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Login Go scenery scoping from the North Star®, the highest vantage point on any cruise ship – or thrill it up with the Ripcord® by iFLY® skydiving simulator and revved-up bumper cars in the SeaPlex®. Level up your nightlife at the expanded Casino Royale℠ then dance the night away at the all-new Sound Cellar℠. Plus, with brand-new international cuisine to indulge in – from theatrical hibachi at Izumi Teppanyaki℠ to the new Giovanni’s℠ Italian Kitchen – there’s a culinary adventure around every corner at 16 flavoursome finds.
Embarkation was a total shambles - a week before the cruise, RC announced they were switching the embarkation port to Whittier, that they would provide transport from Seward for passengers who had booked through them and that whoever had made land arrangements not through RC had to find their way by themselves. The notice caught us just before boarding the plane to Seattle , whence we were meant to start our self booked land pre cruise tour ending in Seward. Now it seems - and that's what RC told us - that the distance between Seward and Whittier is "only" two hours by car, but in fact there is, in the low season, no direct public transport between the two, it is impossible to rent a car, I found no driver ready to take us to the new port, there is no hotel accomodation to speak on in Whittier, certainly not for a cruise ship this size and the only option was to take a morning bus to Anchorage (3 hrs) and another bus from there to Whittier (2 hrs) at the price of about 150usd p/p. The reason of the port change was a delay in works being carried out in the cruise harbor of Seward, of which RC was aware and had not thought it fit to update its passengers about. I thought RC "see you in Whittier" cavalier attitude plain wrong and spent almost the whole length of a nine hours flight trying to find a way to reach Whittier in time, update social media, and seeking for help from the travel agents who helped me build the vacation. The day later RC reported that after further consideration they had decided to provide complimentary tranfer to Whittier for all the passengers staying in Seward. Still, the app was not updated and showed the Seward embarkation, and I for example was not given the option to choose the complimentary transfer to Whittier, which my stellar cruise travel agent booked for me. On the day itself, boarding the busses was a total chaos, tickets were given to people in an arbitrary way, I do not remember them being checked against the time the bus was leaving and many pieces of luggage were loaded late. Ours (4 pcs) were delivered five hours after the luggage distribution was supposed to start and arrived wet and cold. Disembarkation - another abject show of management. Not enough busses for the airport were offered. I begged fo book the latest bus as we had an afternoon flight, I was promised to be placed in the waiting list but at the end, the exit slot I was given was later than the early bus I had, and I managed to book the later bus by simply going again to shore excursions when I saw a new slot had opened for the later bus. Also, whereas on the disembarkation video I was made to understand our luggage would be waiting for us in the airport, the main reason why I had booked a transfer which was too early and costed triple the price of a taxi, only by chance I learned the night before that we would have to retrieve our luggage by ourself in the port and load it onto the bus and from there into the airport. In short, every day of the cruise I had to deal with the disembarkation issue. In Vancouver port the show continued. Our luggage (group no. 10) was unloaded between no. 4 and no 23, so that when I asked an official I was told luggage in group 10 hadn't arrived yet, whilst another passenger told me it was just around the corner, which it was. Clearly, our luggage was also found lying around in other groups. I hope RC realises how much troubles each one of these many mistakes can cost, financially and not, to a passenger wishing simply to go on vacation. The ship is big, has many venues catering to many tastes and it served well myself, my husband and our grown up son. The stateroom - we had a junior suite for two+ on deck 9 which has a sofabed my son deemed comfortable, one full bath with bathtub and shower over bathtub and one additional toilette. The two spaces were very practical, new, sparkling clean and superbly fitted (V&B sanitary appliances). The stateroom itself is loaded with cupboard and shelf spaces, so that the three of us could unpack all our luggage and still have room for more. Lots of electricity and charging points too. Iron board and a good strong hairdrier. The furniture was not new and it showed although it was lovingly kept. The junior suite has a balcony which is larger than a regular verandah and two pool lounge chairs with stools. It is not immediately after the bump so that you feel quite private and the overhang did not bother me at all. Given the wintry weather, we used the balcony when we could and it was certainly great for the Hubbard glacier navigation. Guest services - used them mainly for disembarkation. On top of that poor evaluation, I agree with the poster who said no consideration is showed to people with walking or standing difficulties and that not even a chair exists so that everybody has to stand