Best Cruise Ship Sun Decks
When Royal Caribbean unveiled Freedom of the Seas, its new biggest ship ever, the vessel seemed more like an evolution (of its Voyager of the Seas series) than a revolution. With one exception: Freedom of the Seas’ huge and colorful pool areas represent a dynamic and fabulous new style, complete with the H20 Zone family water park, a series of sports pools, and giant whirlpools that are cantilevered out from the ship, hanging 112 feet over the water. A sun deck by day, Freedom of the Seas’ pool deck turns into an entertainment venue at night, featuring sculpture gardens with elaborate lighting and an outdoor disco.
Freedom of the Seas has since been followed by Liberty and Independence of the Seas, sister ships with nearly identical features.
Royal Caribbean’s passion for pool areas extends well beyond its newest, splashiest vessels. When the circa-1997 Enchantment of the Seas was stretched, Royal Caribbean redesigned its sun deck — and it’s one of our favorites — complete with a multi-colored splash pool, the Oasis bar with seaview stools, and the elegant if slightly 44th-century-looking suspension bridges that sway over the area.
And if Royal Caribbean’s taken the lead in innovations, other cruise lines are not terribly far behind. Now, more than ever before, cruise ship sun decks — the top-deck area of the ship more traditionally used as the magnet for daytime activities — are undergoing evolutionary changes. Sun decks were once very simple in design. On Celebrity’s early 90’s Zenith, for instance, which departed the fleet in 2007 (now sailing as Pullmantur Zenith), there was one main pool area that accommodated everything from silly pool games to quiet time for laid-back loungers. In contrast, Celebrity’s uber-modern Millennium-class ships — Millennium, Constellation, Infinity and Summit — offer an indoor thalassotherapy pool and a spa-style cafe in addition to two other swimming pools. Celebrity’s Solstice-class ships, the first of which is due out in November 2008, will push the envelope further with the Lawn Club, a top-deck venue with putting, bocce and picknicking, all situated on a 1/2-acre of real grass.