Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas‘ $115 million amplification, which was completed in 2019, includes new and novel upgrades, such as the Perfect Storm waterslides (The Blaster – is the longest aqua coaster at sea), a Caribbean pool deck, The Lime & Coconut signature, the first blow-dry bar at sea – To Dry For; a tiki bar – The Bamboo Room; and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas marks the Royal Caribbean International’s return to California, after more than a decade of being away. The newly amplified Navigator of the Seas is offering 3-, 4- and 5-night cruises to Catalina Island, California, and Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I was on board for its inaugural launch to Ensenada.
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas: Ship Facts
- The ship holds 3,970 guests
- 1,694 staterooms
- 14 guest decks
- 7 specialty dining options
- 9 bars/lounges
- Take a look at the ship deck by deck
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas: Amenities
- ART GALLERY
- CARD ROOM
- CASINO ROYALE
- CONFERENCE CENTER
- FLOWRIDER
- JOGGING TRACK
- LASER TAG: BATTLE FOR PLANET Z
- MEDICAL CENTER
- MINI GOLF
- OUTDOOR MOVIE SCREEN
- PADI FIVE STAR DIVE CENTERPOOL
- ROCK CLIMBING WALL
- ROYAL THEATER
- SOLARIUM
- SPORTS COURT
- STAR LOUNGE
- STUDIO B
- VITALITY SPA & FITNESS CENTER
- VOOM
- WHIRLPOOLS
Navigator of the Seas Rooms
The Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas has a variety of room types depending on your budget. Rooms range from Interior, Connecting Promenade, Interior with Virtual Balcony (a digital image makes you feel like you have a view!), Promenade View Interior, Ocean View, Ocean View Accessible, Spacious Panoramic Ocean View, Spa Oceanview Balcony, Spacious Ocean View Balcony, Junior Suite, Grand Suite 2 Bedroom, Royal Suite, Owner’s Suite. I stayed in the Spacious Ocean View Balcony and was very pleased with the accommodation. There was plenty of room for two guests and taking in the ocean view from the balcony was priceless. If you budget allows, I would highly recommend getting a room with a balcony.
Dining and Bars
There are no shortage of dining options on the Navigator.
Four complimentary dining venues include Cafe Promenade, El Loco Fresh, Main Dining Room, and Windjammer. I have to admit, after dining at Windjammer, with its endless buffets, I found it hard to be lured to explore other dining options. The buffet offered so many options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, that I was hard pressed to think of anything it might be missing.
The following seven specialty dining venues are available for an extra, albeit affordable, fee: The Chef’s Table, Chops Grille, Hooked Seafood, Izumi, Jamie’s Italian, Johnny Rockets Express, Starbucks, and Room Service. While on the cruise, I was happy to get my daily Starbucks. I also had the chance to dine at Jaimie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver. Not surprisingly, it exceeded my expectations. The Penne Pomodoro was delicious with freshly made pasta topped with a tomato and basil sauce with creamy burrata. They carefully source their ingredients for dishes such as the Chianti-Braised Short Rib, Calabrian Chicken and Pan-Roasted Salmon.
One of the highlights of my trip was dining at The Chef’s Table. This intimate VIP dining experience was a treat to savor. The chef himself described the ingredients and preparation of each of the six courses as they were being served with an accompanying wine pairing. The dishes were flavorful, the concoctions creative, the service impeccable, and the company entertaining. The menu included scallop carpaccio, smoked tomato soup, Maine lobster salad, roasted branzino, The world dessert.
With nine bars and lounges, there’s always a place to grab a cocktail with friends. Listen to live piano music at the Schooner Bar, grab a UK-themed pint at the English Pub, enjoy complimentary cocktails at the members-only Diamond Club Lounge, those staying in Grand Suite-level accommodations and above can enjoy the Suite Lounge which also serves complimentary continental breakfast, enjoy a classic or specialty cocktail at R Bar, catch your favorite sporting event and dig into some tasty bar food at Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, enjoy a Caribbean concoction poolside at The Lime and Coconut®, grab a MaiTai at Polynesian-themed The Bamboo Room, take in the panoramic views at the Viking Crown Lounge®.
Onboard Activities
There are so many things to do on board that you won’t be able to fit it all in. From sports to theater to poolside fun, plan ahead to maximize your time. Here are just a few things to choose from:
Poolside: Have fun zipping down the water slides – The Blaster and RipTide; lounge, swim, dine, listen to a live DJ, grab a cocktail, sit in the jacuzzi, take time in the adult-only indoor/outdoor Solarium with pool, whirlpool and lounge area. At night, the pool comes to life with movies and music.
Sports: For those who want to stay active, options include the onboard track, rock climbing wall, pickleball, basketball, mini golf, Flowrider (surfing experience), fitness classes, table tennis, ice skating, salsa dancing. I loved The Blaster tandem inner tube water slide, was too intimidated to try Flowrider (but it looked like fun), would’ve done pickleball if the line wasn’t so long.
Shows: The iSkate show was spectacular with amazing athleticism, costumes, and music. Other shows include a Vegas-style Showgirl, Ballroom Fever, as well as a comedian and live music.
Shopping: Peruse the promenade to pick up souvenirs, liquor, jewelry, clothing, and more,
Classes: Looking to try something new? Take any of the following classes: fitness classes, Cupcake class, dance classes, Folding Artistry, Scuba Certification, Scrapbooking, culinary classes, Jewelry Making, guest lectures, Salsa dancing, casino lessons, or learn a language.
Nightlife: The after-dark activities go well into the night. Try your luck at the rather large Casino (go early to learn how to play!), catch an outdoor movie, do a wine tasting, see a show, dance at the nightclub, listen to live music, try your hand at Laser Tag, participate in a Game Show, test your skills in the Royal Escape Room, chill in the Library and Card Room, attend a Theme Party, have fun in the Arcade, sing out loud at Karaoke, join in a singalong at Schooner Bar. Stop by To Dry For for the perfect blow out hairdo before you head out for the night.
Kids’ Activities: Kids are going to have so much fun on this cruise. In addition to the award-winning Adventure Ocean® Youth Program for ages three to 11, there is also ice skating, water slides, rock climbing, pickleball, mini golf, movies, pool splash pad, arcade, game room, Laser Tag, the Royal Escape Room, and shows. There is also a Babies and Tots program and the Living Room for teens with a backyard hideaway.
Vitality℠ Spa: Relax and refresh with a treatment at the onboard spa. Choose from massages, wraps, facials or acupuncture. Or leave the ship looking even better than you arrived with medi-spa treatments to smooth wrinkles, lift and tone, tooth whitening, hair and nail services.
Disclosure: Accommodation was provided by Royal Caribbean in order to do my review, but all opinions are my own. Article may contain affiliate links.