Rhapsody of the Seas
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Rhapsody of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean's 30 active ships and first entered service in 1997 with its most recent renovation in 2022. In terms of size, it comes in at 78,491 gross tons, 915 feet in length, and 11 passenger decks. On board, it supports up to 2,040 guests and approximately 765 crew members. The ship had an estimated build cost of $275 million and is flagged in Bahamas.
Rhapsody of the Seas
Ship Stats
Year Built
1997
Last Renovated
2022
Tonnage
78,491 GT
Length
915 ft
Capacity
2,040
Crew
765
Cost
$275 million
Decks
11
Vision Class
Vision Class groups ships with similar design and onboard features within Royal Caribbean. The first ship introduced in this class was Grandeur of the Seas (1996), followed by Enchantment of the Seas (1997), Rhapsody of the Seas (1997), and Vision of the Seas (1998).
Rhapsody of the Seas Ship Age
Rhapsody of the Seas entered service in 1997. Across Royal Caribbean's active fleet, the average build year is 2009 and across all major active cruise lines the average ship launch year is 2011. Ranked newest-to-oldest, this ship is 29 of 30 (newest ship = rank 1).
Timeline order: newest to oldest
- Rhapsody of the Seas
Current ship
Rhapsody of the Seas Renovations
Latest recorded dry dock / major renovation date: 2022.
Renovation details
Rhapsody of the Seas’ 2022 refurbishment delivered a balanced modernization of accommodations, dining venues, and technical systems. Staterooms were refreshed with updated furnishings, new soft goods, improved lighting, and enhanced comfort features. Dining venues received refreshed décor, improved seating layouts, and subtle design enhancements to elevate the onboard dining experience. Public spaces were selectively updated to improve ambiance and circulation. The drydock also included extensive technical maintenance, addressing hotel systems, navigation equipment, mechanical components, and onboard infrastructure to ensure continued reliability, efficiency, and compliance with operational standards.
Rhapsody of the Seas Ship Size
Length and tonnage across Royal Caribbean's fleet
Rhapsody of the Seas measures 915 feet (279 m) (vs Royal Caribbean fleet average of 1,081 ft) and has gross tonnage of 78,491 GT (vs fleet average of 160,100 GT). It ranks 29 of 30 by length and 28 of 30 by tonnage in Royal Caribbean's active fleet.
Passenger Capacity & Crew Size
Rhapsody of the Seas vs Royal Caribbean fleet averages
Rhapsody of the Seas carries 2,040 passengers (vs Royal Caribbean average of 3,708) and has 765 crew members onboard (vs fleet average of 1,400). That puts this ship at a passenger-to-staff ratio of 2.67:1 compared with Royal Caribbean's overall 2.65:1 average.
Passenger Capacity
2,040
passengers
Crew Members
765
staff members
Passenger to Crew Ratio
2.67 : 1
Royal Caribbean Avg
2.65 : 1
Rhapsody of the Seas
Venues & Experiences
Explore dining, bars, activities, and onboard experiences available on Rhapsody of the Seas.
Deck 9buffetWindjammer Cafe
Deck 6cafeCafe Latte-Tudes
Deck 9cafePark Cafe
Decks 4 & 5main dining roomEdelweiss Dining Room
Deck 4specialtyChef's Table
Deck 6specialtyChops Grille
Deck 11specialtyConcierge Club
Deck 6specialtyGiovanni’s Italian Kitchen
Deck 12specialtyIzumi Hibachi & Sushi
Deck Plans
The Rhapsody of the Seas has a total of 11 passenger decks. The lowest level available to guests is Deck 2. The highest passenger deck is Deck 12. Click below to access deck plans for the Rhapsody of the Seas. The resulting page will provide a floor plan and summary of all things to do offered on that level of the ship.
Cruise Director
On duty now · Sheenagh Walker
The cruise director is the heartbeat of the ship... the person responsible for onboard entertainment, activities, and guest engagement from embarkation to farewell. Think emcee, social director, and morale officer rolled into one. Below you'll find the current cruise director's bio, followed by a full historical timeline of every director who has served aboard Rhapsody of the Seas.
Sheenagh Walker
Sheenagh Walker is a Royal Caribbean cruise director known for her composed hosting style and focus on guest comfort.
Sheenagh Walker Full ProfileCruise Director Schedule
- Current
Cruise Director
Frequently Asked Questions
Rhapsody of the Seas quick answers covering size, capacity, deck plans, and what to expect onboard.
You will find the Rhapsody of the Seas Casino on Deck 5 of the ship.
You will find the Rhapsody of the Seas buffet on Deck 9 of the ship.
Rhapsody of the Seas’ 2022 refurbishment delivered a balanced modernization of accommodations, dining venues, and technical systems. Staterooms were refreshed with updated furnishings, new soft goods, improved lighting, and enhanced comfort features. Dining venues received refreshed décor, improved seating layouts, and subtle design enhancements to elevate the onboard dining experience. Public spaces were selectively updated to improve ambiance and circulation. The drydock also included extensive technical maintenance, addressing hotel systems, navigation equipment, mechanical components, and onboard infrastructure to ensure continued reliability, efficiency, and compliance with operational standards.
The ship belongs to the Royal Caribbean class of ships known as the Vision class.
The ship features 10 restaurants, 4 bars, 19 activities, 0 shows and 9 other venues for your enjoyment. You can click on our ship deck plans or details pages for a full list of activities, sorted by feature type.
The Rhapsody of the Seas has a total of 11 passenger decks. The lowest deck is Level 2. The upper most passenger deck is Level 12.
We're often asked how many passengers are on the Rhapsody of the Seas. The ship's capacity is 2,040. When comparing the occupancy to the average Royal Caribbean passenger capacity, you'll find that the average ship in the fleet holds 4,070 guests. Feel free to look at our graph above to see where this ship falls in line with all other live Royal Caribbean ships.
The Rhapsody of the Seas was built in 1997. Royal Caribbean includes 30 active ships. The oldest in the fleet was built in 1996 while the newest ship was built in 2027. The average Royal Caribbean ship is 17 years old and the median build date for all active ships is 2008
Each of Royal Caribbean's ships offers a unique layout with features and activities catered to all. Whether the Rhapsody of the Seas is right for you will depend on your individual preferences. Do you prefer a larger or smaller ship with many or fewer guests? Are you hoping for many family activities or entertainment options for an older clientele. Our deck maps layout and activities list provide a helpful guide to what you'll find on board. Feel free to explore the see if this ship is suited towards your preferences.
From end to end, the Rhapsody of the Seas length equals 915 feet (279 meters). Compare that to the average ship length of all 30 active vessels in Royal Caribbean fleet, measuring 1,081 feet (329 meters). Please see our size comparison chart above to see how this ship falls in line with all other active ships in the fleet.