Monday, March 30, 2026

Living in Harmony- Costa Maya

 Costa MAYBE 
February 19, 2026 
Costa Maya, Mexico 


We're still smiling... 

Morning
I woke up to a very loud noise that seemed to be the anchor dropping at 6:45AM. The ship had been rocking all night and we could feel the wind in the sways most of the early morning. I got ready for the day and then went to the Windjammer to meet the boys and Natalie stayed in bed a little while longer. We did not book an excursion for Costa Maya as in the past we have not had great luck in porting so we just planned on getting off and going to our favorite Costa Maya spot- The Mayan Healing Spa for a massage on the beach. 


How is it already Thursday? 

As I made my way to the Windjammer on Deck 16, it seemed as if we parked at the port. However, as I began to get food the Captain came on the announcements to say that we would have to skip Costa Maya due to weather and winds. I mentioned above that we could feel the winds... I could certainly see the wind as I walked to the Windjammer. The boos were loud from the passengers in the Windjammer but this was not uncommon in our experience with Costa Maya. We had to skip Costa Maya on Adventure of the Seas 2023 due to weather and this allowed us to port overnight in Cozumel. Unfortunately, this did not happen again this cruise and we had anther day at sea. 

I've never really been a fan of Bloody Mary but when you have the Deluxe Beverage Package, you might as well try! It was actually pretty good and I got one the rest of the mornings! 

After breakfast, Chris and I went to the Solarium Hot Tubs and pretty much had the whole thing to ourselves for over an hour before Luke was done with the FlowRider and joined us. TIP- The FlowRider filled up fast as the announcement was made but Luke was able to get 3 sessions (fairly long ride times too) before the line became 10+ people deep. 

I decided to wake Natalie up at 10AM and let her know the cancelation before meeting Chris at Boots and Bonnet Pub for live music and drinks. The ship was honestly not too crowded just yet and I was shocked that we did not "feel" the 6K passengers even later in the day, which is truly surprising. 

We all decided to meet in the Main Dining Room for lunch to see if the menu would be the "Option #1" or a new menu.  The MDR menu was good and different than that of Sea Day #1 but the service was atrocious. This seems about right since  most of the restaurant waiters were expecting a day off and not having to wait hand and foot on all the passengers. I didn't really mind the terribly slow service knowing how hard these wait staff work. 


The MDR Option #3 Lunch Menu 


We enjoyed slowing down and all eating together. 


Salmon "A La Plancha"
Kellie- 3.0, Luke -2.5


Carrot Cake
Chris- 4.0 and Kellie -3.5

Afternoon
After lunch we met up with the kids in the Boardwalk and we did some people watching before Chris went back to the stateroom to take a nap and the kids went to Deck 15 to play table tennis and other activities. They ended up going down the Ultimate Abyss 5-6 times this afternoon and they loved it. I spent most of the afternoon in the Solarium but the wind was something fierce and the temperatures were a little chilly without a jacket or blanket so I opted to go back to the Boardwalk to Johnny Rocket's to get a shake and watch the kids. TIP- Johnny Rocket's shakes are free with the Deluxe Beverage Package and are delicious. This particular time I had to wait about 10 people deep but it was worth the wait and calories. 


We loved getting these shakes for an afternoon snack! 

We all met at the Schooner Bar in the later afternoon to play cards and listen to the live music from the piano player. We taught the kids Blackjack and a few other casino games at the bar. Afterwards we all went to the Bionic Bar in the Royal Promenade to get a drink from the AI machines. This also helped cross off another bar on our Bar Crawl on the Harmony of the Seas.


The Bionic Bar is a neat thing to try, especially if you have the DBP, but we didn't frequent this bar very often. 


I will say this... My drink was very strong. 


You've gotta try this at least once! 

After the Bionic Bar, we went to the Casino Bar to cross that one off our list as well while the kids went back to Deck 15 to play mini-golf and table-tennis. TIP- The Harmony of the Seas has a fairly big and wide Casino but the actual Casino Bar was lacking both in chairs and vibes as well. The large TVs showing sports was nice but we prefer other ships, like Jewel of the Seas 2025 Casino bar area. 


The Drink of the Day- The Blue Wave 
This was SO GOOD! 


Hello from the Casino Bar! 


This bar just seemed a little small for the size of the Casino! 

We waited until after the afternoon Wine Tasting to go to Vintages and this worked out well as they had small tapas plates available for us to try. Unfortunately, these were not as extensive as those we had while sailing on the Allure of the Seas 2023 but still enjoyed them. Ursula and crew took great care of us and we enjoyed our pre-dinner drinks. She was an incredible bartender and really focused on service- one of the best we have ever had! 

