This was one of the last cruises before the COVID-19 outbreak took down the cruise lines. I was not on spring break--I'm an actual, real adult that doesn't need to get drunk and vomit all over a cruise ship. The college idiots overran all public areas day and night and were very noisy in the stateroom areas all night long. Despite complaints, the ship staff made no attempts to control them. One night at 3 a.m. I called the guest relations desk and no one answered the phone. Knowing RC's lower quality of food, I only ate in the specialty dining restaurants, which was very good. The recent renovations to the inside of the ship look very nice and the public areas are still in good condition. Besides my above comments, the dining and stateroom staff did a good job. RC just opened in January 2020 a new beach club at Coco Cay that requires a separate entrance fee. The quiet experience laying in a lounge chair on the beach was beautiful. TIP: Book this early, as there are a set number of 250 spots sold for the club. Also, book early. I paid $39 eight months in advance of the cruise. On the ship, the cost was $200. Read Less

This was our first cruise so there is a lot to unload! I hope that any first timer can take something from this :) We are a family of 4 myself, my husband and our daughters 9 and 10. My husbands biggest fear in the world was flying. We have been together for 20 years and I suffered for the last 20 years.lol. So when our daughter made it to the pop warner cheer nationals in Disney he quickly realized he was going to have to conquer that fear to see his baby shine on stage. And he did and as soon as we landed in Orlando, I booked our cruise. As a travel novice I had no idea what I was doing or even what to do. I ended up using CheapCaribbean.com and they were amazing and saved us a lot of money. I chose the Navigator purely based on itinerary. I just knew we wanted to see clear water that doesn't turn legs purple like we were used to being from New England and that was it. After booking I started doing all the research I possibly could to prepare us for our travels. I was a tiny bit concerned about Nassau but after researching I found the best option for us. We flew in a day early and stayed at a hotel on South Beach, I am glad we went but never have to go back there again. The port was fairly close and we ended up getting there about 10am and quickly made it through check in and were on the ship I would say probably within 10 mins. Just walking on the ship gave me chills. Everything was so bold and beautiful!! We quickly made our way to the pool deck so our daughters could hit the slides and the pool before it got to crowded. They were so happy!! Around 1 they announced the rooms were ready. We made out was to deck 3 forward cabin 3262. It was Oceanview and decent size. I was nervous at first my husband is a big guy over 6ft but we were pleasantly surprised and the pullman beds weren't in our way over the bed at all. Our luggage was delivered by 2:30 which was amazing, I expected it to be much later in the day. Plenty of closet space and hangers for all 4 of us. I quickly organized and out stuff away for the next 4 days so we could go have fun! The ship had 3D maps of the ship were were extremely helpful to get around. On the navigator if your cabin is forward you need to go up to deck 5 to cut over which took some getting used to but we dealt with it. I think if we ever sailed on the Nav again I would choose an Aft cabin. I did get the soda/VOOM package which was for one device, but my husband and I could switch off when we needed the wifi. The wifi was kind of spotty in our cabin but worked fine everywhere else on the ship and perfectly at CocoCay. Our first night we tried to really familiarize ourselves with the ship and go to our reservation at the MDR. If you are ever on the Navigator request Jose as your waiter!! We had my time dining but still made reservations for every night based on our schedule and this worked for us. Ok, back to Jose he truly made our experience that much more incredible. He was so personable and fun. He cut my daughters spaghetti. CUT UP SPAGHETTI lol. He always brought us dishes we didn't order so we could try them he just really went out of his way in all aspects. Aside from our waiter we loved the food in the MDR. We were always happily full when we left. Really nothing bad to say. We tried the windjammer a few times for breakfast, lunch and snacks and weren't blown away. It was always kind of chaotic which most buffets are but the food was good. If buffets aren't your thing you can have breakfast, sea days lunch and dinner in the MDR. We loved the poolside taco place everything was so good!! Also the cafe promenade was out late night go to, pizza was amazing! Our first day was at sea and I loved the sea day and it was super relaxing and we got to enjoy all aspect of the ship!! After our sea day our first stop was CocoCay. We got of pretty fast and headed to chill beach and got chairs right at the shore. The water a little chilly but still refreshing. We moved onto the pool and it was great there too. Food was included at most places and was great, especially the Cuban sandwich. The island was beautiful don't get me wrong but if you didn't do an excursion or the water park it was kind of overwhelming with so many things going on and places to see. We would absolutely return but have something planned. Our 2nd stop was Nassau which I know a lot of people don't care for but I wanted to make the best out of it. I did a lot of research and found Love Beach. After we plowed through everyone in the port asking if we wanted a taxi, ATV, scooter or whatever else we made our way to Fredrickson Street and grabbed the #10 Jitney (bus) for $1.50/pp. It took about 25 mins with stops to get there. The bus drops you off right in front of Nirvana Beach Bar which is how you enter the beach. There were some workers who rented out beach chair at $5 per chair and he then brings them to where ever you want to be. That beach was so pristine and stunning we were so happy to be there. There were tide pools at the shore attached to reefs that were deep enough to snorkel. My daughters had the time of your lives and saw so many different tropical fish and great GoPro footage it was beautiful. Besides us there were about 15 other people at the beach mostly cruisers some locals. There was also a hair braider there named Donna she was super nice and was cheaper than the woman at the port (I checked on my way back). The food at the bar and drinks were decently priced and good. We really enjoyed out time in Nassau without an overpriced excursion. If your on the fence about Nassau really check out Love Beach you won't regret it! Every night on either a sea or port day we would try and take advantage of what the ship had to offer and do as much as we could. Every show on that ship was phenomenal. The ice skating show, El Gaucho, Showgirls, The dance show, all fantastic and flashy and worth checking them all out. The arcade was a bit of a rip off like most arcades are but the kids still enjoyed it. I loved the movies by the pool, the first night at seas no one was out there at it was so relaxing and the breeze was perfect. We did sign our girls up for Ocean Adventure the first day but honestly didn't use it once. There was so much to do as a family we really didn't want or need to be without them. Then just like that we were back in Miami and so sad about it. Our cruise went by so fast. We carried off our own luggage and were off the ship by 8am. We stayed at Hollywood Beach overnight liked it much better than Miami. Then home to our fur babies who missed us very much!! I am making a choice by staying 100% loyal to Royal and already booked our 2nd cruise on the Indy next April. Royal's service, atmosphere, and experience made our first cruise unforgettable and don't know if anything could top what we had. It was a truly incredible time and opened our eyes especially my husbands eyes to the beautiful shared family experience's we can have when we travel. Only 400 day to go lol! Read Less

