Best For People Who Want:
Extensive entertainment and fitness facilities in a classy setting; above average children's and teen's activities; balcony cabins; friendly and professional service. |
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Should Be Avoided By People Who Prefer:
This ship scores poorly in cuisine. If average or above levels of cuisine is a priority, you may want to reconsider this ship. |
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Onboard Experience
 The 2,252-passenger Enchantment of the Seas, a Vision-class ship (along with Legend, Splendour, Grandeur, Rhapsody and Vision of the Seas), is a beautiful, classy vessel. With this ship and her sisters, Royal Caribbean proves you can build a large ship without sacrificing the sense of being at sea. Enormous panels of glass throughout bring the sea and sky inside, resulting in a sense of openness. Cruisers in their 30's and 40's will find a moderately-priced ship with a hot disco and casino, while those who are more laid-back will also discover bridge, movies, lounges for dancing and cool jazz. Extensive facilities for kids plus superb special programs offered by age group make this a very popular ship with families.
The addition of a 73-foot mid-section to the ship in June 2005 added a rock-climbing wall and "bungee trampoline," plus an additional children's pool to the expansive open deck. Enchantment now holds 151 more staterooms, an alternative dining restaurant, more shops, and Latte’tudes, where premium coffee and ice cream are sold.
My big disappointment, however, was the cuisine. During a short cruise I found meat, poultry, fish and vegetables overcooked, the deserts tasteless. There were also complaints about old, lumpy mattresses in cabins other than the new staterooms added during the 2005 lengthening. |
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Things To Do
Entertainment:
 Royal Caribbean offers fairly typical cruise ship fare with Las Vegas-style reviews, comedians and magicians. I enjoyed the smaller lounges with solo artists, and late-night owls can boogie at the hot disco. Even teens have a private lounge and disco.
Fitness:
The main pool on Sun Deck is adjacent to the Solarium, a stunning glass enclosed second pool with whirlpools and comfy lounge chairs. The retractable roof can be opened in good weather. In the "ShipShape" fitness center, you'll find a spa operated by Steiner's of London (expect them to push the sale of their products during treatments), a large gym with all the pulling and stretching equipment you can use. With the ship's stretch, Enchantment gained 50% more deck space plus a third pool, a rock-climbing wall and the first "bungee trampolines" at seas.
For Kids:
In addition to separate play areas for kids aged three to 12, there is also a teen lounge that converts to a disco, making Enchantment an excellent choice for families with children in a wide range of ages. The addition of a rock climbing wall and "bungee trampoline" is sure to keep kids of all ages entertained.
A new program for infants and toddlers 6 months to 3 years, in partnership with toy maker Fisher-Price, was added in 2005. The program offers 45-minute playgroups for children accompanied by an adult, involving storytelling, creative arts, music and a variety of Fisher-Price learning toys and games. Aqua Babies are six months to 18 months old while Aqua Tots are 18 months to three years old.
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| Dining |
Cuisine:
Based on our recent experience and feedback from cruisers, the level of cuisine on Enchantment has fallen off, which seems to be the case on many Royal Caribbean ships. On a recent short cruise, food in the Windjammer buffet area was overcooked and under-seasoned during lunch, pasta was soggy and deserts tasteless. The pickings at the salad bar were indeed slim. At dinner I had overcooked shrimp one night followed by overcooked steak the next. Room service, however, delivered a piping hot delicious pizza one afternoon.
Restaurants:
The two-story main dining room is mid-ship, a light-filled room with plenty of glass for scenic viewing as you dine. It features a raised platform for a pianist or small ensemble. While large enough to handle a thousand people per seating, the room’s tables are well spaced and the area doesn't feel crowded. At the forward end of Deck 9 is the Windjammer Marketplace, also with floor-to-ceiling windows, the setting for casual breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as afternoon tea. The 2005 stretch added Chops Grille, a beautiful steak restaurant with a surcharge.
Service:
Enchantment of the Seas' staff and crew were exceptionally good, friendly, professional and willing to extend themselves.
Attire:
There are two formal nights per one-week cruise, with most men choosing dark suits over tuxedos. The 10 and 11-day cruises have two formal and one semi-formal night. Daytime attire is strictly casual. |
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| Ambience |
Decor:
 From the lobby's dramatic seven-deck "Centrum" (atrium) to the Viking Crown Lounge, sitting 11 decks off the ocean, the décor is contemporary, with enough architectural detail to distinguish this ship from others built in the mid to late 1990s. This ship has a very classy decor indeed, with tasteful blonde wood accented by Wedgewood-blue carpets and upholstery. The contemporary art collection extends throughout the ship, and is accented by recessed lighting and the use of soft colors.
Public Areas:
Passengers enter the Centrum, with panels of glass soaring seven stories, and brass-and-glass elevators reaching into the Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 11. The lobby area has palm trees and upholstered chairs around low tables, and a string quartet softly playing near the Champagne Terrace. New with the 2005 stretch is a popular daytime spot, Latte'tudes, where Seattle's Finest coffee and Ben & Jerry's ice cream are sold at stateside prices. But the setting is lovely as you can lounge by a floor-to-ceiling window watching the sea float by. The lively, Latin lounge, Boleros, was also added in 2005.
My favorite bar is Schooner's, a romantic lounge with a nautical motif. There is the Carousel Lounge for ballroom dancing at night, situated aft with ocean views. The two-deck Orpheum Theatre is the venue for RCI's lavish floor shows, with excellent sight lines from all seats. Royal Caribbean's signature Viking Crown Lounge is located on Deck 11, popular for cocktails when the ship leaves port, and the setting for a late-night disco. Panoramic views are the featured attraction of this 360-degree room, located mid-ship. The Crown and Anchor Study is a relaxing place to observe the ship's position and see information from the bridge on screen. Casino Royale has all the slots and casino games one could seek, and is one of the most popular areas at night. One bar is designated as a cigar lounge in the evenings - the pool bar is sometimes used for this purpose. Additional public areas include a shopping arcade with three large duty-free stores, a poorly-stocked but comfortable library with reading area, a card room and a conference center. There is a cyber-café, and wi-fi is available in specific areas of the ship (at a hefty charge).
Cabins:
Enchantment of the Seas' cabins are well configured and most people should feel comfortable on a four or five-day cruise. Standard amenities include color TV, CNN, safe, lighted vanity, individual temperature control and hair dryer. Bathrooms have showers and medicine cabinets. Mini-bars and tubs are found in the highest category stateroom. I heard many complaints about mattresses, however. Outside the 151 cabins recently added to the ship, passengers complained of old, lumpy mattresses and a poor night's sleep.
Inside cabins are a tiny 140 and 146 sq.ft., while Oceanview staterooms measure 154 sq. ft. Superior Oceanview with private balcony are 190 sq. ft. plus a 36 sq.ft. balcony. The five categories of suites include the Junior Suite (245 sq. ft. with a 58-sq.ft. balcony) and the Royal Family Suite, accommodating up to eight people, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms (532 sq. ft., balcony 53 sq. ft.).
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