Monarch of
the Seas
West Coast Adventure
by Steve J. Garrod
Having sailed Monarch of the Seas in her inaugural season in 1991, I was
intrigued to sail her again and experience the renovation that she experienced
during a recent dry dock. The dry dock was extensive and gave many areas
throughout Monarch an entirely new look.
| Monarch of the Seas | |||
) |
) |
) |
|
) |
) |
) |
|
) |
) |
) |
|
) |
) |
) |
|
|
Above is a selection of external ship photographs. To this day I consider Monarch of the Seas to be one of the few mega liners that retain classic design lines. She sports a nicely raked bow and rounded stern that are not often seen on modern cruise ships. |
|||
| Deck 3 - "A" Deck | |||
|
|
|
The photo gallery displays photos taken of guests throughout the cruise. Adjacent is an art gallery displaying works of art available by means of the ship's auctions. | |
) |
) |
Vincent's is one of two dining rooms featuring two sittings. The foyer of Vincent's is also the base of the Centrum featuring a water fountain and a dance floor. |
|
) |
) |
Each of the two ship's dining rooms seats approximately 700 guests. | |
) |
) |
There is a variety of different seating options including booths.
|
|
) |
|||
| Deck 4 - Main Deck | |||
) |
) |
Purser's Square features the essential services of both the Guest Relations and Explorations! desks. | |
) |
) |
Located centrally in Purser's Square is an impressive sculpture titled, Seeking Freedom, by Lise Amundsen of Holden, Norway. | |
) |
) |
Guests embark the ship by means of one of two gangways that both open up to Purser's Square and the Centrum. | |
) |
) |
Just behind the Guest Relations Desk is a large placard of the ship's layout along with a graphic display showing Monarch's course. | |
) |
) |
Adjacent to the Centrum are sitting areas as well as Royal Caribbean Online where guests can check e-mail or surf the Internet. | |
) |
) |
Also named after a famous painter is Claude's Dining Room. The layout is very similar to that of Vincent's. | |
) |
) |
The two dining rooms features open seating for breakfast and lunch with dinner providing assigned seating. | |
) |
|||
| Deck 5 - Showtime Deck | |||
) |
) |
The 1,050 bi-level Sound of Music Lounge has entrances on decks five and six on both port and starboard side. | |
) |
) |
The upper level features balcony seating on both starboard and port sides to offer a comprehensive view. | |
) |
) |
Tiered seating provides views for a larger number of guests. | |
) |
) |
Guests may move from the upper to the lower level by means of any number of staircases therein. | |
) |
) |
Statues adorn both the port and starboard entrances. | |
) |
) |
The Sound of Music Lounge is multi-functional hosting a variety of activities aside from the nightly entertainment. | |
) |
The nerve center to the Sound of Music Lounge, the audio / visual booth. | ||
) |
) |
As guests exit the lower level of the Sound of Music Lounge, they may proceed to port side and into the rustic Schooner Bar. | |
) |
) |
As with the other Royal Caribbean International ships, the 120 seat Schooner Bar provides a rustic ambiance as well as nightly entertainment. | |
) |
) |
Proceeding to the starboard side, guests may try their luck in the Casino Royale. | |
) |
Evasion by Daniel Coetmellec Draughtman, located on port side just before the shops of the Centrum. | ||
) |
) |
A number of gift shops are available such as those of jewelry, perfume, logo items, and sundries. | |
) |
A staple on Royal Caribbean International's more modern ships is Ben & Jerry's along with Latté-Tudes. | ||
) |
) |
To accommodate Tween Deck (staterooms only), this split staircase takes guests down to deck five staterooms or up to Tween Deck staterooms. | |
| The Centrum | |||
) |
|||
) |
) |
) |
|
) |
) |
) |
) |
| Above is a compilation of various photos taken in the Centrum. The Centrum is a hallmark on every Royal Caribbean International ship. It is a central hub by which guests can move between the major public areas and branch off to more of the remote ones. By evening, guests may find live entertainment by which to dance or simply sit back and enjoy. | |||
| Deck 7 - Promenade Deck | |||
) |
A metallic sculpture located just outside of the entrance to the balcony level of the Sound of Music Lounge. | ||
) |
) |
Unique to the Sovereign-class ships is this mini atrium that spans only a few decks. | |
) |
) |
Gazing up through decks six, seven, and eight. | |
) |
) |
While being a fairly new concept on Royal Caribbean International ships, Boleros has become quite popular. | |
) |
) |
Left
: Boleros acts as a venue for several lifeboat muster
stations. Right : Dancers enjoy the expansive floor available. A popular act taking place in Boleros is the dueling pianos. |
|
) |
) |
Seating alongside the port and starboard side of Boleros looks out onto the promenade deck. | |
) |
) |
The sunken dance floor provides good views for those who would simply prefer to watch than dance. | |
) |
Boleros has become known, and popular for, serving up Latin drinks such as Mojitos and Caipirinas. | ||
) |
) |
Upon exiting Boleros, guests will find a business services center and the future cruise sales consultant on port and starboard side respectively. | |
) |
This bright seating arrangement is located amidships on deck seven, overlooking the Centrum. | ||
) |
) |
