The Royal Caribbean Mariner Of The Seas is a popular floating resort. The waters are crowded with sea-worthy vessels, so to make planning easier, we've done all the prep work for a cruise vacation. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on cruise ships, here is a tip sheet offering all the key information one could ever need to know about the Mariner Of The Seas.
Destinations
The Royal Caribbean
sails between North America and the Mediterranean. The ship stops at ports in Texas, Italy, the Bahamas and Monaco.
Grand Ship
The Mariner of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s Voyager-class cruise ships. This mega-liner offers luxuries not commonly found on most cruise vessels. This includes the highest public-area-per-guest ratio of any cruise line.
Special Features
The Mariner of the Seas has something for everyone. Adults can try their hand at poker or blackjack in the Casino Royale or enjoy a wine tasting at Vintners, the onboard wine bar. The ship offers a wide range of age-appropriate activities for children with the
. Together, parents and children can try something new or fun, whether it's ice skating, rock climbing or playing nine holes of miniature golf.
Accommodations
The Mariner of the Seas offers two types of
-- one has no window, and the other has a window that looks out over the Royal Promenade in the center of the ship. The
include family cabins that accommodate up to six passengers and have a separate sleeping area. All staterooms are finished with light-colored wood and furnish passengers with luxury sheets and towels.
Cost
The Mariner of the Seas sails to a wide range of destinations, and ticket prices vary accordingly. A seven-night cruise through the
may cost as little as $499 per person for an inside stateroom and $1,149 per person for a suite. A 13-night cruise through the
costs $1,599 per person for an inside stateroom and $2,899 per person for a suite.
Excursions
Passengers recommended the Mariner of the Seas tour of
. The ship's tour was somewhat expensive, but the organization made it worthwhile. The Royal Caribbean tour navigated passengers through the city, including its Holocaust museum and the Wailing Wall.
Dining Options
The
on the Mariner of the Seas has three levels, each named for a movie musical:
Rhapsody in Blue
,
The Sound of Music
and
Top Hat and Tails
. In addition to the main restaurant, the ship features the Windjammer buffet-style restaurant and Portofino, a premium Italian restaurant. Johnny Rockets, the 1950s-style burger-and-shake shop, serves up good food and good times. The ship also has 24-hour room service.
Maiden Voyage
The Mariner of the Seas made her maiden voyage Nov. 16, 2003. The ship's "godmother" is
, a Paralympic athlete with spina bifida.
In The News
After Royal Caribbean reported a larger than normal number of passengers with gastrointestinal illness in 2005, the
inspected the ship and found norovirus. The ship was disinfected and passed subsequent inspections.
WATCH
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A tour of the Mariner of the Seas.
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