Utopia of the Seas 2024 Coco Cay

Day Three of our 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas was a beach day on beautiful Coco Cay in the Bahamas. After a bountiful breakfast, we headed off the ship, our skin slathered in sunscreen and our faces shielded by hats. A sign welcomed us to this tropical paradise.

Near the entrance was a faux pirate ship that’s fun for kids. After a brief stop here, we continued down a shady lane lined with tropical foliage. Multiple beaches, playgrounds, and water slides abound throughout this island. You can even take a hot air balloon ride. We stopped at a splash pad water park that was fun for our 4-year-old grandson. I didn’t mind a dip under a sprinkle myself.

Then we settled in at Harbor Beach, a lagoon with a view of the ships in dock. While my family went in the water, I meandered further down the path. I browsed through the huts of the native market that had the same hats, clothing, water gear, souvenirs and trinkets as the Straw Market in Nassau. Then I got a Rum Punch at a tiki bar.

Back at Harbor Beach, I relaxed on a lounge chair. Most of the chairs came with umbrellas which was a nice touch. You just picked a chair and sat. When it got too hot, I went partially into the water to cool off. I was glad I’d worn water shoes that I had just bought at Target. The water in August was very warm. Aside from the lagoon, you could choose a beach that’s ocean-side or one at a secluded adults-only retreat.

The kids wanted to swim at the pool so we left our beachside perch and found a giant freeform pool a short walk away. There’s even a bar you can access from the pool. It was nice that you could just walk into the water. It stayed shallow for a distance so was very easy for our grandson. The pool is a nice option for people who don’t want to risk sea lice or jellyfish in the ocean.

Lunchtime brought us to the nearest dining venue, one of several scattered throughout the island. We indulged in hot dogs, burgers, barbecued chicken, salads, fruit and cookies.

We encountered some of the native wildlife including chickens and iguanas. Fortunately, we weren’t accosted by any no-see-ums or mosquitoes. After lunch, we eyed a series of approaching clouds with trepidation. This being rainy season, afternoon showers were common. We were already hot and sticky and yearning for the air-conditioned comfort of our cabins. Back aboard we went, diving into our showers to get clean. Then it was time for a rest.

Dinner was Shrimp in Garlic Sauce and Blueberry Crumble for dessert.

That night, we attended the ice-skating show. It amazes me how they can do these performances on a moving ship, although we hardly felt any motion at all on this voyage.

The day for me ended with a drink at the Schooner Bar. I’d missed the piano player, so it was a fairly quiet atmosphere. Sadly, our trip would come to an end in the morning.

I wanted more time on board to explore other venues and try some of the specialty restaurants. And so, after I told a friend about how much I enjoyed this cruise, we booked a 7-night adventure on Wonder of the Seas for the fall. It should be less hot then, and this would go to the Eastern Caribbean plus Coco Cay so I’d get to explore more of the island. The best remedy for post-cruise blues is to book another one. As for our grandson, he’s eager for his next cruise. What impressed him the most about our trip? “The ducks,” was his response.

And so ends our sojourn on Utopia of the Seas.

Tell me, did you enjoy these posts? I like doing journal entries to share with my readers, but it does take time away from writing the next book. Recently I read that blogs were passe. If true, should I call it quits, keep posting about my life experiences, or change my focus to writing topics only? LEAVE A COMMENT with your response and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a hardcover copy of Shear Murder, my wedding mystery. This story follows Killer Knots, where Marla and her fiance find murder on a cruise ship. Now they’re ready to tie the knot for real.

Utopia of the Seas 2024 Day Two

Back onboard Utopia of the Seas after lunch in Nassau on Day Two of our 3-night trip, we had a brief rest in our cabins before exploring Central Park on Deck 8. We searched for rubber ducks, evidently a Big Thing on cruises, and only found one hiding in the shrubbery by the Solarium. Some kind ladies gave Caleb ducks during the voyage so he went home happy.

Central Park has a number of specialty restaurants, the Rising Tide bar that goes up and down the center of the ship, a café with complimentary food, and concerts in the evening when you can catch the musicians there. The greenery offers a peaceful interlude in the midst of sensory overload.

Dinner on the second night for me was a Mediterranean appetizer, shrimp cocktail, braised lamb shank, a peach dessert and crème brulée. Yes, I ate two desserts. Why not?

