On board the newly refurbished Voyager of the Seas

On Saturday 6th December, I had the unique opportunity to be one of the first in Australia to see inside the newly-refurbished Voyager of the Seas.

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship was docked at the Port of Brisbane because it was too large for the usual terminal at Portside in Hamilton. I’d never been on a cruise ship before so I was excited to see what it was like. My partner constantly talks about how much he loved the cruises he’d been on, and bragged about how much he did and how much he drank! I was sceptical as to how much there truly was to do on a cruise…but after viewing the Voyager, I was pleasantly surprised.

As we entered the foyer of the ship, I was amazed at how extravagant it was – there were LCD displays on the walls and a glass elevator that took us up to the top deck. Our first port of call was to the FlowRider, the new surf simulator (part of the $80 million revitalisation). It was amazing and looked like the grandkids would love it! Channel Nine were there taping a segment of some of the world’s best flow riders showing how it’s done. This part of the ship also had a huge sports court, a rock climbing wall and a mini gold course. Next, we went down to check out the Johnny Rockets 50s-style diner – apparently the waiters occasionally break out into song to entertain you as well while serving you burgers, sliders and old-fashioned root beer. We bypassed the children and teen’s discos, which are a popular hang out for the younger travellers. Onwards to the bow, which was filled with deck chairs where cruisers can soak up some sun away from the buzzing hive of activities elsewhere on the ship. 

Down we went to the spa level, a luxurious place to spend your time, no doubt! They have a hair salon, as well as a multi-room relaxation day spa. On the same level there’s a full gym and heated pools, plus all the bars you could want. We even caught a few people playing a game of bowls on the main pool deck nearby. If you want to find out what activities are on, there’s brand new LCD screens around the ship that give you a full rundown of the day’s proceedings, as well as an interactive map to help you find your way.

We checked out the ship’s other restaurants, including the decadent Chop’s Grille and Giovanni’s Table. There’s a small fee for the specialty dining but ship staff and passengers told us that it was well worth it. We were led through the Windjammer Cafe which is a buffet-style diner – rest assured any time you want food, you can find it here. Our tour included a peek at the ice skating rink and La Scala Theatre, which were both incredible, literally incredible! The ship was enormous but you really get a feel for it in these areas. Our tour was nearly complete but not before we had a stroll down the Promenade, the beautiful duty free shopping mall in the centre of the ship. It is surrounded by pubs, bars and restaurants, and there are even rooms that back on the Promenade, giving the feel of apartment living.

I wasn’t able to go into the rooms as they were occupied but they have new features called Virtual balcony and Panoramic Ocean View which are floor to ceiling LCD screens that emulate what is on the outside of the ship, even if you’re in a centre room without a view.

Our tour concluded with a delicious three-course lunch at the Sapphire Dining Room.

Here is some more information about the awesome Voyager of the Seas: 

310.9 metres long ● 38 metres wide ● 8.84 metres draft ● 22 knots cruising speed

14 guest decks ● 14 guest elevators ● 4 bow thrusters ● 2 stern thrusters

3,284 guests (double occupancy) ● 3,989 guests (total) ● 1,176 crew (International

SHIP FACILITIES

Public Rooms 

• Sapphire Dining Room
• Windjammer Café
• Giovanni’s Table
• Chop’s Grille
• Izumi Japanese Cuisine
• Johnny Rockets diner
• Café Promenade
• La Scala Theatre
• Studio B Ice Rink
• Casino Royale
• Schooner Bar
• The Tavern
• Sapphire Dining Room
• Star Lounge
• Island Grill                                            
• R Bar
• Pig & Whistle Pub
• Viking Crown Lounge
• Crow’s Nest
• High Notes
• Diamond Club
• The Golden Room
• Concierge Club
• Outdoor Youth Area
• Optix Teen Disco
• Conference Centre
• Library & Card Room
• Sky Light Chapel

Total Staterooms: 1,724

NEW Virtual balcony ● NEW Panoramic Ocean View

Interior ● Ocean View ● Ocean View with Balcony ● Suites

All staterooms have two twin beds that convert to a royal king, a sitting area with sofa, private bathroom, and vanity area, flat-screen LED televisions, mini-bar, hair dryers and individually controlled air-conditioning

Other Amenities

FlowRider Surf Simulator ● Oversized outdoor movie screen ● DreamWorks Experience

Vitality Spa & Fitness Centre ● Royal Promenade Boutiques ● 3D Movie Theatre

Art Gallery ● Focus Photo Gallery ● Solarium ● Three Pools ● Six Whirlpools ● Medical Centre

Rock-climbing Wall Sports Court ● Nine-hole Mini-Golf Course

Ice Skating Rink ● Jogging Track

Video Arcade ● Peek-a-Boo Bridge ● Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop

Royal Caribbean Online Internet Centre ● NextCruise

Visit www.royalcaribbean.com.au/cruises for prices and dates.

When was the last time you went on a cruise? Where did you go? Would you go on the Voyager of the Seas? What would you enjoy the most on board? Tell us below!