12/09/2025

LYFE FRIDAY | SEPT 12, 2025

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W ITH a pool cue in hand, lively music pumping out over the speakers, and a chilled bottle of water close by, players at the tables in the Music Hall could easily forget that they are on a ship. It is only occasionally, when the balls roll in unison on the baize, the ship does sometimes sway a little as it slices through the water, that they are reminded of their location. It is a funny, oddly exciting sight, and a reminder of why sailing on the Ovation of the Seas is an enjoyable experience. The ship first debuted in 2016, and combines more than 2,000 staterooms (which can hold almost 5,000 passengers at full capacity) with a wealth of dining options and fun attractions. The vessel is based in Los Angeles for the summer and early autumn of 2025, but for almost six months from October 2025, it will call Singapore home. That means guests around Asia will be able to easily experience all that the Ovation of the Seas has to offer. The ship will make three different itineraries during its stint in Southeast Asia – all departing from Singapore – visiting destinations such as Penang, Phuket and Bali during journeys that last up to eight nights. With 16 decks of staterooms and diversions, guests will never find themselves lacking for things to do. The dining is richly varied, with buffet meals taken in the Windjammer, near the top of the ship. Diners will find a range of cuisines on offer, with breakfasts promising fresh egg stations, pastries, cereal, yoghurt-grilled items and more. Asian diners will be able to choose from many familiar options, including Indian food, congee, freshly cooked noodles and local fruits. The Dining Room feels intimate, with a welcoming, subtly lit dining area, tables with crisp tablecloths and a sense of intimacy. Meals are served in courses, such as at a formal restaurant, adding a sense of drama to the occasion. This is a standard dinner spot for passengers, and meals here are included in the fare, but cruisers can also opt to dine at a speciality restaurant. Wonderland, for instance, is irrepressibly inventive, not surprising that it is inspired by Alice In Wonderland . Every dish has a story, and seems like a piece of avant-garde art. A drink could come in a test tube, a main course might resemble a Martian landscape, a dessert may undergo some alchemic process before revealing itself. At Coastal Kitchen, the views through large windows are as appealing as the dishes, while Jamie’s Italian, set by a sparkling fish installation, serves fine, casual, European fare. And for something a little different, there is a Bionic Bar, where drinks are mixed by robot arms. Even if you do not order a juice, soft drink, or something stronger, it is pretty interesting to watch the process of each drink being assembled. In between meals, passengers will find many ways to keep themselves busy. A number of pools, including small ones in the

The attractive fish installation located outside Jamie’s Italian.

Party on sea o Ovation of the Seas will make three stops, including Penang

floor-to-ceiling windows, and that comes with expansive views during the day. On the first night of a sailing, a midnight balloon drop in a Royal Caribbean tradition, and is a time when the crew and passengers come together for some good-natured revelry and a sky full of falling balloons. When rest beckons, guests can locate quiet spaces in which to decompress. The lounge chairs on the upper deck, around the walking/running track that circles the ship, are surprisingly tranquil spots during parts of the morning and day. In the Solarium, small hot tubs are good for unwinding, and the landscaping ensures the area feels quite private. The library is an overlooked spot for some peace, while the stairways are actually excellent places for some reflection since they are used to showcase some fantastic artwork. Guests can also retire to their rooms when they need to relax as cabins have a clean, smart efficiency to them, and those with a balcony really let passengers immerse themselves in the experience of being at sea. The Royal Loft Suite, for instance, unfurls over two levels, and has two bedrooms, huge windows, and a balcony that is about 50 sq m in size. It offers the comforts of luxe living while navigating the high seas, and what is not to love about that? This article is contributed by Sanjay Surana.

wildly enjoyable bumper cars, which let passengers of all ages rediscover their inner child. The space is even sometimes used as a trapeze school. For something really special, reserve a slot on the North Star. A glass capsule attached to the end of a hydraulic arm, it rises hundreds of feet above the sea and offers riders striking views of the ship below, and never-ending vistas all around. At the two-floor Music Hall, in addition to pool tables and a pair of bars, the stage is where live music performances take place each night. Next door, the Royal Theatre supplies song-and-dance performances worthy of London’s West End, or New York’s Broadway. It is also the setting for stand-up comedy shows, and special presentations. Dedicated productions also grace the performance area at Two70, a large venue at the back of the ship that has huge

adults-only Solarium section, ensure cruisers can cool off outdoors even when the ship is at sea. Some are designed specifically for children, and come with a play area with slides nearby, and there is a soft-serve ice cream station close at hand. Travellers can ride the waves at the FlowRider, a surf simulator. Even newcomers to riding the waves will soon feel comfortable on a board under the expert guidance of the trained staff. Round the corner from the FlowRider, three routes on a climbing wall allow adventurers to test their leg and arm strength, while just behind, RipCord by iFly lets passengers experience the sensation of skydiving in a tubular wind tunnel. Guests can work out and enjoy fantastic vistas from the large, well-equipped gym, which features grand windows. More fun is the lure at the SeaPlex, with indoor archery, table tennis tables, video games and the

The North Star observation capsule lifts high above the main pool deck to offer breathtaking views of the ship and sea. – ALL PICS BY SANJAY SURANA

Relive your childhood with a ride on the bumper cars at the SeaPlex.

The Bionic Bar features a pair of robot arms as the bartenders.