14th Oct 2024 | 9 nights | Royal Caribbean International | Voyager of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's 3,258-passenger Voyager of the Seas is the perfect ship for young and young-at-heart travellers with attractions including a FlowRider surf simulator, The Perfect Storm duo of twin-racer waterslides, a rock climbing wall, full-size basketball court, ice skating rink, and Battle for Planet Z laser tag. The ship is ideally suited to families with superb children's facilities catering to youngsters aged 6 months and up. However, there are things for cruisers of all ages to enjoy on this versatile ship.
Plenty of sun decks and an ample number of pools lend themselves to fun in the sun. Relaxation can be found on one of the many deck chairs that line the top decks or in the serene surrounds of the Vitality Spa and Fitness Centre.
The Royal Promenade on Deck 5 stretches from one end of the ship to the other, providing an enjoyable place to stroll and check out the action at the adjoining café, bars, shops, and boutiques. There are no windows, but it's always dazzlingly lit up and sets the scene for live bands during the day and dance parties at night. Inside cabins feature 'virtual balconies' -- a real-time video of the view outside projected onto two-metre LED screens framed with curtains to look like a real verandah.
With so much fun to be had around the ship, you probably won't be in there much anyway. Combine these affordable cabins with loads of free activities and an even number of complimentary and for-a-fee restaurants, and it's no surprise Voyager of the Seas is a hit with budget-conscious travellers. You don't need to spend a lot to have a great time onboard this ship. Voyager of the Seas is bright and breezy and caters to a diverse range of cruisers with ease. With a focus on fun, socialising, and spending time together, it's a ship where the good times roll. Whether you are holidaying with the kids, cruising with friends, or seeking an entertaining getaway with your partner, this ship delivers.
**Daytime:** Casual, with shorts and tees inside the ship and bathing suits and cover-ups on the pool deck.
**Evening:** Mostly casual except on 'formal' nights when men wear long pants and collared shirts and women are expected to dress up a bit; suits, sport jackets, and gowns are not required. The 'formal' dress standard is a suggestion rather than compulsory and not enforced.
**Not permitted:** Swimwear is only allowed in open deck and pool areas.
Voyager of the Seas offers a head-spinning array of activities that run from dawn to dusk and beyond. The ship's entertainment staff offers an intriguing blend of options, and everyone, from the most traditional passenger to the completely contemporary traveller, will find something to do.
**Theater** The main theatre spans three levels and offers a mix of production shows and guest performers such as singers, magicians, and aerial acts. There is also an ice skating show in Studio B that showcases the skill of the cast of nine outstanding skaters who make jumping and spinning around the tiny rink look easy.
**Daily Fun** During the day, you'll find plenty of activities: think bingo, dance lessons, art auctions, seminars (on everything from healthy eating to gemstones), belly flops and sexy man contests, rock-climbing wall competitions, bridge play, and films on the pool deck or in the main theatre. Battle for Planet Z, a laser tag experience, is available at select times in Studio B; there is no need to book. The Cupcake Cupboard on Deck 11 offers cupcake decorating classes for a fee. Poolside, a live band plays popular songs when the weather is good.
**At Night** Things are jumping late into the night at High Notes on Deck 14 with a DJ or party band playing pop and light rock until well after midnight. A guitarist entertains in the British Pig & Whistle pub -- anyone for a sing-along? For those who want to catch the big game, the Schooner Bar and The Tavern have big-screen TVs. The casino opens when the ship is not in port and offers everything from slots to gaming tables.
Voyager of the Seas Bars and Lounges
**The Tavern (Deck 4):** Flat-screen TVs cater to sports lovers and windows offer views of the ocean and passengers strolling along the deck at this crowd-pleasing bar.
**Schooner Bar (Deck 4):** A Royal Caribbean staple, this nautical-themed bar with a piano is popular with sports and music lovers, something that doesn't always work. Cheering often drowns out the artists playing here.
**R Bar (Deck 5):** Located at the far end of the Royal Promenade, this tiny and intimate bar is the ideal spot to enjoy an evening drink in refined surrounds.
**Pig & Whistle Pub (Deck 5):** This popular British pub-inspired bar opens onto the Royal Promenade and is bustling from the time it opens until it closes. A guitarist plays here on sea days and most evenings.
**Diamond Club (Deck 5):** Royal Caribbean's top-tier loyalty members have their own exclusive (very small) space for relaxing. Drinks and snacks can also be found here, free of charge.
**Star Lounge (Deck 5):** The Star Lounge hosts live music, ranging from Latin to jazz, and quiz games such as Name That Tune. It also serves as an overflow area for Diamond Club members if required.
**Pool Bar (Deck 11):** This poolside bar quenches the thirst of passengers relaxing around the pool and soaking up the sun. Bar stools are available for those who feel like socialising.
