Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas-Beautuful Ship Full of Fun
Cruising on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas was a total pleasure (except the casino- stupid casino...).
Aside from being a gorgeous ship, the food was great - there was plenty of fun to be had - the entertainment was top-notch, and the service was great. Oh, and it was full of beautiful & fun people! What more do you want in a vacation destination?
Flopping into Greatness
One of the highlights of the cruise (beside being a judge in the women's bicep competition) was watching the men's belly flop contest. It was a hoot! Several men sporting pot bellies both large and small were more than willing to turn them red by flopping into the pool- all for a chance at the title, and maybe a ball cap. People were lined up all around the pool deck trying to get a better view of the fun.
Johnny Rockets
One of the hot spots on Navigator of the Seas is the Johhny Rockets restaurant. In fact it is so popular that they were forced to institue a minimal cover charge. So contrary to popular belief, not all food on the cruise ship is free- but $4.95 for an awesome burger (or 2), fries and a thick milkshake is a bargain compared to what you would find on land!
Dodgeball on the Sports Deck - Yeah Baby!
Everyone has plenty of chances to make memories on a cruise ship, and one of my fond memories was playing some dodgeball. I hadn't played dodgeball for the past few decades, and it showed- but it was fun, and my teammates were awesome. I highly recommend getting involved in as many activities as possible. Get outside of your comfort zone- do something you haven't done in a while - line dancing - disco - karaoke - jump into a fun contest - make some new friends, and take a bunch of photos to share when you get home!
Premium Dining Options
As mentioned earlier, not all cruise ship food is always included. In fact, there has been a trend lately toward premium dining options on many ships. Premium Italian, Teppanyaki, designer cupcakes and upscale steak restaurants are making their appearance on cruiselines including Carnival, NCL & Royal Caribbean. One night on Navigator of the Seas we had the opportunity to go to Chops Grille - a premium steakhouse. A $25 cover charge earns you the right to enjoy excellent cuisine that is comparable to some of the premium chop houses in big cities across the country. Is it as good as Ruth's Chris? Only you can be the judge- but I can tell you that these were the best lamb chops I have ever tasted (ok, they are the 1st lamb chops I ever had...but my wife's 10 oz filet was comparable to what I have had at Sullivan's before at twice the price!) Oh, and the shrimp cocktail was awesome- and the Mud Pie for dessert....YUM
Skating in Studio B
You have probably seen TV ads claiming that on Royal Caribbean you can ice skate across the equator. Yep, you can ice skate on some ships, and Navigator is one of the ships that sports the Studio B ice skating rink. Not only is the rink open to family skating, but also hosts Ice Dancin' - a wonderful show for sure! Having seen it once now, I can't wait to go back. Getting good photos is a challenge as flash photography is strictly prohibited, but this can give you a sense of the costumes during the Rock Me Amadeus number- memorable!
So cruising isn't for everyone, I get that. But here's a message to the 80% of the US public that has not had a chance to experience cruising yet- TRY IT.
Just try it once, you may get hooked. It's a big world with so much to see, and so little time to see it. There are experiences to be had- and experiences are what make memories...and memories, in the end, are all that we can keep with us for a lifetime.
So what are some of the other things you can do on-board?
- Get a Massage
- Enjoy a Spa Treatment
- Play Bingo (you could win a couple thousand if you play your car right)
- Shop Duty Free
- Climb a Rock Wall
- Play some Nintendo Wii
- Enjoy a Cigar and a fine Cognac in the Connoisseur Club
- Tone your Abs
- Dance to Some Latin Music Poolside
- Watch a New Release Movie
- Compete in a Free Throw Competition
- Compete in the Love and Marriage Gameshow
Make some memories with some good friends, or go out on your own- and make some new friends.... but get out there and see something. Or, take the $600 you would have spent on a cruise vacation and buy a new TV- ultimately, it's your choice.
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