Alex and I went on a cruise to CocoCay, Bahamas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten from November 14th to 21st, 2021 with his wonderful parents, Kristi and George. Alex's parents are experienced cruisers, and they were so excited to share in this experience with us because it was both Alex's and my first time ever going on a cruise. I had so much fun getting to know his parents better and, of course, spending more time with Alex. It was a great trip to do the four of us because we got to spend so much time all together, while Alex and I also got to spend some time alone doing more adventurous excursions. We were supposed to do one excursion as a group in Puerto Rico that was unfortunately cancelled due to Covid.
Let me just start by saying that Royal Caribbean really knows what they're doing, and with the ongoing pandemic, they take every precaution possible to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy. You'll want to download Royal Caribbean's app before cruising as you can access excursions available and book them, among many other handy features.
Harmony of the Seas
This ship had everything you could think of and more. From mini-golf, to water slides, to multiple pools and hot tubs, to a track, to restaurants, bars, a spa, a casino, clubs, an ice skating rink, and more, there was something for everyone to do at all times. There was a water show and an ice skating show, as well as live music, theme parties, comedy clubs, towel animals, wine tastings, and a bionic bar. I couldn't really wrap my head around the grandeur and intricacies of how much planning must have gone into the construction of the ship and the levels of entertainment that would be provided. Every day when your room is tended to, you will come back to a newsletter that is going to outline everything going on the next day - we looked at this a few times and found out about several things we wouldn't have otherwise known about (black jack tournaments, corn hole tournaments, what music would be playing where, parties, etc). Check out this slideshow of some of the ship's features!
Ports
Port Canaveral, Florida
This cruise left from and returned to Port Canaveral, Florida. I didn't coordinate any of these details, but we parked in a lot where the car stayed for the entirety of our trip. We took a shuttle to where the cruise ship was docked, and we waited in lines set up by check-in times until it was our turn. Here, we provided our passports and negative Covid tests, and we went through security. I would make sure your birth date is on your negative Covid test, or you might get hung up. Other than that, this process was pretty painless although there was a lot of waiting around. Once you're on the ship, your luggage should be delivered to your stateroom unless they accidentally leave it in front of the wrong one way down the hall. Eventually all bags made it to their correct location, somewhat thanks to Alex's parents recognizing my luggage was in front of the wrong stateroom. I highly recommend a stateroom with a balcony if you can afford it. Some of the sunrise and sunset views I saw are now engrained in my memory forever. There's something about watching the sun set with the love of your life's arm draped around your shoulders and the sea wind whipping through your hair that is unequivocally magical, and I cannot find the words to accurately describe how at peace I felt on those nights.
CocoCay, Bahamas
CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's private island, so you will only find guests of the cruise line here. This island has a lot to offer, but it was my least favorite port of the three we visited. This is only because I like to immerse myself in other cultures when I am traveling, and this concept takes that option away. Aside from that, we did have a perfect day at CocoCay. Being relatively close in proximity to Florida and being in mid-November, it was a bit chilly and windy for a beach day. They have shows and live music throughout the day, several bars, a few pools, lots of beach chairs, a small market, a water park, jet skiing, ziplining the opportunity to swim with stingrays or pigs, and more. I do think this was the best port for families, especially with all of the waterslides.
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
This was my favorite port by far, and we got to spend the longest amount of time here. Alex and I spent the morning walking around checking out points of interest (check the captions for the names - I included the ones I could remember). I am a sucker for side street views, and there were some really stunning ones everywhere you turned. The city is filled with culture and history, and I would love to go back and spend an extended amount of time there. We did get rained on a little bit here, but they were very sporadic, short showers.
We found an amazing restaurant - La Casita de Rones - that was decked out for their 90 days of Christmas, and they even had Christmas themed cocktails. I didn't actually know that Puerto Rico was home to the Pina Colada until we were there, so I tried the Candy Cane Colada that was so dang good. Alex and I also split gyoza and pulled pork sliders. The food was so good, and the sliders were definitely the move. We did have to show proof of vaccination before entering here, and masks were required when not seated. We let Alex's parents know how much we liked the spot, and they ended up going there as well.
La Casita de Rones is located at C. Comercio, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico.
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Our excursion took up most of our day, so we didn't do a lot of exploring in St. Maarten. Their main form of income is now tourism, but they used to be known for salt as it was home to a large salt pond. Everything on the island is imported, and the pandemic really hurt their livelihood. Everyone was so grateful and appreciative that tourists were starting to venture to the island again.
Shore Excursions
I can't say what my favorite excursion was because choosing is truly too difficult. I loved all three so much, and I felt young, adventurous, lucky, and free throughout these amazing experiences.
