Watching your favorite team play doesn't take a break when you're on a cruise ship, and for those that are passionate fans, this means catching the game and rooting for their team no matter what.
Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade is Royal Caribbean's sports bar venue, and it features lots of televisions that show a variety of sports programming. For casual game watching, it's a hot spot and can get very busy when there are major events happening.
On Wonder of the Seas, Playmakers has the Owner's Box, which is a private VIP alcove you can rent for a few hours and I wanted to see what it was like to get this during the onset of March Madness in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Playmakers is known for being a sports lovers paradise
The first Playmakers opened on Symphony of the Seas when that ship launched, and it's become a favorite of cruisers for its a la carte menu, viewing opportunities, and causal atmosphere.
Now it's found on several ships across Royal Caribbean's fleet, including the brand new Icon of the Seas.
Read more: Icon of the Seas information, tips & tricks
The Playmakers Owner Box VIP Section costs $350
The seating in Playmakers is on a first-come, first-reserved basis. There's no ability to make advanced reservations, which can be problematic if you really want to see a particular game and many other passengers do too.
The newer Playmakers have the Owners Box, which you can book during the cruise to assure you of space for your group.
It's really meant as a group activity, with enough space for a dozen or so people.
On our spring break sailing, I wanted to catch the opening of the basketball tournament to see the University of Connecticut play (Go Huskies!).
It costs $350 for 2 and a half hours, although the staff were adamant we could stay for as long as our game was playing.
You get two pitchers of beer, 12 wings, and 2 appetizers from the regular menu. The beer is limited to what's on tap.
The Owner's Box is located near the Boardwalk
A velvet rope sections off the Owner's Box from the rest of Playmakers, and you'll find the most comfortable chairs surrounded by televisions.
The staff welcomed us in and the restaurant's manager came by to ensure the games we wanted to see were on the screen. There are two large televisions, along with a few smaller sets that line the walls. You can easily watch 3-4 games at the same time, although Royal Caribbean's satellite feed is not quite the same as at home.
Luckily, they had most of the games available to watch, so it was just a matter of having the staff change the channel on each television to match what we wanted.
The box is open air, which means noise from the Boardwalk can easily bleed through. Moreover, while the restaurant is air conditioned, the open air nature of the restaurant means the outside heat and humidity certain seeps in.
When we sat down, there was a large family activity going on that was quite loud. Plus, I'd be concerned in the warmer months of the year how hot it gets in the venue.
There are sound bubbles
Noise bleed from around the bar and in the Boardwalk is going to happen, so Royal Caribbean installed what I call "sound bubbles".
These speakers in the ceiling have a plastic dome around them to direct the sound directly downwards to whomever is sitting below it.
They do indeed work, and it allows you to easily hear the game you want to watch, even if it's noisy around you.
Playmaker's food is just what you want on game day
Burgers, wings, nachos, oh my!
Whether you're in the Owner's Box or not, the comfort food at Playmakers is your typical sports bar selections that hits the spot for most people.
A lot of the menu is great for sharing, which is conducive to a group experience in the Owner's Box. It's easy to get nachos, and place it in the middle to share.
Besides the snacks and beer included with the rental, you can order anything else you'd like off of the regular menu.
I think the onion ring tower, nachos, and buffalo crunch rolls are all worth trying there. Those are great for sharing, but order your own Campfire Cookie because you won't want to give any of that up.
We had fun, but I wouldn't rent the Owner's Box again
UCONN won its game, and we enjoyed all the food and drinks provided, but I'm not sure I need to experience this again.
At $350, it's not outrageously expensive for a large group, but I'm not sure I need to spend the money for a dedicated area again.
If you're a die-hard fan and you're on a cruise for a critical game, then you might consider renting the Owner's Box for your group. It certainly is nice having reserved seats and space to spread out.
The bar's service was impeccable, and they did just about anything to ensure we got what we wanted.
I glanced around a few times and even though it was the NCAA tournament, there were still stools and booths available that we could have sat at for free to watch the game. Perhaps if the price was closer to $100, it might have been worth it.
The decision to rent the Owner's Box truly comes down to your passion as a fan, and how important it is to you to have a reserved section.
