It’s time to hop aboard one of Royal Caribbean’s oldest and most beloved cruise ships—Enchantment of the Seas—for a four-day sailing out of Tampa with just one port stop: Cozumel, Mexico.
Enchantment has quite the unique history. She first launched in 1997, and in 2005, underwent a major $60 million renovation where the ship was literally cut in half and a 73-foot section was added. This massive upgrade brought in 151 new staterooms, as well as new venues like Boleros and the Oasis Bar. Today, the ship can carry around 2,250 passengers.
First off, it’s great to be back writing another review for Scott’s Cruises and all of you reading along! I take pride in offering a cruise experience that’s a little different from the norm. I always say I cruise differently than most people—and I think that really comes through in my reviews, especially when I share what a typical day onboard looks like. But enough about that—let’s dive in!
Heading to the Port of Tampa Bay
I sometimes forget how lucky I am to live just outside Tampa and work downtown. I have monthly 24/7 parking in a garage just a few miles from the cruise port, which makes it super convenient to hop on these short cruises. On this particular day, I clocked out of work at noon, grabbed my bags from the car, and walked one block to the TECO Streetcar stop. Just four stops later, I was at Terminal 3, ready to board.
If you’re curious about the TECO Streetcar service, feel free to ask in the comments—it’s currently a free way to get around Tampa and Ybor City. (No word yet on whether they’ll start charging again, but fingers crossed they don’t!) If you’re planning a cruise out of Tampa, check to see if your hotel is near a Streetcar stop. Instead of calling an Uber or Lyft, just hop on the Streetcar and ride straight to the port.
Embarkation
Clocked out at 12, onboard by 12:40. Incredible. I’m always grateful for how easy it is to cruise out of Tampa. The port process was a breeze—security kept moving, every check-in line was open, and I had my passport and SeaPass card scanned right from my phone. I’ve never had an issue with the Port of Tampa. I have seen complaints about it from people sailing with Margaritaville at Sea, though. Not sure what they’re doing differently, but maybe if they streamlined their process a bit, the reviews wouldn’t be so rough.
Since the rooms weren’t ready yet, my first mission was to find bartender Jason. I met him the last time I sailed on Enchantment back in December. He’s got a great personality—always cracking jokes and keeping guests entertained. This time, he’s stationed at Boleros (he was at the Solarium bar last time), which works out perfectly since it’s right next to the casino. I grabbed a neat pour of whiskey from Jason, and just as I was settling in, the announcement came over that rooms were ready.
Enchantment of the Seas Stateroom 3511
I dropped off my bags and changed out of my work clothes. I’m in stateroom 3511 and the first thing I noticed when I walked in? A giant pillar running straight through the middle of the room. I’ve never seen that before. It even has a few dents—probably from people accidentally walking into it over the years.
The room is tiny. I can’t imagine trying to squeeze two people in here. There’s barely any space to move around, and the bathroom is also really small. And yep, with a ship this old, you get the dreaded shower curtain. But despite the age, the size, and the random pillar, it’s actually perfect for me. I don’t spend much time in the room anyway. Last time, I was in the Oceanview stateroom directly across the hall, and I don’t remember it feeling quite this cramped.
I hadn’t eaten all day, so I headed up to Windjammer to grab a quick bite. It. Was. PACKED. I think the entire ship had the same idea. People were cutting in line, merging in strange spots—it was total chaos. How hard is it to figure out a buffet line??
I’ve been on a bit of a health kick lately and made some lifestyle changes, so this is my first cruise since starting that. It wasn’t easy, but I fought the urge and built myself a nice salad… and then totally caved and grabbed a burger. I don’t know if it was because I was starving or because it had been months since I had one, but this was the best Windjammer burger I’ve ever had. Usually they’re dried out, but this one was juicy and full of flavor.
I didn’t do too much after that—I was running on fumes after waking up at 4am for work. I wandered around a bit as we sailed out and passed under the Skyway Bridge.
