Showing posts with label Sea Days. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sea Days. Show all posts

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Diamonds are Forever- Day 4

Hooked… on Sea Days
Sea Day #2
July 7, 2026 


Morning
We lost an hour as we traveled east to the Bahamas and I woke up thinking it was 7AM but it was actually 8AM. I think the entire ship also thought the same because the Windjammer was not at all crowded, even for 8:30AM ship time. I met my friend Keener at the Windjammer and we had breakfast together to tried to catch up from 7 years of not seeing each other even though we live less than 10 miles from each other. LOVE AND MISS YOU KEENER!

Lido Beach Pool- The calm before the Sea Day storm! 

The Royal Caribbean Top Tier event was on this morning and we love getting to feel special and celebrate our cruising milestone… Especially this voyage as this was our maiden voyage of being a Diamond Crown and Anchor member. TIP- Diamond level of Crown and Anchor means you have 80 cruise points. Typically you get 1 point per cruise night but you can earn DOUBLE points by staying in a suite and during special rare “Double Points” booking sales. During the COVID shutdown as cruising was trying to re-boot, Royal Caribbean offered up to 4x points per night and 8x points per suite booking. This is how so many people become Pinnacle and beyond. We have seen people with 4K+ Cruise points. That is a lot of nights at sea. 

I loved the Symphony High Seas Orchestra! This is my new retirement plan... Play my saxophone on a cruise ship!

We have FINALLY made it to Diamond!

These seemed like smaller than expected numbers for a summer cruise! But we are proud to be in the 343 Diamond members !

The Captain came and gave us a great speech about the vessel and thanked us for sailing on Royal Caribbean!


We spoke to this guy a lot in the Diamond lounge and he cruised dozens of times in the Covid shut-down reboot to accumulate all these points. He cruises 2x/ month but initially it was with the 4x points (then 8x in a suite) bonus!

We met the Cruise Director and the Captain during this event and it is always one of our favorites. Jaime was the CD and we LOVED him. We initially sail with him on our Back 2 Back Jewel of the Seas 25 and we fell in love! He is hilarious! Natalie was even able to meet up with another cruiser who knew the ins and outs of the Search for Nations and she was able to get dozens of signatures for her page. 

We LOVE Jaime!


He certainly is a hoot! 

After the Top Tier event, Luke and I went to the Solarium hot-tubs and Natalie went to the gym. Chris opted for a nap since we lost an hour of sleep. Luke and I really enjoyed these candelabra hot-tubs but there were lots of kids and unfortunately, my teacher voice came out a few times. Sorry… Not sorry! I really wish more parents would actually… parent their kids! 

The picture perfect Central Park on a sea day!

Our initial 20 minutes or so was very peaceful and not at all crowded!


We all met in the Royal Promenade for the Anchors Aweigh Parade. This is such a neat event Royal Caribbean has on their Oasis Class ships. Natalie was able to get lots of signatures here as well. TIP- Look for this event on sea days aboard Oasis Class ships! The kids will LOVE IT!


Afternoon
We had reservations at Hooked Seafood for lunch and it was absolutely INCREDIBLE. TIP- Hooked Seafood was added to the Symphony where the upper level of the Solarium is on other Oasis class ships. It is a specialty restaurant and costs extra to dine BUT you can get much better prices if dining at LUNCH and especially if you pre-book online before your cruise. We only paid $18/ person for our lunch and it was WELL WORTH it. Book lunch times for the very end of the lunch hours; typically 1-1:30PM as the service will be much quicker as they try to reset before dinner starts. 

The menu is extensive- even for lunch.

The "Cheddar Bay" biscuits were delicious!

Clam Chowder Chris, Natalie & Luke- 5.0+ The kids just went to Boston this summer with my parents and say it rivaled the local chowder in Boston! Well done, Royal Caribbean!

Oysters Rockefeller Kellie- 5.0 The kids were not a huge fan but would order again!

Oysters on the Half Shell (The kids had never tried) Kellie- 4.5

Fish and Chips Natalie- 4.0

Atlantic Salmon Luke- 4.5 (This kid could eat his weight in salmon- and he is on a growth spurt)

Steak and Lobster Chris- 4.5 and Kellie- 5.0

Lobster Roll -5.0 by all The waiter brought this over to us as I was debating on this- no extra charge!

Lobster Mac and Cheese Side 4.5 by all (needed more lobster, though)

Coconut Cream Pie Chris & Kellie-4.5 This could rival some Baptist church old ladies... just sayin'!

Chocolate Brownie Luke 4.0

Apple Pie Chris- 4.5+

I love getting to have these special meals with my kids! I am trying to cherish EVERY MOMENT!

Family Selfie #1 of the day!

This was a WINNER... Cannot wait to get back on Symphony and try it again!

