On 30th June 2007, Sales Consultant Jay and her boyfriend Andy boarded Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. Having sailed with P&O Cruises last year their expectations were high, and as this was their first time aboard an American cruise line they were eager to find out if it was a comparable experience. Read on to find out what they thought of their cruise holiday …..

“At the port of Southampton, Navigator of the Seas outsized all the other ships in dock, and we enjoyed refreshments in the lounge as we waited to board the ship. I was surprised to find that approximately 70% of the passengers were British, as I had assumed there would be many more Americans on board, though I expect this was due to the itinerary sailing roundtrip from the UK.

We had chosen the Italian Mediterranean itinerary for it’s interesting ports of call, including Rome, Monte Carlo, Livorno and Cagliari in Sardinia. We took full advantage of the first two days at sea by familiarising ourselves with the ship’s facilities before reaching our first port, Gibraltar. On board, we were fascinated with the indoor Promenade - a focal point on the ship which we later discovered to be a lively place, housing shops, bars and cafes. Our inside cabin was located on deck nine, close to the pool and sun deck areas, and Dolores, our cabin stewardess couldn’t do enough for us throughout our stay. The cabin itself was inviting and clean, and once our suitcases were stored under the beds it was very spacious. We opted for a double bed, and there was also a sofa, plenty of wardrobe space for our clothes, a TV showing a good choice of films, and a good-sized bathroom. We were able to order complimentary room service, which we used frequently for breakfast, tea, and cookies – these were usually delivered within 30 minutes.

Over the two weeks we visited nine different ports boasting sunny Mediterranean weather, with temperatures reaching around 30-35c. Luckily I had packed my flat comfortable shoes as we did a lot of sightseeing, particularly in Rome where we visited the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain all in one day! We booked four shore excursions through Royal Caribbean, all of great value for money and very well organised, with informative tour guides to offer local knowledge. The ship berthed alongside the dock in each port, and at some of these Royal Caribbean ran an efficient shuttle bus service form the port to the nearest town, ranging in price from around $10. This was good news if you wished to explore independently.     

Back on board, the air-conditioned Navigator of the Seas was a welcome retreat after a long day sightseeing, and the adults only pool area with jacuzzi’s and hot tubs were an even more inviting way of cooling down (along with a refreshing cocktail!). As the sun began to set it was great to be on the spacious top deck as we waved goodbye to each destination, before heading back to the cabin to shower and change ready for the evening. 

We opted for late sitting dining in the Swan Lake restaurant at 8.30pm, as we liked to enjoy a few drinks in one of the many bars before eating. Here we were allocated a table for six, which was a lovely way to meet fellow passengers and discuss the days’ events. The food and the service in this restaurant were fabulous, and on a couple of evenings for a change of scenery we dined in the alternative restaurants. Portofino offered fine Italian dining at a supplement of $20 each, and Chops Grille also set us back $20 per person but both were well worth the extra, and provided first-class service and even more mouth-watering meals. (We can highly recommend the steak and unlimited side orders in Chops Grille!).

During the daytime we tended to use the Windjammer buffet restaurant for both breakfast and lunch, as the food choices here were endless. They also provided coffee, water and lemonade here too. And just in case you still found yourself hungry, then there was also a 24hr snack bar available on the Promenade!

As the cruise progressed, we were amazed to stumble across even more bars and restaurants, and both Andy and I couldn’t quite believe there was so much to do on a ship. The entertainment equally matched the standards of the dining options, with cabaret shows and musicians, to competitions and even parades down the Promenade. The Cruise Director was excellent, and he even had his own late night comedy show one evening. We enjoyed the Irish pub where a folk singing guitarist entertained us, and there was also a resident band on board playing Rock and Indie music in the Xtapa Lounge.

One of the popular night-spots was the large Casino Royale, which hosted daily games offers, and here it was particularly busy on themed evenings. The shows were extremely professional in the theatre, and the renowned Ice Show in Studio B was remarkable. If we fancied a quieter night, the Champagne Bar and the Sports Bar had a great atmosphere. It was lovely to wander around the ship on an evening, where we discovered a wide variety of shops on board offering reasonable prices, and on the Promenade we enjoyed the stalls which sold jewellery, handbags, crystal and much more.

As a family-friendly ship the facilities for children were second to none. Where do I start? Rock climbing, ice skating, a games arcade and age-related children’s clubs were just some of the activities on offer, not to mention the children’s swimming pool. Although we didn’t travel with children, I imagine families would love this type of friendly cruise, and the buffet dining would be suitable for those looking for less formality. Likewise, senior passengers may appreciate the classical band, the pianist or even the daily games such as bingo, in a more relaxed environment.

To sum up our experience, children, young couples, singles and seniors would all benefit from the choices on board Navigator of the Seas. The variety of European and Caribbean year-round itineraries each offer something different, in the modern and luxurious surroundings of this likeable ship. In comparison to our P&O cruise, the high standards of food and service were rather similar, although we did find Navigator’s atmosphere to be slightly livelier and more casual. The tipping policy was different to that of P&O Cruises, in that we had three easy options; You could either pre-pay these with the balance of your holiday, where you would then be provided with vouchers in your cabin to give out on your last day; You could have $10 per person per day added to your on board account; You could opt-out of both of the above options and tip at your own discretion on board." 

"Our experience of Navigator of the Seas was one not to be missed, and we’ll be recommending this cruise to family and friends alike. Thank you Royal Caribbean - we shall certainly be sailing with you again!"