And similar to that, our Caribbean cruise with my household is over. Insert the entire feelings right here. It was a marvelful journey on the Surprise of the Seas, and I’d completely advocate this ship, our itinerary, and gathering your whole household for every week and crusing away for an journey of a lifetime! We weren’t positive how it might go together with an virtually one and a half yr outdated, however I do know that we walked away feeling prefer it exceeded all expectations [a little more on how to cruise with a toddler below!]
If you happen to’d prefer to see video of our time on the ship, remember to checkout the Cruise Spotlight on my Instagram account right here! This was our third cruise that Shawn and I’ve traveled on collectively and we’d completely do it once more — observe: I do choose to area out cruising each few years. We love them, however it’s a approach of touring I don’t have to do yearly. We’ve discovered spacing them out each few years makes them extra satisfying!
Earlier than diving in, I ought to observe that nothing about this journey was sponsored however merely private pleasure! I booked / deliberate / and skilled all of it 😉
Royal Caribbean Surprise of the Seas! We have now traveled on Royal Caribbean twice earlier than and completely beloved it so we determined to go this route once more! We love Royal Caribbean because the ships are extremely clear, the employees may be very pleasant, the meals is scrumptious and the leisure is top notch. The ship was unbelievable and didn’t disappoint. The Surprise of the Seas is a part of the Oasis Class [there are 6 ships in this class] and they’re all very related. The set-up of this class of Royal Caribbean ships is by neighborhood – you’ve got the Royal Promenade, Central Park [my FAVORITE area on the boat!], Boardwalk, Pool & Sports activities Zone, Leisure Place, Vitality Spa, Adults Solely Solarium and Children Zone. Whereas the ship is gigantic and there are a LOT of individuals on the ship [with crew I believe it’s around 8,000], resulting from the entire totally different areas and neighborhoods, it fortunately doesn’t really feel too crowded or packed. My dad and mom sometimes journey on smaller cruise ships they usually have been involved they weren’t going to love the large ship, nonetheless, they did say that with how unfold out every part is, they really actually loved the big ship and would do it once more!
7 nights, Japanese Caribbean Cruise. We sailed from Port Canaveral, FL to CocoCay, Bahamas [Royal Caribbean’s Private Island], San Juan, Puerto Rico and St Marteen! Extra to come back on what we did at every cease beneath! Be aware: The Surprise of the Seas is shifting its port to Miami for future bookings!
Shore Excursions: This was our first time on a ship the place we didn’t e book any shore excursions. With having Crew, we didn’t need to decide to any schedule off the boat and there weren’t a ton of choices that we thought he might simply get pleasure from! Nonetheless, we did get off the boat at two of the three stops which I’ll share in additional element beneath! Be aware: In case you are reserving excursions, you are able to do so all simply by the Royal Caribbean app! That is additionally the place you possibly can e book eating, drink packages, present reservations, buy WiFi, and so on!
- CocoCay, Bahamas – That is Royal Caribbean’s island within the Bahamas and it was a lot enjoyable! We merely acquired off the ship and went to the enormous Oasis Lagoon pool to drift round with Crew! There was a pool bar we might order drinks from and the entire meals on the eating places are included in your ship’s value so that you don’t need to pay! You’ll be able to pay for excursions right here [there is a waterpark you can do, my parents did a kayak tour, etc] or you possibly can simply lounge on the seaside or pool free of charge! It made for a soothing and enjoyable cease!
- San Juan, Puerto Rico – This was our first time to Puerto Rico so we positively wished to get off the ship to stroll round and expertise town in order that’s precisely what we did! We strolled the outdated streets [literally, Crew in his stroller] and simply took within the structure, retailers, and so on! All free of charge, no value to get off and do that!
- St Marteen – We have now truly been to St Marteen a number of occasions, so we opted to remain on the ship today and benefit from the empty boat whereas most poeple have been out and about! My sister’s household did do a catamaran journey that took them snorkeling and it was their favourite a part of the journey!
How We Booked: We did use a buddy who’s a journey agent as we have been reserving the cruise for 3 households [us, my parents and my sister’s family]. This simply helped make issues extra seamless, nonetheless, up to now when reserving for simply ourselves, we’ve all the time booked instantly by RoyalCaribbean.com as I discovered that the pricing was related [if not the same] by totally different on-line journey businesses!
Boarding The Ship: Previous to departure, you’ll be able to checkin on-line by way of the Royal Caribbean app. At the moment you enter your passport info and take a selfie of your self. On the port the place you board, every part is completed by facial recognition and it actually took about two minutes for us to get on the ship. The identical was true for departing on the finish of the journey!
