Adventure at Sea

April 19 – April 24, 2010

While the butterflies and tingles of excitement as we embark on a new trip are half the fun, there’s something welcome and comforting knowing you’re home again.  Nothing quite beats being in your own bed, and returning to the familiar.  Of course, that feeling is fleeting when the realization hits that the vacation is over and it’s back to normalcy… at least I still have a tan to hang on to for a few more days.  Needless to say, glad to be home, but always awaiting the next adventure.

And now, for the recap!

Our schedule on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas:

Day 1: Depart Port Everglades (5pm)
Day 2: At Sea
Day 3: George Town, Grand Cayman
Day 4: Cozumel, Mexico
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: Arrival at Port Everglades (7am)

Photos on and around the Ship!

The first day we arrived at the port around 2:15, and after dropping our bags with the curbside port staff, checking in, and picking up a complimentary cookie (or two), we were granted our Sea Pass* cards and made our way onto the ship.  Our bags weren’t going to be delivered to our stateroom for a few hours, so we were off to explore the ship!  We were pleased to find a rather extensive buffet awaiting our arrival in the casual dining area, filled with a nice spread of salads, sandwiches, hot items, and desserts.

After helping ourselves to a hefty, satisfying plate, we toured some of the other areas of the cruise, from the rock climbing wall to the lounge that overlooked the pool deck, and finally our stateroom.  The size of the room was adequate for the two of us, with a nice loveseat and desk/chair, a queen size bed situated under the window, ample storage for all of our belongings, and a bathroom that would do the job, we were pleased with the accommodations.  While a balcony would have been nice, the benefit to having a private spot to sit didn’t justify the difference in price.  With so many chairs and seating areas on board, it was an unnecessary cost that I’m happy we didn’t go for.

After the mandatory emergency drill, we decided to revisit the rock climbing wall.  Armed with socks and the guts to climb, we signed the waivers and were buckled into our harnesses.  One at a time, we climbed the wall, fearful yet determined to ring the bell.  I stumbled at one point but quickly recovered, forcing myself to gain control of my shaky arms and focus.  I wondered how people did this without the safety net of a rope.  Michael was next and he, too, was victorious.   I should probably mention, this wasn’t the first time we’d been rock climbing; there was one other time in San Francisco at an indoor facility.  This, however, was different being outdoors, dangling atop a ship in the choppy waters of the Atlantic, and I found the guy holding the rope at the bottom to be less than supportive.  I wish he’d have been more encouraging, or at the very least, smiled a little, but either way, Michael and I had one another and laughed about the whole thing… then mutually agreed we had enough fun with the wall and there was no need to revisit it.

Since we had requested My Time Dining*, we could go whenever we wanted and as hunger rolled around we made our way to the formal dining room.  Here, dinner is plated and diners are given several options to choose from for their meal each evening.   The selection seemed diverse enough, but the quality we were anticipating didn’t seem to be there… nor was the service.  I get it, we’re on a cruise, with two thousand or so others, and a ship isn’t really on par with a five star restaurant on land… but in all honesty, this was first class – airline style.  It reminded me of the cuisine on the AA flight we took last summer to Europe.  Not bad, in fact, rather good and exceptional for a plane.  But this is a ship, a big ship, with a huge kitchen and staff, and we were a little let down.  Overall, a bit bland, and just didn’t meet expectations.  Plus, the waiters we were stuck with, and the table for that matter, made our dining experience less than lovely.  I guess I don’t mean to downplay the food or service on Royal Caribbean cruises entirely, because there were actually 2 nights when we had a different waiter who was super nice and the food was better here and there, but I can’t say I’d rate anything higher than a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5.

Moving to the next day, cruising at sea, the morning started off fine as we awoke to sunshine coming through the curtains and the realization that we were truly on vacation.  After testing out room service (eh… not highly recommended), we ventured back to the casual dining area that had the breakfast buffet going for a more substantial meal.  While the assortment was nice, some items were not as warm as they could have been, and I quickly figured out what was decent and what could be passed.

