Sunday, December 30, 2007

Royal Caribbean Sports Deck: December, 2007


With the rocking music and action-oriented images of their advertising, it's not surprising that Royal Caribbean attracts adventure-minded, athletic passengers.

All of their ships feature the signature rock climbing wall perched about a dozen stories above the ocean as well as well-equipped work-out rooms and spas.

On Jewel of the Seas, there's a beautiful sports court where I shot a few hoops, and the court can also be used for a small field version of soccer, tennis or volleyball.

One of the more unique features of this particular ship is the mini-golf course.

We also had fun playing mini-golf on Splendour of the Seas this past summer, but the course on Jewel was much nicer.

Just go to the "Country Club" and grab a putter and bright-colored ball, and you're ready to play.

While putting a round one morning, a fellow guest asked if I had tried the claw grip.

He showed me a reverse grip on the bottom hand and said it was more accurate.

Right-handed, it didn't make much difference, but on one hole, the line was direct for a left-handed putt or a bank right-handed, so I tried the left-handed claw. Result: hole-in-one.

The next day, I tried it again on the same hole. Result: hole-in-one. Maybe I'm really a left-handed crab when it comes to golf.

On the bigger Voyager Class ships, there are ice skating rinks, if sliding around on a hard, icy surface in the middle of the Caribbean is your idea of fun.

They also put on ice shows, which I'm sure are very nice, but perhaps one of the reasons I like Radiance Class ships like Jewel of the Seas is that I don't have to worry about being a killjoy for not taking to the ice.

On the newest Freedom Class ships, the largest ships in the world, there is also a surf simulator and boxing ring.

Editor's note 5/29/17:  10 years later, there are even larger and more spectacular Royal Caribbean ships.