I ended up at Schooner Bar, and to my surprise, it was completely empty—perfect timing for a cocktail. Schooner Bar is Royal Caribbean’s nautical-themed bar and one of the few spots onboard with its own unique drink menu. They’ve got a better liquor selection than most other bars on the ship. Nothing super rare, but there are some bourbons and scotches you can only get there. I ordered the Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned—it’s a must-try if you’re ever on a Royal ship. While I was sitting there, we passed under the Skyway. I did manage to grab a quick photo, but I really should’ve planned better and been outside for it.
Dinner in the My Fair Lady Dining Room on Enchantment of the Seas
When dinner time rolled around, I wasn’t sure what I felt like doing, but I ended up heading to the My Fair Lady Dining Room. Quick side note: Enchantment of the Seas only has two specialty dining options—Chops Grille and Chef’s Table.
For starters, I went with the Spinach and Artichoke Dip and the Tomato Soup. Let me tell you—the Tomato Soup was hands down the best I’ve had on a cruise. It’s usually lukewarm at best, but tonight it was piping hot, just the way I like it. I don’t eat soup often, but when I do, I want it hot. It was creamy, flavorful, and just really well done. Solid 8/10.
The Spinach and Artichoke Dip is one of my go-tos—I’m a sucker for chips and dip—but this version was just okay. Still tasty, but I’ve had better in the main dining room. I’d give it a 6/10, but I’d still order it again.
Now for the main event: Prime Rib, cooked medium-rare, served with mashed potatoes, broccoli, and carrots. The last time I sailed on Enchantment, I got one of the best cuts of Prime Rib I’ve ever had—not just at sea, but anywhere. I might be in the minority here, but I don’t like a lot of fat on my steak, and this cut was perfect—nice and lean. The horseradish au jus was packed with flavor, and everything on the plate was cooked just right.
I’m not a foodie, and it doesn’t take much to impress me, but this entrée was an easy 10/10. I decided to skip dessert.
The service in the main dining room was fantastic. It was the fastest drink service I’ve ever had—my drink was out within minutes. The appetizers arrived shortly after, and the entrée came as soon as the plates were cleared. The whole experience took about 45 minutes, which is perfect for me. I know some people like to take their time and enjoy a long, leisurely meal, but I’m more of a get-in-and-get-out kind of diner. I made sure to compliment the staff and left a generous tip. Overall experience: 10/10.
Speaking of tipping—here’s a quick PSA: I know it can be a controversial topic, but seriously, TIP YOUR BARTENDERS AND WAIT STAFF. When you’re planning your cruise budget, factor in some extra for gratuities. These folks work hard to make sure you have an amazing vacation, and a few bucks to show your appreciation goes a long way. I’ll always be Team Tip.
Trip to the Casino
The casino wasn’t too busy, so I decided to give it a go. Total bust on the slots, won a little back on keno, then headed over to the blackjack table—and got absolutely destroyed. I should’ve trusted my gut and walked away earlier.
There were a lot of players making… questionable decisions. I know, I know—it’s all superstition, and technically how others play shouldn’t affect your hand. But still. People hitting on 14 against a dealer’s 5? Standing on 14 against a dealer’s 8? That’s basically the casino equivalent of saying “7” at a craps table—you just don’t do it, even if it doesn’t actually change the odds.
By this point, I was wiped out, so I headed back to the room. It was early, but that’s totally fine—tomorrow is a sea day, and I wanted a good night’s sleep.
Remember that giant pillar in my room? Yeah… it blocks the view of the TV from the bed. I can’t help but wonder how many complaints they’ve gotten about that over the ship’s 28 years of service. Definitely a design fail.
As I was laying there, it hit me—I completely missed the Welcome Aboard Show! I don’t always make it to every show, but I do enjoy that one, so I was pretty bummed it slipped my mind.
Thanks for reading, everyone—and see you tomorrow for my sea day adventure!