We started in Barcelona, staying at the Eurostars Grand Marina right by the cruise port so I could walk to the ship. Silly me didn’t realise there was more than one port and ended up catching a taxi anyway. Once onboard, I was blown away by the sheer size of the main promenade on Deck 5, lined with shops, bars and restaurants.
The food onboard was excellent. The Windjammer Marketplace, found across the Royal Caribbean fleet, is the buffet restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a wide selection of cuisines, fresh fruit and desserts. The main dining room spans three decks, from 3 to 5, with each level themed differently: American Icon, Grande and Silk. Although guests are assigned a restaurant, if you miss your reservation the staff will usually find another table quickly. Each venue serves the same menu but with different décor. Across the week there was something new each night, including a lobster evening that is usually an additional US$17. Beyond the buffet and main dining rooms, there are around 20 other eateries. Sorrento’s pizza parlour was a popular stop, and Johnny Rockets was always busy. You’ll never go hungry, though you might go home a few kilos heavier.
There were so many activities it was hard to choose where to start. The three waterslides twisted through multiple loops and were great fun. There were also two rock-climbing walls, a zipline, two FlowRiders, mini golf, a sports court, two dry slides dropping from Deck 16 to Deck 6 in seconds, pools with both fresh and salt water, plenty of hot tubs, an arcade and even a carousel. The ship has three kids’ clubs catering for ages from infants up to 17. Families I spoke with said their children were so entertained they wanted to do their own thing, giving parents time to relax. I didn’t see a child with an iPad or phone all week, which was lovely. Younger kids even had their own waterpark.
The layout of the ship is impressive. Central Park, lined with bars and specialty restaurants, felt like an open-air apartment complex with balcony cabins overlooking the greenery. At the back of the ship, the Boardwalk was designed like a carnival strip with restaurants, bars and the carousel, also overlooked by balcony cabins. I stayed in one of these Boardwalk balcony rooms. I was worried about noise, but the doors were nearly soundproof when closed, making it a great alternative to an oceanview balcony and saving a few hundred dollars. The cabin itself was thoughtfully designed, with my favourite feature being the bathroom’s ambient lighting that let me see in the middle of the night without harsh lights. The bed was raised so luggage could be stored underneath, which was very handy.
I would highly recommend this cruise, or any Royal Caribbean cruise, for multigenerational families, couples or solo travellers. There is truly something for everyone, from solo meet-ups to family-friendly shows. You can do as much or as little as you like, whether it’s rushing from activity to activity or simply lazing in a pool or jacuzzi. The only bad part was having to get off the ship.
