Setting Sail (Pt. 5)
By Ashonté S. Lyles
In the previous episode, “¡Bienvenidos a Barcelona!” we navigated flight dramas, indulged in tapas feasts, and explored the city's vibrant streets. Marlon, our navigator, led us through an accidental tour of the Gothic Quarter, providing awe-inspiring views of Medieval architecture. Barcelona's Metro showcased local life and scents, while visits to Picasso's Museum and the Moco Museum evoked varied emotions. Navigating local customs revealed late-night starts for the Catalan day and a unique blend of LGBTQ+ positivity and traditional gender roles. Barcelona's eclectic mix left us enamored.
Ready, Set, Let’s GEAUX (go)
Our exciting journey peaked as we prepared for our long-awaited cruise adventure. The night before departure was a whirlwind of activity, with the previous day packed with excitement and the meticulous repacking of our belongings. With sailaway time scheduled for 6 pm, the prospect of setting sail added an extra layer of enthusiasm to the air.
Know Before You GEAUX: Review Your Cruise Documents
Cruise lines provide a plethora of important information in your cruise documents.
Directions to the port
Rules/Regulations/Repercussions on board and at the port
Alcohol/smoking Policies
Mandatory Safety Briefing (Muster/Assembly Drill)
Mobility Needs
Gratuity expectations on the cruise for the service staff
Emergency and other important contact information
To kick off the day, we indulged in one last breakfast at Hilton's Executive Lounge, setting the tone for the day. While navigating the hotel lobby, we unexpectedly encountered fellow travelers from Saturday's happy hour, coincidentally awaiting port transportation. My dad fortuitously interrupted what promised to be a lengthy conversation between myself and these newfound kindred spirits. Despite the potential for hours of engaging chatter, our families were on different cruises—our adventure with Royal Caribbean, and their journey on an adult-only Virgin cruise, neither of us could afford to miss our port call time.
We bid adiós to the luxurious Hilton Diagonal Mar and formally checked out of the hotel. Our bags stood ready, adorned with paper tags provided by Royal Caribbean in our cruise documents.
The next leg of our journey involved navigating transportation to the port. Despite attempts to secure an Uber being thwarted by drivers dropping our request, we swiftly pivoted to an alternative option. Observing a line of taxis nearby, Dad took the initiative, securing a spacious van with ample room for our luggage—four large bags, four carry-ons, and an assortment of backpacks and purses. Just six miles or 15 minutes away from the Port of Barcelona Moll D'Adossat Terminal, the stage was set, and we were eagerly on our way.
The Symphony Begins: Embarkation Process
The Port of Barcelona encompasses five terminals, labeled A, B, C, and the state-of-the-art D and E, known as the Palacruceros and Helix terminals, respectively. Our assigned terminal was C. Upon arrival, we unloaded our bags from the taxi and entered a series of lines. Different zones were designated for dropping off bags to terminal employees, each tagged with crucial information for proper delivery to the correct ship and cabin. The embarkation process involved passing through security, then the check-in area, with lines organized based on pre-scheduled arrival times. We scheduled our embarkation time via Royal Caribbean’s online check-in. A small Barça gift shop greeted us before ascending a large escalator to the ship's gangway. Passport checks occurred multiple times during this process.
All Aboard!
Our rooms, situated on Deck 10, room numbers 603 and 605, awaited us. However, the hallway leading to our rooms was temporarily closed, with a sign indicating entry was prohibited until a specified time. This closure was necessary for the cruise ship to turn over rooms, similar to hotels, as guests embarked and disembarked at each port. During this wait, we encountered a distressed young woman from St. Louis, Missouri, the sole member of her travel group who successfully boarded. Unfortunately, the other members had missed their flights. As the ship prepared for departure, the bustling atmosphere of guests coming and going created a unique and exciting ambiance.
At Sea on the Symphony
After ensuring all our luggage made it to our cabins, we briefly toured the ship together, going to the spa, gym, dining facilities, pool Deck, and Central Park area on Deck 8, then grabbed a snack on Deck 5 at “Café Promenade.” For a more detailed description and my impressions of the Symphony of the Seas and her amenities, visit my “Through My Eyes” tab here on “The Horizon Calls.”
