Royal Caribbean has dozens of ships and hundreds of bars, but one venue appears on almost every ship in the fleet: Schooner Bar.
It's a classic nautical bar that has become a staple on any ship Royal Caribbean has sailed. In fact, it's a bar their CEO once said can never be removed.
Jay Schneider, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, shared when he was hired one directive he received immediately was to never omit the Schooner Bar.
"When I took this job, Michael Bayley said, If I ever proposed or got rid of the Schooner bar, he'd fire me," he quipped in a 2022 interview. "And so that's an example of tradition, things that we know our guests really love."
But after sailing on many ships, one thing becomes obvious: Schooner Bar isn’t the same everywhere. It's noticeably better on one class of ships, surprisingly, it’s not on the newest or biggest ships.
While you'll find a Schooner Bar on every ship, I think Royal Caribbean perfected it over 20 years ago with the launch of the Radiance Class ships.
The one bar you'll find on nearly every Royal Caribbean ship
The Schooner Bar is a signature venue that has been a feature on every ship in the fleet. You'll find one on Voyager Class, Radiance Class, Freedom Class, Oasis Class, and many others.
There are a few characteristics that make the Schooner Bar different.
- It has a nautical theme
- Trivia games during the day
- Live piano entertainment most evenings
- Unique menu of cocktails and martinis
For many cruisers, the Schooner Bar is the go-to evening hangout spot.
The appeal is simple: comfortable seating, views of the ocean, and a bar that feels like it belongs on a cruise ship. Having a nautical feel I think contributes to why so many cruisers prefer this venue.
The entertainment is the x-factor that pushes the Schooner Bar to the top. Trivia in the day and live piano music each evening make this one of the best hangout spots you'll find.
The Schooner Bar truly shines on the Radiance Class ships
While I love the Icon Class ships for how impressive they are, there's no question the Schooner Bar is better on the 20+ year old ships that came before it.
The first thing you'll notice about the Schooner Bar on a Radiance Class ship is how big it is. They're significantly wider and have a larger footprint than on new ships.
This allows for a better proportion of space used.
The next thing that makes a Schooner Bar better on Brilliance of the Seas than Star of the Seas is the connection to the ocean.
Schooner Bars on older ships have large windows on one side, allowing you to see what's happening from the comfort of your bar chair.
As newer ships have come out, the Schooner Bar became smaller and more enclosed.
Plus, I think the bar layout was perfected on Radiance Class ships.
The piano player is the focal point, but there's a fabulous circular bar that has a "Cheers" TV show vibe on one side, with some of the most relaxing chairs you'll find in any bar on the other.
Newer ships don't capture the same vibe
I won't shy away from a Schooner Bar on a new ship, but after experiencing it on Radiance Class, you'll see the difference.
As newer ships have come online, the Schooner Bar became less nautical, has fewer windows, and became disjointed in the seating arrangement.
On the Oasis Class, the Schooner Bar seems like an afterthought, squeezed into a half deck above the Royal Promenade and stretched out. It's a bit better on the Icon Class, but the position of the piano player is skewed to one side.
When I go on a new ship, the Schooner Bar feels like "just another lounge" rather than a standout spot. It's still good, but not the focal point it is on other ships.
What makes Schooner Bar so beloved in the first place
The combination of nostalgia and tradition is why I think so many cruisers love the Schooner Bar.
The piano sing-alongs, trivia competitions, great cocktail menu, and loyal cruisers who look to it as their first stop each evening all make this a must-visit.
Speaking of the menu, I think the Schooner Bar has a vastly underrated drink menu.
Royal Caribbean has a special cocktail menu that you'll only find in the Schooner Bar, which adds to the appeal. While there's nothing wrong with a piña colada or daiquiri, the beverage operations team crafted a new menu that goes well beyond those classics.
The Schooner Bar drink menu has drinks you might not have thought of initially, but sound amazing.
The Desert pear margarita, Toasted marshmallow old fashioned, and Lavender daquiri are all just as good as they sound.
If you have a Royal Caribbean drink package, the drinks listed are included with the package benefits.
For many cruisers, it's one of the few venues that feels the same across the fleet.
