Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation is always a good idea, but it can be especially memorable over a holiday, such as St. Patrick's Day.
The cruise line's newest vessel, Star of the Seas, is currently celebrating her first St. Patrick's Day at sea. Royal Caribbean Blog's Head Honcho, Matt Hochberg, reports that the ship is decked out in green, with themed decorations, festive activities, and unique, limited-time partnerships.
The Royal Promenade is filled with inflatables, ranging from larger-than-life leprechauns to four-leaf clovers and horseshoes.
There's even an inflatable rainbow near the 1400 Lobby Bar — though, unfortunately, there’s no pot of gold at the end (the closest thing is the Pot of Gold slot tournament in the casino at 11:00 p.m.)
And what's a holiday without a balloon drop? The crew aboard Star of the Seas has already prepared for the celebration, with green and white balloons hanging from the ceiling.
The Pearl, the Royal Promenade's moody centerpiece, is illuminated in green and gold for the occasion. This helps cast a festive glow on the central thoroughfare, where you'll find everything from the Guest Services desk to the 24-hour Pearl Café and Royal Caribbean-branded shops.
The Bell & Barley Pub is also getting into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with a selection of themed drinks that are available all week.
"We are commemorating this occasion on board with a pub takeover featuring Jameson's Irish Whiskey. Our team has collaborated with our partners at Diageo to create three signature drinks," said Ed Eiswirth, Senior Director of Beverage Operations at Royal Caribbean.
"These cocktails will be available throughout the week, as one day of celebration is simply not enough."
The three "Lucky Sips" include the Golden Clover, Pot 'O Gold, and Charmed Apple. The Golden Clover ($14) is made with Jameson Irish Whiskey, mango, lime juice, mint, and Angostura bitters. Pot 'O Gold ($14) is also crafted with Jameson Irish Whiskey, though it leans into a sweeter vibe with amaro, peach, lemon juice, and a peach ring garnish.
Finally, the Charmed Apple ($14) is the only beverage on the limited-edition menu that doesn't use Jameson Irish Whiskey. Instead, it features an Espolòn Silver Tequila base, blended with Cointreau, passion fruit, Granny Smith apple, and lime juice.
In addition to decorations, the daily planner is filled with St. Patrick's Day-themed activities, such as trivia, a balloon drop with the cruise director staff, and family arts & crafts at Adventure Ocean.
Star of the Seas is currently on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida. She departed on March 15 and is scheduled to call at CocoCay, Cozumel, Roatán, and Costa Maya before returning to Florida on the 22nd.
