Navigator Of The Seas

Nutcracker is the lower tier (deck 3) of the ship's main dining room which extends over three floors with each level named after famous ballets and open from the bottom tier to the top in the central section providing a light and airy feel to all three levels and featuring a grand chandelier. Two sweeping staircases link all three levels, decorated in opulent reds, creams, golds and blacks, with a ballerina poised mid dance position at the bottom set against a floor to ceiling mural of ballet dancers in action.

Seating 735 guests, The Nutcracker dining room also includes two separate areas for private functions called Arabesque and Pirouette (seating 54 guests each).

Opening times for Nutcracker are (subject to change depending upon ships itinerary):

Breakfast 8.00am to 10.00am (6.30am to 8.30am port days)
Brasserie 30 Lunch Noon to 1.30pm (Sea days only)
Main Seating Dinner 6.00pm
Second Seating Dinner 8.30pm

Breakfast is á la carte with waiter service and features the usual breakfast fare of omelettes made to order, egg benedict, bacon, sausages, pancakes, French toast, smoked salmon bagels and a special of the day dish. Meats, cheeses, cereals, fruits, toast, pastries and yogurts are also available.

Lunch features a Brasserie 30 menu (designed to enable guests to complete their meal in 30 minutes) and includes a “Tutti” salad bar with everything from lettuce, tomatoes, eggs, sweetcorn and grated carrot to meats, prawns, tuna, cheeses and breads.

Examples of dishes available on the Brasserie 30 menu are as follows:

Royal Caesar Salad
Fennel Roasted Pork Salad
Fattoush Salad
Chicken Sliders
Potato, Leek and Spinach Gratin
Harissa Barramundi Fish
Fish Enchilada
Tomato Risotto
Char Grilled Palm Sugar Chicken
Pasta Dishes
Tutti Salad Bar
Almond Polenta Cake
Praline Chocolate Crunch
Warm Cherry Custard Crepes
Caramelized Banana Mille Feuille

Both breakfast and lunch are open plan seating where guests are seated at whichever tables are available at the time.

For dinner, passengers can choose between assigned dining (at the same table each night) or opt for My Time Dining in which guests select a preferred mealtime each night and are seated at different tables each night.

The dinner menu offers different daily choices with nine appetizers to choose from, three different types of soups, ten entree choices, seven desserts and classics (which are always available each night). Options also include gluten free, lactose free, vegetarian and vitality (healthy) options which are indicated by the symbols next to the dishes on the menu. Additionally the menu lists the Chef’s Inspiration which is the Chef’s recommendations for a starter, main and dessert each day.

Examples of dishes on offer are as follows:

STARTERS
Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melon
Bay Scallop Gratin
Traditional Lobster Bisque
Oakwood Smoked Chicken Breast
Double Broiled Chicken Consommé
Chilled Banana and Rum Soup
Roman Vignole Salad
Royal Shrimp Cocktail
Escargots Bourguignonne
Caesar Salad

MAIN COURSES
Grilled Salmon Vignole Salad
Shrimp Ravioli
Pan-Fried Fillet of Barramundi
Roasted Duck
Carve Filet of Beef Tenderloin
Artichoke-Filled Crepes au Gratin

DESSERTS
Bittersweet Chocolate Soufflé
Double Strawberry Cheesecake
Sky High Lemon Meringue Pie
Low-Fat Berry Bliss
Sugar-Free Chocolate Pot de Crème
Crème Brulee
Chocolate Sensation
Royal Cheese Plate

CLASSICS (Always Available)
Linguin Pomodoro
Premium Angus Beef Sliders
Broiled Filled of Atlantic Salmon
Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast
Aged Hand-Cut Manhattan Strip Steak

The top level (deck 5) of the main dining room is Swan Lake, seating 544 guests and open for dinner only with the same menu on offer as the Nutcracker dining room.

The doors to Swan Lake open at 6.00pm for main seating dining and 8.30pm for second seating. Swan Lake is also the sole location for guests opting for “My Time Dining” which is available between the hours of 6.00pm and 9.30pm.

The Coppelia Dining room is the second tier of the ship's three deck main dining room aft of the ship and accommodates up to 502 guests.

Open for dinner only with the same menu as the other two levels of the main dining room, Main seating is at 6.00pm and second seating at 8.30pm.

Portofino, Navigator’s Italian select 124 seat restaurant, overlooks the starboard side of Navigator on deck 11 outside the Windjammer Cafe and offering an intimate atmosphere designed to emulate an Italian Villa serving upscale cuisine.

