DAY 1 - Southampton
We arrived in Southampton at approximately 1:20pm where we were greeted by...rain! We had planned to get the free bus from the train station which runs every 10-15 minutes and drops you off at Town Quay. We wanted to take a few pictures of the ship from Mayflower Park, but the rain was so bad we jumped into a taxi and went straight to the terminal.
Our bags were collected by the porters and we made our way to the check in desks. We swiftly passed security and less than 5 minutes later we'd checked in and were making our way to the ship.
There were a lot of ships in the port that day. Adventure of the Seas was joined by Fred Olsen's Balmoral, P&O's Azura, Princess Cruise's Caribbean Princess and AIDAstella.
We arrived in Southampton at approximately 1:20pm where we were greeted by...rain! We had planned to get the free bus from the train station which runs every 10-15 minutes and drops you off at Town Quay. We wanted to take a few pictures of the ship from Mayflower Park, but the rain was so bad we jumped into a taxi and went straight to the terminal.
Our bags were collected by the porters and we made our way to the check in desks. We swiftly passed security and less than 5 minutes later we'd checked in and were making our way to the ship.
There were a lot of ships in the port that day. Adventure of the Seas was joined by Fred Olsen's Balmoral, P&O's Azura, Princess Cruise's Caribbean Princess and AIDAstella.
Once on board we made our way to our D2 category balcony stateroom, 8540, port side. The cabin was spacious and clean, but looked rather dated. Our cabin still had a 'big bum' TV, which was a big difference compared to the ultra-slim plasma on the revitalised Brilliance of the Seas the week before.
The stateroom was one of the largest balcony cabins we have had. Usually it is a very small gap between the bed and the dressing table, but this room was different. The bathroom was the usual style and there was sufficient wardrobe space. There was tea making facilities in the room as well as a mini bar and safe.
We decided to get something to eat. We made the mistake of choosing the early sitting for dinner, which Royal Caribbean have now changed from 6pm to 5:30pm. With this in mind, we didn't want to eat too much, as it wouldn't be long until we had to eat again. We decided to grab a slice of pizza and a cake in Cafe Promenade.
We decided to get something to eat. We made the mistake of choosing the early sitting for dinner, which Royal Caribbean have now changed from 6pm to 5:30pm. With this in mind, we didn't want to eat too much, as it wouldn't be long until we had to eat again. We decided to grab a slice of pizza and a cake in Cafe Promenade.
We then ventured into the main dining room to see which table we had. It was table 402 on deck 4. It was a table for 2, which we had asked for so we were happy. We tried to see if we could change our dining time to the second sitting, however they said there were no tables for 2 available, so we decided to stay where we were. That might have been a mistake though as you will see later!
The fuel tanker 'Whitonia' had finished refueling us. It started to move away, but as it did, the strong wind coming south westerly, blew it back towards us. In a near miss, Whitonia managed to defeat the wind and moved away from Adventure.
We departed Southampton late, leaving the docks at around 4:45pm, after 'waiting for cargo'. Balmoral left first and we followed after. Caribbean Princess was supposed to leave at 5pm, but it was delayed until 8pm. Azura followed behind us. AIDAstella was due to leave at 8pm. As we sailed past AIDAstella, Red Osprey came up behind us and we had a little race. Red Funnel won.
It was now time to head for dinner. It was at this time we realised what huge mistake we had made booking the early sitting. It was FULL of children! We'd cruised over the school holidays before on our very first cruise on board Independence of the Seas back in May 2009, but that was nothing compared to the unruly children that surrounded us on Adventure. Inches away from our table was a large family of 8 with 2 children who couldn't keep still. Behind us was a family of 10 with 4 children who enjoyed running around the restaurant. I fully understand we were cruising during term time on a cruise line geared towards families, but other guests should not have to put up with it.
After the hell hole of a dinner, we had a pre-show drink in the Schooner Bar. It was then time for the welcome aboard show. Our Irish Cruise Director Clodagh aka 'HelloClo' introduced us to Richard Guantlett, a physical comedian. It was the transistion phase for the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers, so they would not be performing until the end of the cruise when the new cast would come on board.
After the hell hole of a dinner, we had a pre-show drink in the Schooner Bar. It was then time for the welcome aboard show. Our Irish Cruise Director Clodagh aka 'HelloClo' introduced us to Richard Guantlett, a physical comedian. It was the transistion phase for the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers, so they would not be performing until the end of the cruise when the new cast would come on board.
DAY 2 - Sea Day
It was a sea day, so we spent the day leisurely exploring the ship. It was a sunny, but windy afternoon. We explored the Royal Promenade in more detail, browsing the gift shop for souvenirs. I purchased one of the ship models. This has become somewhat a tradition on our cruises since we set sail on Grandeur of the Seas back in 2011.
