I used a casino instant rewards certificate to book a 4-night cruise on to Mexico aboard Enchantment of the Seas, a 2,730-guest ship that joined Royal Caribbean's fleet in 1997.

I was surprised that a balcony cabin reward was available through the casino for two reasons: Enchantment has few balcony cabins, and my play wasn't very high when I got the certificate. Nonetheless, I was pleased.

One downside to this was I had to take a guarantee cabin assignment, which means the cruise line chose my room.

It took a month or two, but I finally got my cabin assigned. I was never worried the cruise would be overbooked, but it probably took longer than I expected.

I was assigned cabin 7036, which was on the ship's port side (left) and directly off the forward elevator bank. I didn't hear any noise the entire time, not even from neighboring guests that I shared a connecting door with.

My SeaPass card was waiting for me outside my cabin once staterooms were ready for passengers to get to their cabins at 1pm on embarkation day. 

I have no idea why there was a birthday magnet on my door when I arrived, but I decided to leave it to make it easier to find my room. 

When I opened the door, I was impressed by how big the room felt.

As you walk in, there is a giant closet on your left.  There are many hangers you can use, along with ledges places to put your bulky items.

I opted to use the closet as my dirty laundry area, which was helped by bringing a laundry hamper.  It's one of my favorite cabin hacks for keeping the room cleaner and more manageable.

The main area of the room had a king-size bed that can be split into two, if you prefer.  I kept it together because I was cruising solo and liked having the big bed to myself.

I was impressed by how comfortable the bed was, and how well I slept every night. 

There were two small nightstands on each side of the bed, but no power outlets nearby.  Enchantment is an old Royal Caribbean ship, and convenient power outlets really didn't become popular on cruise ships until just a few years ago.

A TV is mounted across from the bed and has a small adjustable arm to angle it.

I could watch live satellite television, movies, TV series, or the Bridge Cam, which shows a view of the front of the ship. I rarely watch television on a cruise, but I'll sometimes turn it on before I go to sleep.

My room also had a sitting area with a full couch that had a pull out sofa and an oval-shaped coffee table.

According to the cruise line, this room can accommodate up to 3 guests, and the sofa bed is how that works. I never opened it up during my cruise, but I had a passing thought to sleep there one night just to mix things up.

I believe there was supposed to be a piece of art on the wall above the sofa because there were mounting positions, but it was missing. Not a problem, just an observation.

There was a vanity, a mirror, and a cushioned chair across from the couch.

The vanity has the only power outlets in this particular room, and it's where I would do my daily work for this site from.  I brought a USB hub so I could keep my various devices charged. (Contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use)

One thing you won't find in a cabin on Enchantment of the Seas is a mini-fridge. It's just not an option on Vision Class ships.

Instead, there are lots of drawers on each side of the vanity.  There's also additional storage space up above.

This is where you'll find the room safe.  The safe was clearly used and abused, as the face plate was half off, but it worked just fine.

I thought there was much more storage space than I expected, and between the drawers and closet, I think three people could easily keep all their belongings organized and out of suitcases for a sailing.

The covered balcony measured 39 square feet and had plenty of room for two people.

It wasn't the largest balcony by any means, but I really enjoyed being able to come out here and take in the view or ocean breeze.

Since it was January, it wasn't particularly hot out. That's good because it was comfortable, but some mornings it was chilly with the ocean breeze.

The bathroom was bigger than I expected for a ship of this age.

It looked like the bathroom I'd expect to find on a slightly newer ship, such as Voyager of the Seas or Freedom of the Seas.

It wasn't until I visited my friend's cabin and saw how small his bathroom was, that I realized mine was a substantial upgrade. He was in an inside room, and their bathroom was tiny.

Regardless of which cabin you're in on Enchantment, the one problem I have with the bathroom are the shower curtains.

Certain Royal Caribbean ships have shower curtains instead of a glass or plastic shower divider, and these curtains are notoriously problematic because they cling to you as you shower.

The shower area is a confined space to begin with, and I don't like the idea of the curtain touching me as I'm trying to clean myself.

Alas, it's not something that would ruin my cruise, but a known issue on older, smaller ships.

I posted a video of this on social media, and some cruisers recommended leaving the curtain open while I shower to avoid the problem.  According to them, there is a drain in the bathroom floor and the water would drain there instead.

When you're booked in a standard cabin category (i.e. not a suite), you have the choice of getting your cabin cleaned once a day, either in the morning or evening.

I almost always choose the evening service so I can sleep in or just be not disturbed when I'm working in the morning.

One day I forgot to remove my "do not disturb" magnet from my door after taking an afternoon nap, and as a result, my room wasn't cleaned that day.

To my surprise, my stateroom attendant went out of his way to clean it the next morning after I departed the room.

I tried to leave my cabin as much as I could to not feel confined in the room. Enchantment may not have the most activities, but there was a lot going on, and I enjoyed the fun things this ship had.

Despite the shower curtain issue, the stateroom had impressive storage, a fantastic bed, and a lovely private balcony.

I think this kind of a cabin is a room I'd love to stay in again, especially given how much space there was.

I loved having the outdoor space, especially considering how comfortable the weather was during the peak of winter in the Caribbean.

I tried an old Royal Caribbean cruise ship that seems to get a lot of negative reviews, and I have to admit, I was worried.

