Bob and I couldn’t resist the view this morning so we went to the cafe and grabbed a cup of coffee (Bob got his hot tea) and went out on the deck of the hotel just soaking it all in. It was a wonderful way to start the day. We had about an hour before meeting the gang at the cafe for breakfast at 9:00. 


After breakfast we retired to our respective rooms and repacked, excited to meet back up in the lobby to go check in on the ship around noon. Check in was unbelieveably easy and quick, even though initially it looked like it could be a nightmare. Our only glitch in the process was finding out that the duty free shop no longer had our Orange Truffle Baileys we love. It was a sad, sad moment – even for Cari because she had her hopes up as high as ours, fingers crossed that we’d be able to get a bottle back to her too. We did pick up a couple of bottles of wine though. Incredibly, I even had cell service this year in San Juan so I had been able to text while in the city. Guess they must’ve updated their cell towers because I’d never had cell service before even though Verizon told me I would.

By the time we got on the ship, believe it or not, it was time to eat again!!! We knew the only thing open would be the buffet so that’s where we headed. The ship looked good even though it’s nearing 20 years old. Its decor is very different from the Celebrity Summit (which is the only other ship we’ve been on). Adventure of the Seas  is close to the same size in length but quite a few decks taller and wider. It didn’t seem that much bigger to us though. The lunch buffet was ok. Some parts better than others. None of it was worth writing home about.


When we finished we mosied around the ship just exploring to see where everything was. DE had watched a million YouTube videos so he was our official guide and encyclopedia whenever there wa a question. There are several pools, one of them being 16 and over which was a plus. Not sure how much we’ll use it but it’s nice to know it’s there. We do have two sea days on this cruise so who knows. Bob and I decided to check our cabin around 2:00 to see if it was ready and was pleasantly surprised! Luggage wasn’t there yet but our room was ready so we could stash what we had carried on board and have a lighter load to keep exploring. Luggage was starting to appear so we figured it wouldn’t be too long before it showed up. Sure enough an hour or so later we were unpacking and getting comfortable. Before we knew it, it was time to change and get ready for the 5:45 Muster Drill – fun, fun.

After that fun time was over we went up top to the Pool Bar, got a drink (mmmm my first Mojito of the cruise). On the way to Deck 11 we passed the MDR (Main Dining Room) and the crowd was pretty scary. The Wind Jammer (Buffet) on Deck 11 was closed too. Guess that didn’t open until 6:30. I thought cruise ship buffets were pretty much open 24/7. Weird. DE and Sarah found us and we just enjoyed the warm air and watching the skies darken. At some point during the bantering Bob told DE he was gonna give him a tip (on what I have no clue) an DE came right back with he was gonna give him a tip because he couldn’t take the whole thing – whatever that was. Maybe you had to be there. It was pretty funny at the tine.

Figuring it was safer to try getting a table in the MDR by now, we headed down stairs. We still had to wait for a table for 6 but not too long. After what we had read online and heard from others our expectations for the food was pretty low. So far those expectations have not been raised. The food was okay (except Sarah’s, she said her chicken was really good). The rest, and we all got something different, was pretty much okay. Bob, DE and I wouldn’t order what we got again (Bob and DE got the fish and I ordered the pork loin). Our drink server, Shawn, however was amazing. Not so much on picking a wine to go with our dinner (he’s not a sommelier) but just in personality. He figured out pretty quickly he could have fun with us. I’m sure we’ll see him again.

We tried to go back up top again after dinner, but it was so dang windy it about blew us off so we nixed that pretty quickly. It was around 10pm by now and we were about done anyway. I wanted to go to the buffet and fill my water bottle up with ice and water and get some milk for my vitamins. Would you believe the buffet was flippin closed? What? How could that be? Everything I’ve ever heard about cruise ships and food is that there is food 24/7, but yet this buffet has breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. The dinner hour is over at 9:00. What. The. Bloody. Hell. I just don’t get it. Once again, we got on the elevators to go from deck 11 to the Cafe Promenade on deck 5 to see if we could get ice water and milk. It was difficult! We did eventually make do but now know what we have to do for tomorrow night. Good grief!

Oh we met Janice, our room steward. She seems to be very nice, a lot of fun and attentive. I’m sure she’s gonna take good care of us.

We have an early morning tomorrow. We have to be at the end of the pier at 8:50 to meet our group for a snorkel and sail excursion. After hearing the captain say it was going to be mostly cloudy with winds 20mph and 4′ seas tomorrow we aren’t quite as excited as we were. Crossing our fingers it’s going to be better than it sounds. So we’ll be up and out early on deck for coffee and a bite to eat before heading down to the pier. Praying for better weather than predicted!

Tata for now!