Navigator of the Seas: points to person who answers ALL questions?

Question

I am going on a cruise to cozumel and belize city in 2 weeks and its through the navigator of the seas (rccl) i have been on a cruise before, but on NCL's Jewel, which is freestyling, and i was wondering:

1)what the difference is between the formal/set dinners and freestyling.. also

2) how is "teen scene"? do many come in march, if so do they choose to go to the teen club?

3) ports of call and excursions booked-dolphin greeting (CZL), snorkel (BEL)

4) Spa/pool area

5) ATTIRE< ATTIRE<ATTIRE: does a 17 yearold wear sundresses the whole time (for dinners) and then the cocktail dress for formal night??

i will give 10 points to the person who can best answer ALL 5 of my questions

Answer 1

1. Free style eating is any restaurant at any time.  You just have to make reservations.  This style is only found on NCL.  Royal Carribean has assigned dining.  You will dine at the same time each night with the same people.  However if you do not want to dine in the dining room there is always a buffett, and the food on Royal Caribbean is wonderful even at the buffett.  The buffett has more than 1 type of food.  There is asian, italian, mexican etc.

2.  I think March is school break, if that is the case there will be plenty of teens there.  yes there is a teens club it is optional.  There is a teen lounge area for dancing and mingling.

3.  Belize is great for snorkling, dolphin greeting is also good.  Cozumel is also good for snorkling.    I don&#039;t know what other ports you are calling upon.

4.Large pool area with two or four spas.  Buffett is only steps away so you can take your lunch there.

5.  You can wear any casual attire for dinner but no jeans, shorts, sandles or tank tops for guys.  Formal night you can wear a really nice dress.  Doesn&#039;t necessarily have to be a cocktail dress.  Just look really nice!

You will have a great time on this ship.  You will even enjoy the shows.  Entertainment is geared for all ages.

Have fun!

Answer 2

I have been on many NCL AND Royal Caribbean cruises among my almost 20 cruises.  So I can tell you the differences.  

On NCL, as you know, you have the freestyle dinner dining where you go to dinner any time after about 6:00 PM in the main dining room.  Or, you make a reservation for one of the specialty restaurants.  Or, you just go eat in the buffet or one of the other places the ship might have for you to get food.  Or you order room service.  The freestyle cruises have an informal dress with many people even dressing informal on formal nights.  When you go to dinner you almost always get a different table and wait staff each day.  

On Royal Caribbean cruises the process is almost the same.   The main differences are (1) you must pick a dinner seating time (usually 6:00 PM or 8:30 PM); (2) you have the same table, table mates and wait staff for the whole cruise; and (3) more people generally dress up on formal nights.  Just like on NCL you can (1) reserve dinner in a specialty restaurant (RC ships generally do not have as many specialty restaurants as NCL ships);  (2) go to the buffet (which is called the Windjammer Cafe); (3) go to one of the other eating places, or order the free room service.  The food and menu selections on RC are as good, if not better, than the food on NCL.  One thing I like about the RC dinner menu is if you do not like any of the special for the day the RC menu has standing alternative selection (grilled chicken, grilled salmon or steak) that you can order instead any and every day.

I have not sailed on the Navigator but I have sailed on two of its twins sister Voyager Class ships which are identical, the Adventure and the Mariner of the Seas. So I am familiar with what is on board the ship.

First of all you should click on this link to a virtual view and tour of the Voyager class ships:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/multimedia...

It will help you see and understand some of what is on board and where it is.

At the front of the ship on one of deck 11 there is a full service gymnasium will all types of exercise equipment. Then there is a covered pool area next to that that has a pool and two hot tubs. Then you go further back and step outside and there are two pools and 4 hot tubs with lounge chairs and bar service. Then toward the back of the ship on deck 12 is the kids area called Adventure Ocean, the Video Arcade, the Teen Disco, then on deck 13 is the Rock Climbing wall, the basketball court, the in-line roller skating track, a mini-golf course, and Johnny Rockets. So if you like these type activities the back of the ship up top is the place to go.

When you first board the ship the place to go to get something to eat (lunch will be ready) is the Windjammer Cafe which is on deck 11.

The ship has a pedestrian mall down its center and there is a place to shop and get food 24/7, including hot pizza.

The ship also has an internet cafe on deck 8, and a library on deck 9. The ice skating rink is on deck 3 in the center of the ship, and there is also a place where you can record yourself doing karaoke. There will be a free ice show in that room that you should not miss.

So the ship has a lot for your to do and see.  There is no way to be positive as to how many teens will be on board when you cruise.  Anything that I tell you would be purely a guess.

The dress on ship is casual all day until 6:00PM. So take:

- swim wear, (a couple)

- shorts, jeans, &quot;T&quot; shirts, tank tops,

- sun glasses and sun screen, lotions,

- your snorkel equipment if you have it,

- a book if you are a reader,

- your music player,

- sneakers and clothes to workout in if you like to use the gym,

- good walking shoes,

- your camera,

- other personal toiletries.

Your cabin will have towels and soap provided, including pool towels. It will also have a generic hair shampoo so you do not need to bring that unless you like a specific brand. They do not provide tooth paste, mouth wash or lotions. They DO provide a hair dryer.

After 6:00 PM they request that you wear &quot;sports or resort casual&quot; attire. That&#039;s attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, (like a bank employee), shirt with a collar, slacks, skirt, blouse, etc. You can still wear shorts and swim wear in the pools and spas but not in public areas like dining rooms and restaurants, show rooms, bars, casino, etc. You can wear jeans and sandals in the evening but not in the main dining room. You can wear them in the buffet and walking around ship, in the lounge, show room, casino. Don&#039;t over pack , take clothes that you can mix and match tops and bottoms and plan to wear each piece twice.

Your cruise will have a formal night and on RC ships more people dress up than on NCL cruises.  BUT, its up to you as to what you wear.  You will be OK as long as you are at least sports/resort casual after 6:00 PM each day.