Supplement to Travel Trade
April 2002

Adventure of the Seas:

Cruising for the 21st Century

By Ethel Blum

It was an enchanting evening that began with a one-hour ice show that dazzled the audience. Next came cocktails, while a quartet played in the background in a setting surrounded by aquariums. Then dinner in a glamorous restaurant: lobster-stuffed ravioli, French onion soup, Dover sole and tiramisu.

Where did all of this take place? Somewhere between St. Maarten and St. Thomas on the fifth night of an Adventure of the Seas cruise. It was a memorable evening in a resort that just happens to move quietly to different islands for daytime explorations and, when the sun sets, becomes a haven for romantic and exciting evenings.

Third in Royal Caribbean’s Voyager-class ships, Adventure of the Seas entered service in mid-November 2001. Like her sister ships, Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas, she boasts unprecedented design innovations, unique amenities and one of the highest space ratios of any in the 14-ship Royal Caribbean fleet.

Voyager and Explorer broke barriers with the introduction of unheard of amenities — an ice skating rink, rock climbing wall and inline skating, to name a few. Following the theory that if the customer likes what they get, let’s not change it, Adventure has no discernible new features. However, her interior décor and design gives her a more passenger-friendly atmosphere. Coloring and design is softer and lighter. Besides, she’s the prettiest in the family, due largely to the incredible $10 million art collection.

At 142,000 tons and over 3,000 passengers, she’s the third in the triad to hold the title as the “biggest cruise ship in the world.” While size may seem overwhelming at embarkation, passengers acclimate within a day or two. Large spaces are divided into smaller spaces, and smaller spaces are divided into cozy nooks, so guests are spread out around the ship and it rarely feels crowded. The space ratio is a very comfortable 36.

Vessels this size require additional attention to detail in every room and lounge. The result is a tribute to the creative genius of artisans and architects. The integrated use of soft materials with marble, brass, glass, etched mirrors, plush fabrics and wood tones homogenizes the vessel into an overall work of art.

Adventure is filled with a lighthearted ambiance and spaces that soar through eleven decks. At 1,021-feet long, the ship offers passengers 10 dining rooms and restaurants, nine bars and lounges, a 1,350-seat theater, casino, gaming arcade, an 18-hole golf simulator, a miniature golf course, three swimming pools, full size basketball court — and so much more.

The vessel is amazing but not intimidating, even for first-time cruisers who made up about half the manifest on a recent cruise. Voyager-class vessels are planned to make ships easy for passengers to navigate. Six decks are almost totally devoted to staterooms and suites. Other decks house public facilities, and passengers quickly find favorite venues.

All preconceived notions about cruising are laid to rest on Voyager-class vessels. Royal Caribbean has broken the rules as we have come to know them. These are ships that rival theme parks and resorts.

The 400-foot long Royal Promenade is a good example of RCI’s innovations. Flanked by two vertical atrium spaces, the Promenade stretches almost the entire length of the ship and rises more than four decks.

Lined with bars, lounges and cafes and filled with street magicians, jugglers and mimes, this bustling “street” is the heart from which all activities emanate. Passengers crowd the Royal Promenade night and day to stroll, window shop and sit at a sidewalk café or stop by the Café Promenade where snacks, pizza, pastries, coffee, tea and soft ice cream are served around the clock on a complimentary basis.

A favorite on the Promenade is the Duck & Dog Pub, a British-neighborhood style pub decorated in a Victorian revival motif.

Three levels of inside staterooms overlook the promenade. Passengers can watch the action below, but when cabin lights are turned on, blinds must be drawn for privacy.

Art designs are bold and memorable. Public rooms and decks are themed, with styles ranging from Art Deco and Modernism to Renaissance and Gothic, from classical Roman and Greek to Egyptian artifacts. Themes are carried through from public rooms into cabins and suites in artwork, textures and ambiance.

When the history of 21st century cruising is written, Voyager-class vessels are likely to head the list for the most revolutionary concepts.

The rock-climbing wall on Sports Deck is alongside the mast. The wall is 35’ high, but since it’s on a high open deck, climbers are over 200’ above the sea.

The Center Ice Rink in Studio B has 900-arena style seats. The rink is the standard size for performances — 30’ x 60’. When the ice deck is covered, it becomes a floor and an area where television shows can be filmed and passengers can dance in the evenings.

The oval inline skating track isn’t large, but is popular.

Most of these options come with a price tag. Free form ice skating costs $6 an hour (with or without your own skates) with reservations requested. Rock climbing costs $6 per person for a 90-minute session in a three-person team. Inline skating is $6 per hour (with or without your own skates.) A round of mini-golf is the exception, with no fee charged. Internet use is priced at 50 cents per minute with a five-minute minimum.

The magnificent Lyric Theater has its own unique style. This four-deck high, 1,362-seat main show venue features decorative Art Nouveau touches in a dramatic opera house environment.

Sight lines are excellent, and there’s very comfortable theater-style seating. Entertainment is varied with two fast paced production shows, extravagant costuming, and specialty acts that appear only once during a cruise.

Another winner is the 35 seat Imperial Lounge, forward of the Promenade. With a circular dance floor and four-piece band, the Lounge is the pre- and post- dinner place for ballroom dancers. The room is used for various activities at other times.

