Tips and Tricks For Sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
The Navigator of the Seas is a Voyager-Class ship sailing for Royal Caribbean since 2002. It’s a fantastic ship, made even better by Royal Caribbean’s recent “Amplification” of the ship, which added brand-new waterslides like the fantastic Blaster and Riptide, among other enhancements. Let’s take a look at my favorite Voyager-class ships, adn what tips and tricks you should know if you’re sailing on her soon!
Book Activities Early And Save
Like many vacations, booking early can save you a lot of money. Cruising definitely follows this trend, as often the further out you book (sometimes two years in advance), the more you’ll save. If you’re interested in booking Navigator of the Seas, reach out! If you’ve already booked, you should download the Royal Caribbean app before you sail and fill out all the check in forms before arriving at the port. You’ll speed up your time boarding the ship, and you’ll also have the opportunity to pre-book beverage packages, specialty dining, shore excursions, and on board activities. Around holiday periods and other sales, Royal Caribbean offers nice discounts. One tip would be to book in advance (you’ll be charged when you make the purchase), and cancel and re-book if you see a better price for your activity later. Cancellations are completely free.
Get To The Ship Early And Have Fun
As mentioned, check in before your sailing through the app to make sure you’re able to speed through the embarkation process. In Los Angeles, I’ve been on board the ship in minutes, and a big reason for that is because I checked in early- they’ll ask for passport information and a credit card for on board charges, among other things.
Once on board, I like to skip Windjammer and lunch and head straight for the waterslides. Usually, Royal Caribbean lets guests on board around 11 AM, with waterslides opening around that time. On board Navigator of the Seas, you’ve got two amazing waterslides: Riptide and Blaster, with Blaster being the longest watercoaster at sea. They’re fantastic, but lines can get long during the cruise. Get your first ride (or rides) in on embarkation day and you’ll save a lot of time during the rest of the cruise. I like to pack my swimsuit in my carry-on bag so I’m ready for the fun to begin as soon as I jump on board.
Favorite Bars and Restaurants
During the Amplification of Navigator of the Seas, several new bars and restaurants were added on board. One of my new favorites is the Bamboo Room, which is located on the Royal Promenade. It’s a tiki room concept with lots of fun cocktails, and a very high quality bar for on board a cruise ship! Old standbys across the fleet include the Schooner Bar and The Cosmopolitan Bar at the Viking Crown Lounge, which are usually where I’m hanging out on board!
For restaurants, my favorite specialty dining on board Navigator was Hooked, which had some great lobster rolls and oysters. Jamie’s Italian is one I skip, as Giovanni’s is a better concept that is available on other Royal Caribbean ships. Otherwise, the Playmaker’s Sports Bar has an à la carte menu that is quite high quality, though I wish it was included in the price of the cruise.
Stateroom Tips
A ship the size of Navigator is a perfect size, in my opinion. I don’t think you can pick a wrong deck- when I last sailed on board, I had a verandah stateroom and never felt far away from the action. For me, I found a great deal to get on board, but if I was on a shorter itinerary, an inside cabin would be perfectly fine, as I don’t spend much time in the room.