I'm always one to warn that online reviews are never to be trusted, but it's hard to overlook many of them.

Right after I booked my 4-night western Caribbean cruise, I read a memorable review on Reddit that had the bold title, "As a loyal Royal customer and someone who owns 100k (ish) in Royal stocks it’s time Enchantment of the Seas was taken out back and shot."

The person said, "Enchantment of the Seas is definitely showing her age."

"2 of 4 of the wall sconces in our junior suite work (ish), the toilet seat is loose, HVAC units in the ceiling have visible rust, stains on the ceiling, the HVAC units doesn’t shut off wherever the thermostat is set. The amount of rust on the ship is kind of surprising."

They summed it up with, "I think it’s time to sell Enchantment to some smaller cruise line or send her to Germany to the scrap yard."

Of course, that's quite a knee-jerk reaction and it gave me a chuckle because of the colorful way they described the ship, but it set the tone. 

As the cruise approached, I was determined to go in with an open mind and positive attitude, but I couldn't help shake the notion maybe all those people were right and I'd be disappointed.

An open mind is important for any cruise

One thing I really tried to do was not let posts on the internet ruin my cruise before I began. To that point, I tried to clear my mind of them all and come in without expectations.

With any cruise you plan, I think you want to have a balance of careful planning and spontaneous openness. You don't want to play out the entire vacation in your head ahead of time and render judgements of what was fun and what wasn't before it even begins.

With Enchantment, I wanted to reserve judgement and let the cruise come to me.  

I knew this wasn't going to be Icon of the Seas, and it never expected it to be. I went in I was going on a ship that would be different, and different would not necessarily be bad.

Setting the right expectations

After about 24 hours on the ship, I realized I didn't hate Enchantment of the Seas.  

It wasn't my new favorite ship by any means, and it wasn't ground breaking either.  But because I had come in as open minded as I could and with expectations of a classic cruise experience, it delivered that.

One preconceived notion I couldn't shake early on was it was going to be a rusty old ship with broken features all over.  It wasn't that at all. 

Sure, there was rust in some places and the aesthetics and furniture looked like it belonged on a ship that was built in the 1990s, but it wasn't falling apart and it wasn't as rough as some of those reviews had led me to believe.

To be fair, I've found plenty of rust and broken this or that on just about every Royal Caribbean ship.  New ships aren't immune to wear and tear, and the ocean is unkind to every piece of metal, not just Vision Class ships. If you want to look down and around for rust, you'll find it.

This is when I started to better wrap my head around this cruise, and I started embracing Enchantment as a fun sailing for a few days. 

My cabin felt dated, but I though the ship's casino was impressively large and the Schooner Bar layout was fantastic.

The pool deck was particularly well appointed, and I thought it looked great. It wasn't very hot for this sailing, but the times I was up on the pool, I thought it had a great vibe with giant pool bars and lots of seats.

Without a doubt, not coming into this cruise "kicking and screaming" based on review or assuming I wouldn't like it immediately were all things that helped ensure I started off on the right foot.

You'll probably pay way less to go on Enchantment of the Seas

A friend of mine loves Enchantment of the Seas and met his wife on this ship, and he has told me for years don't listen to the naysayers.

Michael Poole has sailed numerous times on Enchantment, and he loves the simplicity and great prices you can find.  

That's an important distinction, because odds are you're going to be able to go on a ship like Enchantment of the Seas for a bargain price most times.

Older and smaller ships are one of the best ways to save money on a cruise vacation and are probably the best value right now in cruising.

Right now the cruise industry is going through a major renaissance with incredible demand and rising prices.

Families that want to cruise on a budget, or those that are looking to continue to sail without spending a lot are going to find Enchantment of the Seas priced exactly where they want it.

Enchantment has its flaws, but it's fine for a short cruise

I had the right mindset for this cruise, but I was happy I wasn't sailing for a week or longer.

The lack of restaurant choices is the biggest problem I had with Enchantment, as it only has Chops Grille as a specialty restaurant alternative. Chef's Table is there too, but it's a niche offering.

The Windjammer was fine, but quite small and I felt like the selections were significantly limited compared to other Windjammers.

The only compelling alternative option for a snack was Park Cafe in the Solarium. That's an okay option, but it's far away from everything and it's still just pizza and a few sandwiches.

For 4- or 5-night cruises, there's enough going on that it won't negatively impact your sailing too badly. 

Newer ships have spoiled me in how much there is. It's like a movie you loved as a kid that you grow up and re-watch and realize it wasn't as good as you remember because newer movies have evolved the genre and done more. Plus your own tastes have evolved. The same is true of cruise ships.

I wouldn't mind going on Enchantment of the Seas again, but I'd hesitate if it were for a week. Or maybe that's the same flawed approach I was trying to avoid in the first place manifesting itself and I should go for that long.

I was worried, but Enchantment isn't ready to be "taken out back and shot" yet

A major lesson I learned after trying Enchantment of the Seas is that you really can't take "reviews" posted as anything more than entertainment.

So many people have posted about seemingly all the ships that they are "showing her age", and it's a trope that gets overused among cruisers. While the decor may not be what you'd find on a new cruise ship, that doesn't make it automatically bad.

