October 19, 2026 — A Day at Sea: Pampering, Pancakes, and a World Cruise Reunion

Aboard Explorer of the Seas, a day between ports brought old friends, seven wines, a lovely dinner with Patty, and a very well-prepared face for tomorrow’s adventures.

You would think a day at sea would be an opportunity to sleep late and take things slowly.

Well, I was up at 6:00 a.m.

There were people to see, appointments to keep, and pancakes to catch before breakfast closed. Somewhere in the middle of all that, I intended to fit in a nap. Even a relaxing day requires a little planning.

And, as it turned out, this was a very pleasant day to be aboard Explorer of the Seas.

Getting My Face Ready for Its Next Adventure

By 7:00 a.m., I was at the spa for my Groom and Go, making sure I looked presentable for whatever the day might bring.

I may be retired, but apparently my face still has to report for duty.

At 8:00, I met with Aleksandra, a spa therapist from Poland, for what was called the Ultimate Facial. With a name like that, you expect your face to receive some serious attention, and mine certainly did.

For the next hour, Aleksandra worked through the treatment, including oxygen treatments, special lotions, and a finishing layer of SPF 50. Between the grooming appointment and the facial, my face had received a considerable amount of care before most people had finished breakfast.

I have to admit, I enjoy this part of cruising. After spending so many years working, traveling, and keeping things moving, it is a pleasure to sit still for a while and let somebody else take care of the details.

Of course, by 9:00 a.m., I had another pressing concern.

My face was fully prepared for the next adventure. The rest of me still needed pancakes.

I made a quick trip across the ship and arrived just in time to get breakfast before they closed. A good pancake breakfast is an excellent way to start the day—even if you have already been awake for three hours and your face has had a more elaborate morning than you have.

A Room Full of People Who Clearly Enjoy Cruising

At 10:30 a.m., I attended the Top Tier event, where there were plenty of familiar faces from the Ultimate World Cruise and an impressive gathering of Pinnacle members.

Looking around the room, I had to wonder whether some of us know our way around a cruise ship better than our own neighborhoods.

There is a simple explanation for all that cruising experience: we keep coming back. Finish one voyage, catch your breath, and before long, another itinerary starts looking awfully attractive.

The top cruiser was recognized and received a bottle of champagne, and we also heard updates about activities planned for the rest of our cruise.

It was a nice opportunity to celebrate people who love being at sea—and to begin catching up with friends I would be seeing again at lunch.

Royal Caribbean Rolls Out the Red Carpet

At noon, Royal Caribbean hosted a special luncheon in the main dining room for the Ultimate World Cruisers.

I appreciated that gesture. Getting us together in one place gave everyone a chance to sit down, enjoy a meal, and spend some proper time reconnecting.

When you have traveled around the world with people, you share a rather unusual collection of memories. You have seen one another through extraordinary destinations, long stretches at sea, changing plans, and all the little moments that become part of daily life aboard a ship.

Then the voyage ends, everyone heads home, and life carries on.

So it was a pleasure to sit together again and find out how people had been doing over the past couple of years. There were stories to revisit, experiences to compare, and plenty of catching up to do.

I met and talked with many people I had cruised with on the Ultimate World Cruise. Seeing those familiar faces brought back a lot of memories.

For me, that was the real pleasure of the luncheon: having the time and opportunity to reconnect. We had shared a remarkable chapter of our lives, and here we were, enjoying another meal together aboard another ship.

A thoroughly pleasant experience, and a thoughtful way for Royal Caribbean to bring us together.

Around the World in Seven Wines

At 2:00 p.m., it was time for the Women of Wine Tasting Experience, featuring wines created by female winemakers.

After spending the morning reconnecting with fellow world travelers, I was ready for another international journey. This one conveniently required only a seat and a wineglass.

The tasting featured seven wines:

• Chandon Brut Sparkling — United States

• Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc — New Zealand

• Lucien Albrecht Riesling Reserve — Alsace, France

• La Crema Chardonnay — Monterey, California

• Zolo Malbec — Mendoza, Argentina

• Castellum Red Blend — Carcassonne, France

• Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon — Sonoma, California

A fruit and cheese tray accompanied the tasting, giving us something to enjoy alongside the different pours.

It was an opportunity to sample a range of wines, appreciate the women behind them, and spend part of the afternoon exploring something beyond the usual choices.

Seven wines, several countries, and no immigration line. That is a fairly convenient way to travel.

Between the sparkling wine, the whites, and the reds, there was plenty to consider. I will leave the elaborate tasting vocabulary to the experts. I was happy to enjoy the experience.

An Important Appointment Back in My Cabin

By 3:09 p.m., I was back in my room.

Yes, I even have the time recorded. Some parts of the daily schedule deserve precision.

I rested, took a nap, and gave myself a chance to recharge before the evening. With a morning at the spa, a reunion luncheon, and an afternoon wine tasting already completed, I felt I had made a respectable contribution to the day’s activities.

A nap fit into the schedule beautifully.

After all my years of appreciating good logistics, I still believe in getting the right person to the right place at the right time. At that particular moment, the right place for me was my bed.

Dinner with Patty at Giovanni’s

At 7:45 p.m., I went to Giovanni’s for a lovely specialty dinner with my friend Patty.

Patty is a seasoned traveler with a great deal of life experience, and I enjoy spending time with her. We talked about our Ultimate World Cruise adventures and looked back on some of the experiences we had shared.

There is something comfortable about sitting down with a friend who was there. You can pick up a story without having to explain the entire voyage first. The places, the people, and the memories are already familiar.

After the larger gathering at lunch, it was nice to finish the day with a quieter dinner and good conversation.

These are the moments I value: a pleasant meal, a friend across the table, and time to talk without rushing off to the next thing.

After dinner, I headed back to my room, settled in, and went to bed. Tomorrow would come early.

Next Stop: Santorini

Tomorrow brings Santorini, and I am looking forward to another day of exploring.

The plan is to head toward the island around 7:30 a.m., so an early night made good sense.

Today gave me a chance to enjoy the ship, reconnect with friends, indulge in a little pampering, and fit in that essential afternoon nap. For a day spent between destinations, it was full of good company and pleasant experiences.

Now, on to Santorini.

My face, I can assure you, is ready.