Jet Skiing in CocoCay
Our jet skiing excursion almost did not happen due to rough winds and waves, but it ended up just being postponed to a later time. Thankfully, we still got to do it. There was a short instruction video we had to watch, and then, our guides gave us some signals to use to communicate to other jet skiiers. I rode on the back of a jet ski that Alex was operating, and this excursion was SO COOL. It's very important you follow your guides' instructions here because the water is shallow in many spots, and they're familiar with the area. We only have one picture from this excursion, but it was a very unique and thrilling experience. We held a starfish, the guides told us about the history of the surrounding islands, and the water was crystal clear. Alex was an instant pro at jet skiing, and I am so happy we got to do it together, although, I felt a little like a wimp because much older couples were on this excursion, and they all had their own jet skis. I've been jet skiing before though and have driven, so I guess I shouldn't feel quite that lame!
Twilight Ziplining in El Yunque National Forest
I went ziplining one other time in the Colorado Rockies, and this experience was totally different. We went night hiking, crossed wooden suspension bridges, and zip lined through El Yunque National Forest, ending at a mojito bar with delicious, refreshing cocktails. It was hard to get good pictures in the dark, and I didn't want to lose my phone either, so I only took a few, but I highly recommend. It also happened to be a full moon, and city lights illuminated Old San Juan in the distance. Our tour guides' names for this one were Jorgito, Brian, Alex, and Carlos, and they were all funny, down-to-earth guys who really enjoyed their jobs and made sure we were safely connected before zipping away! They had signs placed throughout letting you know how many ziplines you had left until you made it to the mojito bar, which I thought was such a nice touch. I would definitely recommend bug spray for this one and wearing clothing that covers your arms and legs.
Royal Caribbean partners with local companies for many of their excursions. This one was at Hacienda Campo Rico (links below).
Horseback Riding in St. Maarten
I spent the majority of my middle and high school years riding horses, equestrian style. I grew up around them, and horseback riding was truly a form of therapy for me for a long while. Alex, however, had never ridden a horse, so I was excited for him to experience something that was a huge part of my life for so long. I was more experienced than most of the people on our excursion, so I was given a horse a little more difficult to ride where more distance needed to be kept between horses, and I was up for the challenge. Royal Caribbean partners with Lucky Stables at the Seaside Nature Park, and our tour guide's name for this was Davvy. Alex rode a horse named Madonna, and I rode one named Gunther (I think anyway). We were horseback riding cliffside and ended on the beach with a dip in the Caribbean Sea. One hazard of this tour is that the horses tend to poop when they hit the water, and I very much rode through a sea of poop.... the tour was still worth it though!
One thing I loved about this was that they had a photographer taking pictures of everyone, and you could pay a fee for all of the pictures to be transferred to you digitally before you even left, and it wasn't very expensive. We also ended this tour with a refreshing cocktail.
Entertainment
I highly recommend planning out what shows you want to see on what nights once you board the ship and get settled & making reservations for each one. Some of the shows fill up fast, but luckily, they have several of each performance over the course of the cruise.
Ice Skating Show
Diving Show
Comedy Show
On our last night, we went to the comedy show. We absolutely loved it, and this was my favorite entertainment-based activity that we attended. The jokes were crude, the audience members were engaged, and the evening was filled with laughter.
*No videos/photography were allowed in the comedy club.
Cruise Dining
We had the ultimate dining package for this cruise for the entirety of the cruise. We also had the ultimate drink package, so we didn't pay as we went. If I were to do another cruise, I would probably do the drink package and a 3 night dining package as I got pretty tired of eating, eating, eating. Each of the specialty restaurants we went to was incredible though. With the dining pacakge, you get an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert, and they do push food on you as I am sure they don't want any to go to waste, even if you don't want it. The dining room is always free, so you always have that option. The specialty restaurants have set menus. You choose one app, one main course meal, and one dessert, so you're eating three course meals every time you visit one of these. I had some favorites by the end of the cruise.
Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar
Living in San Antonio at the time, we had a lot of access to Mexican food, but we still love it. We ate here on the first night, and we were not disappointed. I was especially impressed with the Avocado Margarita. I was the first to order it, and I think we each ended up getting one because I was raving about it so much. I also really enjoyed the Guacamole, Red Snapper Ceviche, Shrimp Tacos, and Cinnamon Churros.
Jamie's Italian
We ate at Jamie's Italian on our second night of the cruise, as well as another night, so we tried so many dishes here. We all tried the Crispy Squid, Ultimate Garlic Bread, and Tomato Bruschetta. I had the Lamb Chops Scottadito, and I know Alex really enjoyed the Baked Lasagna. I think our waiter brought us literally every dessert available on our first visit, and he also brought a dessert drink. I had the Italian Limoncello.
