Marvel of the Seas cruise ship overview: What to anticipate on board

Is Marvel of the Seas the last word cruise ship for household vacationers? As a mom of two, I’m nicely conscious that my mates with children hunt down Royal Caribbean’s huge, attraction-laden Oasis Class cruise ships after they need to take their children on a cruise. However I might by no means sailed on one in every of these world’s largest cruise ships and was curious if I might discover a 6,988-passenger behemoth endlessly entertaining with tons of enjoyable for youths and adults or an overcrowded mess.

The opposite burning query I had about Marvel of the Seas was the way it handled its highest-paying visitors. I had a dialog on a small luxurious ship as soon as with an avid Royal Caribbean cruiser who stated she most well-liked crusing within the mass-market line’s costliest cabins as a result of it made her really feel like a VIP, getting particular perks and privileges different cruisers didn’t.

When Marvel of the Seas debuted in March 2022, I had the chance to lastly get my Royal Caribbean Oasis Class questions answered. I set sail with my 8-year-old daughter in a Grand Suite to find what one of many largest ships on this planet has to supply children, grown-ups and vacationers of all budgets.

Overview of Marvel of the Seas

Marvel of the Seas is likely one of the largest cruise ships on this planet; solely sisters Icon and Utopia of the Seas are greater. It carries 5,734 visitors at double occupancy (i.e., if each cabin held solely two folks) and 6,988 passengers when fully full. Add roughly 2,200 crew members, and you can be crusing on a ship with 9,000-plus folks on board.

It has 16 passenger decks, divided into eight neighborhoods. With two “holes” in the course of the ship, sure inside areas are literally open to the sky.

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I found that the neighborhood idea is what makes a ship of this dimension simply navigable. Like sights are grouped collectively, and the totally different neighborhoods have totally different vibes. As a substitute of getting to recollect the place particular person eating places or theaters are, you be taught the place every neighborhood is and shortly can get oriented throughout the large ship.

The Marvel of the Seas neighborhoods are:

Leisure Place (Deck 4)

This neighborhood holds the ship’s predominant theater, comedy membership, ice skating rink and on line casino. The Diamond Membership for high-level Crown & Anchor loyalty membership members is right here as nicely.

Royal Promenade (decks 5 and 6)

Royal Caribbean’s inside mall space options outlets, bars and meals retailers, and is encircled by an outside operating monitor. Do not miss the kitschy Bionic Bar, the place the bartenders are robots, or the Rising Tide Bar, which travels elevator-style between the Royal Promenade and Central Park above. Free pizza at Sorrento’s and extra-charge espresso are right here as nicely.

Vitality Spa and Health (decks 5 and 6)

Ahead of the Royal Promenade is Marvel of the Seas’ Vitality spa and health middle, which features a salon, barbershop and thermal suite. On the on-site Vitality Cafe, visitors can order recent juices and protein smoothies for a payment earlier than or after their exercise or therapy.

Boardwalk (Deck 6)

This open-air neighborhood brings a carnival ambiance with its carousel, scorching canine vendor, sweet retailer, sports activities bar and arcade, and Johnny Rockets outpost. The primary attraction is the AquaTheater, which is flanked by two mountain climbing partitions and the exit of the Final Abyss slide.

Central Park (Deck 8)

The second open-air neighborhood is presumably my favourite on board. Central Park is a relaxed oasis on the bustling ship and is stuffed with residing timber and crops. By day, you may store for high-end jewellery or seize a chew on the indoor-outdoor cafe or Italian restaurant. At night time, it is the right date night time vacation spot for a steak dinner or drinks on the wine bar.

Youth Zone (Deck 14)

When you’re cruising with younger children, you may shortly get to know the sprawling Journey Ocean children membership space. It is bought a drop-off nursery for infants and toddlers, a household play construction space and an enormous youth lounge with artwork and science areas and plenty of recreation house. The Puzzle Break escape room is correct outdoors. Be aware that the arcade, Social100 teen membership and out of doors patio will not be on this neighborhood, however on decks 16 and 17.

