Showing posts with label Royal Promenade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Royal Promenade. Show all posts

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Living in Harmony- Sea Day #3

 Red, White and Blue Done Royally 
February 21, 2026 
Sea Day #3


Its our last day onboard...we've gotta live it up! 

Morning
The ship was rocking as we made our way back towards God's Country and Galveston, TX but we were all able to see a little better and were up after 7AM. We met on the Royal Promenade to do some laps around the track before getting breakfast in the Main Dining Room. TIP- The MDR is open for all sea day and port day breakfasts and it is such a slower vibe than the Windjammer and we prefer it over just about anything else. 


Good morning- this is my favorite view! 


It has been a great cruise! 


These banana pancakes just hit different! 

After breakfast Luke went to Deck 15 Aft to do another round (or four) of the FlowRider before the lines got really long shortly before 10AM. At that point he went to the Main Pool and I went to wake up Natalie who was enjoying the much needed rest and extra sleep. Chris and I went to the Pub for Live Music and more talking with our favorite bartender, Xue, about her life onboard. 


This was easily Luke's favorite thing onboard! 


Check out Luke's Sea Day #3 FlowRider session! 

We all met at the Captain's Corner talk in the Royal Theater at 10:30AM where we learned so much about the ship, the crew and the travel aspects of the Harmony of the Seas. TIP- The Captain's Corner is done on most ships the last sea day and offers a time to meet, greet and ask questions for the Captain and his main staff. It is one of our favorite events on board and we have learned a lot about the future of Royal Caribbean (or other cruise lines) future. Today we learned that while "The Discovery Class" of ships that was just announced will be "smaller" it is actually anything but. It will be similar in size to the "Voyager" class which is 140K gross tons or more. We were hoping for a new upgraded "Radiance Class" or similar ships. But Royal LOVES the MEGA ships and it is working out well for them so I get it. 


Be sure to check this out on the last Sea Day! 


Harmony of the Seas facts! 

After the Captain's Corner we hurried to Schooner Bar for the Search for the Nations game. Chris and I had seen this many times but never played this game but the kids really wanted to try it. Unfortunately, this was the ending of this game and it actually began on Sea Day #1. Next time... Sorry Natalie. 

We paused at Schooner Bar and played some cards before the Veteran's Tribute that was happening below on the Royal Promenade. We have seen Veteran's tributes and programs on other cruises and other cruise lines but this was something truly spectacular with the playing of the National Anthem, salute to all armed forces and a speech by the captain. It was very moving and we all really enjoyed it! 


A view of the cupcake display in the Royal Promenade from the Schooner Bar! 


Katie, the Cruise Director, and Captain did a fantastic job with this event! 


Natalie ran into the Captain on her way to the Boardwalk and asked for a selfie! 

Afternoon
We had reservations at Jamie's Italian for 1:30PM and we arrived around 1:20PM and were immediately seated. The restaurant was packed and we were able to sit at the only available table. We were able to get this reservation once on board but I will book this prior to embarkation in the future as it is much lower in price and well worth it after this experience. We paid $25/ person onboard and it was as low as $14/ person if we booked ahead of time. Even at $25/ person this was an incredible lunch and a wonderful experience. 

We were able to order every single appetizer to try since there was 4 of us and we all wanted more than one appetizer. In addition, we were all able to order a pasta plate as well as a main entree which allowed us all to try most of the items on the lunch menu. The service was very fast since we were the last reservation time of the lunch hour. In addition, the food was literally piping hot and absolutely delicious. Giovanni's Table is one of my all-time favorite specialty restaurants on any cruise ship (Royal Caribbean) but it is safe to say Jamie's Italian is a tie at bare minimum. We all loved this experience so much that I have already reserved a lunch time for our 2 upcoming Royal Caribbean cruises. 


We anxiously seen it all week but it is OUR TURN! 


The Jamie's Italian LUNCH MENU 


Jamie's Bar Menu 


Squid Fritti
This was a solid 4.5 from everyone. 


