Royal Carribean

...1968 joining to form the Royal Caribbean Line. Two years later the first ship began service, with more ships following over the years, ships were "stretched" making longer ships and mergers took place. The name was changed and even larger cruise ships built. There are now 21 cruise ships in the fleet with 16 different destinations, from Asia to Australia and Canada to the Caribbean amongst a few. The Serenade of the Seas was launched in ...
...lovely Scrapbook made especially for Royal Caribbean with pages for an Alaskan holiday.

~Ship in general~

Because of the size which was quite over whelming, we found there were places you could find peace and quiet even though there over two thousand people on board. We used to enjoy walking all around the deck, it was often too cold to sit and enjoy the sea breezes, but cruising in a warmer area it would be enjoyable ... more

A vision of starting a cruising company began with three Norwegian shipping companies in 1968 joining to form the Royal Caribbean Line. Two years later the first ship began service, with more ships following over the years, ships were "stretched" making longer ships and mergers took place. The name was changed and even larger cruise ships built. There are now 21 cruise ships in the fleet with 16 different destinations, from Asia to Australia and Canada to the Caribbean amongst a few. The Serenade of the Seas was launched in 2003 and this was the cruise ship on which we visited Alaska and on which my review is based.

We had planned to return to Canada when we retired and see the Rockies and my husband thought to tie it in with a cruise to Alaska would be the icing on the cake. Note i said my husband thought, I'm a non -swimmer Piscean who doesn't really like boats! Consulting a travel agent in Glasgow who advertised Canadian holidays we had an itinerary planned and then up graded a few things and that was it, our holiday was booked! You can book online or through other travel agents.
We were able to log onto the website and book some shore trips and ordered our wine! The website gave us lots of information on what to expect and photos of the ship and cabins.

~Embarkation~

Ending up in Vancouver after a week long wonderful experience which I doubted to be improved on, and after a few days sight seeing we arrived by taxi at the cruise ship terminal. We were relieved of our cases very quickly, they already had our names and state room number attached, and we entered the building. It was like a huge warehouse and was very busy. We had to queue for this and queue for that but after filling in Waiver forms, having our photographs taken and finger prints we were ready to embark. That had taken 45 minutes from arrival so no worse than at the airport, and we were going into America. Walking up to where we would enter the ship were photographers and we posed to have our photographs taken, the first time of many we discovered!

We were greeted by lots of staff, so very friendly and helpful, and we were directed to our stateroom where we left our hand luggage - containing a few clothes as advised, in case our cases didn't arrive before dinner, and then made our way to the Windjammer for lunch. The corridors had lots of artwork and I discovered later that it was in themes, may be red, yellow, black and white, blue etc. I was amazed at the beautiful surroundings, in the centre of the ship was a open section where you could look up and down and see the glass staircase, numerous lifts some with glass looking out to sea or looking into the atrium. The wood work and brass was all gleaming and the carpets luxurious, this was better than a lot of 5 star hotels I had stayed at.

~Stateroom with Balcony~

I had been told by a colleague who loved cruises to go for the best stateroom you can afford, and there was no way I would have gone into an internal room! I might not be able to swim but I didn't fancy being in an internal room. It was compact but had everything we needed and in fact the bed which was curved at the bottom was larger than ours at home. The room was about 8 feet wide and the bed was next to the sliding windows to our small balcony which had two comfortable chairs and a table. There were two bed side tables with drawers and spot lights, a telephone and a large mirror above the padded headboard. There was a small settee and coffee table, and on the opposite wall was all the storage. The large fitted wardrobe with a high shelf had smaller shelves between the two hanging spaces. This was the home of the most important item - your Life jackets.(We had a drill before leaving). There was a desk/dressing table with more drawers and mirrors with excellent strip lighting. Some extra cupboard space was found behind the mirrors. There were sockets for a modem and the television was above the small fridge/mini bar. There was also an ice bucket which was re filled as necessary. The wood was cedar with dark red mahogany trim and the quilt cover was a lovely white striped material with a deep blue throw and cushions. The curtains and settee cushions were in terracotta and gold and there was an extra curtain to allow you to separate the sleeping area if you wished. The carpet was a lovely blue with terracotta and small red dots. Our stateroom attendant was excellent, nothing was too much trouble, the room was kept very clean and she surprised us with her talent when we returned from dinner to see what she had made out of towels! A chocolate was left each night too plus a newsletter with all the information for the following day of the port of call and the different trips plus entertainment and times of everything. We were also given a marker to highlight what we wanted to attend.

