0208 248 2355
Questions about your booking? Contact Us
Login Unlock bucket-list-worthy shores and take memory-making to the next level — on Rhapsody of the Seas®.
We’re talking about wander-filled itineraries to some of the world’s most breathtaking sun-soaked destinations. Plus, non-stop onboard thrills like rock climbing 40 feet above deck. Catch Broadway-style shows and dazzling entertainment, night after night. And indulge in delicious cuisine guaranteed to please even the pickiest eater in your crew. Go all out on adventure and unforgettable moments onboard Rhapsody of the Seas®.
The smaller size Rhapsody is showing her age in several of the public spaces, but is still a pretty ship with a nice mid-size feel to it. We've sailed on her before and provide our insights here on the Good, the Needs Improvement, and the Awful. THE GOOD: Outstanding staff in all ship areas. These folks are genuinely interested in giving everyone great, friendly service. The ship is easy to navigate and except for boarding day when the elevators are slammed (which seems to happen on all of them), it was easy to get an elevator and move around the ship. The promenade deck (increasingly disappearing in newer builds) was refreshing and gives a real at-sea experience. The main dining room (though looking a bit threadbare in spots) delivers an upscale dining experience, especially at breakfast (when so many are surging around the Windjammer). Chops Grille, which never disappoints, delivering an outstanding meal at prices that manage to be better than a land experience. NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Our cabin was large and clean with plenty of storage and a lovely roomy balcony. But the small refrigerator in the room was not working and some of the furniture and cabinetry is looking a bit worn. The location of this cabin is off a hallway overlooking a live entertainment space and the noise from the band (which did, mercifully, end at 11) came into the room because the soundproof hallway doors kept being left open. We suggested posting a sign, but that did not happen during the cruise. Otherwise, it's a lovely suite with plenty of room to relax. Just be aware of this if you like early evening naps! The Windjammer: We were happy to see that a suggestion we made about crowding that happens around the egg station was instituted: people who want omelets and eggs cooked to order are given pagers. Excellent. But crowding in the Windjammer (we call it the Traffic Jammer) continues to be an issue, especially during sea days. The ice machines were out of service and the food with the exception of the freshly made burgers and hot dogs, was fairly "meh." Lots of dishes seeming like leftovers. Once again, it's the staff that make the difference with their cheerful service and their seemingly magical ability to clear tables and keep this crowded space looking clean and welcoming. THE AWFUL: We had achieved a status that gave us access to a special lounge with free drinks and snacks. Lovely! Except that this small space was located just aft of the Shall We Dance Lounge. The lounge is only partitioned off from the lounge, which is unfortunate. No sooner had we settled in than an ear-splitting noise erupted from the Shall We Dance Lounge. Karoke! We and others appealed to the on-duty concierge for the special lounge, but it was clear that nothing was going to be done. Lots of apologies in between the shrieking (singing?) from the Dance Lounge. So much for the "benefit." We shirked the lounge after that! The Schooner Bar, which sits in between the elevator hallway and the Shall We Dance Lounge, was once a cozy, dimly lit space that felt special and was often host to hilarious trivia contests has now become little more than a brightly lighted hallway itself. We did stop in for a drink one night, but waiters were few and the cozy vibe is gone. Finally, this smaller ship is trying hard to meet customer needs, but it just does not have the physical space to do that. So you'll see the entertainment lounge co-opted for kids entertainment during the day. Staff blow up a large balloon target and hand out Nerf bows and arrows. which they dash around to retrieve. We saw at least two people boinked by a Nerf arrow gone astray. No harm done. But dang! Staff also set up board games and Genga towers for kids to play. It's a nice gesture, but only underscores how the ship is not built to deliver family-friendly experiences in anything more than a makeshift way. The take-away: Would be sail this ship again? Hmmm. The docking ports were at what we consider lesser attractive areas, for example the port chosen for St. Thomas was miles away from Havensight and the downtown area. It was not as pretty and though there were some shops there, it all felt a bit sad. Even a fantastic staff can't, for us, overcome the shortcomings of Rhapsody now, so probably not.