We chose this cruise because I it was kid friendly. We celebrated 60th and 40th birthdays and went with a large group. Cons When contacting customer service before our trip, our group was misinformed many times. Not as baby friendly has we hoped. We brought our 9 month old baby. Couldn’t get a high chair the first night and almost didn’t get one the second night. Had to go on a scavenger hunt just to get a spoon to feed baby. Pretty crowded pool areas and you have to check out towels and wait in a line to return them. So inconvenient. We didn’t upgrade our food package, so unsure if it would be any better, but food was mediocre. Fine dining dinner was not fine dining. More of a buffet that is served to your table. Very crowded in the dining room. Servers could barely get through to pass drinks and dishes. There is a cooler in the room, but no fridge. Standard rooms are dark, dingy and small. Definitely too small for a family of 4 (Parents, baby and toddler). You truly are nickeld and dimed. We were told gratuity was included when we booked our trip, but were charged about $15 a day for each family member, which really adds up. Kids sailed “free”, but were also charged a gratuity and of course tax. Professional photos were $20 per picture. Cost of Packages were outrageous. Nassau could be fun, but you would have to pay for an excursion. Otherwise, it’s not worth getting off of the ship. Might as well enjoy ship amenities, while most everyone else is off of the ship. We were celebrating 2 birthdays and it just didn’t seem special. We had a pretty large group too. My parents balcony door was broken. Pros Service staff was exceptional and truly went out of their way to meet the needs of their guests. Housekeeping also did an amazing job keeping the rooms clean and tidy. Cococay was an amazing time! Kids loved it. Wish we were there longer than a day. Kids club is a nice break from the kids. The taco restaurant was great. Some of the people in our group got a balcony. Much more spacious and bright. Exciting being out on the ocean and was a smooth ride. This was our very first cruise and such a disappointment. Read Less

I went on a Birthday party trip for a family member. The food was not good nor was a variety of free food available during party hours on the boat. We kept having to pay for food. We had to pay for sodas. The sofa table was hard and uncomfortable. No mattress was given. We complained every day and was not accommodated at all. We were given extra blankets to pad the hard surface but that did nothing to help. They only accused us of trying to get a discount. I called customer service after we got off the boat also and still got no satisfaction. I was told that they had no record of me complaining until the last night and that blankets were given to me. They basically didn't believe me. That was my last and final cruise with Royal Caribbean. Don't cruise with them, choose another company‼ Read Less

Although I’m listing cons, we did have a fantastic time and I doubt any of this will be a reason not to cruise on this ship. This was our 47th cruise and we’ve loved them all. These short trips that the cruise lines are offering these days are a great way to binge on food and fun, but not for too long! CONS “My Time Dining” The “My” isn’t referring to the passenger. “My” refers to R.C. We were told (and so were other guests we encountered) we could have 5:45 pm for “My Time” and that’s it. Even 6:15 pm wasn’t an option, not on the first day, or on any future day on the cruise. RC needs to expand the restaurant to other venues, or something, to allow “My time” to literally mean what it indicates. Hygiene The ship needs to refill the soap and the hand sterilizers. Around 50 percent of them were empty and most of the soap dispensers only gave out a tiny amount of soap that was barely visible. The entire pool area wasn’t just wet with puddles from wet feet, the floor drains were clogged so passengers had to wade through huge pools of water. Public toilets did clog up a couple of times. Activities There were plenty of water activities, however the water was icy cold so I wasn’t able to participate. The games I wanted were located in the teen area, so I couldn’t participate there either. Staff Not all workers are RC employees. Spa staff and even the DJs are not employees. The DJ on the private island was actually a guest. You could tell immediately since he was unnecessarily rude. Also, at Hush Night (when guests wear head sets and dance to the music of their choice) there were only 2 choices since they had only 2 DJs. Guess there’s a shortage of DJs and you take what you get. Annoyances The announcements telling passengers of the day’s activities (which you can read about in the daily program) are loud, frequent, and annoying, even more so since they do it all over again in a foreign language. English is bad enough. Passengers need to line up at a one-person booth to scan out towels. If you go for lunch or participate in an activity you need to check them back in (in case they disappear) then stand in line again to get another. The cafeteria is closed between 3:30 and 5 pm so if you want a beverage there’s only the alcoholic drinks at the bars available. The “zoom” speed internet wasn’t nearly “zoomy” enough for me. The ilounge is not manned. Front desk called them and I waited around for an hour for an ITT person, then gave up. The app that R.C. has didn't work for me, then again, I'm not very tech savvy. PROS Loved the singing guitarist and his dancing assistant at the cafeteria entrance encouraging guests to wash their hands, and there were plenty of sinks to do so. Not all soap dispensers provided soap though. This cruise was short so we were OK with an inside cabin. We had 9329 which is right in the foyer area next to the elevator which sounds awful for noise. Not so, I highly recommend it or the same cabin on another floor. However, the wall to the cabin next door was thin and had 2 kids who woke up early. Actually they didn’t bother me so much, they’re kids after all. It was the father’s loud voice talking to them that woke me up each morning. Guess I could have done the same at 1:30 am but I had more consideration for the kids. Read Less