Satisfied with our meals, we headed to All In! Production Show with singers and dancers. What stood out from my previous 30+ cruises were the special effects. Utopia of the Seas is a brand-new ship and it showed in the technology. From doors that open at a wave to ship-wide WiFi that allows you to text your companions, the level of technology was impressive. This show used it to greater heights. Lasers provided illuminations such as I hadn’t seen before, and drones circled the stage with twinkling lights. This event truly dazzled the senses.

Coming Next: Coco Cay

Utopia of the Seas 2024 Nassau

On Day Two of our 3-night voyage on Utopia of the Seas, we visited the Port of Nassau. Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. Once a pirate haven, today the islands are a popular tourist destination. The tropical weather and natural wonders bring in many visitors. Since I’d been here before, I didn’t need to take a tour to see the forts, the government buildings, or other attractions.

But first, I indulged in a hearty breakfast on the ship. Ms. Washy Washy greeted us and steered us to the row of sinks in front of the Windjammer Café. Breakfast is my favorite meal on a cruise. Look at all these delights! They had every one of my favorite dishes. You could have fresh omelets made, too, although I opted for either a ready-made omelet slice or a prepared fried egg.

We exited the ship to walk down a long concrete pier straight into downtown. There are some shops right outside the port and more on Bay Street. We crossed over to the Straw Market and jostled our way through the crowded stalls. As I learned later, you can buy much the same goods on Coco Cay at their native market.

We stopped at Senor Frog’s for lunch. Here I couldn’t resist ordering a Bahama Mama. We shared a platter of nachos with cheese. The appetizer portion was enough for all four of us. This venue is very noisy but upbeat and cheerful. If you want a quieter location, go outside to the bar in the back that extends over the water.

I love the color of the sea in the Bahamas. Its turquoise clarity lets you see clear to the bottom.

Coming Next: Day Two Afternoon

Utopia of the Seas 2024 – AquaTheater

We ate in the Main Dining Room early seating on Utopia of the Seas for dinner each night. Our server was excellent, being prompt with the menus and the food and making paper origami designs for my grandson.

For this first night, I chose a crab cake appetizer, prime ribs and this yummy chocolate dessert.

After dinner, we strolled along the Promenade on Deck 5, noting the bars and shops and the band playing. My favorite lounge here was the Pesky Parrot. I tried their version of the Painkiller. I’m not a fan of frozen drinks in general and this one did nothing to change my opinion.

The AquaTheater show was amazing. High dives from way above into a small pool below astounded us. Diving, acrobatics, loud music, and colored lighting all came together into a spectacular show.

Coming Next: Nassau, Bahamas

Utopia of the Seas 2024 – Sailaway

The pool deck on Day One of our 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas was lively, with bodies crowding the lounge chairs and music thumping at the two pool areas. We saw a food truck that offered wrapped snacks later in the voyage and free soft ice cream at a dispensary called Sprinkles.

At the far end Forward was the Solarium, a quiet area with a clear roof for adults only. This has its own bistro as well. I didn’t have any difficulty finding a chair in the Solarium during the cruise.

Up on Deck 16 were the basketball court, miniature golf, slides, wave rider, and zipline. Also, there’s a Mexican eatery here to quench your appetite. This food is complimentary.

Then we went to watch the sailaway at a good vantage point on Deck 16. Glass windows were all around. If you want to find an outside jogging track, it’s on a lower deck.

It always gives me a thrill to watch the last strip of land go past and to head out to sea. This time was no exception. Our grandson was awed at being on a ship sailing on the ocean.

Time grew short, and we had to go to the Main Dining Room for dinner at 5 pm.

Coming Next: Evening Activities on Day One

Utopia of the Seas 2024 – Embarkation

Day 1 – Embarkation

Embarkation for our cruise on RCCL’s Utopia of the Seas went smoothly at Port Canaveral. We parked in the adjacent garage. You take a ticket and pay as you enter. Then you scan the ticket at departure. The terminal was crowded at 11:30, which was our allotted time to board. I was traveling with my daughter and her family. Our grandson did a great job of managing his own luggage.

