Day 15 – Sea

Usually I’m not one for sweets but this ship has made me a fan. Royal had their second sweets midnight buffet and was that yummie. It’s fun to see how this boat has taken the usual desserts (actually, all food for that fact) and deconstructed them then rebuilding and presenting them in new ways. After 15 days I’m thankful I’m not eating or looking at food I’ve seen a hundred times. Lots of people were up to enjoy the sweet offerings, even hanging around till almost 1am – which hasn’t happened once the entire cruise.

We’re about 16 hours from reaching our final port, San Diego. It’s freezing outside (it’s May) and I’ve needed to turn the heater on in the cabin. After slipping a sweatshirt on I head upstairs. After all, it’s been 6 hours since I’ve eaten. This morning everyone woke up and have apparently have given up caring about diets or calorie intake. The lines that use to be for fruit have been moved to the omelet station, followed closely by the donut/pastry stations. Lunch had the salad line also empty but the burger and pasta doing double time filling up the trays.

Lots of people are trying to clear up issues with their final bills so there is a very long line. Do yourself a favor, review and mostly settle the bill two days before you’re going to get off the ship. You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration from standing in line listening to people pled their story to save a dollar or two.

I’ve really enjoyed this trip but not in ways that I thought I would. The canal was very nice but after the first two steps it was something I passed on watching. Actually, the ports absolutely made this trip. The cruise was just a means to get to the ports and not the highlight. Columbia was stunning. Panama was also great. Cabo was even more beautiful than it was a few year ago. With the itinerary having a sea day between ports I’m going to leave the ship not needing a vacation from my vacation. What can I share in closing? Bring a good digital camera and don’t forget the charger. A laptop would be helpful to transfer pictures from the camera so you’ll never run out of space to take pictures. Be mindful of how much you eat. Take the stairs when possible or be sure to be physical in some manner each day. For ports, be aware of your surroundings and don’t do things you wouldn’t at home. Remember that you’re going to third-world countries in many cases. Bring lots of sunscreen! Be ready for a great trip and be sure to let me know how you enjoy your time getting to and coming away from the canal.