Revamped Mariner makes most of shorter vacations
Royal Caribbean vessel meets millennial demand for three- and four-night cruises
One of my favourite big ships just got a tremendous new makeover.
Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas (cruise.center/royalcaribbean) just emerged from a US$120-million dry dock refit before sailing into its new home port at the Port of Miami.
Mariner of the Seas has spent the past few years overseas sailing itineraries around Asia, and now it returns to North American cruising on a set of new three- and-four-night cruises to the Bahamas. It’s a pretty substantial change, and a nod to Royal Caribbean’s commitment to deploying some of its best and most innovative ships on cruises that practically everyone can afford — especially younger cruisers.
“Millennials want more frequent and shorter vacations that offer as much of that exhilarating adventure they seek. We’ve answered that call by investing $120 million in Mariner of the Seas and bringing her to Miami to sail three- and four-night cruises,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “With the combination of more thrills than you can count and visits to tropical destinations, Mariner is changing the game and taking the short getaway experience to a whole new level.”
Headlining the changes made to the 3,344-guest Mariner of the Seas are two three-storey waterslides perched high atop the stern. Known as The Perfect Storm, these racing slides are likely to be popular with kids and adults alike.
The ship also sports a brand new glow-in-the-dark laser-tag arena; an onboard escape room known as The Observatorium; and Royal Caribbean’s signature Flowrider surfing simulator.
Four new dining venues have also been added, from the Polynesian-themed Bamboo Room to the Asian-inspired Izumi Hibachi and Sushi specialty restaurant.
The three- and four-night itineraries out of Miami will call on Nassau and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas. Beginning in May 2019, Mariner of the Seas will sail to the new Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s massive reimagining of its classic private island experience.
So what makes Mariner of the Seas such a great ship for these short runs? Simply put, it offers a bit of everything for both new and experienced cruisers.
Built in 2003, it combines some of Royal Caribbean’s best features of the past (like the panoramic Viking Crown Lounge mounted high atop the ship’s funnel) with its newest innovations.
There is enough to do onboard that you’re never left wanting. Quiet, window-lined bars and lounges appeal to the more traditional cruising enthusiast, while the ship’s central Royal promenade area is a hub of activity, with daytime and evening performances that are too enjoyable to miss. I wanted to not like the Royal promenade — there’s a decided lack of windows that I dislike on a ship — but I couldn’t help it: it’s a hub of activity, entertainment and enjoyment.
The ship also offers plenty of accommodation choices, from economical inside cabins to topof-the-line suites. My favourite, though, are the interior promenade staterooms: staterooms that offer the value of an inside cabin but with the addition of bay windows overlooking the ship’s Royal promenade. It’s the best seat in the house for the frequent shows and parades along this space. Mariner of the Seas also offers plenty of outdoor deck space, including a wraparound promenade deck and plenty of open space by the pools. Conditions permitting, you can even stand out on the ship’s bow to watch the departure — a truly magical experience.
But Mariner’s refit isn’t unique to just this ship. Royal Caribbean is spending US$900 million over the course of four years to refit 10 ships in order to add new dining and entertainment experiences, features and amenities, and to refit everything from the ship’s carpeting to its accommodations. Independence of the Seas debuted in April with new enhancements in place, and other ships will follow in the future. It’s not difficult to imagine that Royal Caribbean’s entire Voyager and Freedom class ships would receive similar refits.
For now, though, Mariner of the Seas offers an exciting chance to take a short, affordable cruise to a warm-weather destination aboard a big, feature-filled and thoroughly enjoyable ship.
Happy cruising.
Visit portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-707-7327, cruiseshipcenters. com, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behindthe-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly at portsandbowsaaron@gmail.com.