Pool and Sports activities Zone (decks 15 and 16)

Three swimming pools and quite a few scorching tubs, an adults-only solarium, a children splash space, waterslides, a surf simulator, playground, minigolf, sports activities deck, zip line and entrance to a 10-deck twisting mat slide make Marvel of the Seas’ higher decks a well-liked vacation spot for almost everybody on board. There are many meals and beverage choices right here, together with the large Windjammer buffet, which implies you do not have to depart your lounger for lengthy while you get hungry or thirsty.

Suite Neighborhood (decks 17 and 18)

Marvel of the Seas is the primary Oasis Class ship to carry all of the suite facilities collectively right into a devoted neighborhood. It homes many, however not all, of the ships’ prime suites, an unique restaurant and lounge with bar and concierge desks, and a sundeck with a wading pool and scorching tubs.

I’ve heard many individuals say they’d by no means set foot on a floating metropolis like Marvel of the Seas, however the fact is the ship does not really feel overly crowded as a result of there are such a lot of locations for folks to go. The Promenade feels as bustling as any well-liked mall or Vegas on line casino resort you have ever strolled by, and sure, the swimming pools are sometimes full to the brim with folks soup. You’ll need to line up early for AquaTheater exhibits to get an affordable seat.

However I by no means struggled to discover a lounge chair or buffet desk, and Central Park at all times felt peaceable. Do not let the dimensions of the ship intimidate you. There’s house for everybody.

What I cherished about Marvel of the Seas

Issues to do

I’m not the sort who can lie within the solar all day — I get bored, dehydrated and sunburned. So my favourite factor about cruising on the world’s largest cruise ship was that there was at all times one thing to do.

If I used to be feeling lively, I might strive the zip line or Final Abyss dry slide or take a brisk stroll across the promenade. If I wished to linger with mates over a drink, I might strive a unique bar each time. Even up on the pool deck, I used to be at all times transferring backwards and forwards from one of many predominant swimming pools to the splash playground to the waterslides and again. My daughter and I spent an hour ice skating, and I might have tried to summit the rock wall if it hadn’t been closed as a consequence of excessive winds after we had time to go.

My colleague Ashley Kosciolek, additionally on the crusing with us, made a degree to strive each exercise on board, and it took her greater than a day to pattern all the pieces.

Reveals

I am additionally a theater buff and love to observe exhibits of every kind. The standard of cruise ship exhibits can range, however Royal Caribbean excels on this division.

My daughter (and everybody else on board) was in awe of the acrobatic and high-diving present on the AquaTheater; you have not lived till you have seen somebody slackline excessive above a ship at sea. The ice skating present was so enjoyable, with such colourful costumes, we noticed it twice. The one predominant theater present we noticed (“Voices”) was mediocre, however the preview of “The Effectors II,” which is now enjoying, regarded superb.

I wasn’t about to take a younger child to a comedy membership, so I missed that have, but it surely’s one other enjoyable choice for people who aren’t large on musicals.

Suite Neighborhood

The Suite Neighborhood was additionally an enormous success, and cruisers who wish to guide suites ought to select Marvel over older Oasis Class ships for that reason. Each meal we ate at Coastal Kitchen, the suite-exclusive restaurant open for each mealtime, was superior to the principle eating room, and the workers went out of their method to concentrate to my daughter and accommodate any want.

The sundeck was beautiful, and if I hadn’t been touring with a younger youngster who most well-liked the splash park, I might have spent all my solar time lounging there. The concierges had been a terrific assist in getting us present tickets and restaurant reservations and whisking us off the ship within the best debarkation of all time.

Plus, the proximity of the Suite Lounge to our suite meant that we might simply pop over for a drink or snack each time we wished. My 8-year-old even ventured over there on her personal to select up some breakfast one morning, and the workers was type and useful to her.

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Household-friendliness

Royal Caribbean has been paying nearer consideration to the wants of households with kids, and it exhibits on Marvel. (The fruits of this focus is the world’s largest ship at sea, Icon of the Seas, which debuted in 2024.)

All family-friendly cruise traces have children golf equipment and meals choices for youths, however Royal Caribbean actually thought concerning the association of issues on this ship. On the Boardwalk, yow will discover out of doors seating for Johnny Rockets, Playmakers Sports activities Bar (which has an extra-fee burger menu) and a complimentary scorching canine venue subsequent to the carousel and a climbing construction for youths. Whereas I waited for meals to reach, my daughter might run, climb and experience round to get the wiggles out.

