What Our Most Recent Cruise Reminded Us
Every cruise teaches us something.
Even after dozens of sailings, we come home with a few new ideas, reminders, and lessons learned. Our recent 8-night Adventure of the Seas cruise was no exception. While it was a wonderful vacation, there are a handful of things we'll do on our next Caribbean sailing, and a few tips we'll continue recommending to clients.
Build in Extra Travel Time
The biggest reminder came before we ever stepped onboard the ship.
Starting your vacation a day early creates breathing room and significantly reduces stress.
We flew from Dallas to Orlando two days before our cruise so we could have an entire day in the area to visit NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and we encountered significant weather delays waiting for our flight. Several flights departing around the same time as ours were ultimately canceled.
Fortunately, we still made it to Florida without issue, but it reinforced something we regularly tell clients: whenever possible, arrive at your embarkation city at least one day before your cruise.
Had our flight been cancelled, we probably would not have made it to Florida until the next day as any open seats on the flights to Orlando after ours were now taken by the previous cancellations. While not ideal, we could have flown the next day and only would have missed our NASA tour, not the whole cruise.
Weather, mechanical issues, and airline disruptions are outside your control. Starting your vacation a day early creates breathing room and significantly reduces stress.
Don't Save Relaxation for "Next Time"
One goal I had for this sailing was simple: spend more time on our balcony.
It's easy to fall into the mindset that you need to maximize every minute of a cruise. There are activities, trivia games, shows, pools, ports, and restaurants competing for your attention.
This time, I intentionally slowed down.
I spent afternoons reading on the balcony, watching the ocean pass by, and simply enjoying the quiet moments. Looking back, those peaceful hours were some of my favorite parts of the trip.
Sometimes the best use of a sea day isn't checking another activity off the schedule.
Consider the Last Day of the Itinerary Carefully
This itinerary included a stop in Nassau on the final full day of the cruise.
While we enjoyed our day at Royal Caribbean's Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, I was reminded why I generally prefer itineraries that end with a sea day.
Even though we returned to the ship early in the afternoon, I still felt rushed trying to fit in all of the end-of-cruise tasks:
Packing suitcases
Selecting photos
Cashing out casino vouchers
Writing thank you notes for crew members
Making sure everything was ready for disembarkation
A sea day at the end of the cruise creates a more relaxed transition home.
Verify Dining Arrangements Once Onboard
We booked My Time Dining and made reservations for 6:45 p.m. every evening before sailing.
When we received our SeaPass cards, however, we discovered that we had been moved to traditional dining because a fixed 6:45 p.m. seating was available.
The change didn't negatively affect our vacation, but it was unexpected.
If dining flexibility is important to you, it's worth confirming your dining assignment as soon as you board.
Arrive Early for Shows
One thing I appreciate about Adventure of the Seas is the simplicity of the entertainment schedule.
Unlike some of Royal Caribbean's larger ships, Adventure does not require reservations for shows.
Our strategy is simple on these types of ships: arrive about 30 minutes before showtime, settle into our seats, order a drink, and chat with family and new friends until the show began.
It felt far less stressful than constantly monitoring reservations and trying to secure entertainment slots before the cruise.
Embrace the Smaller Moments
Some of our favorite memories weren't the things we planned.
It was sharing a breakfast table in San Juan with a couple celebrating their first anniversary.
It was watching eggs splatter across the stage at our daughter’s feet when she was called on stage at a show.
It was dancing with Brandon after dinner most nights.
It was spending an hour reading on the balcony while everyone else was off doing something else.
Cruise planning matters. Excursions matter. Dining reservations matter.
But the moments you'll remember most are often the ones you never planned for.
Final Thoughts
Every cruise is different, and that's part of what keeps us coming back.
This sailing reminded me that thoughtful preparation creates space to enjoy the unexpected. A little planning ahead means less scrambling onboard, more flexibility when things don't go exactly as expected, and more opportunities to simply enjoy being together.
And if there's one thing we'll carry into our next cruise, it's this: don't wait until retirement, next year, or some future vacation to slow down. Make time for the balcony, the sunset, the extra cup of coffee, and the conversations that happen when nobody is rushing off to the next activity.
Those moments are part of the journey too.