**Solarium Bar (Deck 11):** One of the ship's quietest bars can be found in the Solarium pool area.
**Windjammer Bar (Deck 11):** This small bar just inside the door of the ship's buffet restaurant is predominantly used by passengers dining at the Windjammer Marketplace.
**Sky Bar (Deck 12):** This popular outdoor bar overlooking the pool deck overflows into a raised seating area with comfy couches and colourful wooden deck chairs.
**Viking Crown Lounge (Deck. 14):** Wraparound windows provide 180-degree views of the pool deck and out to sea. Get here early to snag one of the coveted window tables for sail-away. The dance floor at the rear of this venue is known as High Notes and doubles as the ship's nightclub after hours.
**Suite Lounge (Deck 14):** Suite passengers have access to this intimate, glass-walled space at the top of the ship. An outdoor deck with plush lounges provides additional seating. Snacks are available throughout the day, and complimentary drinks and canapes are served every evening.
Voyager of the Seas Outside Recreation
**Pools** Voyager of the Seas has three pools and six whirlpools. One of these pools and a whirlpool have a hydraulic lift for people with a disability. There is also an adults-only Solarium with a pool and two whirlpools, plus its own serene lounging space. (Families should note that children must be toilet-trained to use any water facility, as swim nappies are not permitted.)
**Recreation** Active cruisers will find more than enough to keep them entertained on Voyager of the Seas. You can practice your figure eights at the ice skating rink; play laser tag; surf or boogie board on the FlowRider; zip down The Perfect Storm dual racer waterslides, play basketball or volleyball at the full-length sports court; climb high above the deck on the rock-climbing wall, and challenge your friends at the 9-hole miniature golf course.
**Sun Decks** Sun deck space is plentiful, with lounge chairs available alongside the pool. Suite guests have private deck chair seating on a tiered section overlooking the pool. Cabanas and clamshell loungers on Deck 11 are free of charge and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Deck chairs also line both sides of Deck 12 and an additional sunning area with loungers is set up at the front of the ship on Deck 13 in good weather.
Voyager of the Seas Services
Voyager of the Seas' guest services, as well as its shore excursions desk, are located by the Royal Promenade entrance on Deck 5. There is an ATM available here, and withdrawal fees do apply. There is a tech station opposite the guest services desk dedicated to assisting passengers with Royal Caribbean's Voom high-speed Internet. At the same end of the ship, on Deck 6, is where you'll find the NextCruise future cruise sales desk. Directly above, on Deck 7, a joint library and card room provides an open space, with plenty of tables and seating, for reading and games. The shelves here are stocked with books as well as board games and decks of cards. Additional services include the Photo Gallery on Deck 3 and a conference room on Deck 2. The ship's medical centre is located on Deck 1. There is no self-service laundry onboard Voyager of the Seas. The ship does, however, offer washing, pressing and dry-cleaning services for a fee.
**Spa** At the aft of the ship on Deck 12 is Voyager of the Seas' Vitality Spa and Fitness Centre. This attractive modern spa does not have whirlpools or a thermal suite but, in addition to multiple treatment rooms, there is a separate salon area for haircuts, styling and treatments, as well as services such as manicures, pedicures and lash extensions. Massage prices range from US$133 (50-minute Swedish or reflexology) to US$308 (50-minute couples' hot stone). Other services such as Botox, cellulite reduction, teeth whitening and acupuncture are also available. Men's barbering services include grooming treatments with a shave, beard trims and haircuts. Discounts are offered throughout the cruise, on select treatments as well as on port days before 1 p.m.
**Fitness** The Vitality at Sea fitness centre is located adjacent to the spa and comes with ocean views and an impressive array of cardio equipment including treadmills, upright and recumbent bikes, elliptical machines, and strength training machines, as well as a free weight area. There is also a separate aerobics studio. Free and for-a-fee classes are available, starting at US$12 per session. The minimum age to use this facility is 16, but teens aged 13 to 15 can use the gym with a signed waiver. There is a jogging track on Deck 12; five laps equals one mile (1.6 kilometres).
Voyager of the Seas offers half-a-dozen dining options, with an even split between free and for-a-fee restaurants and cafes. The elegant main dining room spans three decks and offers a choice of two set dining times, or passengers can make a reservation or simply walk in when they're hungry. The cheerful Promenade Café on Deck 5 is open 24 hours, with food offerings changing depending on the time of day. Three specialty restaurants offer a refined dining experiences that goes far beyond the complimentary options, making these restaurants well worth the spend. Choose from rustic Italian fare at Giovanni's Table, Asian at Izumi or juicy steaks at Chop's Grille. All of the specialty restaurants cost extra, of course, but lunch is substantially cheaper than dinner. Giovanni's Table is a steal during the day at US\$15. Gluten-free bread and other foods catering to special dietary needs are available at every restaurant; gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegetarian items are marked on menus. A vegan menu is also available on request in the main dining room.