Evening
We all went to the Royal Promenade outside of the Pub to listen to live Big Band music from the Harmony Orchestra. I personally LOVE this type of live music and these musicians were phenomenal. Even the kids were singing and "dancing" along! 


Maybe when I retire I can go and play my saxophone on a cruise ship!

We opted to have dinner in the Solarium Bistro as we have heard wonderful things about this "Upscale Buffet" offering nicer buffet food with a Mediterranean theme. This was a swing and a MISS to say the very least. The food was nothing impressive and to be honest not even warm and the atmosphere was a buffet atmosphere; albeit there was a very large European party exiting as we just sat down so maybe that played into our very low rating but none of us enjoyed this evening and we would not recommend this as a dinner option. After we picked at our food for a good 20 minutes we all decided to leave and go to the Windjammer as it was Mexican Night. This menu in the MDR is nothing to write home about, especially since we live in the Tex-Mex Capital of the world, Houston, but we wanted to check it out. 


We are not really "buffet" people but this seemed a little upscale so we wanted to try it out! 


This "buffet" had a menu and everything! 


But in the end, it was literally just another buffet all "fancied up". 
This was not at all our thing and we would not do this again! 


The Solarium Bistro... We gave it a try but it is not for us! 

The Windjammer options were actually very plentiful and to be honest the food selections themselves were delicious. So much so, that I may actually do a Windjammer dinner on the next 7 day cruise on Mexican night. I was actually impressed and so were Chris and the kids. The buffet is still not our "jam" and we prefer the service of the Main Dining Room but this was good overall. The Solarium Bistro, on the other hand, was AWFUL and just not our thing! 

After dinner we went back up to Deck 15 so the kids could play table tennis and while they were doing that, we were able to see the last part of the Aqua Theater Show from Deck 15 which was really cool. 


During a walk through the Solarium we were able to definitely see the Harmony showing her age and needing a cleaning... to say the very least! 

The kids LOVED this area near Mini-Bites!
And to be honest, these tables were never really crowded or the kids had to wait! 


A view of the Aqua Show from Deck 15. 


She really is a GORGEOUS ship! 

Luke opted to go to bed early as he was tired but Natalie went to the Royal Theater to watch "Wicked for Good" while Chris and I enjoyed live music and drinks in the Pub. The 3 of us ended the night talking to our favorite bartender, Xue, most of the night before going to bed right around midnight. 

The day may not have turned out like we planned and I was certainly missing the massage on the beach we planned in Costa Maya, but overall the day was a success and we enjoyed more time exploring the Harmony of the Seas. 


Despite missing Costa Maya, it was a GREAT DAY! 

Did you miss Day 4- Roatan "Monkeying Around"?

Up Next... Snorkeling in Cozumel! 

God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Jewel of the Seas (B2B Part 2)- July 2025








 


Carnival Conquest- 2006

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Friday, March 27, 2026

Living in Harmony- Roatan

 Monkeying Around
Coxen Hole- Roatan, Honduras 
February 18, 2026 


We love Roatan! 

Morning
The alarm went off at 7:15AM so Natalie and I could get ready for the day in Roatan. Once we got ready for the day, Natalie and I went to Central Park to get breakfast at Park Cafe. TIP- Park Cafe offers grab and go breakfast options that are on the lighter side but still fulfilling. They offered breakfast burritos and sandwiches every day of our cruise (albeit the same variety daily) as well as "Build Your Own Bagels", oatmeal, pastries and hot & fresh coffee and juices. They did NOT offer the freshly squeezed orange juice like Cafe 270 on the Anthem of the Seas.


Hello Wednesday- We're halfway through the cruise! NO! 


They are ready for the day!

After breakfast we met up with the boys on the Royal Promenade to get Starbucks coffee, water bottles and Powerade before getting off the ship around 8:30AM- All of which are included with the Deluxe Beverage Package. Once off the Harmony of the Seas, we walked out of the terminal area and into the transportation area which was very busy. It took us a little while to reach our location but we met our driver, Shari, and were in her mini-van within 10 minutes. The morning weather as we approached Coxen Hole was very rainy and windy. The Harmony of the Seas was able to dock but 2 other cruise ships, the NCL Viva and the Rhapsody of the Seas were not able to port. The NCL Viva actually left mid-morning but the Rhapsody of the Seas had already allowed a few tender boats to take passengers ashore and had to wait on them to get back. I am so grateful Harmony of the Seas did not have to tender and we were able to port in Roatan. Although, the same vibes did not follow us the next day! 


Hello Rhapsody of the Seas (one of RCCL oldest & smallest ships)! 


The gorgeous NCL Viva- She ended up leaving and not being able to tender! 


The Rhapsody of the Seas. 

