Adventure of the Seas – Nassau July2025

On the last day of our cruise on RCCL’s Adventure of the Seas, we did the Island Food and Culinary Insight Tour in Nassau, Bahamas. We had a VERY long walk down the pier in Nassau before reaching the exit. Plenty of shops are around the dock but the town’s main street and native marketplace are within an easy walk. There is a tram available for disabled folks that goes to the ship. Our ship, Adventure of the Seas, docked at the farthest berth.

Our first stop on the cruise line’s Island Food and Culinary Insight Tour shore excursion in Nassau was a coffee house where we tasted Guava Duff along with a paper cup full of iced lemon ginger tea. The guava duff was a doughy mixture with guava fruit inside and served with a vanilla rum sauce. It was tasty, but the shop had standing room only which made maneuvering difficult. Regular customers had to jostle their way through the crowd to give take-out orders at the counter. It was uncomfortable and not helped that the driver/guide only gave our head count of 26 guests after we entered. So we stood around, squashed like sardines, for fifteen minutes or so while he told stories.

Stop number two was a tea shop where we heard a brief lecture on the benefits of their herbal teas. You could buy a box with ten teabags for $16.00. A steal, right? This air-conditioned shop also had coffee beans, shot glasses and other souvenirs for sale but it seemed pricey to me. I passed up this golden opportunity to meander outside, where we could taste mixed rum drinks for free. I liked this portion and even bought a couple of small ready-made bottles to bring home. Down a slight hill in the rear, you could also taste spicy conch salad. Across the street were some interesting buildings, and our drive to the next shop took us through the town.

On stop number three, we sat outside at a café where there wasn’t enough seating for everyone, and it was mid-July and hot. Eventually, the server brought us a plate of 4 conch fritters covered in sauce, and no forks or napkins. Ann Meier and I shared the food and were grateful when someone brought around paper towels for us to wipe our sticky fingers and a green spiked Independence Day drink, as Nassau residents were celebrating that holiday. Although the area was covered and had ceiling fans, the tables didn’t accommodate everyone on the tour. The food was good, albeit messy. They could have been better organized bringing everything out at once.

For stop four, we drove by the water and a bunch of fishing boats toward a section with one food shack after another. We went inside at our place and found seats at a counter facing the harbor. Others squeezed into chairs at very narrow tables. Here we received a platter with two fried snapper fingers, potato salad and Cole slaw, and beans and rice. We had a choice of a lemony soda or beer. It was a good meal that we might have enjoyed more if not so crammed into the room. Our stomachs satisfied, we headed back to the ship huffing and puffing in the heat as we walked down the long pier.

Dinner was a welcome retreat at the elegant Chop’s Steakhouse specialty restaurant. I dined on jumbo shrimp cocktail, petite filet mignon, and Key lime pie for my meal. It was a delightful end to a wonderful cruise.

It’s always good to arrive home, unpack, and relax while already making plans for the next voyage. My only regret from this one was that I brought home an unexpected souvenir. I figured I’d caught a mild cold with some nasal congestion, but home test results for Covid came back positive. Meanwhile, these pictures bring back happy memories. Onward to the next cruise!

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Embarkation
Coco Cay
Jamaica

Adventure of the Seas – Jamaica July2025

After a day at sea on our Caribbean cruise, we made for the port of Falmouth, Jamaica on RCCL’s Adventure of the Seas. I’d attended the Port Talk on the ship, which was a waste of time. The first 50 minutes were devoted to commercials for the shipboard shops. Only the last ten minutes showed any mention of the ports. You can pick up a port map instead on the Promenade Deck.

At the port, shops are plentiful past the terminal, along with a native market and a restaurant, so you needn’t go any further if this is all that interests you. We did the ship tour, Hampden Rum Experience with Lunch. Be aware this tour requires closed-toe shoes and you have to wear helmets as provided.

Our small group of eight boarded an air-conditioned van and bumped along a pock-marked road into the country. Potholes consumed the worn asphalt so that our driver was forced to crawl along the two-lane road at a turtle’s pace to avoid the larger holes while dipping in and out of the rest. This ride is not for anyone pregnant, with neck or back problems, or who is prone to motion-sickness. Our guide gave a running commentary about the country that helped pass the time as we viewed the tropical foliage and villages along the way.

It took us about 45 minutes before we arrived at Hampden Estate, established in 1753.