The tiny en suite was adequate, but if you were on the larger side I would imagine it might be a tight squeeze! The shower was enclosed with a curved sliding door, keeping the floor dry and the wash basin was in a vanity unit with shelves and a large mirror. The toilet had the noisiest suction I have ever heard but it worked and we didn't suffer any nasty smells as I have heard about on some cruise ships. There was a full length mirror on the door to the bathroom. Towels were changed daily and were nice and fluffy, considering that they were washed on board.

The television was more than just a television, you could access your sea pass account to see how much you had spent! There was a channel when you could see a video from the bridge, which was excellent when we were approaching the glacier. It also gave the nautical position, wind strength and direction, miles travelled, time and sunset.

~Food~

There were so many places to eat and we didn't try them all, we had breakfast in the Windjammer, nearly every day. One morning we sampled room service and had it in bed!
Lunch was available in the main restaurant which was waiter service or self service in the Windjammer.
There were lots of tables, all polished wood and the many staff were kept on their toes clearing and cleaning the tables. As you entered the Windjammer staff were on duty handing out anti-bacterial wipes so you cleaned your hands before handling the food tongs and spoons. An excellent idea and I never heard of anyone with tummy upsets so I presume it worked. The restaurant was the full width of the ship and had two of every counter and buffet to make it quick to get served. There was extra seating opened up at busy times, and there was cold drinks and tea and coffee on tables in that section too, although you had to collect food from the main area.

Breakfast had selections of healthy options or hot cooked foods, juices, fruits and the Deli where the chefs would cook you an omelette of your choice or pancakes etc. The Danish pastries and muffins after fresh fruit was my choice although my husband would recommend the bacon, eggs and hash browns!

Lunch time the choice was immense, simple food like soup and a sandwich, salads, pizzas, or hot foods fish, roasts, curries, pasta dishes. Food for every taste and desserts and fruit if you had space to fill, plus ice cream on tap! Drinks were available, lemonade, water, iced teas were free or wines or beers could be bought.

The main dining room called Reflections was on two levels and we were allocated a table, we were sharing with a French speaking brother and sister from Quebec and an Australian married couple, both just a bit younger than us but we hit it off and met later for quizzes and the theatre. Some couples sat alone, and there were larger family groups, it was good to be on a larger table and enjoy the chatter. We had a waiter and an assistant allocated to our table and there were head waiters who had more tables to keep an eye on, each evening our waiter told us what was on the menu and what was recommended, and if someone really didn't like the dish when it was served they were willing to get something to replace it. He also told us what was happening the following evening and about the dress code, although this was also in the cruise compass newsletter. The service was brilliant, friendly and quick, and when we had lobster it was removed from the shell for me by the manager very efficiently! Some evenings the waiters put on a parade or sang to entertain us, and if it was someone's birthday they all sang when the cake was brought to the table. We could have had breakfast here which was served at the table and we did sample lunch which was a la carte, but if you were in a hurry to go somewhere the windjammer was the best option. The Mirage and Illusions were extra dining rooms which could be opened up at the sides of the Reflections dining room when the ship is busy.
There were small cafes and restaurants on different levels of the ship, which we didn't try apart from going to Latté-tudes, a speciality coffee shop featuring Seattle's Best Coffee to get a good cappuccino, which was extra. We could have eaten at the Portofino for Italian food or at Chops Grille who served steaks.

~Entertainment~

There were several people taking care of entertainment, there was a show each night in the huge theatre which was over 3 levels this was always very professional and we even had 2 of the Osmonds singing and telling jokes. During the day there was something for everyone, perhaps Scrapbooking, making Tiffany boxes, playing cards, bridge, golf, a question and answer session with the Captain and hotel manager on the last day sailing back, a cookery demonstration which turned into a bit of slapstick comedy. Movies, piano lessons for beginners, a seminar on back pain, music quizzes, trivia and dancing until late at night. There was a church service held, strangely enough in one of the bars on the Sunday morning which was well attended. Lots of people attended the keep fit sessions to combat the wonderful food!