To me, a ship like Enchantment is like visiting a quaint town or a small city.  It's smaller and and doesn't have as much to do as a big city, so you shouldn't expect big city thrills and options.

Just like a small town, I'd be okay going there for a few days but that's about it.  And it will keep me occupied for that long too.

I was impressed by how much I found to keep myself busy during the cruise, especially considering it was a bit "chilly" on our cruise and pool deck time where it was comfortable was limited.

To be fair, if Royal Caribbean would confirm the rumored new "smaller" class of cruise ship and say they'd replace ships like Enchantment, I wouldn't lose any sleep over that.  

But until that happens, I wouldn't mind going back on Enchantment again with the proper expectations.

I have to admit I avoided going on Royal Caribbean's old and small ships for a while, but I was persuaded to go on one for a long weekend and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

I had sailed on one Vision Class ship back in 2018, and can't say it was my favorite ship. It felt fundamentally different from the rest of the fleet, and I mostly avoided these ships.

Friends invited me to go on Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas and I eventually agreed to go, but I was leery of what awaited me because I was worried the ship would be disappointing.

Out of 29 Royal Caribbean ships, Enchantment is the third smallest ship in size, and also among the oldest. She was built in 1997 and has a passenger capacity of just 2,416 people.  By today's standards, that's really small.

Nonetheless, it had been six years since my last sailing on a Vision Class ship and my cruising style has changed since then.  Plus, I wasn't cruising with my kids, so I wouldn't be as dependent on family offerings.

This sailing departed from Tampa, Florida for a 4-night voyage to Cozumel, Mexico.  

The right mix of ways to relax

I knew going into this cruise to temper my expectations for what was going to be offered onboard. On any ship you sail on, you have to be realistic about what it offers and doesn't offer. 

While Enchantment of the Seas doesn't have as many bars, lounges, pools, or top deck activities as the bigger ships, it has just enough.

It has a rather large adults-only Solarium, one of the best Schooner Bars in the fleet, and an impressively large casino.

Because this ship was actually stretched by 73 feet (meaning they cut it in half and inserted a new section), the pool deck feels quite massive.  I was impressed how many hot tubs they had for a ship of this size.

Speaking of the pool deck, it has a bar with one of the best views on any Royal Caribbean ship at the Oasis Bar.

The Oasis Bar faces the ocean, which is a rarity on other ships. 

For indoor relaxation, I thought the Viking Crown Lounge was impressive too. 

This is a feature that has changed a lot on other ships, but is mostly true to its original vision on Enchantment.  You should go up here to read a book, people watch, or just watch the world pass by.

Plus, at night this is where the club scene happens.  It's not my thing, but people love it and it's easily overlooked given where it's located.

What you should expect on the smallest Royal Caribbean ships

No matter which cruise ship you pick, you have to go in with the right expectations.

I think part of why I enjoyed Enchantment as much as I did was because I went into it not expecting a ship remotely like Utopia of the Seas or Icon of the Seas.

You won't confuse a ship as old as Enchantment with the newer ones, but that doesn't mean you can't have a good time on it.

The core cruising experience is still here, which means a lot of time in the day hanging out by the pool, watching the ocean go by, and taking in some music or a trivia event along the way. In the evening, there's dinner, a show, and music all around the ship.  

These aren't things that you'll see heavily advertised in a commercial, but I think it's exactly the relaxing long weekend a lot of people want.

On our sea days, I embraced this mantra by grabbing a chair near the pool. 

One evening, I decided to go into the hot tub in the Solarium and found it all to myself. 

The reality is a ship this old is going to have dated decor, basic production shows, and some signs of age here and there. It is what it is, but I try to focus on the things the ship does well rather than look for every piece of rust I can spot.

Enchantment has the basics and it does it well. If your idea of a fun cruise is spending your day at the pool, having a drink at night with a show, music, or gambling, it will deliver on that.

You'll probably save money on a small and old ship

One other important reason to pick a ship like Enchantment of the Seas is the price.

Unlike Royal Caribbean's glitzy new and immensely popular ships, older ships have attractive prices that keep them a compelling option.

In general, cruise prices tend to be lower on older ships.  Newer ships come join the fleet and command premium pricing.  Since the older ones don't have as much to do, there's a tendency to see lower prices for these vessels.

In my case, I was able to get onboard for just $70 thanks to a free cruise offer from Royal Caribbean's casino. 

Friends paid around $600 for a single person in an inside cabin, and those kinds of low rates are typical with Vision Class ships.

While Enchantment doesn't have the top deck attractions newer ships have, it also doesn't (usually) have a high price tag.

Lack of dining options is its downfall

If there's one area Enchantment of the Seas is notably lacking, it's in the dining choices.

Small ships don't have many options to begin with, but Enchantment has far fewer than even other Vision Class ships.

There's only one specialty restaurant on Enchantment, Chops Grille. Other Vision Class ships have an Italian and Japanese restaurant.

On a four night cruise, that doesn't bother me much because it's a short cruise. But the lack of dining variety would be an issue on a longer cruise.

The other issue is the Windjammer is pretty small, and doesn't have any cooking stations.

I liked the food quality in the Windjammer, but I wish there was a greater variety of options.

I certainly didn't go hungry on this cruise, but compared to other ships, the lack of restaurant choices stands out.

Never bored

I found enough to do every day to keep me entertained, and I was never bored.