Our first time taking a four day cruise. We’ve sailed with RCL several times in the past but always seven days (we’ve decided we do like the seven days better). Sailed on the Navigator out of New Orleans several years ago and sure wish it was still sailing from there. First of all we hated the port of Miami (and will never sail from there again). The ports in New Orleans and the amazing port Canaveral are so much better. Now, onto my review of the ship and port stops. Embarking was a breeze. The ship is so nice. Clean, lots of activities, amazing staff and good food. This is the first time we’ve had a jr. suite. Couldn’t believe how big it was! King bed, couch, walk-in closet, full bath and larger balcony. Loved the room and our room attendant kept everything perfect. When we cruise we always dine in the main dining room. I can eat at restaurants anytime so we never do the dining in the ships restaurants. Getting the special treatment in the dining room each evening makes the cruise extra special in my opinion. Christian and Javis were the best! Once they know your preferences they go out of their way to go the extra mile to please you. The food was really good and served hot each night. No complaints at all! The buffet did offer good selections but we usually dined in the dining room for breakfast and the Cafe Promenade for lunch. Good sandwiches, pizza and desserts were offered here (No ice or iced tea though) Lots of activities throughout the day and night....games, shows, shopping. The two shows Ballroom Day Fever and Showgirls were both entertaining and well worth seeing. A massage by Natcha Homjanya was the most wonderful massage. She was a beautiful lady who was professional and so very nice. Loved every minute! The stop in Nassau was okay. Went into town and strolled through some of the shops but mostly just enjoyed the sights. Our favorite was Christ Church Cathedral (on George St) Beautiful old church. Next stop was Coco Cay. First time we’ve been here since we didn’t do the tender in on past cruises. RCL has done an amazing job of making this a “perfect day” If you’re into water parks, this will be the place for you. Back on the ship there’s some great seating overlooking the sea. The lounge chairs and cabana chairs are so nice and relaxing. The casino is fun and I actually saw one big winner and several smaller wins. We don’t buy the drink packages because both in a room have to buy them if one does. We did purchase the internet package...it was mediocre at best. Disembarking was horrible. We’ve always taken our own luggage and left the ship and in our car in minutes. This time it wasn’t clear what you were supposed to do. Many cruisers were leaving with their luggage but weren’t sure what they were to do or where to go. We had to park at one garage and then be transported by bus to another garage where we were parked. I understand the terminal wasn’t finished when we got there and was open on our return but it was mass confusion. I know RCL did the best they could under the circumstances but I wish it could have been better. It would be nice if all their ports were like the one in Canaveral....so easy, convenient, professionally staffed. We would definitely sail on the Navigator again (just not from Miami) Read Less

This is the 20th cruise my wife and I have been on together, and our 8th with RCI. We drove from our home to Miami to board the ship, so I cannot provide any flight, transfer, or hotel information. I will say that for being “The Cruise Capital of the World,” Port Miami is a real pain to get around in. It’s very confusing how the lanes work, with very little signage to help first timers. Hopefully all the construction is geared to remedy that problem. We had to reschedule a cruise from later last year to this sailing due to a family situation that prevented us from taking our previous trip. We did not sail with any family or friends this time. Navigator is very similar in look and layout as Mariner OTS, as they have both been through recent refurbishments. The ship feels and looks like a smaller version of the Oasis class, minus the neighborhoods. For us this is a plus, as Oasis class is our preferred ships to sail on. Most venues onboard Navigator were clean and updated, and more or less felt new. We participated in a few of the activities during our cruise. We normally stay quite busy during a cruise, but this sailing we tried something a little different. We didn’t book a single show, event, activity, or shore excursion ahead of time. We instead chose to relax and let the day surprise us. This is NOT a good idea on the new larger and higher capacity ships. We managed to catch several trivia sessions, watched the belly flop competition, and a few of the other random daily events. They are on par with what you’ll find on other ships, and we enjoyed each of them. The service on Navigator was excellent! Each time I went to a bar to order a round of drinks for us, I never had to wait more than two minutes to get my order in. While waiting, I was constantly asked if I’d been helped yet or if I wanted to place an order. This was such a welcome change from a recent NCL sailing where we found just the opposite. Previous sailings with NCL in particular found passengers arguing with each other as the most obnoxious person got their orders in while patient and polite passengers were ignored. RCI had each bar sufficiently staffed and clean. Of particular note was Boleros where the mojitos were some of the best I’ve ever had, as well as the Lime and Coconut bar near the pool. Friendly and efficient staff and great drinks make for a wonderful onboard experience. Apart from bar service, we also had great experiences in the MDR as well as the other crew. Nearly every interaction with crew members began with a smile and greeting. Our cabin steward always asked how our day was going. Navigator truly stood apart from previous sailings in regard to service and experience. Our cruise brought us to Nassau and the newly renovated CocoCay. As I mentioned previously, we had no scheduled excursions. As Florida residents who cruise frequently, I could probably draw a map of the port at Nassau with relative accuracy. We simply meandered between the shops (avoiding the straw market due to harassment) and had a few drinks. The only note-worthy new addition is a new bar off the side of Senior Frogs called Lukka Kairi. You’ll find the pier/walkway right next to the entrance for Senor Frogs. It’s actually owned and run by the infamous bar chain but has a totally different feel. The bar sets out over the water and provides a great view of the ships that are docked and the smaller boats coming and going. The bar menu and ambience are much more refined than the “party till you puke” atmosphere from Frogs. We felt we were in an upscale venue. The service was great, and drinks were excellent. It’s a great alternative to the party bar scene that Frogs is known for and does so well. CocoCay was a wonderful experience. The island is well decorated and easy to navigate, once you get your bearings. While RCI will upcharge you for just about everything (the hot air balloon, water park, and a few exclusive beach side areas are all extra fees), the rest of the guest areas weren’t a disappointment. I must also mention that passengers with a drink package can use it on the RCI private island (are you listening, NCL?). My wife and I never found it difficult to find lounge chairs near the pool or the beach, and other guests didn’t seem to have much difficulty either, a big plus considering there was another ship calling with ours that day. The poolside DJ played some great music in the late morning while we sipped on some delicious frozen drinks. While the atmosphere will turn more towards the party/club scene as the day goes on, you can always find a new spot if that’s not your thing. We ate lunch at the barbecue buffet and were very pleased. The steak tacos were delicious! And as on board, we never had to hunt down a server to get more adult beverages. We were approached so much that it was almost annoying. But, I’d rather have that problem than standing in line to pay $18 for a drink I can get for free a quarter mile away onboard our ship. For those passengers with mobility issues, there are several electric trams (read glorified go carts) that go from the ships to several stopping points around the island. Overall unless you are a water park fanatic or that person who wants “exclusivity” the provided atmosphere at CocoCay will be just fine, provided you are looking for a sit by the pool or ocean kinda day. You can also do snorkeling, but the area was roped off and seemed small. We did note that the variety and type of activities onboard went dry while we were docked, so be prepared to entertain yourself if CocoCay doesn’t interest you. My only criticism is the lack of available merchandise. I expected to find a store with RCI brand and CocoCay logo merchandise… what we got was a three-sided cart. Our bartender did mention that the new CocoCay is currently in phase one of a developing plan, so perhaps there is more to come… We were in cabin 8584 with a balcony on the port side of the ship. We found that overall the cabin met our needs. Plenty of storage space and the balcony itself was surprisingly large. Some of the furniture did have some stains on it, and we found what we believe was a bloody fingerprint in the bathroom on the wall next to the door. Gross, and rather creepy. Also, the bed was about as comfortable as a concrete slab and there was a surprising lack of USB charging ports. We usually bring a multi USB charging adapter, so it wasn’t a problem, but we’d have a difficult time keeping our electronics running without it. Dining was also a pleasant surprise onboard Navigator OTS. We visited the MDR twice during our cruise for dinner, and each time the food was tasty and served quickly. The quick service Mexican restaurant, El Loco Fresh, is also a nice place to eat next to the pool. The lines did get rather long during peak times, but the guacamole was worth the wait. The buffet restaurant called The Windjammer (or Foodjammer as I call it), was the real stand out for us. The staff was having fun reminding passengers to wash their hands before entering with dancing and improvised songs. The food was a decent variety and we found it to be very tasty. It’s not Michelin quality, but for those of us who appreciate flavorful food and a variety of it will be satisfied. We never had trouble finding a clean table, and the staff came by with non-alcoholic drinks and condiments frequently. RCI is doing a great job of changing the perception that the buffet restaurant isn’t just a place to go if you didn’t book a restaurant but being a true service environment all its own. The only entertainment show we went to this cruise was the headliner, a hypnotist. If you’ve never seen one, it’s usually entertaining and worth going to. He didn’t offer anything we hadn’t seen before, but we still enjoyed ourselves. On the last night we went to the silent disco. It seems Celebrity is the only cruise line who can do a silent disco right. Navigator, as well as other lines and ships in the RCI fleet, seem to get this wrong. Celebrity had a ton of available headphones, despite the entire atrium being packed for the event. I swear half the ship was there, and their DJs had three stations to choose from. Navigator as well as prior cruises were turning people away due to their two station headphones were out within five minutes of beginning the party. Silent discos are great fun. I would have thought that since they are so popular, cruise lines would be making these more of a focus. Embarkation as well as disembarkation were expertly done. We were checked in prior to sailing, so it was a breeze getting onboard. We always carry off our luggage and we found ourselves walking off almost 40 minutes earlier than what we found in the daily planner. These processes were expertly executed. In conclusion, Navigator of the Seas is an excellent choice for a four or three-night vacation. The ship looked great, the staff was wonderful, the food and drinks were very satisfying, and we were kept entertained for most of the voyage. My wife and I had a truly wonderful vacation. On the way home, our discussion found us in agreement that Royal Caribbean is quickly becoming our preferred cruise line. It’s because of experiences like the one we had on Navigator that makes us feel that way. Read Less

