SERENADE OF THE SEAS
April 1, 2026 | Oranjestad, Aruba
Serenade of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International) spent April 1, 2026, docked in Oranjestad during a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Colón, Panama. The 2003-built ship is a member of Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class, a group known for extensive glass and ocean views throughout its public spaces.
Entering service in 2003, Serenade of the Seas is the third of Royal Caribbean International’s four Radiance-class ships. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, the ship was designed with extensive glass throughout her public areas, giving passengers panoramic ocean views and a greater connection to the sea.
Information List
Name: Serenade of the Seas
Operator: Royal Caribbean International
Year Entered Service: 2003
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Class: Radiance Class
Length: 962 feet (293 meters)
Beam: 131 feet (39 meters)
Tonnage: 90,090 GT
Passenger Capacity: 2,143 double occupancy
Crew: Approximately 827
Staterooms: 1,073
Total Decks: 13
Guest Decks: 12
Godmother: Whoopi Goldberg
Country of Registry: Bahamas
IMO Number: 9228344
History and Features
Construction and Entry Into Service:
Serenade of the Seas was built by Meyer Werft at its Papenburg shipyard in Germany.
She was the third member of the Radiance Class, following Radiance of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas.
The ship entered service with Royal Caribbean in August 2003.
Actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg serves as the ship’s godmother.
Jewel of the Seas followed in 2004 as the fourth and final member of the class.
Design and Features:
The Radiance Class was designed with large amounts of exterior glass, providing extensive ocean views from many interior public spaces.
A glass-covered nine-story central atrium serves as one of the ship’s primary gathering areas.
Glass elevators facing the ocean provide views while traveling between decks.
The adults-oriented Solarium contains a pool beneath a retractable glass roof.
Other features include a rock-climbing wall, miniature golf course, sports court, theater, casino, spa, pools, and multiple lounges.
Dining venues include the Main Dining Room, Windjammer, Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi, and Park Café.
Service:
Serenade of the Seas has operated a wide variety of itineraries during more than two decades of Royal Caribbean service.
Her deployments have included the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Canada and New England, the Panama Canal, and longer international voyages.
Her smaller size compared with Royal Caribbean’s newer ships allows her to visit ports that cannot easily accommodate the company’s largest vessels.
In December 2023, Serenade of the Seas departed Miami on Royal Caribbean’s nine-month Ultimate World Cruise.
The world cruise concluded in September 2024 after taking the ship to destinations across multiple continents.
During spring 2026, Serenade of the Seas operated Southern Caribbean cruises from Colón, Panama.
As of September 2026, she remains in active service with Royal Caribbean International.
April 1, 2026 Southern Caribbean Cruise:
Serenade of the Seas departed Colón, Panama, on March 28 for a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise.
The ship visited Cartagena, Colombia, before continuing into the Caribbean.
She arrived in Oranjestad, Aruba, on April 1 and remained in port for the day.
Serenade of the Seas continued to Kralendijk, Bonaire, the following day.
The cruise concluded when the ship returned to Colón on April 4.
Radiance Class:
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class consists of Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Jewel of the Seas.
The four ships entered service between 2001 and 2004.
Their approximately 90,000 gross ton size places them between Royal Caribbean’s smaller Vision-class ships and the much larger vessels introduced later.
The class is particularly known for its extensive use of glass and ocean-facing public spaces.
Their size and design have allowed the ships to operate a wide variety of itineraries around the world.
Legacy:
Serenade of the Seas represents an earlier generation of Royal Caribbean ships designed around ocean views and traditional cruising.
Her size has allowed her to operate diverse itineraries and visit ports throughout the world.
The 2023 to 2024 Ultimate World Cruise became one of the most notable chapters of her career.
More than two decades after entering service, Serenade of the Seas remains an active member of the Royal Caribbean fleet.
