Yes, Voyager of the Seas is a slightly older cruise ship. That said, this Royal Caribbean classic still offers lots to love, no matter your age. Family-friendly amenities abound (as is par for the course for this cruise line), but attractions also exist for couples, foodies and other fun-seekers.
If you’re considering taking a Voyager of the Seas cruise ship in the near future, here’s everything you need to know.
In This Article…
Voyager of the Seas Stats
Voyager of the Seas measures in at…
- Gross Tonnage: 137,276
- Length: 1,020 ft.
- Double Occupancy: 3,602 guests
- Maximum Occupancy: 4,000 guests
- Crew Capacity: 1,200
- Decks: 15 total
- Guest Decks: 14 total
Construction and Refurbishments
As mentioned, Voyager of the Seas is no spring chicken. This ship was built more than two decades ago, at the then named Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Turku, Finland. The ship took its maiden voyage at the end of 1999. At the time, the ship was impressive — highly so.
Costing $650 million to build, at the time of launch, Voyager of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world. The vessel only held that title for a short time, though, only a year, before being overtaken in size by sister ship Explorer of the Seas (though only by a mere 32 GT).
Of course, no matter how luxurious and impressive Voyager of the Seas was at its launch, as you would expect, it soon needed some upgrades and enhancements. Royal Caribbean delivered with a $97 million overhaul in 2019, and additional refurbishments in 2020. So, what does that mean for you?
Well, when you cruise on Voyager of the Seas, you can expect to enjoy many of the Royal Caribbean classic features that are on some of its newer vessels, including The Perfect Storm waterslides and FlowRider surf simulator. (During refurbishments, other features that were upgraded included the spa and gym; an ice rink was also added, alongside new cabins).
Staterooms
Voyager of the Seas offers 1,801 total staterooms, inclusive of suites. Staterooms can be broken down accordingly:
- 642 interior staterooms
- 230 exterior staterooms
- 652 balcony staterooms
- 27 accessible staterooms
- 508 staterooms with 3/4th berth
- 138 promenade staterooms
- 81 virtual balcony staterooms
Interior staterooms are either 150 or 160 square feet and come in two options: classic interior and interior with a promenade view. Sure, while a promenade view isn’t the same as an ocean view, at least it does give you the sense of more space and a little extra lighting.
Whichever interior room option you go with, though, you can expect a maximum passenger capacity of four, a small sitting area and small bathroom, with limited storage space.
Interior staterooms are in good shape for this ship’s age. The rooms feature midscale hotel-esque furnishings and decor, with a gold and navy blue color palette.
The exterior staterooms — or ocean-view staterooms — are much the same in decor and layout, as well as size, with about 160–180 square feet, depending on the exterior stateroom you book.
The one downside to these cabins? The large window for your “view” actually sits behind the bed, so the view is somewhat obstructed. If you were hoping to watch the sunrise as you sip your morning coffee in bed, you’d have to rearrange yourself and move the pillows.
For true ocean views, booking a balcony cabin is your best bet. The balcony cabins are similar in size and layout to the ocean-view staterooms, but include a furnished balcony that is accessible via a set of glass doors that take up nearly the entire far wall of the cabin.
Virtual balcony suites are basically the same thing, but with one big difference: the balcony isn’t real. This is an offering that Royal Caribbean has been touting for a while and, sure, it’s cool, but a virtual balcony just isn’t the same as the real deal.
For that reason, if you’re looking for the most bang for your buck when booking a Voyager of the Seas cruise, but you don’t want to spring for a suite upgrade, go with the traditional balcony cabin.
Suites
If you are interested in upgrading to a suite, you will have a few options to consider. Suites options include:
- Junior suites
- Ocean view panoramic suites
- Grand suites
- Owners suites
- Royal suites
Junior suites offer 265 square feet and large balconies, with extra seating, bathtubs and bigger closets for extra storage space. Ocean view panoramic suites offer over 400 square feet and are more ideal for larger parties, with their extra beds.
Grand suites offer huge balconies, huge bathrooms (with a double sink vanity!) and larger sitting areas. They can hold four passengers each and offer 350 square feet.
Owners suites upgrade things just a little bit further. Across the 560 square feet, you get multiple sitting areas (including a large, L-shaped couch), an entertainment area that separates the bedroom from the sitting area, a large bathroom with both a stand-up shower and a tub, a balcony and a vanity/desk area in the bedroom.
The royal suite, however, is the creme de la creme of suite options aboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas. You have a huge balcony, a grand foyer with a grand piano, a bar area, dining area, entertainment and living space, big bedroom, big bathroom and even a hot tub on the balcony. What more could you need for an ultra-luxurious stay?
As is the case on most cruise ships, suite guests aboard Voyager of the Seas enjoy extra amenities and access to VIP areas. The ship offers a suite-guest-only lounge (plus an additional lounge for members of the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society).
Suite-guest perks include free snacks and breakfast in the lounge throughout the day, priority service at restaurants throughout the ship, no fees for room service and more.
Free Dining
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas may not boast quite the number of restaurants that you might find on some newer, larger ships, but there’s still enough for you to enjoy if you don’t mind either dining at the same spot multiple times over your cruise itinerary, or if you don’t mind upgrading to some of the specialty restaurants (which we’ll get to in a minute).
Complimentary dining restaurants aboard Voyager of the Seas include:
- The Main Dining Room, serving classic cruise fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- The Windjammer Buffet, for a classic cruise ship buffet experience
- The Cafe Promenade, for casual eats no matter the hour
You can also enjoy certain room service items on a complimentary basis.
