Questioning what it’s wish to set sail on the most important cruise ship on the planet? On March 4, 2022, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Marvel of the Seas took its maiden voyage, and we had been on board to take a look at the entire motion on the most important ship on the planet. This ship, the fifth of the Oasis class ships, can accommodate as much as 6,988 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 236,857, with 18 decks. The world’s largest cruise ship is gigantic and may maintain you and your loved ones occupied for all the crusing.
Do you wish to zip line at sea? Watch excessive divers leap from the highest of the ship right into a pool within the aqua theater? Experience a life-sized carousel or sit in Central Park listening to jazz? All of this and rather more can be found to visitors crusing on this brand-new ship.
The Marvel of the Seas is presently crusing out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale Florida beginning March 2022, earlier than crusing to Barcelona later this spring. Our seven-day crusing visited Labadee, Haiti, San Juan Puerto Rico (the place we had a good time exploring Previous City San Juan), Nassau Bahamas, and Good Day at CocoCay.
Disclosure: We obtained a complimentary media crusing on the Marvel of the Seas. All opinions are my very own. I’ve additionally paid my very own manner on Royal Caribbean previously and have been on different press journeys.
Evaluation of Royal Caribbean’s Marvel of the Seas – the World’s Largest Cruise Ship
Neighborhoods on Marvel of the Seas
Like the opposite Oasis-class ships, Marvel of the Seas has separate neighborhood areas for leisure and actions. Nonetheless, this ship now presents an eighth neighborhood. The brand new Suite Neighborhood, positioned on the highest decks of the ship, is the place you’ll discover the Royal suite class, in addition to a mixed space with the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen (the devoted restaurant solely for suite visitors).
A phenomenal suite solar deck space presents a bar, solar chairs, in addition to an infinity plunge pool with in-water pool loungers. As well as, the suite neighborhood presents the Final Household Suite. This large suite consists of two tales of enjoyable (together with sport tables, an in-suite slide, and a balcony sizzling tub) and visitors have entry to probably the most luxurious facilities on website.
Different neighborhoods on the Marvel of the Seas embrace the Boardwalk, providing a full carousel, aqua theater, Sugar Seaside sweet store, youngsters’ store, Playmakers Sports activities Bar and Arcade, Johnny Rockets, and Boardwalk Canine Home.
Central Park is my favourite space on the ship. This peaceable atrium presents timber and vegetation, in addition to outlets and eating places together with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, and Park Cafe. There’s additionally the Rising Tide Bar, which strikes up and down from the Royal Promenade to the Central Park neighborhood each half-hour.
The Leisure Place, positioned on deck 4, is the place you will discover lots of the leisure venues on the ship. These embrace Studio B, the Attic, On line casino Royal and Card Room, and the Royal Theater.
Touring with youngsters? They’ll wish to go to the Youth Zone. This space presents a Royal Escape Room (which wasn’t but open on our crusing) and the Journey Ocean Youngsters Membership space. Inside this house, you’ll discover the AO Youngsters, Infants, and Junior’s areas, the play house, the workshop, and the AO theater.
The Royal Promenade is the central space of the ship. On the Marvel of the Sea, there are a number of outlets (together with the principle merchandise store), Sorrento’s pizza, Boleros, the Bionic Bar, Visitor Providers, the Voom web assist desk, the shore tour desk, Highlight Karaoke, Starbucks, and Cafe Promenade.
Trying to loosen up or work out in your journey? The Vitality Spa and Health Middle on the Marvel of the Seas is large, and in addition presents the Vitality Cafe with recent juices and smoothies. Therapies on the Vitality Spa embrace salon and nail providers in addition to massages, spa remedies, a thermal spa, and extra. The health heart is large with a great deal of gear together with a number of Peloton bikes.
The Sports activities Zone is without doubt one of the extra spectacular areas on the ship. There are such a lot of thrilling actions together with sports activities courts (for tennis, basketball, volleyball, and extra), ping-pong tables, a zipper line, mini golf, the Final Abyss slides, a FlowRider, and the Marvel Playscape (a splash space for youthful youngsters). I additionally noticed fairly a number of Pickleball gamers having fun with the courts.
Actions on The Marvel of the Seas
Along with the actions positioned within the numerous neighborhoods on the Marvel of the Seas, there are such a lot of different issues to do – even if you end up at sea. These embrace scheduled actions and occasions, like Captain’s Nook (Q&A with the ship’s captain), karaoke, trivia, sport exhibits, spa seminars, artwork auctions, on line casino actions, and Bingo. A list of those occasions, together with their location and occasions, are positioned within the Royal Caribbean app and the every day Cruise Compass.