in line, which is sizeable sometimes. Non existing library. Superb fitness center. Staff - truly, the shining diamond. Everybody, from our room attendant (Tri the magician) to others we simply met on the way, to our waiters at Silk (Bayu and I Wayan) and Solarium bistro to the dining rooms managers, every single one worked very hard to make us feel happy, relaxed, cared for and seen to - and succeeded. Kudos - they made our cruise. Food - another mixed bag. Breakfast good at Windjammer although crowded (here again just a few small tables in a corner, three or four, are reserved for disabled), lunch not very good; food in Silk very good and a lovely venue; Solarium bistro crowded for lunch but calm in the evening and good for light suppers; Sorrento Pizza nice; Starbucks coffee good substitute for the undrinkable dark liquid they call coffee on board. The app - some good features, like the calendar, which enables you to organize the activities you wish to take part in or booked in a coherent schedule, or the feature to see the daily menus, but also some bugs, i.e. the bookings are sometine not updated, you cannot have more than one one active restaurant booking which you made on the ship even at the beginning of the cruise, and getting into voom is cumbersome. We did not take shore excursions from the ship. The ports - Alaska did not fail to work its incredible magic once again even if the weather was unseasonably wintry for the end of May and the fact the locals were not harried by thousands of tourists certainly helped. This cruise was taken at the behest of our son who asked to see Alaska again and relive some almost twenty years old memories. Did RC manage that? Definitely - but in certain areas it could have done it quite a lot better.
We had a wonderful cruise. Our room was a jr family suite and it was large and had 2 bathrooms. A real luxury. The room was well appointed and although we weren't able to use the balcony very much it was great for the times we did. All staff, from our room attendant, to our waiters in the main dining room and our dining room greeters and concierge were warm, professional and helpful. We never met a grumpy or surly staff member while onboard this ship. Embarkation and disembarkation were seamless. The food on board in the main dining room was outstanding. The selection, presentation and flavours were excellent. We were offered the option of dining in other venues but declined as we were so pleased with the Silk dining room experience. We did eat occasionally in the windjammer and all the food was delicious and abundant (especially the morning bacon and benny). It had a great variety of fresh fruit. We just found it crowded and sometimes difficult to find seating. The solarium and fish and chips were a great lunch alternative. Bar staff were very helpful and went out of their way to find clamato for my virgin caesar. The selection of entertainment was great. From classical piano and guitar to caribbean vibe, to big band, dance bands and pianist and guitarist playing all our favourites. We felt well wined, dined and entertained.
The vessel never felt really crowded despite the large number of passengers. The ship is well maintained and we constantly saw cleaning staff around the ship. The restrooms in the public areas were really clean. I would presume 80% of the guests were East/South East Asian (Singapore, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines etc), about 10-15% South Asian and only about 5-10% were American/European/Australian. Lots of families, but never too noisy. We booked a GTY balcony which turned out to be a 75% restricted view on deck 6. I read bad reviews about it, but honestly, we really enjoyed it, despite having a double davit in front of our faces. There was still enough unobstructed view to view the sunset. Overall, the cabin was large with lots of storage. Given it was a standard cabin, we were impressed by the amount of space. The only thing we would improve is the placement of power outlet, only one of the beds had a power outlet. Deck 6 was perfect to reach all entertainment areas, so we did not mind the obstruction given the discount. The steward was always present and approachable during the day and let us choose when to clean the room, the room was clean, the bed comfortable and we got surprised with towel animals! We liked the food. It was quite good in the MDR. While not really impressing, there were only a few dishes we didn’t like. They did theme it Asian (Malaysian/Singaporean) on some nights, with the RC classics still available. We had a fixed dining time and enjoyed the MDR. We also enjoyed the Solarium Bistro for our „first dinners“. They had fresh fried rice that wasn’t on the menu, which tasted amazing. Interestingly, there were no chopsticks available on the entire ship (maybe in Itsumi which we didn’t try). The food in the Windjammer looked good and tasted fresh. The service was outstanding in the MDR! The waiters were attentive and quick. We purchased the key for the OV sailing, and it turned out to be a good value, given it was only 5$ a day more than the internet package, so about 25 USD/Person per cruise compared to a 2 device voom package. We selected an early boarding time, so that benefit wasn’t necessary, but the first lunch in the MDR was peaceful and nice. The breakfast was also good! One of the benefits was fast lane at the