It can be a challenge to get away and take time to vacation: why not a three-night cruise? While I travel a lot, it’s usually at an insane pace and rarely relaxing, so a short cruise is a really nice little getaway where I can just follow my itinerary, play hard, and enjoy new experiences.
Originally scheduled to serve China this summer, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas is operating out of Los Angeles all summer. The Quantum-class Royal Caribbean cruise ship, which holds up 4,100 passengers, will take passengers from Los Angeles to Mexico, with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada and Catalina through September.
I took the inaugural three-day cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada to experience everything an adventurous adult can do onboard a cruise ship for a long weekend. A short jaunt out and back to Mexico on the Ovation of the Seas with Royal Caribbean is a perfect antidote to the always-on hustle culture while still having fun and pushing boundaries. To truly relax, I probably should have spent more time at the spa and a little less time trying every possible adrenaline rush onboard but I was too tempted to experience everything the ship had to offer.
So, what can one person really do in around 72 hours on a cruise ship? Let me break it down day by day.
Day 1: Exploring the Ovation of The Seas
Looking up at the boat from the dock in San Pedro, the ship really dwarfs everything around it. From land you can even see the iFly skydiving simulator and the observation capsule.
When I arrived on board, I got my bearings with a walk around the boat to get familiar with the general layout. The ship is massive, a true floating city. All of the shops, bars and restaurants are centrally located in the “Royal Promenade” and easy to find compared to other cruise ships where sometimes it seems like you need a compass and guide to find what you’re looking for. I wanted to avoid the insanity of the buffet so I took lunch at Sorrento’s pizza onboard, a casual pizza spot that’s complimentary with any cruise fare.
After lunch, I didn’t want to miss watching the City of Angels fade into the distance as we headed out to sea. I joined the Sail Away pool party on Deck 14 for cupcakes and cocktails under a cloudy but sunlit late afternoon. Alternatively, for a quieter time you can head up to the bridge wings of the Solarium (a beautiful indoor swimming spot), or walk up to Deck 15 midship if you want to feel the wind on your face as you sail away.
Hungry, I braved the buffet at Windjammer for dinner and then I walked to the Live.Love.Legs show in the Royal Theater. The two-story theater utilizes laser virtual technology and video screens to enhance the Vegas Burlesque themed show. The costumes are sexy and loud, the choreography is playful, and the video/projection effects are stunning. It’s definitely for a more mature audience, but it’s not going to shock anyone.
I got to learn more about the ship’s theater capabilities by attending an Introduction and technology showcase at the Two70 theater, their state of the art $33 million theater with a 270-degree view of the water. There are six robotic screens that can move in sync with performers and the entire back wall of floor-to-ceiling windows can become projection screens.
By the end of the showcase, I had had enough learning and was ready to get my groove on and party. I walked into the Silent Disco, grabbed a pair of headphones, and got to dancing. The Shush! Silent Party is a Royal Caribbean DJ battle where guests 18+ can flip between DJs to pick who they like to dance to the best.
When the Silent Disco was over, I spent the late night in the main promenade listening to live DJs there, grabbing drinks at the Bionic Bar from the robot bartenders there. To complement my futuristic cocktails, I enjoyed some delicious macarons from La Patisserie. At midnight, the boat celebrated the first voyage from LA with a congratulatory balloon drop.
Finishing out my Day 1 aboard, I went to the English Pub for some late-night snacks.
Day 2: Extreme Sports, Shondaland & More
I started Day 2 off with an aromatherapy hot stone massage from the spa, much needed after a late-night partying and dancing. The low lighting, therapeutic oils, and hot (but not burning!) stones created a wonderful meditative atmosphere that was very sensual and relaxing. They used some fabulous Elemis products, which I loved so much I ended up bringing some home.
The rest of the day was fully dedicated to Shonda Rhimes and extreme sports. I did the bumper cars to get warmed up for the day, committing to pure mischievous fun and living out the fantasy of bumping out every bad driver I see on the road with my tiny car.
