Questioning what it’s wish to set sail on the biggest cruise ship on the earth? On March 4, 2022, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Surprise of the Seas took its maiden voyage, and we had been on board to take a look at all the motion on the biggest ship on the earth. This ship, the fifth of the Oasis class ships, can accommodate as much as 6,988 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 236,857, with 18 decks. The world’s largest cruise ship is gigantic and might maintain you and your loved ones occupied for your complete crusing.
Do you wish to zip line at sea? Watch excessive divers bounce from the highest of the ship right into a pool within the aqua theater? Experience a life-sized carousel or sit in Central Park listening to jazz? All of this and way more can be found to friends crusing on this brand-new ship.
The Surprise of the Seas is at present crusing out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale Florida beginning March 2022, earlier than crusing to Barcelona later this spring. Our seven-day crusing visited Labadee, Haiti, San Juan Puerto Rico (the place we had a good time exploring Outdated City San Juan), Nassau Bahamas, and Excellent Day at CocoCay.
Disclosure: We obtained a complimentary media crusing on the Surprise of the Seas. All opinions are my very own. I’ve additionally paid my very own method on Royal Caribbean previously and have been on different press journeys.
Evaluation of Royal Caribbean’s Surprise of the Seas – the World’s Largest Cruise Ship
Neighborhoods on Surprise of the Seas
Like the opposite Oasis-class ships, Surprise of the Seas has separate neighborhood areas for leisure and actions. Nonetheless, this ship now presents an eighth neighborhood. The brand new Suite Neighborhood, positioned on the highest decks of the ship, is the place you’ll discover the Royal suite class, in addition to a mixed space with the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen (the devoted restaurant completely for suite friends).
A ravishing suite solar deck space presents a bar, solar chairs, in addition to an infinity plunge pool with in-water pool loungers. As well as, the suite neighborhood presents the Final Household Suite. This enormous suite consists of two tales of enjoyable (together with sport tables, an in-suite slide, and a balcony sizzling tub) and friends have entry to probably the most luxurious facilities on website.
Different neighborhoods on the Surprise of the Seas embrace the Boardwalk, providing a full carousel, aqua theater, Sugar Seaside sweet store, youngsters’ store, Playmakers Sports activities Bar and Arcade, Johnny Rockets, and Boardwalk Canine Home.
Central Park is my favourite space on the ship. This peaceable atrium presents timber and vegetation, in addition to outlets and eating places together with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, and Park Cafe. There’s additionally the Rising Tide Bar, which strikes up and down from the Royal Promenade to the Central Park neighborhood each half-hour.
The Leisure Place, positioned on deck 4, is the place you’ll discover most of the leisure venues on the ship. These embrace Studio B, the Attic, On line casino Royal and Card Room, and the Royal Theater.
Touring with youngsters? They’ll wish to go to the Youth Zone. This space presents a Royal Escape Room (which wasn’t but open on our crusing) and the Journey Ocean Youngsters Membership space. Inside this house, you’ll discover the AO Youngsters, Infants, and Junior’s areas, the play house, the workshop, and the AO theater.
The Royal Promenade is the central space of the ship. On the Surprise of the Sea, there are a number of outlets (together with the primary merchandise store), Sorrento’s pizza, Boleros, the Bionic Bar, Visitor Companies, the Voom web assist desk, the shore tour desk, Highlight Karaoke, Starbucks, and Cafe Promenade.
Seeking to chill out or work out in your journey? The Vitality Spa and Health Heart on the Surprise of the Seas is big, and in addition presents the Vitality Cafe with contemporary juices and smoothies. Therapies on the Vitality Spa embrace salon and nail providers in addition to massages, spa remedies, a thermal spa, and extra. The health middle is big with a great deal of gear together with a number of Peloton bikes.
The Sports activities Zone is without doubt one of the extra spectacular areas on the ship. There are such a lot of thrilling actions together with sports activities courts (for tennis, basketball, volleyball, and extra), ping-pong tables, a zipper line, mini golf, the Final Abyss slides, a FlowRider, and the Surprise Playscape (a splash space for youthful youngsters). I additionally noticed fairly a couple of Pickleball gamers having fun with the courts.
Actions on The Surprise of the Seas
Along with the actions positioned within the varied neighborhoods on the Surprise of the Seas, there are such a lot of different issues to do – even when you’re at sea. These embrace scheduled actions and occasions, like Captain’s Nook (Q&A with the ship’s captain), karaoke, trivia, sport exhibits, spa seminars, artwork auctions, on line casino actions, and Bingo. An inventory of those occasions, together with their location and occasions, are positioned within the Royal Caribbean app and the each day Cruise Compass.
