Serenade of the Seas: Sanitation Record & Health Report

The Serenade of the Seas has exactly one thing going for it in the inspection department: consistency. One CDC inspection, one score of 96 — no drama, no dips, no embarrassing years where someone clearly stopped trying. For a ship that's been sailing since 2003, that's either genuinely impressive hygiene discipline or a very quiet inspection history, and honestly, we'll take it. A 96 sits comfortably above the fleet average of around 95, which means Serenade isn't just passing — she's passing with a little swagger. As far as Radiance-class ships go, she's holding her own.

At 90,000 tons and 2,476 passengers, Serenade is firmly mid-size by modern Royal Caribbean standards — not the floating city chaos of an Icon or Wonder of the Seas, but not a boutique intimate experience either. She's the ship for people who want the buffet options and the rock climbing wall but don't want to spend 20 minutes navigating to their cabin. Home-porting out of Tampa means she's a solid choice for Floridians who'd rather drive to the port than deal with a flight, and her Caribbean itineraries keep things sunny and predictable. For a 22-year-old ship, she's aged gracefully.

Who it's for: First-timers who want a taste of Royal Caribbean without sensory overload, Tampa locals who refuse to fly for vacation, and anyone who genuinely just wants a clean ship that goes somewhere warm. Who should skip it: Thrill-seekers chasing Royal Caribbean's newest mega-ships, cruisers who need the latest and greatest amenities to feel like they got their money's worth, and anyone who will not stop talking about how the ship "feels old." She is old. That's not a flaw, that's character.