What Do I Need For My Cruise Aboard The Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas?

You need this T-Shirt Below! 🚢🍸👕

Well, “need” may be a bit strong, but I’m sure you’ll have fun exploring all the various themed bars onboard the Navigator of the Seas ship.

The Navigator of the Seas is currently based out of Los Angeles, California, USA. We consider the Navigator to be our “Home Ship” within the Royal Caribbean fleet. We have sailed on the Navigator practically every month since January 2021, so it holds a special place in our hearts.

In mid-February 2024, the Navigator of the Seas sailed to Singapore for drydock maintenance and several upgrades. It’s scheduled to return to Los Angeles in April 2024.

We feel privileged to have sailed on the Navigator in February to say goodbye to many of our favorite employees who will not be returning to the Navigator after she returns to LA from Singapore. We have already booked several cruises aboard the Navigator of the Seas in 2024, including an April cruise to welcome her back home to Los Angeles.

I’m looking forward to seeing the updates and changes that were made on our home ship. I’m not sharing this to brag, but to emphasize that we LOVE ❤️ The Navigator of the Seas, and we have 🔍 explored this 🚢 ship aft to forward, and port to starboard.

If this is your first cruise, then you may have lots of general questions about cruising. I’ve hosted over 25 group cruises, so I’ll address many of the questions people have asked me before taking their first cruise.

How Big is the Navigator of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean has some of the largest cruise ships on the ocean. The largest and newest ship in the RCI fleet is called the Icon of the Seas and it set sail in January 2024. By tonnage, the Icon (251K) is almost twice the size of the Navigator (138K).

By no means am I saying the Navigator is a small ship. I was surprised to learn, that there are 4 classes of ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet which are smaller than the Navigator. The Grandeur which is currently the smallest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet weighs in at 74K tons.

As a Voyager Class Ship, I feel the Navigator is the perfect size for a first cruise. It holds 3,286 passengers and 1,213 crew members. There’s plenty of room to spread out on the ship. Unless there’s a special event at a specific area of the ship, I’ve never felt it was crowded. The Navigator is not too big and it’s not too small. As Miss Goldilocks would agree, we think it’s just right.

For people who think they might feel confined on a ship at sea, the Navigator provides plenty of room to walk around. If I avoid the elevators (which is one of my “pro-tips” to keeping ahead of the buffet calories), I can easily maintain my 13,000-15,000 steps a day. PS – I rarely use the fitness center (although, I probably should visit more often).

Is There A Spa & Fitness Center? 🏋

Yes! As I mentioned above, there is a fitness center onboard with all of the familiar machines, weights, and areas for yoga and stretching. Use of the fitness center is included in your cruise fare.

If you would like to take classes, these are usually offered for an additional fee. If the gym and workout classes are your cup of tea, then you may want to consider a Fitness Pass which will give you access to all of the instructor-led classes and workouts.

If you enjoy being pampered and a massage is more your speed, make sure to tour the spa on the first day of your cruise. There are usually raffles where a lucky guest (or guests) will win spa credit for the many services provided by the spa. There are also Manager’s Specials which will give you a discounted rate on specific spa packages on certain days of your cruise voyage.

Can I Get A Haircut On The Navigator of the Seas Ship? ✂️💈💇🏻‍♂️

Yes! Sometimes, I’m so busy with work and life that when I arrive at the port to board my “home away from home,” I realize that I really need a haircut.

If you’re like me, then you’re in luck. You can get a shave and/or a haircut through the spa. I’ve had my hair cut on board several times, (usually when the wife is getting a massage). My haircut in December 2023 was $59 excluding tip.

Speaking Of Hair, Are There Blow Dryers On The Ship?

Yes! Blow dryers are provided in your stateroom. Depending on the configuration of your cabin, you may find it in the bathroom, or sometimes in the top desk drawer in front of the vanity mirror. If it’s not there, your room steward will bring you one.

Now, if you want a stylist to blow dry your hair, you’re also in luck. TO DRY FOR® is located on the Promenade Deck and they offer a wide range of services. Last year on a fundraising cruise, my sister felt like she wanted to get extra fancy for the elegant formal night dinner. She visited TO DRY FOR® and walked to dinner with a magnificent, fresh new hairstyle.

Also, if you want to get a manicure or pedicure, those services are available onboard. 💅

WAIT!!! Did You Say FORMAL NIGHT?

Not to worry! Formal is not so formal anymore. In the past, tuxedos and evening gowns were the norm and a suit was barely passable. Nowadays, a guy in a suit is going ALL OUT. There are designated evenings for “Formal Night” and the amount of Formal Night evenings depends on the length of your cruise.