Booked my first cruse and I did not read any reviews, what a mistake I made. I can not complain about the room, meals or entertainment on board ship. My complaint is with what they charge you for everything else that is not mentioned when you book. Example my husband drinks and I do not, when my husband wanted to buy the drink package for 3 days the charge was $307.98, but they would not sell him this until I bought a soda package for $113.28 I do not drink soda or alcohol, then if you wanted to use your phone you had to buy the WIFI package which was $80 dollars. I do not know how other cruse lines do this, but I will never do another cruise like this again. If this sounds ok to you, then by all means disregard this review and enjoy your cruise. Also when paying for other things ship personnel told me my debit card was declined and owed them money, I could not verify why card was declined and could not call bank, as it was the weekend. I was told that if I do not come up with the money I will not be allowed to leave the ship. When we came into port I called my father and told him what they said to me, I handed the phone to finance officer my father told them that he would give them his credit card number to take care of the bill, they told him that they do not except cards over the phone. Well I don't know how they were going to get payed then. My father also told them that if they were not going to let me off the ship that he would call the police and file charges against the cruise line. Also the ship was to dock in Miami at 6am my flight out of Ft Lauderdale was at 8am. The ship did not come into port until 7:30am and would not start letting passengers off until almost 9am. Well we missed our flight and could not get another flight out until the next morning, all this cost us another $200 plus a motel room and a day of work. So again what kind of cruise line does this to people, never again. Read Less

This was a Christmas present and my first cruise. I had a great time and was well taken care of by all the staff. I will say they made us feel like royalty and Kenrick was so kind and helpful. We would go again just to have the company of this hard working young man. The dining room was excellent as was Malfredo, our waiter. The staff bent over backwards to accommodate us, it was a first for me...very nice. Nassau was an interesting experience as we went off by ourselves and poked around. It was a very windy day so we didn't get to Parasail but instead went on a carriage ride and then took a tour of the island with a cab driver who was full of information about last and present history. Not one to enjoy large groups, we were easily able to make a full and enjoyable day of it in our own. It's always good to get off the beaten path and we are very glad we did. Read Less

May I start by saying that I am a big fan of Royal Caribbean and have sailed her many times. This cruise, however, seemed to lack something and I, along with my son"s help, think we have it figured out. Navigator does 4 night cruised out of Miami going to Nassau and Coco Cay. With this in mind the crew and passengers don't seem to have a lot of time to get to know each other and the lack of variety of ports dulls it more for the crew. There was a definite lack of attention and smiles from the crew. They did a great job bt they seemed like robots rather than humans. We went, primarily, for the celebration of New Years Eve. The uncharging started with the "Holiday Fare" schedule. No problem, I expect that. What I didn't expect was uncharging ~ $89 for specialty dining on NYE and charging of $600 for a table at the Pub for the ballon drop. The Royal Promenade was packed so tightly that I don't think I could have fallen down if I tried. Our cabins, Son and I had separate cabins, were Fantastic, HUGE balconies, clean rooms and bathrooms. I saw my room steward every day, my son saw his twice. Hooked Seafood, first night, was extremely good. Very tasty food, decent service. The rub came at the end of the meal when the server asked for my sea pass. I had booked, and paid for, my dinner before sailing and was under the impression that I could simply include my son as my "buy-one-get-one" meal. The check came back with a 50% charge for him. When I questioned that they said that this was the norm because I booked and paid for the meal in advance. Note to self: DON'T DO THAT ! The others three night we ate in the main dining room and had a good experience every evening. We did no excursions and, in fact, just wandered into and back out of the two ports as we had both been there in the recent past. My sin said the shop was a bit lack-luster as well so I didn't bother. We currently have three more Royal cruises booked and hope they will restore our faith in the line. One of the cruises is for NYE next year ('20-21) on Oasis of the Seas. Embarkation and debarkation were a dream from the new Terminal A in Miami. We got to the port about 10:30am and sat for about 10 minutes before were were allowed on the ship. As for debarkation, we opted to carry our own bags and were off the ship and in a cab in about 5 minutes total. Read Less

