On December 23 Josh and I took a ten night Royal Caribbean cruise to the Southern Caribbean. It was my first cruise ever so I had no idea what to expect. I’ve heard mixed things about cruises but loved the idea of getting to spend Christmas and New Years on the ocean, wake up every day in a new place, visit five different countries, and have lots of fun holiday activities planned out for me. Also, hello warm weather when it’s -873,383 degrees back home in Omaha!
The Serenade of the Seas is a Radiance Class ship. I picked this ship because I hate crowds, and with a max capacity of 2,500 passengers, you’re at roughly half the size of some of the mega cruise ships. Our island stops included Tortola, St. Kitts, Dominica, Antigua, and St. Martin. I couldn’t have asked for a better itinerary. (Southern Caribbean = farther away = less tourists.) I’ll be breaking down our island excursions in separate posts later. For now, buckle up for a whole lot of photos of the Serenade of the Seas.
Serenade of the Seas Review
Our Room: 10/10
Before I even googled cruise cabins, I had images in my mind of what they looked like. Cramped, crowded, claustrophobic shoe boxes with no windows. Let me tell you, if you’re willing to spend the money you can have a world of a different experience on a cruise ship.
Not knowing what to expect on board, I wanted to make sure we had a quiet place we could come back to and relax with space and a killer view. The weather was 80 every day and we were island hopping so I wanted to be able to see it all. We did a balcony room and I am so glad we did. It put us high on the ship, gave us tons of space, and access to the most beautiful views. We woke up to coffee on the patio and fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing outside. I was obsessed with our room and would 100% opt for a balcony again.
This bed doesn’t look like much, but it is what dreams are made of. I found out that not only do I not get seasick, but that I love the gentle sway of the ocean. There is nothing like getting rocked to sleep by the waves. I had some of the best sleep of my life on this trip.
This was not our door, but I loved how many people decorated their cabin doors for the holidays! I made a mental note to do this next time.
Our nightly towel animals were a highlight of our trip. I loved coming back into the room at night to see what creature awaited us. It was also really nice having our room cleaned twice a day. Talk about being spoiled!
The Ship: 10/10
I have never been on another ship to compare, but I think my instincts to cruise on a smaller ship were right. We LOVED this ship. It was never crowded, never loud, and I loved the fact that you got to get to know the staff and other passengers. It’s amazing how many people you kept running into over and over again. It made the boat start to feel like home.
The ship itself was beautiful. I loved the pools, the reading areas, all the bars, the nightclubs, the shopping. Everything was clean and well-maintained. When you first board the ship it feels SO BIG, but once you walk around for a few days you get your bearings. Josh and I found getting around to be a breeze. We also opted to only ever take the stairs which was awesome but killer on my legs!
We saw so many rainbows on this trip!
In case you were wondering, cruise wind is worse than Nebraska wind. 😉
The Booze: 9/10
Josh and I did a lot of hemming and hawing about whether we wanted to splurge for the unlimited booze package or not. And when I say splurge, I mean splurge, it was like $1,300 for both of us for 10 days. What it gets you is all the drinks you could possibly want, tax and tip included, and you never have to sign a check. With drinks onboard costing anywhere from $10-$12, that was worth it for us. So we made it our mission to get our money’s worth and drank the cruise away.
I felt a little guilty about this at first, but as the bartender at one of the bars said, “No booze, no cruise.” We had fun, had the best drinks, and loved every minute of it. Plus sitting down to dinner with a glass of moscato waiting for you and having it magically refill three times is quite nice. 😀 My only reason for giving a 9 out of a 10 instead of a 10 out of 10 is how freaking pricey this was!
I should have been calorie conscious and ordered vodkas and diet cokes but I was on vacation so I ordered all the fruity drinks. They were amazing.
The Food: 6/10
Okay, so here was the one downfall of our cruise. And downfall is being dramatic because it really wasn’t that bad, but it really wasn’t that good either. If you’re used to eating at nice restaurants on the regular and treating yourself to good food on vacation, you are going to find cruise food sub-par. I guess that comes with the territory of having to make such large volumes of food for such a diverse group of people. (Guests were visiting from over 60 countries!)
The casual Windjammer restaurant and room service food were downright disgusting. And the cafe by the pool deck was gross. Reflections, the main dining room, had decent food. What it lacked in flavor it made up for in service. Khemraj and Andrii were our servers and they went above and beyond to make our meals special.
The atmosphere of the dining room was so nice. And I loved when the waiters put on a show for us.