There is a splash space for diapered children, so that they have a cooldown choice since they are not allowed in the principle pool, and a grown-up can discover a lounge chair between the splash pool and the waterslides and let the youngsters travel. A playground house bleeds into the minigolf course, which is subsequent to the grab-and-go Mexican venue and close to the multistory slide entrance, so it is a straightforward place for households to arrange store.

Plus, the Journey Ocean youth amenities are large, with house for a number of actions to happen on the similar time. My daughter is just not at all times a fan of the youngsters golf equipment, actually because older children would monopolize the video video games or as a result of everybody within the membership needed to do the identical exercise with out selection. On Marvel of the Seas, she might select to do artwork or watch the science experiment if she did not really feel like operating round and enjoying video games.

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What I did not love about Marvel of the Seas

Small swimming pools

Each massive cruise ship suffers from the issue of overcrowded swimming pools, however even three swimming pools could not deal with the sea-day crowds on Marvel. When you really feel like taking a dip, know that you’ll share the pool with everybody from splashing, usually unsupervised children to adults on their first or fifth drink of the day. The swimming pools are packed and bustling and by no means serene. At the least they do have lifeguards monitoring the waters.

No Broadway present

For years, Royal Caribbean has been placing condensed variations of well-liked Broadway exhibits on its ships. I might seen “We Will Rock You” on Anthem of the Seas and was impressed by the standard of the efficiency (the script, much less so — however that is not Royal’s fault). So I used to be dissatisfied to be taught there’d be no big-name musical on Marvel of the Seas, regardless of a number of sister Oasis Class ships providing them.

Late-night meals

Meals waste is an enormous deal on cruise ships, and the business as an entire has been transferring towards fewer late-night meals choices that folks are inclined to order and never end. (Consider the demise knell of the notorious midnight buffet and elevated room service charges.) On this cruise, nevertheless, I discovered that when your child eats dinner at 6 p.m. after which performs within the children membership till 10 p.m., she can be ravenous when she will get out, but pickings are slim.

If I picked her up early, we might maybe hit the buffet earlier than it closed. In any other case, the choices had been restricted to Sorrento’s 24/7 pizza and the pastries and fancy little sandwiches on the Cafe Promenade. I might have preferred some fruit or one thing that was not greasy but additionally child acceptable, and it was positively onerous to seek out — particularly if I did not need to pay (which I did not). Actually, I want the buffet stayed open only a tad later to accommodate Journey Ocean’s closing hours.

Marvel of the Seas cabins and suites

Marvel of the Seas gives an array of cabins and suites to go well with any worth level, from windowless inside cabins to ocean-facing balcony rooms and a plethora of suites, together with two-story loft lodging, suites with massive balconies dealing with the AquaTheater and the Final Household Suite. Like its Oasis Class sisters, it has unique-to-Royal interior-facing rooms with image home windows or balconies that overlook the Boardwalk and Central Park.

My colleagues on board had been booked into inside and balcony cabins and reviewed their rooms favorably. I booked my daughter and myself right into a Grand Suite, the bottom degree of suite that certified for Sky Class perks, together with full entry to Coastal Kitchen and the Suite Lounge.

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Our suite was a two-room suite, with the sleeping space separated from the residing space by a floor-length curtain that could possibly be pulled throughout your complete width of the room. That meant I might learn or work on the sofa with the lights on whereas my daughter slept at nighttime on the opposite aspect of our suite. This setup is a bonus for household vacationers with totally different bedtimes.

Our room had two twin beds, however these could be pushed collectively to make a queen for {couples}. We every had our personal nightstand with drawers and bedside lights, in addition to U.S. and European retailers and USB ports by the mattress. The format works higher with the beds collectively; my daughter’s pillows blocked her retailers, ought to she have wished to make use of them.

Our suite was technically an accessible room, which I hadn’t realized when reserving. There was an emergency pull twine by one of many beds. The left aspect of the mattress is simply too near the lavatory wall to suit a wheelchair or walker, so vacationers utilizing mobility gadgets are restricted to the suitable aspect.