We chose the Navigator of the Seas because this three (3) day weekend cruise occurred between Christmas and New Year's Eve and during Hanukkah. Leaving from Miami was an added bonus and a short car ride from where we live. The ship had recently been refurbished and I wanted to compare it to the Mariner of the Seas. While in college, I had worked on several cruise ships. We have also gone on many cruises with multiple cruise lines. The new Royal Caribbean Terminal in Miami was very Impressive.The embarkation was very organized and we were on the ship in a few minutes. Our cabin was ready on arrival. The Bedroom Steward was outstanding. The Windjammer was never overcrowded and the staff was very helpful. There were multiple selections. I found the food did not compare to the Dining Room. The Breakfasts there did not have fresh fruit (blueberries or strawberries) for cereal or yogurt. El Loco Fresh was very good. We all partook of the Mexican Entrees. The Cafe Promenade was a surprise. The coffee was always available, fresh and the best on the ship. There were also pastries,cookies, salads and small sandwiches available. Much to our surprise, the pizza was the best that I have had on any cruise ship. We had My Time Dining. There was never a significant wait. We had a Window Table (150) for four (4). Our waitress and assistant waiter were excellent. Although the dining room menu was similar to the Mariner of the Seas, the taste and presentation was much better on the Navigator of the Seas. The food was delicious and well prepared. Although we missed the Ice Show, the other shows were excellent. On previous cruises, the Art Auctions were informative and entertaining. These Art Auctions were disappointing and this was reflected in the decreasing sparse attendance. While on the ship, you never felt overcrowded. obtaining a deck chair or a seat in the theater was never a problem. The Diamond Club is always a high point of the cruise. However, placing it on Deck 5 was disappointment. The staff there was very helpful, but not being on a high deck with a view detracted from the experience. Coco Cay was a welcome addition. Multiple beaches, water parks, children"s areas , entertainment and feeding areas. We enjoyed the island. Downtown Nassau is even more rundown than before. The downtown stores had multiple vacancies. The area needs to be redeveloped or an alternative found. Disembarkation was organized and smooth. They used photo recognition. Pickup was also well organized. The other members of our group thought that this was their best cruise. We all had a wonderful time. Read Less

We have cruised on many Royal Caribbean ships, Princess, and NCL. This cruise had by far the best main dining room food. The public areas of the ship are in great shape, although the cabin was somewhat battered looking (for example, the drawers were all beat up). But overall it was an excellent cruise. There were plenty of deck chairs and even though the ship was likely full at Christmastime, we did not have trouble finding seats in the Windjammer. The new hand washing system outside the Windjammer is great. The staff seemed very happy and everyone was helpful. We had dinner in the main dining room every night. Our waiter was excellent. We wish that Starbucks was included in the drink package! The drink package made it so easy to have whatever else we wanted, including water bottles. Our itinerary was changed as we were leaving the Port of Miami. I had to scramble and make a phone call to change our day in Nassau before we left Miami. Luckily that worked out. Read Less

We chose a 4 night cruise on Navigator of the Seas now that it's gone through some pretty neat renovations. Of the 8 cruises I've done with Royal Caribbean, I do have to say this ship has the best pool deck out of all the other ships. The new renovation brought color and some interesting dinning options to the pool area. The hot tubs up next to the jogging track on deck 11 were also a great addition, allowing us to enjoy the hot tub and watch movies on the giant screen poolside at night. The bar service with the new Lime and Coconut bar was not the greatest, messing up my groups drinks or giving us things we didn't order every time we went there. This seemed to be a common theme on the ship, with the Casino being the only place you could get what you asked. The staterooms themselves were average with all the other ships RCCL has in this class, and was clean but not as well maintained as it could have been (some broken fixtures). Another downside was that the staff seems more junior than other ships; some of the service was slower than usual for RCCL and a few typical things that happen on other RCCL ships didn't happen on this one. The food in the main dining room was great as usual, however the there was only one of the waiters we had that was really great. Overall aside from missing the port of Nassau for weather the trip was great, and would definitely be a must go trip in the future. Embarkation was the smoothest I have ever seen, and the new Terminal A in Miami was amazing. Getting off the ship was very easy as well, waiting till later helped smooth out the process. Read Less

Fourteen years had passed since my last cruise but nothing really has changed except to say it was a top notch experience on the 3 day sailing of the Navigator of the Seas. Boarding at the Miami Port was a cinch with my self carry on luggage. I was traveling with a group of 16 and making our dinner reservations appeared seamless. The balcony cabin #8362 provided adequate space for this short jaunt especially if you’re extra neat, organized and don’t over pack. The cabin steward was unobtrusive and sight unseen. The aft deck location was ideal because every thing was in a “column” position above and below providing easy navigation. Figuring out the the entire layout and how to access all public areas took only minutes. Elevators were always available even at times you’d there would be a longer wait. The ship was tastefully decorated for the holidays. Guest services was a super fast experience and like everything else A~ easy peasy. The entire crew were incredibly friendly, responsive and clearly wanted you to have an awesome experience on this spotless ship. The private island was truly lovely. The merchants were a pleasure. Super easy to disembark and return at the end of the day was a breeze. There weren’t many children on board. I imagine it would be too much work preparing for this short stay and navigating around the ship. Cons in no particular order: The towels are scratchy but did the job. The hair dryer is of the lowest quality. The food ~ this is simply my opinion and may not have been experienced by anyone else. I will say the 1st night the baked onion soup was cheese laden, super hot and delicious. The 3rd night not so much. The seafood soups, both NE clam chowder and lobster bisque tasted as though they were made of fish tank water. The steamed 2 lb lobster was extremely dry and appeared as though it must have sat under the heating lights a tad too long. The mussels were actually very tasty. The thawed frozen shrimp was edible. I’m not a “breakfast eater” per se but the oatmeal was delicious and there truly seemed to be something for everyone. The vast selection offered at the BBQ buffet on the private island is pretty much what’d you’d expect. You won’t leave hungry! The entertainment ~ that was pretty much a disappointment for me. I found it very boring and the second night I stayed in my cabin after dinner because there was nothing beckoning me to stay out longer. I don’t gamble so can’t speak about the casino but it appeared to be very nice. The bars were okay but it just felt like a strong case for “failure to launch”. Very low energy in all of them. The highlight was being sung to by a spirited group of young performers who sand songs of the season. The band on the promenade was spectacular and the disco performers did a great job. It was odd that no one was dancing but I think it was because of the location in the promenade. Early morning disembarking was unbelievably stress free. RCCL you’ve always had a solid reputation in the cruise industry. Thank you for bringing me back to port safely. Read Less