We spent some time on the pool deck and solarium area. After battling the crowds in the Windjammer, we escaped to our balcony for the rest of the afternoon.
It was a sea day, so we spent the day leisurely exploring the ship. It was a sunny, but windy afternoon. We explored the Royal Promenade in more detail, browsing the gift shop for souvenirs. I purchased one of the ship models. This has become somewhat a tradition on our cruises since we set sail on Grandeur of the Seas back in 2011.
We spent some time on the pool deck and solarium area. After battling the crowds in the Windjammer, we escaped to our balcony for the rest of the afternoon.
It was formal night in the dining room, but you wouldn't have guessed it. After another dissapointing dinner, we went to the Lyric Theatre for the nights entertainment, a soul band called Soul Satisfaction. It was an amazing performance and by the end of the set, the audience was up and dancing in the aisles.
DAY 3 - Vigo
We arrived in Vigo at 9am. The wind had dropped and the sun was high in the sky. We disembarked the ship at around 11am. It was a Sunday, so most of the shops were closed. We walked up to the roof terrace on the A Laxe Shopping Centre. This gave us a good view of the ship. After snapping a few photos we walked to the end of the pier to get a view of ship's bow. We then made our way back on board and had lunch in the much quieter Windjammer.
We arrived in Vigo at 9am. The wind had dropped and the sun was high in the sky. We disembarked the ship at around 11am. It was a Sunday, so most of the shops were closed. We walked up to the roof terrace on the A Laxe Shopping Centre. This gave us a good view of the ship. After snapping a few photos we walked to the end of the pier to get a view of ship's bow. We then made our way back on board and had lunch in the much quieter Windjammer.
It was the night of the Crown and Anchor welcome back party, so we went along to the Imperial Lounge. The only downside was the event coincided with us departing Vigo, so we didn't get to see us leave. A band called AJ's Compulsion played for us. They were very entertaining.
We had dinner in the dining room and after having a menace come up and meddle with my camera with yet again no disipline from their parents, we headed to the Royal Promenade for the British themed street party. The event featured some of the 'Best of British' songs including We Will Rock You, Hey Jude and Tipperary.
We had dinner in the dining room and after having a menace come up and meddle with my camera with yet again no disipline from their parents, we headed to the Royal Promenade for the British themed street party. The event featured some of the 'Best of British' songs including We Will Rock You, Hey Jude and Tipperary.
DAY 4 - Gijon
We arrived in Gijon at 9:45am, 15 minutes earlier than scheduled. We were greeted to a vast land of nothing. The place looked very unappealing and cetainly not worth paying the $15 transfer to the town. We stayed on board for the day and I took this opportunity to tour the entire ship.
We arrived in Gijon at 9:45am, 15 minutes earlier than scheduled. We were greeted to a vast land of nothing. The place looked very unappealing and cetainly not worth paying the $15 transfer to the town. We stayed on board for the day and I took this opportunity to tour the entire ship.
I ventured up to deck 12 where I started the tour. Here I followed the path of the Jogging Track and then continued to the aft of the ship passing Johnny Rockets. I then popped up to Deck 13 for a walk around on the Sports Deck. It seemed a lot more compact and claustrophobic compared with Independence of the Seas.
One further deck up, I waked around the Viking Crown Lounge, before walking down to deck 11 to tour the pool area and Solarium. Then I worked my way down to deck 4, where I finished my tour. You can watch the deck tours on YouTube.
One further deck up, I waked around the Viking Crown Lounge, before walking down to deck 11 to tour the pool area and Solarium. Then I worked my way down to deck 4, where I finished my tour. You can watch the deck tours on YouTube.
We set sail from Gijon at 5pm. Just before we left, Captain Ron Holmes came on the tanoy and informed us that due to a storm in the Bay of Biscay and Bilbao area we would skip our call in Bilbao for our comfort and safety. We would instead stay overnight in Le Havre.
We decided to eat in the Windjammer for our evening meal, as we couldn't face the chaos of the dining room. It was quiet and peaceful and we had a fantastic view overlooking the aft of the ship as we sailed away from Gijon.
We decided to eat in the Windjammer for our evening meal, as we couldn't face the chaos of the dining room. It was quiet and peaceful and we had a fantastic view overlooking the aft of the ship as we sailed away from Gijon.
DAY 5 - Sea Day
We woke up just in time to catch breakfast in the Dining Room. We spent the day leisurely in the cabin and on the balcony, before heading to the dining room for lunch.
We woke up just in time to catch breakfast in the Dining Room. We spent the day leisurely in the cabin and on the balcony, before heading to the dining room for lunch.
