Rhapsody of the Seas

The pool deck is where the 2024 renovation shows most. A large pool sits in the middle with room to sit on the edge, several hot tubs nearby and new sun loungers wrapping around the upper decks. A big pool bar serves both levels. An outdoor movie screen with speakers shows movies and sporting events, and it is a great spot in the evening. Up top, there is shuffleboard, a jogging track and plenty more sun deck space.

The Solarium is a bright, climate-controlled retreat with Egyptian hieroglyphic theming, a pool down the middle, two hot tubs and extra-padded loungers. Since Rhapsody sails all around the world, it is a welcome spot in cooler climates. Inside, the complimentary Park Café serves continental breakfast, made-to-order salads, panini and snacks into the evening, along with the fleet-famous kummelweck roast beef sandwich. The bar here keeps the drinks coming.

The Viking Crown is the reason you can spot a Royal Caribbean ship from far away, and Rhapsody's still goes strong. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the room, making it a relaxing lounge by day, then it turns into a nightclub with a DJ booth and dance floor late in the evening. The Suite Concierge Lounge is also part of the Viking Crown, open to Grand Suites and above for continental breakfast, appetizers and an evening happy hour.

At the very top of the ship, on the crown of the Viking Crown Lounge, Izumi is one of the biggest Izumi restaurants in the fleet, and it gets lots of natural light and views. The sushi bar turns out rolls and sashimi, and there are teriyaki-style dishes and chicken karaage for guests who don't love sushi. Edamame is a natural start. Izumi is a specialty restaurant, available as part of a dining package or à la carte.

The Vitality Spa sits aft with ocean views, offering massages, facials, teeth whitening, manicures and pedicures, plus a full salon and barber shop. A relaxation room starts and ends each treatment, and the couples treatment room is a romantic option. Complimentary steam rooms, saunas and locker rooms are part of the spa. A stairway leads up to the fitness center at the top aft of the ship, with cardio machines, free weights and an aerobics studio for spin and yoga.

Adventure Ocean groups kids by age, from 3 to 12, with counselors who have backgrounds in child development. There are TV stations, arts and crafts, video games and active play. Royal Babies and Tots is a drop-off nursery for little ones from 6 to 36 months, with cribs, naps, changing and feeding, and it runs into the evening. Teens get their own club with a dance floor, foosball and video games, plus an arcade next door that costs extra.

Rhapsody's Centrum is flooded with daylight through glass skylights, with seating on several decks so guests can enjoy the entertainment from above. At the bottom, the retro R Bar has a full stage for live music and parties. Guest Services and the shore excursion desk are nearby. Along the shops, Café Latte-tudes pours Starbucks drinks, and the nautical Schooner Bar is a classic piano bar where guests can sit at the piano and request songs.

Chops Grille is the classic steakhouse, with favorite cuts, seafood options and an open kitchen you can smell as soon as you walk in. The recently renovated room has floor-to-ceiling views, and suite guests eat breakfast here each morning. Giovanni's Table covers Italian favorites, from pasta dishes to tiramisu, generally open for dinner every night and often for lunch. Both need reservations and can be booked ahead or covered with a dining package.