Once our tour started Shari took us to the ROATAN sign near the northeast side of the island before going to West Bay Beach for the Roatan Chocolate Factory Tour. This was so cool because we were able to see the gorgeous waters of West Bay Beach as well. TIP- West Bay Beach area is one of the most visited areas of Roatan from cruise ship passengers. The waters are so pristine and the beach sand is white. The beaches themselves are not as "wide spread" as other Caribbean ports but the overall experience is still incredible. The Chocolate Factory Tour was great and lasted about 30 minutes. We were able to see them make chocolate and try pretty much every flavor offered. We also got a bundled package of 5 chocolate bars and a gorgeous box for only $30 US Dollars. 


We have been to Roatan over half a dozen times but never been to this sign! 


#RoatanSun 


Making chocolate in the Chocolate Factory! 

We loved this little tour and Honduran people! 

After the Chocolate Factory Tour we walked a bit in West Bay Beach to get to the Rum Factory Tour. This is a Rum Factory owned and operated by a US Tourist now living in Roatan. The rums were very flavorful and not too sweet. We tried them all and gave him a nice tip but opted not to purchase any bottles as we just didn't want to hassle with carrying them around all day. 

After these tours we loaded up in the mini-van to get to the Daniel Johnson Monkey and Sloth Hangout on the other side of the island. This was about a 45 minute drive on some very sketchy roads but we made it. The van did not have great air conditioning so the overall trip was ok- barely. Once at the Daniel Johnson Sloth Hangout we luckily arrived right as a large group tour was starting so we did not have to wait long. This was about 11AM local time and we heard many people had waited over an hour. 

The tour was so great and started off in the monkey cage where 4 different monkeys jumped all over us and swung around the cage for 15 minutes. It was so cool and so much fun! The kids absolutely loved it. The monkeys on the other hand love CHRIS- he is always the one the animals LOVE. 


This crazy monkey LOVED Chris and kept swinging to him! 


Luke was having the time of his life! 


Natalie really enjoyed this monkey who was a little "less crazy". 


Another view of Chris with two monkeys! 


This monkey kept trying to steal Luke's hat! 

After the monkey cage we went to the Sloth Hangout where about 8 different sloths were just hanging out, quite literally on the trees. However, we did get to see 2 sloths try to escape the area at the end of our visit. 


This sloth area was not even enclosed, just a free for all! 


These sloths were SO CUTE! 


Luke loved getting to look at all the sloths on his own time! 


Natalie loved them too! 


This guy had just curled up and we snapped a quick pic! 

We then saw a few Honduran birds before our tour ended and we started the trek back to the Terminal area at Coxen Hole, although this drive was only 15 minutes long. We were able to see schools let out for the day and students walking back to their homes and villages as well as pass by Mahogany Bay where the Carnival & Princess Cruise ships dock. 


They loved getting to hold these beautiful birds! 


I think this tour was a HUGE success! 
Thank you Daniel Johnson Hangout! 


Hello Harmony... We have missed you! 


This is at the Coxen Hole port area... Lots of shops and places to get food! 

This tour cost $40/ per person and was booked directly through Daniel Johnson Hangout. We tipped Shari an additional $40 as she was a phenomenal driver for the day. BOOK YOUR TOUR HERE- This company offers multiple tour options and is incredibly easy to book and communicate with. 


Seriously one of the best excursions we have had as a family! 
CHECK THEM OUT! 

Once back at the terminal, Chris and Luke opted to get back on the ship immediately as they were hungry and wanted lunch while Natalie and I decided to stay in the port area and do a little shopping. We stopped at several stores getting some Roatan souvenirs and also got a smoothie style drink before getting back on the ship. 

Afternoon
Once back on the ship we met up with the boys in the Windjammer for lunch. Luke had already eaten and was doing the FlowRider but Chris waited for me and then we checked off the Windjammer Bar from our Pub Crawl. TIP- The Windjammer lunch is one of the only options for lunch as you get back onboard from a day of excursions. The food and service are good but this is one of the only times I truly miss Carnival and the Guy's Burgers lunches and experience. In my opinion, this is the ONLY area Carnival soars above any other cruise line- Fast Food options. Especially with newer ships that offer Guys, Blue Iguana, Shaq's Chicken and so much more. 

Chris and I went to Boleros as it was one of the only bars open this early in the Port Day afternoon but we really wanted to catch up with our favorite bartender, Yash. He was able to have about 8 weeks off before coming to the Harmony of the Seas in October and we were able to see pictures of his family and his home life in India. 

We met the kids at Schooner Bar for Movie Quote trivia and while we entered thinking we would do well, we performed terribly and did not come close to winning. Chris and Natalie opted to nap for the early afternoon while Luke went back to the FlowRider and the Ultimate Abyss while I went and laid out in the Solarium. 