If you were booking the Rhapsody of the Seas for the ship itself, then you might want to look elsewhere. Not that there is anything wrong with the ship, but there are better ships in the fleet. However, if you were looking for an itinerary that offers a lot of bang for the buck, then the Rhapsody has a lot to offer. In our case. Rhapsody was sailing from San Juan, which cuts out a lot of sea days for a Caribbean itinerary. As an example, we sailed a seven-day cruise that matched up with the Icon of the Seas. The Rhapsody did five Caribbean ports (6 if you include San Juan) with one sea day compared to the Icon, which just two Caribbean ports and CocoCay. We happened to be in St Maarten on the same day as the Icon and the people difference between the two ships was very apparent. At the other ports that we were in there were no lines, no crush of people, but here it was a different story. But as I said, the people who booked the Icon booked for the ship, and it definitely has a lot more to offer than the Rhapsody. We really didn’t notice any major deficiencies during our stay. Our room was very comfortable, no smells, with more than ample AC. We did not use all the storage we had. The balcony set up for whatever reason seemed larger than some of the other ships that we were on. We could sit out both on the balcony and watch the ocean go by and if it was too warm, it was easy to sit on the couch and watch out as well. It had a motion activated night light under the closet door. I would say overall the room met our expectations (not fans of the shower curtain). The Rhapsody being an older ship has a lot more ocean view rooms, and fewer balconies. The ship is smaller, which has its pros and cons. One of the biggest pros for us was that everything was close by. It didn’t matter if we were going to the restaurants or to the theater, everything was just minutes away. There typically were no issues with getting an elevator. A con was just 3 specialty restaurants to choose from, Regarding the staff, we had mixed feelings. Our room attendant did a good job, but we had better (and worse). The staff in the Windjammer were doing their jobs but maybe not the extra effort we saw on the other ships. The entertainment was just okay, probably due to the small size of the ship. There were a lot of activities that were going on throughout the ship, a lot of entertainment in the different venues, all of which were good, possibly even better than some we had seen on other ships. We were a bit disappointed with the food, across the venues. The Windjammer did not have much variety from day-to-day, and they did not fill things quickly. It was not uncommon for there to be no french fries in the hamburger grill. We ate in the main dining room and while the food was good, we were tired of the same menus on all the royal Caribbean ships. There is just not enough variety. We also ate in the specialty restaurants, Izumi, Giovanni‘s and Chops. Giovanni‘s was very good, Izumi was good and Chops was just okay. We had tried to book Chef‘s Table for our anniversary, but there were a not enough bookings for them to have it. In fact, we were told that over the seven-day cruise that they had only had the Chef‘s Table a couple of times. We also noticed that many of the specialty restaurants were not busy. Sailing out of Puerto Rico, there were a lot of Spanish-speaking cruisers on board. The cruise was tailored to accommodate them, but not to the extent, that as an English only speaker that I felt uncomfortable. Announcements were done in English and Spanish and during activities the instructions or guidance was provided in both. One exception was one of the evening shows but overall it was just like any other cruise. Getting on the ship was super easy. In fact, we never waited in a line for bag drop or security or check-in. We booked lunch at Giovanni’s and it was a peaceful way to start the cruise. Shortly after, our cabins were ready and our luggage came shortly. We traditionally book excursions through 3rd parties but on this cruise all of the excursions we did were through Royal as they had some good discounts on them. Since most of the other ships had departed for Alaska or Europle, many of the ports we stopped in only saw a ship every couple of weeks at this point. As mentioned, this cruise was port heavy so the next day we were in St Thomas. Having been there before, we elected to go to St John. The ride over was a bit rough over and back but short enough that everyone was okay. Once on St John, they took us by taxi (shared shutte) to Trunk Bay. Some cruisers did this on their own but I am glad we didn’t do this as the taxi situation would have been challenging. We had ample time to relax and snorkel and not have to worry about what time to head back. The next day was St Croix and we really didn’t see any excursions we liked. But it was easy to walk to the beach, rent a chair and umbrella, and it had good snorkeling and we saw several sea turtles. The next day was St Maarten and our original excursion was rescheduled to the afternoon. We knew it was going to be hot so we changed to a different one called Kim Shaw beach which was a nice swimming beach and included an excellent lunch but not memorable. The port area there had a lot of shops and beach chairs that are also an option, you just need to purchase from them. Having done 3 beach days, we decided to try a catamaran tour with snorkeling and it was fun. I would say that they assumed everyone knew how to snorkel as there wasn’t much guidance and the area while way to swim was a bit choppy. But everyone managed okay. We did stop at a beach but this was just 30 minutes to relax in the warm water. The final port day was Dominica and we booked a tour called Jaco Falls and Twin Falls. The description said it went to Trafalgar Falls but it was a different twin falls. Not sure whose fault this was but I pointed out that this was misleading to the excursion desk. The tour was great and very beautiful and very informative. For disembark, we had an afternoon flight. We looked into local tours to fill the time but they were expensive. Storing our luggage was an option and there were companies right at the port to do that and then we could have headed into town on our own. We elected to take a Royal excursion that provided a city tour and dropped us and our luggage off at the airport. This got us off the ship by 8:30 and we got our luggage and were through customs in minutes. The tour was simple with a number of quick stops around a few areas in town. But it served its purpose. In summary, we left happy and tired which is a key indication of a good time. The Rhapsody is not on our short list for ships we would want to book; but for our next Caribbean cruise, it would be an option and possibly as a back-to-back as it alternates ports from week to week.
