The writer with Alex
the Lion in
“Madagascar”.
Ahead is a long stretch of cafes and shops. Right above are glass bay windows with turquoise drapes noticeable from inside the glass elevators.
Below are more flights of stairs to the theater, Schooner bar, and the ice skating rink.
The Centrum rises from Deck 2 all the way up to Deck 12 capped with glass wall such that streaks of sunlight pour down. Outside she’s cruising at 22 knots.
The massive vessel that is Voyager of the Seas is majestic to behold with small, white waves on her trail like a veil to the oceanic floor. Here is a typical day at sea.
Of the Seas is among the five ships operated by Royal Caribbean International presently cruising in Asian waters. 10 pools; 13 bars and lounges; 15 decks; 1,557 staterooms; a gym, library, Casino Royale—there’s nothing quite like cruising that is competing for the same vacation dollar.
It’s a confluence of relaxation and adventure, exploration and discovery, entertainment and fine dining without the stress of making arrangements for food, transportation, recreational activities and destination.
Guests get to visit multiple countries they won’t be able to in one trip and without the trouble of packing and unpacking repeatedly. It is for pleasure voyages where the voyage itself and the ship’s amenities are a part of the experience.
And because it was easy to find something to do that everyone loves to do on the ship, it was also easy to detect the meeting of minds among the cruisers who, like everyone else, are looking for their own spot.
The Sapphire Room
is the main dining room aboard Voyager of the Seas.
I saw readers whose noses were stuck in a book at the library; the broadway enthusiasts lined up at La Scala Theater; the soulful by the sun deck drowned their thoughts somewhere between the sea touching the sky; the young—also the young at heart—crashed the floor of Studio B to the beat of disco mix; the gym buffs at the
Fitness Center; the aspiring singers spotted during karaoke night at The Pig and Whistle bar; the optimists and deal breakers at
Casino Royale; the children tailing the Dreamworks parade at Royal Promenade; and the lovers in the pool who were thankful for the stars that blessed their eyes. A guest capacity of 3,286 and not one is a square peg in a round hole. There is something for everyone inside the 1,020-foot ship.
Cruising best appeals to couples whether the newlyweds or the old folks nearing their diamond anniversary. There was this couple in their mid-forties taking photos of other couples and families with a Polaroid camera and simply handed out the pictures as souvenirs.
I met them because they took a photo of me, too, thank you very much. Then there was this old couple of salt and pepper hairs enjoying wall climbing like a pair of lizards from afar ascending the wall with their arms and legs stretched out. The way they look sideways, I couldn’t tell if they were competing or encouraging each other but there was something endearing about it. And that fine looking couple at dinner glancing at one another, all prim and proper eating their food without a word.
At the end of the day, it was always good to head back to an airy, comforting, and relaxing room. The Ocean View stateroom I was staying has the panoramic view of the blue horizon from its private balcony.
It has a luxurious bedding, sitting area, television, telephone, and safe. It has a bathroom with shower, vanity area and hair dryer.
Voyager of the Seas ranged from lavishly appointed two-story suites with private balcony, to compact rooms, and all were given the same attention to detail and 24-hour room service.
The Pool area
You could spend the entire day inside the comforts of your stateroom but there’d be a statistically remote chance of that given all the happenings inside the ship. The Voyager of the Seas has a gross tonnage of 137,276 which makes it three times larger than Titanic as portrayed in the movie.
Upon her maiden voyage in 1999, Voyager of the Seas was then the world largest cruise ship. She is the first ever built ship with rock climbing wall, ice skating rink and Royal Promenade – a four-deck high, marbled floor boulevard and shopping area.
The newly added FlowRider (surfing simulator) and new restaurants on-board such as the Izumi (Japanese) ChopsGrille (American Streakhouse) and Giovanni’s (Italian restaurant) are of much interest to the guests. The nine-hole miniature golf course and golf simulator, basketball court, jogging and in-line skating tracks, video arcade, art gallery, skylight wedding chapel, and conference center and services are among the amenities inside the ship.
Nonetheless, it’s her attractive destination that is much anticipated by everyone.
CONTINUED NEXT SATURDAY