 Expert Review |  | | | | |
| | | | | Overview
In 2005, Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas underwent the equivalent of a major surgical procedure -- the addition of a 73-ft. midsection to lengthen the ship. And, as with most successful operations, the ship, originally launched in 1997, emerged looking fresher, younger and more contemporary than its relative age would belie. Enchantment's "surgery" was probably the most complicated ever undertaken by a cruise line. Consider that it is the biggest cruise ship ever to be lengthened. The ship was actually sliced down the middle, and then a newly built midsection was slotted in between the two halves. As a result of the stretching, there was room for new facilities, from a fabulous new pool area to an alternative gourmet restaurant and a Latin-themed nightclub. The ship also received an extensive refurbishment that, though not comprehensive, refreshed the ambience. Highlights include: It's got one of the most beautiful sun decks/pool decks at sea -- not only is it spacious, with plenty of room for everybody, but it also possesses unique features, such as a multi-colored splash pool, the Oasis bar with sea view stools and the elegant if slightly futuristic-looking suspension bridges that sway over the area. Instead of a standard buffet, there's a food court-like venue -- Windjammer Marketplace -- with stations that include Mediterranean fare, salads, a rotisserie, desserts and more. The ship gained an alternative restaurant -- Chops Grille -- not to mention other noshing "boutiques" like Seattle's Best Coffee and Ben & Jerry's. The jazzy, Latin Bolero's, a bar concept that's gradually being added to many ships in the fleet, is one of the most fun and fabulous hot spots on any ship; don't forget to order at least one ceremonial mojito, a delicious Cuban rum cocktail with fresh mint. Accessibility features were enhanced to include more accessible cabins (and in varying categories), improved ramps and thresholds throughout the ship, and the addition of pool lifts in the new pool and in whirlpools. The only genuine oddity is that while many of the areas got updating, the decks ringing the Centrum -- from an Internet cafe to the Champagne Bar to the seating area around Ben & Jerry's and Seattle's Best -- were untouched and looked outdated. The casino, too, appeared a bit fusty. Ultimately, though, Enchantment's rebirth is a fantastic example of how a middle-aged ship (so to speak) can be given new life via an exciting blend of technology, plain old craftsmanship and a little bit of imagination. | | |  top | | | | Dining
The "piece de resistance" of the new and improved Enchantment of the Seas is its buffet eatery. Expanded into a corner of the pool area, the Windjammer Marketplace has been redesigned and is set up in stations that, at lunchtime, include the Mediterranean Market, the Grill, desserts, salads, Asian and an area totally devoted to roasting chickens. There also is a station for the usual hot cruise fare (potatoes, rice, roasts for carving). At breakfast you can get pre-cooked hot fare, made-to-order eggs, cold cereals and meats, yogurts and cheeses. The marketplace is also open for casual dinners. Be forewarned: While the area for food stations was expanded a la Voyager-class ships, the actual seating area was shrunk a bit, hence the need to build out an additional area near the pool. Most people forgot it was there and were jockeying for tables in the main room ... just walk across the hall. While Royal Caribbean is one of the last lines to offer set-table, set-time meals in many of its ships' main dining rooms, Enchantment of the Seas is more restrictive than the newer ships simply because it has fewer dining options. To boost offerings, Royal Caribbean added the Chops Grille alternative restaurant during the refurbishment. This restaurant specializes in steaks and chops. Despite a $25 service fee, reservations are hard to get ... so make them early (you can reserve online before your cruise). Otherwise, prime time dining in the evenings occurs in the My Fair Lady dining room. It's a lovely, two-deck venue anchored by a grand staircase and a waterfall. If you like to people watch, try to get a table on the first level (we love those by the window or out in the center section) or upstairs right on the edge of the railing (so you can look over). Menus offer a wide selection of starters and entrees, with a decent choice of healthy and vegetarian options. We were surprised, too, at how many sugar-free or otherwise low-calorie desserts were available. The Solarium Pool has a grill area that serves up pizza, burgers, fries, chicken and a vegetarian option; it's open during the day and then late at night. Royal Caribbean's room service options are available around the clock via 24-hour menus that offer a range of snacks and sandwiches. At breakfast, continental dishes, along with a handful of egg entrees, are available both in cabins and suites. Items off the main dining room menu can be ordered at dinner. There is no charge for room service between the hours of 5 a.m. and midnight (though a buck or two gratuity is recommended); late-night orders incur a $3.95 surcharge. | | | | top | | | | Public Rooms
Enchantment of the Seas' main focal point is its round 10-deck Centrum -- and it's gorgeous, with decks ringing it at every level, all the way up to the glass ceiling on top. Starting from the bottom are ship services, such as the purser's desk and shore excursions. There's also a surprisingly cozy and intimate lobby bar, great for coffee during the day and drinks any other time. The most significant characteristic of this large and airy space is the profusion of glass walls -- which brings the views inside in the nicest possible way. Also dotted around the Centrum are public spaces like the stuffy, hot and claustrophobic Internet cafe (packages are available, as is wireless access). Seattle's Best Coffee and Ben & Jerry's are passenger magnets, and there's a library and card room. Just off the Centrum, both aft and forward, are other areas, including a series of shops that, disappointingly carries the usual cruise claptrap (logo wear, liquor, cheap jewelry), and a huge photo center. In the refurbishment, a concierge lounge was added and here's a tip: There are a couple of extra Internet terminals here though you must be a suite holder (or an extremely frequent Royal Caribbean cruiser) to be entitled to this perk. | | | | top | | | | Cabins
