Royal Caribbean International

gts Serenade of the Seas

Rating: Submit your review here Operator: Royal Caribbean International Year Built / Last Refurbished: 2003 / 2003 Length / Tonnage: 965 / 90,090 Number of Cabins / Passengers: 1,055 / 2,110 Officers / Crew: Norwegian / International Operating Area: Canada/New England, Southern Caribbean, and Alaska

Deck Plans Deck 12 Deck 11 Deck 10 Deck 9 Deck 8 Deck 7 Deck 6 Deck 5 Deck 4 Deck 3 Deck 2 Deck Legend

She entered service in August of 2003 and is the third Serenade class of ship for Royal Caribbean. She is smaller than the massive Voyager-class vessels and larger than Royal Caribbean's older tonnage. Overall she provides a more refined environment that the other ships with the extensive use of polished wood and muted colors and fabrics. She may not have an ice rink on board but there is still plenty to do on this ship.

The focal point of the vessel is the Centrum (Decks 2-12) which extends over 11 decks. In addition to the reception area at the base of the Centrum, the adjacent areas on each deck accommodate 2 bars, the library, 12 internet stations as well as several small lounges. The individual decks are served by six panoramic elevators, some of them facing the sea. The highlights of the Centrum are the suspended crown-and-anchor platform at the uppermost deck level as well as a 30 ft. high work of art. Deck 12's Centrum area houses the Crown and Anchor Club, with a plexiglass-covered well looking down into the Centrum.

Let's begin our tour of the Serenade on the top deck (Deck 13). Aft on Deck 13 is the putting green and miniature golf course. From there, walk across a small bridge and you reach the 30 foot Climbing Wall which is attached to the rear of the ship's funnel. Climbers must sign a waiver, or have a parent or legal guardian sign if they are under 18.

On the other side of the funnel is the Royal Caribbean trademark Viking Crown lounge. Over the years as the size of the ships has increased so too has the size of these lounges. The one on the Serenade is huge. By night the Viking Crown is divided into two separate sections: the Hollywood Odyssey which is a casual club with a small stage, and the Vortex Disco, which includes a dance floor with the latest in lighting and a revolving bar. By day it serves as an observation lounge. The fully glazed walls give the room an open character.

One deck down towards the bow (Deck 12) you will find the Shipshape Fitness Center which provides a variety of sports equipment (more than 60 pieces) and includes an aerobic area. In addition the vessel is equipped with a variety of sports facilities including a climbing wall, and jogging track, basket ball and volley ball court as well as a miniature golf course and a golf simulator.

A children's area is located midships on Deck 12. This includes Adventure Ocean, an area designed specifically for teens. Adventure Ocean is a smaller version of Vortex, equipped with the latest in lighting and sound technology as well. It has a bar, computer terminals, a foozeball table, and a movie viewing room. In short, it provides a comfortable place for the teens (13-17) on board to hang out and meet new friends.

Towards the back of Deck 12 as you go outside you will pass the basketball court to port and the children's pool area to starboard. Finally there is the Seaview Cafe which is a great place to watch the sea go by or check out lay of the land when you get to port. Golf simulators are located across from the Seaview Cafe.

Following the stairs down one deck brings you to Deck 11 and the Windjammer Cafe which is the Serenade's casual self service restaurant. Forward from the Cafe is the outdoor pool area including two jacuzzis. Continuing forward brings you to the Solarium which is an indoor pool area covered by a retractable glass roof. The tropical bathing area has an Balinese theme including Temple Gate Falls, an intricately carved wooden gateway with water cascading down its sides.

As you exit the Solarium you enter the Health Center, which is decorated with artificial stones and houses several steam bathes, saunas, showers, a mud bath and massage rooms.

The next four decks consist primarily of passenger accommodations. Decks 9 and 10 include public areas adjacent to the Centrum. The Yacht Club lounge is on deck 10 and the ship's small library is on Deck 9. Decks 8 and 7 are made up exclusively of passenger accommodations.

The entrance of the Tropical Theatre takes up the forward part of Deck 6. The theatre provides seating for approximately 900 guests and plays host to the typical shipboard entertainment fare of singing, dancing, and comedy. The theatre includes a multi-sectional stage and orchestra pit that can be raised and lowered, video projectors, and an impressive collection of special effects.

Moving aft on Deck 6 you pass the balcony of the theatre and reach The Pit Stop sports bar. The bar includes a video arcade and live sports are broadcast when available

Exiting The Pit Stop brings you to the Casino Royale casino. In addition to 150 slot machines, there are the typical collection of blackjack, craps and roulette tables. If you've seen one cruise ship casino you've seen them all.

Leaving the casino you pass the Champagne Bar to starboard before arriving at the Schooner Bar. The Schooner Bar consists of a small lobby and an art gallery featuring a huge ship’s hull. The Schooner Bar itself is the largest ever on any ship in the RCCL fleet and makes quite an impression with its various ship-shaped ceiling domes, interesting parquet, the large number of ship models and many other decorative maritime details. At the bar passengers can enjoy drinks or snacks while listening to live piano music.

Across the hallway from the Schooner Bar are the ship's two alternative restaurants, Portofino and Chops Grille. Royal Caribbean claims Chops is the first steak house at sea which is probably true but it is also one of the more expensive alternative restaurants with a $20 a head surcharge.

