So, you're looking at a cruise. Specifically, you're looking at a ship that isn't the newest, shiniest, or largest floating city in the world. Honestly, that’s usually where people trip up when booking an Adventure of the Seas tour. They see the massive Icon or Wonder class ships on TV and expect every Royal Caribbean vessel to have a literal park in the middle of it. Adventure doesn't have a park. It doesn’t have a diving theater. But it has something else: a layout that actually makes sense and a price tag that doesn’t require a second mortgage.
I’ve spent a lot of time walking these decks. If you’ve never been on a Voyager-class ship, you’re in for a specific kind of vibe. It’s the "Goldilocks" of the fleet. Not too small to be boring, not too big to be exhausting. When you take an Adventure of the Seas tour of the public spaces, you realize the ship was designed during an era where the ocean was still the main attraction, though the 2018/2019 refurbishments definitely added some "new ship" teeth to the experience.
The Royal Promenade is the Heartbeat
You walk in and it hits you. The Royal Promenade. It’s basically a mall at sea, but less depressing than your local suburban shopping center. This was revolutionary when the ship launched. It’s a three-deck-high canyon of shops, bars, and cafes. If you’re doing a self-guided Adventure of the Seas tour once you board, start here. It’s where you’ll find the Cafe Promenade.
Pro tip: The coffee at the Cafe Promenade is included in your fare, but the specialty stuff costs extra. The little sandwiches they put out at 11:00 PM are weirdly addictive. I don't know why, but a ham and cheese croissant hits differently when you're in the middle of the Atlantic.
The Duck and Dog Pub is also on the Promenade. It’s dark, wood-paneled, and serves a decent pint. It’s the kind of place where you lose track of time while a guy with an acoustic guitar plays "Sweet Caroline" for the four-thousandth time. It feels like a real pub. That’s a recurring theme on this ship—things feel "real" rather than "simulated."
Getting Wet (and Wild) on the Top Decks
The 2018 dry dock was a big deal for this ship. They added the "Perfect Storm" water slides. These aren't just little plastic chutes for toddlers. The Cyclone and Typhoon slides actually hang over the side of the ship. Looking down at the blue water while spinning through a clear tube is... an experience.
You’ve also got the FlowRider. For the uninitiated, it’s a surf simulator. Most people just wipe out immediately. It’s a spectator sport, really. Grab a drink from the Solarium bar, find a seat, and watch people get pummeled by 30,000 gallons of rushing water. It’s strangely therapeutic.
Then there's the Splashaway Bay. This is the "bucket of water on the head" zone for kids. If you don't have kids, stay away. It’s loud. It’s wet. It’s chaotic. If you do have kids, it’s a godsend because they will disappear into that jungle gym for three hours while you read a book in a lounge chair.
📖 Related: Food in Kerala India: What Most People Get Wrong About God's Own Kitchen
The Solarium: The Adult Escape
The Solarium on Adventure is one of my favorite spots, but it’s not covered. On some Royal ships, the Solarium has a glass roof. Not here. It’s open-air. This is great for the Caribbean because you get the breeze, but it’s less ideal if you’re doing an Adventure of the Seas tour in New England or Canada during the shoulder season. It’s restricted to ages 16 and up. It’s quieter. It’s where the "real" vacation happens.
What People Get Wrong About the Cabins
Let’s be real for a second. The rooms are where the ship shows its age. They are clean. They are functional. But they aren't "modern" in the way a hotel room in Vegas is modern. You’re going to see a lot of wood tones. Peach and teal accents. It’s a bit of a throwback.
If you are booking, try to get a "Virtual Balcony" interior room if you’re on a budget. They have a floor-to-ceiling high-def screen that broadcasts a live feed of the outside. It’s a gimmick, sure, but it stops that "I’m living in a closet" feeling.
Storage is actually better on these older ships than on some newer ones. The designers hadn't quite moved to the "minimalist" (read: fewer drawers) style yet. You can actually unpack your suitcase.
- Inside Cabins: Small. No window. Perfect if you only plan to sleep there.
- Oceanview: You get a porthole. Great for checking the weather.
- Balcony: The gold standard. Having your own private space to watch the pier disappear is worth the extra $200.
- Suites: You get a gold SeaPass card. This gets you into the "Suite Lounge." The concierge can handle your specialty dining reservations, which is a massive time-saver.
Eating Your Way Through the Deck Plan
Main Dining Room (MDR) or Buffet? That’s the eternal question. The MDR on Adventure is three stories tall. It’s grand. It feels like Titanic without the iceberg. The food is... consistent. You’ll get a decent steak, a good pasta, and that famous flourless chocolate cake.
Windjammer is the buffet. It’s at the back of the ship (the aft). The view is incredible. The food is varied. Is it five-star dining? No. It’s a buffet. But the curry station is surprisingly legit. Royal Caribbean has a lot of international crew members, and the authentic spices in the Indian and Filipino dishes at the buffet are often the best things on the menu.
