The Mariner of the Seas arrived in Miami after a $120
million drydock to sail short cruises to the Bahamas. It is the largest ship
ever to be deployed in the short-cruise market.
Starting June 25, the 3,114-passenger Mariner will go on
three-day weekend cruises and four-day weekday cruises to Nassau and CocoCay.
During the drydock, Royal installed a package of amenities
called Royal Amplified, which includes a SkyPad bungee trampoline attraction,
two new water slides, a laser tag game and an escape room called the Observatorium.
The ship is the first to be equipped with a Tiki-themed bar,
the Bamboo Room, which will be installed on a majority of the 10 ships
scheduled to get the Royal Amplified package, including the Navigator, Oasis
and Allure of the Seas.
The Mariner also gained a new Starbucks, a Playmakers Sports
Bar and Arcade, and an Izumi Hibachi and Sushi restaurant, among other
improvements.
"Millennials want more frequent and shorter vacations
that offer as much of that exhilarating adventure they seek. We've answered
that call by investing $120 million in Mariner of the Seas and bringing her to
Miami to sail three- and four-night cruises," said Royal Caribbean
International CEO Michael Bayley.
Royal is building a dock at CocoCay, its private island in
the Bahamas, to better accommodate passengers on the Mariner.
After the Navigator gets its Royal Amplified upgrade later
this year, it will take over the short cruise itineraries from Miami and the
Mariner will do short cruises from Port Canaveral.