Laser Tag is obtainable at scheduled occasions within the Studio B venue. That venue, dwelling of the ice present, additionally hosts open ice skating hours all through the crusing. Ice skates can be found to borrow, so that you gained’t have to fret about packing your individual.
There are a selection of swimming pools on the principle pool deck. All have in-water loungers. On one among our at-sea days, I loved sitting in one among these loungers as I learn a ebook. There are additionally a number of sizzling tubs and ample seating across the swimming pools – each with and with out shade.
Throughout the day, there’s a lot leisure, together with reside bands, DJs, and an enormous film display screen. In search of a deal with? Gentle-served ice cream is on the market at Sprinkles, proper close to the swimming pools.
Need extra thrills? Splashaway Bay, a youngsters’ splash space, can be positioned on the pool deck and presents small slides and splash zones. There are additionally the three thrill waterslides of the Good Storm. There are additionally two climbing partitions positioned one stage above the Boardwalk. You additionally gained’t wish to miss the Final Abyss – a dry slide that goes from the sports activities deck right down to the Boardwalk.
These 16+ who need to loosen up will wish to go to the Solarium. This space presents plunge swimming pools, whirlpools, lounge chairs, and a bar in a superbly coated, climate-controlled space. The Solarium was my favourite place to sit down and loosen up throughout our crusing on the Marvel of the Seas.
Teenagers shall be comfortable to search out devoted areas for them to get pleasure from. These embrace the Social100 and the Patio non-public areas.
Eating places on the Marvel of the Seas
Like the opposite Royal Caribbean ships, the Marvel of the Seas presents each complimentary and specialty eating places with a great deal of eating choices. Complimentary eating places and cafes are included in your cruise fare, whereas specialty eating areas are supplied at a further price.
The Major Eating Room is the usual place to get pleasure from dinner. There are two separate eating occasions, along with My Time eating, the place you possibly can go to at any time in a particular window. Reservations for My Time eating can be made within the app or in the principle eating room.
There’s additionally the Windjammer Cafe, the buffet on the ship. The Marvel of the Seas presents the most important Windjammer but, and it’s completely large, wrapping round an entire part of the ship. There are a great deal of seating, together with some quieter tables within the heart between the 2 buffet areas. Presently, there are crew members serving buffet gadgets and getting drinks, though I’m undecided if that can change sooner or later.
Different complimentary venues embrace the Park Cafe (sandwiches and salads), Sorrento’s Pizza, Cafe Promenade, El Loco Contemporary (recent Mexican meals by the Sports activities Zone), Solarium Bistro, and Boardwalk Canine Home (sizzling canines on the Boardwalk).
There are quite a few specialty eating areas on the ship. These can both be booked and bought individually or as a part of the Limitless Eating Package deal. Make your specialty eating reservations as quickly as doable, as these do ebook up.
New on the Marvel of the Seas is the Mason Jar, providing upscale Southern consolation meals. The Mason Jar presents brunch and dinner, and we had been capable of get pleasure from a scrumptious brunch on our crusing. We tried the Purple Velvet pancakes and deviled eggs, and so they had been completely scrumptious.
Don’t miss the drinks – which embrace a PB&J Previous Common, which has a miniature peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a garnish. The Mason Jar bar is open to visitors with out reservations, so for those who can’t get in to eat you should still wish to cease by for a drink and to benefit from the band. Mild bites are additionally supplied on the bar.
We additionally loved dinner at Wonderland, an modern and imaginative restaurant that can be supplied on the Odyssey of the Seas. Wonderland is an expertise, however the meals can be scrumptious. As you enter the restaurant, you’ll be handled to the attractive decor and shall be handed a clean menu. Use the included paintbrushes and water to disclose the contents of the menu.
Your server will choose your starters, however you’ll be capable of select your major entree. I liked my Branzino entree, and would undoubtedly choose it once more. For those who aren’t an adventurous eater, nevertheless, I feel I’d advocate attempting one other restaurant.
As a local New Englander, I used to be particularly excited to attempt Hooked Seafood. This specialty seafood restaurant presents a uncooked bar at sea, in addition to seafood and shellfish specialties (together with lobster). My favourite merchandise was the soft-shelled craft, though the lobster was scrumptious as effectively.
