At a look
- The OG Royal Caribbean ship that debuted the road’s signature Royal Promenade, with bars, cafes and outlets clustered in a single indoor house
- Thrilling onboard points of interest like a rock-climbing wall and ice-skating rink
- A wide variety of free and specialty eating choices, together with Italian, Asian and steakhouse fare
Voyager of the Seas overview
You’d wish to dip your toe into the world of Royal Caribbean’s top-deck-attraction-infused ships, however the line’s newer behemoth vessels intimidate you. Let me introduce you to Voyager of the Seas.
When Voyager debuted in 1999, the 14-deck, 3,602-passenger vessel was the world’s largest ship. At this time, it would not even crack the highest 50, as a gradual stream of bigger vessels carrying double the variety of passengers has hit the seas through the years.
Voyager could be smaller than Royal Caribbean’s latest vessels (I am taking a look at you, Utopia and Icon), however it’s stocked with amusements. Actually, it debuted lots of the line’s signature points of interest, together with a towering rock-climbing wall and an ice-skating rink.
Voyager was additionally the road’s first vessel to function a Royal Promenade, an indoor thoroughfare lined with cafes, bars and outlets. (Whereas Voyager includes a promenade space, it doesn’t have themed neighborhoods, as discovered on Oasis Class ships.)
Quick ahead just a few years. Newer courses of ships started to eclipse Voyager, and renovations had been inevitable. A $97 million refurbishment in 2019 introduced forth a slew of upgrades, together with a brand new pair of three-story waterslides (dubbed Good Storm), an unique outside patio house for teenagers and 72 further inside and balcony cabins. The ship’s children membership, Journey Ocean, additionally obtained a glow-up, which included a brand new nursery house for infants and tots.
That stated, Voyager is as soon as once more beginning to present its age, and that is particularly noticeable when it is docked beside shiny new vessels like Icon and Utopia.
Nonetheless, Voyager of the Seas is a manageable ship, and it is the perfect sampler for households who search a scaled-back however action-packed cruise trip. Past the onboard points of interest, passengers have loads of methods to remain busy throughout their cruise, together with every day actions, stay music and nightly productions.
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Households aren’t the one vacationers who will really feel at residence on Voyager. Singles, {couples} and older passengers may also get pleasure from their time on board. Numerous fun-loving cruisers ages 60-plus had been on my crusing, together with three girls I overheard discussing plans to hit the waterslides later that day.
Our crusing was totally booked, however other than occasional bottlenecks alongside the Royal Promenade and some queues throughout peak meal and present instances, crowds had been well-controlled. Visitors alongside the Royal Promenade flowed easily most days. Nonetheless, when outlets lined tables brimming with merchandise down the middle, passengers flocked like moths to a flame, making the realm really feel cramped.
Moreover, the Cafe Promenade seating space felt tight, with little room between tables. Among the tables had been butted up towards the full-size prop automobile and British-style telephone sales space. It seemed that tables and chairs had been shoved collectively to supply house for a particular occasion and had been by no means put again the place they belonged. Nonetheless, I by no means felt claustrophobic throughout our crusing.
Voyager of the Seas cabins and suites
Cruisers have a bevy of choices on Voyager relating to lodging. 4 predominant varieties embody inside windowless cabins, outdoors or ocean-view rooms, balcony cabins with sliding glass doorways that result in a semiprivate outside space and spacious suites.
Past conventional inside cabin choices, the ship options inside Promenade View cabins, which look out over the Royal Promenade (best for people-watching). Moreover, greater than 100 connecting cabins can be found on Voyager — nice for bigger households or teams touring collectively.
Do you want room to unfold out, or are you looking for an unique cruise trip expertise? You could have a number of selections for extra-spacious lodging on this ship. These embody a 277-square-foot Junior Suite, a 381- to 547-square-foot Grand Suite (one or two bedrooms), a 406-square-foot Ocean View Panoramic Suite (no balcony), a 506-square-foot Proprietor’s Suite and a commodious 1,260-square-foot Royal Suite.
Most suites sleep as much as 4 friends. Nonetheless, the Ocean View Panoramic Suite sleeps as much as six friends, and the two-bedroom Grand Suite can accommodate as much as eight folks.
Suite friends get pleasure from perks akin to precedence check-in, boarding and departure, reserved seating at onboard exhibits and VIP predominant pool deck seating. Passengers in Grand Suites and above can even entry the unique Suite Lounge on Deck 14 with every day complimentary continental breakfast and drinks, plus a non-public outside space. Voyager doesn’t have Coastal Kitchen, the unique included-in-fare restaurant for suite friends.
