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Playmakers: Royal Caribbean's cruise ship sports bar (with menu)

Oct. 15, 2023
•
4 min read
Symphony of the Seas.
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Them: "The perfect cruise ship sports bar doesn't exi—"

Royal Caribbean: *adds Playmakers to several ships*

If you enjoy watching sports with a cold pint, playing vintage arcade games or challenging your friends to a round of foosball, you'll feel right at home at Royal Caribbean's Playmakers.

Here's a play-by-play so you can decide if it should be a regular haunt on your next sailing.

What is Royal Caribbean's Playmakers?

A burger at Playmakers sports bar and arcade on Mariner of the Seas. TIM AYLEN/ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Playmakers is a combination sports bar and arcade. It's found on several ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, including on most of the line's new vessels and on some of its older ones where it replaced other venues. Its location varies, but it's found along the Boardwalk on the line's Oasis Class vessels.

In addition to reserving tables for group viewing of sports matches (subject to satellite signal and international copyright laws), you can just show up to catch whatever is on, grab a drink or a bite to eat, or play some games.

Some ships offer table bowling and foosball, while others will entice you with video games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.

What's on the Royal Caribbean Playmakers menu?

A sample menu from Royal Caribbean's Playmakers sports bar and arcade. Menu items and prices are subject to change. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

As part of Playmakers' menu, Royal Caribbean has a sizable amount of beer and pub grub, priced a la carte. Although menu items and prices could change at any time, you'll likely find nachos, chicken tenders, fries, onion rings and burgers.

If wings are your thing, you can enjoy those, too. Feeling like a challenge? Eat 100 of Playmakers' spiciest wings in 45 minutes or less, and you'll score bragging rights along with a free T-shirt.

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How much do food and drinks cost at Playmakers?

Cruisers play games and enjoy drinks at Playmakers sports bar and arcade on Mariner of the Seas. TIM AYLEN/ROYAL CARIBBEAN

At the time of publication, Playmakers' menu items ranged from $3 for an order of steak fries with garlic sauce and Parmesan cheese to $25 for 50 wings.

You can snag a flight of three draft samples for $6.99, a 12-ounce bottle of beer for $7.99, cocktails for $13 each and a 60-ounce pitcher of draft beer for $18. Wine by the bottle or glass is also available.

Which Royal Caribbean cruise ships have Playmakers?

Table games at Playmakers sports bar and arcade on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas. SBW-PHOTO/ROYAL CARIBBEAN

You can find a Playmakers sports bar and arcade on the following ships:

  • Independence of the Seas
  • Mariner of the Seas
  • Navigator of the Seas
  • Oasis of the Seas
  • Odyssey of the Seas
  • Symphony of the Seas
  • Wonder of the Seas

Have cruise questions? TPG has answers:

Featured image by SBW-PHOTO/ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
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  • Intro Offer

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    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.