Royal Caribbean is known for big, glamorous cruise ships that offer everything passengers need to stay happy and entertained.  They raised the bar in 1999 when they introduced the first Voyager-class vessel.  And by the time the fourth ship in the series, Navigator of the Seas, was launched in 2002, they had perfected the concept.

The hub of activity on Navigator is the four-story Royal Promenade, which is lined with shops, cafes, and bars.  One night of each voyage, there’s a Mardi Gras-style parade here shortly after midnight which is a real cruise highlight.  But this indoor mall is hopping 24 hours a day.

The Promenade

With terrific childrens’ programs and services that provide parents with some quality-time alone, Navigator is one of the best cruise ships for families.

Dining aboard Navigator of the Seas.

The three-story main dining room on Navigator is one of the most spectacular at sea.  Although it’s actually three rooms rolled into one, the multi-level affect is really striking.  Royal Caribbean still has two fixed-time dinner seatings, but a new program called My Family Time Dining gets the kids fed in 45 minutes and then escorted to Adventure Ocean for evening activities.

Parents are free to enjoy a leisurely dinner while the kids are entertained with others the same age.

Don’t rule out the dining room at lunch.  Tell them you’re in a hurry, and you’ll be served two menu items in under 30 minutes.  Since your lunch is prepared to order, it’s usually very good.

There are several other alternatives to the dining room.  Johnny Rocket’s has burgers, fries, and shakes available for a modest surcharge.  You can dine in or take out.

Portofino Italian restaurant serves five-course Northern Italian dinners in intimate surrounding.  And Chops Grille has steaks and chops, baked potatoes and other sides, and indulgent desserts. There’s a charge of around $25 per person to dine in either of these restaurants.

The Windjammer buffet is open for lunch and dinner, and the Jade buffet next to Windjammer has Thai, Chinese, and Japanese dishes.  The pizzeria and poolside grill are also open until late afternoon. And Ben & Jerry’s ice cream offers more than a dozen flavors.  If you prefer not to pay extra, there’s a free Sprinkle’s frozen yogurt dispenser next door.

When you’re thirsty, the Vintage Wine Bar, the Champagne Bar, Two Poets British-style pub, and Boleros Latin bar are popular spots.

Room service is free until midnight and $3.95 after that.  A variety of sandwiches and snacks are available around the clock.

Other activities aboard Navigator of the Seas.

Whether you’re active or just looking for a deck chair, there’s no shortage of things to do on Navigator.  If you’re daring, climb the rock wall and find yourself 175 feet above the sea.  Or for something more tame, try in-line skating, miniature golf, or a pick-up game of basketball or volleyball on the full-size court.

If you’re traveling with children, they’ll be well looked after whatever their ages.  At 22,000-square-feet, the Adventure Ocean is huge and has two clubs just for teens – the Living Room and the Fuel Dance Club.  And there are separate programs for kids in all age groups.

For adults, the Solarium is an appealing haven with an indoor pool, two Jacuzzis, and plenty of chaises for relaxing. The Spa has 14 massage and treatment rooms, a steam room, and a dry flotation room.

Entertainment on board is professional and varied.  The shows at Studio B – the Ice Skating rink – are a highlight.  There’s no charge, but seating is limited, so get tickets as soon as they’re offered.

Broadway-style reviews are performed in the 1,350-seat Metropolis Theater.  And there are musical acts in many of the dozen bars.

Navigator of the seas

Accommodations aboard Navigator of the Seas.

Most of Navigator’s cabins are outside, but some of the inside stateroom have views of the Promenade.  This is a great choice for the claustrophobic.

All cabins have a mini fridge, a safe, and a small sitting area.  But the 707 balcony staterooms are worth the splurge.

Families can choose from a 328-square-foot Family Oceanview cabin which has a second bedroom with bunk beds or a 512-square-foot Royal Family Suite that sleeps up to eight.

There are two Navigator of the Seas repositioning cruises in 2010.  On April 10, 2010, she sails from Miami and then spends eight days crossing the Atlantic.  She arrives at Tenerife, and then has two days at sea before calling at Barcelona, Nice, and Florence.  Passengers disembark in Rome on Saturday, April 24.