One of the best parts of the trip were our table mates. They get a 10/10. We asked to have seated dining at 6pm with fun couples. I have no idea if they took the fun part into account when arranging our seats or if we just got lucky but we hit the jackpot with Kevin, Linda, Jim, and Kim. We spent hours talking and laughing at that table and I loved getting to pick their brains on all things cruising. They’re seasoned pros.
While the free food was sub-par, I found the specialty dining to be great. We went to Giovanni’s Table for lunch one day (it cost an extra $20/person) and I could not get enough. The food was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely decadent. If all cruise food tasted like this I’d probably never get back on land again!
The Entertainment: 9/10
Royal Caribbean is known for their ship entertainment and they did not disappoint. Unfortunately only the bigger ships get the Broadway shows, but I loved the shows they did have, as well as all the fun games and interactive events. Josh and I were a little overwhelmed at times with how much there was to do at any given point in a day. We’d need to take three cruises to get to check out all the fun activities they offered.
Some of my highlights were the daily morning Zumba, the Love & Marriage Game Show, and the Spin The Wheel game where Josh got called up on stage to compete for prizes. (Spoiler alert, he won!) I thought my favorite days would be port days, but I loved at-sea days just as much. They were so relaxing I wished for a few more!
This cruise truly had something for everyone. The cruise singers performed everything from Kesha, to Disco hits, to the Golden Oldies. There were nightclubs, jazz lounges, and everything in between. I was worried Josh and I would be some of the youngest people on the cruise but that was not the case at all.
The great assortment of events were all thanks to Topi, our Cruise Director. Before cruising I had no idea how much work it takes to organize a cruise itinerary for 2,500 people. Topi did it flawlessly, and always made sure we were having fun.
The Love & Marriage Show was a riot! I don’t think the hosts were prepared for some of the crazy answers they received. I was in tears from laughing so hard.
We learned how to make our own towel animals. And now I’m obsessed with trying to master it with napkins.
I loved the singer that performed at the English pub each night. It was such a great atmosphere and the bartenders were a party.
The game where Josh got on stage, had to do something weird with straws, and then won us champagne!
Our favorite crew member was Grant, from Scotland. He’s a Cruise Director in the making. He is so funny and took our trip over the top. We knew any time he was hosting an event we were bound to have a good time.
The Parade of Nations was so cool. I thought the guests came from a lot of countries, but the crew outdid everyone. Cruise ships are such a melting pot of cultures. It was such a wonderful thing to get to experience.
Christmas and New Years Celebrations: 10/10
I was nervous when booking the cruise over the holidays that we would miss out on traditional holiday celebrations. I could not have been more wrong. Cruise ships know how to party, and party we did. If you are debating cruising over a holiday I can’t recommend it enough.
Christmas Eve everyone gathered around the Centrum and sang Christmas Carols. It was one of my most special memories from the trip.
And then it snowed! This was magical, and like something out of a movie! Santa came to visit the kids the next day, and they had daily Temple services for those celebrating Hanukkah.
I thought Christmas was big on Royal Caribbean, but on New Years the ship gets turnt up! There were like eight different parties going on at once. It was crazy and everyone was in a festive mood.
We partied on the pool deck with the Top 40 Hits DJ for a while.
A cute towel animal from the pool deck.
Before we moved inside to the Centrum for the balloon drop with the live band. We were packed like sardines but we didn’t care because we were ringing in 2017!
The aftermath of the festivities.
In case you couldn’t tell from this post, Josh and I had the absolute best time on Serenade of the Seas. Was there room for improvement? Absolutely. Was it a trip we will remember forever? Without a doubt.
I’m so glad we did this trip because it showed me how fun cruising is. And made me want to do it again, like tomorrow. 😉
Older couples kept on telling us how lucky we are to have realized how important it is to travel and make memories while we’re still young. I couldn’t agree more and feel so thankful for these fun adventures with this guy by my side.
Questions of the Day: Have you been on a cruise before? If so, which line is your favorite? If not, do you think you would enjoy a cruise?
I LOVE how you broke it down by category and gave each category a rating. I’ve never gone on a cruise, so it’s nice to hear from someone who isn’t a seasoned pro at cruises (like a friend of mine who literally makes booking one/finding one sound like no big deal….meanwhile, how could I be sure when there are so many cruises out there?!). Anyway, so glad you had a great time (and I’m with you on the moscato!!). 🙂
The moscato was amazing!! Although I’m definitely paying for all my indulgences at the gym now! haha I’m so glad this review was helpful! Before going on our cruise I felt super overwhelmed by it all, and now having done one, I realize it’s pretty simple and easy.