We splurged and opted to remain within the Proprietor’s Suite [room 1832 to be exact] and it was unbelievable. This room sort is included of their Sky Suite Class which gives a LOT of wonderful facilities which I’ll get into! As a result of we had Crew with us, it was necessary for us to have a room that will enable us to expertise the comforts of dwelling, in order that we might maintain him on his regular sleep schedule [and allow us the ability to enjoy the room while he slept]! This room sort has a pleasant dimension mini room [think of it as a nice closet] that match a pack n play completely. We have been in a position to have him in there throughout naps and bedtime and have the ability to operate about our room [the living room and our bedroom] simply high quality! One other bonus: it has a bath within the toilet which meant straightforward bathing for him! Moreover, the balcony is HUGE and we love having fun with our time exterior! Yet another enormous bonus: the quantity of cupboard space on this room was insane. We couldn’t almost use all of it. Sometimes on a cruise ship there’s so much left to be desired for cupboard space and wow, this had cupboards and closet in every single place you’d flip round!
Lots of people have requested about the price of reserving this room and whereas the fee is all the time going to differ relying in your precise journey dates and itinerary, it appears like on common it’s about 5x the price of your fundamental inside stateroom. I’ll clarify what else you get with this suite in a second [aside from the incredible room itself]!
While you e book sure suite ranges [Star or Sky] you’ll have entry to Coastal Kitchen [a suite guest only dining room] for breakfast, lunch or dinner which serves wonderful meals, all free of charge. Moreover, you’ll have entry to the Suite Lounge for complimentary cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres each night from 4-8 [fun fact: you can enjoy free beer and wine at any time in the lounge!] My favourite amenity was getting access to the Suite Solar Deck which was a LARGE personal space for suite visitors solely to put out. The world additionally had it’s personal bar, bogs, scorching tub, soaking pool, and tons of lounge chairs and couches. This was a lifesaver as we by no means needed to fear about saving chairs or not having a spot to put for the day. Further suite facilities embrace having your individual concierge who’re there for something that you could be want, free limitless excessive pace web, precedence boarding and departure [this was insane – it took approximately two minutes to get on and off the ship, including at shore stops!] and some different enjoyable extras like Malin + Goetz toiletries, luxurious pillow high mattress, and extra! Due to all of this, it made the journey SO stress-free and allowed us to get pleasure from each second with out ever feeling like we have been crowded amongst hundreds of individuals. Price each greenback in our opinion!
suite solar deck
suite lounge pool
suite eating room and lounge
Room service with a view
On the Surprise of the Seas there are 7 complimentary eating choices and 12 specialty eating places [this means that they have a cost to eat there – each restaurant has its own flat fee, ie: $25 per person and it ranges on the specific restaurant for the cost. Once you pay the flat fee, you can order anything / everything off the menu]! For breakfast we both all the time ate within the Coastal Kitchen [suite guests only] or had room service delivered proper to our balcony! For lunch, we visited the Windjammer Cafe, El Loco Contemporary, Johnny Rockets, or Central Park Cafe! For dinner, we sometimes ate as a household in the principle eating room [we did the reserved seating for 5:00 pm], however it’s also possible to go for later, or do my-time eating, which implies you possibly can go anytime between 6 and 9:30 pm!] We did eat at one specialty restaurant on the ship, The Mason Jar, which was good and is admittedly enjoyable with stay nation music! Listed below are the specialty eating places we ate at up to now on different ships and my ideas:
- Giovanni’s Italian – YUM. This was one in every of my [actually, it was] my favourite meal of all the journey. Shawn ordered the truffle pasta and I ordered the lasagna. Each have been scrumptious however that truffle pasta, MY MOUTH IS WATERING THINKING ABOUT IT. So good. The garlic bread for an appetizer was additionally scrumptious. And dessert, completely order the brownie. You’re welcome.
- Chops Grille – That is the steakhouse on the ship and truthfully, it’s good, however I don’t know if both of us LOVED it. If you need a steak whereas on the ship, I’d advocate going to Hooked and getting it there [Shawn got surf & turf at Hooked and said the steak there tasted better than the one at Chops!]
- 150 Central Park – If nothing else, go right here for a Tableside Central Park Martini, oh my, sure. Shawn and I each actually favored our meal right here and would eat there once more! We ordered two desserts [oops, we accidentally did this every night] they usually have been so good.