There was a Library and you could sit and read a book or collect a daily Quiz sheet or sudoko game. Bingo games were arranged with money prizes. From 6am until 11.00 till late something was available, even a place to meet up with other lone travellers.

~Shopping~

There was an art gallery and a special day when there was a sale of paintings. On the first day of sailing there was a sale on deck of t-shirts and fleeces, very useful for people who hadn't brought enough warm clothes! Downstairs in the luxurious shopping mall, was everything else you might want. Jewellery both costume and expensive items, watches, toys, make up and perfumes, toys and games, cameras and binoculars, handbags, evening bags, pashminas, clothes, Alaskan gifts and an area where you could see all the photos and purchase the ones you wanted that were taken on many occasions during the cruise. I bought a lovely Scrapbook made especially for Royal Caribbean with pages for an Alaskan holiday.

~Ship in general~

Because of the size which was quite over whelming, we found there were places you could find peace and quiet even though there over two thousand people on board. We used to enjoy walking all around the deck, it was often too cold to sit and enjoy the sea breezes, but cruising in a warmer area it would be enjoyable using the many seats or sun loungers. The bars and lounges were all beautifully decorated and the seats were comfortable, often with large windows making the sea journey more enjoyable for those without a balcony. The central atrium was amazing and a setting often used for the photographs before the Formal dinners. The glass stairs were another popular place, especially for family groups. The staff and there were hundreds were always pleasant, helpful, spoke to you in passing, maybe they were just pleasant but we id discover another reason I'll discuss later. The carpets were all excellent quality, beautiful wood and brass was always kept shining, and the glass in the lifts cleaned regularly. There were plenty of lifts but you still sometimes ha to wait, so walking up and downstairs was the choice of many.

~Medical services~

Fortunately not required but there was a medical centre and a number to ring in emergency. Sadly I know a lady whose husband died in his sleep on a cruise and they were exceptionally kind and helpful to her. There was helpful information on the newsletter regarding using the hand sanitisers and care was taken in cleaning procedures to prevent the spread of disease.
I wasn't aware of anyone suffering with sea sickness, there was some movement but modern fleet have good stablisers. I believe the doctor had tablets if needed.

~Sport~

There was a Rock climbing wall for those who felt energetic, an Indoor/outdoor country club with golf simulator, where they had tournaments , a golf course, but you had to book for a round of golf as it did get busy. There was a Sports court with basketball/volleyball court and an area for young people called Adventure Ocean. There was an outdoor pool and although heated it was quite cool on sea days, used more by hardy children than adults, and also a separate kid's pool but there was a beautiful indoor Solarium for adults and a day spa and fitness centre. The fitness centre had lots of exercise bikes, rowing machines, running machines and weightlifting apparatus and also a gym area where I attended a Pilates class. Where else can you exercise and look out to sea in the hopes of seeing a whale! There was a walking track around this area of the ship, measured out so you could tell how many kilometres you walked.

~Spa~

It was extra for spa treatments, the rooms were on par with 5 star spa hotels, and the staff all looked very professional. An absolute face and body treatment cost $199 for 80 minutes treatment. And a Swedish body massage was $159 for 50 minutes. There was also a hairdressers and a wash and blow dry was from $35 to $49, but you could get a perm or colour too and manicures were $45 and pedicures $65. You could even go as a couple and have a special offer for your teeth whitening for $358!

Children were taken care of and had their own room with lots of things to do and sessions for different ages, plus a play area. There is a curfew for children under 18 and they must vacate all public areas by 1.00am unless accompanied by a parent or participating in an organised late night adventure in Fuel. We did see groups of children running about on deck sometimes during the day but most were well behaved.

~Bars and Lounges~

Several different bars and lounges and these were the venue for different forms of entertainment in an evening. The pool bar and Sky bar were open in the morning only, and the Lobby bar and Schooner bar open from 9.00am until 1.00am. There was also the Casino bar, the Solarium bar, Champagne bar, Hollywood Odyssey bar, Tropical theatre, and Safari Club. Guests must be 21 to drink alcohol as the ship was in America. There was always a cocktail of the day usually costing $5.25. No money was exchanged everything was signed for on show of your sea pass. The Colony Club, is a unique British colonial-style lounge with self-levelling pool tables. If dancing is your thing, you could dance to various types of music n the different lounges or the Vortex Night club.