Then, the sun beckoned and we wanted to find a great spot to cozy ourselves up for the day.  It didn’t take long to discover that each and every chair was taken, I mean, EVERY chair had a person in it.  I couldn’t believe it.  Barely 10:30 and we were going to have to hunt around for a chair.  Seems everyone else got the memo reading, “If you aren’t on deck by 9:00 am you might as well kiss your chances of enjoying the day goodbye,” but we decided to do our very best to find a seat.  After 20 min of wandering the decks, we plopped our towels down next to a long line of chairs, directly on the deck, figuring it was our best bet.  Thanks to the kind hearts of two older ladies (about 10 minutes later), they offered us their chairs as they were heading inside for the day.  So a word of caution, it’s best to be up and have a seat before the masses claim them.

The rest of our day was spent indulging in fruity drinks, soft serve ice cream poolside, taking in an art auction on one of the interior decks, dining, wandering through the shops, watching karaoke and taking in a show.  Roughly the same experience can be said for our last day on board, cruising home from Cozumel, Mexico, but that time we were fortunate enough to snag a few seats.

Grand Cayman and Stingray City (try not to mind the bad quality… disposable, underwater camera)

The thing we were most looking forward to about the entire cruising experience, was the time at port and the excursions we had planned in advance.  In George Town, it was Stingray City.  After taking a tender in to the port, we boarded a bus for a short ride to the boat which took us, along with about 15 others, out to a sandbar 30 minutes from land.  There, we found a dozen other boats and groups of tourists surrounded by stingrays.  I’ll gladly admit that this was one adventure I wasn’t all that pleased to be experiencing, but I tried warming up to the idea of having the sea creatures circling me.  At one point, I distinctly remember freaking out a bit when one of the larger ones rubbed against my legs 2 or 3 times in search of food, causing me to exclaim, “Too much, too much!” followed by laughs from the tourists around me.  Then, Michael and I were urged to kiss the stingray while the guides held it.  What fun (note the sarcasm).  But really, it was a unique experience, one that I wouldn’t have done without Michael’s desire to do it, though in the end I’m happy to have gone and participated.

Ruins of Tulum

In Cozumel, our excursion was not oriented with the sea, but rather the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum; Tulum is actually near Playa del Carmen.  Of the options we had, the things to do while in Cozumel, this is by far one of the most rewarding.  The journey from our ship to the ruins site wasn’t a short one, nearly 1 hour and 45 minutes, but well worth it when you’re able to stand at the great historical site.  Of all the Mayan sites, this is the only one that is actually on the water, surrounded by three walls, and a cliff on the ocean side, there’s not much like this.  Our guide was extremely informational and while I’m not usually one in favor of guided tours or group things in general, having him there to share stories of what the site once was, the people, the culture, etc. was great.  After viewing the remains of temples and buildings, we walked to the cliff side and found some of the clearest, most beautiful water and a gorgeous little beach.  So picturesque, I only wish I could have snapped a photo without so many people in it.

After having experienced what it’s like to be on a major cruise line, I think we’re both come to the conclusion that we’re probably not the cruising type.  While it’s nice having all of your food included, along with the convenience of a Sea Pass card, and activities now and again (especially for families), there are some things that just didn’t meet or expectations or didn’t fully satisfy what we love about traveling.  Perhaps it’s just this ship in particular (I know there are others that have many more activities and awesome things to offer, like ice skating, surfing, lots of shops, etc.).  We won’t fully rule out going on a cruise again.  On the contrary, we’d very much like to try an Alaskan cruise from Seattle, or perhaps one that sails around the Mediterranean… but until that day comes, and we find a ship with all the bells and whistles that has everything going for it and then some, we’ll stick to other methods of travel for now.

To those of you considering cruising, feel free to ask any questions if you’re interested in more details about our experience, or look around online.  Each cruise line (and ship) has something to offer, so check them all out.  Depending on your budget, there are some ships that seem amazing… for us, this one fit the bill for time of the year, our price range, and the amount of time we could get away.  I hear that Celebrity cruises are amazing!  Adult only, and very upscale.  Carnival, on the other hand, is more family oriented and has lots of “fun” stuff to do – so not for those of you looking to relax.  Royal Caribbean was sort of the in between, nice but still family friendly.

Sea Pass Card: The Sea Pass card is Royal Caribbean’s way of keeping everyone organized (your ID to check on and off the ship at port) as well as method of payment.  Want a fruity frozen cocktail?  A souvenir from the gift shop?  Whip out your Sea Pass card, which is linked to a major credit card of yours, and everything’s gravy.

My Time Dining: Royal Caribbean’s way of allowing you to attend dinner whenever you’re hungry (between the hours of 6:00 and 9:00 pm) without a scheduled reservation.