On Saturday, October 23, she sails from Rome and calls at Toulon, Barcelona, Cartagena, Malaga, and Tenerife before crossing the Atlantic.  She arrives in Fort Lauderdale, on Saturday, November 6.

Find more Royal Caribbean repositioning cruises here.

Read about Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas here.

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Royal Caribbean has five ships sailing in the Mediterranean in the summer of 2010.  All five ships return to spend the winter in the Caribbean or Southern Hemisphere.  So there are five transatlantic repositioning cruises on Royal Caribbean to choose from this fall.

Because Royal Caribbean’s ships offer so much, they’re great for repositioning cruises.  There’s never a shortage of things to do and see on these ships.  And with fares starting as low as $499 for 14 nights, these are fantastic cruise deals.

Adventure of the Seas

Navigator of the Seas is an especially good choice for cruisers who like to play sports and stay fit.  Passengers can ice skate, play golf, basketball or volleyball, in-line skate, or work out in the fitness center.  Afterwards, the spa is the perfect place to relieve sore muscles.

When it’s time for dinner, Portofino Italian restaurant and Chops Grille are alternatives to the main dining rooms.

Navigator of the Seas leaves Rome on Saturday, October 23, 2010 and calls at Toulon, Barcelona, Cartagena, Malaga, and Tenerife before crossing the Atlantic.  She arrives in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, November 6, after a week at sea.  This is a nice itinerary for cruisers who want to see some Mediterranean ports before relaxing and enjoying the many amenities Navigator has to offer.

A sister ship of Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas sails on Sunday, November 7, 2010, from Barcelona, Spain.  She visits Cartagena, and then has a day at sea before calling at Funchal in Madiera and La Palma in the Canary Islands.  These are interesting ports you’re not likely to visit unless you’re on a cruise.  She spends the next six days at sea, and then visits Nassau in the Bahamas.  She arrives in Galveston, Texas on Sunday, November 21, after two more days at sea.   With a total of nine sea days, there’s plenty of time to unwind on this voyage.

The 1,800-passengers Splendour of the Seas is small by Royal Caribbean standards.  In fact, she carries about 1,300 passengers fewer than Navigator.   But there’s still plenty do with a fitness center, solarium with retractable roof, and 18 hole mini golf course.

Splendour of the Seas sails from Barcelona on November 27, 2010, which is the Saturday following Thanksgiving.  Port visits before crossing the Atlantic include Cadiz, Lisbon, and Tenerife.  She spends six days making the crossing before arriving in Salvador, Brazil.   She spend one more day at sea before calling at Rio de Janeiro.  Passengers disembark the next day, December 12, in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Adventure of the Seas entertains its 3,114 passengers with an ice-skating rink, rock-climbing wall, and full-sized basketball court.  Johnny Rockets 1950s-style hamburger restaurant is a fun alternative to the dining rooms and buffet.  And the 15,000-square-foot spa offer a wide selection of health and beauty treatments.

The Royal Promenade

On Sunday, November 28, 2010, Adventure of the Seas leaves Barcelona, and calls at Toulon, Ajaccio in Corsica, Palma de Mallorca, and Cartagena.  After a day at sea, she visits Grand Canary Island on Saturday and Tenerife on Sunday.  A week later, on December 12, she arrives in San Juan, Puerto Rico where passengers leave the ship.

One of Royal Caribbean’s first Vision Class vessels, Vision of the Seas has a soaring atrium lobby that’s flooded with natural light.  It’s a bright ship with many floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights.  The indoor, solarium pool adjacent to the spa and fitness center lets passengers enjoy some pool time whatever the weather.  And  the two-story dining room is especially attractive.

Some of the inside cabins have windows that overlook the Promenade — Vision’s café and boutique-lined main street.

Vision of the Seas leaves Lisbon on November 30,2010 and calls at both Grand Canary Island and Tenerife before crossing the Atlantic.   Six days later, she arrives in Recife, Brazil.   She has a sea day, a port call at Salvador, another sea day, and a port call in Rio before disembarking passengers in Sao Paolo on December 14.

Find more Royal Caribbean repositioning cruises here.