Throughout from the beds was a desk with drawers, topped with a Lavazza espresso maker and flanked by two slim closets with restricted shelving. One other closet stood kitty-corner to the lavatory door. The storage was ample for a weeklong Caribbean cruise, however I used to be dissatisfied there wasn’t a bureau with deeper drawers (as there was in my colleague’s balcony room) or extra shelf house for underwear and bathing fits.

We did not uncover the perfect a part of the sleeping space till midway by our cruise — a TV that got here down from the ceiling!

The residing space had a three-seat sofa and two straightforward chairs with a espresso desk in between. A wall-mounted flat-screen TV was affixed above one other desk, this one with three deeper drawers and a minifridge.

The whole room was carried out up in neutrals with some gold highlights. It positively felt extra like a luxurious lodge than an ordinary Royal Caribbean cruise cabin, however to be trustworthy, I discovered the decor a bit bland.

Our toilet was huge (thanks, accessible room), with a roll-in bathe and seize bars round the bathroom. (And a cellphone, for when nature calls. …) The toilet vainness solely had one sink, not two, however did have a ton of shelf house behind the big mirror.

The bathe was outfitted with wall dispensers of Malin + Goetz shampoo, conditioner and physique wash, which smelled beautiful. I attempted to arrange the pull-down bathe bench for leg-shaving functions, however I could not determine it out; undecided if it was damaged or I am simply helpless.

If I had one remorse about our cabin, it was that I spent subsequent to no time on the big balcony. It had a eating desk for 4, surrounded by cushioned wicker chairs, in addition to two much more soft wicker chairs with footstools flanking a drinks desk. It was the right spot to learn a guide or take pleasure in room service breakfast, however we had been at all times on the go.

And that might be my largest takeaway tip for people selecting cabins on Marvel of the Seas. With a lot to do on board, you are not going to be in your room a lot. Take into account buying and selling down and staying within the smallest or most cost-effective room you are pleased in and saving your cash for eating places and experiences on board or excursions ashore.

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That stated, I appreciated the perks of the Grand Suite maybe greater than I did the extra-large room. We acquired complimentary Wi-Fi, precedence embarkation and disembarkation, free drinks and snacks at a nightly pleased hour within the lounge, concierge service, precedence present seating (in the event you confirmed up early) and complimentary room service.

We additionally had unique entry to the Suite Lounge, the Suite Solar Deck and the Coastal Kitchen restaurant. We solely stopped briefly on the sundeck as a result of I pressured my daughter to go; its upscale vibe and lack of a swimming pool make it much less engaging to kids than the principle pool deck, however for adults, it is a beautiful place to order a drink and chill on a lounge chair or in a scorching tub.

We used the Suite Lounge to make requests of the concierge and to take pleasure in nibbles all through the day, however the pleased hour snacks had been too fancy for my child, so we solely made it to the bar without cost drinks as soon as. When you’re coming to Coastal Kitchen for dinner, come a bit of early to select up a free cocktail or glass of wine and take it with you to your desk.

Each my daughter and I agreed that Coastal Kitchen was the perfect a part of the suite expertise. It was a calmer sit-down eating expertise than the principle eating room, and it was enjoyable to look out over the sports activities deck and Boardwalk whereas we waited for our meals. All the pieces I ate was scrumptious, from a number of the finest gnocchi I’ve ever tasted to pleasant balls of cheesecake.

The service right here was excellent. The waiters handled my daughter like a princess, bringing her bowls of berries and making her particular chocolate milk. After I requested for one thing aside from Tabasco for my scrambled eggs one morning, they ransacked the galley and introduced me each salsa and sambal to spice issues up.

Marvel of the Seas eating places and bars

Marvel of the Seas has extra eating places than you can hope to dine in on a seven-night cruise and an equally massive variety of bars — all with their very own vibes and specialties. Decide your favorites and don’t fret about experiencing all of it.

Eating places

Royal Caribbean’s predominant eating room is completely effective however nothing particular. You’ll be able to eat right here each night time and have an array of choices, or you may skip it for the extra-fee specialty eating places and never really feel such as you’ve missed something.