Free Dining
**Main Dining Room (Decks 3, 4 and 5)** **Meals: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D)** Voyager of the Seas' Main Dining Room spans three decks at the aft of the ship and offers a choice of breakfast, lunch (sea days only) and dinner. Passengers are allocated tables on a first-come, first-served basis during the day. In the evening, passengers can select traditional dining (where you sit at the same table, with the same wait staff, at 5.30 pm or 8 pm every night) or make a reservation between 6.45 pm. and 9 pm. There is also the option to walk in and be seated whenever you are ready between 6.45 pm and 9 pm. The dinner menu includes starters such as: duck terrine, mushroom soup, and Caesar salad; main courses such as pan-fried fillet of barramundi, slow-roasted prime rib, ricotta and spinach pasta; and classics like chicken breast and steak. Desserts range from chocolate pudding and carrot cake to sugar-free sorbet. You can also select one of three 'Premium Selections' including Maine lobster, filet mignon from the ship's Chops Grille steakhouse, and surf and turf for an additional fee.
**Café Promenade (Deck 5)** **Meals: B, L, D** Café Promenade on the Royal Promenade is a sidewalk café -- great for people-watching while you eat -- that serves continental breakfast, sandwiches, pizza, and pastries. It is open 24 hours a day.
**Windjammer Marketplace (Deck 11)** **Meals: B, L, D** The Windjammer Marketplace on Voyager of the Seas is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It closes for a short period between sittings to enable staff to clean up and prepare the buffet for the next meal service. For lunch and dinner, you'll find the basics such as make-your-own burgers, pizza, pre-made salads, pasta dishes and meats from a carving station. There's a bar that serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and barista-made coffee, as soon as you walk in. Seating arrangements, including tables, booths and a few larger, round booths, are plentiful, but this popular dining venue still gets busy during breakfast and lunch.
**Room Service** **Meals: 24/7** Basic continental breakfast, which includes choices such as croissants, cereals, muffins, juice, and coffee or tea, is complimentary. Other options such as burgers, soup, pizzas, salads, and desserts don't cost anything but a US\$7.95 delivery charge applies to each order. Suite passengers do not pay the delivery fee.
Fee Dining
**Giovanni's Table (Deck 4); US\$15 for lunch; US\$35 for dinner; US\$10 for kids** **Meals: L, D** Dishes are served family-style at this cosy Italian restaurant, which offers a traditional five-course menu with a focus on classics. A dessert trolley featuring traditional Italian sweets provides a sweet finish. A slightly smaller version of the dinner menu is available for lunch on sea days.
**Café Promenade Coffee Bar (Deck 5); à la carte** **Meals: Snacks** This small coffee bar and ice-cream parlour next to Café Promenade serves barista-made coffee and dishes up scoops of Ben & Jerry's ice cream 24 hours a day.
**Chops Grille (Deck 11); US\$22 for lunch, US\$43 for dinner; US\$10 for kids** **Meals: L, D** Royal Caribbean's signature steakhouse, Chops Grille, is a clubby dining room with low lighting and ocean views. Select cuts of meat are offered, along with a choice of seafood and poultry dishes, with a variety of sides from which to choose. A reduced menu is available for lunch on sea days.
**Izumi (Deck 14); à la carte** **Meals: L, D** Japanese fusion is the order of the day at Izumi, with an à la carte selection of starters, sushi rolls, and bowls, and meat dishes served on a sizzling plate. The menu is identical for lunch and dinner.
The choice of accommodation on Voyager of the Seas is impressive, particularly for budget-conscious travellers who can choose from an inside cabin, inside cabin with a virtual balcony, a standard ocean view cabin or a panoramic ocean view cabin with a floor-to-ceiling window. Some inside cabins also offer a view of the lively Royal Promenade. Families are not forgotten with four berth and interconnecting cabins. Voyager of the Seas' standard staterooms have two beds that convert to queen-size, private bath, phone, interactive TV, mini-bar (stocked on request), hair dryers and air conditioning/heat controls. Bathrooms are compact and feature showers with half-round sliding doors instead of a shower curtain. A pump pack of multi-purpose shampoo/body wash is provided in the bathroom; soap is available on request. Voyager of the Seas' cabins have everything you need for a comfortable cruise and regular refurbishments have kept furnishings and carpets looking fresh. However, you might miss modern cabin features such as multiple power points and USB ports. Despite the ship spending most of its time in Australia and Asia, sockets remain configured for US and European appliances so bring an adapter.
