Supplement to Travel Trade
June 2001

Rhapsody of the Seas:

Proves Big is Beautiful

By Patricia J. Collins

The 2,000 passenger Rhapsody of the Seas, which was put into service just over a year ago, personifies the fact that big can indeed be beautiful. At 73,000 tons, this ship is a behemoth. As Royal Caribbean proudly points out, if the ship were stood on its bow, it would be nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower. Its massive structure, however, is tamed by creative interior design elements that offer plenty of cozy nooks for intimate gatherings or moments of solitude.

A member of Royal Caribbean's series of Vision-Class ships -- others in the series include the Spendour, Enchantment, Legend, Grandeur and Vision (due out later this year) -- the Rhapsody of the Seas is helping to define the new generation of mega ships.

Both the Rhapsody and the Grandeur of the Seas were built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France and their shared heritage is distinctive. The abundance of glass makes both standouts at sea. Massive window panels open the interior to spectacular sea views and give most public rooms a refined shimmer.

Carrying her name well, the exterior and interior appointments are rhapsodic -- with design themes that are dramatic and somewhat improvisational.

The contrasting onboard art collection brings together a sense of the past and the future. For example, the large collection of modern art, principally comprised of sculptures, mixed-media wall murals, woven hanging and fantasy themed paintings, co-exist with a sizable number of nautical memorabilia, including ship models, antique navigation devices and astrological motifs. Musical art designs complete the decorative elements.

At every turn, it's evident that the Rhapsody has star quality. The opening show begins in the Centrum -- the point of embarkation on Deck 4. The focal point is its massive, suspended sculpture called Diadem, created by American artist Jonathan Clawes. One of the largest, if not the largest, pieces of hanging art at sea, it has a series of pear wood blades -- up to 65 feet long -- curled to look like waves. Within its base is a green-blue sphere and a galaxy of smaller green, blue, black and silver spheres strung to the ceiling on black tubing.

The glass-enclosed elevators that glide quietly past the sculpture make the Centrum feel a little like a well-appointed space ship. In stark contrast are the small rock-bottomed pond and glass-enclosed mini-waterfall rest at the base of the Centrum's bank of elevators.

Joined by a series of white marble-floored platforms with cozy arrangements of club chairs and sofas, Centrum Decks 4 and 5 work together. The color palette is basically cobalt, peach, aqua and deep green. Dramatic glass-enclosed staircases with stainless railings and trim bring the eye upward to the Centrum's glass dome.

This area of the ship is always bustling with activity as passengers gather to listen to music from the grand piano or from the combo that often plays there. Also located in the Centrum on Main Deck 4, is the Champagne Bar and Terrace, which sits forward and is separated from the activities of the Centrum by frosted-glass screening. A large selection of fine wines and champagnes are available at the bar.

Level 5 of the Centrum is home to the purser's office and tour desk. As in all public areas, there is an abundance of natural light from huge windows. In this area, they are shaped like gigantic portholes trimmed in brass.

Care has been taken on the Rhapsody of the Seas to provide many intimate places to meet. Several are especially comfortable and inviting. The nautically themed Explorers Club and the Crown and Anchor Study, which are located mid-ship on Deck 8 in the Centrum, are exceptionally snug.

The two-level Edelweiss Dining Room, which seats 1,200, is magical and romantic. Eggplant and mauve upholstered chairs are striking against the pale green carpeting and crisp pink linens. Floor-to-ceiling windows have elegant window treatments. Off-white drapes trimmed in pink bands frame roman shades that are lowered as needed to block the sun.

The dining room is made garden pretty by the series of 18th-century style wall paintings, the huge frosted-glass wall behind the grand staircase and the elegant crystal light fixtures.

Passengers sit at tables that accommodate 2 to 12 at two sittings. There is a wide choice of entrees available. The menu is further extended by offerings from Royal Caribbean's ShipShape menu, which offers low-fat, low-calorie choices that are well-prepared and well-presented. Other dietary requests are accommodated, making it easy to stick to a special diet while enjoying the fine dining available on the Rhapsody of the Seas.

In the dining room, as throughout the ship, the crew is dedicated to offering the highest standard of service.

Breakfast, lunch and some dinners are served in the Windjammer Cafe, which is the Rhapsody's Lido. Food is served buffet-style in this bright and informal dining area located near the Main Pool on the Sun Deck.

The main pool, which is surrounded by four Jacuzzis, is always lively during days at sea. A band sets up in the pool area and water games are organized by the social director.