Adventure of the Seas Image Flickr: briandrum
The Royal Promenade Image Flickr: GregM35

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has been in business for more than 40 years, and during that time, they have been pioneers in cruising. In 1979, they introduced the first mega cruise ship, the 1,944-passenger SS Norway. And the rest, as they say, is history.

NCL’s most game-changing innovation was the introduction of “Freestyle Cruising,” a new approach that let passengers choose where, when, and with whom they dined. The concept caught on, and in 2001, NCL launched the Norwegian Star, the first of its cruise ships to be purpose-built for the new style of cruising.

Nine years later, Norwegian Star still seems new. And passengers love the tremendous variety they find onboard. With more than a dozen restaurants, you can try some place new every night of your cruise. And with lots of adjoining cabins, kids programs and facilities, it’s a terrific ship for families.

Norwegian Star

Dining aboard Norwegian Star.

Since dining is such a big part of cruising, let’s start with that. For many people, the best thing about being on vacation is not having a schedule. Freestyle dining gives you the flexibility to eat when you want to. So you can stay ashore, take another soak in the spa, or watch the sunset from your balcony without having to rush off to dinner.

You will have to plan ahead to dine in some of the specialty restaurants since they require reservations. But since you can set the time yourself, it’s not much of an inconvenience. If you don’t have reservations, electronic displays show the capacity and wait time in the restaurants.

Vegetarian selections are always available, and a healthy menu created in part by Cooking Light magazine is an option for those who don’t want to do too much damage.

Most of the specialty restaurants have a modest surcharge, usually between $15 and $25 per person.

At the Ginza Asian Restaurant you can order Thai, Japanese, or Chinese dishes, or have your food prepared before you in the 10-seat Teppanyaki Room. There’s also a sushi bar where you can indulge in impeccably fresh sashimi and a variety of sakes.

Head to Le Bistro for classic French cuisine, enjoy a perfectly cooked porterhouse at Cagney’s Steakhouse, or savor an intimate dinner for two in the SoHo Room, which serves Pacific Rim specialties.

For something more casual, grab a burger or hot dog from Topsiders Grill by the Oasis Pool, choose from a wide selection cold and hot dishes at the Market Café buffet, find Tex-Mex goodies at Endless Summer, or enjoy your favorite Italian dish at La Cucina.

Wherever you eat, try to save some room for the late-night Chocoholic Buffet.

If you get a craving for Buffalo wings, a salad, or even a stir fry at 2AM, try Blue Lagoon – they’re open 24 hours a day. And if you don’t want to leave your cabin, room service is also available.

And of course, eating in the main dining rooms – Aqua and Versailles – is also an option.

Other activities aboard Norwegian Star.

Entertainment aboard the Star is polished and professional with several attractive venues. The Second City improvisational group is always a passenger favorite. If they offer a workshop during your cruise, sign up. They’re a lot of fun.

Norwegian Star’s Atrium Lobby

The huge, two-level Mandara Spa offers a wide assortment of treatments and massages, as well as a 40-foot indoor lap pool surrounded by lounge chairs. There’s a whirlpool, steam room, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, and solarium. There’s a small charge to use some of these facilities.

Those who want to stay in shape can work out in the 24-hour fitness centers or use the jogging track, sport court, or driving range.

If you brought a WiFi-enable laptop, there are hot spots in public areas. If not, you can rent a laptop or WiFi card. Or use one of the terminals in Internet Center. You’ll need a converter to plug your laptop into the outlet in your cabin.

Norwegian Star accommodations.

The Star has some of the most spectacular suites available on any cruise ship. The 5,700-square foot, 3-bedroom Garden Villas have their own private terrace with hot tub, and come with a butler. All the suites have beautiful ocean views.

Basic cabins have a small sitting area, a bathroom with shower, a small refrigerator, tea/coffee maker, Internet connection, and a hair dryer. Most have a third or even fourth berth. And many staterooms, in a variety of categories, connect. So if you’re traveling with family, ask what’s available.

Norwegian Star has two repositioning cruises in 2010. She sails from Los Angeles to Vancouver on May 1 and returns on October 2, 2010.

Read more about NCL repositioning cruises here.

Read our review of NCL Pride of America here.

Norwegian Star Image Flickr: Tom Mascardo 1
Norwegian Star’s Atrium Lobby Image Flickr: zionorbi

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