As the passengers started getting back onboard, Luke noticed longer and longer lines at the activities and opted to go change and I met him at On Air for some more trivia and then we all got ready for an evening spent onboard Harmony of the Seas. 

We all met at Vintages for afternoon wine and quiet time before going to the Rising Tides Bar at 5PM. Unfortunately, Natalie missed this decent in the Rising Tides Bar by minutes but Chris, Luke and I loved it. TIP- The Rising Tides bar is a great option for quiet drinks if you have the drink package but I am not sure I would pay for a drink as it really is just a gimmick in my opinion. Nonetheless, we enjoyed it and met Natalie in the Royal Promenade 30 minutes later for Star Wars trivia in On Air. We did much better at this trivia but still did not win. 


The Rising Tides Bar Cheers! 


Poor Natalie- this was 2 minutes after we started the decent! 


We all loved the Rising Tides Bar! 

I walked the outside promenade and was able to catch a gorgeous sunset as we left Coxen Hole. We then went to Wonderland on Deck 12 Forward to try the Wonderland Bar and get that bar checked off our Pub Crawl. Chris and I both opted for the Cotton Candy Cosmo based off the rabbit in the movie Alice in Wonderland and it was AWESOME. The bartender poured it so fast I was not able to take a video but it was delicious. all went to Vintages and they were having a Wine Tasting but Ursula still took care of us, which was awesome. This is why I cruise Royal Caribbean- the service is hard to beat! 


We are ready for another WONDERFUL night onboard! 


Goodbye Roatan... Until next time! 


The gorgeous sunset (blocked by the Carnival Celebration). 


The Wonderland Bar cocktail menu! 


The Cheshire Cat Cosmo (Made with cotton candy). 


Wonderland Specialty Restaurant (Deck 11) 


The Wonderland Bar (Deck 12) 


We loved the entrance to Wonderland on Deck 12. 

Evening
We had reservations at Izumi Sushi at 7PM but we arrived at 6:30PM and they still were able to seat us and get our meal started. The food was absolutely incredible. The kids loved getting to try really fancy sushi other than the grab and go we get from HEB near weekly. Natalie also tried an Asian entree and loved it. However, the service was a little sub-par in our experience for a Specialty Restaurant. As we closed out our tab and signed our check we realized they put our meal under "Ultimate Dining Package" and we were only charged for gratuities. I later learned this was a free meal from the MDR Maitre'd due to our first night fiasco. Once again, thank you Royal Caribbean. We did not ask for any of this but you certainly know how to take care of your customers! 


The boys are SUPER excited for dinner! 


The Izumi Sushi menu. 


Pork Gyoza Dumpling
Kellie- 4.5, Chris-4.0


Luke's Sushi 
Izumi Spider Roll- 5.0
Snow Crab California Roll- 5.0


Kellie's Sushi 
Izumi Ryu Futomaki Roll- 5.0
Truffled Creamy Lobster Tempura Roll- 5.0+


Creamy Sesame Balls- 1.5
The desserts at Izumi are seriously AWFUL! 
We loved it on the Jewel of the Seas 2025 when we were offered to get TWO appetizers and forego the desserts instead. This was SO MUCH BETTER! I wish all ships offered this!

After dinner we hurried out to the Love and Marriage Show in the Royal Theater. This sailing they listed this show as PG-13 so we opted to allow the kids to tag along. This show as very tame compared to others we have experienced and I am grateful for that. Natalie thought it was hilarious and Luke... had a few questions! 

Then we all went to Studio B Ice Rink on Deck 4 Midship for the show "1887" based on the story of Romeo and Juliet. We LOVED this particular show and the athletes did an outstanding job. TIP- This Ice Show is NOT to be missed on any Royal Caribbean ship. The ice skating is Olympic performance level and the storylines and plots are phenomenal. This is typically offered only 2-3 nights on a sailing so be sure to reserve your tickets early as the seating is limited. 


The set design alone is so impressive and hard to believe it is on a cruise ship! 


This show was one of my favorite Ice Shows I have ever seen on a Royal Caribbean Ship! 

After the Ice Show, the kids opted to go to bed and Chris and I went to the Boots and Bonnet Pub to talk to Xue and listen to the live music before grabbing a late night snack at Sorrento's and calling it a night before midnight- we were tired. 

It was a great day on Roatan Island in Honduras. We loved getting to play with the monkeys and Izumi Sushi onboard Harmony of the Seas. 


Our day in Roatan was a success! 
Did you miss Sea Day #2?

Up Next... Costa Maya! 

God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Jewel of the Seas (B2B Part 2)- July 2025








 


Carnival Conquest- 2006


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