We couldn't stand being with the bratty kids again, so we just grabbed a few slices of pizza and cake, as we had filled up at lunch. It was formal night, so it felt weird eating at Cafe Promenade in a suit.
Showtime was at 9pm and featured comedy vocal Hilary O'Neil. She was very talented and could perform a great variety of accents and celebrities.
After the show, we went to Boleros in the Viking Crown Lounge. Yet more unruly kids were in the whirlpool at 11pm with no parental supervision. After a few drinks in the bar, we decided to head back to the cabin. We were greeted by even more unruly children in the lift dragging furniture from one deck to another!!! Where are the parents!?
DAY 6 - Le Havre
We arrived in Le Havre at 7am. It was a warm and beautiful day considering how close we were to rainy Blighty. We were joined by Costa Fortuna. We decided to benefit from the weather and spent the day on deck and relaxing on the balcony.
Showtime was at 9pm and featured comedy vocal Hilary O'Neil. She was very talented and could perform a great variety of accents and celebrities.
After the show, we went to Boleros in the Viking Crown Lounge. Yet more unruly kids were in the whirlpool at 11pm with no parental supervision. After a few drinks in the bar, we decided to head back to the cabin. We were greeted by even more unruly children in the lift dragging furniture from one deck to another!!! Where are the parents!?
DAY 6 - Le Havre
We arrived in Le Havre at 7am. It was a warm and beautiful day considering how close we were to rainy Blighty. We were joined by Costa Fortuna. We decided to benefit from the weather and spent the day on deck and relaxing on the balcony.
Costa Fortuna was scheduled to depart at 7pm so we quicky had dinner and went on deck. The weather had turned for the worse and was now grey and spotting with rain. The ship departed bang on time and sailed into the distance bound for Harwich, where Harry Cotterill from Dream Designs Colchester would be touring the vessel the next day. Watch the video of the ship sailing here.
There were two shows in the evening. The new Singers and Dancers performed their gala performance of An Invitation To Dance. I found the show rather mundane. All the dance moves seemed repetitive and wooden, but this was understandable as it was a new cast. It was an hour until the 70's street party began so we bagged a private balcony overlooking the Promenade. Watch the video here.
DAY 7 - Le Havre
The weather was grey and miserable and a complete change from the sunshine the day before. We were joined by Holland America's Prinsendam. We spent most of the morning and afternoon indoors, until it brightened up slightly after 2pm. As it was the last day of the cruise, we looked at our bill on the stateroom TV. We noticed that we had each been given $31.45 credit as compensation for missing Bilbao.
The weather was grey and miserable and a complete change from the sunshine the day before. We were joined by Holland America's Prinsendam. We spent most of the morning and afternoon indoors, until it brightened up slightly after 2pm. As it was the last day of the cruise, we looked at our bill on the stateroom TV. We noticed that we had each been given $31.45 credit as compensation for missing Bilbao.
It was the farewell dinner in the dining room, so the waiting staff sang us goodbye. You can watch a video of the farewell dinner here.
It was then time for the farewell show in the Lyric Theatre. As the Singers and Dancers were in the transistion stage, they did not perform the farewell song which I LOVE! Instead Richard Guantlett and Hilary O'Neil performed a variety act, before all the officers and staff came on stage.
After the show we then went to the Schooner Bar. After a few drinks and thinking we had escaped the little menaces, we got the lift back to the cabin. However the kids struck back one final time by pressing all the buttons in the elevator!!!
DAY 8 - Southampton
We woke up early at 4am to watch us sail into Southampton. We were the first ship to arrive, but before we knew it, were were getting surrounded by P&O ships left, right and centre! Azura was the next to arrive, which sailed past us and up to the Mayflower Terminal. Ventura followed, turning around and berthing at Ocean Terminal. Later Oceana docked at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal.
We woke up early at 4am to watch us sail into Southampton. We were the first ship to arrive, but before we knew it, were were getting surrounded by P&O ships left, right and centre! Azura was the next to arrive, which sailed past us and up to the Mayflower Terminal. Ventura followed, turning around and berthing at Ocean Terminal. Later Oceana docked at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal.
We had breakfast in the Windjammer at 6am as it was still fairly quiet. We disembarked Adventure of the Seas at 7am and headed to Mayflower Park to take some final photos of the ship.
That was the end of our cruise on board Adventure of the Seas. Was it the best cruise? Certainly not. The downside was the amount of kids doing what ever the hell they liked and getting away with it. On the other hand though, we had lovely staff both in the restaurant and stateroom. Entertainment was good, but disappointing that the Singers and Dancers didn't sing the farewell song. It was great to be back on board a ship with a Royal Promenade (I never realised I missed it so much!)