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There is technically one formal night on Mariner of the Seas sailings. However, we've seen a fairly wide spread of interpretations on board; everything from suits and formal dresses to toned down business casual tends to be the norm. On the flipside of formal night, don't forget your Hawaiian shirts for the ubiquitous Hawaiian shirt nights. Slacks or chinos plus nice short-sleeved or long-sleeved T-shirts, button down shirts, or polo shirts are more than appropriate on most nights in all dinner venues.
The Allure of the Seas Deck Plan Features Distinct Neighborhoods
Furthermore, Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site. Listed prices may have blackout dates, qualifications or restrictions. -- as well as Mediterranean, Asia and Australia cruises -- attract a significant number of locals from each area, as well as Royal Caribbean's usual North Americans.
Night Greece, Italy & Turkey Cruise
During school breaks and summer, expect typical "spring breaker" crowds, including lots of college students and school-aged kids. Vision of the Seas also offers 5-night itineraries to Bermuda, 9-night cruises to Canada and New England, and longer trips of up to 12 nights to the Southern Caribbean. Vision of the Seas, part of Royal Caribbean's Vision-class of ships, is known for its stunning glass exterior -- more than 2 acres of glass were incorporated in its construction back when it launched in 1998. Nowhere is this more breathtaking than in the ship's Centrum, which spans five decks. You’ll come away having some great meals, but perhaps nothing that stands out, unless you’re willing to invest in specialty dining. Still, kids will be happy, as the line offers children’s menus in virtually every restaurant onboard.
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Night Canada Cruise
Cabins are made for families, though storage space ultimately could be an issue with larger groups, especially with more standard accommodations. Mariner of the Seas' cabins to avoid are generally Interior or inside rooms. The lack of natural light, combined with the aging decor, means that Interior Mariner of the Seas rooms aren't exactly bright and open. Instead, you're getting a quite stereotypical and cramped cruise room. You'll likely want to avoid rooms of Mariner of the Seas Deck 3 -- both Interior and Ocean View -- as it will put you on the same floor as the Royal Theater and Studio B, where the ice show happens.
Allure of the Seas Restaurants Cover Fast Eats and Fine Dining
But most of the action centers on Decks 4, 5 and 11, which hold the cruise ship's main public spaces (Honestly, though, almost every deck has at least one destination worth a visit). Families flock to Allure of the Seas, a ship that celebrates youthful exuberance in the form of surf simulators, rock climbing walls and some of the best children's facilities at sea. But the ship also clearly appeals to active couples, mainly in their 30s to 50s. Numerous spaces, especially the foliage-filled Central Park, provide a relatively kid-free ambience.
Mariner of the Seas Review
Standouts include Chops Grille steakhouse, a six-course tasting menu at 150 Central Park, and Sabor’s Mexican favorites. All in all, Mariner of the Seas' deck plans let you float from place to place, eat, grab drinks, play mini-golf and watch movies by the pool without elbowing through rowdy crowds or enduring long lines. You'll also want to head downstairs to Deck 4 to visit some of Royal Caribbean's most iconic spots, including The Schooner Bar, which hosts piano music, lively singalongs and trivia every night. Royal Theater is right next door for song-and-dance shows as well as Mariner's riotous game show Love and Marriage. And if you're feeling lucky, have a go at the tables and slots in Casino Royale.
Icon of the Seas Review
Expect hotel-worthy beds, banquettes or pull-out couches and enough storage space for the short itineraries that the ship makes. Expect '90s-print curtains, light oak furnishings, and pink paneling. Allure of the Seas cabins include rooms with interior-facing balconies – which may pose noise problems – to two-story Crown Loft Suites with downstairs living spaces. Interiors are fairly standardized across the board, so location is the real dealbreaker within categories. The vast majority of passengers on Mariner of the Seas hail from the United States, especially the Miami drive-to market.
Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Dress Code
What Vision of the Seas doesn't offer in amenities, it makes up for in an enthusiastic cruise director and crew and low-tech onboard entertainment, such as the wildly popular trivia sessions and evening game shows. Younger passengers and families seem to enjoy the opportunity to unplug and just have fun on this ship. While the cruise line is known for some of the largest ships on the ocean today, Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas is mid-sized, holding 2,050 passengers at double occupancy.
Where does Icon of the Seas sail to?
Most passengers will be from North America, but given that the ship sails from Miami – a destination known for international tourism – it won’t be uncommon for Icon of the Seas to attract global passengers. With 20 decks (18 of them accessible to guests), Icon of the Seas can seem vast and overwhelming. While you’ll have no problem clocking thousands of steps a day, the layout of the decks is smart and convenient, allowing for easy access between adjacent neighborhoods. Formal nights range from special occasion wear, like beaded dresses and suits, to sundresses -- and many passengers opt not dress up at all. There are typically a couple of theme nights, such as "1970s" and "Tropical," which are completely optional. A large percentage of travelers on Vision of the Seas are families, including people with young children and also multigenerational groups.
Passengers seeking some of the bigger attractions found on the larger ships -- such as the Flowrider, water slides, skating rinks and the like -- won't find them on Vision. The Windjammer Marketplace is a win; the company has managed to create a buffet with excellent options (including those for people with allergies) and an efficient layout that moves people through effectively. Specialty dining is also a highlight – our tip here is to buy a dining package so you can sample a few for-fee restaurants in addition to the included options. The ship’s main dining room spans decks 3-5, while other entertainment venues – like the Royal Theater, Music Hall, Casino Royale and Absolute Zero ice arena (now featuring a round instead of square layout), are also found in these decks.
Mariner's bright and busy thoroughfare is lined with shops, bars like the sharp The Bamboo Room and casual Playmaker's Sports Bar plus Cafe Promenade for free light bites throughout the day. You'll find family-friendly pools, DJs, live reggae music, the adults-only Solarium Pool, and access to the kid-friendly FlowRider, Perfect Storm Waterslides and Sky Pad. Don't worry, though, Mariner of the Seas' deck plans separate the more raucous destinations from the more tranquil ones (like your cabin -- thankfully). In 2018, Mariner of the Seas underwent a massive renovation that gave public interiors a fresh look, from the grand Royal Theater to the Promenade and the pool deck.
However, when the ship sails in Europe, the passenger mix could not be more eclectic, drawing travelers from Europe, the U.S., the Middle East, Japan, China, India and Israel. The ship also comes with a higher price tag than any of the other vessels in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Many of its Caribbean sailings start at nearly $200 per person per night, based on double occupancy. What you get, though, is a ship that will keep you and your family busy and happy throughout your vacation; you might not even want to leave the ship when it's in port.
Vision of the Seas rooms directly below it (Deck 3) may be subject to noise. The liveliest space during the day is often Deck 9, home to the ship’s two pools and the Windjammer buffet. Royal Caribbean's dress code is casual during the day; at night there's either casual, smart-casual or formal dress code depending on the schedule. If you want to avoid dressing up altogether on any night, the extensive Windjammer Cafe is always casual dress.
Expect to hear a lot of Spanish onboard, with signage in English but most announcements provided in English and Spanish. Our fellow passengers were younger, with a good number of young families and millennials onboard. Without a doubt, opt for a Mariner of the Seas Balcony room, with private outdoor space that measures around 42 to 50 square feet on average. You can choose between an Ocean View Balcony room or Spacious Ocean View Balcony room, though you're essentially getting the same amount of space. If you want a proper hotel-room sized cabin with a balcony, consider a Junior Suite upgrade. Allure of the Seas quality and service is top-notch across all restaurants.
