Whenever someone asks me, “what’s your perfect length for a cruise?” I always say, “the longest!” Short three, four, and five-day cruises go way too fast for me and by the time you just get to figuring out whether your stateroom is on the port or starboard side of the ship, it’s time to pack up and go home.
For John, who’s been sharing his four-day Cozumel cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas with us, the time has come for him to pack up and get ready to head home as the ship is spending a day at sea as they return to Port Tampa Bay. Since it’s a sea day, before I turn things over to John for his final report on this cruise, let’s talk about what to do on a sea day!
Top 5 Things to do on a Sea Day on a Royal Caribbean Cruise
1. Relax by the Pool or in the Solarium
- Sea days are perfect for unwinding by the pool with a cocktail in hand. If you prefer a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere, head to the adults-only Solarium. The serene environment, complete with whirlpools and comfortable lounge chairs, is ideal for catching up on a good book or simply soaking in the view.
2. Indulge in a Spa Treatment
- Treat yourself to some pampering at the onboard spa. From massages and facials to body wraps and aromatherapy, the spa offers a wide range of treatments to help you relax and rejuvenate. You can even enjoy a sauna or steam room session to melt away any remaining stress.
3. Catch a Show or Participate in Onboard Activities
- Royal Caribbean offers a variety of entertainment options on sea days. You can catch a Broadway-style show, comedy act, or live music performance in one of the theaters. Alternatively, participate in fun onboard activities like trivia contests, dance classes, or even try your hand at ice skating (on select ships).
4. Savor a Specialty Dining Experience
- Sea days are the perfect time to enjoy a leisurely meal at one of the ship’s specialty restaurants. Whether you’re in the mood for a juicy steak at Chops Grille, Italian cuisine at Giovanni’s Table, or sushi at Izumi, these dining experiences offer a culinary treat that’s well worth the extra cost. (Restaurtants vary by ship.)
5. Explore the Ship’s Unique Features
- Take advantage of the opportunity to explore the ship and try out some of its unique features. Depending on your ship, this might include rock climbing, zip lining, surfing on the FlowRider, or trying out the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator. These activities are great for getting your adrenaline pumping and making the most of your sea day. (Activities vary by ship.)
These activities offer a mix of relaxation, entertainment, and adventure, ensuring that your sea day is both enjoyable and memorable. So with that list fresh in your mind, let’s see how John spent his final day onboard…. if I were a betting man (!), I’d have to say a good part of it was spent in the casino!
Take it away, John!
Day-by-Day Review Index:
After a night of much-needed rest, I woke up feeling better than I have in a long time. Unfortunately, that great feeling comes with a bittersweet realization: today is the final sea day, which means tomorrow I’ll be disembarking and heading back to reality. It’s definitely a bit of a downer, but I’m determined to make the most of the time I have left.
I started my day with a couple of cups of coffee in the room before showering and heading up to the Windjammer for a quick breakfast. Nothing fancy, but it was a solid meal—omelet, hashbrowns, a bagel, and a biscuit with gravy. I know I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Windjammer this trip, but this morning’s breakfast was enjoyable and hit the spot.
After eating, I decided I needed another cup of coffee, so I headed to Café Latte-tudes, the ship’s coffee shop that serves Starbucks (and yes, it’s included with the beverage package). As an avid coffee drinker, I’m not sure why I’ve skipped Café Latte-tudes so much this trip; it’s probably just easier to grab a cup from the self-serve stations than wait in line. With coffee in hand, I made my way to the casino for one last attempt at building up some points.
I’ve found that the best time to play in the casino is early in the day when it’s still relatively empty. As the day goes on, and it gets closer to dinner, the casino becomes packed and uncomfortable, especially on these smaller ships where people are crammed in like sardines. You can barely move if there are two people sitting in the same row on opposite sides—they’re practically sharing a stool! (Did I get my point across yet??) So, I prefer the quieter, more relaxed vibe of the casino in the morning.
I had a pretty good session today, hitting a few good bonus rounds that let me play a bit longer and rack up some more points. I’m working towards Prime, which is 2,500 points, and while I’m by no means a high roller, I’m confident I’ll hit it this year.
This cruise has been more of a “chill and relax” experience for me compared to previous trips. I’ve spent more time in my room than I usually do (having a Junior Suite probably helped with that), and I don’t think I got my money’s worth out of the beverage package—at least not on alcohol. But it’s been nice to slow down and just enjoy the cruise at a leisurely pace. That said, I couldn’t miss the chance to head up to the Solarium bar and see Umesh for one last drink. He was the first bartender I met on this ship, and he’s been one of the most personable crew members I’ve encountered. I’ve spent quite a bit of time just hanging out and chatting with him, especially since the Solarium bar tends to stay pretty quiet, likely due to the temperature in the Solarium.
Afterward, I decided to check out the Windjammer for a quick snack. I wasn’t too hungry, but I grabbed a little piece of roast beef with horseradish from the carving station and made myself a small salad. The menu in the Windjammer hasn’t changed much throughout the cruise—breakfast, lunch, and dinner have all been pretty much the same, which isn’t ideal given that the buffet isn’t very large to begin with, so there hasn’t been much variety.
With a light snack out of the way, I made my rounds around the ship, checking out (almost) all the areas I hadn’t visited yet. Then it was time to get changed for my Chops dinner reservation. Before heading to the restaurant, I stopped by the Viking Crown Lounge to see Rodrigo and Saurab, the bartenders up there. They’re both great guys, and I hung out with them after the Macallan tasting earlier in the trip. If you’re ever on Grandeur, I highly recommend looking for Umesh, Rodrigo, and Saurab—they’ve been fantastic.