The dress code is very relaxed and most anything goes, except for swimwear, sleeveless T-shirts, and cut-off jean shorts. But don’t let the lack of a dress code deter you from wearing your best!

I love dressing up on formal nights. It gives me a chance to select a nice pair of cufflinks, reach into my bow tie collection for the perfect color to complement my wife’s sparkly evening gown, and dust off a suit jacket, or maybe that tuxedo jacket in the back of my closet.

Here’s a FUN tip. You can create THEME NIGHTS for your family & group. These are always a hoot and we have so much fun coordinating our group t-shirts and outfits. A few of the favorite themes we have done in the past are; Superheroes, Roaring 20’s, Pirates, and Star Trek VS Star Wars. We have even selected a color theme, like all RED, WHITE, BLACK, or color combos like Black & Gold, etc.

On the Navigator of the Seas, on certain nights they have a 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s “flashback” dance party, so feel free to combine your dinner dress-up night with the dance party of the evening!

If you aren’t into dressing up, you can always visit the Windjammer for dinner on formal dress-up nights, but honestly, the dress code is so relaxed that I’ve seen people in the dining room with t-shirts and jeans. It’s a cruise, relax, enjoy, and leave the stress at home!

One last thing to add regarding dressing up. There is a portrait studio onboard the ship, so if you want to take some “glamour shots” they have various backgrounds each night of the cruise. You can even book a private photography session if you are celebrating something special.

When we are planning on taking formal photos, we will usually take those on one of the Formal Nights. We’re already dressed up, so we might as well capture the moment on camera.

Is There A Royal Caribbean App?

Yes, and I recommend you download it before the cruise. Apps always have room for improvement, but overall, it’s a very handy tool for your cruise vacation.

In most cases, you can take care of your entire cruise setup, preboarding, boarding, and spending account through the app. While connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi, the app can provide access to the daily activity schedule and planner, restaurant menus, and your onboard account balance.

If you decide not to buy a WI-FI package, you can keep in touch with your friends and family onboard through the app messaging system.

To download the Royal Caribbean app, you can click on the following link: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/booked/royal-app

Is There WI-FI Onboard The Ship?

PRO-TIP regarding your mobile phone! Be sure to set it to “airplane mode” when the ship leaves port. Your phone will automatically search for a mobile signal to keep your phone connected to a network. If it latches onto the CELLULAR AT SEA antenna, then you’ll be in for a BIG surprise when you see your ROAMING charges.

Also, be sure to check in with your mobile phone carrier before traveling internationally. You may need to add or upgrade your phone plan so you can make calls and send texts at international ports. If you’re lucky, you may already have a phone plan including international roaming, texting, and data.

Now, back to the WI-FI question. Yes, there is Wi-Fi onboard. The next question is, how connected do you want to be while on your cruise vacation?

You can connect the Royal Caribbean App to the ship’s WI-FI for FREE. Personally, this is the height of connectivity I usually choose to have during the cruise.

If you want or NEED to have access to the outside world, then you can purchase a VOOM SURF + STREAM Internet Package for use on your cruise vacation.

You can set this up for 1 device or multiple devices. You can even increase the amount of bandwidth needed to match your type of planned usage; social media, email, Netflix video streaming, etc. You can “share” one internet package among multiple devices, but only one device can be signed in at a time.

You can purchase an internet package for 24 hours or the entire length of your cruise. It’s your cruise, so you do you!

If you have an international roaming plan like I do, you can follow my lead. I use my phone to jump online when I’m in port and to take care of any pressing business needs, emails, and phone calls. When I need access to email and the internet, I may purchase an internet package for 24 hours as needed. Otherwise, I do my best to stay focused on my cruise vacation. “Work hard and play hard” is my motto!

Is There A Casino Onboard?

If you’re on Deck 5 and strolling along the Promenade Deck between To Dry For and The Bamboo Room, you may notice a staircase leading down to the Casino Royale.

Yes! The Casino Royale is located on Deck 4 of the Navigator of the Seas. Personally, I love poker and my wife enjoys slot machines. As you may know, Las Vegas Casinos have loyalty programs that reward members with free drinks & discounted rooms. The Casino Royale also has a Rewards Program called, Club Royale.

If you decide to gamble at the slot machines or table games, present your Room Key Card to the Dealer, or insert your Key Card into the slot machine. Your Room Key is your Player’s Card. You’ll earn points as you play.