A daily itinerary for excursions and cruise activities was available on the Royal Caribbean App called the Cruise Compass and hard copies were available at Guest Services on Deck 5. I saw there would be a party on Deck 5 beginning at 10 pm which I thought we should check out – I picked several things for us to do each day making note of times.
Pre-scheduled Cruise Itinerary:
Sun, 9/10: Set Sail on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas
Board ship at 3 pm
Departure with Sailaway Party on Deck 15, 6 pm
Attended Dinner - Main Dining Room 8 pm (Cruise Casual/American Cuisine)
Rerouted to Chops Grille℠ on Deck 8
Welcome Party with a balloon-drop on Deck 5, 10 pm – 12 am
Mon, 9/11: Palma de Mallorca, Spain
In port from 8 am – 4 pm
Wing-it day; no planned excursions
Parents went ashore at 8 am; Marlon and I went ashore at 10:30 am
Return to the ship at 3:30 pm
Attended Dinner - Main Dining Room 8 pm (Formal Night/French Cuisine)
Silent Party on Deck 6 at the Boardwalk
Tues, 9/12: Marseille, France
In port from 9 am – 6 pm
Wing-it day; no planned excursions, 10 am – 5 pm
Did not attend dinner - Main Dining Room 8 pm (All White Attire)
Wed, 9/13: La Spezia, Florence and, Pisa, Italy
In port from 8:30 am – 8 pm
Purchased an excursion at the port. Tour of Florence and Pisa, 10 am – 7 pm
Attended Dinner - Main Dining Room 8 pm (Island Attire/Caribbean Cuisine)
Thu, 9/14: Civitavecchia, Vatican City, and Rome, Italy
In port from 7 am – 8 pm
Purchased scheduled shore excursion from Royal Caribbean, “A Taste of Rome: Rome Forum, Trevi Fountain and St. Peter’s Basilica/Square in Vatican City,” 8 am – 5 pm
Did not attend dinner - Main Dining Room 8 pm (50s and 60s Night/British Cuisine)
Fri, 9/15: Naples (Napoli) and Pompeii, Italy
In port from 7 am – 7 pm
Purchased scheduled shore excursion from Royal Caribbean, “The Ruins of Pompeii,” 8:15 am – 4 pm
Did not attend dinner - Main Dining Room 8 pm (Dress to Impress)
Sat, 9/16: At sea on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas
Wondered the ship
Did not attend dinner - Main Dining Room 8 pm (2nd Formal Night)
Attended HiRO water show on Deck 6 in the AquaTheater at 9 pm
Sun, 9/17: Disembark in Barcelona beginning at 5 am
Our scheduled departure was 9:15 am
Sail Away
Marlon opted for some rest, but I wanted to say “Hasta luego” to Barcelona so I headed to the "Solarium," the adults-only area on Deck 15, at 6 pm to watch the ship depart. Coincidentally, I witnessed Virgin Cruises leaving its terminal with the travelers we had met at the Hilton before our embarkation. Later, I enjoyed dancing with the DJs at the Deck 15 Sailaway Party. After the Sailaway Party, I returned to the room to prepare for dinner, scheduled at 8 pm in the main dining room. Dad and Kimiyo were ready before me, setting a trend that continued for the remainder of the cruise and providing some comic relief for Marlon due to the ribbing I received from Dad.
In the dining room, we found it overbooked – the main dining room operates like any restaurant on land, allowing walk-ins and reservations, but this night, we found them too crowded to seat both. However, since we did have a reservation, they escorted us to the Michelin-rated steakhouse “Chops Grille℠” in Central Park on Deck 8. Our meal was complimentary due to the overbooking, it would have cost us about $500, so we tipped well. Around 10 pm, we joined a dance party on Deck 5. I ended up dancing with three fun high-spirited Asian women, and even Dad and Kimiyo joined in before we left. A stroll around the ship concluded our night.
The Odyssey Continues
From Barcelona's vibrant streets to the Symphony of the Seas' embarkation buzz, our multicultural family odyssey began at full throttle. Each moment etched a unique chapter, setting the stage for the thrilling ports on our horizon. Little did we know, the Mediterranean held surprises beyond imagination. Get ready for the next horizon, "Our Day in Palma," where the magic of our journey continues to unfold.
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