One of the downsides of refurbishing an older ship is that even with the addition of 36 balcony cabins, they are still more of a luxury than a given -- and are priced as such. Having said that, they're worth the money; our standard balcony cabin was quite spacious and comfortable, featuring a seating area with couch, comfy balcony furniture, and the usual amenities, such as safe, hair dryer and TV with remote. Existing staterooms got a semi-makeover with the addition of new soft goods such as bedspreads and draperies, but you could definitely tell they were older (televisions were ancient and small, the bathroom was -- getting the point? -- ancient and small). If you can, whatever the category, try to book one of the cabins in the new section; we snuck a peek and televisions were new (and quite large), furnishings were dynamically colored and bathrooms definitely reflected a new-ship mindset (better storage, rolling shower divider rather than a wrap-around nylon curtain). Beyond balcony cabins, outsides and insides are pretty small by industry standards. Outsides are 154 square ft. and insides are a mere 140 to 146 square ft. Newly created onboard is a series of family cabins, ranging from an inside suite to an oceanview located forward. If you want to splurge, the Royal, Owners and Grand Suites offer all of the comforts of home and then some -- fabulous bathrooms with better quality towels and amenities, separate showers and a Jacuzzi tub, and DVD players and other high-tech accouterments. Balconies, too, were spacious enough to sleep on! There's even a Family Royal Suite that sleeps eight and comes with balcony. The ship increased its total of handicap accessible staterooms from 14 to 20, and they are now available in inside, outside and balcony categories. | | | | top | | | | Entertainment
Night and day, Enchantment of the Seas offered a veritable three-ring circus of entertainment options. During the day, most of the action took place on the pool deck (see Fitness and Recreation, below). At night, we loved the ample selection of bars and theatrical venues. The Orpheum Theater is the ship's venue for big-ticket production shows (we found them to be fairly banal); the Spotlight Lounge offers theme parties and comedians. The casino, which did not get touched during the refurbishment, seemed a little tight for space -- or maybe it was just crowded, at all times! Most fun, though, was the bar scene, from dancing at Bolero's (which has ironically wrested away the nightclub title from the Viking Crown Lounge) to the Schooner Pub, the recreation of a schooner-sort-of bar that features a pianist (and great people watching, particularly on formal night, as passengers saunter through in various interpretations of finery to meet the captain in the Spotlight Lounge). The classic Viking Crown Lounge tended to be a fairly desultory nightclub. One spot we didn't discover until the last night of our cruise was the Champagne Bar at the foot of the Centrum. There was a family -- 20-something daughter as vocalist with parents as backup on keyboard and such -- singing sentimental pop songs that so moved a handful of passengers that they began to dance, impromptu style, on the stairway to "heaven." It was surprisingly moving. While not operational on our trip, plans are to incorporate the pool deck, in the evenings, into the entertainment retinue via light shows and musical performances -- we'll go back just for that experience. | | | | top | | | | Fitness and Recreation
No question, there's no area in which the new and improved Enchantment of the Seas distinguishes itself more than on its pool deck -- which has been expanded by a whopping 50 percent. With its suspension bridge, enlarged pool areas with plenty of lounge chairs, the fabulous Oasis Bar that affords either a pool or sea view from its bar stools, and a kids splash pool painted in merry shades of color -- it's a blast, just a blast. There are two pools and four whirlpools. The area, it must be noted, is incredibly spacious and features many places to watch the action. The much-hyped bungee trampoline feature is pretty wacky -- and plenty of fun (though a lot harder than it looks). Basically, there are four bungees, located forward in what was previously an unused space. Each participant gets a two-minute trial. Once you're strapped in, the music begins to play (with songs like Van Halen's "Jump") and you push off with your legs, time and time again, as the hydraulics help you lift higher and higher; the ultimate view results from being propelled some 35 ft. though this middle-aged traveler didn't get anywhere close (staffers say it's the kids who are usually able to jump highest and longest). Enchantment's Solarium pool was untouched by the refurbishment but it was lovely in the first place; it's got a sliding glass roof and two whirlpools. It's supposed to be a "no kids" area though that rule wasn't always honored. The ship's two-deck spa and fitness area got a new look; nothing stands out as incredible but it certainly provides adequate equipment and services. A couples' massage room is a new addition. There is a rock-climbing wall tucked way aft; it's smaller than those on other Royal Caribbean ships and its location is so out of the way you'd miss it if you didn't know it was there. | | | | top | | | | Family
While its facilities aren't as state of the art as on the newer ships in the fleet, Enchantment of the Seas offers plenty of activities, particularly in the short-cruise market -- and particularly for kids not quite of teenage years. Adventure Ocean divides kids into specific categories without lumping too many ages together (3 - 5, 6 - 8, etc.) or requiring too much of a diversity of skills and interests into one classroom. Note: The line also has a wonderful program for tykes under 3. The facilities themselves are sufficient but not particularly noteworthy (for instance, there are no computers or PlayStation consoles). Particularly disappointing is Fuel, the teens-only nightclub. It's big enough, but dated, and unlike newer Royal Caribbean ships offers few contemporary amenities (such as Internet terminals with reduced rates). | | | | top | | | | Fellow Passengers
Enchantment of the Seas definitely appeals to families -- as it's meant to -- but there really is something for every age group. | | | | top | | | | Dress Code
Plan for casual wear during the day and informal or resort casual at night -- save for one formal night per cruise. | | | | top | | | | Gratuity
Royal Caribbean recommends $3.50 per person, per day to the dining room waiter; $3.50 per person, per day to the cabin steward; $2 per person, per day to the assistant waiter. Royal Caribbean also recommends 75 cents per person, per day to the headwaiter, but we don't necessarily unless the service was special. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to bar tabs. --by Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor of Cruise Critic. | | | | top | | | | | Expert reviews are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation. | |  | |
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