I love reading these type off of reviews. I can’t believe how pricy the all inclusive booze is and sad to hear the food wasn’t great!
My jaw literally dropped when I saw the prices! haha But they have to make their money somehow I guess.
I’m actually going to be booking my first cruise next week and wondered what your thoughts were on food upgrades. I don’t know how that works, do you pay a fee to upgrade your meals to the nicer restaurants on the ship? Or do you just pay out of pocket? (I’m assuming all the gross meals were the “free and inclusive” ones that came with your booking?)
Also, thoughts on tipping. I have read MANY reviews/forums that are for pre-paying the tips and others that say “don’t and tip everyone individually so they actually get the money and not the cruise line”. What are your thoughts?
Thanks!!!
Hey Christine! Yes a traditional cruise ship will have like five restaurants/dining options that are always completely free. From the fancy dining to the cafeteria to a cafe and a poolside snack stand. Some meals were really good, but a lot were meh. We completely avoided the cafeteria when we were onboard because it looked gross tbh. And then there’s another three to five (on average) restaurants that charge an additional price to eat there. They’ll say they’re like $30 per person, and then everything you eat at those restaurants is unlimited for that meal. So it’s not that they only cost $30, the food in them is quite good, it’s just what you’re already paying for food in the cost of your cruise +$30. My tip is to go to some at lunch because they usually have a lower lunch price but it’s the exact same food and still unlimited. You swipe your sea pass and then get the bill at the end of the trip.
To be honest my husband and I did not give the tipping situation much thought. We just pre-paid the money so we didn’t have to worry about it. That said, if the workers get more doing it the other way I would do that in the future because they work so hard for so little.
Where/when/what are you cruising? I hope you have the best time!!
Thank you!!!! We’re thinking end of March for 5 nights. Getting super excited just thinking about it! So glad I found your blog. 🙂
Folks RCCL allows you to bring 2 bottles of wine per person on boarding day only, remember you can only bring wine, no distilled spiris or beer. Bring a cork screw. HOWEVER if you are flying in for your cruise you cannot take it on the plane, but if you have time you can buy it after you land. Put it with your carry on bags only.and carry it with you on the ship, So it doesn’t break in your suit case. All of this is in the cruise docs, so read it carefully, it’s a best kept secret.
Cabin steward will get you glasses too.
I couldn’t agree more with some of the others!!! I have never been on a cruise so reading your post that’s broken down by category was totally insightful! I love the details and tips you provided that most people would not know about!!! This makes me want to book a cruise, ASAP!!!
Do it girl!! You will not regret it! I’m so happy you found this post helpful. I found planning and booking a cruise completely overwhelming when we first started and now that I have one under my belt I feel like it’s so simple and easy.
I was on that exact ship in September to New England and Canada and had a far different experience. There wasn’t nearly as much to do for people our (my sister and I) age, the dining room felt crowded and claustrophobic (and loud. Like, dish-crashing loud). The excursions were amazing, though. We actually had a lot of people tell us that our experience wasn’t typical RC, and we should try another ship, which we do plan to do. Maybe the Northeast isn’t great for 30’s and younger? Our room was nice, and all the staff was pretty helpful, though. We also took the sushi making class at Izumi, which was fun and delicious.
This is really interesting! I know they said onboard that Christmas cruises are way more diverse in terms of age because of the holiday time, families getting together, young couples looking for fun things to do, as well as the traditional older cruisers. Maybe that was it?
We were super talkative at our table so we didn’t even notice any noise. We were seated on the main dining level towards the back by the great wall. I’m wondering if our location was better for sound?
We were on the upper level, so we didn’t have early or late dining, but we had to call every day to get a reservation (Not a bad way to do it. We didn’t really have to wait long for anything). Maybe up in the balcony there was more sound echoing.
We are going on another cruise in December on Ruby Princess with our parents. Can’t wait to do a Christmas cruise!
Ohh have so much fun! I want to try a Princess Cruise so I can compare! You’ll have to let me know how it is!
I’ve never been on a cruise, but I;d definitely love to! I keep eyeing them up but havent managed to get one booked yet! Shame about the food but sounds like you got to make up for it with the booze!
Girl do it! You won’t regret it!
I AM A HUGEEEEE CRUISE LOVER after I did that cruise through Geece & Italy. OMG it’s the only way I want to travel – and um, you’re making me SOOOO sad that I don’t have another cruise set up!! I need to change that, ASAP!
OMG I would love to cruise through Greece and Italy! That must have been an amazing trip!!