We showed our boarding pass and passport to the proper personnel and went right onto the ship. On board, we were told our rooms wouldn’t be ready until 1:00 pm. On Deck 5, we crossed the Promenade to the aft end of the ship.

We took an elevator to Deck 15 and the Windjammer Café for lunch. The buffet was mobbed as everyone congregated here along with their carry-on luggage. The lunch buffet offered lobster tails and shrimp cocktail, salads, deli meats, hot dishes, and an Asian section among others.

Our grandson was goggle-eyed by everything, including the pool deck that we crossed to access our rooms Forward on the Starboard side of the ship.

We each had balcony staterooms on Deck 7. The room key cards were outside the door. In the room, I put the card in a slot and the lights went on. Beside the bed, my stateroom had a couch and a small desk, a bureau with a mini-fridge, two closets, and some shelving in the bathroom. The shower was circular with a glass door. The shower gel/shampoo came out easily from the dispenser. One bar of soap was provided for washing hands. I was glad I’d brought extra supplies including lotion. Out on the balcony past the sliding glass door were two chairs and small table. You can easily hear your neighbors talking next door when outside, but the cabin was relatively quiet.

We unpacked and did the safety drill, which consisted of watching a video on our phones and proceeding to check in at our Muster Station. That done, we returned to the pool deck to watch the sailaway.

Coming Next – Day 1 Sailaway

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

If you enjoy visiting historical sites, you’ll relish this one. The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum was established in 1887 and is considered a National Historic Landmark. All the dwellings and support buildings remain intact. Located between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral, Mosquito (now Ponce) Inlet was the recommended choice of the U.S. Lighthouse Board. The tower is built from bricks and stands 175 feet tall.

Note the twisty spiral steps that lead up the tower. No way was I climbing those stairs!

These other buildings are where the lighthouse keeper and his assistants lived with their families. They had to be self-sufficient, and it could not have been an easy life.

The gift shop has a wide variety of items for sale including souvenirs, toys, books, jewelry and more. It’s a fun stop on your way out. We capped off our visit with lunch at Off the Hook in Ponce Inlet. Read more about that meal and other culinary adventures from our trip HERE.

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Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens

Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens is a hidden gem in Central Florida worthy of a visit. It’s a botanical garden with an old sugar mill ruin offering a fascinating glimpse into our state’s history.

On our second day staying at New Smyrna Beach, we started out with a beach walk. We parked in a twenty-dollar lot overlooking the water. Nearby were restrooms, picnic tables, and covered benches if you didn’t bring a chair and need somewhere to sit. We kicked off our shoes and let the seawater slosh over our bared feet as we strolled along the shoreline. The seashells were tiny but colorful. I noted an absence of seaweed and driftwood on this stretch. While the sand here isn’t as powdery white as on Florida’s west coast, the beach was clean. By the time we turned back, we were craving air-conditioned comfort for the rest of the day.

Our next stop was the Marine Discovery Center. It has a cute gift shop, classrooms, and a mini aquarium. I had fun looking at the fish and buying toys for my grandson. There was a group of kids here for summer camp. From here, you can book a boat or kayak ecotour adventure.

Next, we set out to discover Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, located between New Smyrna Beach and Daytona. After about a twenty-minute drive, we pulled up to this hidden gem. Surrounded by lush greenery, this historical site had once been a theme park called Bongoland. We walked the paths, admiring the flowering plants and tall trees while a grasshopper drew our curious gaze.

Then we came to the old sugar mill. I’ve seen such ruins before, but these were quite intact by comparison. We observed the giant cauldrons where the sugar was boiled and then the other machinery left over from this era. In my book Dead Roots, I had a sugar mill ruin at a plantation resort. For that story, I visited the Gamble Plantation Historic State Park in Ellenton, FL which housed another former plantation and sugar mill.

Coming Next: Ponce Inlet Light Station & Museum

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Dining at New Smyrna Beach

New Smyrna Beach has many tempting restaurants, so many that we tried two different ones each evening of our two-night stay. When we arrived in town, we began our culinary adventures at the Third Wave Café & Wine Bar where I got a Chicken Salad Sandwich. I didn’t want to overeat so that we could enjoy a meal later that day at the famed restaurant, The Garlic.