There was enough going on around the ship, including shows, music, the casino, and of course the pools. The production shows weren't great, but I managed to stay entertained even without them.

Something Enchantment of the Seas has that other Vision Class ships do not is Boleros, and that's because it was added as part of the stretching process.  

And of course the crew members were fantastic.  There are crew members from all over the world, and I love getting to meet them and interact. They're so friendly and welcoming, it makes the cruise fun.

I wouldn't dismiss small ships like Enchantment purely based on its age or size, and I'll look for ways to get back on a Vision Class ship again much sooner than six years.

Have you ever been so bothered by something that you decided to take care of it yourself?

One cruise ship passenger on Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas sailed a few weeks ago and noticed a broken cup holder in the ship's theater.  

Reddit user Asorensen1989 originally shared a photo of the broken cup holder, using it as an example of the state of the ship and why Royal Caribbean needs to retire her.

"Having just spent the week on Enchantment of the Seas, I can say, it’s time for her to retire. She’s just done. Everything is worn out and dated. The technology is seriously lacking. The service is great, but they can only make up for so much."

The cup holder was simply an example to prove the person's point.

A different Reddit user Shot_Bread_9657, noted he could make the necessary repairs with the proper materials.  With a cruise already booked on Enchantment coming up, the Reddit user brought the necessary materials from home and fixed it themself.

Photos were shared on Reddit of the repaired cup holder that he decided to work on because no one else did.

"Couldn’t say why- just seemed like a funny, and possibly helpful, thing to do," he wrote in his post.

They posted photos of what they did, and how it was repaired.

First, they packed caulk, sandpaper, epoxy putty, and brushes that they already owned.

"It cost me all of $0...Used a $5 coupon at Michael’s for the paint and lacquer," he explained in the total cost of the project.

He admitted he could have done a better job restoring it with the proper materials, but he wanted to get it back to working condition.

He brought the broken cup holder to his stateroom, where he documented how he repaired it.

Finally, he brought the repaired cup holder back to the theater and returned it to its proper place.

"I’m glad to say I delivered," he wrote triumphantly.

"Can't decide if you should be thanked or disembarked"

The reactions to Shot_Bread_9657's post sparked all sorts of reactions.

One person wrote, "Royal should hire you to be Handyman of the Seas."

Another posted, "You're just a normal passenger? ...I can't decide if you should be thanked or disembarked at the next port. LOL"

Others took the opportunity to note the lack of proper maintenance in the first place that left the cup holder broken for weeks.

"I admire your tenacity. The world needs more of this," Unhappy-Actuator9674 wrote.

Right or wrong?

While I've seen passengers use pieces of paper to level a wobbly table, or attempt to quiet noisy parts of their cabin, this is a new level of proactive work by a passenger.

Whether or not this person's repair work was helpful or not, it's likely against Royal Caribbean's policy to do so.

Within the cruise line's Guest Health, Safety, and Conduct Policy, is a section specifying this sort of behavior is not allowed:

"Additionally, tampering with any of the ship’s equipment, facilities or systems is not permitted."

There are potential safety and policy implications of a passenger attempting repairs. There are potential safety risks associated with unauthorized repairs, even if they seem minor, and it could impact the guest’s and other passengers’ safety.

When a problem is spotted by a guest, they should report it to Guest Services onboard and/or a nearby crew member so they can flag it for the ship's maintenance team to address.

It's questionable if security should have prohibited items such as epoxy putty or caulk from being brought onboard in the first place. While those items are not specifically on Royal Caribbean's prohibited items list, the line exercises a certain degree of discretion as to what can or cannot be brought onboard.

Every passenger's belongings are scanned before being brought onboard. Any suspicious items are flagged by security, confiscated, and returned after the cruise.

Background on cruise ship maintenance

Just like hotels, restaurants, and every place of business on land, things break on cruise ships from time to time, especially from wear and tear.

Every Royal Caribbean cruise ship employs a team of maintenance workers. Their job is to attend to all repairs on the ship, big and small.

Since they are a limited workforce, their attention is relegated to the top priority tasks first. Issues related to guest safety, comfort, and enjoyment are where a ship's maintenance workers go.

You can spot maintenance workers on a Royal Caribbean ship usually by their blue uniforms. When an issue is reported, a crew member is dispatched to work on it.

Not all issues can be fixed while on the ship, either because of the scope of the project or lacking necessary materials.  In some cases, work has to wait for the ship to go into drydock for routine maintenance.

There's so many different Royal Caribbean cruise ships, each with their pros and cons and rankings among cruise fans.

Online reviews can be misleading, too—you’ll find someone people swear off sailing a ship that others can’t stop praising.

Cruise fans rate Wonder of the Seas as one of the best Royal Caribbean ships, primarily due to her size and up-to-date amenities.

In contrast, Enchantment of the Seas was one of the ships our readers said they would never go back on again due to her old age and faded amenities. 

In my quest to see all that the cruise line has to offer, I’ve now experienced a cruise on both the “best” and “worst” ships Royal Caribbean offers.

But does Royal Caribbean really have such a great difference between these two ships? What distinguishes them?

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes ultimate guide (2024)

Size

One of the key differences between Wonder and Enchantment is their size.

