnight parade.

Punctuated by two atria, the Royal Promenade is anchored on one end by the Lotus Lounge, with Asian decor including replicas of Xian warriors, and on the other by the top floor of the three level main dining room. An exquisite restaurant, decorated in warm tones of violet, blue, burgundy, and gold, with each of its levels named for popular musicals: The Sound Of Music (Deck 5), Top Hat And Tails (Deck 4), and Rhapsody In Blue (Deck 3). A sweeping staircase. breathtaking chandelier, and 200 pieces of art grace the dining room, including a bronze of Maria and Captain von Trapp at the instant of their first kiss.

Menu choices include delicious rack of lamb Provencal with herbs and mint, lobster tail Royale with garlic parsley butter, and filet mignon Madagascar with peppercorn sauce, plus ShipShape dishes low in fat and cholesterol like black bean soup and grilled sea bass with ginger lemon sauce. Service was attentive, not just in the formal dining room where you'd expect it, but in the buffet-style Windjammer Cafe/Jade, where friendly waiters serve coffee and other beverages, bringing refills without the need to ask.

In addition to the formal dining room and the Windjammer Cafe/Jade, three specialty restaurants are available to tempt every palate: Chops Grille, a traditional steakhouse; Portofino, a romantic restaurant serving Northern Italian dishes: and Johnny Rockets, a '50s-style diner on Deck 12. where the waiters and cook serenade patrons every half-hour with golden oldies. Chops Grille and Portofino, both on Deck 11 and each with a capacity for 140 diners, are reservations-only and have a fee of $20 per person, gratuity included. The yummy chili, burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, and onion rings in Johnny Rockets are free, but there is a charge for the shakes, malts, and other beverages.

Conveniently near Johnny Rockets on Deck 12 are the children's facilities, a total of 22,000 sq. ft., comprising play, crafts, and computer areas, plus teen hangouts including The Living Room, the coolest place with futuristic furnishings, televisions, and a coffee bar; Fuel, the teen disco; and The Back Deck, an outdoor area for sunbathing and parties.

One deck up, daytime diversions abound, including Royal Caribbean's signature rock-climbing wall that reaches a height of 200 feet above sea level. Facilities for other active pastimes, such as an in-line skating track, miniature golf course and golf simulator, ping-pong tables, basketball and volleyball courts, are nearby.

Active guests also have the ShipShape Fitness Center and Day Spa with free-weights, every exercise machine imaginable, massages, and other treatments. The adjacent adults-only Solarium, themed to Tuscany with sculptures, murals, mosaics, paintings, and topiaries, is a relaxing enclave featuring a pool with a fountain, two Jacuzzis, and cushioned chaise lounges (these chaise lounges are in addition to the ones in the main pool area surrounding two pools and two Jacuzzis).

After a fun-filled day, a nap in the cabin is always a delightfully restful option. Of the 1,557 staterooms, 939 have ocean views, and of those, 707 have balconies. Of the 618 inside cabins, 138 have Royal Promenade views, a trademark innovation of the Voyager Class. All staterooms feature mini-bar. hairdryer, and television with closed-circuit and satellite programming options.

Nighttime diversions include high energy revues in the 1,362-seat theater, The Savoy, with Art Deco-style decor. RCI's hallmark Viking Crown encompasses Ellington's Jazz Club with nightly performances; the Cloud Nine lounge for cocktails and conversation; the 19th Hole sports bar; and the Seven Hearts Card Room. Other options include Latin rhythms in Boleros on Deck 4 (mojitos, anyone?) and pulse-pounding dance music in the castle-like, two-story nightclub. Dragon's Lair, complete with stained-glass windows, "flaming" torches, and gargoyles.

One of the hottest tickets during the cruise, without a doubt, is the "Ice Under The Big Top" spectacle on the ice-skating rink. which is another hallmark of the Voyager Class. To be able to see an ice-skating show while cruising in the Caribbean is already mind-boggling, but Royal Caribbean Productions and Willy Bietak Productions have outdone themselves; this revue, with its international cast of skaters performing Cossack numbers, aerialists, a circus train sequence with clowns, and superb costuming is truly spectacular (it got a standing ovation on our sailing)--simply the best of the best.

Best ice-skating show, best pool deck, best wine bar+ this Mariner of the Seas, like Coleridge's ancient mariner who tugged at people's sleeves to tell them his tale, is as insistent in telling us that clearly Royal Caribbean has saved the best for last when it comes to the Voyager Class.

Yearround, the Mariner of the Seas offers alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages, departing Sundays out of Port Canaveral. Ports on the eastbound route include Nassau, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. The westbound cruises visit Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Labadee, RCI's private beach on Hispaniola.

For more information contact your travel agent or Royal Caribbean International (Cruise Travel Magazine), 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132: or log on to www.royalcaribbean.com.

COPYRIGHT 2004 World Publishing, Co. (Illinois)
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group