bumper cards, which we made use of a lot. It saved us about 20 mins every time. We would say it was worth it, but wouldn’t pay more than about 30 USD a day, and only on short sailings. On both sailings, we had the Refreshment package, which was great for us since we only occasionally drink. The mocktail menu was good and the bartenders were always creative and helpful in making the cocktails of the day non-alcoholic. Given I drink at least 4 cups of coffee a day, getting the package was a no brainer. It all comes down to your personal consumption, though. One thing I noticed was the availability of non-alcoholic wine. It was no problem getting it in the Solarium Bistro. The amazing waiter seems to have walked far to a different bar to get it. On this sailing, a lot of people seem to have gone only with the included drinks, the bars were not busy at all. The staff overall impressed us! No matter which devision, they were always friendly, approachable and seem to love their job. We had some time to talk to them and get some insights about their daily life as a crew, which was very interesting. Regarding activities, the seaplex was great. The bumper cars were a lot of fun. I wouldn’t say the North Star is worth paying for, but it was a nice experience, which we booked twice for free right after boarding. During sunset, the team member was really great, took a lot of photos of us on our phones, and entertained us! Highly recommended. Ifly was also great. Book it in the app right after boarding! I was surprised how easy it is to fly even on your first try. They offered an extra minute for 10 USD, which was a better value compared to the paid activity. Definitely do it if you get the chance! Guest services were great! They always had an answer ready or found one within a short time. We encountered a billing problem with a wrong charge for a drink and it was solved in our favour both times in less than a minute. One thing we did not like was the shows on this ship. “A beautiful dream” seemed like random songs without a true storyline. Great cast, but oddly weird. The love live legs show was better. Spectras cabaret did not really have a storyline but that wasn’t necessary and the tech was cool. We enjoyed that show! The comedian/magician however did not impress us at all. The coolest thing was one member of the audience who was very funny. The entertainment activities (Trivia, etc) were good, but lacked enthusiasm by the audience. This unfortunately projected on the motivation by the entertainment team sometimes, but it’s understandable. The airline logo trivia was outdated and therefore somehow funny. For example, rock the room was empty, and only due to some crew members' participation was fun. There was a 70s party at 270 which was good but then the cruise director suddenly stopped the fun and directed the guests to the Music Hall, which destroyed the vibe. They could have just put the whole activities into 270. The 80s party was amazing, and there were a lot of people dancing. One thing we really loved was the live music! All the bands and musicians were great. Our favourite on was Roots Vibrations, the Carribean band who did not only play sessions on the Pool Deck but also a private one in Boleros, which was even better. We did not do any excursion and explored the destinations on our own. Penang was easy to walk and see the city. No tour needed if you got chatgpt to guide you. Embarkation and disembarkation was very efficient. We booked the earliest embarkation time and also had the key so we were one of the first pax to board and having the ship for yourself is really cool! There was more than enough staff to handle all the passengers and we had our bags by 3. There was a congestion during disembarkation so we got a coffee and waited in the theatre (we didn’t feel any pressure to get off) until the lines were shorter and disembarked with some crew members, which was a breeze. I did the behind the waves tour with only 4 participants. It was really interesting to see the BOH areas. Most was explained by the great tour guide, and not the actual staff on the bridge or control room. The galley operations was really interesting and we also got insights on what it’s like to be a crew member. Overall we had a great time. The ship never felt crowded and there’s enough space to do whatever you like - adrenaline, relaxing, music, entertainment. In our view the cruise line offered a good balance of all of them. The best about the cruise was the staff who seemed well trained, passionate and really did a great job not only at service delivery but also for example at keeping lines short. For our first cruise, we feel like we chose the right cruise line which exceeded our expectations.
ROOM & NEVER BORED
Loaded with adrenaline-amping thrills and maxed-out ways to make new memories, Ovation of the Seas® is your ticket to the boldest family holiday ever. Whether you’re travelling with kids or bringing the whole extended adventure squad along, you’ll find spacious, well-appointed cruise rooms designed to suit all your holiday needs.
THE LUXURIOUS ROYAL SUITE CLASS
Real luxury is so much more than design and facilities. It’s about unforgettable experiences – moments that inspire, service that exceeds expectations and one-of-a-kind adventures that give you stories to bring home. You’ll discover all that and more when you sail in Royal Suite Class.
