After 12 sailings on Mariner of the Seas, Im convinced this ship offers the best value Royal Caribbean has to offer
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Whether you choose to dine only at complimentary venues or treat yourself to an upgraded dining experience in one of the specialty restaurants, there’re endless options for grabbing a bite to eat. In 2018, Mariner of the Seas underwent an astonishing $120 million refurbishment. The ship was retrofitted with some of Royal Caribbean’s most popular thrills, like the SkyPad, Perfect Storm slide and Flowrider.
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Even though this was our second time on Mariner of the Seas, it didn’t mean that we deviated from our normal embarkation day routine. So, we headed up to the outdoor decks to explore and give our family a quick tour of the vessel. Onboard Mariner of the Seas, guests can book 1 and 2- bedroom Grand Suites, along with the Owners Suites and Royal Suites with Balcony. These incredible cabins will cost a premium, but offer the best accommodations onboard Mariner of the Seas. Themed parties, live music and club DJs also keep the entertainment flowing throughout the day on Mariner of the Seas at a variety of venues.
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Of course Mariner has Chops Grille, and it has Jamie's Italian. While I think Jamie's Italian has lost top billing among Italian cuisine on Royal Caribbean ships from the revamped Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, I never leave Jamie's hungry. Teppanyaki dining has been incredibly popular and the venue on Mariner is quite large, as they tried to include as many hibachi tables as possible. Based on how often Izumi sells out, I'd say it was the right move. One thing I like about Mariner of the Seas is the variety of activities onboard.
Next to the desk, a set of drawers included a cabinet with a minifridge inside.
As such, cruisers who sail on a Voyager-class ship are able to experience a number of twists beyond the signature ice rink, rock wall, and Royal Promenade. When it comes to dining, Mariner of the Seas features many staple Royal Caribbean restaurants. There are casual spots like the Windjammer buffet and Café Promenade (which also doubles as the pizza stop on this ship). There is also a complimentary Dog House located on the pool deck.
Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 01:25:50 GMT [source]
VIDEO: 42-year-old woman rescued after going overboard on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner OTS
Yet, we were able to get decent corner seats in a section reserved for Diamond and above Crown and Anchor Society members. Instead, there were two showings of the ice show, Ice Under the Big Top. Thankfully, our waiters had us out of the dining room right in time to head over to Studio B for this performance. Like always, the main dining room was a bit chaotic on night 1. Still, this team got our three courses delivered with precision in less than 90 minutes.
Food, drinks and entertainment are all within easy reach across Mariner of the Seas' 15 decks. But most of the action centers on Decks 4, 5 and 11, which hold the cruise ship's main public spaces (Honestly, though, almost every deck has at least one destination worth a visit). The sports deck has a FlowRider, water slides, climbing structure, hammocks, and even (a now defunct) SkyPad. There's also a great mini-golf course on the front of the ship. Mariner of the Seas has two water slides as part of its Perfect Storm feature. The two water slides are called Typhoon and Cyclone and sit three stories above the ship’s top deck.
The top deck of Mariner of the Seas has two main pools with multiple hot tubs surrounded by sun loungers. Most of the time, you can find reggae-style music playing on the pool deck. There are 2 decks of chairs that surround the pool, so you can choose to be right next to the pool or on the top deck overlooking the open sea. Being among some of the first cruisers onboard, we were able to get photos and videos of the sports deck, main pool area, fitness center, spa, and more sans people. The biggest and most luxurious cabins onboard Mariner of the Seas are the suites. These will give you the most space on board with some amazing amenities included, like access to the ship’s concierge lounge and priority boarding.
You can enjoy 180-degree views of the pool deck and open sea. On the other hand, Boleros is a great spot for live music and dancing. The Star Lounge is a transformative space that hosts everything from game shows to karaoke and nightly dancing. The goal of the program was to add new pool deck attractions, bars, and dining options. By making these upgrades, it would offer more for guests to enjoy, provide added incentive to book an older ship, and generate additional revenue for the cruise line.
Still, check-in took only a few minutes, and we were escorted to a table for 4 on the portside of the dining room. We dined at the restaurant four nights, and they ended up being our team for all occasions. The four of us arrived to the deck 3 main dining room to find a small line. Normally, there are two queues for My Time Dining- one for those with reservations and one for those without. For whatever reason, there was no distinction on this cruise. One venue that is a rather hidden gem in the Royal Caribbean fleet is the Bamboo Room.
Learn how Royal Caribbean takes care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services. Royal Caribbean’s ships are known for eliciting wows from passengers. Get a look at their innovative approach to cruising in this photo gallery that features the FlowRider, AquaTheater and Central Park. With this selection, you are guaranteed to receive an interior stateroom, which could be in any interior category, anywhere on the ship.
By the time we arrived, there was a line 8 or so people deep waiting for headphones. So, we stayed for about 30 minutes and grabbed a round of cocktails in the meantime. Given the ship was setting sail on a Monday, we decided to fly into the area a few days early. Thus, we spent time checking out some of the top activities near the Port Canaveral cruise port. At that time, the cruise ship had just returned from a major update. As part of that Royal Amplification, Mariner of the Seas received a number of new venues and amenities.
These three stories of waterslide fun leave you zipping along above the ship’s top deck, swirling out over the open ocean and back in, for heart-racing thrills. The slides even feature translucent panels so you can get a glimpse of the ocean during your ride. There’s also Royal Caribbean’s Chef’s Table, where you enjoy a chef-led, prix fixe dining experience with a limited number of other cruisers. Then, the most major of the refurbishments occurred in 2018. This was the refurbishment that changed the ship’s overall size. The ship was dry docked and refitted with new amenities and more passenger cabins over the course of a month, to the tune of $120 million.
Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King size bed, private balcony, sitting area (some with sofa bed), bathtub, and mini bar. However, you will not find the updated Caribbean pool deck or Lime and Coconut bars found on other amplified ships. Still, the pool deck and sun deck above provide plenty of space for sea day fun and sun. Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King size bed, mini bar.
Mariner of the Seas was one of two ships scheduled to dock at Perfect Day at CocoCay today. Luckily, our ship was scheduled to arrive 3 hours before Symphony of the Seas. There was better entertainment and a television to watch the basketball championship game. The service was great as usual and even speedier than the other times. Oddly, tonight’s performance was called a Variety Show that felt very thrown together.
This is the ultimate specialty dining experience for culinary connoisseurs. You'll also want to head downstairs to Deck 4 to visit some of Royal Caribbean's most iconic spots, including The Schooner Bar, which hosts piano music, lively singalongs and trivia every night. Royal Theater is right next door for song-and-dance shows as well as Mariner's riotous game show Love and Marriage. And if you're feeling lucky, have a go at the tables and slots in Casino Royale.
When you are booking your cruise on Mariner of the Seas, you’ll want to understand the different types of cabins available - and there’s a lot to choose from! Layouts and size can differ greatly onboard, so a little research can help you be prepared for what to expect when you board Mariner of the Seas. It’s also important to choose a cabin that fits your budget and your travel needs.
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