Mariner of the Seas review: All the fun on a just-big-enough Royal Caribbean cruise ship

If Royal Caribbean‘s gigantic cruise ships feel like too much for your family, then the cruise line’s Mariner of the Seas might be a better fit. The 139,863-ton, 3,344-passenger ship is still a large ship with plenty of activities, restaurants and bars, but it’s on the smaller end of Royal Caribbean’s current fleet and therefore less intimidating than the line’s newer megaships.

Mariner is over 20 years old, but it was upgraded in 2018, adding an escape room, laser tag and a tiki bar. The ship is ideal for travelers looking for a good mix of relaxation and fun.

Some additional highlights found on Mariner and its sister ships in the Voyager Class (Voyager, Explorer, Adventure and Navigator of the Seas) are the FlowRider surf simulator, a rock climbing wall and an ice skating rink (open for daytime skating sessions and evening ice shows).

The vessel, based in Galveston, Texas, through January 2026, is great for families looking for a Caribbean getaway. Cruises range in length from four to seven nights. When I sailed from Port Canaveral, Florida, on the ship, I saw plenty of families with younger kids, multigenerational groups and friends traveling together. I sailed with my mom on a girls getaway, and Mariner of the Seas is great for that type of vacation, too.

Even though the ship is on the smaller side for Royal Caribbean, the only places that often felt crowded were the pools, which is typical of most of the line’s ships. If you want to bask in the sun on warm Caribbean days, I suggest getting a chair by the pool early.

On board, you can choose from multiple activities if you don’t want to spend the entire day on the pool deck. You can find live music and trivia games in the inside lounges or treat yourself to a spa day. As the sun sets over the horizon, the ship’s indoor spaces come to life. Don’t miss the astounding shows in the theater and ice skating rink. You can also dance the night away in the ship’s clubs and bars, or simply people-watch with a drink in hand.

The food on Mariner of the Seas is some of the best I’ve had on a Royal Caribbean ship. My mom and I made a point to dine in a mix of free restaurants, like the buffet and main dining room, and specialty options like Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver. The celebrity chef partner restaurant is my favorite Italian specialty option currently available in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

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If you’re thinking about booking a cruise on one of Royal Caribbean’s smaller vessels, here’s what you need to know about Mariner of the Seas.

Mariner of the Seas cabins and suites

Mariner of the Seas offers four main accommodation styles on board: inside cabins without windows, ocean-view cabins with windows, balcony cabins with private outdoor sitting areas and suites with more amenities and a luxe feel.

Select rooms can sleep three, four or five people, ideal for families with young kids. Larger groups or families with older kids should consider booking connecting cabins for more space and additional bathrooms. If you’re looking for a cheaper room with a view, consider the Promenade View Interior, which has a window facing the Royal Promenade (an indoor thoroughfare filled with shops, bars and restaurants) for great people-watching (but not much privacy).

Solo travelers on a budget can avoid paying the solo supplement by booking a Studio Interior, which is sized for singles with a double bed.

In the ocean-view category, the Ultra Spacious Ocean View is great for larger groups since the rooms can accommodate up to six people on two king beds and two fold-down beds. (You’ll want to price out whether this option will save larger groups money over booking connecting rooms.) Panoramic Ocean View rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows for even more incredible views.

Related: 35 Royal Caribbean cruise tips and tricks that will make your voyage better

On my Mariner of the Seas sailing, I stayed in an Ocean View Balcony cabin, which offers 198 square feet of space in the cabin, plus an additional 46 square feet of balcony space. The three-person cabin features a king bed and one fold-down or sofa bed. Some of these room styles can sleep four people with a double sofa bed.

Even though the room was a bit cramped and had one of the smallest cruise ship bathrooms I’ve seen in a while, I wasn’t in my room that much. I did like being able to have a morning cup of coffee or a glass of wine in the evening on the balcony. The private veranda was also a great spot for catching a sunset if the pool deck was still busy.

