Having never sailed on a Royal Caribbean cruise before I was very excited to board Navigator of the Seas with my friend, seasoned cruiser and Crown & Anchor Platinum member, Sherri.
Meeting onboard Pride of America in Hawaii last year, it was so refreshing to cruise with a Florida local who knows the product well and is as passionate about this industry as I am.
Something I have never advocated are cruise lines that maintain a theme across their vessels but, this is something I have thoroughly changed my tune about after my first night onboard Navigator.
Touring Allure of the Seas the day before boarding, I was surprised to notice how similar the layout is.
For the first time ever, I actually knew my way around the ship within hours!
Sharing such amenities as the Schooner Bar, Vintages and Windjammer, it wasn’t long before I was helping seasoned cruiser Sherri find her way around this beautiful ship.
Disappointed that the buffet wasn’t open earlier, we headed to Café Promenade for a sandwich but realised that everyone else on the ship was thinking the same thing it seems. The line wound down the Promenade and I have to say it wasn’t the best welcome aboard I’ve ever experienced, however, I suppose the restaurants do have to close at some point to refresh the stations for the delectable food we’d experience later in the evening.
Sailaway party is always the most exciting time for me. It heralds the beginning of a new adventure at sea and it’s the perfect excuse to indulge in your first cocktail (potentially of many) of your cruise.
Our bar tenders Chris and “Bruno” made our first experience at the bar 
overlooking the pool deck a memorable one and set the tone for the fabulous service we’d receive for the rest of the evening.
The steel drums were playing and everyone was crossing fingers that the storm that looked as if it were about to hit would remain at bay.
Watching the passengers move so fluidly to the Calypso music was hypnotic and I can safely say that I have never seen better dancers on a cruise in my life!
Setting the mood perfectly for the rest of the evening, Sherri and I enjoyed the sushi in the dedicated Asian buffet, Jade, before getting ready for the 70’s street party in the Royal Promenade.
Hosting a party along that area of the ship is the best idea with such a ‘Carnivale’ type atmosphere for all of the passengers. Lining the pubs, stores and cafes, people donned their boogie shoes and took a step back a few decades to the time when polyester was the key to a stylish outfit and being good at the ‘Bus Stop’ was the best way to win over the ladies.
The 70’s hits made way for more recent chart toppers in the two storey nightclub 
‘The Dungeon’ and those impressive dancers from the Sailaway Party hit the floor in a major way until the wee hours of the morning.
With Sherri preferring to retire early, I met a group of New Yorkers and was spun around the dance floor like I was a competitor on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.
That just doesn’t happen in the bars in Sydney…perhaps I’ll consider the Merengue competition later this week!