Wonder is one of the newest and largest cruise ships in the world. A large Oasis Class ship, she was just launched in 2022. The ship features state-of-the-art facilities, 18 total decks, and an expansive length.

The smaller, Vision-Class Enchantment of the Seas was launched 26 years prior, in 1996.

She was the last Royal Caribbean cruise ship to be lengthened in 2005 when they cut the ship in half and inserted a new section in the middle. 

This change added 151 new cabins, but the ship still only has 1142 staterooms and a capacity for 2252 passengers and 852 crew members.

Enchantment has a more scaled-back and intimate setting, contrasting the grandeur and scale of Wonder of the Seas.

Of course, even the smallest Royal Caribbean ship still feels big on a human scale. No matter which ship you sail on, it will be like a huge building on the sea. 

And Royal Caribbean has a reputation to keep up: even their smallest ships are larger than the ships offered by other mainstream cruise lines.

Even though Enchantment of the Seas is less than half the size of Wonder, both are large cruise ships that will take time to explore. 

Cabins

Although the two ships are very different sizes, I couldn’t tell any difference once inside the cabins.

Different ships have different numbers of cabins available, but each cabin category is consistent regardless of the ship. 

Surprisingly enough, my cabin on Enchantment of the Seas reminded me most of the cabin I stayed in on Wonder. 

Both were inside cabins I purchased through the guarantee process. 

Both cabins had no windows, a private but small shower, a TV, a vanity, a safe, a large closet with hangers, and a wide bed that could be split apart into two twin beds.

Despite the similar layout, I did notice a few significant differences.

First, my Enchantment cabin had no mini-fridge, the small cooler that usually sits in the cabinet beside the desk.

Secondly, I did notice the age showing inside Enchantment’s cabin. The flights would flicker or break, and one of the forward elevators even broke down for 24 hours. 

I could tell that the ship had been renovated and had satisfactory amenities, but it was impossible not to notice a little wear and tear.

Third, on my Wonder of the Seas cruise, the TV inside the room was a newer Smart TV, which allowed me to cast to it directly from my iPhone. On Enchantment, the TV was an older version featuring only a few free channels.

Of course, the price was the major difference. I booked both cruises about a month beforehand, both for 7 nights. On Wonder of the Seas, I brought a guest, but on my Enchantment cruise, I had to pay the single supplement fee.

The final price for my 7-night Wonder of the Seas cruise was $2674.76, about $382 per night for two people.

On the other hand, my Enchantment of the Seas cruise cost $1471, or $210 per night. 

Even with the solo traveler fee, this cheaper price helps take the sting out of the “worst ship” title. 

Read more: Which Royal Caribbean cruise ship will you never sail on again? Here's what our readers said!

Dining

The cuisine is a crucial aspect of every cruise experience, so, naturally, this category would have a strong bearing on how you choose your next cruise ship.

It’s important to note that I haven’t noticed the quality of food or service change between Royal Caribbean ships, no matter their popularity. 

The menus stay consistent throughout all ships and classes, especially in the Main Dining Room.

The only difference is that Wonder of the Seas boasts far more venues, with 10 complimentary restaurants and 13 specialty venues.

Enchantment of the Seas, in contrast, only has 4 complimentary restaurants and 3 specialty venues onboard.

Read more: One food item you need to order from each restaurant onboard Enchantment of the Seas

But if you are already unwilling to spend extra money on food, the wide range of specialty restaurants on Wonder may not appeal to you.

Enchantment of the Seas has plenty of delicious food, served with charm—and often a shorter wait! 

Entertainment

As a cruise ship, it makes sense that fans would rate Wonder of the Seas as one of the best.

The ship was designed to be a destination in itself, with an awe-inspiring amount of options available. 

She features iconic recreation zones like the AquaTheater, the Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, and Central Park. Shops, restaurants, and live music are everywhere—to say nothing of the activities and shows.

You can compare the Cruise Compasses side-by-side on our website. Although ships both feature the same significant events, such as get-togethers and musical performances, it’s clear that Wonder of the Seas goes above and beyond. 

The ship features incredible amenities like laser tag, mini golf, and ice skating. It’s impossible to experience it all in one cruise!

But if you’re on a more port-intensive cruise, like an Alaska or Mediterranean itinerary, Enchantment of the Seas ship is more than satisfactory. I discovered that it was the perfect place to come back to and relax at night.

Reviews online complain that Enchantment is a boring ship, but I appreciated the quiet after a long port day. 

While Wonder of the Seas has an impressive array of amenities and entertainment, Enchantment features a cozy, intimate environment. 

Activities

I loved that Enchantment of the Seas was a much quieter environment. Instead of having large, open entertainment areas, like the Boardwalk and the Royal Promenade, Enchantment features one small, round Centrum. Since each floor looks out onto the Centrum, you can’t see how many people are milling around, and the noise is minimized.

It was a much more relaxing cruise experience.

However, the environment on Wonder of the Seas also felt much friendlier. I made actual friends on that cruise, unlike my Enchantment of the Seas cruise, where people hardly spoke in the elevators.

Both of my cruises were 7 days long, with ample time to connect with others onboard. But that wasn’t my experience on the smaller ship.

Maybe it was because Wonder of the Seas feels like such an exciting ship, with many more activities. 