Chops Grille
We ate at Chops Grille more than once as well. I believe once for dinner and once for lunch? I really, really loved their Colossal Shrimp Cocktail and Charred Beef Carpaccio for apps. The Red Velvet Cake and Key Lime Meringue Pie were also amazing for dessert.
Windjammer Marketplace
Windjammer Marketplace is a buffet located on Deck 16. Alex and I went there for breakfast once or twice, and all of the food we got was pretty good. They made everyone wash their hands at a hand-washing station before entering.
Main Dining Room
The Main Dining Room was good, but it wasn’t my favorite. We were assigned a main dining room and had a specific table reserved for us at night if we chose to go there. The breakfast and lunch were open seating, but we still had to go to our assigned dining room. Some of the dining rooms were for vaccinated guests only, and others allowed everyone.
I did really like the Market Vegetable Breakfast Bowl that I had one morning.
Johnny Rockets
Alex and I ate at Johnny Rockets after our ziplining excursion. We were starving, and it was so satisfying after such a long day. The milkshake was one of the best ones I’ve ever had, and the waiters even dance for you at this American diner!
Izumi
My stomach was really messed up towards the end of the cruise, so I couldn’t fully enjoy Izumi, but they have a sushi side and a hibachi side, which is very fun! We did really like the Pork Gyoza Dumpling, and my She’s a Geisha cocktail was delicious and very refreshing.
150 Central Park
150 Central Park was by far my favorite dining experience, and we saved it for last. It’s centrally located and cleverly named, as it is 150 meters from the front of the ship and 150 meters from the back of the ship. I thought it was delectable and elegant, and it’s considered the most upscale dining option offered on oasis-styled ships. Make sure you stop and take a minute to appreciate the gorgeous mosaic as each 150 Central Park mosaic is different, and there’s one on the Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas,Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.
Now, let’s talk menu! Alex thought the anchovies that come on their Caesar Salad were an unusual, but well crafted, addition. The Seared Honey Glazed Scallops with red peppers, chorizo stew, and orange sauce were incredible. I particularly loved the Pan-Seared Veal Medallions for my entree. Alex orders Lobster Thermidor basically everywhere we go now when it’s on the menu, and the waiter actually brought us a second one so everyone could try it. Wow, it was excellent, too. The Fried Cheesecake and an Espresso Martini for dessert were also great choices. Add this restaurant to your list asap!
Bars
Bionic Bar
The Bionic Bar didn't make the most incredible drinks, but it is completely worth a visit for the experience. There are no live bartenders at this one, but you order your drinks on a screen, the system sends your order, robot arms mix your drink, and once complete, you use your sea pass card to retrieve your drink. We were very amused by this, but we did move on to another bar afterwards. There is one guy manning this bar during operating hours at all times, and his job is harder than you would think. He has to make sure the computers are operating properly, and someone has to make sure the garnishes for the drinks are stocked and that the alcohol bottles are full.
On Air
On Air ended up being the bar we could find Alex's parents at the most, as they found their favorite bartender there. He made a "Kristi Special" that kept them going back. He didn't tell her how he made it until the last night of the cruise. I think this bar frequently had trivia or karaoke going on, and I loved the rolling marquee outside telling us Harmony Facts! Most of which I have unfortunately already forgotten.
Bolero's
The Rising Tide
This bar was so neat and cleverly named as it traveled up and down over three decks of the ship. It was in the center of the lobby area, so you could see much of what was going on that day. We went to this one only once, again mostly for the experience.
Vintages Wine & Tapas Bar
We loved our visit to Vintages. Make sure you check their schedule for wine tastings and sign up in advance. We almost didn't get to do this because we tried to go on a whim. They didn't have any spots available, but some guests didn't show up, so we lucked out! They gave us wine, and we had to try and guess what kind of wine it was based on the color, smell, and taste. I am no expert in this area so didn't know any of the answers, but they taught us a lot about these different "vintages."
Schooner Bar
We spent one night at Schooner Bar, a nautical-themed bar, that frequently had live entertainment. We caught a piano night dedicated to Billy Joel and Elton John that was so much fun.
The Champagne Cocktail here was one of my faves of the cruise.
Wonderland
Wonderland is an Alice in Wonderland themed bar, complete with an Alice hostess and the Mad Hatter walking around. The decor was incredible, and their specialty cocktails were ingeniously named and curated. Their commitment to the theme was impressive, and a visit to this bar was a fun way to spend part of our last night of the cruise. I was very impressed with how well-thought out everything was. I tried the Down the Rabbit Hole, and Alex had the Smoke Rings.
