Heading to the port, I was curious what new and exciting things our cruise would offer. From reading online reviews, we were definitely in for a cultural experience with most cruisers from the greater Hong Kong area. We cruised on Voyager of the Seas before, so were familiar with the ship, but things change from year to year and itinerary to itinerary.
After winding through the lengthy embarkation process, we headed to the Windjammer buffet to eat and wait for our cabin to become available. Things felt vaguely the same, yet different on this ship. At the buffet, instead of being able to get our own beverages as in the past, a station was set up where crew handed out water, ice tea, and coffee. The variety of food, from Indian to pho to burgers and fries, seemed really basic.
Just as we finished lunch, cabins were ready for occupancy. Very excited to see our stateroom on the 12th deck, we headed forward and up a deck. Our cabin, called a panoramic ocean view stateroom, was beautiful! The cabin wide, floor to ceiling window made the area feel big and bright. With plenty of closet space, shelves and drawers putting everything away for our voyage was easy. We had plenty of space for 3 adults. When the couch converted to a double bed at night, moving around was more challenging, but manageable.
Time to explore the rest of the ship before the mandatory safety drill. A surf simulator, climbing wall, putting green, basketball court and ping pong tables as well as swimming pools offered ample outdoor activities. Searching around indoors, we found the ice skating rink, gym, game room and of course, the casino. Other scheduled activities included trivia, origami lessons, and napkin folding. We could not wait to get started. It was time to have some fun!