499 North Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya, Thailand | (888) 551-4925
Excellent location across the street from Pattaya Beach
Numerous restaurants, bars, and shops in the area
Attractive rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and kettles
All rooms have balconies, some with sea views
Two restaurants, plus seafood barbecues at dinnertime
Two outdoor pools plus poolside bar
Spa offering couples' massages, sauna, and steam room
Well-equipped gym with cardio machines and free weights
Live music, karaoke room, and piano lounge
Prayer Room, mini-market, and event space on-site
Free Wi-Fi, parking, and shuttle service
Some may find the overt theme cheesy
Over 30-minute walk to Walking Street (pro for some)
Minor wear and tear in rooms
Most balconies aren't furnished
The upscale A-One The Royal Cruise Hotel is a nautical-themed hotel along the beach in Pattaya. From the exterior, it looks like a cruise ship docked next to a lighthouse, which guests may find charming or over-the-top. The theme continues into the 466 rooms too, where the contemporary spaces have blue and white linens, life-preserver mirrors, and maritime artwork. They also come equipped with minibars, kettles, flat-screen TVs, and robes. On-site features are solid, including two outdoor pools, a spa, and well-equipped gym. The two restaurants serve Thai and international cuisine and receive mostly positive reviews, plus there are piano and karaoke lounges. Guests may want to compare rates with the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, another beachfront theme property with more kid-friendly features.
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Scene
Cruise boat theme includes staff dressed as sailors
A-One The Royal Cruise aims to give guests the cruise experience without actually being on water. The themed hotel is shaped like a ship and docked next to a lighthouse, with a pool surrounding its bow. When guests enter the two-story lobby, they’re greeted by staff dressed as sailors. This nautical theme continues throughout, from life preservers along the walls to contemporary blue and white furnishings, and model ships in glass displays. It's a fun theme, though some travelers may find it cheesy. More important, however, are that the hotel has a solid range of facilities and sits across from the beach. Note that there are two buildings, the new and main wings, and the former lacks sea views.
Location
Beachside location with free looping shuttle to area attractions
The A-One The Royal Cruise Hotel is located in North Pattaya, right across from the beach. It's setting at the north end of Beach Road means that the popular red-light district of Walking Street is a far walk -- about 33 minutes -- which may be a pro for some. The hotel runs a free shuttle that does a loop, hitting spots such as the shopping mall, Walking Street, Big C, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum. Tuk tuks and taxis are available for hire, too. Most attractions are within a 30-minute drive of the hotel.- 15-minute walk to Central Festival Beach Road
Rooms
Contemporary nautical-themed rooms with outdoor spaces
The 466 “cabins” on board the Royal Cruise Hotel have contemporary furnishings that continue the nautical theme. The design consists of either beige tiling or attractive dark-wood floors, dark-wood furniture, white walls with maritime artwork, and white and navy-blue linens. All rooms have private balconies, however many aren't furnished and some lack pleasant views. Modern amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Large closets also come stocked with safes, bathrobes, and slippers. Modern bathrooms have shower/tub combos, blue mosaic tiling, and toiletries. Some bathrooms have whirlpool tubs. Guests won’t find the hairdryers here, however, as they're in the bedroom by the life-preserver mirrors. Most guests recommend staying the Main Wing, as it has better views and oddly, newer-looking furnishings. Some minor wear and tear is visible throughout, though. Big-spenders can opt for the spacious Royal Suite, which has a living area with a telescope, and a large furnished terrace.
Features
Restaurants, outdoor pools, and spa
A-One The Royal Cruise has a solid list of amenities. In addition to being just across the street from the beach, there are two decent-sized outdoor pools. One has a huge rubber ducky wearing sunglasses. There are a ton of dining tables and chairs around the pools, but just a handful of loungers. Drinks and snacks are available poolside. The hotel has two restaurants: The Maritime and the Harbour. The former serves international cuisine and has floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the pool area, while the latter has Asian and Western food, plus a popular international barbecue and seafood buffet. There is a snack bar in the hotel with food and beverages, too. The Avarin Spa has Zen-like decor, and offers a variety of treatments such as couples' massages. A sauna and steam are nearby and the fitness center is well-equipped with cardio and strength-training machines plus free weights. For entertainment, there are a piano lounge, karaoke room, and The Boat Music Place, which has live music and a dance floor. Also on-site are event spaces, a prayer room, and mini-market. A small business center is available, and Wi-Fi is free.