There is also a Wonderland restaurant below the bar known for imaginative cuisine that we did not eat at but would have been interesting to try!
Packing Recs and Cruise Tips
I had no idea what to pack for this trip aside from the few things Alex's mom told us we might need. Your sea pass card is really the only thing you need to have with you throughout the entirety of your cruise, aside from a face mask. It's your room key, your method of payment (you attach your credit card to this, and anything you need to pay for on the ship is charged to your account), your identification, and more. We had cruise lanyards, which we purchased on Amazon beforehand, and these ended up being absolutely necessary. I've linked the lanyards Alex and I bought below. You'll definitely want one with a detachable clip as you'll have to give this to bartenders or waiters. You also have to print a luggage tag (in colored ink) to put on your bag for the staff to know where to put your luggage, as they place your bags outside of your stateroom door at the start of the cruise. Alex's mom had cruise luggage tags for us, which also were a great thing to have with us. I've linked similar ones below as well.
Other things we had with us that ended up being necessities were: hats, sunscreen, bug spray, a small backpack, allergy pills, Imodium, Tylenol, Dramamine, phone chargers, swimsuits, a waterproof phone lanyard, and extra masks.
On sail days, it's "formal night," and many people were really dressed to the 9s. You don't have to do this, but if you'd like to participate, you can pack a few nice outfits, and anything from cocktail dresses to formal gowns were seen throughout the night.
*TIP* - The first thing you should do after boarding and getting settled is complete the required safety training. You have to watch a few short videos on the app and locate your muster station. Someone will verify you've found the correct muster station and will scan your sea pass card to complete your check-in process.
*TIP* - Royal Caribbean will charge your credit card $100 on the first day of your cruise. This is just a hold on your account, and the charge will disappear before it posts.
*TIP* - There is a slot for you to put a sea pass card in your room, which kicks on the air and the lights. You can put a business card in this slot, just make sure you pull it out when leaving your room to conserve energy.
*TIP* - On the first day of the cruise, they offer a one night service to press any of your clothes that might be wrinkled. You should get these back by 5 p.m. the next evening. You can send some laundry to be done on any night of the cruise, and make sure you check the closets, as they likely hung up your clothing when they returned it. These services do cost an additional fee.
*TIP* - The ship will stay on "ship time," and all of the start times for excursions also go by ship time. Your smart phone will automatically update and change to the local time based on your location, so a smart thing to do to know what time it is would be setting your watch to ship time or checking the app where it is always listed in the upper lefthand corner.
*TIP* - Make sure you visit the Focus Photo Gallery on the last full day of the cruise to view or purchase any of the pictures the Royal Caribbean staff took of you and your party throughout your trip. They have photographers posted in many locations, and you just have to give them your stateroom number for your pictures to be linked to your account. Once you get off the ship, you cannot change your mind and go back and purchase any. I did think these were a bit overpriced, but we got one from our jet skiing excursion on CocoCay since we didn't have our phones with us for this one.
*TIP* - Alex's parents used to bring a power strip with them to charge their electronics as there aren't too many outlets in the rooms. Theirs was confiscated before boarding as they're not allowed anymore, and we walked our luggage off the ship when we arrived back in Florida very early in the morning, so the table to retrieve confiscated items was not yet set up. Instead of waiting around for it, they decided to just leave it and buy a new one.
Royal Caribbean and Covid-19
On the app, a health checklist was released the day before boarding that had to be filled out to complete your online check-in process. When checking-in the day of the cruise, the staff asked if anything had changed since you filled out your checklist.
Ages over 2 - 11 were required to be fully vaccinated, and this was verified multiple times during the check-in process.
Ages over 2 - 11 had to have a negative PCR or Antigen test no more than 48 hours before boarding, which was also verified multiple times during check-in. Alex's parents hit a snag during their check-in process because their birth dates were not on their negative tests, so keep this in mind.
Ages 2 - 11 must have negative PCR or Antigen test 3 days before boarding and were tested the day of boarding before being allowed on the ship.
Unvaccinated guests were tested the afternoon before returning to Florida at the end of the cruise.
Some events/areas were marked with a "V" for vaccinated only, and some events/areas were marked with an "E" where everyone was welcome.
Masks were required in all indoor public areas where everyone was welcome.
There were hand sanitizer stations strategically placed throughout the entirety of the ship.
At the buffets, the staff was required to serve you, but you were required to wash your hands before entering the space.
The cruise line is also operating at a limited capacity - we think it was about 50% but can't remember exactly.
NOTE: Everything mentioned in this blog post is exclusively based off of my experience on that particular cruise. Keep in mind things may have changed or been adjusted as the pandemic has progressed.
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