While I was up on the top deck, I also checked out the iFly Ripcord Experience, a skydiving simulator that is used by real skydivers to practice, which was absolutely insane and utterly terrifying. While most people were drinking cocktails, fueling up at the buffet, and sunbathing by the pool, I was losing my mind in a 10’ wide, 23’ tall tube with fans that blow approximately 100 miles an hour. I kept trying to edge myself back to the door, but the guide wasn’t having it. You even have to sign a waiver, and be under the weight limit – and yes, they weigh you to be sure. I definitely got my full adrenaline rush on this one.
To come down from the insane adrenaline rush at iFly, I went up into the North Star Observation Capsule, which is a little pod on the end of a long arm that rises 300’ over the ship itself and gives 360 degree views. It’s crazy to be cruising through the ocean, but also riding 300 feet above everything, looking down and around. It can move up and down or side to side, and is a pretty cool feat of engineering and something that’s unique to the Royal Caribbean ships.
I kept the good vibes rolling by popping over to see the Whole Soul Quartet play some Shondaland Bridgerton songs like the “Hearts and Flowers Ball”, “Sharpening My Knives”, the show’s cover of “Thank u, next”, and Maroon 5’s “Girls”. The ship was actually celebrating Shondaland’s 20th Anniversary onboard with a “Shondaland at Sea” experience so I was able to catch some exclusive Shondaland shows and interviews.
Shondaland, the American production powerhouse behind Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and Bridgerton, was founded by Shonda Rimes in 2005.Fun fact: Shonda Rimes wrote the 2001 cult classic Britney Spears movie Crossroads and also worked as a writer on The Princess Diaries.
We watched a private screening of the pilot episode of award-winning television show Scandal, followed by an interview and Gray’s Anatomy themed trivia. Joined onstage by her creative partner and fellow producer Betsy Beers, as well Jason George Malina, Caterina Scorsone and Josh Malina, Shonda Rhimes appeared for a moderated interview and answered questions for guests onboard in the theater.
When asked about her favorite lines from her shows, she mentioned that her favorites were the ones where the “lines of a black woman came out in her characters, even Patrick Dempsey”. She went on to talk about how she identifies with all of her characters, especially Christina and Bailey, Olivia Pope, Millie and Fitz. Queen Charlotte is how she approaches the world. Ultimately, “There is a little bit of me in every character” Rhimes noted.
After enjoying the Shondaland at Sea experience, I ate dinner at the formal dining room, where you can enjoy a three-course meal with options like a Shrimp cocktail, Broiled Lobster Tail, and a variety of desserts.
Next, I went to the Spectras Cabaret in the Two70 theater I learned so much about the day before. Seeing the robotic screens in action was very cool.
After my full day of luxury, adrenaline and Shondaland, I was more than ready to head to bed early.
Day 3: Ensenada at Last!
In the morning, I took a private tour of the Royal Suite, the most luxurious room aboard. It was insane and if I booked I would never leave the room, so it’s probably for the best if I wasn’t staying there.
I left the ship to take a Mezcal and Tequila excursion, which started with a scenic drive from port up a winding dirt road to the Cuatro Cuatros Vineyard, a gorgeous coastal mountain estate and resort. Because the goal was to become a Mezcal and Tequila Connoisseur, we did a guided tour and tasting with Hugo, the tour leader. I learned all about the production of tequila, mezcal and wine in the region; apparently Grenache is very popular in the area. As a huge lover of food, I was excited to learn that Anthony Bourdain stayed in Ensenada a lot over the years because of the fabulous seafood.
At the tasting, we tried traditional wines from all over Mexico. First, we sampled a Bacanora from Sonora, which is not quite a mezcal but rather a drier Sonoran cousin made from a special type of agave. Second, we tried Nocheluna Sotol, made from a 26-year old Dasylirion plant from Chihuahua, Mexico. Then we tried two different mezcals, Cordon Cerrado, which hails from Durango and Vago, from Oaxaca. The Cordon Cerrado was perhaps a little cleaner and less overpoweringly smoky than the Vago, but both were delicious!
After the tasting, we headed to the absolutely gorgeous speakeasy style bar and had a delicious Passion Fruit margarita before wandering around and then heading back to port before the ship left without us.
For the ride home, I enjoyed the festive cruise atmosphere and had a great night’s sleep before disembarking in the morning. I packed a lot into my time on board, and learned a lot about mezcal, Shondaland, and what types of extreme sports I actually enjoy.
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