Specialty Dining: Is it worth it?
You’ve got Chops Grille (the steakhouse), Giovanni’s Table (Italian), and Izumi (Sushi).
Chops is the heavyweight. If you want a thick cut of meat and a baked potato the size of a football, go here.
Giovanni’s is more casual. The lasagna is better than what you’ll find in the MDR.
Izumi is hidden away on Deck 11. It’s quiet. The ramen is a hidden gem.
👉 See also: Taking the Ferry to Williamsburg Brooklyn: What Most People Get Wrong
Honestly, you don't need to spend money on food on this ship. The free stuff is fine. But if it’s your anniversary or you just want to escape the noise of the Windjammer, Chops is the move.
Entertainment That Isn’t Just Bingo
The Lyric Theater is where the "headliner" shows happen. You’ll get a Broadway-style revue, a comedian, or maybe a juggler who spent way too much time practicing in his garage. It’s hit or miss.
The real star is Studio B. It’s an ice rink. On a ship.
Think about the engineering involved in keeping a slab of ice frozen while sailing through the Caribbean. It’s insane. The ice shows are genuinely impressive because the performers are doing triple jumps on a surface that is literally moving under their feet. When the show isn't on, they often open the ice for "Guest Skating." It’s free. They give you skates and a helmet. Just don't forget to pack socks.
The Logistics: Navigating the Decks
The ship is roughly 1,020 feet long. You will walk a lot. Wear comfortable shoes.
The elevators can be a bottleneck, especially right after a show lets out or when everyone is trying to get off the ship in port. Take the stairs if you can. It helps burn off that third slice of pizza from Sorrento’s.
Speaking of Sorrento’s—it’s the pizza place on the Promenade. It’s open late. It’s free. Is it the best pizza in the world? No. Is it the best pizza at 1:00 AM after four margaritas? Absolutely.
Port Days and the "Tour" Mentality
When people talk about an Adventure of the Seas tour, they are often referring to the shore excursions. Adventure usually sails out of places like Orlando (Port Canaveral) or Galveston.
If you are going to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island, you don't really need a "tour." You just walk off the ship and find a chair. The food on the island is included. The water park costs extra.
✨ Don't miss: Lava Beds National Monument: What Most People Get Wrong About California's Volcanic Underworld
If you’re heading to Cozumel or Nassau, be wary of the "official" tours sold on the ship. They are safe and they won't leave without you if the bus breaks down, but they are expensive. Often, you can walk off the pier, grab a taxi, and head to a beach club for a fraction of the price. Just keep an eye on your watch. "Ship time" and "Local time" are not always the same thing, and the ship will leave you if you're late. Watching a "pier runner" sprint toward a departing ship is funny until you're the one running.
The Vital Stats (For the Nerds)
Adventure of the Seas belongs to the Voyager class. It weighs about 137,000 gross tons. It carries around 3,100 to 3,800 passengers depending on how many kids are stuffed into third and fourth berths. There are about 1,180 crew members.
That ratio is important. It means the service is generally pretty quick. You aren't going to wait twenty minutes for a drink unless you’re at the pool bar right at noon on a sea day.
The Nightlife Scene
Boleros is the Latin bar. Great mojitos.
The Imperial Lounge is where they do the game shows like "Love and Marriage." It’s basically the Newlywed Game but with more booze and awkward revelations.
The Viking Crown Lounge is at the very top of the ship. It’s quiet during the day and becomes a nightclub at night. The view from up there is the best on the ship. You can see the entire pool deck glowing blue and green in the dark.
Practical Steps for Your Trip
If you've read this far, you're probably actually going. Here is how you handle the reality of the ship.
- Download the App Now. Don't wait until you're at the pier. You need it for the safety briefing (the "Muster drill"), which is now mostly done on your phone. You just watch a video, then go to your station so a crew member can scan your room key. It takes five minutes.
- Book Dining Early. If you want Chops Grille on the last night, book it the moment you get on the ship’s Wi-Fi. It fills up.
- Check the "Cruise Compass." This is the daily schedule. It’s in the app, but you can usually get a paper copy from your stateroom attendant if you ask nicely. It lists everything from "Morning Trivia" to "Midnight Karaoke."
- Pack a Power Strip (Non-Surge). Older ships have very few outlets. You’ll likely have two North American outlets by the desk. If you have phones, cameras, and watches to charge, you'll be fighting for space. Note: It must be non-surge protected, or security will confiscate it.
- Bring Magnetic Hooks. The walls of the cabin are metal. You can hang your wet swimsuits, hats, or the Cruise Compass on the wall to save counter space. It sounds like a "Pinterest hack," but it’s actually a lifesaver in a 160-square-foot room.
Adventure of the Seas isn't a museum piece, but it isn't a futuristic spaceship either. It’s a classic, reliable cruise ship that lets the ocean be the star. Go in with that mindset, stay away from the buffet during the peak lunch rush, and you'll have a blast.