Open from 6.30pm to 10.00pm with reservations recommended and a charge of $20 per person, the menu offers appetizers, soups and salads, pasta, main courses and desserts, examples of some of which are as follows:

APPETIZERS, SOUPS & SALADS
Carpaccio of seared tenderloin
Tiger shrimp risotto
Double baked goat cheese soufflé
Cream of asparagus soup
Gorgonzola, pear and roasted walnut salad

PASTA
Penne pasta with tomatoes, prosciutto and basil
Lobster spaghetti

MAIN COURSES
Tiger shrimps
Veal served with mushroom risotto
Grilled beef tenderloin
Marinated tuna steak
Corn-fed chicken
Grilled fillet of Halibut

DESSERTS
Flourless chocolate cake
Tiramisu
Panna cotta
White chocolate truffle cake

Cheese plate with samples of Italian cheeses.

Portofino’s also provides an alternative venue to the continental breakfast available in the Concierge Lounge for suite guests serving a similar menu to that on offer in the ships main dining room from 8.00am to 10.00am. After that sandwiches are also provided here for suite guests between noon and 1.30pm.

N.B. Portofino’s is set to be replaced by Giovanni’s Table during Navigator of the Seas upgrade scheduled for February 2014.

Jade is the ship's Asian-themed buffet area incorporated into the forward section of Windjammer‘s cafe aft of deck 11 and seats 236 guests. Supported by the Plaza Bar selling drinks, Jade serves up a number of the same items as available in Windjammer along with a few different Asian selections including sushi.

Chops Grille is located outside Windjammer’s towards the aft of deck 11, port side. Seating 124 diners, the select steakhouse serves premium cuts of steak cooked to specification plus fresh seafood, side dishes and desserts.

Guests can enjoy the sea view out of the large windows whilst they dine from the numerous different seating arrangements on offer within the room with its upscale contemporary decor featuring deep tones of reds and browns in the leather seating and wooden effect clad walls.

Open from 6.30pm until 10.00pm, a dining fee of $30 per person including gratuities is charged and reservations are recommended.

An example menu is listed below.

APPETIZERS
Shrimp Cocktail
Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Cake
Smoked Duck Salad
Oyster Duet
Warm Goat Cheese and Basil Soufflé
Cheese N’ Onion Soup
Forest Mushroom Soup
Caesar Salad
Beefsteak Tomato and Purple Onions
Signature Salad

ENTREES
Pan Fired Barramundi Fillet
Alaskan Halibut
Herb-crusted Jumbo Shrimp
Free-range Chicken Breast
New York Strip Steak
Petit Filet Mignon
Broiled Veal Chop
Mixed Grill
Broiled Porterhouse Steak
Boneless Beef Short Rib
Filet Mignon

DESSERTS
Chocolate Mud Pie
Passion berry Duo
Grannies Caramel Apple Slice
Uptown Cheesecake

SPECIALTY COFFEE DRINKS
Royal Delight
Irish Coffee
Kioki Coffee
Orange Coffee
Mocha Berry

Johnny Rockets, styled on an American 50’s diner with red booths, formica counters and jukeboxes, is Navigator's additional charge burger bar with waiters dancing in the aisles from time to time providing entertainment whilst you eat.

Located aft of deck 12 starboard, and with a $4.95 cover charge, the diner seats 72 guests and opens from noon (1.00pm port days) to midnight.

Along with burgers and fries, sandwiches such as grilled chicken breast, tuna and BLT’s are available as well as hot dogs and desserts including Oreo Fudge sandwiches and Apple Pie. Sides served include onion rings, chilli bowls and chilli fries.

Milkshakes, as with the rest of the beverages on the menu, are additional charge at $4.95 per milkshake.

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream stand, located by Cafe Promenade, offers a range of flavours (examples and prices listed below) and open from 7.30am to 1.30am.

Cup $2.50 (small), $3.25 (medium), $4.00 (large)
Cone $2.50 (small), $3.25 (medium), $4.00 (large)
Waffle $3.25 (small), $4.00 (medium), $4.75 (large)

Ice Cream Sodas & Floats $3.75
Great Shakes $4.50
Toppings $0.50

Flavours:
Sweet Cream and Cookies
Cherry Garcia
Mint Chocolate Chunk
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Chunky Monkey
Butter Pecan
Phish Food
Chocolate
Vanilla
Strawberry
Coffee
Mango/Lime
Black Raspberry

Windjammer Café, located aft of deck 11 with large windows offering sea views and room for 348 guests, is Navigator’s large buffet restaurant. Food stations include Asian Flavours, Carvery, Vegetables and Salads, Pasta, Seafood, Daily Specials and Desserts plus a tea, coffee and water 24 hour self service stand (starboard side) and self-serve soft ice cream with choice of vanilla, chocolate and vanilla chocolate twist (located just outside Windjammers near the pool called the Arctic Zone).

The cafe offers buffet-style breakfasts and lunches whilst in the evenings the casual atmosphere is complemented by a changing menu and restaurant-style service. Themed evenings such as Indian Night and Oriental night including offerings such as sushi which guests can enjoy as an appetiser are held with pasta, carving stations and Mongolian Wok stir fry on offer at night.