This was a quick pre-Christmas weekend get away with our family of 10. We live in Miami, and have visited Nassau before. We stayed aboard while in Nassau and really enjoyed the pools and slides. The Navigator had more than ample lounge seating. The 2nd day was at their private island - Coco Cay. What am amazing place this was. There were 2 RCCL ships there - so easily 7,000 people. The amount of space, and multiple venues - made it seem less crowded. We did get off the ship as early as we could. The lagoon pool was incredible. The food on board was great. The main dining room offered a nice variety each night and the service and attention was fabulous. We did purchase the drink package - and found it was worth every penny. The bar staff were super friendly and quickly got to know our group. Sometimes we would just “lift a finger” and a new drink would appear. Read Less

My husband and I chose a back-to-back on Navigator of the Seas for one reason only... to be able to visit and enjoy their private island, Coco Cay twice. The first cruise was 3 days and the second cruise was 4 days. When you fly from Canada it just makes better sense to do at least 7 days because of the cost of the flight. We stayed in the same virtual balcony cabin and we were able to just get off and on the ship between cruises for 10 minutes without our luggage and just to clear customs, which was a breeze. The food was good and lots of choices in both the MDR and Windjammer. We did not bother with specialty restaurants after deciding that Hooked was not worth the charge after considering rate of exchange for Canadians. Their island was really beautiful and had plenty of loungers for everyone. The only negative thing was that this time of year, the water in the beautiful Lagoon pool was very cold as were the beaches. We just rested by the pool and then went to enjoy a delicious lunch with plenty of choices. RCCL provides complimentary trams from the pier to the island and then you change trams to continue on to different stops along the island. Wonderful feature for those of us who have mobility issues. What made this trip so wonderful was because of the staff and crew. Everyone was friendly, helpful and always pleasant. The live orchestra and shows were great but their tribute band "One4One" was so talented. They had everyone dancing in the Promenade with their "Queen", "Eagles" and "Beatles" tribute evenings. Wow! Such talent! I have just a few suggestions for Royal Caribbean that would make cruises more enjoyable: All ships should have at least a one day "smoke free" in the casino; and Diamond members should be offered a discount on frozen mocktails and cocktails as well as a discount for food at Johnny Rockets. Read Less

This was a birthday cruise for my daughter (8) and I. We stayed in a Promenade View Interior on deck 6. The cabin was quiet and clean and our cabin steward was wonderful. Embarkation - we did the expedited check in and walked on with no line at 10:45am. The ship is beautiful and the Amped upgrades are really fun. The pool deck is very colorful, and very crowded! Bar service was fast and good. The soft serve ice cream was handled by a staff member and that worked out well. We ate at Chops on night one and it was delicious and the service was great. We ate a Jamies on night two and the food was great but the service was only okay. The third night we ate in the MDR and our server was awesome! The food was good as well. Perfect Day at Coco Cay - we had water park passes and we were off the ship as soon as it cleared and in line for the Daredevils tower within moments. Boy, is that fun! We rode all of the slides with virtually no line then headed over to Chill Island to snorkel. I really loved the new CocoCay, and I can't wait to go back! Service was overall pretty spectacular. Everyone seemed to enjoy what they were doing and it showed. The only small disappointment was the kids club, there were not many kids on board so there were not many activities. I am sure that if there were more kids, it would be fine as the staff seemed really excited. Disembarkation was super easy, walked right off and straight through customs with no issues. Read Less

I took this cruise to see what this $115 million dollar amplification was all about- WOW what fun. This ship still has some dated decor (Royal needs to get out of the 80's), but the water slides, laser tag, food were just amazing. So much to do on this ship, one weekend isn't enough. Also doing at video blog https://youtu.be/e-WekB7Ztjk This was a cruise to Nassau but I cruised for the ship and CoCo Cay. The drinks were so so. but the food was delicious. There is plenty to do on Coco cay even if you just want to sit and relax by the lagoon. This ship is perfect for families or non-families- there's tons of fun for everybody. The main dining room as well as the Windjammer had excellent food. Service on the ship was good. The MDR had delicious food and the Windjammer had a lot to choose from. It was however very crowded and made it difficult to find seating- so much so that Jamie's Italian was opened for extra seating. We got the drink package and all I can say is that the drinks were just so so- Even a long island seemed too be skimped on the alcohol and the drinks were never made the same. The Ice Skating iSkate was the most amazing show using lighted drones to open the show. Gorgeous show with a lot of talent. Singers and dancers did a great job as well. Although Nassau is a main port of call, Coco Cay is where it's at. What a fun private island. something for everybody. A bit "small" when you have 2 ships and 8000+ people there but the food was great. Beaches nice. Embarkation and debarkation was quick- the quickest I've ever experienced. LOVE THAT. Terminal A is amazing. Read Less