Would you like to get free drinks in the casino or earn discounted or free cruises? My answer to this question is, YES! I learned about the Club Royale program from a fellow passenger in January 2022. What he shared with us seemed too good to be true.

My wife & I decided to test out the Club Royale offers and now we skip the drink package because we get free drinks in the casino. Did I mention we also cruise at least once a month and have done so consistently since September 2022? I even switched from poker to slots to make sure I’m PRIME.

Just REMEMBER! The job of the Casino is to make money. Can passengers win BIG? Yes, but they can also lose too! Why do you think casinos console the big players with “free stuff” which keeps them coming back?

Before your cruise, decide what your casino budget will be and stick to it. Casinos can be fun! Gamble responsibly! Okay, I’m getting off of my soapbox and ending my public service announcement.

One more thing about casinos on cruise ships. I think cruises can be a super budget-friendly way to vacation. When we booked our first DISNEY cruise, I noticed there was no casino onboard. If you look at the sticker price of a DISNEY cruise, you’ll also realize they don’t need that casino on the ship, because they got you to pay your money BEFORE you boarded the ship.  

I’m not knocking DISNEY. In fact, we are annual pass holders and we’re heading to Disney World in March 2024 with our bestie. I feel that DISNEY is one of the BEST cruise lines in the industry. They know who they are catering to, and they serve them VERY well.

What I do want to point out is that if there is a casino onboard your ship, when comparing stateroom to stateroom, you probably paid less than a comparable DISNEY cruise. So who’s paying for the price difference? The people in the casino! They are helping to offset the price of your inexpensive cruise vacation. <rant over>

What Is Club Royale?

Do I love CLUB ROYALE? Yes, I do! I consider my wife a gamification expert. If there’s a way to maximize the benefits of a program, she’s probably already figured it out. Of all the Ship-based casino programs we have tried, we feel that Club Royale is the most transparent.

You have from April 1st to March 31st to qualify for PRIME and higher loyalty tiers. Using the PRIME example, once you have reached the required points for PRIME, you are ranked as PRIME until March 31st of the following calendar year. So, if you qualify for PRIME status in April 2024 you remain in PRIME status until March 31, 2026. If you haven’t earned the required points to retain your PRIME status by March 31, 2026, then on April 1st, 2026 you need to start all over to earn your PRIME status again.

What Are Some PRIME Perks With Club Royale?

PRIME is the first tier that unlocks FREE drinks at the Casino Bar when playing in the Casino Royale. You can also earn discounted, and even free internet packages through the casino. When you earn PRIME, be sure to keep an eye on your email inbox, because that’s when the discounted and FREE cruise offers start arriving.

Oh boy, I didn’t plan to talk about the casino this much, but since you have read this far, I’ll share one of my FAVORITE perks. If you have a friend, family member, or spouse who also visits the cruise casino and receives cruise offers, you can COMBINE offers for upgrades.

I’ll use a personal example to illustrate some casino upgrade magic. I don’t gamble much, so my usual offer is for an interior cabin. My wife plays more than I do, so she usually receives better cruise offers than I do. If we stay in the SAME cabin and combine offers, my interior offer bumps her ocean view offer to a balcony cabin. NICE!!! When she receives a balcony offer, my interior offer bumps our cabin to a Junior Suite. Yahoo!!!

How Do I Find Out If I Earned A Free Cruise?

About 2 to 3 weeks after your cruise sailing visit this website: https://ClubRoyaleOffers.com/

Have your Crown & Anchor number handy because you’ll need that number along with your last name to see if you have any pending awards.

If EARNED TIER CREDITS shows 0, then the system hasn’t been updated yet. You should see the total amount of Tier Credits you earned since April 1.

So, What’s This Drink Package You Mentioned?

Drinks can be a fun part of a vacation! Drinks can also be expensive depending on your “poison” of choice. Most beers onboard are about $8-10. most cocktails are about $13-16.

If you plan on having more than 5 drinks a day, then a drink package might be a cost-efficient way to enjoy drinks on your cruise vacation. The Deluxe Beverage Package also includes juices and coffee in addition to sodas, cocktails, beer, wine, and champagne.

There is a Starbucks onboard the Navigator of the Seas, but the drink package does NOT include beverages from the Starbucks Brand Store. Don’t fret though! If you love your Starbucks branded coffee, you can visit the Cafe Promenade and order your Starbucks Frappuccino, cappuccino, and other coffee beverages which ARE included in the Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Cheers! 🥂

Happy Cruising! 💎🚢👕

Al💚Ha