After lunch the kids went back to the hot-tub and Chris and I went to the Schooner Bar for afternoon trivia and live music. We love the Schooner Bar but this location on Deck 6 and the lack of good live music had us missing the Mariner of the Seas.  


Our sailing was at 132% capacity. I am not even really sure how Royal does this all the time but we could definitely feel all 6,888 passengers on this day. There were people and KIDS everywhere. It was a summer cruise and it was summer cruise "vibing". That didn’t bother us and for the most part this was the only day we felt the crowds but it made for a very anxious day with so many people EVERYWHERE! One of my only complaints for the Symphony is the lack of lounge chairs in the shade. After looking for 30 minutes I finally found a handful outside of Hooked Seafood on Deck 16 forward. The outside Promenade of the Mariner and Independence class is probably my favorite area of any cruise ship! 

A good sunset on a cruise is all I need to change my mindset!

We all met up at On Air for a Generation Showdown gameshow and we loved it. We were too shy and didn’t play but we should have! Be sure to look for this one on the Cruise Compass as it is really fun to watch! 


As the crowds died down for dinner, we opted to go to the Pub to play cards and we had a blast teaching the kids Blackjack and Spades. Then the Crown Lounge was calling our name for Happy Hour drinks and appetizers. The appetizers were not as good as the previous night but we did love the Italian vibes that matched the upcoming MDR menu. 

Casual Night vibes!

The Kids Formal Pictures


This girl is a SENIOR... Where has the time gone? 


All of my heart... in one picture! 
They are growing up TOO fast! 

Evening
Dinner in the Main Dining Room was one of our favorite menus- Taste of Italy. The kids love pasta and really enjoyed this menu. Plus the service was second to none and we loved our waiters. 

The Taste of Italy MDR Menu 


Arancini Balls 
Luke- 4.5, Kellie- 4.0 and Chris- 3.5


Caesar Salad 
Luke-5.0 and Kellie- 4.5


Lasagna 
Luke- 3.5
(He said it seemed a little dry) 


Mushroom Risotto 
Chris- 4.0 and Kellie- 4.5


Tiramisu 
Chris, Natalie & Kellie- 4.0


Hazelnut Cake 
Luke- 3.5 and Natalie- 4.5

After dinner we enjoyed live music at Boleros while the kids played ping-pong and then we all enjoyed the 70s Disco Inferno on the Royal Promenade. Even the kids were dancing and singing along- despite not wanting to do it at first! 

Don't let the picture fool you... She was having fun!

It was a great day spent aboard the Symphony of the Seas but we were ready for Nassau and the kid’s first visit to the Bahamas. 

Did you miss a day? Check them out: Day #1- Click HERE Day #2- Click HERE

Day #3- Click HERE


Up Next- Swimming with the Pigs in Nassau.


God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Mariner of the Seas- June 2026










 


Carnival Conquest- 2006
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Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Diamonds are Forever- Day 2

 From Hardy to the Gulf
Sea Day #1
July 5, 2026 


I love and miss you Keener! 

Morning
I met the boys for breakfast in the Windjammer and as soon as I walk in I see a familiar face from my time at CC Hardy Elementary- Stacey Keener! Stacey and I taught together for 4 years and had the best time. We gathered breakfast and talked for over an hour just catching up. It is amazing how you can live near a friend for years and not see them and then get connected on a cruise- Life is wild sometimes! 


I loved this view from breakfast! 


Keener...Let's not go 6-7 years without seeing each other again! 

We left the Windjammer and went to the Flowrider as it opened at 9AM and Luke was the first in line. He was able to get 2 full sessions in before the line got too busy and he went to the hot-tub. TIP- Always try and be at the Flowrider just as soon as it opens to avoid a 15-30 person deep line. Chris and I stopped at the Sand Bar on Deck 15 before going to the Crown Lounge to see what continental breakfast items were offered. 

I don't even really like Bloody Mary... except on a cruise! 

The Sand Bar on Deck 15:



This was a perfect morning (in the shade too). 


I am officially in my HAPPY PLACE! 


It's going to be a great day! 


Luke absolutely LOVES the Flowrider... And he's gotten really good at it! 

Luke on the FlowRider: 

The Crown Lounge offered light breakfast options like donuts and muffins. 
Don't forget about the Latte Machine as well. It is a great option for a less stressed and crowded breakfast option. 

We met up with Luke at Boleros for the Morning Trivia but we did not even come close. The boys tried to win at the Flags of the World Trivia and did well but still did not win. Natalie grabbed Luke and they spent an hour at the gym before grabbing a smoothie from Vitality Cafe and meeting us at Schooner Bar for the Search for the Nations scavenger hunt. We have always watched this from afar but Natalie really wanted to participate so they grabbed the paper and took off looking for signatures. TIP- Royal Caribbean offers this crew member scavenger hunt on most longer cruises and it is a 4-6 day search for crew members from specific nations. The kids had a lot of fun with this but it is not for me. I come on a cruise to relax- but to each his own. 


