Royal Caribbean is famous for offering a wide and varied array of entertainment options, especially in the fleet’s newest vessels. By virtue of its age and size, Radiance of the Seas admittedly pales in comparison to its more modern sister ships, but still manages to hold its own.
Daily activities are plentiful and can fill up your agenda quickly, plus there’s a solid combination of pools, sun decks and other self-serve venues like a mini golf course and a rock-climbing wall. At night, several venues offer entertainment options ranging from gameshows and karaoke to live music and DJ-led dance parties.
Theatre and Shows on Radiance of the Seas
Spanning Decks 4 to 6 on the forward end of the ship, the 876-seat Aurora Theater is Radiance of the Seas’ one-stop-shop for main entertainment. Productions shows with Royal Caribbean’s team of singers and dancers are the main draw, and you can expect a few showings per voyage. Our Alaska voyage featured a 90-minute act celebrating the music of artists like Elton John, Billy Joel and Barry Manilow, among others. But solo acts ranging from musicians to comedians also take the stage at the Aurora Theater. During the daytime, the venue hosts lectures, port talks and other appropriate activities designed for larger crowds.
Daily Things to Do on Radiance of the Seas
From early morning yoga and stretching sessions to late afternoon trivia and cocktail demonstrations, there’s always something going on aboard Radiance of the Seas. Naturally, sea days offer a busier and more varied agenda, but there’s plenty going on during port days as well.
Most daily activities aboard Radiance of the Seas are included in your fare, but a handful of them – such as wine or rum cocktail tastings – carry an extra fee.
The best way to keep track of the daily agenda is via Royal Caribbean’s app, which you can always access on board even if you don’t purchase a wi-fi package. Alternatively, you can request a printed daily program (if you prefer this option, make sure you let your cabin steward know on day one as handing out printed programs isn’t the standard practice).
Nightlife and Casino on Radiance of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s ships strive to strike a balance between family-oriented and adult-oriented nightlife, and Radiance of the Seas is no exception. The ship’s smaller size in relation to newer Royal Caribbean vessels also means that the party areas tend to be livelier.
Deck 4’s Lobby Bar area in the Centrum is ground zero: the music starts early in the afternoon and doesn’t let up until close to midnight. Other venues – like Quill and Compass pub, The Colony Club and Schooner Bar – offer more chill varieties of nightly entertainment. And all the way up in Deck 12, Starquest Disco Lounge, keeps the party going well past midnight. The vibe will inevitably depend on the region: Alaska cruises are more subdued but can still pack a party-friendly punch, while warmer weather sailings tend to turn up the heat.
Another noteworthy nightly draw aboard Radiance of the Seas is Casino Royale. Located on Deck 6, the French art nouveau-inspired venue features more than 200 slot machines and tables for blackjack, craps and roulette, as well as a busy bar in the middle of it all.
Radiance of the Seas Bars & Lounges
Royal Caribbean offers three drink packages, two of which entitle purchasers to alcoholic beverages. Water, tea, drip coffee and lemonade are the only drinks included in your fare.
The drinks and bar selection aboard Radiance of the Seas is abundant and varied. You’ll find some specialized bars – like the Champagne Bar or the Quill and Compass pub – but typically you won’t have any trouble ordering your drink of choice in any of the ship’s 10 bars. A rotating drink of the day sells for a slightly lower price than the average cocktail.
Curiously, the drinks menu doesn’t necessarily adapt to the destination. In Alaska, for example, tropical drinks and non-local beers still rule the roost.
Our Picks
For an all-around fun vibe: Royal Caribbean’s trademark Schooner Bar extends down one side of the ship and is decorated with cannons, cannon balls and other nautical memorabilia. You can sink into the comfy sofas or hang out at the bar, which draws a crowd from when it opens until late into the night. A piano player provides entertainment most nights and sing-alongs are popular.
For late night revelers: The “futuristic retro” vibe of Starquest Lounge is fun and endearing, and its centerpiece bar is open well past midnight. For extra fun, ask the bartender to activate the (gently) revolving mechanism.
To see and be seen: Both the Champagne Bar (Deck 6) and the Lobby Bar (Deck 4) in the Centrum area are the most centrally located onboard. Finding a spot might be tricky, but well worth the try.
For a laid-back pint: With its dark woods, high stools, cozy conversation nooks and international brews on taps, Quill and Compass is a great place to gather for an adult beverage and a chat.
For a drink under the stars: The aptly-named Sky Bar on Deck 12 overlooks the main pool and is an unbeatable outdoor spot to enjoy a drink when the weather is good
Pools and Hot Tubs on Radiance of the Seas
For a mid-size ship, Radiance of the Seas offers no shortage of pools. The main one is located outdoors on Deck 11 and is flanked by a pair of whirlpools and plentiful seating. Also on Deck 11 towards the forward end of the ship, the African-themed Solarium’s pool – with its life-sized stone elephants, a glossy statue of a sunbathing panther, a waterfall and lush landscaping – is technically available only to passengers aged 16 or more. On cold-weather sailings, however, exceptions are made numerous times during the day to allow younger passengers to use the pool in this climate controlled indoor venue. A large-size whirlpool is also available here.
Yet kids have their very own pool aboard Radiance of the Seas. Dubbed Adventure Beach, this outdoor area on Deck 12 features a slide and a splash-and-play area.
Mini Golf, Rock Climbing Wall, and Sports Courts on Radiance of the Seas
Aside from its pool offerings, Radiance of the Seas has several more outdoor attractions on its top decks.