Exclusive Experiences
Elevate every aspect of your travel adventure with exclusive access and unique experiences you’ll treasure for years to come, crafted just for you by a Royal Genie or dedicated Concierge.
Inclusive Amenities
Sometimes, the smallest details make the biggest difference. Our Sea, Sky and Star Class Suites offer complimentary services and amenities that make every moment unforgettable.
Unparalleled Accommodations
In between awe-inspiring vacation experiences, retreat to the most spacious luxury cruise suites. When you sail in Royal Suite Class, you’ll find every detail has been carefully considered with you in mind.
DESIGNED TO MATCH YOUR TRAVEL STYLE
Relax, unwind and make yourself at home after a full day of adventure. From thread-count comfort and deluxe facilities to breathtaking views, you'll find all the creature comforts you'd expect during your holiday – and some you probably haven't even thought of – in a range of rooms to suit your travel style.
DESIGNED TO MATCH YOUR COMFORT NEEDS
24-hour room service for fuelling up between thrills. A daily stateroom attendant dedicated to making sure that your stay is spectacular. Whether you’re travelling with kids, a group of fellow explorers or require any kind of specialised service, we’ve thought of all the creature comforts you’d expect during your holiday – plus a few more.
EVERY DETAIL ACCOUNTED FOR SERVICES & FACILITIES JUST FOR YOU
Baby Onboard
Vacationing with a baby? Let us know and we’ll provide a crib and supplies to make your little one comfy.
Brining the Crew
Keep the whole squad together on your next getaway. Select staterooms can connect to accommodate more guests.
Couples Retreat
Our staterooms offer spa-like comfort so you can disconnect from reality and reconnect with your partner-in-adventure.
Special Needs
All of our cruise ships are equipped to accommodate any special needs — just let us know and we’ll make you feel at home.
Treat your taste buds to a whirlwind tour around the world with delicious Japanese sushi, American steakhouse classics and savour delicious British fare at a seaside seafood spot.
Don’t just see the world – experience it. Shore excursions can help you discover even more at each incredible destination.
UNTAMED ADVENTURE ON EVERY DECK
Ovation of the Seas® is all about elevated exploration. Take adventure to new heights on the rock climbing wall, then experience the thrill of a free fall on RipCord® by iFLY®. Or catch a wave on the FlowRider®* surf simulator before ascending over 300 feet above sea level in North Star®.
ROCK CLIMBING WALL
Rise to the occasion and take on the signature Rock Climbing Wall. From beginners to speed climbers, everyone can enjoy an unparalleled view from 12 metres (40 feet) above deck. Included in your fare, no reservation required.
FLOWRIDER®
Grab your board and get ready for 100,000 litres of rushing amazingness headed your way. The surf’s always up on the 12-metre-long FlowRider® surf simulator
NORTH STAR®
Stand in a jewel-shaped capsule that reveals breathtaking 360-degree views as you gently ascend 90 metres (300 feet) above sea level.
POWER UP YOUR DAYS REBOOT YOUR NIGHTS
Whether you’re suiting up for an aerial adventure on the only skydiving simulator at sea or sipping expertly crafted cocktails with a splash of cutting-edge tech, you’re in for a full-on cruise holiday reboot that takes you from day to night. The Ovation of the Seas® offers a wide selection of adventure, cruise activities and dining experiences onboard.
FREE-FALLING FUN
Put your adventure in motion with a skydiving session at RipCord® by iFLY®. Engineered with state-of-the-art mechanics, this groundbreaking simulator lets you experience what it’s like to float on air without ever leaving the deck. Just suit up and let the wind carry you away inside a transparent chamber.
AN INNOVATION SENSATION
After a day filled with onboard adventures, let a robot code your favourite cocktails in binary at the revolutionary Bionic Bar®. Then, settle in for more innovative sips at Two70® and get ready for a multimedia show that blends live performances with computer-coordinated displays designed to dazzle all of your senses.
The ship features a fantastic array of health and fitness facilities including, a spa, a fitness centre, a rock climbing wall and much more.
There's plenty to keep the little ones happy from the moment you step onboard Ovation of the Seas. You'll find an unprecedented selection of activities, sports, games and shows catering for every age group and interest. The real challenge will be working out how to fit it all in!