Opening times are as follows:

Buffet Breakfast 7.00am to 11.00am (opens 6.30am port days)
Lunch Noon to 3.00pm (11.30am to 5.00pm port days)
Afternoon Snacks 3.00pm to 5.00pm (sea days)
Casual Dinner 6.30pm to 9.30pm

The breakfast selection ranges from cereals, oatmeal, breads, muffins, pastries and donuts to cold cuts of meat and cheeses, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage and baked beans. There is also an omelette station for freshly prepared eggs and area serving Asian speciality selections (in the Island Grill area).

Lunch options include pizza, burger and sandwich stations, a pasta station (with choice of sauces) and hot dishes such as barbecue pork ribs, grilled fish filet, lasagne, aubergine parmigiana and beef stroganoff. An Asian section is also offered each day offering the likes of sushi and stir-fries whilst the salad bar station has everything from lettuce, tomatoes, coleslaws, sweetcorn and carrots to cold cuts of meats and cheeses.

The dessert bar houses a selection of cookies, cakes and pastries.

Cafe Promenade, located along the Royal Promenade on deck 5, seats 105 guests and is open 24 hours serving snacks and drinks.

With a pay for coffee bar selling Starbucks coffee and tea, complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water is also available throughout the day. In addition to beverages are complimentary snacks ranging from a selection of Danish Pastries served up until 11am and sandwiches (such as salami on sour dough rolls, ricotta, red pepper and olive tapenade rolls and ham and cheese croissants) pizzas and desserts including granola cranberry bars, mocha brownies, and blueberry pound cake served through until 3am, with anything remaining on offer until early morning breakfast begins again.

The lively venue is the ideal location to sit and enjoy a drink and snack whilst watching the activities taking place along the busy promenade, or visit for an early morning drink or snack before bedtime after a busy day.

An outdoor BBQ is often served on the pool deck between 1.00pm and 3.00pm (usually on a port day).

Room Service is available onboard any time of the day and night. Whilst it is complimentary, any orders between midnight and 5am incur a service charge of $3.95 per delivery.

Room Service can be ordered from the room service menu located in staterooms - either via the stateroom phone or interactive TV service.

Breakfast service begins at 5.00am for a continental option with full breakfast served between 7.00am and 10.00am daily (or 5.00am for just a continental breakfast) (with the exception of departure morning) and orders need to be placed prior to 3.00am on the outside door handle of guest’s staterooms on the order forms provided. Food available for breakfast includes a selection of juices and hot beverages, cereals, fresh fruit, yogurt, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns, tomatoes, toast and a selection of pastries and preserves.

For the remainder of the day and night guests can choose from soup of the day, fruit plates, Caesar salad, Mediterranean chicken salad, smoked salmon and brie sandwiches, turkey and Swiss cheese Panini, steak sandwiches, fried chicken, beef burgers, spinach and artichoke dip, breaded fish, cheese pizza and pepperoni pizza. Desserts include a cheese plate, chocolate and pear tart, raspberry cheesecake and cookies. Hot beverages and milk are also available.

My Time Dining allows guests to enjoy dinner in the main dining room, while reserving their preferred seating times during their cruise holiday.

To ensure prompt seating, reservations for each evening are strongly encouraged and can be made pre-cruise or once guests board. Due to demands for seating in the main dining room varying nightly, especially following evening shows, it is recommended that guests reserve their preferred dinner times as early as possible, especially if done after boarding.

Daily Reservations is an online reservation system for guests enrolled in the My Time Dining program via royalcaribbean.co.uk and can be accessed from the 'Book Cruise Add-Ons' link at the foot of the page Through Daily Reservations. It allows My Time Dining guests to make their preferred reservations in the main dining room for each night of the cruise themselves, as well as including other guests at their table. Reservations are subject to availability and as guests may be served by a different wait team each evening, any guest wishing to take up My Time Dining must pre pay their service charge (gratuities) as part of their booking.

Reservations can be made anywhere from 3 months before sailing, up to 4 days prior to sailing, or once guests arrive on board at the My Time Dining Reservations Desk

Reservations are available between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm, although these times can vary depending on where the ship is sailing. Availability of times will be shown when guests book and some time slots may already be fully booked so guests will have to find the nearest suitable alternative.

Guests can choose to share their table with other guests, or just dine with their own party. Sharing preferences cannot be guaranteed although the maitre’d on the ship will make every effort to accommodate the guest’s sharing preference onboard.

Daily Reservations will be shown on the guest’s cruise calendar (once logged in to their booking on-line), along with any Shore Excursions and Specialty Dining reservations already booked.