The Windjammer buffet is massive and cut up into two sections, every overlooking the Boardwalk 9 decks beneath. Meals gadgets are set out in stations to maintain queues to a minimal, and I used to be happy with the choice each time I ate there. Some cruise ships have lengthy and slim buffets, the place you may’t see past the part you are in, so it’s important to do laps to be sure to have not missed something. The Windjammer is all arrange in a single open house, so you may see all of the stations without delay; it feels extra open and fewer claustrophobic this fashion.

Marvel of the Seas has a number of included-in-your-fare cafe-style venues which can be good for quick meals or snacks. El Loco Contemporary by the miniature golf course is a favourite for a fast lunch of tacos and quesadillas. Sorrento’s Pizza serves pies all day and night time on the Promenade; the pizza is okay however nothing distinctive. The Canine Home palms out scorching canine and sausages on the Boardwalk, however we by no means discovered them open after we had been hungry.

Central Park Cafe is a beautiful place to seize a bagel or muffin for breakfast or a premade salad at lunchtime; the Promenade Cafe was our go-to for late-night pick-me-ups like cookies and finger sandwiches. I by no means made it to the Solarium Cafe within the solarium for Mediterranean fare (although I heard it was a great place to go for wholesome salads).

And, in fact, the huge ship has an unlimited delicate serve ice cream station in the course of the pool deck.

Further-fee eating places vary from informal to elegant, so you have bought choices on how a lot you need to spend on meals and what type of eatery you like. If burgers are your factor, you’ve got competing choices on the Boardwalk, each with indoor and out of doors seating.

Johnny Rockets gives all method of burgers, scorching canine and sandwiches however is understood for its milkshakes and dancing waiters. My daughter would have eaten right here every day if I had been keen to maintain paying for decent canine and milkshakes.

Playmakers Sports activities Bar and Arcade focuses on bar-food apps like wings and nachos, with just a few burgers and two mega desserts price forking over the additional money. My daughter and I cut up the Campfire Cookie, and she or he’s nonetheless speaking about that cookies-s’mores mashup.

Central Park is the hub for date night time, with 150 Central Park (the fanciest restaurant on board), Chops Grille (steakhouse) and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.

We ate lunch at Giovanni’s, and the pizza put Sorrento’s to disgrace. The enormous meatball is seemingly superb (I do not eat pork, so I did not partake), and I admit to ordering the Nutella and banana stromboli for dessert off the youngsters menu and never regretting one chew. At night time, do not miss the wine bar throughout the park.

For a surreal expertise with the Mad Hatter and molecular gastronomy, Wonderland is a reservation should. Sushi followers can hit up Izumi, tucked away on Deck 4 by the on line casino.

Palms down, our favourite restaurant on board was The Mason Jar, Royal Caribbean’s Southern consolation meals restaurant solely accessible on Marvel of the Seas. The additional-fee venue is open for brunch and dinner and has a energetic bar and infrequently a stay nation music band. The bar space is themed round a entrance porch, with rocking chairs, a swing and tables tucked into window areas, whereas the eating space within the again feels homey and relaxed.

The Mason Jar is just not a spot to depend your energy; we had brunch there and it was an indulgent feast. My daughter cherished her chocolate, peanut butter and banana French toast a lot she would not share a chew; I adored the artistic cocktails and the jalapeno cornbread with pimento cheese unfold and whipped honey butter.

E book early for a reservation or come off-hours for a seat on the bar. The primary disadvantage is the venue will get loud, particularly when the band is enjoying, so be ready to yell all of your conversations.

Bars

Solo guardian journey with an 8-year-old gave me many causes to drink however few alternatives to truly spend time in Marvel of the Seas’ many bars.

I used to be a fan of Giovanni’s Wine Bar, which has indoor and out of doors seating in Central Park. It was a romantic spot, as was the all-outdoor Trellis Bar close by. I by no means bought to experience the Rising Tide Bar and was dissatisfied, but it surely’s not an attention-grabbing bar past its kitschy capacity to levitate.

It’s a must to cease by the Bionic Bar to observe the robotic arms combine drinks. Nonetheless, the robots have a predilection for candy cocktails, and their drinks aren’t the perfect. Higher to go to one of many many Lime & Coconut outposts on the pool deck. Its signature drink is scrumptious and refreshing (and you may get them in colourful memento pails), and the out of doors seating has a enjoyable resort vibe.