For groups, incentive groups, charters, or for anyone doing business, the conference center provides a variety of means by which to do so. | |
) |
) |
Completely circling the ship is an outdoor promenade deck. | |
) |
) |
The promenade deck wraps around both forward and aft for walking and jogging opportunities. | |
) |
) |
The forward portion of the promenade deck overlooks the bow of Monarch of the Seas. | |
| Deck 8 - Mariner Deck | |||
) |
) |
Left
: Aft elevator lobbies are flanked with two single, angled
staircases. Right : The entrance to the Circuit Lounge. |
|
) |
) |
The Circuit Lounge acts as Monarch's nightclub as well as a venue for varied daytime activities. | |
) |
) |
Various seating exists by which to watch the crowds by evening or read a book by day. | |
) |
) |
While wait staff roams the Circuit by evening to serve drinks, a service bar is also located on the port side near the entrance. | |
) |
Aft exit doors lead guests to open decks. | ||
) |
These aft open decks provide staircases that proceed to others along the sloped profile of Monarch's stern. |
||
| Deck 9 - Commodore Deck | |||
) |
) |
Just aft of Monarch's Beauty Salon is the Ship Shape Fitness Center featuring universal weight equipment, free weights, Pilates, and a variety of other equipment by which to keep fit while at sea. | |
) |
) |
Deck nine is only one example of how elevator lobbies and stateroom corridors have been refreshed with modern, nautical carpeting. | |
| Deck 10 - Bridge Deck | |||
) |
Monarch of the Seas provides a wide variety of activities for the youth on board with varying categories : Ages 9-11 Voyagers, Ages 6-8 Explorers, and 3-5 Aquanauts. | ||
| Deck 11 - Sun Deck | |||
) |
Standing aft on deck eleven, one can look up toward the Viking Crown Lounge and The Wall. | ||
) |
) |
Located around Fuel (teen disco) are the Living Room and computer workstations for teens on board. | |
) |
) |
Twin pools are accented with twin whirlpools for use on both warm and cooler days. Watching over the pools is the ship's namesake placard, a tradition started aboard the fleet's first ship Song of Norway. | |
) |
) |
A mermaid statue looks over the activity of the pool deck. | |
) |
The twin pools are anchored by two bars. A circular bar with stools is located in the proximity of the forward pool. | ||
) |
This forward staircase displays View of West Point in 1843 by Jean-Julien Deltil presented by Chantiers de l'Atlantique to Monarch of the Seas on October 15th, 1991. | ||
) |
) |
The Windjammer Café once served a very general purpose so far as buffet service. | |
) |
) |
Spanning far forward on Monarch of the Seas, the Windjammer Café is now multi-functional with several alternate dining venues such as Sorrento's Pizzeria and Jade Sushi. | |
) |
) |
Windjammer Café's most popular and basic function still remains to be a casual dining (buffet style) venue serving breakfast, lunch, and casual evening dining. | |
| Deck 12 - Compass Deck | |||
) |
Casual dining extends forward on the lower level of the Windjammer Café. | ||
) |
) |
Jade Sushi offers a variety of seating options as well as a variety of sushi dishes. | |
) |
) |
Guests may walk from forward to aft by means of the outdoor sun walk. The sun walk provides views of the twin pools amidships as well as alongside the ship. | |
) |
) |
The Wall was newly installed in the 2003 dry dock and is one of the first free standing rock climbing walls at sea. | |
| Deck 13 / The Viking Crown Lounge | |||
) |
) |
||
) |
) |
) |
|
) |
) |
||
) |
) |
||
|
The Viking Crown Lounge rests approximately 150 feet above the water and has been an unmistakable icon in the Royal Caribbean fleet since its conception. The Viking Crown Lounge has taken a variety of formats through the years. Song of America implemented the concept of a circular lounge around the funnel and Sovereign, Monarch, and Majesty of the Seas continue the trend. Ships debuting after the Sovereign-class departed from this trend. |
|||
) |
) |
Guests may access the Viking Crown Lounge by means of the aft staircase or elevator. The Viking Crown Lounge provides a 360 degree view with intimate seating options throughout. | |
) |
) |
Left
: Starboard side art depicts Marianne Valkner Ingeberg's I Viking
"On a Viking Raid" of 1991. Right : Port side art depicts Her Farer Den Havdjerve or "Here the Bold is Sailing" of 1991. |
|
) |
) |
Once featured in the previous Ain't Misbehavin' Disco, this glass piano player now finds his home in the Viking Crown Lounge. | |
) |
In alignment with the Viking Crown Lounge is the ship's mast with the Windjammer Café sunlight located just aft. | ||
| Around Monarch of the Seas | |||
) |
Monarch's pool deck takes on a festive mood by sunset while guests enjoy spirits at the Pool Bar and watch the ship set sail. | ||
) |
) |
Left
: Elevator lobbies feature a distinct ship's map by which one can
find his or her way. Right : The interior of one of Monarch's elevators. |
|
) |
Areas which have been newly created aboard Monarch of the Seas in her renovation received new furnishings such as more modern signage. | ||
) |
Stairwell landings feature contemporary art. | ||
) |
The Viking Crown Lounge is, by far, one of Monarch's most recognizable features while seen from afar. | ||
) |
Monarch of the Seas provides a modern seagoing experience while retaining the classic concepts have made Royal Caribbean International successful. | ||
)
)