My husband and I booked a balcony “assure” cabin, which suggests we chosen the kind of room we needed (a balcony) however let Royal Caribbean determine the place on the ship it will be. We had been fully happy with our aft cabin (close to the again of the ship) on Deck 6. I had ready myself for a completely obstructed view, however I used to be pleasantly stunned. Whereas our balcony neglected one of many lifeboats beneath, we had a transparent view of the open sea and past.
Our balcony was a bit extra enclosed than a standard balcony, however I really loved it. The thicker dividing partitions supplied a little bit of privateness you do not usually have with typical balconies. Usually, noise and loud conversations from my cabin neighbors trigger me to curb my time spent on my cruise balcony.
Our cabin was outfitted with one king-size mattress that you may separate into two twin beds. (Some balcony cabins function a fold-down Pullman mattress that may sleep as much as three folks.) The mattress was extraordinarily agency. At first blush, I feared it will be too laborious for me to be comfy, however I slept nicely each night time and wakened refreshed.
Our dwelling space had a three-seat sofa positioned reverse the vainness and cupboard space. A number of drawers and extra cabinets within the closet supplied ample storage for all our garments, footwear and digicam gear (chargers, tripod, zoom lens, and so on.).
The toilet included an enclosed bathe, mirrored medication cabinet-style storage, bar cleaning soap and a trial-size model of Royal Caribbean-branded toiletries (lotion, bathe gel, shampoo and an amenity package). A dispenser stuffed with all-in-one hair and physique wash was mounted within the bathe.
Our cabin did present indicators of its age — bits of peeling paint, just a few dings on the wall and a wonky cupboard door. These imperfections had been straightforward to miss, because of our amiable and environment friendly cabin steward, Jennifer, who meticulously maintained our room.
Moreover, Voyager of the Seas affords 26 accessible rooms in numerous cabin configurations, that are extra spacious and have wider doorways and entryway ramps. The cabins additionally function facilities akin to roll-in showers with benches, decrease bogs and sinks, plus decrease closet bars.
Voyager of the Seas eating places
Complimentary eating choices on Voyager of the Seas embody the principle eating room, which serves breakfast, dinner and lunch on sea days; the Windjammer Market buffet (breakfast, lunch and dinner); pastries, mini sandwiches and pizza served on the Cafe Promenade; and free ice cream at Sprinkles on Deck 11. General, the meals was advantageous — the principle eating room dishes and buffet choices had been hit and miss, however the pizza was persistently scrumptious.
The principle eating room menu included quite a lot of dishes for each palate, even providing at the very least one vegan dish every night time. We ate two meals right here — one dinner and one breakfast. (I had deliberate to have dinner in the principle eating room our final night time, however I ended up not feeling nicely and needed to skip dinner altogether.)
My dinner (Caesar salad, escargots and herb-crusted salmon) was a little bit of a combined bag. The escargots appetizer was on level, however my salmon was overly salty and a bit dry. Service was stellar, although, because of Vince and Ronnie. Throughout our meal, a pianist serenaded us with stay classical music (supplied most nights), which elevated our eating expertise.
Breakfast in the principle eating room was a beautiful different to the buffet at Windjammer Market. It was quieter and fewer crowded, and my espresso cup stayed stuffed with out my having to maneuver an inch. Each our predominant eating room breakfast dishes — made-to-order omelets and eggs Benedict — had been tasty.
Windjammer Market supplied commonplace buffet fare throughout a number of stations — salads, sandwiches, hen, seafood and the like. A collection of worldwide delicacies was additionally accessible (curries, pasta, fried rice and different gadgets). I attempted a number of totally different gadgets over two lunches, with various levels of success.
Grilled greens and fish had been strong, however my made-to-order veggie burger lacked taste. My husband raved in regards to the hen strips. He additionally sampled the lasagna and some totally different pastas at dinner and reported favorably. Windjammer on Voyager closes store at 9 p.m., so for those who get the munchies after that, your solely possibility is a mini sandwich or slice of pizza at Cafe Promenade (open 6 a.m. to three a.m.)
Voyager is residence to 3 specialty eating places serving dinner nightly, with lunch seating on sea days. We sampled all three and had persistently unbelievable meals.
Izumi was our first dinner on board, setting our expectations fairly excessive for the rest of the cruise. It was tucked away on a nook of Deck 14 reverse the Suite Lounge, offering an intimate environment. We shared the eating room with solely a handful of different friends, including to the serene vibe.
This sushi and Asian-fusion restaurant was hands-down the most effective sushi meals I’ve had on land or sea. The rolls had been recent and flavorful, and our server, Mary, ensured we lacked nothing for a unbelievable eating expertise. Cruisers should buy menu gadgets a la carte or go for the prix fixe menu ($40 per individual). The prix fixe possibility comes with one small plate (salads, soups and appetizers), two massive plates (sushi, sashimi rolls, ramen and poke bowls) and one dessert.