Laser Tag is obtainable at scheduled occasions within the Studio B venue. That venue, dwelling of the ice present, additionally hosts open ice skating hours all through the crusing. Ice skates can be found to borrow, so that you gained’t have to fret about packing your individual.
There are a selection of swimming pools on the primary pool deck. All have in-water loungers. On one in every of our at-sea days, I loved sitting in one in every of these loungers as I learn a ebook. There are additionally a number of sizzling tubs and ample seating across the swimming pools – each with and with out shade.
Through the day, there may be a lot leisure, together with stay bands, DJs, and a large film display. In search of a deal with? Gentle-served ice cream is accessible at Sprinkles, proper close to the swimming pools.
Need extra thrills? Splashaway Bay, a youngsters’ splash space, can be positioned on the pool deck and presents small slides and splash zones. There are additionally the three thrill waterslides of the Excellent Storm. There are additionally two climbing partitions positioned one degree above the Boardwalk. You additionally gained’t wish to miss the Final Abyss – a dry slide that goes from the sports activities deck right down to the Boardwalk.
These 16+ who want to chill out will wish to go to the Solarium. This space presents plunge swimming pools, whirlpools, lounge chairs, and a bar in a superbly lined, climate-controlled space. The Solarium was my favourite place to take a seat and chill out throughout our crusing on the Surprise of the Seas.
Teenagers can be blissful to search out devoted areas for them to get pleasure from. These embrace the Social100 and the Patio personal areas.
Eating places on the Surprise of the Seas
Like the opposite Royal Caribbean ships, the Surprise of the Seas presents each complimentary and specialty eating places with a great deal of eating choices. Complimentary eating places and cafes are included in your cruise fare, whereas specialty eating places are provided at a further charge.
The Major Eating Room is the usual place to get pleasure from dinner. There are two separate eating occasions, along with My Time eating, the place you possibly can go to at any time in a selected window. Reservations for My Time eating may also be made within the app or in the primary eating room.
There’s additionally the Windjammer Cafe, the buffet on the ship. The Surprise of the Seas presents the biggest Windjammer but, and it’s completely enormous, wrapping round a complete part of the ship. There are a great deal of seating, together with some quieter tables within the middle between the 2 buffet areas. Presently, there are crew members serving buffet objects and getting drinks, though I’m unsure if that may change sooner or later.
Different complimentary venues embrace the Park Cafe (sandwiches and salads), Sorrento’s Pizza, Cafe Promenade, El Loco Recent (contemporary Mexican meals by the Sports activities Zone), Solarium Bistro, and Boardwalk Canine Home (sizzling canines on the Boardwalk).
There are quite a few specialty eating places on the ship. These can both be booked and bought individually or as a part of the Limitless Eating Package deal. Make your specialty eating reservations as quickly as attainable, as these do ebook up.
New on the Surprise of the Seas is the Mason Jar, providing upscale Southern consolation meals. The Mason Jar presents brunch and dinner, and we had been capable of get pleasure from a scrumptious brunch on our crusing. We tried the Pink Velvet pancakes and deviled eggs, and so they had been completely scrumptious.
Don’t miss the drinks – which embrace a PB&J Outdated Long-established, which has a miniature peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a garnish. The Mason Jar bar is open to friends with out reservations, so if you happen to can’t get in to eat you should still wish to cease by for a drink and to benefit from the band. Gentle bites are additionally provided on the bar.
We additionally loved dinner at Wonderland, an progressive and imaginative restaurant that can be provided on the Odyssey of the Seas. Wonderland is an expertise, however the meals can be scrumptious. As you enter the restaurant, you’ll be handled to the attractive decor and can be handed a clean menu. Use the included paintbrushes and water to disclose the contents of the menu.
Your server will choose your starters, however you’ll be capable to select your principal entree. I cherished my Branzino entree, and would undoubtedly choose it once more. Should you aren’t an adventurous eater, nonetheless, I believe I’d suggest attempting one other restaurant.
As a local New Englander, I used to be particularly excited to attempt Hooked Seafood. This specialty seafood restaurant presents a uncooked bar at sea, in addition to seafood and shellfish specialties (together with lobster). My favourite merchandise was the soft-shelled craft, though the lobster was scrumptious as properly.
