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You haven’t lived until you’ve cruised

This past December my fiancé and I treated our selves to a 7-day Royal Caribbean cruise. Leaving snowy New Jersey behind for a balmy Caribbean climate was reason enough to get way, but traveling aboard the Navigator of the Seas, an architectural marvel, made it an experience we will always treasure.

The Navigator, launched in December 2002, is a part of Voyager family. Up till now Voyager class ships have been the largest cruise ships in the world. (Queen Mary II is now the newest and the largest.)They have features that can’t be found on other luxury cruise liners. There is a rock-climbing wall, a full size ice skating rink featuring ice ballet performances every night (open to the public at other times), and a “peek-a-boo” bridge, where we could actually watch the captain and crew steer the ship.

The Royal Promenade is the heart of every Voyager class ship. The bustling boulevard two-football fields long and four stories high is lined with shops and cafes. It is like a center of a small town. We grabbed cappuccinos, we drank at the authentic English Pub and we listened to the musicians performing at the “street corner”.  Occasionally, after late night dancing, we dined on pizza, sandwiches and pastries at the 24-hour café.

We were enchanted with the three decks of inside cabins with bay windows facing the promenade below. These cabins gave a bird’s eye view of the two Carnival Parades held during the week on the street below. It seemed everyone on the ship turned out on the promenade for the parades.

 It was amazing, but with over 3000 passengers onboard the ship never felt crowded. There were so many bars, restaurants, and other common areas that we never had to wait long for anything, be it service for dinner or disembarking the ship to visit Grand Cayman Island. When we were completely exhausted from our daily activities, we ordered free room service, which was available 24 hours/day.

Every evening we were given the ship’s daily itinerary for the following day. The Navigator departed Miami on Saturday afternoon. We sailed that night and the following day. Thereafter we woke up in a new place every morning, with a different port view from our window.

At sea we enjoyed onboard activities while getting acquainted with the ship’s layout. On Monday morning our ship arrived at it’s first port of call, Labadee, Haiti, Royal Caribbean’s private beach. Then we docked at George Town (Grand Cayman), Ocho Rios (Jamaica) and Cozumel (Mexico); on Friday we were at sea again returning to Miami.

We took advantage of shore excursions during our port visits. Reservations could be made either before the cruise or on the ship. We choose snorkeling with the stingrays in George Town, swimming with the dolphins and climbing the waterfalls in Ocho Rios, and sightseeing in Cozumel.  We relaxed on a snow white beach of Labadee and ate a ship prepared and delivered free buffet lunch. Other activities that we could sign-up for were snorkeling, biking, hiking, kayaking and walking historical tours.

 Our adventures didn’t stop once we were at sea. Our Voyager class ship had an endless number of onboard activities that started when the sun rose and ended long after sunset. We jogged on the upper deck 1/5 mile track, swam in the pools, lounged in the whirlpools, and exercised in the Ship Shape room. We also relaxed in the Solarium with books we found in the ship’s library and ordered drinks poolside.

 We saw several excellent Broadway shows and an excellent Ice Capades show.  The ship’s entertainment director even held an amateur talent show and a Newly Weds Game, which was a real blast. We listened to a different live band or musician every night and danced at the Cosmopolitan Club, an elegant jazz club at the top deck. We liked the Dungeon, a Hip-Hop place, where plenty of young people danced with us. Our favorite activity before dinner was soaking in the Jacuzzi.

 Before the trip we were a little concerned about putting on extra weight. It turned out there was no reason to worry. The food was delicious and there were so much nutritious and healthy foods that we actually lost a couple of pounds. We even didn’t have to give up deserts like a chocolate mousse or a banana cream pie.

For dinner we usually chose the beautiful full service dining room. Some evenings we felt more adventurous in our menu choices, on other evenings we dutifully followed the “ship shape” recommendations and ordered light alternatives. For breakfast and lunch we usually opted for Windjammer casual buffet, pleasant and spacious, with gorgeous ocean views.

 We asked many fellow travelers on board, “Is this your first cruise?” Most were regular cruisers. “It’s a wonderful vacation”, was a frequent response. Many were loyal Royal Caribbean guests who return year after year.

 The more you cruise the more you enjoy. No wonder so many people get hooked on cruising. After the first completed cruise, each guest is eligible to join Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society. The benefits include savings certificates, complementary wine tasting, and a welcome aboard party. With more cruises completed the benefits list grows longer.

Guests can also add to their adventures every time they use their Royal Caribbean Visa Card. They can earn onboard credits, upgrades, and even free cruises with purchases made with the card.

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