A few of my favourite drinks got here from restaurant bars. I did not need to splurge for a meal in Wonderland, however I met mates on the bar and loved a really pink cotton candy-topped Cheshire Cat Cosmo from the artistic cocktail menu.

The drinks at Mason Jar had been hands-down my favourite; my PB&J Outdated Long-established got here with a mini crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a garnish. And, sure, you may get smoky drinks at each of those eating places’ watering holes.

The Vue Bar is a brand new venue, cantilevered over the aspect of the ship and changing a scorching tub discovered on sister ships. I solely handed by, however phrase from my mates was that it was overly windy and the drinks had been the usual ones, not a particular menu.

When you like to bop the night time away, the Music Corridor is a two-story membership with stay and DJ music and two bars. Catch the sport and a beer at Playmakers Sports activities Bar; there’s an arcade right here, too. The Cask & Clipper usually has stay music; the nautical-themed Schooner Bar is the place for trivia and a pianist; and the Latin-inspired Boleros is the place to get your salsa on.

You will get your caffeine repair at Starbucks or Cafe Promenade. Each serve Starbucks espresso for a payment, however the snacks at Cafe Promenade are free, whereas those at Starbucks value further. You’ll be able to order smoothies and juices for a worth on the Vitality Cafe within the spa.

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Marvel of the Seas actions

Marvel of the Seas is the right ship for people with quick consideration spans or who have to preserve lively to remain pleased. There’s at all times one thing to do, and I am not simply speaking bean bag toss and music trivia. Even higher, nearly all of the actions are fee-free, so you may play to your coronary heart’s content material with out worrying about operating up an enormous invoice.

Many of the enjoyable is discovered on the uppermost decks of the ship. Along with a number of swimming pools and scorching tubs, you may discover a splash playground for youths (plus a mini splash space for tykes in diapers) and three waterslides. Adults can indulge in swimming pools and scorching tubs on the indoor 16-plus solarium.

Crank the adrenaline up a notch behind the ship. I declined to strive the FlowRider surf simulator, nor did I be part of a recreation on the sports activities courtroom, however I did fly throughout the ship on the quick zip line that soars above the Boardwalk. (It’s a must to look down — it is wild.)

My daughter and I attempted the Final Abyss 10-story slide (dry, not moist) a number of occasions. You experience down on a mat, along with your ft tucked right into a fold on the backside. Do not be nervous about it; it is a lot slower than you suppose it could be from the tube’s size. I truly wished it had been a bit quicker.

New on this ship is the Marvel Playscape climbing construction and play space for younger children. Watching my daughter scramble up and down, I needed that Royal Caribbean had carried out extra to make this space extra enjoyable for elementary-school-age children. Because it stands, it is centered extra on the preschool set. Nonetheless, do not miss the captain’s wheel that appears over the underside ground of the play house. Spinning the wheel activates some hilarious pirate audio.

One other odd selection is that the highest of the Marvel Playscape climbing space opens onto the Marvel Dunes minigolf course. As a result of the whimsical, underwater-themed placing space is multicolored and never inexperienced, many households do not understand at first that it is a golf course, and little children had been climbing everywhere in the obstacles.

The one predominant out of doors exercise not on a prime deck is Marvel’s twin mountain climbing partitions. They flank the AquaTheater on the far finish of the Boardwalk. Wind prevented us from harnessing up and having a go, so be versatile if this can be a prime attraction in your crusing.

The actions proceed indoors, too. At choose occasions (often on sea days), the leisure workers gives ice skating periods and laser tag in Studio B, the ship’s indoor ice rink. (Not on the similar time, clearly, and a ground and inflatable obstacles are added for laser tag.) Each are well-liked, so enroll or get in line as early as attainable. For ice skating, we waited in line to signal the waiver however then got a time to return to do the precise skating.

A delegated escape room is positioned subsequent to Journey Ocean. Arcade video games can be found by Playmakers and on Deck 16 subsequent door to El Loco Contemporary. And in the event you wish to sing, a devoted karaoke lounge with each private and non-private periods could be discovered on the Royal Promenade.

