This cruise was 14 nights beginning in Bayonne NJ and ending in Galveston TX. Visiting Haiti, Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and Mexico. We skipped Grand Cayman in favor of a second day in Haiti due to Hurricane Nicole.
Our second sailing this year on Adventure of the Seas and both were excellent. All facets of the ship were excellent and the 14 night sailing allowed us to get to know a lot of crew members quite well. Dining room servers NJ and Kam were absolutely the best servers on any of our 10 cruises. We’d love to take them with us on future Royal cruises. Entertainment staff did a great job of keeping things fresh and different over the 14 days. Tons of trivia, name that tune and many different evening events including production shows, a comic, a magician and a ventriloquist. It was way more that we expected on such a long sailing, but Royal did a great job in this area.
Excursion were highlighted by the Panama Canal Engineering tour that allowed us to enter the canal via ferry midway in the canal and sail to the Pacific Ocean through 3 locks. We were accompanied by a massive car carrier in each lock which dwarfed our small ferry. An amazing feat of engineering from 100 years ago that has stood the test of the time. Highly recommended for anyone that ever stops in Colon or Panama City. Other excursions were good except for the Cartagena city tour. That was a disaster with bad tour guides and the general environment in Cartagena with an overwhelming amount of street vendors trying to sell us something. I would not recommend leaving the ship at Cartagena.
Embarkation in Bayonne was quick and painless outside of a small delay in boarding due to a US Coast Guard inspection. In Galveston, we were the first inbound ship to dock at the new Royal terminal that opened the day before. Disembarkation was also orderly even though it was the first arrival. Some confusion amongst staff outside the terminal building with taxis, ride-shares and busses, but not a big deal as it was their first time.
We were very happy with the entire experience and look forward to our next Royal cruise from Port Canaveral in January.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Outside of a short delay due to US Coast Guard inspection, it was very orderly.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Best server team of any cruise we've been on regardless of cruise line. NJ and Kam were the best team.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Enjoyed learning pickleball, playing putt-putt, visited the workout room and took advantage of the walking path on deck 12.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
A wide variety with no repeats over the 14 days. The cruise director Tanya and her team were fantastic. Various shows and entertainment were diverse and never repeated during the sailing.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Top notch in all areas. Best server team of any cruise we've been on regardless of cruise line. NJ and Kam were the best team. Our room steward Katang did a great job and always ready to assist when needed,
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Our second sailing on Adventure. It's a early 2000s design that doesn't have the features of the new ships, but well maintained in all areas.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This was a front facing cabin with a view out over the helipad. Due to the curvature of the front of the ship, it was more spacious than a typical oceanview cabin. Room was well maintained.
Ship tip
If you're booking an oceanview, snap up one of these oceanview cabins in the front of the ship.
Really did not like this port. Booked Cartagena Attractions Pass with Hop On-Hop Off bus. It was a disaster. The tour guide was inexperienced and the Attractions Pass was not accepted as advertised. Street vendors were annoying and intolerable. We went back to the ship early.
Booked " Wonders of Engineering: Panama Canal Locks and Calebra Cut". Outstanding tour starting with bus to rendezvous with ferry that holds 350 passengers. The ferry started in about the middle of the canal and traversed 3 locks ending up at the Pacific Ocean. Accompanied by a gigantic car carrier, we entered 3 separate locks and able to reach out and touch the canal wall. Absolutely the highlight of the entire trip. Bucket list item checked!
In Galveston, we were the first inbound ship to dock at the new Royal terminal that opened the day before. Disembarkation was also orderly even though it was the first arrival. Some confusion amongst staff outside the terminal building with taxis, ride-shares and busses, but not a big deal as it was their first time.
In Galveston, we were the first inbound ship to dock at the new Royal terminal that opened the day before. Disembarkation was also orderly even though it was the first arrival. Some confusion amongst staff outside the terminal building with taxis, ride-shares and busses, but not a big deal as it was their first time.
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