Broadway Melodies — located forward on Decks 5 and 6 — is one of the most beautiful theaters on land or at sea. Suspended waves of blue glass hang from the ceiling in front of the stage. Cushy theater seats are trimmed in teal leather and upholstered in a multi-color fabric. They sit on light tan carpeting patterned with blue swirls reflective of the ceiling's wave design. No matter where you're sitting, the two-level theater offers clear views of the raised stage. In addition, pull-down projection screens on each side of the stage ensure that performers can be viewed close-up.

Even the balcony in Broadway Melodies is a design success. Potted plants and wall murals of colored-glass piano keyboards make this area a room unto itself.

Evening entertainment includes song-and-dance routines, stand-up comics, special celebrity appearances and even juggling acts. With the trend away from nightclubs, the cruise industry offers an outstanding venue for many of today's highly talented young performers.

For passengers who can't wait to get out on the dance floor, the Shall We Dance Lounge is the place to be. The theme is set at the entryway on the port side, which is dominated by a large mural of scenes from the heyday of trans-Atlantic crossings. A dapper portraiture of Fred Astaire and scenes of journalists taking bulb photos of embarking passengers give the scene the feel of old Hollywood on vacation.

Neutral shades of tan and taupe with blue and coral accents give the Shall We Dance Lounge a breezy by-the-sea look. Flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides -- forward, port and starboard -- the room is flooded with sunlight in the daytime. Seating is on semi-circular sofas, with glass and brass trimmed tables. On the port side is a small marble-topped bar that seats eight. The circular dance floor and stage is easy to see from nearly anywhere in the lounge.

Its large size -- it seats 575 passengers -- makes the Shall We Dance Lounge an ideal place to hold port talks, karaoke nights and bingo sessions.

While I'm not a great dancer, one of my favorite public rooms on the Rhapsody of the Seas is the multi-level Viking Crown Lounge disco, which is perched on deck 11 at the top of the Centrum. During the day the disco offers its guests spectacular views of the sea from its huge inward sloping windows.

When it comes to sheer fantasy, the Casino Royale is the clear winner on the Rhapsody of the Seas. A series of decorative zodiacs and neon lights set the tone. Games include slots, roulette, craps, Caribbean stud poker and blackjack.

The Schooner Bar on Deck 6, just outside the Shall We Dance Lounge, is a quiet place to relax. It fills rapidly in the evening as passengers stop by for a drink before of after dinner. The schooner theme is underscored by the room's decorative ship mast. Painted wall murals of seascapes complete the nautical theme. The focal point is the black piano bar, which seats 6. Sofas and club chairs upholstered in buttery tan leather surround the piano. Drinks are prepared at the main service bar, which seats 8 and is located across from the piano bar.

Health and fitness fanatics will love the Solarium and the ShipShape Center, which has a full complement of aerobic and weight-lifting equipment. Huge wrap-around windows give people using the ShipShape Center a panoramic view of the surrounding sea.

The Solarium's Egyptian decor sets a mood of opulence and quiet pampering. The indoor raised pool and two Jacuzzi's are housed under the Solarium's Crystal Canopy -- a sliding glass roof -- and is surrounded by lounge chairs and live palms. This is a huge area that has table-and-chair arrangements placed by the windows on the port and starboard sides so that passengers can enjoy lunch or a snack from the Solarium Cafe. A full range of health and beauty treatments are available.

Children of all ages are made to feel at home on the Rhapsody of the Seas. Located on Deck 10 is Fantaseas for teens and Club Ocean for children.

Cabins are nicely appointed with carpeting and fabric colors in blues, greens, peachy pinks and salmon. There is plenty of storage space. Cabin amenities, including the desk, mirror and shelving are well positioned. Of the 1,000 cabins, 593 have an ocean view, 229 have a balcony, 407 are inside cabins and 287 are staterooms that hold three to four berths. Fourteen cabins are handicapped assessable.

All staterooms have a sofa/sitting area, color television, telephone, safe and beds that can convert to queen size. In addition, there is 24-hour room service, complimentary toiletries and turn-down service. Those who book suites receive special pampering such as in-room fresh fruit and hors d'eouvres.

There are plenty of on-board diversions such as shopping, golf putting, a video game room and the jogging track. It's all part of the huge diversity that is available on a ship this size. With all there is to see and do on the Rhapsody of the Seas, it's difficult to imagine what Royal Caribbean will dream up for its Eagle Class ships, which will carry over 3,100 guests and weigh in at 130,000 tons.