Different specialty eating places on the Surprise of the Seas embrace Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, Izumi, Playmakers Sports activities Bar and Arcade (a la carte), Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar (the wine bar presents a la carte appetizers), Johnny Rockets, Sugar Seaside, and Starbucks.
In search of a drink? The ship is full of small bars each indoors and outside. These embrace the Lime and Coconut pool bars, the Trellis Bar, Cantina Fresca (new Mexican bar at El Loco Recent), the Bionic Bar, the Schooner Bar, Rising Tide, Bionic Bar, Wipeout Bar, Cask and Clipper, and the Vue Bar (a brand-new bar exterior Solarium providing attractive ocean views). Music Corridor is one other nice bar venue providing stay music.
Associated: Learn our assessment of Attract of the Seas, sister ship to the Surprise.
Facilities on the Surprise of the Sea
This enormous ship presents so many incredible facilities for households. Some are provided freed from cost whereas others can be found for a further charge.
Voom Web is obtainable to suite friends at no cost, and to different friends for a each day charge. There are two choices – one with customary web and one with streaming capabilities. On my Royal Caribbean sailings, I’ve at all times been impressed with the standard of the web – particularly at sea.
If you wish to use the complimentary Royal Caribbean app, you utilize the web for something on the app with out having a Voom package deal. The app is a good way to remain in contact with every little thing occurring on the ship. You can too see deck plans, make exercise/restaurant reservations, and examine your account steadiness by means of the app. Whereas there was once a charge for messaging different passengers in your cruise by means of the app, that’s now free.
There are additionally a number of outlets on board that provide many alternative objects. Along with Royal Caribbean-themed merchandise, you’ll discover watches, purses, jewellery, fragrance, cosmetics, in addition to private necessities. There are additionally self-service merchandising machines providing many objects that you could have forgotten at dwelling.
Staterooms on the Surprise of the Seas
Throughout our crusing on the Surprise of the Seas, we had an ocean-view balcony stateroom. I discovered this room to be actually comfy. It has a king mattress, a pull-out couch, a lot of space for storing, a toilet with a bathe, a large-screen tv, a desk, and a fridge. The balcony is giant sufficient for 2 chairs and a small desk and was the right spot to get pleasure from a cup of espresso whereas watching the ocean.
These staterooms have a mix of bathe gel/shampoo. Should you’d choose to have a separate shampoo and a conditioner, I’d suggest bringing them your self or buying them within the merchandising machines.
Due to the design of the Oasis Class ships, balcony rooms could have views apart from the ocean. The Surprise of the Seas additionally presents balcony staterooms with a Central Park or Boardwalk view. There are additionally Ocean View rooms with a porthole window and no balcony.
Suites on the Surprise of the Seas embrace junior suites, grand suites, and the Final Household Suite. I had the chance to tour a grand suite. It presents a balcony, small seating space, lavatory with double sinks and bathtub, king mattress, pull-out sofa, espresso maker, and extra. I actually loved the Suite Neighborhood – the proximity to Coastal Kitchen, Suite Lounge, and the Suite Sundeck is a big profit.
Leisure on Surprise of the Seas
Like different Royal Caribbean ships, the Surprise of the Seas has some incredible leisure choices on the schedule. A number of the everlasting leisure wasn’t 100% full, however we actually loved what we noticed.
InTENse is an all-female aqua present held within the Aqua Theater alongside the Boardwalk. It’s excessive vitality and consists of slackline performers, excessive divers, dancers, and a lot extra. We acquired a preview of the present and it was incredible.
There’s additionally an ice present, held in Studio B within the Leisure neighborhood. This present celebrates the 4 seasons and is superb. I’d undoubtedly see it greater than as soon as if it was attainable.
Later this 12 months, the Surprise of the Seas will debut Effectors 2, a continuation of the present first proven on the Odyssey of the Seas. Within the meantime, there are many different leisure choices together with Faucet Manufacturing unit, magicians, comedians, and musical acts. We missed seeing the present Voices however heard incredible issues about it.
Crew Members on the Surprise of the Seas
Whereas the meals, zip line, outlets, water slides, swimming pools, carousel, and different facilities/actions are wonderful, the crew members are really what makes the expertise particular. Throughout our crusing, we had been so impressed with each crew member we encountered. They actually appeared to make our expertise distinctive.
Which exercise on the Surprise of the Seas can be your favourite?
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