~Casino~

I admit I'm not a gambler, so only walked through this area going to the theatre, it was clean and comfortable with lots of seats in front of machines and several areas to play the tables. We did used to hear the occasional machine coughing out chips for lucky punters.

~Excursions~

We booked excursions online before going on the cruise, but you could book on the ship and there was a huge choice for all tastes and different lengths of time and prices to suit everyone. These were all well organised and we thought good value for money. Depending on the port the coaches were close by, or you had a short distance to walk, with golf buggies transporting those with walking problems. On one we were taken by lifeboat from the ship to the port as we anchored out of the harbour, at least you know some one of the life boats were sea worthy!

There was an X-ray facility checking bags on return and you had to walk through an arch just like at the airport, no food or drink could be brought back on unless it was sealed. Sea passes had to be zapped too, so they knew who had left the boat and who had returned.

~Information~

10 storey glass constructed atrium with glass lifts facing the sea. The Serenade of the seas has the largest amount of outside staterooms in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Maiden Voyage: 1 August 2003
Guest Capacity: 2,501
Godmother: Whoopi Goldberg
Gross Tonnage: 90,090 tons
Length: 293 m (962 ft)
Beam: 32.2 m (105.6 ft)
Draft: 8.2 m (26.7 ft)
Cruising Speed: 25 knots (28.8 mph/46.3 kmph)

Places visited on Alaska cruise

Icy Strait point - anchored at sea, a very small town but plenty to do.
Hubbard Glacier - cruising, we spent a couple of hours just revolving so everyone could see the glacier, and take photographs.
Skagway - a lovely town, with train or coach trips and plenty of shops for those with money to spend.
Juneau - the capital of Alaska, with a glacier, glacial gardens, lots of shops and museums and a gondola ride up the mountain.
Some of these places I have reviewed separately.

~Passengers~

The majority were Americans and Canadians, but there people from many other countries including Australian, Korea, Japan, Norway, France and other countries and a very few from the UK. As mentioned there were children, and at the Formal nights the girls were in long dresses and the boys in their tuxedos, these children looked quite at home and many had cruised before. I imagined a lot more older people, but there were young couples, and older people, families with children of all ages and people with wheelchairs or scooters were also catered for.

~Tipping~

This is the only downside I found during the cruise. There is a recommended amount to tip and it is $24.50 per person for the waiter, $14 for the assistant waiter, $24.50 for the stateroom attendant and any amount at your discretion for the Head waiter, per person. Even higher guidance rates for larger suites. The staff are only paid a nominal sum for working, around $50 a month and the rest of their wages is made up of tips. We were given envelopes and put our dollars in and handed these to the staff on the final evening. People began to realise why the staff are so nice to you, because they need the tips. Our young Indian assistant waiter had left her baby son to work on the ship, her husband was a head waiter in another restaurant on the same ship, so at least they saw each other briefly during the day, but they hoped to provide a better life for him by working on the cruise ships.

~Cost~

This will depend on so many things, like how early you book and whether there are any offers, what deck and what type of stateroom you want.

~Departure~

All good things have to come to an end, and there was an excellent sheet of information and instructions for departure. All luggage had to placed outside your stateroom door before 11pm, so you just had a small bag to carry off with overnight things, the problem being that this bag contained liquids that needed to go into your case before checking in for the plane! Everyone was given a coloured luggage tag and called so many at a time depending whether you had an early flight to catch. Departure began at 7.45am, and you had to vacate your stateroom by 8.00am and once off the ship, the luggage was ready for claiming in the Pier terminal last seen when we checked in. There were lots of people on hand to help and to direct you to the correct coach.

Sea Pass accounts were delivered to your stateroom before departure but as we had opened a credit card account it was settled unless there were any discrepancies.

~Conclusion~

Did you guess we loved our cruise? The Royal Caribbean did their best to provide a holiday to remember, the quality of care and food was brilliant, we loved it so much we have booked more cruises this time with a different company because we choose a destination that RC doesn't go to, but that will be another story in a couple of months time!

This will also appear on Dooyoo written by jo@145 

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