Or maybe it was because my Enchantment cruise was much more port-heavy, leaving cruisers tired and focused on tourism.

For whatever reason, I have never again felt the same social charm that I first experienced on Wonder of the Seas.

Bottom Line 

In the end, we can’t decide for you if Wonder truly is Royal Caribbean’s best ship, or if Enchantment of the Seas is the line’s worst.

These two polarities can show the significant differences between popular and less popular cruise ships.

However, the two ships aren’t that different on a larger scale. Ultimately, the choice—the most well-liked ship versus the least popular ship—is up to your preferences. If you value grandeur, noise, and endless access to venues and entertainment, Wonder of the Seas may be the best choice.

But if you’re looking for a cheaper option with a quiet, intimate environment, you might be able to handle an older ship like Enchantment just fine.

Eating on a cruise ship is a major draw to going on this kind of vacation, so how does it compare on an older ship?

You may hear people discuss the value still left in older vessels.  For example, I sang the praises of my cruise on Enchantment of the Seas, an older Vision Class ship.

This ship was first launched in 1996 and has a lot to offer despite her small package. Enchantment has gone through massive overhauls in the years since her first launch. 

But if you’re anything like me, you might still be concerned about the quality of service and food onboard.

On a smaller ship with a cut-down selection of venues onboard, will you still find delicious food?

I took the plunge to find out and selected the best dishes from each food venue onboard.

Windjammer Cafe: Fruit

This complimentary buffet is one of the most well-known Royal Caribbean food venues.

The Windjammer features a wide selection of dishes three times a day.

In particular, the buffet never fails to amaze me with the variety of fruits available. There’s always something sweet and fresh to try, from figs to plums to pears. 

Even on Enchantment of the Seas, the Windjammer wasn’t proportional to the ship's smaller size. It was huge, with wide glass windows and multiple stations of all types of food. 

There were three separate drink stations and more than enough seating at any time of day.

Even better, the food was incredible. I think our Mediterranean destination had a lot to do with this because the ingredients seemed to be a much higher quality than I’d experienced before.

Large “Antipasti” stations were open at every meal. Antipasti is a plural term that refers to appetizers such as meat, bread, and cheese.

At the Windjammer, these stations were filled with gourmet items, like Prosciutto and brie. Paired with the variety of fruits available, these made for an incredible meal.

This was my favorite Windjammer I’ve ever eaten at! Even though I sailed on Enchantment for a total of 7 days, I never got tired of the meal options. 

In fact, I barely had enough time to try everything I wanted to.

Read more: Where can I eat on the first day of my Royal Caribbean cruise?
 

My Fair Lady Dining Room: Butter chicken

Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room has a consistent menu on all her ships, so there’s nothing to fear here.

If you going on Enchantment of the Seas—no matter the itinerary—I can recommend all types of chicken. Royal Caribbean usually makes quality food, but I feel that their chicken dishes shine. 

Cruise fans seem to agree that the cruise line's cooks make stellar sauces, from gravies to barbeque sauce. And I believe chicken meat pops with a good sauce. 

The main dining room’s butter chicken is flavorful, warm, and delicious.

The only complaint I could make is that the Main Dining Room serves a tiny amount of rice with all its Asian dishes—it’s a staple that I could use more of. 

Because it’s hard to pick just one favorite from the Main Dining Room, I will also recommend the fluffy, warm cheese buns. I’ve become addicted to them.

The waiter will bring a few in your bread appetizer, and you can always ask for more! 

Read more: 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience
 

Park Cafe: Pepperoni pizza 

I love the Park Café available on smaller ships. It’s a quick-stop venue, perfect for a mid-afternoon snack.

And with the Park Café being located in the Solarium on Enchantment of the Seas, it’s so convenient to stop sunning yourself on the pool deck and walk over to grab a bite. 

The Café offers salads, sandwiches, and soups—but my favorite is the hot, cheesy pizza.

To me, it beats the pizza at Sorrento’s on larger ships. I think that it is made more frequently, and it is never cold or even lukewarm.

Cafe Latte-tudes: Caramel Pot De Creme

While the coffee drinks cost extra at this café, the food and snacks are complimentary and similar to the offerings at Park Cafe.

You’ll find a changing variety of sandwiches and sweet treats available, so be sure to give them all a try!

Personally, I love the caramel pot de creme that comes in a small plastic cup.

It is sweet and rich, with a fluffy texture underneath the caramel topping and whipped cream.

Room service: Chocolate chip cookies 

I took full advantage of complimentary room service on this cruise.

Before this cruise, I had already made a habit of ordering continental breakfast at no extra charge. 

However, I also discovered that I could order food items from room service at other times of the day, such as nachos, cookies, and pizza.

When I had late-night cravings, I was able to place an order over the phone.

“How many cookies would you like?” A crew member asked me one night.

I hesitated, not wanting to sound greedy, and then asked for two.

When my food arrived, it turns out they brought me three chocolate chip cookies—which I thoroughly enjoyed. They were warm and soft and made all the sweeter by the care that went into making them.

Read more: Your really dumb cruise ship dining questions answered

Chops Grille: Grilled bacon 

For an extra charge, you can visit the renowned Chops Grille Steakhouse. 

In 2024, you can expect to pay $25 per person at lunchtime and $55 per person for dinner.