AWARD-WINNING & AWE INSPIRING ACCOMMODATIONS
Redefining the cruising experience one room at a time. Our staterooms are an alluring escape from the non-stop action our cruise ships are known for. From our spectacular views to our deluxe amenities, a stay with us is like nothing at sea.
DESIGNED TO MATCH YOUR COMFORT NEEDS
We’ve thought of the details, so you don’t have to.
BABY FRIENDLY: Bringing a baby? Let us know and we'll provide a crib and supplies.
COUPLES RETREAT: Enjoy spa-like comfort in your stateroom, perfect for couples.
EXTENDED FAMILIES: Select staterooms can connect to accommodate more guests.
SPECIAL NEEDS: Our ships are equipped to accommodate you regardless of your special needs.
READY FOR YOUR STAY
All the creature comforts you’d expect to have during your vacation.
VOOM SURF & STREAM: Giving a new meaning to connected staterooms.
24-HOUR ROOM SERVICE: Indulge your midnight cravings.
DAILY CLEANING SERVICE: Sweet dreams are on the horizon.
DAILY STATEROOM ATTENDANT: A helping hand when you need it the most.
PLATED PERFECTION
Dial up date night with an elegant and intimate epicurean adventure at Chef’s Table, or dig into the fleet-famous Kummelweck sandwich at Park Café. Whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll find something delicious onboard to satisfy your cravings.
COAST THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN
Rhapsody of the Seas® is what vacation dreams are made of. Gather your travel squad for the ultimate tropical getaway across stunning Southern Caribbean islands including St. Lucia, Aruba, Barbados and more.
Discover new thrills onboard while sailing to shores like Croatia, Crete and Cozumel. Whether it’s grabbing hold of adventure at the top of the Rock Climbing Wall, or savouring hand-rolled sushi at Izumi. All while enjoying superior service and an intimate environment.
EXPLORE MORE BETWEEN SHORES
Sea days aboard Rhapsody of the Seas are as exciting as each day in port. Get ready for a world of new discoveries on deck — like world class dining, award-winning entertainment, electrifying nightlife and unforgettable activities for every kind of traveller.
ADVENTURE DRIVEN DAYS: Whether you’re on a romantic cruise with your partner or a family getaway, there’s no shortage of ways to keep the thrills going strong onboard, thanks to fan-favourite features like the rock climbing wall, an arcade filled with all your favourite games, and lots of space on the pool deck to lounge the day away.
ADVENTURE AFTER DARK: After a day spent exploring Caribbean islands or European capitals, there’s nothing like a night out on Rhapsody of the Seas. Head to the theatre for a showstopping original production, or raise a glass of your favourite vintage or cocktail at one of the many bars onboard.
Royal Caribbean knows the simple truth of family travel. If the kids are having a brilliant time, everyone else usually is too. That is why its holidays are packed with ways for little ones, big ones and every age in between to jump in and join the fun. Our ships have endless thrilling activities that our young sailors never forget, a dedicated space for teens to hang out and make new friends, and enough great food options to impress even the fussiest taste buds There are award-winning kids and teens clubs, family friendly dining spots, entertainment for all ages and plenty of chances to make a splash together.