- Wonderland – Discuss an expertise. If you happen to’re in search of a eating expertise not like something you’ve ever encountered, that is positively one thing to attempt. It’s based mostly out of Alice in Wonderland [complete with the Mad Hatter who comes around and talks to you] with meals ready in a approach you’ve most definitely by no means had. I’ll say, it’s odd consuming issues that you simply aren’t completely positive what it’s, nonetheless, every part tasted good! I don’t assume we might pay to eat right here once more simply because we’ve skilled it as soon as, however would advocate in order for you one thing completely distinctive!
- Hooked – This was Shawn’s favourite meal of the journey and my second favourite [aka, we loved it]. The nautical vibe of the restaurant was proper down my alley and whereas it’s a seafood restaurant, the rooster I ordered was excellent [don’t worry – Shawn had seafood and loved it]! The macaroni and cheese was so good and the Boston Creme Pie was scrumptious for dessert!
- Izumi – That is the hibachi / sushi restaurant! The most effective a part of the meal was our chef on the hibachi desk who made it so entertaining and enjoyable! The meals was good, nonetheless, the value per individual to eat right here is sort of excessive I felt like. I don’t imagine we might select to eat once more at Izumi until we simply did the sushi, as we have now native hibachi locations we like simply as a lot!
- Bottomless Galley Brunch – We additionally opted to e book this brunch one morning as it is a approach to enter the Galley and see behind the scenes within the kitchen space and be taught extra about how they serve meals to hundreds of individuals each week. It ends with a brunch and bottomless mimosas. A enjoyable approach to see components of the ship not everyone else does! ps. Pack closed toe footwear for this!
Formal Nights Be aware: There have been two formal nights on our 7-night cruise. I really feel prefer it’s actually as much as you ways fancy [or not] you need to get. All of us ladies in our household wore a costume and the fellows wore a button up shirt and both pants or shorts! You’ll be able to see extra on outfits right here!
When cruising, alcohol, pop and bottled water sometimes isn’t included in your value. They do supply drink packages that you would be able to buy at a reduction both prematurely or on the primary day of the cruise. We opted to easily do the Refreshment Bundle [and only I did this] to have the ability to get pop, bottled water, smoothies, espresso drinks from Starbucks, and so on! I truthfully don’t know if we have been cash forward or to not purchase the bundle – we simply didn’t eat a ton of something beverage clever it appeared [outside of bottled water], so it actually simply will depend on whether or not or not you assume you’ll be consuming and the way a lot on if it’s price it or not! Enjoyable truth: You’re allowed to carry 2 bottles of wine on the ship [I believe this is per person]! Convey your individual wine opener to keep away from an uncorking price!
All the exhibits are free, which is very nice — I’ll say, the Surprise of the Seas leisure was not as good as a few of the different Royal Caribbean ships we’ve been on! We did e book every part prematurely for all the group, but additionally discovered as soon as on the ship that in case you are a set visitor, you don’t have to order and also you merely present up 20 minutes prior to indicate time, they usually have a reserved part for suite visitors solely!
- InTense – That is the Aquatheater present and the perfect present of the cruise! Completely see this!
- 365 Seasons – Ice Skating Present, all of us loved this!
- Voices – We needed to go away due to Crew’s bedtime, nonetheless, my household actually loved this!
- The Effectors II: Crash ‘n’ Burn – None of us actually acquired into this one!
- Comedy Present, e book prematurely
- Love & Marriage Recreation Present [this is so funny]
- Quest Recreation Present [adult only scavenger hunt, also hilarious]
- Battle of the Sexes Recreation Present
- Stay music on the Pub
- Silent Dance Social gathering [my sister’s family attended and had so much fun!]
- Film Nights [a couple of the nights they will play movies either outside at the Aqua Theater or inside the Royal theater – while we didn’t go, it’s a relaxing evening activity you can partake in!]
Central Park was our favourite “neighborhood” on the ship – it’s so peaceable and stress-free and a terrific place to take heed to stay music earlier than or after dinner!
The Royal Promenade – plenty of bars, eating places and retailers right here!
Adults Solely Solarium
one in every of my a number of pool areas
Except for the entire exhibits, bars / lounges, eating places, there are a ton of different issues you are able to do to remain entertained whereas on board. Listed below are a few of these issues….
- Swimming pools & Sizzling Tubs – There are a number of smaller swimming pools and a ton of scorching tubs on the ship! I’ve had a number of folks ask about if it’s a must to mark your spot on a chair early as a way to get one and I’d say so long as you have been out by 9-10 am you ought to be okay! By the afternoon, it was packed. On the suite deck, you may go up anytime and simply discover a spot! The Adults Solely Solarium is a enjoyable spot with a small pool, scorching tubs and bar that additionally has a ton of chairs to put out on!
