Royal Caribbean's revamped Mariner of the Seas debuts in Miami

[Jason 411]

Get ready for a new era of short cruises out of Miami. 

Royal Caribbean's 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas on Monday will begin three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas out of the city, becoming the newest and biggest vessel in the market for such trips. 

The new sailings come in the wake of a massive, $120 million makeover of the ship that included the addition of new deck-top water slides, a FlowRider surfing pool, a virtual reality bungee trampoline experience and other fun-focused attractions. 

Also added to Mariner: A new Italian restaurant by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and a retro-chic tiki bar. 

Formerly based in Asia, Mariner spent a month in a shipyard in Cadiz, Spain to undergo the overhaul. The vessel originally was built in 2003. 

The new virtual reality attraction on Mariner is called Sky Pad. Passengers wear virtual reality headsets while on a bungee trampoline to experience what it's like to bounce over moon craters. They also can compete in "intergalactic games."

Two new water slides Mariner, called Cyclone and Typhoon, spiral around the back of the ship near the new FlowRider surfing pool and Mariner's existing rock-climbing wall. 

The new, glow-in-the-dark laser tag experience takes place in Studio B, Mariner's ice skating rink. Mariner also has a new escape room experience called The Observatorium. 

The new Jamie Oliver restaurant, Jamie's Italian, is a concept that already exists on several other Royal Caribbean ships. Other food and beverage options added to Mariner include Japanese eatery Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, which also appears on a number of other Royal Caribbean vessels.

The new tiki bar, dubbed The Bamboo Room, is a new concept for Royal Caribbean that only will be found on Mariner for now. It boasts a Polynesia theme and serves hand-crafted cocktails. Mariner also received a new sports bar and arcade.

Mariner's new schedule of three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas will feature stops in Nassau and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination.

By Gene Sloan, USA Today
Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more
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[Jan115 1,030]

A wise move by Royal Caribbean, putting a larger ship into service for the short Bahama cruises. A lot of people like the choices in food, entertainment and activities of a larger ship, but still like the short cruises. Those who can’t get away for a full week, won’t be limited to the smaller, older ships.

[ExpatCruise 0]

It is a very nice ship the last time I was on her was January 2016 out of Singapore. It was a good cruise and the ship seemed to be in good shape at that time. So now after a refit she must be really nice.  She had some very nice cabins.  We had a cabin that was bill as ocean view, it was just below the bridge, it had three nice windows, a separate master bedroom, living room and a second small bedroom with bunk beds.  One of the nicest ocean view cabins I have had on Royal.

Edited June 27, 2018 by ExpatCruise