Cruise Diary Day 1: I may have lost a kid…
Come back in time with me to our first day on Allure of the Seas… Everyone is asleep, and I’m busily recapping the day into Google Keep on my phone because… wow!
Wow! What a day! I love everything about this. Even now, with my legs aching from all the walking, with no time yet to sit and enjoy the waves, and awake at three in the morning… I feel so happy. I can vaguely feel the motion of the ship, and I know that we are on our way. But wait, I’ll back up.
Lead-up to the Cruise
The last week has been excited anticipation. Not really nervous, even, just excited. I did my research so well that I was out of things to research with three days to spare. Jace was worried doing that would ruin the excitement of seeing it… but not for me. I feel comfortable and at home because I know what to expect. The kids were nervous, though, both of them. It’s been building for Kaiden in particular. He told me several times today that he was scared, because we are in a new place and doing new things. I told him we will do them together.
The drive to Galveston yesterday went smoothly. We made good time, had three stops on the way, and the kids didn’t really fight at all. Our first stop was the Buc-ee’s in Madisonville. That was almost too far for Kaiden, but we made it. Our third stop fell just short of another Buc-ee’s in Texas City. Next time!
The Hampton Inn was nice enough. A little outdated, and under renovation. But it was comfortable, within walking distance of beach and pier, and our balcony had a view of the ocean. The shower was nice too, with a double glass sliding door from floor to ceiling. Jace took the kids down to the beach while I rested up a little. Next time, we should plan better for the beach the night before!
Cruise Day!
Today, our vacation really started. We were all up early, telling each other ‘Cruise Day!’ Our arrival time was 12:30, so we had to kill some time. Jace went to Walmart in the early morning for a couple of last-minute buys including a new cruise shirt. We went down to breakfast – they loved the scrambled eggs! – and then he walked down to the pier with the kids while I got ready. We checked out of the hotel right at 11 am, hit Sonic for Kaiden, and we were off! It’s good that we didn’t delay any more from there, because we hit our arrival time perfectly. It seems an hour and a half is right to handle port parking and the shuttle.
We were really happy with our parking too. It was a big warehouse a bit inland. They loaded all our luggage onto a shuttle bus for us and unloaded it on the other side. The entire drive, our bus driver gave instructions on where to go and what to do when we get back. He was very thorough, made it easy to understand. Next time we should plan ahead for two porter/driver tips at the parking, plus a porter at the terminal. I had to dig for cash on the bus to make good.
Galveston Cruise Terminal
At the terminal, there were a lot of people, but things moved well. The longest wait was to drop off our luggage. Jace carried two duffels, his own and our repacked hotel duffel with things like books and toiletries and the blanket that must go everywhere with Kaiden. Allie had the garment bag with our theme clothing and Jace’s dive bag stacked on top. That was a little much for her. Kaiden had the small rolling suitcase with their normal clothes, which was perfect. Then I had the yellow beach bag with all of our first day essentials: seasick meds, passports, phones, hats and sunglasses, cash, a book each, and swim/dinner transition clothes. Plus the large rolling suitcase with my clothes and some shared essentials. It was 12:27 as we got to the front of the luggage line: perfect!
Once the luggage was dropped off at the white building, we just walked around to the front entrance for security. There was no bathroom until we were through security, but the wait was short. They scanned our boarding passes and passports, then we just emptied our pockets into the yellow bag and sent it through the x-ray. On the other side of the metal detector, it went back on my shoulder and we were off. Barely broke stride.
After a bathroom break, there was one more super short line. They scanned our boarding passes again and we entered a long hallway down the side of the terminal. This wait was as long as the luggage dropoff: down the hallway, past the picture-taking setup with the cruise ship sailing on the green screen background, across the gangway, and back along the running track to the promenade. It was a lot of standing and walking, but we were all so excited (and Kaiden still quite scared) that we barely noticed. The moment when we stepped from gangway to ship was a good one.
First Day on Allure of the Seas
Into the promenade! It was crowded with people walking up and down, but the actual lines were short or non-existent. Jace and Allie got pizza and a small table at Sorrento’s. Kaiden and I walked across to the cafe for a sandwich, first coffee, and to pick up our soda cups. Plus he hunted out a collection of cruise ducks! While we were eating, the announcement came on that cabins were ready, but please check in at your muster station before you go up. Ours was deck 5 in the dining room, so that was easy enough. Then we walked up one flight of stairs to make it easier to catch an elevator up.
Everyone’s First-Day Wishes
Kaiden was anxious to get to the science lab, so we didn’t stay in the room too long. We met our immediate neighbors, read everything in the room, partially unpacked the yellow bag, set up our lanyards… and off to Adventure Ocean. They were only open for registration, but we got that done, including Allie for self-signing privileges, and there was a movie playing in the theater. Kaiden wanted to stay and watch it, but Allie wanted to go to the carousel.