I loved the décor at The Garlic with its lush greenery, sparkling lights, and warren of rooms. We started with a Caesar Salad that I thought was too bland. The dressing had no tang to it and all I tasted was the lettuce. I’ve had better elsewhere. I liked the roasted garlic dip with olive oil and balsamic vinegar that came with warm, crusty bread. It was a unique idea, although some of the baked garlic clumped together. Next, we ordered the Shrimp and Scallop Scampi but with shrimp only. This came with a delicious sauce and chunks of garlic that pleased our palates. The portion was plenty to share.

For dessert, we headed down the street to Norwood Tree House Bar. Here I had a glass of Chardonnay and we shared their Blueberry Crumble that was a bit dense and more like blueberry cake. I’d expected a baked dessert with blueberries on the bottom and a crumbly top. Now satisfyingly full, we headed back to our hotel.

Thursday morning, we had breakfast at the Mermaid Café. I got the standard 2-egg breakfast with accompaniments. Thus fortified, we took a walk along the beach. Then we drove to Canal Street to see that shopping district, but it was very quiet. For lunch, we stopped at Outriggers Tiki Bar & Grille. I loved their menu and fish dishes but couldn’t eat so much for lunch, so I ordered the lighter Beet, Goat Cheese, and Walnut Salad. We enjoyed the view of the water from the outside deck. This place would be worthy of a return if I could take leftovers home or share a meal for dinner. The food fueled us to explore the Marine Discovery Center and the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens.

That night, we again split up our meal between two restaurants. First we had drinks along with a spinach and artichoke dip that came with a warm baguette at the Third Wave Café. I liked the tropical rum drink I’d ordered. After our starters, we headed to The Grille at Riverview attached to our hotel for dessert. I ordered Key Lime Pie and Sara had Warm Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream. I’d expected a slice of pie and got this entire round. Needless to say, I couldn’t waste it and asked the hotel clerk to put a leftover box in their fridge.

Breakfast the last day was once again at The Mermaid Café at Riverview. This time, we shared a Belgian Waffle with fresh strawberries and whipped cream and freshly baked Beignets. Before heading home, we went to the Ponce Inlet Light Station & Museum.

Then we lunched at Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor, which is a good choice if you’re in this area. We both had the fried shrimp basket.

This concludes our culinary adventures at New Smyrna Beach. Now I have to work on losing the weight I’d gained. Oh, and here’s one more place in town where we stopped to sample the wares:

Coming next are the special attractions we’d visited.

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Mini Vacay at New Smyrna Beach

New Smyrna Beach is a charming place to visit on Florida’s east coast. It’s about an hour’s drive from the northern end of Greater Orlando. We stayed at the Riverview Hotel at 103 Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach FL. It is located about a ten-minute walk from the beach past numerous quaint shops and restaurants. Established in 1885, this 18-room boutique hotel has actual keys for the doors and breakfast included at The Mermaid Café next door. The lobby, where coffee and tea are served 24 hours, has an ice machine, comfy seating, and a tempting gift shop. Be aware there are three stories and no elevator. Our room on the second floor had two queens as requested. The bedding was comfortable, although I would have preferred a plusher comforter than the thin one supplied. I got cold at night and had to take out a spare blanket from the closet. The a/c and ceiling fan controls were a bit tricky and I wasn’t able to lower the fan speed.

The bathroom came equipped with a stall shower instead of a tub, for which I was grateful. However, it would have been nice to have had a grab bar installed for added safety, and a glass door instead of a curtain. The toiletries included usable shower gel, shampoo and conditioner in the shower, and an array of lotion, bar soaps, and a shower cap by the sink.

What I missed most in the room was a mini-fridge. Without one, we couldn’t take home leftovers from any of the restaurants we visited. Thus, we either shared a plate or ate appetizers. While the front desk offered to put away our take home boxes in their refrigerator, it didn’t offer the same convenience. Otherwise, the hotel’s charming ambiance encourages you to relax. And if that’s not enough, you can sign up for pampering treatments at the adjacent spa.

If you prefer a chain hotel, I noticed a Hampton Inn, Best Western, and Springhill Suites by Marriott in the area plus other B&B establishments.

Walking east, we stopped by the beach to soak in the ocean view.

We decided to come back in the morning for a beach walk and to hunt for seashells.

Coming Next: Our Dining Adventures at New Smyrna Beach

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