- Splash Pads For Youthful Children – Any little one that’s nonetheless in diapers and never potty educated isn’t allowed within the swimming pools, nonetheless, the splash pad was a terrific spot to chill off and hold with Crew! He beloved it!
- On line casino
- Buying
- BINGO
- Spa
- Health Middle
- Waterslides
- Zip Line
- Flowrider Browsing
- Mini Golf / Basketball / Pickleball / Ping Pong
- Arcade
- Carousel
I might go on for this, so as a substitute of together with ALL of that proper right here – I’ll merely allow you to click on right here to see ALL of the outfits that I packed and what I’d advocate for taking with you!
I’ve acquired plenty of questions on whether or not children are allowed on this ship and/or within the suite areas. The reply to each of these is sure! Royal Caribbean has a childcare program, Journey Ocean, from 6:30 am – 10 pm that solely expenses $6 per hour per little one for childcare. They do actions with the youngsters all day and maintain them entertained. We did register Crew, nonetheless, we by no means ended up taking him [perks of traveling with family ;)]! We did be taught that within the 6-36 month outdated class they restrict the # of kids to six and there are 2 caretakers always! The older children appeared to find it irresistible from what I might see! There are additionally simply so many issues for youths to do on the boat, that they shouldn’t have an issue being entertained!
Childcare Room for 6-36 months
A couple of extra ideas for touring with kids:
- Kids who aren’t potty educated usually are not allowed in the principle swimming pools, nonetheless, they do have age-appropriate splash pads for the kiddos to play and get moist in, which was excellent for us to remain cool!
- We did pack a light-weight stroller to tote him across the ship, together with a stroller fan as a result of it was scorching!
- We had room service ship entire milk to our room each night, that approach we have been all the time stocked!
- Be aware on the fridge in your room: We had learn that they didn’t keep very chilly, so we did request a small medical cooler to place our milk in to make sure it stayed cool sufficient!
- There’s a free carousel on the Boardwalk — Crew beloved happening this!
There are such a lot of issues for youths of all ages to do — they do supply childcare [at the same $6/hr rate] as much as age 17 with totally different actions and enjoyable areas, age-appropriate! Exterior of that, listed here are a number of different issues [there were many more!] that saved my nieces and nephew entertained [ranging from ages 9-17!]:
the arcade — you do pay to play!
water slides + common slides – so enjoyable!
Zip Lining
Browsing
WiFi: Sure, you possibly can have wifi on the ship! This got here free of charge with our room, nonetheless, you probably have a room that doesn’t supply this free of charge, you should purchase it per day or for the week! The wifi labored nice on my telephone however was a bit of slower on my laptop computer. We did all the time flip our telephones onto airplane mode when at sea to keep away from roaming expenses [you can still text via iMessage with airplane mode on and can also use WiFi].
Movement Illness: Our seas have been very calm throughout our crusing, nonetheless, I might minimally really feel the ship shifting one night. We did take non-drowsy Dramamine with us and took it the primary day as a preventative to keep away from something, however neither of us ever felt sick from the movement. Understand that these ships are very massive so that you don’t discover the motion all an excessive amount of.
Avoiding Germs: There are hand sanitizing stations EVERYWHERE. Additionally, when consuming in the principle eating rooms or any buffet model restaurant, it’s required to clean your fingers first [they have hand washing stations as you walk into the restaurants]. I additionally packed sanitizing hand wipes to make use of often and to wipe off our telephones. The ship was immaculate and I used to be by no means frightened about choosing up a illness from anyone!
Gratuities: Gratuities are charged to you every day [$14.50 – $17.50 per person per day depending on your room type] which you’ll be able to both pre-pay earlier than your cruise or on the finish after they add it to your folio. Tipping past that is elective. We did discover ourselves tipping our bartender that we ordered from day-after-day after which wait employees within the night if we thought they did a terrific job. We additionally left an additional tip for our housekeeper [they clean your room twice a day] however once more, that is completely elective and as much as you!
Total Price: Whereas I don’t assume it’s helpful to provide you an actual value of our journey because it’s going to be totally different for everyone [sailing dates, cruising itinerary, room type, shore excursions, dining and beverage packages, etc will all vary] this was one in every of our dearer holidays [by the time it was all said and done with flights, hotel the night before, suite room, dining and drinks, gratuities, etc]. You’ll be able to completely make cruising as reasonably priced or as expensive as you need, it’s completely as much as you!
If there are questions that I didn’t reply, ask away and I’m completely happy to assist! Total, we beloved each second and are so grateful for our time away collectively! Who’s able to set sail now? Prepared, set, GO!
