Taking a cruise had been on our list for quite a while and I can’t believe it had taken us this long to make the trip happen. I was always a bit hesitant on taking a cruise as I am very prone to motion sickness, but I quickly discovered that you really don’t feel a thing when you set sail on such a large ship.
Since I was not sure how my experience would be on our first cruise, we committed to a local cruise with Royal Caribbean to be our “test run.”
I had done a lot of research as to what the best family cruises would be and kept seeing Navigator of the Seas at the top of many lists so we decided to take the plunge and here is what we think!
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
We set sail out of Long Beach for a 4-night sail on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. The cruise sailed to Catalina Island and Ensenada.
While we did get out to explore Catalina Island, we decided to stay on the ship and enjoy all of the amenities when we docked in Ensenada, as we already visited Baja California quite often.
Navigator of the Seas is PACKED with things to do for the entire family and delivers hours of adventure for shorter trips.
The ship was refurbished in 2019 and has a capacity of 3,990 passengers. It’s 15 decks filled with restaurants, bars, casino, water slides and family activities from day to night.
The check-in process was quick and easy and uploading documents on the Royal Caribbean app in advance helped speed up our process. If you are planning on sailing, keep your eye out for updates related to testing + screening prior to your trip.
Let’s start with what’s included
Navigator of the Seas is nearly all-inclusive, here’s what that includes.
Activities
All shows, entertainment, and fun are included on Navigator of the Seas. This includes the water slides, the shows, and yes- the kids’ club (unless you are checking in your kids after hours).
Food
Most food is included but you are also given the option to upgrade to premium dining. We ate at 3 of the premium restaurants (all of which were delicious) and ate at the main dining room for dinner, which was also just as good.
If you are on a budget, don’t feel the need to splurge on the extra expense as there was a wide range of selections offered in the included dining. However, if you are looking to go all out on your trip, you will not regret the premium package as the restaurants truly cater to an upgraded experience
Complimentary Dining
- Windjammer Marketplace: quick buffet style dining open
- El Loco Fresh: Mexican buffet on the pool deck, making it an easy grab and go lunch option if you are enjoying your day at the pool
- Main Dining Room: an incredible dining room that looks like it would be straight out of a movie A variety of food options were available for dinner and the food was delicious.
- Cafe Promenade: A quick grab-n-go café which is great for after hours. Pizza is served until 3 AM. You can also order fruit, cookies, sandwiches and other pastires
- Ice Cream: unlimited soft serve available at the pool deck
Specialty Dining:
- Jamie’s Italian:
- Chop’s Grille
- Playmakers
- The Bamboo Room
- Izumi Sushi
- Hooked Seafood
- Johnny Rockets Express
- Starbucks
Drinks
Drinks are not included. There are a variety of soda + alcohol packages that can be purchased to upgrade your experience.
The staterooms
I was anticipating our stateroom to be quite small so I under packed to plan for it, but I was pleasantly surprised with how spacious our room was, and how well thought out the storage was.
We stayed in a balcony stateroom, which fit our family of 4 conformably. The crew also came into our room 2 times a day to pull out the sleeper-couch for the kids to sleep in and put it back away in the morning to maximize our space.
Main Attractions
It took a few days to get familiar with the Navigator of the Seas and the layout of the ship. There was also an overwhelming amount of entertainment options and activities throughout the day that we enjoyed taking part of.
The app had a breakdown of location, times, and activities taking places day by day so you could easily add them to your calendar and receive notifications on where to meet. The kids enjoyed the scavenger hunts and game shows, and Danny and I enjoyed the live music and drinks while they were at the kids club.
There truly is something for everyone and here is a breakdown of just the main attractions and activities on the ship.
Pro tip: Take advantage of the activities with a * at off times, such as during dinner, early AM, or on days when the ship is docked to avoid wait times and lines.
The Royal Promenade
On deck 5 you will find The Royal Promenade, which is your stop for bars, shopping, and the Café Promenade. After dropping the kids off at the Kid’s Club, we spent a night out enjoying the bars, live music, bar games and more.
*Water Slides
Navigator of the Seas is home to 2 water slides at sea. The kids had a blast riding the water slides and insist it is the highlight of the ship.
The Pool Deck
If you are looking for a place to hang out, splash around, get unlimited soft serve, etc. this is your place. Parents will enjoy the bars + refreshing drinks while the kids can take part in activities and games with the kids at the pool.
*Mini Golf
I never thought I would enjoy a game of mini golf in the middle of the ocean, but Navigator of the Seas proved that wrong with a mini golf course at the front of the ship that has 360 views of the water.
Kid’s Club
The Kids’ Club is included and does not require an additional fee *unless you leave your kids after 10 PM*. The entertainment crew kept the kids busy with arts and crafts, games and so much more. Note it is not open all day and when they open in the evening, there tends to be a line up of parents waiting to drop off their kids.
iSkate Reach for the Stars Ice Show
The iSkate show was absolutely incredible and a must watch if cruising with Navgiator of the Seas. Arrive 20+ minutes early to get a good seat for the show, no reservation is required. While it’s a small theatre with not a bad seat in the house, sitting right in front for the show was truly an incredible experience
*Laser Tag
Studio B transforms into laser tag a few nights on the ship. This is an activity that needs to be reserved in advance. If it’s something you are considering, I highly recommend reserving your spot as they filled up quickly. They also offer a wait list for each time slot.
*Basketball Court & Ping Pong Tables
The basketball court seemed to be a huge hit with the teens. First come first basis for the tables/courts.
Jogging track
Overlooking the pool deck, you’ll find a jogging track that wraps around the top deck of the ship. If you are planning to get in a workout, this is the way to do it. Or you can always opt-in for the gym or one of the many fitness classes offered on the cruise.
Overall Thoughts
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas makes an easy option for So-Cal residents looking for a family vacation. We did not hop on this cruise to enjoy the ports, but wanted to experience the ship and everything it had to offer.
For future cruises we’d like to sail to the Caribbean or Alaska to experience the ports, in addition to the ship.
If you are traveling with kids, Navigator of the Seas makes it easy to find something for the whole family to enjoy.
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I’ve sailed on the Navigator twice and going back for a third in february. She’s a great ship and they did a great job in amping her up. There’s only one small detail. The cruise ship is homeported in San Pedro and not Long Beach.