For many who like gaming, there is a on line casino on Deck 4.

I by no means made it to the Vitality spa and health middle on decks 5 and 6, but it surely gives all of the R&R choices, from massages and saunas to yoga lessons and treadmill runs.

And, in fact, the ship’s leisure crew will lead trivia and different actions, particularly on sea days.

Marvel of the Seas exhibits

Royal Caribbean is understood for its superb leisure, and the cruise line gives exhibits that can not be discovered on every other line. We discovered that they stay as much as the hype.

The AquaTheater present, “inTENse,” was stuffed with excessive diving, slacklining and synchronized dancing and swimming in varying-height swimming pools. My daughter could not get sufficient of it, and I’ve to say, neither might I. Enjoyable truth: It is the primary all-female AquaTheater forged. Arrive a minimum of a half-hour early in the event you care the place you sit. We sat at Playmakers one night and watched the road for the theater stretch all the way in which down the Boardwalk — and that was simply folks with reservations.

The ice skating present, “365: The Seasons on Ice,” is a whimsical romp by the seasons, with enjoyable music, colourful costumes and loads of spunky personalities. Do not anticipate Olympic-caliber triple axels; it is extra spectacular that the group manages to stage on a tiny rink on a transferring ship.

My daughter allowed me just one variety of the principle theater present, “Voices,” although mates who stayed weren’t overly impressed. We did see a preview of “The Effectors II” present and its light-up synchronized drone dance quantity, and that superhero-themed present regarded extra interesting.

Additionally not but prepared for prime time on our crusing had been the parades down the Royal Promenade. We did catch a part of a rehearsal for a pirate-themed parade, and the “floats” and costumes had been enjoyable. When you’ve bought little children, preserve an eye fixed out for the parade in your every day planner.

Throughout from the Studio B ice rink is The Attic, which hosts comedy exhibits. Cruise ship comedy tends to be hit and miss; whether or not you take pleasure in it relies on your humorousness meshing with that of the comic.

Marvel of the Seas itineraries and pricing

By way of mid-August 2025, Marvel of the Seas will sail alternating weeklong Jap and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida (close to Orlando). Practically each cruise calls at Royal Caribbean’s non-public island within the Bahamas, Excellent Day at CocoCay.

Jap Caribbean sailings go to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Excellent Day. Western Caribbean cruises cease at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Excellent Day. Just a few one-off sailings cease in alternate ports.

Towards the tip of August 2025, Marvel will reposition to Miami and make that metropolis its new residence port. It’s going to swap to three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Excellent Day at CocoCay.

At the moment, costs for windowless inside cabins on weeklong cruises from Port Canaveral begin from $969 per individual, primarily based on double occupancy. Christmas and New 12 months’s sailings are much more costly. Balcony cabin costs begin at $1,132 per individual, however winter vacation intervals and different well-liked trip weeks can prime $2,000.

The ship’s sole Final Household Suite (a spacious two-deck loft suite tricked out with kid-friendly video games and sights) will set you again a minimum of $20,000 for the week.

Costs for three-night cruises from Miami begin at $489 per individual for inside cabins and $582 for balcony cabins, primarily based on double occupancy.

What to know earlier than you go

Required paperwork

Since Marvel of the Seas is presently crusing round-trip from Florida, U.S. residents can sail with both a present passport or an official copy of their beginning certificates and a driver’s license or different government-issued photograph I.D. Passports should be legitimate for a minimum of six months.

The title in your reservation should be the identical as what’s printed in your passport or different official proof of nationality. Double-check in the event you’ve just lately gotten married or go by a unique model of your title.

Gratuities

Marvel of the Seas visitors will discover an computerized service gratuity of $18 to $20.50 per individual, per day, relying in your cabin class, added to their onboard account and last invoice. You might be allowed to regulate this quantity on the Visitor Companies desk earlier than disembarking, however TPG doesn’t advocate this, even in case you are dissatisfied by the service.

An 18% gratuity is added to bar tabs and 20% to spa/salon payments. You shouldn’t really feel pressured so as to add a further tip.