Specialty Restaurants
If you want to expand your dining options while aboard Voyager of the Seas, you can do so by making plans to dine at one of the for-a-fee restaurants on the ship. These include…
- Giovanni’s Table, for Italian favorites
- Izumi Japanese Cuisine, for Japanese classics
- Chops Grille, for steakhouse eats
- Ben & Jerry’s and the Cafe Promenade Coffee Bar, for coffee and ice cream in one spot
You can also book culinary experiences like The Chef’s Table, for a VIP dining experience led by the ship’s chef. Again, there isn’t a huge array of dining options on this ship, but if you don’t mind paying extra for the specialty restaurants, you can find that there’s enough to hop between, during a typical cruise itinerary, so as not to get bored with your choices.
Bars and Lounges
While you can, of course, order a drink at the above restaurants, you can also find a handful of watering holes across the ship, serving up their own libations. These include…
- Schooner Bar, for a nautical theme and live music
- Pig & Whistle Pub, a British-inspired pub
- The Tavern, for a sports bar-style atmosphere
- Solarium Bar, for drinks in the solarium
- The Pool Bar, for drinks by the pool
- Sky Bar, an outdoor bar with a view
- Star Lounge, for live music and other fun
- R Bar, for a more quiet and classy setting
- The Viking Crown Lounge and High Notes, a bar and music venue in one
Activities and Entertainment
Beyond just eating and drinking your way across this ship, and maybe enjoying a few quiet moments in your suite or stateroom, there’s plenty to keep you entertained during your Voyager of the Seas cruise. Here are some of our favorite activities.
Swimming Pools and Water Slides
The ship boasts three different swimming pools, as well as six hot tubs. There’s an additional adults-only pool in the Solarium and two hot tubs. The Solarium is a great spot to get away from the crowds and noise that can sometimes surround the main pool areas and the waterslides.
There are more than just pools when it comes to getting your hair wet. You can also enjoy two racing waterslides and the FlowRider, which allows cruisers to try their skills at surfing or bodyboarding.
Decks and Sun
For those who prefer not to get wet, they can catch some rays on one of the many sun decks. Check out the cabanas on Deck 11, or the loungers and sun chairs that are located on Decks 12 and 13 (suite guests get first pick of the loungers and cabanas!).
Want to get a little sporty (and maybe a little sweaty)? Try one of the outdoor, sun-drenched sports courts, or the rock climbing wall. (If you want to get competitive but need a break from the sun, try the laser tag arena.)
Catch a Show
The main theater on this cruise ship offers a wide array of entertainment, from music to acrobatics. If you go to the ice rink, you can also catch some skating shows.
Invest in a Little “me” Time
While it’s true that this Royal Caribbean ship caters highly to cruising families, if you’re a cruising couple or a single, or even just a parent looking for some alone time, you’ll be glad to know that Voyager of the Seas offers plenty of health and beauty amenities, and the spaces to enjoy them amidst some peace and quiet.
Check out the Vitality Spa on Deck 12, where you can book just about any spa treatment imaginable, from a massage to a facial. The spa also has its own salon, for manicures, pedicures, hair treatments and cuts, shaving and even lash services.
The only downside? Unlike many other Vitality Spas across Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Voyager of the Seas’ spa does not have its own hot tub or thermal room.
Work up a Sweat
For fitness, you’ll also find the ship’s gym on Deck 12, outfitted with all the various workout equipment that you could need. While select classes and gym usage overall are free, you can also find paid classes.
Kids Venues
Royal Caribbean is renowned for its children’s programming, and you should expect no less than the best from the brand when you cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas.
Children, from three years old to 17, can enjoy programming built to their specifications, to meet their individual needs — educational and social.
The younger kids enjoy the Adventure Ocean space, with dedicated areas for each age group and activities led by trained childcare staff.
Some of the activities for the younger kids allow parents and family members to participate, too, so it’s not like you’re just dropping your child off and heading out to do your own thing the entire cruise.
Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean Age Limits – What You Need to Know
The teen hideaway is dubbed “The Living Room” and comes with cool gaming consoles, many hangout areas for socializing and even its own sundeck. Teens will also like the range of events specially catering to them, such as parties and games.
The majority of the children’s programming is free, but select services, such as late-night babysitting, do come with a fee.
Voyager of the Seas Itineraries
Does all of the above sound like just the type of cruising experience you’ve been dreaming of? Check out Voyager of the Seas’ upcoming itineraries and book your cruise today.
Voyager of the Seas FAQ:
The ship boasts three different swimming pools, as well as six hot tubs. There’s an additional adults-only pool in the Solarium and two hot tubs.
The ship is just over 1,020 feet long, and can hold 3,602 passengers at double occupancy, 4,000 passengers at maximum occupancy.
The Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas cruise ship is a member of the Voyager class. It was the first Voyager-class ship to premiere, in 1999. It was followed by Explorer of the Seas in 2000, which was then followed by Adventure of the Seas in 2001. A second generation of Voyager-class ships followed in 2002 and 2003, with Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas.
At the time of launch, Voyager of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world. The vessel only held that title for a short time, though, only a year in total, as it would be overtaken in size by sister ship Explorer of the Seas, but only by a mere 32 gross tonnage (Explorer of the Seas would then be overtaken in size by the next Royal Caribbean ship, in 2002, Navigator of the Seas).
The ship boasted a gross tonnage of 137,276 at the time of launch, which then changed to 138,194 gross tons following a 2014 refit. The ship is just over 1,020 feet long, and can hold 3,602 passengers at double occupancy, 4,000 passengers at maximum occupancy. She fits 1,200 crew members, and has 15 decks.
