My husband and I just returned from an incredible Royal Caribbean cruise on the Navigator of the Seas. We sailed for 4 lovely nights from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico and back again. It was my first time sailing with Royal Caribbean, and I was paying attention to every little detail.
We are a family of five, and we usually travel together. In addition to taking part in a Royal Caribbean agent training program, this cruise fell within a few weeks of our 15th wedding anniversary. We decided to leave the kids at home with their grandparents. Just because I was very much enjoying my kid free time didn’t mean I wasn’t taking notes and planning a cruise adventure for the 5 of us!
Here are six reasons why I’ll happily sail again with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
There is something for everyone.
We were able to escape to the relaxing Solarium. The Solarium on the Navigator of the Seas is for guests 18 and older. It included a pool, hot tubs, a bar with roaming servers taking your order and plenty of comfortable lounge chairs.
Lucky kids were taking full advantage of all the activities on this cruise ship. No two Royal Caribbean ships are exactly the same, but the Navigator of the Seas had a fun pool below a large movie screen, 3 waterslides, a rock climbing wall, a mini-golf course and more. Royal Caribbean cruises also offer Adventure Ocean, youth program for kids aged 6 months to 17 years. While this program carries a small fee for babies and toddlers up to 36 months, it is complimentary for kids and teens. There is also unlimited soft serve, which was one of the most popular activities on the ship. We ate A LOT of ice cream!
We enjoyed excellent customer service.
We had numerous interactions with the staff on our ship each day. They were greeting us as we walked down the hallway, helping us with towels near the pool and always asking how we liked our meal. Each of my questions was promptly answered, each request kindly fulfilled. I’m now home staring at my coffee cup, wishing someone might appear with a pot of that yummy Lavazza brew.
They sail to incredible destinations.
In addition to a long list of beautiful beach escapes, European towns and bustling metropolitan ports of call, Royal Caribbean has a private island in the Bahamas- Perfect Day at CocoCay. Perfect for both the thrill seeker and chill seeker, Perfect Day offers restaurants, activities and places to relax. You can have a perfect day at Perfect Day by simply taking advantage of the complimentary amenities, or you can get fancy at Coco Beach Club or (coming soon!) Hideaway Beach.
There are endless onboard activities
I have to say that the Disney name-that-tune game turned Disney sing-along was my favorite entertainment on the ship. You can get a little taste here. This was a tough call, because we also loved the Harry Potter trivia, the ice skating show (there is a rink on the ship!), playing pickleball with an ocean view and the comedians. We couldn’t do it all, so I guess we’ll have to try again next time. There were options for any age and activity level. I’m hoping we find an itinerary with a Broadway show!
There are so many dining options
We tried almost every dining option on the ship, from nachos at El Loco Fresh to avocado toast at the Windjammer to signature rolls at Izumi Sushi. We loved having so many choices, particularly when most of it was included in our cruise fare. The pork dumplings at Izumi and the oysters at Hooked Seafood were my absolute favorite things. Don’t sleep on those.
One more note- there were many families on board taking advantage of a “Kids Sail Free” promotion. Check here to see if Royal Caribbean has that or another incredible offer for your dates!
Do you want to see all that a Royal Caribbean Cruises have to offer?
I’d love to help you plan your next adventure! Whether you are curious about cruising, you’d like to explore a theme park or the world, send me an email at natalie.parrillo@themagicforless.com or fill out my no obligation quote request form to get started. Be sure to follow me on Instagram!