We additionally had a tasty dinner at Giovanni’s Desk ($48 per individual), the ship’s specialty Italian restaurant. We loved almost excellent seafood linguini and pasta Bolognese. No matter you order, do not cross up the tiramisu.
You may ebook a non-public Chef’s Desk expertise, which includes a six-course meal and wine pairing. It takes place on a mezzanine-type touchdown between ranges 4 and 5 of the principle eating room.
Buy specialty and boozy coffees at Cafe Promenade, which serves Starbucks model espresso. In contrast to on the stand-alone Starbucks outposts on different ships, drinks right here fall inside beverage package deal choices. Room service can also be accessible, and carries a service payment of $7.95 per order, however continental breakfast (espresso, pastries, cereal and fruit) is free.
For-fee treats can be found at Scoops by Sugar Seaside (on Deck 5 at Cafe Promenade space). I received confused as a result of the Cupcake Cabinet was listed on each the cell app and the ship’s deck plans on Royal Caribbean’s web site, however was nowhere to be discovered on the ship. I inquired at visitor providers and was instructed it had been eliminated, however cupcake-decorating courses are generally supplied in Giovanni’s.
Voyager of the Seas bars and lounges
Voyager of the Seas is chock-full of locations to get your drink on. The Pig & Whistle, the road’s British-style pub, was a comfy spot alongside the Royal Promenade for a pint or a cocktail. Most people on our crusing appeared to choose imbibing and people-watching on the tables simply outdoors the pub. Usually, these tables had been full, whereas solely a few tables had been taken inside.
I loved the decor within the Pig & Whistle, however the environment would have felt extra genuine in the event that they often swapped the loop of pop-rock tunes with some conventional Irish music. A singer-guitarist carried out sometimes, which added to a pub-type atmosphere, even when her repertoire consisted of acoustic variations of pop songs.
The Schooner Bar was the hub for trivia video games and different onboard competitions, plus stay piano music just a few instances all through the day. It was additionally residence to a darn good “Sea & T” (gin, Lagoon Bay liqueur, easy syrup, lemon juice and tonic water).
The Sky Bar and Pool Bar had been top-deck choices for a poolside rum punch or watermelon margarita, whereas the R Bar on the Promenade on Deck 5 gave the impression to be a favourite hangout for a lot of passengers throughout our cruise. A handful of different bars are situated all through the ship in or close to high-traffic venues such because the theater and the on line casino.
When you have Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle standing with Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program, you possibly can hand around in the unique Crown Lounge. Friends can get pleasure from complimentary mild bites all through the day, a devoted concierge and different perks. The Crown Lounge is situated beside the Star Lounge venue on Deck 5.
In a enjoyable nod to trendy traits, each bar menu on the ship included a mocktails part. Schooner Bar’s Berry Press (strawberry and lavender syrup, lemon juice and membership soda) was splendidly refreshing, the proper stability of candy and tart.
As with every Royal Caribbean cruise, you should buy your drinks a la carte or buy one of many line’s drink packages, which may prevent cash for those who plan to drink a variety of sodas, bottled water, specialty coffees or alcohol.
Voyager of the Seas actions
Voyager of the Seas is the perfect ship for passengers who like to remain lively, however do not need to be inundated with choices. Ours was a warm-weather crusing, so naturally, the highest decks noticed a variety of motion. On the principle deck, two swimming pools had been separated by a deck space, which appeared to assist handle crowd congestion on busy sea days. 4 scorching tubs (two massive shaded and two smaller ones) supplied extra methods to benefit from the water.
Close by, the 18-plus open-air Solarium pool space was residence to a decent-size pool, two scorching tubs and a bar. Loungers and cabana chairs had been plentiful, however most had been claimed by 8 a.m.
In case you crave extra motion, head to the again of the ship to jet down the 2 Good Storm waterslides, hit the waves on the FlowRider surf simulator or scale the rock-climbing wall. The sports activities court docket is the spot for volleyball, pickleball, basketball and soccer video games. Moreover, the ship’s miniature golf course was a preferred pastime for households throughout our crusing.
Associated: The wildest points of interest you will discover on a cruise ship
Indoors, Voyager of the Seas’ modest spa homes a hair salon, nail studio and 10 therapy rooms for massages (together with a {couples} therapeutic massage room). It lacks a thermal suite space (no sauna or steam room), however locker rooms and showers are within the adjoining health middle.
Within the health middle, passengers can use quite a lot of cardio gear (treadmills, Peloton bikes and elliptical machines), plus free weights and train balls. Desire your train with a contact of sea air? Hit the jogging monitor on Deck 12 (six laps equals 1 mile). Parts of the monitor are flanked by rows of lounge chairs that refill with solar worshippers oblivious to your operating tempo. I witnessed just a few close to crashes.