Cruisers looking for a luxurious cabin with more space can choose from a selection of suites, the smallest of which is a junior suite at 277 square feet inside and has a 46-square-foot balcony for four people. The largest suite is the Royal Suite, a one-bedroom, 1,260-square-foot cabin for up to four people, with a 224-square-foot balcony. For big families, the Grand Suite, a two-bedroom cabin for up to eight people, is 547 square feet inside and has a 192-square-foot balcony.

Mariner of the Seas has 26 accessible rooms across categories. These rooms feature doors with wider openings, ramped bathroom thresholds, roll-in showers, grab bars, accessible balconies and more.

Cabins are well maintained and feature neutral colors, pops of blue and light-colored wood accents. King beds can split into two twins upon request, and shelving and nightstands offer a place to store or charge electronics. Each cabin has a small bathroom with an enclosed shower (warning: this can feel very claustrophobic if you have towels hanging on the shower door), a small vanity with a sink, and a toilet. Suites also have a tub in the bathroom.

Suites offer more space and amenities, including access to the Concierge Lounge, which is available to suite guests except for those in junior suites. Here, you are privy to a nightly cocktail hour, plus hosts who can arrange special requests like specialty dining reservations or spa appointments.

Related: Royal Caribbean packing list: What to pack for a cruise, Royal Caribbean style

Mariner of the Seas restaurants

Mariner of the Seas has a great mix of included free dining and extra-cost specialty dining. I tried most of what the ship had to offer. Budget-conscious families could easily get away with eating at the included restaurants and be pleasantly surprised by each meal.

I kicked off my cruise with lunch at the additional-cost Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver. I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for celebrity chef restaurants and will always try one if it’s available on a ship. I loved the charming aesthetic of Jamie’s, and the food was equally as delish with dishes like prawn linguine and lasagna. Even better, I watched the chef make the pasta in-house, a welcome change from the typically not-so-great pasta dishes that grace a buffet. I loved Jamie’s Italian so much that I dined here again for dinner one night and tried the chianti-braised short ribs.

Other extra-fee specialty restaurants on board Mariner of the Seas include a chef’s table venue (intimate, upscale dining), Chops Grille (steakhouse), Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, and Johnny Rockets. I dined at all but the chef’s table. Chops Grille is a skip for me since it’s been disappointing on multiple ships, and while Johnny Rockets is a fun spot for better burgers than you can get at the Windjammer buffet, it’s not a must-do. I did like my meal at Izumi, where I paired a few sushi rolls with a classic hibachi meal.

The onboard Starbucks and room service (except continental breakfast, which is included) are an additional cost.

Related: Royal Caribbean food: The ultimate cruise guide to restaurants and dining on board

Mariner of the Seas has a wide variety of included restaurants beyond the buffet and main dining room (where you can enjoy table service three meals a day). The Dog House features classic hot dogs and sausages, plus a build-your-own option thanks to a vast self-serve toppings bar. Cafe Promenade is the onboard deli serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The buffet, called the Windjammer Cafe, is filled with a variety of options from breakfast until late at night. You’ll find all the American breakfast classics there. Since I typically wake up with the sun, even on vacation, mornings in the Windjammer were usually peaceful, as people filed in sporadically. The buffet can get busy later in the morning once families and the late-night party crowd start showing up.

Lunch and dinner at the Windjammer rotate in cuisine, with American classics for lunch and dinner and dishes from around the world offered on themed nights. I always grabbed one of Royal Caribbean’s coconut ranger cookies to take to my cabin or the shows whenever they were available on the buffet.

Mariner of the Seas bars and lounges

Each of Mariner of the Seas’ bars and lounges has a distinct vibe, and some can be more lively than others depending on the time of day or activity taking place.

During the day, the pool bar is hopping with umbrella-clad cocktails lining the bar. Another great option near a pool is the bar in the adults-only Solarium area.

Another bar worth seeking out is the Viking Crown Lounge, which serves cocktails and offers incredible panoramic views during the day and turns into a dance club at night.