This boy used every single Diamond drink coupon for a virgin Strawberry daiquiri.
I think he had a total of 37 for the entire cruise! 

On Air (Trivia and Karaoke) on Deck 5:

We opted to meet the kids at El Loco Fresh on Deck 15 aft for lunch and that is where we first felt the 6K other passengers. The food and overall experience at El Loco was good and much better than we remember on Allure of the Seas 2023 and remarkably better than the Harmony of the Seas 2026 but it was definitely not worth the over 20 minute wait we endured. I think this would be a great option for a later lunch after returning from port but the sea day noon rush, I would not recommend. 

Afternoon
We enjoyed a slower afternoon of listening to live music in Schooner Bar and enjoyed the less crowded venue before trying to layout for an afternoon nap in the Solarium. The Symphony of the Seas Solarium is better overall than that of the Harmony but it offered quite literally ZERO shade. At least the Harmony offered an upper deck to the Solarium that was completely covered. The Symphony only had 1 level for this adults only area and the Solarium Bar was smack dab in the middle of sun. The hot tubs were larger and there was a "pool" in the Symphony Solarium but we much prefer the Harmony since it allows shade. Unfortunately, we did not spend a lot of time here as it was just too hot most of the time. 

Despite only laying out in the Solarium for 20 minutes we were hot and sweaty and needed some AC so we ventured to the Casino knowing it blows super cold air to try and overpower the smoky smell. The bar service at the Casino Bar was fantastic and we enjoyed talking to the bartenders. We spent a little time in the Smoke Free Casino on Deck 4 and after nearly an hour we grabbed some drinks to go and met the kids at the AquaTheater for the World Cup game but it, too, was not in the shade and we got really hot really quick. Of course this is nothing a Johnny Rocket's shake cannot fix so we all got a treat and enjoyed the Boardwalk on this gorgeous afternoon. 

While Chris took a nap and the kids went looking for more signatures, I got my walk in on the Promenade Deck 5. The weather was hot but at least half of my walk was in the shade and I loved getting to see the wake each lap! I walked over a mile and it was glorious! 


And afternoon walk with a wake view is PERFECT! 

We got ready for the Formal Night spent aboard the Symphony of the Seas and then all met at OnAir for the Big Bang Theory Trivia. Natalie really loves this show and Luke is getting into Young Sheldon as we speak but, once again, we did not win. 

Evening
We made our way to the Crown Lounge for Happy Hour and enjoyed the Formal Night appetizers and bar service before going to a comedy show before dinner. The comedians were not that funny but we enjoyed the evening.


Time is a thief... that is all! 


Luke is almost as tall as Natalie! 


We love Formal Night on a cruise ship! 


Central Park for Formal Pictures is one of our favorite things on an Oasis Class ship! 


Be still my heart! 

As per our usual, we stopped in Vintages for our pre-dinner drinks and enjoyed the peace and quiet this venue provided while the kids went searching for more signatures for the Search for the Nations. TIP- We loved the service from Roger and Richard and they are quite easily some of the best bartenders we have ever had. 


I love these moments SO MUCH! 

Dinner in the Main Dining Room for our 8:30PM dining time was fantastic and we all really enjoyed the menu selections and the service was some of the best we have ever had in all 30 cruises. We were in and out of the Main Dining Room (on a formal night) within an hour. 

The Taste of France Menu in the MDR 

French Onion Soup 
Kellie, Natalie & Luke- 5.0
This was our favorite of anything in the MDR. 


Calamari 
Kellie- 4.0 & Chris- 4.5


Steak a Parve 
Luke- 5.0
He devoured this and loved the asparagus. 


Seafood Linguini 
Kellie & Luke- 4.5, Chris- 4.0, Natalie- 3.5


Creme Brulee 
Kellie & Natalie- 3.5, Chris- 3.0

After dinner Chris went to take his medicine and the kids changed and played ping-pong on the outside promenade of deck 5 while we wait for the 10PM showing of the Aqua-Show HIRO. This show was phenomenal and I still cannot believe they can do all of this from a CRUISE SHIP. We all agreed this was the best Aqua-Show we have seen to date! After the show, they all went to bed and I went to listen to live music in Dazzles before calling it a night shortly before midnight. 

Check out our day onboard: 


It was a great sea day spent onboard and we were able to see and do a lot of things the Symphony of the Seas has to offer but I am so grateful for a longer cruise to try and get to enjoy every single part of this ship! She is a beauty but is also a BEAST!

DID YOU MISS DAY #1? Check it out:
Click Here- Symphony Day #1

Up Next... Cozumel, Mexico! 

God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Mariner of the Seas- June 2026










 


Carnival Conquest- 2006

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