We were greeted at the entrance by a local tour guide who gave us a welcome drink. Lush shrubbery and leafy trees shaded a compound of stone and wood buildings at the adjacent distillery. The main house sat amidst fields of sugar cane. Flowering royal poinciana trees, twisty vines, pod-like birds of paradise, gnarled trees, and colorful bougainvillea graced the estate.

Walking across the grounds, we reached the distillery for an insider tour of the vast premises. This being July, it was extremely hot, and I was glad I’d worn my rechargeable neck fan. We saw the equipment and processes that had been practiced for decades and felt bad for the early laborers who’d had to work there.

With gratitude, we reentered the shady patio at the reception area. Inside a tasting room, we were given pure rum shots that sent me coughing and choking. Too strong for me. A small gift shop had items for purchase inside. Next we sat at tables outdoors where we were served jerk chicken (sauce on the side, and it was very spicy) and festival bread, a sweet doughy treat. I think we each got a cup of water to go with it. Then we began the long and bumpy ride back to the ship, but at least the van was air-conditioned.

We shopped around the terminal and then headed back to our cabins for a rest. Dinner tonight was an Italian theme, so I had minestrone soup, mushroom risotto, and tiramisu.

Coming Next: Nassau Island Food Tour

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Embarkation

Coco Cay

Adventure of the Seas – Coco Cay July2025

Sunday, July 6, 2025 – We began Day Two of our cruise on RCCL’s Adventure of the Seas with a sumptuous breakfast in the Windjammer Café after being greeted by the Washy-Washy lady. The buffet had all my favorites – scrambled or fried eggs, omelets, toast or bagels, smoked salmon, bacon and sausages, triangular hash browns, fresh fruit, pancakes and waffles, and a variety of muffins and pastries.

Our stomachs satisfied, we explored the pool deck and the solarium, where we hung out in deck chairs facing the ocean. Above the pool deck is the jogging track, water slides, miniature golf, and other sports for active cruisers. Our morning walk also had us hunting for ducks, a popular pastime on Caribbean cruise ships. I give my finds to my grandson. You really need an eagle eye to spot them.

We disembarked at Coco Cay and headed to a tranquil beach past the native marketplace but near a tram stop, bar, restroom and barbecue lunch area. Coco Cay has a huge array of amenities including a water park, a toddler splash pad, various beaches, a glistening pool, plus free lounge chairs with umbrellas and plenty of shade, if that’s your preference. I buy inexpensive water shoes at Walmart and toss them out when I get back to the ship. They get full of sand and are impossible to clean, but they are great for walking around the island. Also, there’s a towel station on Coco Cay in case you forgot to bring a beach towel from the ship.

After a cheeseburger and fries for lunch, we headed back to the ship. The rum punch I’d drunk on the island had given me a punch and I needed to rest after a shower and change of clothes. That evening, Ann Meier and I went to Giovanni’s on Deck 12. It’s an upscale Italian restaurant where I had a very tender braised lamb shank with polenta. Delicious meal.

We walked off our dinner inside the Promenade on Deck 5 where we browsed the shops and glanced at the pub. This is also where you can get snacks or pizza all day in the Promenade Café. The Japanese sushi restaurant is located here as well. At one end is the Imperial Lounge where we listened to a live Caribbean band for a short time. This lounge highlights the Asian art works that are present throughout the ship.

Our last event of the day was the spectacular ice show. This is always one of the best entertainment productions, and we were captivated by the costumes and performers.

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Adventure of the Seas – Embarkation July2025

Saturday, July 5, 2025 – Day One of our cruise on board RCCL’s Adventure of the Seas began with a glimpse of the ship as we approached Terminal 5 at Cape Canaveral. After drop-off, we entered the building where we passed through security and checked in at a designated counter. From there, we climbed up a very long, winding ramp onto the ship, where we were directed to our muster station on the same deck. There we merely showed our boarding pass to be scanned and were free to go.

Inside we encountered a food manager and made our specialty dining reservations. Then we proceeded to Deck 12 and the Windjammer Café. Handwash stations line the entrance where guests are greeted by the “Washy-Washy” person.

For lunch, I chose barbecue chicken, spinach salad, fried rice, roasted acorn squash and mini carrot cake.

At 1:00pm, our cabins were ready so we proceeded to unpack. We enjoyed sailaway from Deck 14 in the Blue Moon Lounge overlooking the main pool and the ocean. This is near the Crown Lounge, which offers Diamond members and above appetizers.at 4:30.

Dinner in the Main Dining Room enticed me with shrimp cocktail, prime ribs, Caesar salad, and a chocolate crème brulée with vanilla ice cream on the side.