I'll hit the major points: Getting on the ship was super fast and smooth. Bought the deluxe drink package. Sometimes had to wait behind 1 or 2 people....but the majority of the time I could walk right up to an open bartender. Lots of bars, very good service. My Stateroom attendant was excellent. Saw him multiple times a day. We ate dinner at 6 pm every night. We had the same excellent waiters every night. They were outstanding. I thought the food was good, not great. Presentation was very good and we very much enjoyed the dining experience. French Onion soup outstanding. Was fun trying new things. There are two slides. One with a pad you lay on. At the end of the ride the person hands the pad to the next person in line and up the stairs they go. This line moves fast and had a very small line (maybe 5 minutes). The other slide has a tube with a 400 pound limit and two people can go on this if they want. The line for this was always very long. I waited probably 40 minutes in this line. Both slides were fun (but not worth 40 minutes). There is a place where you can get thin crust pizza and sandwiches when everything else is closed. Late in the night they have a hard time keeping up with demand and lines form. Nassau: We walked around a little. Took a horse drawn carriage ride around the city. Was just ok. Didn't feel like the safest place. I wouldn't get off the ship next time unless I had an excursion planned out. Coco Cay: Awesome. We were the only ship and there were plenty of chairs. The beach was nice and quiet, the water was nice. Lifeguards watching. The freshwater pool was a bit of a party at the swim up bar. Lots of drinking and music. This area was crowded. My 77 year old mother booked a glass bottom boat ride. She said it was excellent. All ages seemed to enjoy it. A diver would bring up creatures from the ocean floor for people to examine before throwing them back. The food at Coco Cay was good, not great. It's a large buffet and quite frankly much better than what I expected at something like this. We did not do the Thrill side. Not sure how the island is when TWO boats are docked on the same day. Day at Sea seemed crowded. Getting off the ship was quick and easy. I'm guessing we got lucky with our timing. Room: We booked two suites because when we booked for whatever reason they weren't much more than a normal balcony room. Our rooms were large with big closets. For just two people per room it was a nice treat but not needed. Kids Camp: My 6 year old enjoyed it but it looked like chaos in there and I thought they didn't have enough workers watching the kids. No issues though. Condition of the ship was very clean and I found the crew to be extremely friendly. I'm not sure how often the shows change...but: Ice Skating show was excellent. Don't be that couple that walks in after the show starts and blocks peoples view because you can't find a seat. Comedian had two shows. The family-friendly one was horrible. Did not see the adult one. The juggler was talented and funny and personable. Great show. Quest game is for adults! Lots of laughs. Great cruise, overall pleased with meals and Coco Cay. Ship does at times feel crowded, especially on the day at Sea. Would sail the Navigator again in a heartbeat. Read Less

We have always wanted to see the NEW CoCo Cay, and it was worth the wait and expense! Our cabin was amazing as well, the coveted pie-shaped panoramic ocean view stateroom on Deck 12, #1864. It was so huge and we had 5 panes of glass to gaze out on the ocean and surroundings. The food is decenct. Not amazing but good, for the price. I was actually dissapointed in my dinner at CHOPS, it usually is excellent, but they missed the mark this time. Maybe it was an off night. I have to add in here that Adventure Ocean is very good. Our 6 and 8 year old loved going there and never complained about it. I cannot fully express how awesome COCO CAY is! We had so much fun. Our kids rode the water slides over and over and we never had to wait very long in line. We were the only ship on the island that day. I think on other days there are two RCCL ships at the island. If you can book a cruise where you are the only ship, you will practically have the island to yourself. The large pool was crowded, but the water park always had a place to sit in the shade with lots of umbrellas. Also, the "Free" food on Coco cay was really good, and way better than the average Windjammer food! All in all, you NEED to visit coco cay, especially if you have kids, and try to get #1864 on deck 12, what an amazing room! Read Less

I saw a negative review, i believe they sailed the same cruise we did. I did not have the same experience and felt it worthy of a positive review. We have cruised Royal Caribbean since the 90's and have never been disappointed. This cruise to the Bahamas was perfect for 2 kids under 11. The water slides on deck 13 entertained them all day. The food was what i expected, decent and ample choices. The dining room was nice and service was fantastic. We had a balcony room and the space was tight for 4 people, but who stays in their room... Coco Cay was amazing, the kids thought this was the coolest. I have sailed many other lines and some were comparable to RCL, one was slightly better and one was absolutely horrible. While it didn't impact my trip nor was the service i received affected, several of the staff members complained about not getting time off and being overworked. We look forward to our next cruise on RCL. Read Less

Embarkation: We completed all our paperwork using the app prior to arrival which was really easy and took less than five minutes. The ship left out of Terminal A (Royal’s new terminal in Miami). We arrived at the port around 10:30 and were on the ship literally as fast as we could walk from curbside to the boat. Ship: This was our first time on a Navigator-class ship. We were very impressed. The facilities provided lots of variety in terms of both atmosphere and food options. The outdoor decks were nicely designed and included chairs, day beds, cabanas, and hammocks. It was really a nice change from the field of lounge chairs you see on Radiance class ships. We did notice some food service items which were left in the hallways throughout the cruise which was a little unsettling but other than that, the common areas were kept very clean. Dining: We did My Time Dining but enjoyed our waitstaff so much that we basically went at the time the Maitre’d assigned us so that we could keep the same table each night. The food was good and we felt like they had a better selection than our cruise a year ago. As I mentioned, our waitstaff Neftali and Ardvint) were amazing. They were the perfect combination of efficiency and hospitality. We were also travelling with our toddler so it was great to have some of the other staff like Jose (not sure what his job was, maybe an Assistant Head Waiter?) stop by each night to entertain the kid. Cabin: We had a great cabin. The Panoramic Oceanview room has a spectacular view and a good amount of space. Our cabin attendant, Georgiana was awesome. She would always make it a point to stop what she was doing and talk to us every morning and night, and by the end of our trip our daughter wanted to look for her every time we went out of the cabin. She really went out of her way to make us feel special. Entertainment: We didn’t go to a lot of the shows but we did go to iSkate the first night and it was amazing. The whole family enjoyed it and it’s definitely a can’t miss event. We also had several appearances by the Stowaway Piano Player. That’s a great addition and alway made for a surprise when the elevator doors opened and he was on there. As many other have said, the slides were available most of the week but the lines were ridiculously long so we never took the time to ride them. Ports: We stayed on the ship in Nassau and really don’t feel like we missed much. CoCo Cay really exceeded our expectations. We started out at the kids play area but decided mid-morning to go into the water park. They were charging $44 pp at the entrance and it was well worth it. We found that lines weren’t that bad in the morning or later in the afternoon. Seating around the wave pool, especially shaded seating, was at a premium. The slides were really fun and fast. Service: So, as the saying goes, “I’ve saved the best for last!” From Captain Angel all the way to the crew that goes around cleaning the ship, we found that just about everyone on board to be friendly and happy. Many went out of their way to interact with our toddler as well. The ship was nice but the crew is what made it special. Final Thoughts: We spent the last day (Sea Day) trying to figure out how to take another trip on Navigator before the crew turnover begins later this year. Need I say more? Read Less

