Cruise Day 1: Voyager of the Seas...

…is our cruise ship, our home for the next 7 days, and part of Royal Caribbean’s fleet of superb vessels. We boarded hours before sailing time, and the boarding process was efficient and speedy, though 3600 people had to be boarded. The next two hours before sailing was the great adventure of exploring the vast ship and learning of its amenities, and following is a snapshot of some of the facilities we have available to us.

This massive vessel is 1,020 feet long overall, has a waterline beam of 127 feet, a maximum width of 156 feet, weighs 137,276 tons, has 15 decks, and drafts 29 feet. Voyager features the world's first rock climbing wall, first ice-skating rink at sea, a Royal Promenade which is a marble floored street stretching just over 3/4 the length of the ship and featuring shops and light dining venues such as a Ben and Jerry's ice cream parlor and a traditional English pub, and an innovative interactive television service in which the guest can order on demand movies, room service, check their bill and more.

The formal dining area occupies 3 levels, seating some 1800 people in each of the 2 sittings…



The library incorporates 2 levels, providing books you can read, quiet places to read, as well as computers to use…



The large theater, dubbed the La Scala, has comfortable seating on 3 levels for 1200 people and boasts professional audio, staging, and lighting effects.


The promenade offers a café, stores, and more, and our stateroom has a large window looking out onto the promenade. You can see 4 stories of windows on both sides of the corridor. We are on the topmost floor of the promenade.





One of Ellen’s favorite areas is the well-provisioned casino seen below. There are tables for blackjack, etc., as well as many varieties of video slot machines.



Three swimming pools and a half dozen or so hot tubs, surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of lounge chairs and also tables. Most are under the sun, but shaded areas are also available, and three bars keep the people lubricated in the heat.



A wonderfully equipped fitness center is available featuring the latest in machines as well as weights…



The upper deck offers mini-golf, which Ellen is playing here…



…and also provides a basketball court, ping pong, shuffleboard, a 1/5 mile track, and a climbing wall I will be tackling someday soon…



So, that’s a quick tour. Check back here the next few days to see what else we’re up to on this adventure.