Enchantment also offers the 3-night dining package for $75 per guest or the unlimited dining package for $100 per guest. 

At Chops Grille, you’ll enjoy a private, modern atmosphere with a multiple-course dinner featuring quality cuts of meat and steak. 

My favorite dish at Chops Grille is an appetizer offered right at the beginning: their grilled black pepper bacon. 

You wouldn’t expect it from the unassuming name, but this appetizer is a thick, fatty strip of tender pork with a sweet and spicy glaze. 

If you’re willing to pay extra for your meal, go ahead and give this flavorful appetizer a try! 

Chef’s Table: Filet mignon

The Chef’s Table features an intimate dining experience at an extra cost. 

This private, 5-course dinner is a gourmet meal paired with a selection of fine red and white wines. It is presented by the ship’s Executive Chef and attentive waiters to a table of about 16 guests.

Without a specialty dining package, the evening costs $95, which includes the dinner and the wines. Specialty drinks and other alcoholic beverages will still come at additional menu pricing.

While everything is delicious, the 5th and main course features a tender grilled filet mignon, served with truffle potato purée, asparagus, and bordelaise sauce. 
 

What is it like to stay in the cheapest stateroom on Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas?

I just got back from sailing on a 7-Night Mediterranean cruise, starting in Athens, Greece, and ending in Barcelona, Spain.

Enchantment of the Seas is an older, smaller Vision Class ship, first launched in 1996.

Enchantment was the last Royal Caribbean cruise ship to be lengthened, which is when they cut the ship in half and inserted a new section in the middle. It added 151 new cabins.

She now has 1142 staterooms, with a capacity for 2252 passengers and 852 crew members.

For my cruise, I paid a total of $1471, or $210 per night. With two people on the cruise, we would have split this into $105, but I was taking a solo trip and had to suck up the extra fees because of the single supplement fee solo cruisers have to pay.

The cheapest cabins on Enchantment can be obtained through the guarantee cabin process.

By choosing a guarantee stateroom, you can gain a cheaper price in exchange for the cruise line assigning a cabin to you.

I was assigned a small, windowless inside stateroom spanning just 142 square feet.

Read more: All about Vision Class cruise ships

When I arrived onboard, I saw that my stateroom was in a very low position on the ship’s 11 decks, located down on deck 2.

While this left me in close proximity to my Main Dining Room table on deck 4, I had to use the elevator for almost everything else. 

When I opened the door on embarkation day, I was greeted with a small, clean room. 

One concern with a windowless cabin is a lack of light, since the cabin itself does not have any natural light. As someone who loves lots of light around me, I found that this cabin was well-lit from the room's lighting fixtures.

The stateroom's closet was located at the very front, to the right of the door. It held six shelves and ample hangers, as well as enough floor space for me to leave my suitcases inside the closet for the length of the cruise.

Opposite the closet, I found the door to the bathroom.

It was small, with an even smaller tube-shaped shower. Despite the small size of the shower, I appreciated the rounded glass door and hot, heavy water pressure.

The sink and toilet also remained high-quality for the length of my stay, and I appreciated all the mirrors located above the bathroom sink.

I find that the bathrooms on Royal Caribbean ships really lack counter space next to the sink, so you have to get creative with using shelves, bags, and nearby hooks.

Thankfully, there's always lots of cabinet space located behind the mirrors and shelves underneath the bathroom sink.

After the bathroom, I faced the stateroom's combination desk/vanity. This wide desk features many drawers for storage, a mirror, bright vanity lighting, and to the left, even more shelves and storage. 

In the shelves to the right, I stored my books. I also stored my IDs, valuables, and electronics in the small safe provided.

One thing that I did find strange was that the room was missing the mini fridge cooler located inside most Royal Caribbean staterooms. I found an empty cabinet where this appliance would usually be located. 

Opposite the vanity sat a small, comfortable armchair and the TV above it. 

Although the TV may look like it's at a strange angle, you could still view it from this armchair by adjusting the metal arms to which it was mounted. These adjustable arms ensure that you can turn the TV and still see it from almost everywhere in the stateroom. 

Like most of Royal Caribbean's older ships, this TV was a simple device with a few free channels included. Since I could not stream to it, I mostly used my laptop to watch TV shows or to head up to movie showings on other decks.

Besides this armchair was the large stateroom bed. Since I was traveling alone, I chose to keep the beds joined together. As a solo traveler, this meant the bed felt luxuriously large. 

Two lamps, with shelves underneath them, were on either side of the bed. Although I kept looking throughout the cruise, I never found any electricity ports near the bed, so I had to keep charging my phone at the outlet on the desk. 

On day one, my stateroom attendant introduced himself and offered a few times he could clean the room daily. I chose evening service, so he could come each day when I went to eat dinner at the Main Dining Room.

I loved that he would leave behind these small towel animals each night—every day he left a new type of towel creature! 

For the most part, I found that the ship was high-quality despite its age. The linens stayed clean and fresh, and all the amenities worked perfectly.

The small stateroom even reminded me of the room I stayed on when I cruised on the new, huge Wonder of the Seas.

However, the wear and tear began to show as I stayed throughout my cruise.

This lamp fell apart when I tried to turn it off, and I could never push the bottom piece back in. 

I also noticed that the cabin had fewer artwork and decorations than newer ships I've cruised on. 

