We Sailed On Royal Caribbean's Voyager Of The Seas! | Embarkation Day
We went on our first cruise!! We sailed aboard Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas for a 5-day Caribbean cruise and this video covers our travel to Florida and our embarkation day for the cruise. Come along with us as we experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the cruise life!
From Snowy Buffalo to Sunny(ish) Florida
The journey started with a bit of a classic Buffalo send-off: pizza and wings at the legendary Anchor Bar. You can't leave the city without hitting the birthplace of the wing, right? After a slightly "interesting" stay at a nearby airport hotel (complete with creepy hallway cots that gave off major Shutter Island vibes), we finally touched down in Orlando.
Pre-Cruise Pitstop: We stayed at the Radisson Resort by the Port.
The Room: Massive! It had a separate living area and a soaker tub.
The Vibe: A little dated, but the pool area with the waterfall was top-tier.
The Fact: I don't turn down hot tubs. It doesn’t matter if it’s 90 degrees out—if there’s a hot tub, I’m in it.
Embarkation: Fog, Rockets, and Royal Up
The morning of embarkation had a surprise: a rocket launch! I was up at 3:20 AM to catch it, but unfortunately, the Florida fog had other plans and delayed the launch.
Once we got to the port, the process was a breeze.
Joe’s Pro-Tip: Don’t forget to tip your porters! They aren't Royal Caribbean employees, and they are the reason your heavy suitcases actually make it to your room. Keep some small bills handy.
The $40 Upgrade
We got our first big win before we even left the dock. We used the Royal Up program to bid on a room upgrade. For just $40, we moved from a standard interior room to one with a Promenade View. It’s a great way to get a better room for a fraction of the cost—just put in a small bid and see what happens!
First Impressions: Ice Cream & Motion Sickness
Once on board, we hit the Windjammer for that mandatory first-day buffet. But the real star for me? The free soft-serve ice cream on deck. It was a little crystallized, but free ice cream is free ice cream.
The Reality Check:
As soon as we started moving, I really felt it. Walking felt like being on a moving treadmill. I had to pop on a motion sickness patch (the "behind-the-ear" variety) pretty quickly, which luckily did the trick.
Casino Clouds and Tarot on Ice
A quick note for my fellow non-smokers: the Casino is the only place on the ship where smoking is allowed. Carrie was dedicated enough to walk up a flight of stairs and across the ship just to avoid the smoke; I was usually too lazy and just held my breath while cutting through!
We ended the night at Studio B for Ice Odyssey. Seeing professional figure skaters perform high-level stunts and jumps while the ship is actively rocking in the ocean is mind-blowing. It’s an intimate venue and a must-see if you’re on a Voyager-class ship.
The Main Dining Room (MDR) Routine
We had our first dinner in the MDR, and it’s where we met our server, Mark.
Carrie’s Choice: Escargot (a favorite of hers) and Curry.
Joe’s Choice: Tomato soup and Spaghetti Bolognese.
The "Big Boy" Perk: Mark clearly saw me coming and brought me an extra cookie with my ice cream. I’m not complaining.
What’s Next?
Day one is in the books! We’re officially "cruising, baby." Coming up next is our first full day at sea, where we dive deeper into the ship, hit the trivia circuit hard, and experience the "Carbonara Incident."
Stay Connected:
If you want more cruise tips or just want to hang out with a great group of people, join our Discord! Check the link in the description.
Until next time, whatever you do, make it magical!