Ultimate Garlic Buns
I kid you not, my mouth is watering while I type this! These were INCREDIBLE!
5.0+ from everyone 


Tomato Bruschetta 
This was a solid 4.5 as well- although Luke was not as enthusiastic about it as we were. 


Truffle Burrata 
This was odd but I loved it. 
Kellie-5.0 and all others 3.5


Cured Meat Plank 
This was like a Charcuterie board on crack and it was delicious! 
5.0 from everyone! 


Truffle Arancini
We all loved these balls in the MDR and these were even better! 
4.5 from everyone! 


Creamy Prawn Linguine 
Luke-4.5 


Penne Vodka Arrabbiata 
Kellie-4.0 
This was the only "let down" of the meal but it was still SO GOOD! I will order the lasagna next time! 


Avocado Caesar Salad 5.0
Had the waiter not allowed us to order both pasta and main entree, I would have missed this and it is easily the BEST CAESAR SALAD I have ever had! 


Italian Banana Split 3.5
Luke was so full he barely ate any but it was good! 


Classic Tiramisu 4.5
This was the perfect end to our meal! 


This was a HUGE success and we will be back in June (and July). 

After lunch Chris went to nap in the stateroom while the kids went to play Table Tennis on Deck 15 Aft and then mini-golf. I opted to lay out in the shade of the Solarium for most of the rest of the afternoon before we all met in the Aqua Theater for their afternoon show. This was a great show and we loved theme- Hideaway Heist! 


I loved getting to see the Aqua Show in the daylight as well! 

Natalie and I did some last minute shopping and got some souvenirs from the shops onboard and then went to Johnny Rocket's for an afternoon shake before meeting the boys in the Schooner Bar for 1990s trivia. This was SO MUCH FUN... we didn't win but we loved the vibe. 

Natalie was feeling a little last minute "I must do everything" moment so she went and put on shoes to do the zipline one more time. She was able to get one ride in before it started raining but she had her moment! 


Natalie LOVED the zipline! 


Go, Natalie GO! 

Evening
Dinner in the Main Dining Room is not one of our favorite menus but the service was top notch and the kids loved many of the options they ordered. We made sure to get the names of all of our servers and managers so we could give them "shout outs" in the survey email we would get the following week. We also gave each of them as cash tip. 


Spaghetti- 4.0
Luke loved this and ordered almost every night! 


International Cheese Plate-3.0
If you know, you know! 

The kids love this last night! 

After dinner we spent nearly 2 hours in the peace and quiet of Vintages. Ursula is such an incredible server and we were able to talk to her about her life back home and life on board. The kids played chess in Central Park and then played more Table Tennis. The FlowRider worker even stopped and talked to Luke as he saw him so much this week. We love that even our kids are talking with the crew and making memories of their own! 

We all grabbed some late night pizza from Sorrento's and then called it a night shortly after 11PM. We were tired from an excellent week aboard the Harmony of the Seas. 


Day 7 was a success... We just we there was a day 8! 


That's a WRAP... Harmony of the Seas, WE LOVE YOU!
 
Did you miss Cozumel- Day 6? 

It has been an OUTSTANDING cruise and all that we had hoped for AND MORE! The kids LOVED this MEGA Ship and are already getting excited for more in a few months. 

We've got 3 more cruises booked in 2026 and we are debating about booking a true last minute cruise on MSC in April. We thank each of you for following along as we love sharing our week and cruise with y'all! 

Up Next... The Mariner of the Seas (our SUITE LIFE to achieving Diamond)... But BEFORE that a VERY LAST minute sailing on the MSC Seascape out of Galveston! A new cruise line and a last minute STEAL-  It is going to be awesome!

Coming Soon:

MSC Seascape- April 2026
Mariner of the Seas-June 2026
Symphony of the Seas- July 2026
Liberty of the Seas- December 2026
Freedom of the Seas (Graduation Cruise)- June 

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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