Royal Caribbean cruise ships are floating destinations with so many different fun activities onboard, even if it's one of their smaller ships.
There are almost 30 ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet of ships today, but they're not all copies of each other. Every ship has its own array of options, and the smaller and older ships certainly have a different feel from the megaships.
Often someone considering a cruise vacation will hesitate to book a smaller ship out of concern they might be boring or not as impressive. The truth is even the smaller Royal Caribbean ships are still quite large, and they're designed for a big market.
Before you write off a smaller ship, here are my picks for the best things to do on Royal Caribbean's smaller ships that are easily overlooked.
Best things to do on a smaller Royal Caribbean ship
Movie theater
On the Radiance Class cruise ships, there's a dedicated movie theater onboard.
All Royal Caribbean ships show movies by the pool on a big screen, but you're subject to the weather conditions outside. Plus, there are only limited showtimes.
The Cinema on Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas is an enclosed theater with perfect viewing conditions for a movie, with continuously running showtimes.
And just like the pool deck, there's no cost to going to the movie theater.
Intimate lounges and bars
You'll find fantastic bars on the smaller Royal Caribbean ships that have a different feel to them on bigger ships.
There's a Schooner Bar on every Royal Caribbean ship, but you haven't truly experienced the Schooner Bar until you've tried it on a Vision or Radiance Class ship.
The Schooner Bar is massive and features a much more pronounced nautical theme to it. Plus, the layout of the room is so much better than on the bigger ships.
Equally impressive are two bars within the Centrum atrium area.
Vintages Wine bar actually faces the ocean and has beautiful windows to see out of, which adds to the ambiance.
At the base of the Centrum is the R Bar, and it's the perfect lounge to enjoy a drink entertainment. Given the bar and the stage are together, it's an immersive lounge experience.
On the Voyager Class ships, I love the layout of the English pub. To be honest, it's much better on Mariner and Navigator of the Seas. The other ships have an odd triangle shaped bar layout.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Viking Crown Lounge on the smaller ships.
Royal Caribbean has gone away with this signature lounge on its newest and biggest ships, but the small ships still have it and it's my favorite spot to enjoy a view and a drink from inside.
Hidden viewing deck
My favorite place for sailaway can only be found on the smaller Royal Caribbean ships.
If you're on a Radiance, Voyager, or Freedom Class cruise ship, you can go out to the helipad on the bow of the ship.
Access is available by walking all the way forward on the outside promenade deck, which is either on deck 4 or deck 5.
The views here are incredible, and it's the best spot to watch your ship pull into port or sail out of a port.
More relaxed pool decks
If you want a classic cruise ship pool experience, the pools on smaller ships are where it's at.
The pools on smaller shops are a bit more peaceful in the sense there aren't water slides, splash zones, or multiple pools to contend with. In short, it doesn't have the hustle of the megaships.
That isn't to say there aren't events, because you'll still find a bellyflop competition and world's sexiest man competition. But I think you'll find the pool deck a bit more chill.
Moreover, I think the Solarium on the Radiance Class ships are the best in the fleet in terms of layout, being completely enclosed, and a great bar scene too.
Rock climbing wall
You won't find the over-the-top zany sports deck activities on big ships, but even the small ships have a rock wall you can climb.
The rock wall is arguably the first "I can't believe they put that on a cruise ship" feature when it first debuted on Voyager of the Seas in 1999, and it's available on even the smallest ships.
Included in your cruise fare, you get strapped in and try your best to climb the wall and reach the top.
It's fun for kids or adults, and it's a great sea day activity.
Thermal spa
On the Radiance Class ships there is a thermal spa you can purchase a pass to, and it might be your new favorite way to indulge.
You purchase a pass that gives you unlimited access to the thermal spa, which is a calming retreat.
It includes access to heated stone lounge chairs, a dry sauna, a wet sauna, and a rainforest shower room.
Special itineraries and ports
Just as important as the features available onboard the small ships are the places you can visit on them.
The itineraries are far more varied on a smaller cruise ship, giving you the opportunity to visit more exotic and/or interesting places.
Smaller ships can visit the Greek isles and ports along the Adriatic Sea. They can also take you much further north in Alaska to see more of the Last Frontier.
You'll also routinely find longer sailings offered on small ships. As an example, the big cruise ships sailing from Galveston, Texas just offer cruises in the Western Caribbean, but Jewel of the Seas has 11 night cruises that go to the ABC islands in the Southern Caribbean.
Similarly, Royal Caribbean bases small ships out of San Juan, Puerto Rico that can visit more ports along the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.
If you're looking for something more than the same itineraries, you could find them on a small ship.
Tips for making the most of a cruise on a smaller ship
The first thing you may notice about picking a smaller ship is the price tag, because older ships cost less than megaships.
Comparing the price of Grandeur of the Seas or Brilliance of the Seas to Icon of the Seas, and you'll see a stark difference. The money saved means you can afford a nicer cabin or even another cruise booking.
If you're someone that usually books a balcony, keep in mind there are far less balconies on older ships, so book them early to ensure yourself of a cabin category you prefer. This is especially true on the Vision Class ships.
If you booked a smaller ship for the itinerary, be sure to focus on your time on land. Plan out and book in advance great shore excursions so you can maximize the opportunity.
If you want a smaller ship but don't want to compromise on what you love about big ships, the Voyager Class is probably the sweet spot for you.