A children’s menu is available on Navigator of the seas in the main dining room for those who don’t want to eat from the main menu. Example dishes available are listed below:

Guacamole and sour cream dip with tortilla chips
Vegetable crudités with ranch dressing
Kid’s fruit platter
Toasted tomato and cheese sandwich with apple chips or fries
Chicken noodle soup
Grilled chicken breast
Grilled minute steak
Beef burger or turkey burger
Grilled catch of the day
Chicken fingers
Spaghetti with choice of sauces
Macaroni cheese
Cheese or pepperoni pizza
Jell-o
Banana split
Pudding
Cookie of the day
Ice Cream
Mini brownie madness

Some of Royal Caribbean staterooms provide guests with a mini bar which offers snacks and drinks, examples of which are below:

Choice of three different cans of drinks (Coca Cola, Diet Coke or Sprite) $2.25 each
Sparkling Perrier Water $2.75
Large bottle of still water $4.25 each
Red Bull drink $3.95
Snacks (M&M’s, Shortbread, Honey roasted peanuts or mini Snickers box) $4.95 each

(A 15% gratuity also applies to all mini bar purchases).

My Family Time Dining allows kids to enjoy a complete dinner within 45 minutes, freeing parents to enjoy coffee and dessert at their leisure. Available only during the first seating in the main dining room and for those registered in the complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth Programme and My Family Time Dining, once seated kids are served immediately and then met by Adventure Ocean counsellors at the main dining room entrances at 6.45pm to be taken back to the Adventure Ocean spaces for on-going evening activities, while parents can continue to enjoy their dinner.

As seen on ships including Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas is set to incorporate Cupcake Cupboard Cupcakes into the Cafe Promenade when it goes into dry dock for a refit currently scheduled for February 2014.

Navigator of the Seas will see the Izumi Asian restaurant installed during its February 2014 upgrade, serving traditional Asian dishes with pure, delicate flavours, fresh ingredients and flawless presentation. Diners will be able to choose from popular sushi rolls, sashimi, Hot Rock (Ishiyaki) Plates, sukiyaki and more.

A dining fee of $5 per person ($3 for lunch) plus á la carte prices applies with examples of dishes and prices from the menu listed below.

STARTERS
Edamame Soy Beans (complimentary)
Vegetable Tempura ($5.00)
Crab Cucumber Citrus Salad ($4.00)
Chicken Kara –Age ($4.00)
Tuna Wasabi Carpaccio ($6.50)

SUSHI NIGIRI
Fish on top of rice:
Seared Albacore ($4.50)
Freshwater BBQ Eel ($2.00)
Tofu Sushi ($1.50)
Octopus ($2.00)
Salmon ($2.00)
Snapper ($2.00)
Shrimp ($2.00)

SLICES OF FISH:
Seared Albacore ($4.50)
Salmon ($4.50)
Octopus ($4.50)
Yellowtail ($5.00)
Snapper ($4.50)

SASHIMI
Shrimp Dumplings ($4.00)
Vegetable Croquette ($4.00)
Ahi Ponzo Salad ($4.00)
Tofu Miso Salad ($4.00)
Miso Soup (complimentary)
Shrimp Wonton Soup ($2.00)

HOT ROCK
Mixed Seafood ($10.00)
Beef Tenderloin ($10.00)
Chicken & Beef Skewer ($7.50)

SIGNATURE ROLLS
Snow Crab California ($5.50)
Box Salmon and Crab ($5.00)
Rainbow (assortment of rolls - $7.00)
Salmon Lovers Rolls ($5.50)
Champagne Lobster ($8.00)

TEMPURA ROLLS
Selection of crispy tempura rolls including shrimp and eel (from $6.00 to $7.00)

TRADITIONAL ROLLS
California Roll ($5.00)
Spicy Tuna Roll ($5.00)
Vegetable Roll ($4.00)
Cucumber Roll ($4.00)

HOT POT NABE
Selection of Beef, Seafood and Shrimp hot pot nabe (cooked in stock with vegetables and noodles and served with rice) ranging from around $6.00 for a single serving to $12.00 for two.

A selection of sharing platters and combinations are also available priced from around $3.00 to $23.00.

For dessert Izumi offers both traditional dishes with an Asian touch, along with some regular Japanese desserts. To experience both tastes a dessert sampler is available which consists of a ginger green tea flan, a green tea mousse, an Asian Fruit Salad with coconut milk, and a dumpling with sweet bean mousse filling.

The Solarium is due to receive the popular Park Cafe currently found on the likes of Splendour of the Seas, Oasis and Allure of the Seas, during its refit scheduled for February 2014. The complimentary Park Cafe will open for light and healthy fare throughout the day from Breakfast options through to late night snacks and drinks.

When Navigator of the Seas goes into dry dock, currently scheduled for February 2014, a separate venue is set to be added to accommodate the select $95 per head Chef’s Table wine and dinner pairing experience.