After a drink with the guys, I went down to Chops for my dinner reservation. I was a little early, but they seated me right away. Diraj was at the podium (I think he might be the manager), and Ida, who I had for lunch on Day 2, saw me coming and waved me in. He had promised to get me at least 30% off if I returned for dinner, and hinted that he might be able to do even better.
I honestly can’t believe I’ve never eaten at Chops before. It doesn’t take much to impress me when it comes to food, but this has been absolutely amazing. I mentioned the other day that I’d watched some reviews that weren’t too kind to Chops, but my experience has been the complete opposite. The food here has been nothing short of great.
I started with a Buffalo Trace Manhattan and ordered Charred Beef Carpaccio and The Wedge salad for my appetizers—both were phenomenal. I really enjoyed the Wedge at lunch, and it was just as good at dinner.
For sides, I went with Creamed Spinach, Truffled French Fries, and I had to try the Mac and Cheese again, especially since I kept hearing that it’s dry and not good. It was creamy and delicious at lunch, so I was curious to see how it would hold up for dinner. For my entrée, I chose the 16 oz Prime Bone-in Ribeye on Ida’s recommendation.
When the Ribeye and sides arrived, they looked and smelled amazing. The Creamed Spinach was very creamy, the Truffled Fries looked and tasted like regular fries—nothing special there—but the Mac and Cheese was, once again, very creamy and the highlight of the sides. The Prime Ribeye, cooked medium rare, was absolutely amazing, just like the Filet I had for lunch the other day. It was cooked to perfection.
Ida returned with the dessert menu, saying, “It is now time for me to show you the best menu here.” He recommended I try the Haute and Steamy or the Bavarian Coffee for my drink, so I went with the Haute and Steamy. For dessert itself, I chose the NY Cheesecake.
The Haute and Steamy was good, but I’m not a huge fan of hot coffee drinks with alcohol—I prefer my coffee hot and plain. Still, I’m glad I tried it. The NY Cheesecake, however, was amazing. I love cheesecake, and this was by far one of the best pieces I’ve ever had. It’s hard to explain, but it was just really, really good.
The entire meal was a 10/10, and the service was a 20/10. Ida and Diraj kept checking on me and the other guests, making sure we had everything we needed and constantly refilling water. Unfortunately, I declined to have the blinds closed when I was first seated, so as the sun set, it made some of my photos less than ideal. I did ask for them to be closed, but it was probably a little too late.
When I got my bill, Ida had taken off the promised 30% (which is a standard discount if you pre-purchase) and added “a little extra” as well. I don’t want to say exactly what I paid or how much he took off because I don’t want anyone to expect that every server can or will do this, potentially causing complaints. But I did leave a good tip on top of the pre-paid gratuity, and I’ll definitely be doing what Ida asked—completing the survey and giving him positive feedback. He stressed how important the survey is, explaining that the crew members with the most positive reviews get more “time off,” which allows them to take a lunch service off and spend time in port, where they can find free Wi-Fi to communicate with their families.
Now that dinner was over, I was absolutely stuffed. I headed up to my room to change into something more comfortable and found that someone was monkeying around in there—literally!
![[insert dad joke here]](https://cruises.scottsanfilippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Grandeur-Monkeying-Around-768x1024.jpg)
Once I had my bags packed, I checked my phone and saw that it was only 8:30 PM. Then I remembered my phone was still on Central Time because it never switched back to Eastern Standard after I put it in airplane mode. So it was actually 9:30 PM, and with work in the morning, it was definitely a good idea to call it a night. I charged my phone, uploaded all the pictures I took, and turned in for the night.
Disembarkation at Port Tampa Bay
I woke up around 5:30 AM on disembarkation day, eager to make the most of my last few hours on board. I enjoyed one final cup of coffee on the balcony, soaking in the peaceful morning views before it was time to leave. After a quick shower, I headed down for breakfast, arriving just after they opened at 6 AM. It wasn’t too busy, which was perfect for a light meal of eggs and a bagel. Wanting one last good cup of coffee before heading out, I made my way to Café Latte-tudes for a hot, black Starbucks coffee. With coffee in hand, I returned to my room to grab my bags, then headed up to the pool deck to relax a bit and finish my coffee while waiting for the scheduled 7:30 AM gangway to open. To my surprise, just before 7 AM, they announced that Customs had cleared the ship and we could disembark.
Disembarkation was a breeze. The line moved quickly, and before I knew it, I was off the ship and into the port where they scanned my face (for passport holders) and sent me on my way. By just after 7 AM, I was already on my way to work. Not knowing the Streetcar (trolley) schedule, I decided to walk. It took about 15 minutes to get to the parking garage to drop off my bags, and then another 5 minutes to walk to the office. I never saw the Streetcar, so I guess walking was the right call.
During lunch, I decided to double-check all of my casino offers. I’m already booked for another trip on the Independence of the Seas in January, which should be a lot of fun since I’m taking some friends and their kids along. Stay tuned for that review—it’ll be interesting to cruise with four kids between the ages of 6 and 14!
As I was checking my offers, I noticed one for the Enchantment of the Seas out of Tampa—a four-night cruise to Cozumel. I’m not too concerned about the itinerary since I always enjoy Cozumel, but I’ve never been on the Enchantment, and leaving out of Tampa means I’ll hardly need to use any PTO. It’s just so convenient. I went ahead and booked it, covering gratuities, port fees, and taxes for an Oceanview room. See you all then!
P.S. Don’t forget to tip your bartenders, servers, stateroom attendants, and anyone else who made your cruise special. They work hard to ensure you have a great time!
Final Word… of Thanks!
Special thanks to John for sharing his latest adventure with us and I look forward to him contributing more and sharing more of his cruise adventures with us as he gets ready to set sail on Enchantment of the Seas in December! Thanks again, John!