Our first full day at sea started with a late breakfast. Or at least late for this trip. We toured the ship’s kitchens, which included a special brunch, in the early afternoon. We wanted to ensure we were hungry for that 😀.
We had a pretty chill day and spent most of the morning walking around and checking out the shops for any last-minute souvenirs. The last few sea days tend to include a lot of sales; they have to make sure you buy something!
Let’s Brunch!
We then went to our Sip, Tour, Brunch where we toured the kitchens and learned about how the different areas operated. It was very interesting.
We saw them make everything from pastries and bread to putting together shrimp cocktails. The ship makes gluten-free bread too. They start the gluten-free bread in the wee hours of the morning. Then make the traditional bread, wipe everything down, and clean the stations before starting all over again the next day. It is quite an operation.
I’m Absolutely Getting That!
We were also shown the appetizer, dessert, and main entree stations. Our group even spied a vegetable pot pie and wondered where they were serving it so we could have it for lunch. It turned out it was one of the lunch options on our tour!
After the tour, we went to one of the main dining rooms and were handed some bubbly to start our brunch. My entire family and bestie ordered the pot pie, even the meat-eaters. It was scrumptious. I would go back on this tour just for that pot pie!
The rest of the day was just relaxing and hanging out on our balconies. We enjoyed the much-needed respite from all the tours and exploring we had done while in port. Besides, I needed to rest up for the next day.
Birthday Celebrations Ahead
One reason I chose this trip was that I’ve always wanted to celebrate a milestone birthday on a cruise ship. We even started the festivities early since we were not going back to the main dining room on our final night. Our wait team wanted to celebrate with me, so I agreed to celebrate the night before. I was okay with it until they brought out the crown, banner, and cake. That, along with the singing, was a lot to take in. I have evidence, but I refuse to share.
The next morning was casual since we were revisiting Giovanni’s (see more here) for lunch. Our meal was just as delicious as the previous one, with one expectation… it included another song and more cake. I wasn’t expecting that, but our server saw the information on my ship profile and decided I needed more celebrating.
UGH… I Have to Pack on My Birthday!
Sadly, our day also included packing the remainder of our luggage since we were departing the following morning. My bestie and I did our best to pack the day before so I didn’t have to spend my birthday doing the tedious task. It also gave me more time to celebrate with my family.
For our final meal, we headed to the steakhouse. Yeah, I know, I don’t eat meat! My family does love a good steak, and the restaurant also had good fish options. I’ll admit, I was excited about the meal, but after all the rich food we had during the week, I wasn’t very hungry.
How Many Birthday Cakes Can a Gal Have?
I did my best to enjoy my birthday meal, which not surprisingly included another song and cake 🎂. A gal can get spoiled with all the extra attention 😉. Not me; I hate attention, but I didn’t mind the cake!
After dinner, we made our way back to our cabins for one last night of sleep on board before disembarking the following morning.
It was a long but wonderful trip. I enjoyed all the experiences and traveling with my favorite people. The best part: I spent my birthday celebrating a life well lived, creating new memories, and planning many more adventures together.
I hope you have enjoyed these latest travel adventures. You see more photos from my travels here. I hope to share more adventures with you in the future. I am already planning my spring and summer vacations. What are some of your upcoming travel plans? Any cruises on the horizon? Please share in the comments!
