By Rod & Melody. A spur-of-the-moment weekend cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada.
Our Sailing: May 20, 2022, a short weekend cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico
Navigator of the Seas is our go-to idea for a quick getaway from Utah. It's about an hour and a half flight from Salt Lake City to Long Beach, and the ship sails short trips to Mexico. We booked this one on the spur of the moment, flew in the morning of the cruise and sailed away the same day.
Here's how we did it, the suite we ended up in and our ranking of where to eat and drink on board. You can watch our Navigator video here:
What Navigator Is Now
Navigator of the Seas is a Voyager Class ship that first sailed in 2002. She was amplified in 2019 with new waterslides and new places to eat and drink, so she feels much newer than her age.
She's based in Los Angeles for short 3- to 7-night cruises to Mexico. Royal Caribbean has also scheduled her for a season in Asia, so check the dates before you plan around her.
✈ PRO TIP: Short cruises from LA are an easy weekend for Utah and West Coast travelers. A Friday sailing with a quick flight lets you take a real vacation without using a full week.
Flying In the Same Day
We took a gamble and booked the earliest flight from Salt Lake City to Long Beach on sailing day, then took an Uber to the port. We made it with time to spare.
✈ PRO TIP: Only fly in the same day for a short, flexible trip. For a longer cruise or one you've planned for months, fly in the day before. A delayed flight on embarkation day can mean missing the ship.
Our Cabin: A Guarantee Suite
We booked a guarantee suite, which means Royal Caribbean picks your exact room. We were assigned Junior Suite 9328. My favorite parts were the bigger closet and the tub and shower combo.
✈ PRO TIP: Consider a guarantee booking if you're flexible. You give up choosing your exact cabin, but the price is often lower than picking a specific room in the same category.
Dining: Our Top Five
We bought the Unlimited Dining Package. One perk that's easy to miss is that it also covers lunch at the specialty restaurants that are open midday, so you can skip the buffet.
1. Izumi: Our favorite. Navigator doesn't have a teppanyaki grill because the ceiling is too low, so Izumi serves a full sit-down menu instead. We loved it. It's a more intimate meal, and once you've seen the teppanyaki show, you've seen it.
2. Chops Grille: A Royal Caribbean staple that rarely disappoints.
3. Specialty lunch: We used our dining package for a light lunch at Jamie's Italian instead of the Windjammer. Check what's open for lunch on your sailing.
4. Playmakers: It sits right on the Promenade, so it isn't private, but it's a great stop for a drink and an appetizer. Try the campfire cookie.
5. Hooked: Our least favorite. My lobster was rubbery and overcooked, and the dessert was nothing special.
Tell us in the comments: On a short cruise, would you buy the dining package or book one or two specialty dinners?
Our Favorite Bar: The Bamboo Room
The Bamboo Room is a Polynesian tiki bar on the Promenade with a drink menu you won't find anywhere else on the ship. The crowd is friendly, and it's easy to start a conversation with other cruisers.
✈ PRO TIP: Expect an upcharge on tiki drinks. Even with a drink package, many of the Bamboo Room's specialty drinks cost more than the package covers. Ask before you order.
What We Pack for a Weekend Cruise
A carry-on suitcase, so you can head straight from the airport to the port
Magnetic hooks for the steel cabin walls
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Before You Sail: Quick Tips
Don't check a bag if you're flying in the same day. Carry-on only makes the airport-to-port dash much easier.
Don't plan on teppanyaki at Izumi. Navigator serves the sit-down menu.
Don't assume your drink package covers the Bamboo Room's specialty drinks.
Don't skip lunch at a specialty restaurant if you buy the dining package.
Navigator is an easy weekend getaway for anyone in the West. She's a good way to try cruising without committing to a full week.
Book a cruise: Compare Navigator of the Seas sailings on Expedia
Another short-cruise favorite: Freedom of the Seas
Upgrade tip: Royal Up: what we won and why we stopped
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