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The newly amped up Mariner of the Seas® is packed with more ways to play on the most maxed-out short getaway ever. Launch yourself into a virtual world on a new bungee trampoline experience – Sky Pad®. Hang ten on the newly added FlowRider® surf simulator or race down The Perfect Storm℠ waterslides. Bond over family-style Tuscan eats at Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver, or kick off date night at The Bamboo Room. Ditch the road trip for an action-packed cruise ship, with quick cruises sailing from Orlando.
This was a family reunion cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. Our ages ranged from 18-57. Four of us flew into Houston, then ubered to and from Galveston (uberXL cost was approx. $100 each way). Our ship departed from and arrived back into the Port of Galveston. We sailed all day Thursday and Friday with very little rocking or so I thought. Two members in our party of eight were motion sick the next day but then found their sea legs once the Dramamine was dispensed. We should have brought our own cards/games as I saw more experienced cruisers did which was smart. There is a lot of time to fill if you don’t like the body packed hot tubs or bars. I saw several families traveling with their young children but this in my opinion was an adult cruise with lots of drinking and gambling. The cruise did have outdoor sports area but it was so windy that the area was closed off for a portion of the cruise. I called this cruise ship a floating Vegas. The food was very good. The vegetarian (Indian) meals were excellent. My only issue with the buffet were the eggs (they weren’t real eggs, mine tasted like rubbery plastic?) All buffets were well maintained and staff were always visibly present should any need for assistance arise. The staff were excellent by the way and very friendly. I appreciated the reminder to all cruisers to “washy washy (your hands) before “yummy yummy” at the entrance of the buffet. I am a mild germaphobe so it made me feel that RC cared about my health when I witnessed this every time we ate there. I saw hand sanitizer in several places throughout the ship. All sanitizers were never empty (I hope that was because the staff kept refilling them). I didn’t like feeling trapped on the ship so this will probably be my only cruise. This five day cruise to Cozumel was one day too long for me. To be frank, Cozumel is a tourist trap with US prices. It was an overall good cruise but now that I checked this box I don’t care to repeat it.
My family began sailing 22 years ago on Carnival and watched as it steadily declined into a floating horror show. After 5 sailings with them I stopped and hadn't sailed in 8 years. So when I booked this cruise I was very nervous about comments made on this site that Royal is "going the way of Carnival". I had braced myself for a terrible eperience. So I am relieved to report that, as someone who had never sailed on Royal, whatever perceived decline it has gone through in the eyes of long time Royal customers, it is still miles ahead of Carnival in the eyes of someone who had only sailed Carnival previously. The Terminal/Boarding: The Royal terminal in Galveston is in great condition; it is almost impossible to describe how easy and fast this was. I will say that the Galveston staff are not overly friendly in my experience, but by no means discourteous or rude. But a few more smiles "hellos" and "great to see you"s would not have gone unnoticed. The Ship: Mariner of the Seas is in fantastic condition. I was actually a bit surprised by how well maintained the ship is given its age. Our balcony cabin has dated decor and the balcony itself is showing some signs of age, but not anything approaching unacceptable; the bathroom was in good condition and I was pleased to find proper shower doors and not a curtain. The crew is friendly and attentive. For my husband and I, the size was perfect for us and we found the ship easy to learn and navigate. The Entertainment: I was frankly shocked at how well produced these shows are for a cruise line, especially the ice skating production. The talent itself in the main theater is probably no more than "better than average" as far as cruise theaters go, but the quality of the production itself was really quite good. The food: Overall very good, but this is where I have docked a star. For our first morning we decided to order a free continental breakfast to our room so we could enjoy the balcony. I ordered it for quite early, 630am, to try and insure freshness. This was a failure. The food arrived promptly, but the toast, bagle, and english muffin were simply inedible. We also requested butter, jam, and honey. We received one pat of butter, one small "take away" style container of jam and one of honey. It was extremely disappointing, not that any amount of butter or jam could have saved the bread. We were also very underwhelmed by lunch in the MDR which we only did once. To be very honest, I would have preferred a fresh McDonalds premium chicken sandwich to the one I was served there. Having said that, the Windjammer buffet was always well stocked, the staff friendly and very attentive, the area always clean, and the food ranged from a solid "good" to "quite good" especially the deserts. Dinners in MDR were always great and the service was very good also. Cafe Promenade was also delightful. Well staffed and always clean. The pizza was good and always fresh and so were the pastry/baked selections (also complimentary). We had dinner at Chops on night 3 and we were extremely happy with the quality of service and food. Frankly one of the finest meals we had had in a long time and well worth the money. Destinations: We opted to not do an excursion in Costa Maya and isntead try to enjoy the terminal and some time on board. The terminal is clean and we always felt safe, but at the end of the day it is basically a tourist trap and a purpose built for cruisers. We bought our customary fridge magnet and headed back to the ship to enjoy the hot tub and pool while the on board crowds were thin. In Cozumel, chose to buy day passes to a resort a short taxi ride up the coast. We purchased this directly through the resort and not the through Royal. Allegro Resort was fantastic and we highly recommend it as an "off menu" alternative to typical excursions, especially if you are looking for something that includes a private beach, food, and alcohol. I believe we paid about $60 each. Overall, I am extremely happy to give this experience 4/5 stars. We have already discussed planning future cruises with Royal.
Redefining the cruising experience one room at a time. Our staterooms are an alluring escape from the non-stop action that our cruise ships are known for. From our spectacular views to our deluxe amenities, a stay with us is like nothing else at sea.
You’ll find endless ways to please your palate onboard. Savour a taste of Italy in Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver. Say 'Konnichiwa' to fresh sushi and sashimi at Izumi. And sweeten up your getaway with creamy milkshakes and a side of classic Americana at Johnny Rockets®. Or go big for brunch with a behind-the-scenes galley tour at the Bottomless Galley Brunch.
Enrichment programs, or ‘Explorer Academy’ classes cover a wide range of topics, from wine tasting to casino tuition.
Get ready, because the newly amped Mariner of the Seas® is packed with unexpected ways to spend your time onboard – and the name of the game is tech on every deck. From a bungee trampoline experience where you strap on a VR headset and choose from a new world to explore, to glow-in-the-dark laser tag where you battle for control of the last planet for lightyears around to a planetary Royal Escape Room challenge.
The ship features a fantastic array of health and fitness facilities including a spa, fitness centre, rock climbing wall and much more.
Royal Caribbean International's cruise ships offer a wide range of options for the whole family, as well as a great range of just-for-kids options.