It was already after two, and Jace wanted to do some tours the first day, so we split up. Jace took off to check out the dive shop and the gym. The kids and I spent 30 minutes in the theater, and then we went down to the boardwalk – stopping in the vitality cafe on the way for another coffee! I pointed out the blue roof of Sabor’s tequila bar and told the kids to find me there when they were done with the carousel. Kaiden came over after one or two rounds, but I had to practically drag Allie away. Luckily the little playground was right next to me.
We Separated… Briefly!
Even so, Kaiden quickly decided he wanted to go back up to the theater. The plan was to meet up with Jace at the Solarium for sail away at four… So after a quiz on navigation and three layers of backup plans, I let him go up to the theater for ten minutes on his own and I’d pick him up there. I checked in with Allie and went into the promenade to try to get a first drink while she did one last carousel ride. It was shaping up to be a beautiful first day on Allure of the Seas. I didn’t realize the captain’s announcement was about to sound, with a test of the emergency signal. Whoops!
I decided the waits were too long at both Schooner’s and the champagne bar. They were normal “busy bar” waits, but I now only had twenty minutes to collect both kids, maybe change, and get upstairs for sail away! I circled back to find Allie pacing anxiously by the carousel, worried about the “emergency signal”. She snatched up my hand right away.
The Search
We went up to the theater. No Kaiden and no movie. Hmm. To the room, no Kaiden. Dang. Allie forgot her drink cup at the carousel, so back to the boardwalk. At this point Jace was texting to try to find us, so he met us at the carousel while Allie got a hot dog. Down one floor to the muster station, still no Kaiden. Back to Adventure Ocean one more time. They were closed now, but the side door let us get the attention of staff. Yes, there was a boy here looking for his parents earlier! Let me radio down… Yes, it’s Kaiden and he’s at guest services on the promenade!
He was relieved to see us and hugged me fiercely, but he seemed to be in good spirits. Sure enough, the emergency drill had thrown off his plans. Instead of Adventure Ocean, he went to the muster station when it sounded… then when the station was deserted, he started working through the emergency options we’d talked about and got help. I told him he did just the right things!
Together Again!
Well. We missed the sail away party entirely, one thing and another, but we were all together again. We got a brief look at the port receding in the distance from the pool deck, and I finally got a mai tai (and a bottle of water) while the kids splashed around the shallow pools. All too soon, it was time to dress for dinner already.
The main dining room seemed full, but we were able to walk right in and find our table. I thought the food was excellent! The assistant waiter folded a bird out of Kaiden’s menu and showed him how to make it flap its wings. I loved the crab cakes and the shrimp cocktail! The stuffed portobello was just okay, but honestly I was pretty full already. Two glasses of Cabernet with dinner and I was feeling great. The Boston cream pie wasn’t bad either. I think Jace was shocked that I was feeling so good after crisscrossing the ship to find Kaiden. I was a little surprised too, but… we were prepared!
One Last Chaos Monkey
After dinner, we had just about half an hour in the room to start unpacking. That wasn’t nearly enough time. But the kids were itching to get to Adventure Ocean, and then we had show tickets waiting to complete our first day on Allure of the Seas. Off across the ship again! At the show, I ordered myself an old fashioned and another bottle of water.
Just before the show started, I saw a text come through from Allie that she was stuck in the room! The cabin door is quite sticky. It takes a solid shove to get it open. I texted her back immediately… but heard nothing else. So at intermission, we booked it back up and across the ship to our cabin. We found her chilling on the balcony and so glad to be rescued!! We practiced throwing her shoulder into the door until she could reliably open it, then we took her back down with us for the second half of the show. It turns out she left Adventure Ocean right away, before any activities even started. Sigh.
The Windiest Top Deck
After the show, we went up to the top decks to try to get an ocean view. It was pitch black and incredibly windy. Like, tug on your earrings until your earlobes ache windy. Only by looking right at the base of the ship could we see anything at all of the ocean. Oh well. Tomorrow. We picked up Kaiden, who insisted Adventure Ocean did no activities at all (kids!), and back to the room.
I flipped a coin for who would get top bunk the first day. Allie called it and Kaiden won, which cut down on arguments quite a bit. They got into pj’s without being prompted, and by the time we got the bed clear of (still not fully unpacked) suitcases and miscellaneous items, they were begging to turn off the lights. I saw Allie briefly reading by the light of the window, but I don’t think either of them said a word after the light went out. They were truly worn out by their first day on Allure of the Seas!
Best. Day. Ever.
I wanted to start writing about our day immediately, but I’d plugged in my phone with 1% battery, so instead I stretched and went to bed. Nothing to worry about with the mattress, it’s comfortable enough, and our cabin steward left us plenty of pillows. So I slept until three am and then started recording the day here. I feel so happy. Cruising is wonderful! My Fitbit says I have just over 10k steps. I’m pretty sure it just stopped counting in shock. 😂
Stay tuned for Day 2: A sea day in which everyone takes a nap.
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