Celebrating a sea change

Long queues, impatient guests and staff who are overworked and not very helpful all contribute. Can you imagine 3 500 people trying to check in with a deadline looming?

“Looming” is what the cruise liner Voyager of the Seas did: towering over the Sydney Opera House and too big to get under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

‘Voyager of the Seas’ is too large to fit under
the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Pictures: David Batzofin

This was one of my concerns before boarding Voyager of the Seas. But I should not have worried: check-in took less time than a supermarket queue and the staff were friendly. Even Australian customs (familiar to many, thanks to Border Patrol on DStv) were helpful and fast.

Once on board, the magnitude of this ship becomes apparent. The term “floating hotel” does not do the vessel justice: it is certainly much more than that. This is the ship that changed the face of cruising forever and set the benchmark for the alternatives that followed it.

Although I did not try it out, I have it on good authority that the climbing wall, mounted to the funnel, is a lot of fun.

And Voyager of the Seas was the first ship to boast an ice rink – but not just any rink. This multi-purpose venue can be used as a basketball court, a venue for game shows (like Quest) and, of course, skating.

To quote the cruise director: “The ice rink is situated over steam pipes, which caused a series of early teething problems. It has been resolved and the rink is open throughout the cruise for all – even professional skating shows.”

The entertainment, although aimed at the Australian market, was top-drawer stuff. I even ended up on stage as a foil for one of the comedians. All the shows were presented in the 1 362-seater La Scala Theatre, which boasts technology that is able to produce Broadway-quality events.

My last cruise was back in the seventies in a cabin that was made out of steel, had bunk beds and a tiny porthole that could be opened. How cruising has changed … Cabins are now staterooms, some with balconies and all with proper beds and ablutions. One of the features that impressed was the interactive TV – even up-to-date account details at the click of the remote.

Both 110v and 240v are provided. Just remember to bring a two pin converter if you are using three-pin South African plugs.

If you are a coffee lover, be warned the onboard coffee is not the best. But that small complaint aside, all the other aspects of this ship exceeded my expectations.

Standing on the bridge with Captain Ryan, I was impressed with the technical aspects of the ship. At 311m, it can turn on its own axis. It can “crash stop” within its own length and – even more impressively – it can maneouvre in 1m of water.

A must for every cruise ship is the casino, spa and a number of pools and jacuzzis. And, of course, food. There are three main fine restaurants, as well as buffet dining areas called The Wind Jammer and Café Promenade. The main restaurants can seat 540 at a time and the fact that the staff can remember names is more than impressive.

There is a running track on Deck 12 for those who believe the urban legend that the average cruise guest will put on 4kg during their journey. There is also a fully equipped gym that has an amazing view. Another innovation is the Royal Promenade situated on Deck 5. This is where the shoppers shop.

Why has cruising become so popular? Perhaps it is the fact that you do not have to pack and unpack? Could it be that, compared to similar land-based accommodation, it is less expensive? Perhaps it is the fact that guests don’t have to think for themselves?

For me, it was one of the best experiences of my travel writing career – and I cannot wait to be onboard again.