The Safari Club is a unique lounge area that includes four additional and distinct meeting areas: the Game Reserves Billiard Club, Zanzibar Lounge, Congo Bar and the Serengeti Card Club. All areas are linked together by a central street dotted with flickering glass torches – giving the quaint illusion of gas lamps of British colonial times, the era after which the facility has been modeled. These lounging areas are travelers' opportunity to enjoy a drink, read, relax and play cards or a variety of other games.

Within the Safari Club you can enjoy the Game Reserves Billiard Club, with two self-leveling billiard tables and game tables to the Starboard Side, or televisions to the Port Side. Coffered ceilings, wood moldings and period furniture give the authentic feel of an old English billiard room. Just several steps up are the Zanzibar Lounge and the Congo Bar. The Zanzibar Lounge has a smaller, more intimate bar and lounging area on the starboard side, and features multiple gaming tables. The Congo Bar includes a larger bar, piano and a lounging area along the entire aft end of the ship. Both the Zanzibar Lounge and the Congo Bar are filled with comfortable seating and a relaxing, semi-tropical décor that mirrors the environment of the old colonies. Finally, in the Serengeti Card Club, you'll find 11 card tables, five of which are poker tables. A credenza stores classic surprises – allowing guests to enjoy games such as bridge, checkers, chess and backgammon.

Below the Safari Club, on Deck 5 is the balcony of Reflections, the ship's main restaurant. The central columns in the restaurant give it an almost art deco feel reminiscent of the glory days of shipboard travel.

Moving forward on Deck 5 you reach the "Shops of the Centrum" arranged on both sides of a passageway. These include a perfume shop, a souvenir shop, a resort ware shop, a general store, a jeweller´s shop and a gift shop.

Just past the shopping area to starboard is the photo shop and art gallery and to port is the ship's Conference Center.

Outside the Conference Center is the bottom level of the Cinema which seats up to 64 passengers. It is equipped with a 5.0 m x 3.65 m large screen. The middle level of the Tropical Theatre takes up the rest of Deck 5.

There is no wrap-around promenade on the Serenade although there is limited outside deck space on deck 5. It's a nice place to get away from the crowds but the deck area varies in width, is covered with a rubber coating and slopes towards the bow. Deck 5 is also a common embarkation/disembarkation deck, and this is the deck to access the Helicopter pad, which is occasionally opened to the public for extraordinary views.

The bottom level of the Tropical Theatre takes up the forward part of deck 4 and the remainder is made up of passenger accommodations, the Lobby Bar and the lower level of the Reflections restaurant.

While we like the public areas of the Serenade more than her huge running mates, she is laid out as a warm weather ship and as such she can seem crowded while sailing on colder weather itineraries.

The Reflections dining room provides seating for a total of 1229 passengers and consists of the main restaurant on deck 4 and 5 amidships and two smaller restaurants, Mirage and Illusions, on deck 4. The main attraction of this area is the big waterfall at the stairway.

The Windjammer Cafe self-service restaurant provides seating for approximately 400 passengers. Various individual counters offer a wide selection of food - pizza and hamburgers, salads, desserts, soups and sandwiches. Adjacent to the self-service restaurant are the indoor and outdoor areas of the Windjammer Café.

The Sea View Café has a Caribbean theme and offers spectacular ocean views. The indoor area with its large windows is very spacious.

There are also two alternative restaurants on board the Serenade. The Chops Grill is a steak house with an open kitchen that allows passengers to watch the cooks preparing their meals. It is furnished in mahogany and provides seating for 95 guests. Portofino is an Italian restaurant which seats 112 passengers and offers a wide selection of food.

The quality of the food and service ranges from good in the main restaurants to very good in each of the alternative restaurants.

The ship is equipped with a total of 1055 passenger cabins comprising 238 inside cabins and 818 outside cabins, including 1 Royal Suite, 6 Owner’s Suites and 17 Balcony Suites. Each of the suites and outside cabins has a private balcony. The Royal suite covers approx. 90 m² and has a fully glazed front. A piano, a large bar area and a marble bathroom provide a maximum of comfort. In all cabins the living area can be separated from the bedroom by a curtain.

For families three family suites are provided on board. Each suite is provided with two separate bedrooms, a large balcony and a whirlpool. 200 cabins are furnished with an intercommunicating door by which they can be converted to 100 double cabins that are well suited to accommodate families or groups. In addition the ship is provided with 14 cabins for passengers with disabilities.

All passenger cabins are equipped with colour TV, telephone, safe, and individual temperature control as well as internet connection.

Anyone who wants lots of action, good night life, and doesn't mind living in a small cabin....should be pleased with the Serenade of the Seas. We saw all age groups, many nationalities, many income brackets....everyone seemed to be having a good time.

This year the Serenade will be sailing the Pacific Northwest including Alaska April through October and the Southern Caribbean November through March.

The Serenade is nice - we definitely prefer her to her larger fleet mates - but overall like so many of the new ships entering service recently, she is so similar in design, in decor, in overall flavor....that distinguishing traits are but a blur. One's about as good or bad as the next. The phenomenon of uniformity and loss of character came to the airlines a few short years ago.....much to the savvy traveler's distaste. Now it's happening at a frightening speed to the cruise lines. So as reviewers, about the only thing left for us to consider is whether the Serenade of the Seas is a good deal for what she provides......and what will separate having a good time or not on the Serenade of the Seas will be weather and the attitude of your fellow passengers.....and that we cannot soothsay for you.