The hallmark of every Royal Caribbean vessel is the Viking Crown Lounge, and Adventure is no exception. The room can be used as a single observation lounge or divided into smaller sections — a card room, cocktail lounge, jazz club, golf bar and disco. Up a short flight of steps is the Skylight Wedding Chapel, which some guests use for quiet meditation or prayer. The room seats up to 60 people for wedding and vow renewals.

By day the Blue Moon Jazz Club is a warm, inviting observation lounge. At night, the club comes alive with live jazz. Amenities include comfortable lounge seating with views to the outside and sightlines to the elevated stage constructed in the shape of a piano.

The double-decked library is another first at sea. The elegant English-style reading and writing room is enhanced with computers and Internet access. Other quiet areas include the Aquarium Bar with the soothing calmness of a dramatic display of aquatic life.

The disco, Jesters Nightclub, is located on two connecting decks. Designed in the style of a medieval Gothic castle, it has been soundproofed to contain the action. Torcheres flicker and metal jester statues, stone gargoyles, wall sculptures and stained glass windows add to the atmosphere.

The ShipShape Spa at 15,000-square feet makes it one of the largest at sea, offering more types of treatments than most shoreside resorts. Spanning a two-deck area, the spa is divided into three programs with unisex facilities, treatment rooms, relaxation area and couches, and a separate room for physically challenged guests.

The Solarium has a retractable glass roof that provides panoramic ocean views in a classic Venetian environment. The raised pool and two whirlpools form one centralized focal point. Food and drinks are just a few steps away at the Solarium café and bar.

With family and multi-generational travel growing at a rapid pace, children’s facilities are oversized, and the program has been expanded to five age groups. The Adventure Ocean program is supervised by a trained staff, most certified in CPR and first aid.

Youngsters from 6 to 8 years have an art studio, climbing station and cozy corner, while 15 to 17 year olds have a nightclub with DJ, video center and computer stations.

Group babysitting is available from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at a cost of $5 per child. Minimum age is three years and toilet training is required. In-cabin babysitting is available at a charge of $8 per hour with a minimum age of six months.

The Incentive and Business Center is configured to handle up to 400 guests in a single room or four large breakout rooms, plus an executive boardroom and a multimedia screening room. The conference center can be expanded to accommodate up to 1,350.

Cabins and suites come in all sizes and shapes. Outside staterooms and suites with private verandas make up 49% of the 1,557 rooms. Of the 618 inside cabins, 138 have window views of the Royal Promenade.

Cabins are comfortable at an average of 151-square feet. Suites run from about 250-square feet to nearly double that figure. All accommodations have two single beds that convert to queen size, private baths (some with tubs as well as showers), amenities replenished daily, interactive television, mini-bars, hair dryers and individually controlled air conditioning.

Décor is soft and tends toward peachy-mauves with blue-green patterned carpeting. Ceilings are white and walls are beige enhanced by acquatic-themed watercolors. Each cabin has a sitting area. Deluxe suites come with deluxe amenities, including terry robes, in addition to huge closets and plentiful storage space. Bathrooms are marble.

On check-in, suite passengers are given a personal key to the Concierge Lounge where they can relax, have drinks and register personal requests for shore excursions, transfers and reservations for the optional restaurant, Portofino.

Adventure has 26 staterooms in almost all categories equipped to handle the needs of physically challenged passengers. Not only are they equipped for wheelchairs (which are not supplied by the company), but also there are listening devices and strobe light telephone ringers for the hearing impaired and cabin numbers in Braille for the visually impaired.

Service is personal and attentive. Almost all of the staff has worked on other RCL vessels.

The three major dining rooms are musically themed. Mozart, Strauss and Vivaldi are on three levels connected by a magnificent graceful stairway.

A giant mural spans the height of the dining rooms aft and represents an orchestra with a statue of the conductor on the first landing facing the orchestra. Entrances display costumes and scenery from specific operas associated with the composer. Three separate galleys serve identical menus and presentations.

Menus cover a gamut of options, including ShipShape healthy, vegetarian and specialty items. Meals are served in two seatings with open seatings for lunch and breakfast.

Smaller dining rooms adjoin the Carmen Restaurant. La Centra and La Notte each seat 58 and are used for overflow and private parties.

More casual food service is available in the Island Grill and Windjammer Café buffet restaurant complex. Windjammer offers open seating and a choice of dining room specials or fast food served buffet style. Johnny Rockets is the place for burgers, fries and milkshakes on a 24-hour basis.

Portofino, the upscale optional restaurant, has only 85 coveted seats. Food is individually prepared, so expect leisurely service. The menu is more international than Italian. Beautifully appointed, it’s a restaurant worthy of note. Agents can make points with passengers if they advise them to make reservations immediately on embarkation. They are hard to come by. The additional charge of $20 is charged to guests’ ship accounts.

The Adventure sails every Sunday from San Juan to St. Maarten, Curacao, Aruba and St. Thomas, which allows for two consecutive days at sea. The Voyager, Explorer and Adventure will be joined by two more ships in the series.

The quadruplet in the Voyager series, Navigator of the Seas, is scheduled to inaugurate sailings toward the end of 2002. The fifth and last in the series, Mariner of the Seas is due out in December 2003.