Enchantment of the Seas offers no-frills cruise fare. There is the Windjammer buffet, which we frequented for breakfast and lunch. There is also the casual breakfast and lunch spot, the Park Café, located in the Solarium. Serving breakfast sandwiches, paninis and salads, this overlooked gem was never busy and offered a variety of options for snacks throughout the day.

We ate all three nights in the main My Fair Lady dining room on decks 4 and 5, which served three selections from Royal Caribbean’s standard seven-day rotating menu. Among our favorite dishes were the roasted duck on formal night (night 2) as well as the Tiger Shrimp and the Roasted Turkey dinner on night three.

For those looking for something extra, the specialty restaurant Chops Grille scores you any menu items, from appetizer to dessert, at a cost of $39 per person.

Other choices include:

Enchantment of the Seas has a great layout. While the bars were always busy, navigating the ship was seamless. We loved the specialty cocktails at the R Bar (in the Centrum), although we were surprised none of the other bars had signature drinks. The pool deck is designed to maximize deck space, so we never had a problem finding an open deck chair for tanning.

The My Time Dining option was perfect on this short cruise as it allowed us to spend more time on the islands. We were able to get the same table and wait staff all nights, and the waiter and assistant waiter provided top-notch service.

Coco Cay (pronounced "key") is Royal's private island, and many of the shore excursions offered are very basic. If you have a drink package, then all of your beverages on the island are covered, so be sure to enjoy the signature frozen cocktail, the Coco Loco. There is also a nice Nature Trail that you can explore on your own.

In Nassau we did an island tour, which gave us a great introduction to the Bahamas. We would suggest getting off the ship as soon as it docks to take advantage of this highly developed port. Many cruisers enjoy Junkanoo Beach, which is within walking distance from the cruise pier. There are lots of options in port, from tours to beaches to Atlantis. You can probably find a better tour by booking through a private independent shore excursion company or connecting with other travelers in Cruiseable's Community section to get a private group tour arranged. 

On the first night, we took in your typical Welcome Aboard show, which featured some singers and dancers and the comedy of Al Ducharme. The comedian also did an adult comedy show on the third night which was not too racy and definitely different than most cruise ship comedians. His material was a bit more topical and geared more to 30- and 40-somethings. I found his "Star Wars" references hilarious, but they probably weren’t loved by everyone in the audience.

The guest entertainer on night 2 was Puck the Magician, who had appeared on a previous season of "America’s Got Talent." We found his show to be entertaining as well. Along with the nightly entertainment, there were other “parties” and game shows, including our personal favorite, the Love and Marriage show. As always, the couples here did not disappoint. No matter what time of day, there was never a dull moment during all three days on the ship. All shows are free.

Don’t let the short duration of the trip fool you, Royal Caribbean makes sure to cram all of the typical activities and events found on a seven-day cruise into this three-day trip. There was the belly flop contest, Sexy Man contest, trivia, guest entertainers, musical reviews, rock-a-roke, the '70s dance party, the Quest, the Glow Sail Away party, Bingo, shopping and the list goes on and on.

Some of the venues were busier than others: Lounges like Boleros and the Spotlight Lounge were never busy, whereas the R Bar and Viking Crown Lounge were often packed to capacity. The main theater has some great booth style seats in the back row of the orchestra level. If you get there early, you can enjoy the show in comfort, complete with your own little table for drinks. The Pool Bar and Island Bar were also very crowded, so be prepared to wait for a drink at all times of the day.

Want to work out or up for some recreational activities? Enchantment sports a rock climbing wall as well as bungee trampolines. There is a small gym, too, but the one time I attempted to work out, it was very crowded. There is also a running track on deck 10 that did get some use during the cruise — just not by us!

There is a kids-only section that was part of the expansion of the ship a decade ago, including the line’s Adventure Ocean program, as well as a teens-only area and a video game arcade. There was also a small wading pool for young children and a larger family pool. Much of the entertainment is family friendly as well. Rest assured that the kids will never run out of things to do on this ship.

Here's a rundown of kid-friendly programs:

We stayed in an Ocean View stateroom on deck 2. We were originally worried about being on such a low deck, but our mid-ship location was near the elevators, and we were only a few flights down from the Centrum and other popular inside venues. The room did look a bit dated and worn down, especially when compared to our recent trip on the brand new Quantum of the Seas. That said, the room was still perfectly fine for sleeping and getting ready.

All staterooms have closed-circuit TV, a radio, hairdryer, vanity area and a bathroom with a shower. All lower beds are convertible to a queen. Suites have a large sitting area, private balcony, and a full bathroom with a tub.

There was one formal night, but it did seem like the dress code was a bit relaxed on Enchantment. There were not too many people in tuxedos or gowns, as you will sometimes find on longer cruises. The general feeling on this ship was relaxed, maybe even slightly rowdy. Plenty of people stuck with the buffet and casual eating establishments for dinner and probably spent the entire three days in their bathing suits!

If you want to see Atlantis, the mega-resort in Nassau, you’re better off getting a taxi to go directly there. The costs for passes are about the same as buying them from the cruise line, and you can leave the resort whenever you want. The resort is large and tough to get done in one day. If you want full access, you do need to purchase passes, otherwise the offerings are limited to a few options, such as the casino.

Enchantment of the Seas is great for those who are new to cruising or have never sailed on Royal Caribbean. If you like to have a good time, then you cannot go wrong with these bargain priced short cruises. This ship seemed to be a bit of a party ship with many bachelor/bachelorette parties enjoying the long weekend. Of all the first time cruisers we spoke to on the ship, they all indicated they were having a good time. No corners were cut when it came to the cruise staff, food, or entertainment, so even if you have cruised on Royal Caribbean before, you will thoroughly enjoy this cruise.

Gratuities were $12.95 per person per day, and we prepaid them because we had My Time Dining. We provided both our stateroom attendant and wait staff with additional gratuities, but we seemed to be one of the few who did so.

Short cruises do tend to have more cruisers who are there to indulge in food and drinks. We never experienced any issues with fellow travelers, but there were plenty of people who joined the cruise to have a good time.

For a ship of her size and age -- she is over 18 years young -- Enchantment of the Seas holds up pretty well, but there were some signs of wear and aging in some of the venues and décor of the ship.

Oh, and the biggest reality check is that three days goes by way too quickly! 

Other amenities include:

For travelers interested in learning more about the entertainment and onboard options, you can access our copies of the Cruise Compass, the daily activities magazine provided to travelers on each day of their cruise.  

How about you? Have you sailed on Enchantment of the Seas? What was it like for you? 

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For pricing, itinerary information and to reserve your spot on Enchantment of the Seas, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant by email or call 1-877-322-3773.

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