Royal Caribbean :

This winter, Rhapsody of the Seas spent a month (and $54 million) at a dry dock to undergo a makeover and some on-board improvements. In May, I had the opportunity to set out on its second sail of the season to Alaska from Seattle, with stops in Juneau and Skagway. Here's all the skinny on the new features.

Dining:
There are several restaurants on-board the ship that offer cruisers a change of pace from the traditional dining room setting. Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse Chops Grille can now be found aboard the Rhapsody. The flat price of $30/person is well worth it – I was impressed with the Filet Mignon and I found the food overall to be the best on the ship. For a romantic change of pace, enjoy a bottle of wine and the oversized charcuterie plate at Giovanni’s Table (Italian cuisine, $20/person, alcohol not included).

Drinking:
The Centrum, a five-story atrium, is the backbone of the Rhapsody, serving as a venue for live music, entertainment, and before/after-dinner drinks. Now with a 60s-inspired cocktail bar called R Bar at its core, the bartenders are the type that make you want to stay awhile with their ability to personalize drinks to your taste and mood. 

Doing:
A digital “way-finding system” has been installed on the ship, allowing guests to easily access the schedule of activities. A “happening now” section provides up-to-date information on entertainment aboard the ship. The touch-screen, interactive system is located next to nearly every elevator and I found it useful to always remain up to date with the ship’s happenings. 

Balcony or Bust:
Having a balcony on a cruise is a huge perk in my opinion – it really extends the room and gives you a little space to breathe. The rooms on the Rhapsody are comfortable, however the reality of the cruise industry is that there’s only so much space to go around on a ship built to accommodate thousands of people (Rhapsody is 915 ft long and can host about 2,400 guests). My room had two portholes and while at sea all I could see was the water rushing by, the boat giving leeway to one side or the other. If I were to go again, a balcony would be the first thing I’d request. You don’t go on a cruise to stay in the room, but at the end of the day it’s always nice to be excited about your personal space. There’s a big difference between stepping out on the balcony and peering out a porthole. 

One FYI:
Be sure to utilize your ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign when you want privacy. I know this seems elementary, but hotel staffs typically don’t take a lack of one as an invitation to enter. However, the staff on the ship was very quick to enter my room at times, the knock seemingly only a formality. There were several occasions when the door swung open before I could even respond to the soft tapping, and I had to call out for them to stop (there were two times over the course of the week when the staff entered while I was still in bed). No one else complained about this happening so I can’t call it a trend, although it is the truth about my experience.  

Dawes Glacier:
Rhapsody of the Seas Becomes Observatory Locations and temperatures aside, one thing that really separates an Alaskan cruise from other popular routes departing from the United States (such as a trek across the Caribbean) is the scenery during the days spent at sea. Aside from the first day when we saw nothing but water, we have always sailed well within sight of land, usually on both sides and always worthy of your attention, constantly changing and evolving.

This morning when I woke up and looked out the porthole, the first thing I saw was a waterfall streaming down a slate rock face. It was speckled with patches of small brush and pine trees, some only two or three feet tall. We sailed directly in front of Dawes Glacier, slowly spinning in a circle for about an hour. The ship was consistently about 100 yards from the shore on both the port and starboard sides, and the mountains, glaciers, pines, snow, waterfalls and low-hanging clouds filled the windows. 

This was one of my favorite moments of the trip, mostly because I knew I was seeing something that could only be seen via the cruise. The ship truly became a floating observatory, and I found the opportunity to view the remote glaciers that rest in the deep channels of the Inside Passage the most unique and memorable aspect of the entire trip. 

Stop One, Juneau: Feast and Flight Provides ....