We have cruised with RC several times and always had a good experience. Recently we cruised on Harmony and loved it. When an opportunity came to sail on Navigator at a bargain price we said lets take a chance. When you cruise in Sept or October you get the best rates since school is in session and its hurricane season. As far as the weather, you take you chances but we were lucky and had great weather. Navigator is an older ship but she is well maintained overall. The pool area just received most of a 100 million dollar refurbishment. The pool deck on Navigator is as nice as anything I've experienced and is comparable with the newest and largest RC ships. Food was very good. The restaurant servers were great and very accommodating. We actually preferred the food in the Windjammer by the pool because of the variety. We didn't do the specialty restaurants since this was intended to be a bargain cruise. Our cabin was an interior and overlooked the promenade. We loved it and actually preferred it to the balcony we had on the Harmony. The room was spacious and very clean with a great cabin steward. The cruise director was fantastic. Maybe the best we ever had and we've been on 15-20 cruises. The entertainment was good, but not up to the standards you get on the 7 day ships like Allure or Harmony. Overall it was good. The Quest game is X rated and if your not easily offended it's hilarious. Embarkation at the new Miami RC terminal was a breeze. You park in their garage and drop your luggage there. Disembarkation was the fastest and most efficient ever. We literally just walked off the ship without stopping except to have a screen shot of our faces at the kiosk. The RC Coco Cay island is the finest island resort stop ever. RC has turned it into a Disney style water park. It was a major highlight. I loved it and I'm not a beach person. The swim up bar is too cool, and the island buffet was great. Overall this was an excellent get away at a very good price. Read Less

Pre-Cruise: I booked parking through Spot Hero. Parked at the Embassy Suites in Crystal City. They have an airport shuttle. I paid $44. If I had parked at Reagan it would have been $68. Flight was direct DCA to MIA. Transfer to the Port through Royal. The transfer service was fantastic. I have never had a cruise line employee board the bus and give a little speech - telling parents that a ship is a mini city and to be vigilant. To the adults the same thing, don’t take your safety for granted. Embarkation: From the time I got off of the bus until I was on the ship was less than 5 minutes! We got off the bus and the cruise line employees told us to just leave our bags by the bus and someone would be over to get them. There was no one to tip. It was strange and I felt weird leaving my bag there. Into the terminal, up the escalator and over to priority. A lady scanned my phone (I had the app loaded and ready) and asked if I’d been feeling ill at all recently. She then directed me to the security screening. From there directly to the ship – AMAZING efficiency. Stateroom: Loved my cabin and there will be video and details in the Cabin thread. Junior Suite – Deck 10 – 1344. Rooms were ready at 1:00pm on the nose and my bag was at my room when I opened the door to leave again at 1:30! Service: Wonderful service. I never met my room steward. Cabin was serviced twice a day. The room was always tidy. I LOVED my dinner servers. Aiman and Josephine were fantastic. Bartenders and bar servers were also pleasant and fun. CocoCay: I was up and at the gym, had a bite to eat and then was the first one off the ship. I already knew where I wanted to “camp” for the day. The island is wonderful. I would go again for sure! The weather was not great. A bit of sun here and there before 12pm. Mostly cloudy with showers. Finally, after grabbing a chicken sandwich as the Snack Shack, I gave up. The wind was terrible. I went back to the ship to explore and read before dinner. Nassau: Terrible weather, again. I had not planned to visit. However, I wanted to lay in the sun, read, drink, people watch. Nope. Raining, cold and windy. I wandered the ship, watched some trivia, read, watched a movie. Food: I like GOOOOD food. I consider Ruth Chris a good steak not a great steak. I was expecting a solid three based on reviews (scale 1-5). Overall a solid 4. I ate dinner two nights in the MDR and once at the Windjammer. Breakfast each morning in the Windjammer. Lunch on embarkation was at El Loco Fresh and then the Windjammer for Saturday and Sunday. I truly enjoyed the MDR. Windjammer was completely average. I do like that they have the Freestyle soda machines. I can’t believe they never had pizza in there. You travel to deck 5 the Café Promenade or order Room Service to get pizza. El Loco Fresh was good. I had a simple chicken quesadilla. Of Note: The only show I saw was a Battle of the Sexes contest. It was lively and fun! The piano playing, musical comedian from Schooners, was amazing. If you are a wine drinker prepared to be disappointed with the options available with the Drink Package. The one I drank was the Andrew Peace Cabernet Sauvignon. Bourbon – No Woodford. I found Bulleit in the Royal Theater when I was wandering around on the last day. Most passengers were polite and friendly. LOTS of families and groups (bachelor and bachelorette, Quince, birthdays, etc.). I did not witness any elevator rudeness or disgusting drunkenness. It really was a lovely, relaxing few days. Disembarkation: I was up at 6:00am. I showered, then ate a quick bite and was headed off at 7:15. I did self-assist. I was sitting on the shuttle by 7:30. Final Thoughts: I would sail on the Navigator again. Based on this one trip Royal is heads and tails above NCL and Carnival. I was worried about the ship being bigger than my previous ships. It didn’t overwhelm me. I was able to find my way quite easily. The ship, the food, the staff, the fellow passengers all put this ahead of the other two, IMHO. Read Less

Room was dirty, food was horrible. Stay away from Royal Caribbean, try others, their absolutely horrible. Called customer service, alerted them of our concerns, and only was offered $115 discount on a future cruise with them, I respectfully declined after spending almost $2000 on a 4 day cruise and coming home extremely dissatisfied. Room was dirty upon entering. Our dinner reservation was double booked and we had to wait for another table, what’s the point of a reservation? The whole time they constantly are trying to sell you more stuff on the cruise, it’s like Royal Caribbean just wants to dig in your pocket the whole time your on vacation. Not one thing on the boat tasted fresh, every single thing tasted like it was precooked and warmed up and served. We have been on cheaper cruises and received way better service and food than Royal Caribbean. Never ever again! Read Less