Within the Royal Theater, do not miss productions akin to “Broadway Rhythm & Rhyme,” which showcases songs from Broadway favorites like “West Aspect Story,” “Chicago” and “Dreamgirls.” The show-closing duet of “And I am Telling You I am Not Going” was so good that it gave me full-body chills.
Different headliner acts on our cruise included a comic and juggler; these visitor performers range from crusing to crusing. I missed the comedy present however completely loved the juggler, Mr. Edge. Enjoyable reality: He started his profession as one of many unique jugglers for the inaugural crusing of Voyager of the Seas over 25 years in the past. This crusing was his first time returning to a Royal Caribbean ship. Speak about a full-circle second.
I used to be additionally wowed by “Ice Odyssey,” the ice-skating present in Studio B. The costumes, choreography and spectacular tips saved my eyes glued to the ice. Along with watching spectacular ice-skating productions, passengers can take a spin across the ice throughout all-skate classes supplied a handful of instances on daily basis (no payment, however reservations are required).
Extra highlights for me included laser tag, which occurred in Studio B. We bobbed and weaved by way of inflatable obstacles in a battle for world domination. It is free to play, however you could reserve your spot.
I used to be stunned at what a scorching commodity the cardboard room/library was. Each time I popped in, at the very least three or 4 teams had been taking part in board video games, playing cards or working puzzles. On sea days, each desk was stuffed.
Households had many alternatives to have enjoyable along with actions akin to selfie scavenger hunts, bingo and household karaoke time (which supplied a number of variations of “Let it Go” on your listening enjoyment). Reside music was additionally accessible within the Royal Promenade, and in bars and lounges at numerous instances of the day.
Voyager’s for-fee arcade is situated close to the Journey Ocean children membership space on Deck 12. In case you’re into a unique sort of gaming, the ship has a on line casino, providing poker, blackjack, slot machines and different methods to check your luck.
Different actions that could be on the every day planner embody arts and crafts classes, dance courses, sports activities competitions, pool video games, stay music and scavenger hunts. Well being and sweetness, jewellery and artwork seminars are additionally well-liked, and you’ll take part with out making a purchase order in the long run. We had a blast testing our trivia abilities (we failed), studying how you can make cute towel animals and watching our shipmates channel their inside Beyonce throughout karaoke within the Star Lounge.
Voyager of the Seas itineraries and pricing
Voyager of the Seas is at the moment crusing to the Caribbean and the Bahamas from Port Canaveral (Orlando) in Florida.
In Might, it’s going to reposition to Europe and sail Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries from a number of ports in Greece, Italy and Spain by way of the autumn. The ship will then make its solution to Brisbane, Australia, through Africa and Asia. It’ll sail Australia and South Pacific cruises in the course of the winter and into the spring, then reposition to Seattle by the use of Hawaii.
In summer time 2026, Voyager will swap the Mediterranean for the Final Frontier, crusing seven-night round-trip Alaska itineraries from Might by way of September from Seattle.
On the time of writing, fares began at $617 per individual for a five-night Japanese Caribbean cruise. A seven-night Western Mediterranean crusing began at $1,062 per individual; seven-night Alaska sailings began at $789 per individual. (All charges are for inside cabins and are based mostly on double occupancy.)
Voyager of the Seas for households
Households can have a ball on Voyager of the Seas. Its Journey Ocean children membership affords free organized actions (video games, arts and crafts, and so on.) for cruisers ages 6 to 12. The Royal Infants and Tots program supplies drop-off childcare (for a payment) for kids ages 6 months to three years. Moreover, after-hours childcare (from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.) is offered for ages 6-12 for $10 per hour, per little one.
Teenagers (ages 13-17) can relax of their designated space, the Dwelling Room, which includes a cool outside patio house referred to as the Again Deck.
Voyager of the Seas accessibility
Along with the accessible rooms talked about beforehand, Voyager of the Seas has a number of options to accommodate passengers with restricted mobility. All public areas on the ship are accessible, with gradual inclines at entrances and vast hallways. Most doorways are computerized, and particular accessible public restrooms with computerized doorways are situated all through the ship (though not all public restrooms are accessible).
Whereas there isn’t a elevator to the Skylight Chapel on Deck 15, a motorized stair elevate chair is supplied. The principle pool and a whirlpool on Deck 11 are each outfitted with lifts.
Backside line
Voyager of the Seas is a superb match for cruisers who need to check the waters of attraction-filled Royal Caribbean ships with out being overwhelmed with too many selections.
The ship won’t have a skydiving simulator or zip line, however its thrilling twin waterslides, rock-climbing wall and different points of interest will hold children and fun-loving adults entertained. Add to that strong eating choices, energetic bars, unbelievable theater and ice-rink productions and quite a lot of every day actions, and also you probably will not be lacking the additional points of interest or the crowds of Royal Caribbean’s extra gigantic ships.
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