First Cruise of 2026 – Day 1

After a decent night’s sleep and a breakfast that didn’t require me to cook (already winning), we wrangled our luggage, checked out, and headed to the shuttle area. The hotel works with a shuttle service, and honestly, I’m not sure they could have made it easier.

Since the hotel is practically neighbors with the port, we were parked, luggage dropped off with the porters, and walking into the terminal in about 10–15 minutes. Stress-free… well, as stress-free as it gets when you have a 4-year-old who thinks “stay with the group” is just a suggestion.

We zigzagged through security, chatting with the couple behind us like we were all old friends. The Chicago Bears t-shirt he was wearing started the conversation. The line moved quickly, and before we knew it, we were checked in and on board. The whole process? Maybe 20 minutes. I’ve waited longer in a fast food drive thru.

Next up: the muster drill. Back in the day, this meant wearing life jackets and standing in rows like awkward penguins. Now? Two minutes of instructions and you’re free to go live your best cruise life. Progress, people!

After that, we headed to Adventure Ocean to register the kids and let them scope out their new playground. Then… lunch time!

This was our 12th cruise, and in the past, we’d hit the Windjammer buffet like everyone else—along with four thousand, give or take a couple thousand other hungry humans. Finding a seat there is like playing musical chairs who seem oblivious to how the game is played. So lately, we’ve been skipping the chaos and opting for other spots. This time, we went to Park Café in Central Park. Yes, the ship has an actual Central Park with trees and plants. It’s like cruising meets nature documentary. Typically, there aren’t birds on the ships in Central Park, but this ship managed to get a stow away who seems very content to continue sailing.

Park Café is perfect for a light lunch—sandwiches, wraps, salads, desserts. Chill vibes, no elbow wars for a table. Highly recommend. Just wish I would have born a photo of the actual cafe.

We’ve also learned to pick a boarding time closer to when staterooms are ready. No more dragging carry-ons around like lost tourists. This way, we board, eat, and head straight to the room. Tired kids (and adults) can nap before the evening fun. Genius move.

With hubby and the youngest snoozing, the girls and I explored the ship. I usually love taking pictures of the art onboard, but this time I barely did—except for one piece that caught my eye.

We also hit the Boardwalk, where there’s a carousel. Two of the kids were thrilled. One may have gone around enough times to qualify for frequent rider status.

After exploring, it was time for my splurge: a mani/pedi at the spa. I really do try to get my nails done before the cruise, but this time the salon at home was booked solid and I do enjoy the ambience on board . So, spa it was! Fun surprise—I knew my nail tech from a previous cruise on Navigator of the Seas. Small world! I love hearing about the crew’s life onboard and their adventures between contracts, so this was a treat.

With nails done, we headed back to get the kids ready for dinner at the Windjammer. They love the buffet—so many choices, and they always find something they like.

After dropping them at Adventure Ocean for kid fun, we headed to our dinner at the Royal Railway. This is a specialty dining experience unique to this ship. Think old west vibes, boarding passes, cherry tea, and a full-on show while you eat. The crew was amazing—acting out a story with sheriffs, bandits, and a simulated train ride on screens at each table.