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Itineraries and Ports of Call: Australia & New Zealand • Hawaii • South Pacific
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Rhapsody of the Seas Review
As with the other ships in Royal Caribbean's Vision class, one enters Rhapsody of the Seas through the Centrum, a soaring, seven-deck atrium, stunningly decorated, with floors of stately white marble softened by plentiful organic elements: living plants, soft leathers, muted wood tones, kinetic water sculptures. But the literally breathtaking centerpiece is "Diadem," a huge hanging six-story construction of wood, metal, enamel and composites, in which an orb of blue and green cloisonne is embraced by seven sixty-three-foot swirling "reeds," seemingly like a planet carried by a ship, sets Rhapsody's artistic theme, for which I have coined the term "Astro-Nautical," a blend of images from the heavens and the seas, which is carried forward through every aspect of the ship's design. Ceilings and carpets often utilize stars and planets in their designs, while rich woven wall hangings picture undersea life. More than a million dollars was spent on Rhapsody's art collection, an unusually high figure for a ship with fares in the low midrange.
The other main attribute of Royal Caribbean ships is present as well, an energetic, friendly, accessible cruise staff, whose infectious ebullience creates the casual fun counterpoint to the artistic refinement of the physical ship. The ship itself exudes class; the cruise director and staff make sure that that touch does not come with white gloved stuffiness.
Passenger flow is excellent, but we did experience bottlenecks. Particularly slow and frustrating was disembarking at Grand Cayman, which is a tender port. In addition, big "events," like the famed midnight chocolate buffet, drew so many people, and such a long line, that we gave up and went to bed. Layout-wise, the galley is tucked behind the two-deck Edelweiss Dining Room, depriving diners of a view astern, but avoiding the inconvenience of having to climb or descend a deck to skirt the galley.
 Read Complete Rhapsody of the Seas Review
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Royal Caribbean Ships: Adventure of the Seas • Allure of the Seas • Brilliance of the Seas • Enchantment of the Seas • Explorer of the Seas • Freedom of the Seas • Grandeur of the Seas • Independence of the Seas • Jewel of the Seas • Legend of the Seas • Liberty of the Seas • Majesty of the Seas • Mariner of the Seas • Monarch of the Seas • Navigator of the Seas • Oasis of the Seas • Radiance of the Seas • Rhapsody of the Seas • Serenade of the Seas • Splendour of the Seas • Vision of the Seas • Voyager of the Seas
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