On one of my long treks taking the elevator up to the Windjammer, the elevator itself broke down, leaving me stuff inside for a few moments. After this glitch, the elevator was shut down for the day and only reopened when it was fully repaired. 

Despite the wear and tear on this older ship, this cabin was no smaller than any of the other cheap, guarantee staterooms I've stayed in before.

And there are benefits to sailing on a smaller ship: the service was quicker and more attentive. When I ordered room service to this stateroom, staff would answer my call right away, and bring the food within 30 minutes. 

Enchantment of the Seas takes you back to the basics. 

Royal Caribbean's restart process has reached Baltimore, Maryland.

Enchantment of the Seas restarted cruises on Thursday when she departed from the Port of Baltimore to resume passenger operations.

Enchantment of the Seas will sail south to The Bahamas, and offer a 8-night cruise over the Christmas holiday.

Royal Caribbean will offer 8-night Bahamas sailings, and select 12-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean from Baltimore.

Port Executive Director William P. Doyle is joined by Cruise Maryland General Manager Cindy Burman, Deputy Executive Director Brian Miller, Operations Director Ryan Barry, and Operations General Manager Rockye Truelove

“The return of Royal Caribbean to the Port of Baltimore is great way to celebrate the holiday season!” said Maryland Port Administration Executive Director William P. Doyle.

“People love to cruise from Baltimore for so many reasons starting with our location. Our cruise terminal is directly off Interstate 95 and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport is only 15 minutes away. We’re located right alongside Baltimore’s world-famous Inner Harbor, as well as Federal Hill, Fort McHenry, and Fells Point with plenty of sightseeing, dining, and shopping options. Come cruise from Baltimore, enjoy our great city, and sail to some of the most incredible tropical paradises in the world.”

Enchantment's 2022-2023 schedule has her offering cruises to Bermuda, including longer sailings that visit Bermuda and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

In August 2022, Enchantment will transition to offer Canada & New England cruises through October.

She will then spend winter 2022 into 2023 going back south to offer 7- to 12-night Southern Caribbean cruises.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has sailed from Baltimore since 2004.

What's next for the restart

Enchantment will be the last Royal Caribbean cruise ship to restart cruises in 2021. Vision of the Seas is next on the schedule, with a restart on January 24th.

That will leave just three more Royal Caribbean cruise ships to restart operations in the first half of 2022.

You can see Royal Caribbean's cruise ship restart plans for more deployment information leading into 2022.

There's always something new and different happening with Royal Caribbean that it's hard to cover it all, but there were a few things over the last few days that I've summed up in a new post.

There are smaller updates from across the fleet that I think are kind of interesting, neat, or otherwise good to know.

If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!

New water cans

It appears Royal Caribbean is rolling out its own brand of water cans to replace water bottles.

For years, Royal Caribbean has offered water bottles to guests, but Joshua Greenfield shared he was on Odyssey of the Seas last week and the ship now had aluminum cans instead of water bottles.

Matthew Moss said the bartender on his ship claimed the cans were easier to recycle than water bottles.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Miami

Royal Caribbean's Terminal A in PortMiami had a festive look when Oasis of the Seas returned to dock there on Sunday.

Karen Fraser snapped up photos of Royal Caribbean's cruise terminal with Christmas red and green colors displayed around the terminal.

Photo by Katie Miller

The building is equipped with LED lighting, which allows Royal Caribbean to change the color lighting as it sees fit.

Pool deck maintenance

Enchantment of the Seas is getting ready to restart cruises on December 23rd, but work on the pool needs to commence first.

Gladys Cruzen shared a letter given to guests on a test cruise to inform them of unplanned maintenance is needed in the adults-only Solarium, in addition to ongoing work on the pool deck.

Enchantment of the Seas will restart sailings from Baltimore when she returns to service.

Royal Caribbean has released new sailings to book on Enchantment of the Seas.

The new sailings are part of the 2022-2023 Northeast United States deployment, and begin on November 3, 2022.

Enchantment of the Seas will return to Baltimore, offering a variety of longer sailings that range in duration between 7 and 12 nights.

Enchantment of the Seas will remain in Baltimore, having replaced Grandeur of the Seas after it looked like Grandeur would be sold to Pullmantur Cruises.  That plan was cancelled following the global health crisis shutting down the cruise industry and subsequent financial difficulties for Pullmantur.

There are a great variety of ports you can visit during your Enchantment of the Seas cruise, including Charleston, South Carolina; Perfect Day at CocoCay; St Kitts; Antigua and more.

Read more: Must Do Royal Caribbean: Enchantment of the Seas

The new sailings are available to book immediately.

You can view the full list of sailings available to book here.

The release of the the Enchantment sailings follows the release other deployments, including 7-night Caribbean, Long Caribbean Winter 2022-2023, Short Caribbean, Northeast and China & Hawaii sailings a few weeks ago.

Read more: 3 surprising facts about Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas

The remaining piece of the 2022-2023 deployment schedule is Fall 2022 - Winter 2023 Singapore sailings, which will be released the week of July 19, 2021.

Planning on booking a 2022 or 2023 cruise? These stories will help:

• Eight Southern Caribbean Cruise Tips & Secrets
• The differences between Royal Caribbean's ships
• How to choose the right Caribbean cruise sailing