You never forget your first cruise. Mine was in 2011 on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas. I had no idea what to expect and will admit to being a little apprehensive. Like many first time cruisers, I was concerned that I would feel trapped on a ship with lots of people. As soon as I stepped onboard, that feeling melted away.

The first thing that struck me was how beautiful the atrium was. It felt like I had stepped into a fairytale. Thankfully, I had been tipped off about taking my swimwear in my carry on bag so that I could head straight for the pool. That is exactly what I did (see photo above).

Grandeur of the Seas has undergone a major refurbishment since my cruise, so the photos here were taken before the updates. All I can say is that for my first cruise I was totally blown away.

First Sail Away

After a swim and getting settled into our room, we headed to the top deck for the customary sail away party.

This was my first sail away. As we started moving away from the Port of Palma de Majorca, I felt a huge sense of excitement, adventure, and freedom. I’d never experienced a feeling like it and I loved it. That was the moment I fell in love with cruising.

After the sail away party, we went back to our cabin and got ready for dinner. The group I was travelling with, arranged to meet up in the Schooner Bar. This was another place that totally amazed me. The atmosphere was relaxed but upbeat and friendly. The floor to ceiling glass windows gave incredible views of the mediterranean sea.

I stepped outside onto the promenade deck, gin and tonic in hand, and just could not believe what I was experiencing. I was in my element.

We enjoyed a three course meal in the stunning main dining room. Once again, I had never experienced anything quite like it. The room was grand, the service was attentive and the crew made us feel really special. The food was amazing and everything was perfect.

After dinner we enjoyed a beautiful sunset. My first sunset at sea.

Exploring The Ship

Even the smaller Royal Caribbean ships have a rock climbing wall. I had to give it a go. I may have thought twice had I known I would end up looking like this!

When I climbed to the top I rang the bell. It was quite a challenge, but it’s worth noting that the larger ships have higher rock walls. I tried rock climbing on Independence of the Seas last year and only made it two-thirds of the way up.

In the evening we went to one of the lounges which was having a few hours of karaoke. Of course I couldn’t resist singing a couple of songs.

Access All Areas Tour

I love the Access All Areas Tours. You can book them either before your cruise or when you are onboard. One of the places we were taken to was the Galley. It was fascinating.

The highlight of the tour for me was our visit to the Bridge.

So that was my first cruise and the start of my love of cruising. If you are looking at cruising on Grandeur of the Seas, these photos are not a true reflection as they were taken before an extensive refurbishment.

If you have any questions about the ship feel free to email me at flavia@cruisemum.com

Recommended Reading Independence of the Seas – The Best Cruise Of My Life