Different specialty eating places on the Marvel of the Seas embrace Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, Izumi, Playmakers Sports activities Bar and Arcade (a la carte), Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar (the wine bar presents a la carte appetizers), Johnny Rockets, Sugar Seaside, and Starbucks.
In search of a drink? The ship is stuffed with small bars each indoors and open air. These embrace the Lime and Coconut pool bars, the Trellis Bar, Cantina Fresca (new Mexican bar at El Loco Contemporary), the Bionic Bar, the Schooner Bar, Rising Tide, Bionic Bar, Wipeout Bar, Cask and Clipper, and the Vue Bar (a brand-new bar exterior Solarium providing attractive ocean views). Music Corridor is one other nice bar venue providing reside music.
Associated: Learn our evaluate of Attract of the Seas, sister ship to the Marvel.
Facilities on the Marvel of the Sea
This large ship presents so many incredible facilities for households. Some are supplied freed from cost whereas others can be found for a further price.
Voom Web is obtainable to suite visitors at no cost, and to different visitors for a every day price. There are two choices – one with normal web and one with streaming capabilities. On my Royal Caribbean sailings, I’ve at all times been impressed with the standard of the web – particularly at sea.
If you wish to use the complimentary Royal Caribbean app, you employ the web for something on the app with out having a Voom package deal. The app is a good way to remain in contact with all the pieces occurring on the ship. You too can see deck plans, make exercise/restaurant reservations, and verify your account steadiness by way of the app. Whereas there was once a price for messaging different passengers in your cruise by way of the app, that’s now free.
There are additionally a number of outlets on board that provide many various gadgets. Along with Royal Caribbean-themed merchandise, you’ll discover watches, purses, jewellery, fragrance, cosmetics, in addition to private necessities. There are additionally self-service merchandising machines providing many gadgets that you might have forgotten at dwelling.
Staterooms on the Marvel of the Seas
Throughout our crusing on the Marvel of the Seas, we had an ocean-view balcony stateroom. I discovered this room to be actually snug. It has a king mattress, a pull-out couch, a number of cupboard space, a rest room with a bathe, a large-screen tv, a desk, and a fridge. The balcony is massive sufficient for 2 chairs and a small desk and was the right spot to get pleasure from a cup of espresso whereas watching the ocean.
These staterooms have a mixture of bathe gel/shampoo. For those who’d desire to have a separate shampoo and a conditioner, I’d advocate bringing them your self or buying them within the merchandising machines.
Due to the design of the Oasis Class ships, balcony rooms might have views aside from the ocean. The Marvel of the Seas additionally presents balcony staterooms with a Central Park or Boardwalk view. There are additionally Ocean View rooms with a porthole window and no balcony.
Suites on the Marvel of the Seas embrace junior suites, grand suites, and the Final Household Suite. I had the chance to tour a grand suite. It presents a balcony, small seating space, rest room with double sinks and bathtub, king mattress, pull-out sofa, espresso maker, and extra. I actually loved the Suite Neighborhood – the proximity to Coastal Kitchen, Suite Lounge, and the Suite Sundeck is a big profit.
Leisure on Marvel of the Seas
Like different Royal Caribbean ships, the Marvel of the Seas has some incredible leisure choices on the schedule. A few of the everlasting leisure wasn’t 100% full, however we actually loved what we noticed.
InTENse is an all-female aqua present held within the Aqua Theater alongside the Boardwalk. It’s excessive vitality and consists of slackline performers, excessive divers, dancers, and a lot extra. We bought a preview of the present and it was incredible.
There’s additionally an ice present, held in Studio B within the Leisure neighborhood. This present celebrates the 4 seasons and is superb. I might undoubtedly see it greater than as soon as if it was doable.
Later this yr, the Marvel of the Seas will debut Effectors 2, a continuation of the present first proven on the Odyssey of the Seas. Within the meantime, there are many different leisure choices together with Faucet Manufacturing facility, magicians, comedians, and musical acts. We missed seeing the present Voices however heard incredible issues about it.
Crew Members on the Marvel of the Seas
Whereas the meals, zip line, outlets, water slides, swimming pools, carousel, and different facilities/actions are glorious, the crew members are really what makes the expertise particular. Throughout our crusing, we had been so impressed with each crew member we encountered. They actually seemed to make our expertise distinctive.
Which exercise on the Marvel of the Seas can be your favourite?
See our internet story right here.