Fairways of Radiance, the nine-hole mini golf course, wraps around the ship’s funnel all the way up on Deck 13. The top deck is also home to the 40-foot-high Rock Climbing Wall
Deck 12 offers the multi-purpose sports court where passengers can play basketball, pickleball or soccer. On Deck 11, you’ll find a couple of ping-pong tables adjacent to the pool area.
Sundecks on Radiance of the Seas
Most of the sun deck space can be found on Deck 11 around the pool, but peaceful sunning can also be had on the many deck chairs located on Deck 12. By virtue of having a glass retractable roof, the Solarium also gives sun-worshippers plenty of space to indulge.
Services and Wi-Fi on Radiance of the Seas
In the Centrum on Deck 4 you’ll find guest services and the shore excursions desk. On Deck 5 there are shops selling logo merchandise, souvenirs and sundries. Duty-free items including jewelry, alcohol, fragrances, cosmetics, watches and sunglasses are also available. You will also find the ship’s conference rooms, art gallery and photo shop here. Photographs are arranged by date for passengers to peruse, with a variety of packages available.
You will find the art gallery on this level as well, together with Royal Caribbean Online, the ship’s internet center with five stations and the wi-fi services help desk. The Next Cruise desk, for those looking to book their next cruise, is located directly across from the internet stations on Deck 5. Other facilities include a small library on Deck 9, a card room on Deck 10 and a Loyalty Desk on Deck 12.
A doctor is available in the Medical Centre on Deck 4. There are no self-service launderettes onboard, but you can pay to have your clothing laundered.
Wi-Fi packages are available via Royal Caribbean’s Starlink-powered VOOM service. You have the option to add multiple devices depending on the package you choose. We found that the internet service is sufficiently reliable to carry out videoconferencing calls and even stream video content.
Spa and Thermal Suite on Radiance of the Seas
The 15,500-square-foot Vitality Day Spa and Fitness Centre is divided into three sections: a beauty and health center, aerobics area and fitness center. The beauty center has a dedicated salon for hair services and manicures and pedicures.
The Day Spa has 12 treatment rooms including a Rasul (scrub) and thermal suite and offers treatments such as a massages and facials. Medispa services, such as derma filler and Botox treatments, are also available. A separate relaxation area with lounges and complimentary chilled water and herbal tea can be enjoyed post-treatment. Massage and facial specials are sometimes available on port days. All services and beauty treatments in the spa incur fees.
Fitness and Gym on Radiance of the Seas
The large onboard fitness center on Deck 12 has an aerobics area with mirrored wall and wood-suspended aerobics floor; and a gym with multiple treadmills, cycles, free weights, multiple benches and other fitness equipment. An array of fitness activities, such as stretching and aerobics classes, are scheduled. Many of these are complimentary but some classes, like yoga and Pilates, carry a fee. The fitness center is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for passengers aged over 16.
Outside of the fitness center, you’ll find an 880-foot-long jogging track (circle it six times to complete a mile).
Is Radiance of the Seas Family Friendly?
True to Royal Caribbean’s multigenerational approach to cruising, Radiance of the Seas is a ship built to cater to families traveling with children. This is true of many of the ship’s cabins – which can accommodate third and fourth passengers – as well as special venues and kids clubs.
The percentage of families traveling with children varies depending on the destination and time of the year. Early- and late-season Alaska sailings will typically feature less families, while the summer months and holiday season tend to attract more.
As with all Royal Caribbean ships, 6 months is the minimum age to sail aboard Radiance of the Seas.
Kids Club on Radiance of the Seas: Adventure Ocean
On Deck 12, children have free reign of Adventure Ocean and the adjoining Adventure Beach, with an indoor kids’ activity space and outdoor play area with a slide and splash pool. The club is designated for kids aged 3 to 11, offering different activities and programs for different age groups within this bracket.
Children aged 3 to 5 are classed as Aquanauts and their schedule includes things like story sessions and face painting. Kids aged 6 to 8 fall into the Explorer category, and their daily line-up includes activities like crazy tag and dodgeball. Children aged 9 to 11, meanwhile, are given the title of Voyagers, as well as a little more freedom around the ship with activities such as scavenger hunts.
The Adventure Ocean activity space is open daily. It opens a half-hour before the first shore excursion leaves on port days, so children aged over 3 can be left with members of the Adventure Ocean team while parents go ashore. Kids who stay on the ship take part in activities and are supervised during lunch in the Windjammer Restaurant. There is no charge for this service.
Parents have to sign their children aged 8 and under in and out every time they visit Adventure Ocean. Voyagers are allowed to sign themselves in and out of the program with parental permission; except on port days when all children aged under 12 must be signed out by an adult.
Babies and Toddlers on Radiance of the Seas
On Deck 12, the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery — which is divided into play, sleeping and eating zones — offers supervised care for kids 6 to 36 months. Late-night babysitting for children aged under 12 is also available. All baby-sitting services carry an hourly fee.
Tweens and Teens on Radiance of the Seas
On Royal Caribbean, teens are classed as being aged between 12 and 17. They hang out at Optix on Deck 12, which looks like a club and has a dance floor, lounge seating, a nonalcoholic bar and table football. Among the organized activities are poolside movies and barbecues, but most teens come to Optix to meet up with friends then head off to do their own thing.
A video arcade (Deck 12) with games like air hockey and shooter games is popular with kids and teens, but these have to be paid for. If you buy your child a capped US$20 or similar pass for the arcade, be warned that additional games will automatically be charged to your account when the pass runs out unless you deactivate the option for them to use their card for purchases.
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