Mariner of the Seas Review
After cruising on Royal Caribbean's Freedom-class ships, I was worried that the Voyager-class ships (which include Voyager of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas) would be a disappointment. It's true that they were once touted as the most revolutionary ships afloat, with their novel rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks and Royal Promenade shopping-and-dining venues. But, then came the Freedom class, with even larger ships and even more outrageous amenities, such as onboard surfing, the H2O water zone play area and family suites that sleep 14 people.
Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Mariner of the Seas, the last of the Voyager-class ships to make its debut, did not feel like a disappointing second to its newer siblings. The ship -- really only 15 percent smaller than the Freedom-class ships -- can still keep an active cruiser engaged for hours on a sea day. You don't miss onboard surfing when you're busy rollerblading, playing miniature golf, relaxing in the thalassotherapy pool, catching a parade on the Royal Promenade or playing poker in the casino. Kids have an enormous warren of play rooms (including an arcade and exclusive outdoor deck space), diners have five restaurants and a cafe from which to choose, and the onboard staff plans to increase shipboard activities during port days on seven-night Mexican Riviera sailings, figuring the ship is so attractive that people will likely skip Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta for more time onboard.
As well, Mariner of the Seas benefits from being the last in the Voyager-class, with enhancements not found on the first three ships. This ship, as well as Navigator of the Seas, offers these additional features:
 Balconies are built outside the vessel's superstructure, rather than inside, as they were with the first three in the family. The difference? Balconies are less cavelike and more light-filled, and cabins are three feet wider and airier, as well.
The addition of Chops Grill gives Mariner and Navigator of the Seas two alternative restaurants each. (The first three in this class just have Portofino.)
Vintages, a wine bar designed to resemble a cozy wine cellar, has replaced the sports bar found on the first three Voyager-class ships (though the 19th Hole, upstairs, still offers a sports theme).
The Windjammer Cafe is slightly larger than on the original Voyager-class ships. You might not notice the extra space, but you will benefit from less crowding when navigating between food stations and dining tables during peak dining hours.
That's not to say the ship isn't feeling a little bit of its age. We noticed some wear and tear around the ship, specifically in heavily trafficked areas like the hallway carpeting, miniature golf course and kids' club. The drawers in our cabin needed a good greasing, as they didn't open smoothly. And, the narrow rollerblading track is so late 90's -- though it looked like it could be entertaining for an hour in a retro sort of way.
But, in reality, you'll be too busy having fun to notice if the Solarium chair covers are faded or if the wood trim in Chops Grille could use a polish. And, if these miniscule and mostly unimportant signs of age dramatically lessen your cruise experience, then perhaps you should be on a more luxurious and expensive line than Royal Caribbean in the first place!
Ultimately, one of the best things about the ship is that, despite its size, Mariner of the Seas just didn't feel that big. The ship's design makes every effort to create a smaller-ship feel. What was fun about discovering Mariner was that you could pretty much divide the ship into neighborhoods -- the promenade and the sports and recreation area. (Hmm, perhaps this layout was one of the inspirations for Royal Caribbean's newest ships, Oasis of the Seas, which has been designed around a neighborhood premise.) Another reason: Activities, whether during sea days or in the post-dinner evening hours, were so well-scheduled and organized that passengers really were spread out on all parts of the ship. We never felt crowded.
 Read Complete Mariner of the Seas Review
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