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Wi-Fi

Royal Caribbean has one of many quickest Wi-Fi programs at sea, and you’ll reap the benefits of this on Marvel of the Seas. At the moment, Wi-Fi packages with streaming bandwidth begin at $27.99 per day per system; nevertheless, costs do change over time. When you’re touring with household or sharing a room with mates, search for multidevice packages which can be inexpensive on a per-device foundation. Sure suite visitors obtain complimentary Wi-Fi, so know your included perks earlier than you join a package deal.

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Carry-on drinks coverage

Each passenger of consuming age can carry a single bottle of wine or Champagne onto Marvel of the Seas at boarding, plus as much as a dozen commonplace cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks resembling sodas. You’ll be able to take pleasure in your wine at no further value in your cabin or suite, however you may have to pay a $15 corkage payment in the event you select to drink it at a restaurant, bar or lounge.

Smoking coverage

Smoking (together with e-cigarette smoking) is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies, and those that violate this rule will face a $250 cleansing payment.

Passengers can smoke in Marvel of the Seas’ casinos (cigarettes solely) and designated out of doors areas of the pool decks; there’s a separate nonsmoking part of the on line casino. The Central Park and the Boardwalk neighborhoods, although open to the sky, don’t supply smoking areas, nor does the jogging monitor.

Laundry

Marvel of the Seas doesn’t supply self-service launderettes. Passengers pays further for laundry, urgent and dry cleansing companies.

Electrical retailers

You may discover North American-style 110-volt retailers and European-style 220-volt retailers in cabins, together with USB ports, in all cabins. I preferred having retailers by the mattress, in addition to the desk space.

Forex

The onboard foreign money is the greenback. You will not want money on Marvel of the Seas, although. Use your SeaPass card to cost any onboard purchases (drinks, souvenirs, extra-fee meals, shore excursions, and so on.) to your onboard account, and Royal Caribbean will cost your bank card on file as soon as the cruise ends. You’ll be able to test your onboard invoice within the cruise line’s app, at Visitor Companies or through your in-cabin TV.

Ingesting age

You should be 21 to devour alcohol on Marvel of the Seas.

Costume code

Through the day, folks costume casually. T-shirts, shorts, athletic put on, informal sundresses and bathing fits are generally worn on board and ashore. Deliver a cover-up to go from the pool again indoors.

A night costume code solely applies to Royal Caribbean’s predominant eating room. On most nights, informal costume is suitable, with denims and shorts acceptable in the principle eating room. (Swimwear, naked ft and tank-type T-shirts will not be allowed.) One night time on our cruise was supposedly Caribbean-themed, but it surely wasn’t enforced. Nonetheless, a Hawaiian shirt isn’t misplaced on a tropical cruise.

Two nights had been deemed “costume your finest” or formal, and you will find a variety of interpretations of dressy apparel. Girls lean towards cocktail clothes or trendy pants outfits, although you may see some floor-length robes. Males put on fits or sports activities coats or just button-down shirts with good slacks. Folks definitely get away with denims if they are a darkish coloration and paired with a jacket or dressy prime.

Youngsters can get away with virtually something, so don’t fret about convincing your preschooler to placed on a button-down shirt.

Dressier nights are usually on sea days, usually the second and fifth or sixth night time of the cruise.

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Backside line

Marvel of the Seas is a cruise ship that appeals to lively households, {couples} and pal teams. Whereas many of the enjoyable actions on board are included within the fare, you’ll pay further if you wish to pattern most of the eating places on board.

Cabins cowl a variety of worth factors, however this well-liked ship will command a better worth for weeklong cruises than older ships within the Royal Caribbean fleet. Cruisers on the lookout for extra luxurious digs and fewer fuss over chasing after reservations and ready in line for seats have a stable choice in the event that they guide a Suite Neighborhood cabin, which gives entry to unique eating and deck areas.

The most important concern I had about Marvel was crowding and getting misplaced on such an enormous journey, however I discovered my fears to be unwarranted. Certain, you may discover competitors for the perfect eating occasions and present tickets, however the ship did not really feel extra crowded than different large ships, and the neighborhood format made it straightforward to seek out your method round.

I had a blast with my daughter on Marvel of the Seas and wouldn’t hesitate to advocate it to anybody on the lookout for an lively, big-ship trip within the Caribbean.

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