Sports bars aren’t just a land activity.
If you love a casual meal while watching a sporting event, or sharing a snack while playing games with friends, you won’t have to give that up on your cruise.
Royal Caribbean has a sports bar on some of its ships, called Playmakers.
The cruise line designed this bar as a fun, casual specialty venue for you to watch your favorite team play.
It fits in the simple but popular concept of a sports bar with quality beers and cocktails, a yummy selection of food, televisions in every corner, and games with even a mini-arcade center attached.
What can you expect from Playmakers?
If wings, sporting events, and craft beers are your thing, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to the Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade.
What is Playmakers?
Playmakers can be found on Freedom of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.
Read more: Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade restaurant review on Symphony of the Seas
On Oasis-Class ships, Playmakers is featured at the heart of the Boardwalk.
The venue is open-air and inviting, with warm lighting and a variety of seating to choose from.
Over 30 televisions are placed around the bar so that everyone can get a view of a screen.
At peak times, you’ll find other cruisers drinking, partying, watching a sports game, or competing in games of their own.
The bar features games like pool, foosball, Jenga, shuffleboard, and Connect 4.
The attached arcade also has skee ball, video games, and more.
While the board and table games are free, the arcade games may cost money to play, depending on which ship you’re sailing on.
It is noisy fun with a welcoming atmosphere, just like your favorite small sports bar at home.
What kind of food is served and how much does it cost?
It’s free to sit inside Playmakers and watch a game. However, the food and drinks all come at an extra cost.
An 18% gratuity will also be added to your check, depending on the port and itineraries.
Read more: Royal Caribbean raises prices at some of its specialty restaurants
Prices may vary, but you can usually find a sample menu on Royal Caribbean’s website.
The “warmups” or appetizers range from $5.99 to $12.99. They include classic finger foods like nachos, chicken tenders, fries, pigskin sliders, onion rings, and jalapeño poppers.
Don’t be fooled by the casual atmosphere, though. The food at Playmakers is delicious!
Even if sports and games aren’t your thing, this venue is worth visiting to try some of the servings.
You can order 12 wings for $13.99, 24 wings for $19.99, or 50 wings for $29.99.
The wings come with your choice of sauce—buffalo, barbeque, or Jamaican jerk—and are served with blue cheese, celery, and carrots.
The adjustable amounts mean that you can order for just yourself, or for huge groups of people traveling together.
If you’re up for it, take on the Playmakers Challenge: eat 100 of the hottest “major-league” buffalo wings and you’ll win a commemorative T-shirt!
There are also several burgers, all for $11.99 each and served with fries. These include the classic burger, the impossible burger, the truffle burger, and the chicken sandwich.
Something great about Playmakers is that it's priced a la carte, so you only pay for what you order. This can be a small dish if you’re apprehensive about spending extra on food.
If you have the unlimited specialty dining package, you’ll receive a $20 food credit at Playmakers per person, per day. That means you can dine at Playmakers once per day, but can still go another a la carte restaurant and eat there too once per day.
When it comes to desserts, there are currently two options on the menu. You can try a campfire cookie, with marshmallows, Nutella, and milk shooters on the side, or the touchdown sundae, which is five scoops of ice cream topped with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.
The sundae is served in a mini football helmet that you can take home with you.
The cookie costs $8.99, and the sundae is $11.99.
What’s on the drink menu?
Playmakers offers domestic and international beers, as well as seven types of craft beers.
They even serve 60-ounce pitchers of your favorite beer for $18!
There’s also a selection of sports-themed cocktails for $13 each: Black and Gold, the Pitch, Knockout Punch, a Goal Post Margarita, and the Playmakers Bloody Mary.
There are also hard ciders, wines, and non-alcoholic drinks.
If you have a Royal Caribbean deluxe drink package, all the beers, wines, and cocktails will be included.
However, you’re not just limited to the Playmakers drink menu. There is a full bar, where you can order anything you might typically enjoy at a Royal Caribbean bar. Just ask the bartender, and they’ll let you know if they can make it for you.
You’re also welcome to stop at the bar without ordering a full plate of food. Just like a sports bar on land, Playmakers is that casual hangout spot for you to enjoy.
When is Playmakers open?
Playmakers is rarely "closed". You can usually hop in for a seat or to play a game at any hour of the day.
However, the bar serves drinks between 10:00 A.M and 1:00 A.M.
There are two different time slots to order food: 11:30 A.M to 3:30 P.M., and again from 5:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.
If you struggle with nighttime snack cravings, Playmakers is a great option! It stays open and serves food most times of the day.
What games will be playing?
The games shown differ on a cruise ship on land thanks to complicated international satellite game rights. Most games, especially high profile games, are available to watch in Playmakers.
Cruise ships get an international satellite feed, so even though the ship may be sailing from the United States, it gets a different set of games.
College football fans can probably watch their favorite teams playing on Saturdays. During football season, NFL games will also be shown on Sundays.
You can expect games from major networks to stream. Options will vary depending on the ship and season.
Basketball, football, soccer, and golf are all sports commonly streamed at Playmakers. In addition, there's a lot cricket and soccer shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a dress code?
Royal Caribbean lists the dress code as “casual.” Playmakers is a chill sports bar, so there is no other specific dress code.
However, you’ll want to wear a cover-up over any swimsuits, and make sure you’re wearing shoes!
Is there an age limit to enter?
Alcohol can only be served to patrons 21 and up on North American sailings.
Based on Royal Caribbean’s marketing of Playmakers, kids are welcome to enter with parents and play games. We have never heard of anyone being turned away from Playmakers.
Do I have to pay extra?
While it doesn’t cost money to enter Playmakers, you will have to pay extra for the food and drinks.
Most of the hands-on games are also free, except for the full arcade machines.
Can I use my dining/drink package at Playmaker’s?
Yes. If you have the unlimited specialty dining package, you’ll receive a $20 food credit at Playmakers per day.
If you have a Royal Caribbean deluxe drink package, all the beers, wines, and cocktails will be included. Other drink packages work here too.
Do I need to make a reservation?
No, you do not need to make a reservation at Playmaker’s.
Reservations are not accepted. However, the venue can get busy, especially during peak times or when a big game is streaming.
Be prepared to wait a little before getting your food and drinks.