**Interior:** Voyager of the Seas' interior cabins -- including those that feature a virtual balcony -- are 160 square feet (15 square metres). There also are several interior cabins overlooking the Royal Promenade; these feature a small window and offer more room at 167 square feet (16 square metres). Accessible interior cabins come in at 256 square feet (23 square metres).
**Oceanview:** Ocean-view cabins on Voyager of the Seas come in different subcategories, ranging from standard (160 square feet/16 square metres) to Panoramic Ocean View (191 square feet/18 square metres) and spacious (211 square feet/19 square metres). There are also accessible ocean-view cabins with 283 square feet (17 square metres).
**Balcony:** Choose from an Ocean View Balcony cabin (162 square feet with a 42-square-foot balcony/15 square metres with a 4 square-metre balcony) or a roomier Spacious Ocean View Balcony, featuring 179 square feet (16 square metres), plus a 42 square feet (4 square metre) balcony. Accessible balcony cabins are a comfortable 275 square feet (25 square metre), with a 42 square-foot (4 square metre) balcony.
**Junior Suite:** Each Junior Suite on Voyager of the Seas offers 277 square feet (26 square metres). Standout features include a bathtub and a balcony that's slightly larger than the one found in the Spacious Ocean View Balcony cabin. Junior Suites do not receive access to the suite lounge or other suite benefits.
**Suite:** Voyager of the Seas has four suite categories. The 406 square foot (37 square metre) Ocean View Panoramic Suite doesn't have a balcony, but is ideally suited to families with two twin beds that convert to a king-size bed, one double sofa bed, and two bunk beds. The one-bedroom Grand Suite comes in at 381 square feet (25 square metres) with a 95 square-foot balcony (8 square metres). The two-bedroom Grand Suite is larger at 610 square feet (56 square metres) with a 234 square foot balcony (21 square metres). The Owner's Suite has a bathroom with whirlpool, bidet and separate shower, along with a separate bedroom and living areas (with queen-sized sofa bed). Measurements are 631 square feet (58 square metres) for the cabin and 90 square feet (8 square metres) for the verandah. The Royal Suite comes with all the Owner's Suite amenities plus a baby grand piano, a dining table, and a balcony that measures 196 square feet (18 square metres); the stateroom itself is 1,066 square feet (99 square metres). Suites on Voyager of the Seas have access to a plush Suite Lounge on Deck 14, which offers benefits such as a continental breakfast, evening cocktails and canapés, reserved private seating for breakfast at Giovanni's Table, complimentary room service, VIP seating for shows, and reserved pool loungers on the pool deck.
Groups, couples and families who like (very) big ships with a vast amount of entertainment, day and night
Those who are after a quiet, intimate, small-ship experience; gourmands; couples avoiding kids
For the most part, Royal Caribbean ships that sail from the United States attract a wide variety of North American passengers, mostly between the ages of 30 and 55 on the seven-night and shorter cruises, and 50 and over on cruises longer than seven nights. Seven-night and shorter cruises are also popular with families, especially during American school vacation periods, when the ships will often be at filled at well past double capacity and carrying more than a thousand kids. Cruises from the U.K. -- as well as Mediterranean, Asia and Australia cruises -- attract a significant number of locals from each area, as well as Royal Caribbean's usual North Americans.
Royal Caribbean's dress code is casual during the day; at night there's either casual, smart-casual or formal dress code depending on the schedule. Casual attire includes jeans and collared shirts for men and sundresses or pants with blouses for women; smart-casual means collared shirts, dresses, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits; and on formal nights, suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns are expected. If you want to avoid dressing up altogether on any night, the extensive Windjammer Café is always casual dress. Caps, tank tops and bathing suits are never allowed in the main dining room or specialty restaurants; shorts are not permitted during dinner and footwear is always required.
No. Royal Caribbean ships really vary in terms of complimentary dining, with the main dining room and huge Windjammer Café as constants. Coffee, tea, milk, lemonade and a few other beverages are available without cost at all times, as well. Most specialty restaurants carry an additional charge, but there are options that are free, including pizza, the Boardwalk Dog House, the Park Café (on select ships) and more, depending on the ship. Ice cream, scooped at mealtimes and from machines in between (apart from Ben & Jerry's) is also free. Other dining choices with additional cost run the gamut from Asian to a steakhouse, deli and Mexican and Italian restaurants. Room service carries a $7.95 cost per order, with the exception of Continental breakfast.
The main pool areas are a magnet onboard any Royal Caribbean ship, as is the peaceful adults-only Solarium. Cruisers line up for the most adrenaline-pumping activities, whether to surf the FlowRider or try out new experiences from simulated skydiving and ice skating to bumper cars and escape rooms. Broadway shows (on the ships that have them) are also quite popular and fill up any night they're on offer. Equally as in demand are the high-flying and diving acrobatics of the AquaTheater and the ice-skating shows on the Freedom- and Voyager-class ships.