The Schooner Bar is a staple across the Royal Caribbean fleet. The nautically themed bar is known for its Old-Fashioneds and Champagne-based cocktails. I love the Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned, which reminds me a bit of a s’more. You’ll find trivia games and nightly music there.

Boleros is Mariner’s hot spot for dancing to live Latin music. Head to the English Pub for a pint of beer or a cocktail made with beer. For more beers on tap, check out Playmakers Bar & Arcade, where you can sip your brew while watching the big game.

The Bamboo Room is a Royal Caribbean take on a classic tiki bar, complete with frozen and on-the-rocks cocktails. I love its pina colada, which is hand-shaken, and its Dark and Stormy.

The most exclusive spot on board is the Suite Lounge, which is reserved for those who have booked a Grand Suite-level cabin or higher.

Royal Caribbean sells drinks a la carte, or you can purchase a beverage package. The packages come in a range of options, including water packages, soft drink packages and packages that include everything from specialty coffee and bottled water to mocktails and cocktails.

Mariner of the Seas activities

Mariner of the Seas might not be as big as Royal Caribbean’s newer ships, but it still offers a ton to see and do. Thrill seekers will love the FlowRider, laser tag, rock climbing, ice skating and the dual racing waterslides. Plus, you won’t miss out on your daily dose of pickleball since there’s a court right on board.

Sign up for the ship’s escape room to flex your brain muscles after a day in the sun. Those looking for downtime or quieter fun can play cards in the library or enjoy live music of all types around the ship.

At the Royal Theater, catch full-scale productions with singing, dancing and live music. At Studio B, you can watch an ice skating show themed to the circus, complete with jaw-dropping effects, beautiful costumes and plenty of tricks.

Throughout the cruise, you’ll also see plenty of game shows, bingo sessions, trivia, dance classes, sports competitions and spa seminars. Just know that on sea days, activities tend to fill up quickly. I always try to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for shows and activities. This also gives you enough time to order a drink from the bar before activities get started.

On my cruise, not all events started on time. I attended several trivia games and larger game shows that either started early or ended late. Because I try to arrive early for events, starting early wasn’t an issue for me (though it was for other guests who showed up on time), but the late endings sometimes caused a domino effect of being late for other things like comedy shows or shows in the Royal Theater.

The ship has three pools and six hot tubs. The outdoor Solarium area, reserved for guests 21 and older, features one of these pools, as well as two shaded hot tubs. It also offers a mix of loungers either in the sun or under a covering in the shade. (It’s not fully indoors like Solarium areas on other Royal Caribbean ships.)

Mariner of the Seas also has a casino, a fitness center, a full-service spa and a miniature golf course.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Note that the weather in Galveston can be chilly in the winter and early spring, and fog can roll in unexpectedly at the port. If you’re looking for an ideal time to sail, you’ll want to cruise between spring break and the start of summer; you’ll find fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures. In the fall, try booking a cruise for September or October before it gets too chilly.

Mariner of the Seas for families

Royal Caribbean is known for family-friendly cruises, and Mariner of the Seas is no exception. Besides the fun waterslides, adrenaline-pumping activities and kid-friendly dining, the ship also offers kids clubs for those ages 6 months to 17 years old. Tiny cruisers from 6 months to 3 years old can be booked into the ship’s Babies and Tots program, which offers a nursery drop-off with activities and toys for an added fee.

Adventure Ocean is the kids club on board for children ages 3 to 11. Here, kids will play games and do activities in smaller groups based on their ages. Activities might include science experiments, arts and crafts, sports tournaments, talent shows and dance parties with plenty of ice cream.

The Teen Lounge is the ideal hangout for those 13 to 17, though the activities are sometimes divided by age into smaller groups. Here, teens can play games, enjoy dance parties and participate in preplanned activities. Some teen events take place around the ship, including exclusive time on the FlowRider.

The teen club operates on a come-and-go basis, and teens can check themselves in and out.