The Calm Before the Cruise
There’s something wonderfully familiar about waking up on embarkation day when you’re already close to the port. We were back again at the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor, a hotel we’ve come to trust and reuse. It checks all the right boxes: walking distance from the terminal, a $5 shuttle to the ship, and—crucially for us—a business center with a printer, since Shivani forgot to print the cruise luggage tags again. Honestly, that’s tradition at this point.
After a good night’s sleep, we grabbed breakfast at the hotel buffet. The kids were in cruise mode already: Max watching cartoons, Nate shoveling bacon, and Shivani sipping coffee in her Seattle t-shirt, blending Seattle vibes with vacation energy. I made a quick solo walk down to the port to see Ovation of the Seas docked beside the USS Iowa. That walk has become a pre-cruise ritual for me—a chance to see the ship, soak in the stillness, and get excited for what’s coming.
Shuttle Time and a Smooth Start
At 10:30 AM, we hopped onto the hotel’s shuttle. Luggage tags were attached, excitement was high, and the kids were buzzing. Our driver was friendly, and we were among the first to head out, which always helps avoid the midday traffic and terminal rush.
Embarkation was almost suspiciously fast. We went from shuttle drop-off to ship boarding in under five minutes. No lines, no delays. Royal Caribbean’s mobile check-in and facial recognition sped everything along—until, of course, Shivani spilled her water at security.
Onboard Energy and Unlimited Drinks
Once onboard, the ship opened up before us: bright, buzzing, and full of possibilities. But also—surprisingly bar-less. We were excited to use our Unlimited Deluxe Beverage Packages. The irony: it took longer to get our first cocktails than it did to board the ship.
Meanwhile, the kids had zero hesitation. They made a beeline for the splash zone. Nate did the water slide 75 times—no exaggeration—while Max discovered the Freestyle Coke machines and began mixing every flavor into one bubbling “Super Coke.” Three types of soda in one cup. He was proud. I was mostly concerned.
Our Room and Some Familiar Chaos
When the rooms opened, we headed to our balcony cabin—the first of two we’d be using on this back-to-back journey. The stateroom was clean, functional, and had enough space to make us feel like we could breathe, which is always appreciated when traveling with two kids under seven.
A few more laps around the pool deck, some sunscreen battles, and soon it was time to check the kids into Adventure Ocean. We’d pre-registered them, so drop-off was not very easy. The area was crowded and we could already tell the cruise was at or near capacity. There was a line and it took about 20 minutes to get the kids checked in.
That night, we settled into our fixed 7:30 PM dining. We had a table for four, but for all of the cruise, it was just the two of us—because Max and Nate loved Adventure Ocean so much they begged to skip dinner. It’s hard to argue with that.
Dinner and Drinks: Staff That Shines
Dining on this cruise was hit-or-miss. A special shout-out to Jerone and Pankaj, our servers in the main dining room. Jerone offered thoughtful suggestions without being pushy, and Pankaj had our drink preferences locked in after night one. They made our meals feel personal, smooth, and unrushed—something that’s not easy on a busy sailing.
Pro tip: Even if you plan to eat elsewhere later in the cruise, those first couple of dinners in the main dining room are a great way to settle in and build rapport with the staff.
Ensenada and a Different Kind of Sea Day
Our only port for this leg was Ensenada, Mexico, but it threw us a curveball—it was cold. Not breezy. Cold. While Shivani and the kids bundled up to explore the town, I opted for a solo stay onboard: breakfast in the Windjammer, lounging by the pool deck, a Phillies doubleheader on my iPad, and an eventual relocation to Two70 where the Wi-Fi stayed solid.
I snapped a photo as my family returned to the ship. Nate and Shivani led the way, with Max trailing behind, likely distracted by seagulls or pondering his next snack. Watching them walk back onboard felt like a little victory: they had fun, I had peace, and now we were all back together for more ship time.
Activities, Lines, and the Lobster Exception
That afternoon, we tried to squeeze in the bumper cars—but the line was over an hour long. Worse yet, we discovered that Nate wasn’t old enough to ride (you need to be five even to ride with an adult). That was a bit of a letdown, but we promised him more pool time instead.
Later that night, I treated myself to the $17 lobster tail upgrade at dinner. It was small but perfectly cooked. No included lobster tails on these short cruises. But there is always an upgrade option.
After dinner, we had tickets for the cabaret show at Two70. Unfortunately, the performance was interrupted by technical issues and paused mid-show. We gave it a few minutes, but with two free seats at the 9:30 comedy show, we bailed—and it turned out to be a great call. The comedian crushed it, and I even discovered a fantastic guitarist performing in one of the smaller lounges. I made a mental note to go back.
Last Full Day: Quiet Wins on a day at Sea
By the last day of this first cruise, most guests were preparing to disembark—but not us. This was just halftime. I started my day with breakfast in the main dining room—no buffet crowds, just peace and table service.
We had lunch in the dining room again, and Max got to work on his newly purchased Star Wars LEGO set from the gift shop. It only cost $10, but he treated it like a thousand-dollar build.
We dropped the kids at Adventure Ocean one last time that day and snuck off to the Solarium for some well-earned relaxation. No lines. No noise. Just panoramic views, hot tubs, and zero guilt.
Re-Embarkation Day: Room Shuffle and Cruise Round Two
The next morning was a bit of a scramble. Unlike some back-to-back cruisers, we weren’t staying in the same cabin. It would’ve been way easier if we had. Instead, we had to pack everything up, leave the room temporarily, and get ready to settle into our new cabin for the second cruise.
We headed down to the Music Hall, where Royal Caribbean organizes re-boarding for back-to-back passengers. Coffee and juice were waiting, and the vibe was relaxed.
By 10:15 AM, we had walked off the ship, scanned our passports, grabbed our new SeaPass cards, and walked right back on. The whole process was faster than getting off an elevator during peak hours.
And just like that, the first cruise was done—but we weren’t. Part 2 was about to begin, and with it: a new stateroom, five more nights, and a very special celebration…
💍 Our 15th anniversary.
Coming soon in Part 2: Cabo, Comedy, and Celebration.
Two Sided Cruising 