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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Did you miss Day One- Embarkation of my cruise? If so, Go Here to catch up!

Wonder of the Seas 2024 – Coco Cay

Today we arrived at Coco Cay in the Bahamas after another amazing sunrise.

On the island, we browsed among the native craft market shops, sipped our favorite drinks (a rum punch for me), and lazed in a lounge chair while admiring the ocean view. This island has lots of attractions but Ann and I had been here before so no need to explore.

The barbecue lunch is always a treat. Not long after, we headed back to the ship to indulge in the air-conditioning.

Dinner tonight was in a specialty restaurant at Chops Grille. I had the goat cheese salad, the petite filet, and apple pie a la mode.

That night, we finally saw The Effectors II Crash ’N Burn Show. It was amazing. What impressed us was that it had an actual story. Four superheroes battled an evil villain who sought to capture them. Lasers and drones upped the intensity and added to the fun along with aerialists and the singers and dancers. This show was a great finale to our cruise.

I hope you’ve enjoyed vicariously sharing my adventures. Now it’s time to plan the next voyage!

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.

Coco Cay

The water in the Bahamas is a beautiful aqua, and I might have been tempted to go in except it was very windy when we tendered to Coco Cay on the third day of our cruise. RCCL’s private island is an oasis with native shops, a nature trail, small coves for snorkeling, and numerous beaches with lounge chairs already laid out.

We enjoyed the beach barbecue with chicken, ribs, burgers, hot dogs, and accompaniments. Somehow this food tastes better outside and when someone else cooks it.

I savor these private island stops both for the relaxation and the food. And don’t forget to order a Bahama Mama. You can’t visit these islands without drinking at least one. Or a Coco Loco, which they offered at Coco Cay. As the drink vendors said, “If you’re hot, see what I’ve got.”