Travel Diary: Royal Caribbean Cruise 2021

As I boarded the plane to Miami from Minneapolis I was filled with nerves and excitement to get on my first cruise since the COVID-19 pandemic started. I was so excited to get to see clear blue ocean water, relax on the ship, eat delicious food, and see some friendly faces. I was a little nervous about protocols, safety and what the experience would be like, but my excitement far outweighed any nerves I was feeling. I am a very experienced cruiser, I have been on over 20 cruises in my lifetime, but this was my first time on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Our itinerary included the Bahamas, A Perfect Day at Coco Cay with a day at sea in between, the perfect way to ease back into cruising.

Boarding the Cruise Ship

Check-in was done prior to our arrival and the health questionnaire was done within 24 hours of the cruise.  So once we landed, we headed straight to port as port check-in times were strictly enforced and you could only board during your scheduled arrival time. Once we entered the building, masks were required and you were given the option to show your vaccination card to get a purple wristband. The wristband was required to be worn throughout the entire cruise and indicated that you were vaccinated.  If you didn’t provide a vaccination card, you needed to show proof of your negative COVID test and were not given a purple wristband. From there we went upstairs and had our security picture taken, went through security, and got on the ship.

Onboard Cruise Ship Health & Safety Experience

Once onboard they immediately sent us to our muster station for a quick and private briefing and since we already checked in, our room keys were waiting outside our stateroom door. You could definitely tell they were taking the situation and protocols seriously, it felt very safe to me. Masks were required throughout the ship, for passengers and all of the staff. And there was hand sanitizer everywhere! They even limited elevator rides to four people at a time.

It didn't take long to notice that the ship also seemed less busy than usual. We were told that there were 1,037 passengers on board, with a similar number of crew on a ship that typically holds over 4,000 passengers. It actually made it feel more intimate, and the staff were all very friendly and accommodating. Service was truly impeccable. Everyone seemed very happy to be sailing again.

Food and Entertainment

There were bars, restaurants and venues that were for vaccinated guests with purple wristbands only. Inside those venues, you were able to walk around without a mask.  If it was a mixed venue you had to keep your mask on even when seated unless you were actively eating or drinking. Any buffet or self-serve was served by the crew, which was honestly a nice change. The main dining area was three levels and again they kept the vaccinated and unvaccinated guests separate.  

Entertainment seemed slightly typical if not a little scaled back. There was a piano player and the pub had a singer/guitarist, there were some trivia contests, and on the last night they even had a silent disco. You were required to make a reservation for a majority of the shows, which was new. There seemed to be less bingo options, no drink tastings, and the store and kids club had slightly more limited hours. These minor changes did not take away from the fun and otherwise, the experience felt mostly the same as usual.

All in all, we had an incredible experience, the staff was extremely attentive, all of the safety measures were in place, and I've already booked my next cruise!

Jackie Amundson is a AAA Minneapolis Domestic Travel Services Counselor at our Eden Prairie office. Contact Jackie to plan your next vacation!