I found your blog on SweatPink and am glad I did… I loved reading your review and how you broke the areas up, I almost felt like I was on the cruise in your pictures, too. We’ve done a few Royal Caribbean cruises and they are the BEST! You truly get your money’s worth and compared to what you might pay on a vacation you planned yourself, you get a great deal. Plus, you don’t have to drive from place to place, you know where you’re eating and sleeping every night, and it’s just convenient :). Now I want to go on another cruise…
Girl you and me both! haha I want to take another cruise like tomorrow! And I totally agree, I loved getting to have a home base for our travels. It was so nice to see so much but always come back to the same room with all the amenities of the ship.
I just got back from a Carnival 7 day southern Caribbean cruise, and I’ve previously done a Princess cruise to the Alaska Inner Passage. Enjoyed both, but both times I was one of the younger ones on the cruise. The Alaskan one was with my grandma, aunts and uncles and mom and the Caribbean was with my immediate family and husband. My youngest brother wanted to dance in the nightclub on our Carnival ship but it was always empty. Our food was pretty decent, though the buffet, like most, left something to be desired. We didn’t go for the unlimited booze which was a good decision for us – two of our excursions were open bar and that was plenty over indulging for us.
Cruises are a bit shopping-focused for my liking at times and sometimes the ports are excessively touristy and don’t feel “real”, but I still enjoy them and find them very relaxing. In particular, I liked that our ship had a pretty decent library on board, and the service is always amazing.
Totally agree with you on the ports being touristy. I loved getting far away from where we docked and exploring more of the “real” island. How did you enjoy Princess and Carnival? I know they’re both owned by the same company. Did you notice differences between them?
Yes, it was fun to see the “real” parts of the island – such a difference! Not a lot of differences between Princess and Carnival to me besides the price. I’d say Princess had slightly better food and more activities – or at least they had free classes like Zumba that Carnival didn’t. Princess also seemed like an older crowd, but that could’ve been Alaska vs Caribbean too.
Loved this review! We took eight of our kids on a family cruise on the Serenade – what a great ship! I agree with the benefits of the smaller size – it felt very comfortable and running into fellow cruisers throughout the week was fun! Can’t wait to hear about your next cruise :)!
Oh how fun! I’d love to do a family cruise some day! Ahh I’m already wondering where I want my next cruise to be! Haha
Looks like you had a great time! We cruised Carnival, Princess and Royal Caribbean in the Caribbean (many years ago) and Royal Caribbean was our favorite there. We just cruised Celebrity through the Mediterranean and that was HEAVEN! Great ports, great people, great food, great drinks, great everything. Worth every penny. We also agree that a balcony is KEY!
I’ve never been on a cruise before! I’m nervous of getting seasick, but I’ve heard cruises are so smooth it doesn’t even feel like you’re on the water. I’m so happy I read this review though – I texted my boyfriend half way through asking “hey, wanna go on a cruise?!” Looks like you had a magical time.
I don’t know why I’m so hesitant to go on a cruise. Every time I read a blog post reviewing a cruise I feel like I’m missing out. The food, the drinks, and the entertainment on your cruise seem like they were fantastic. Plus, the New Year’s celebration looks like it was a blast!
This looks like so much fun! What a great way to spend NYE. I just booked a cruise on Norwegian and we got their ultimate beverage package for two people as a room perk! So that makes it totally worth it because, like you said, it is so expensive!
Great blog! You covered each area well and your descriptions were dead on. Kim and I enjoyed meeting you and Josh and hope you get to try another Royal cruise on one of the next larger boats (Mariner, Explorer, Navigator….) It really is a big difference and I know you would love it even more!
Wow!! I have not taken a cruise in years but this looked so awesome. I am really surprised about the room size. That was my biggest worry but that looked like a good size.
Oh how I could use a 10 day cruise now. Especially after looking at all your wonderful photos. Dreaming!
I’ve never been on a cruise, but this looks so awesome!
Oooh my goodness you are so bold! I love to travel but I, too, have NEVER been on a cruise. I can’t believe you went with a 10 night cruise! For my first one I think 3 would be pushing it! Haha. I am SO appreciative of your thorough reviews in each of the categories, particularly the cost of the alcohol packages. I’m worried about how well I will / will not sleep, but I’ve been taking advice and reading up on it. I love boats…I’ve just never slept on them! lol Thank you again for sharing and I’m glad you had a fantastic first experience.
It looks like you had a great time. That rainbow is stunning!
We have yet to cruise the Caribbean but it is on the list! We love cruises and it looks like you guys do too!! Keep on cruising.