A First-Time Cruiser’s Pleasant Surprise
AAA Traveler Worldwise’s creative director boards his first cruise—and discovers unexpected dining, design, and adventure at sea
Full disclosure: an ocean cruise was never on my bucket list. So, when I had the opportunity to join Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas on its voyage round-trip from Los Angeles, with a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, this past June, I accepted the invite with trepidation.
To my surprise, I’m quite glad I did.
Maybe it was the more-spacious-than-expected stateroom. Or the seemingly endless selection of unique, chic and multicultural restaurants. Or the fresh, crisp air of the open seas. Whatever the reason, in no time, my preconceived notions of cruising drifted away, and I found myself wondering why I hadn’t set sail sooner.
I appreciate fine dining, so I was immediately lured in by Silk restaurant for my first meal on board. Its dramatic, sumptuous décor—salmon-hued, velvet-upholstered chairs and dark wood moldings—caught my eye, but it was the Pan-Asian-themed menu with its enticing mix of cuisines that sealed the deal. I ordered the chicken saag—and was wowed. The piquant, perfectly seasoned sauce and tender chicken rivaled offerings from my favorite Indian eatery back home. Whether dining at one of the buffets (all more elevated than any buffet I had ever visited) or any of the 15 restaurants, I always enjoyed a tasty meal.
Luckily, I managed to walk off a good bit of my culinary indulgences as there was a lot of ship to explore—16 levels of it. Not only was I in awe of the sheer enormity of the vessel (it can hold more than 4,182 passengers), but being a graphic designer, I was struck by the creativity that resonated throughout. At every turn, I was met with a visual treat.
Ovation of the Seas is a virtual floating museum of contemporary works of art, with a collection comprising some 11,000 pieces. Every deck, hallway, restaurant, theater and nightclub was teeming with it. Forsaking the poolside lounges for something more enriching, I was more than happy escaping the sun’s rays and poring over every objet d’art I could find. Photography, paintings, sculptures (both kinetic and static), illuminated installations and interactive pieces kept me engaged for hours.
The interior design intrigued me, too. Multistory promenades led to upscale shops, comfortable lounges and myriad restaurants, each with its own vibe: cozy, trendy, whimsical, modern, artsy, elegant. Creative thinking went into every aspect: themes, furnishings, finishes and logos—all executed, in my professional opinion, flawlessly.
I found plenty on board besides the art to keep me stimulated, too. While I decided to forgo the surf simulator, I was a little more adventurous on the rock-climbing wall and RipCord by iFLY, a freefall skydiving simulator. The bumper cars brought me back to my childhood summers at the Jersey Shore. And the North Star observation capsule brought me soaring to 300 feet in the air, where I was taken with awe-inspiring 360-degree views.
On the plane ride back to Philadelphia, I had plenty of time to reflect. So many erroneous assumptions about cruises had kept me away from this type of vacation for years. My maiden voyage is just a taste of things to come, and I am excited now that my travel repertoire has expanded to new horizons.