Our very first morning waking up on The Destiny was also our very first “day at sea”. On this morning, I had scheduled myself for a facial at the very amazing onboard Senses Spa at 8am. It’s so easy to make appointments through the app ahead of your cruise but you can also do it after you arrive on the ship. I thought this would be a great way to kick off my cruise with some relaxation time. We had also pre-ordered our room service coffee and donuts the night before to arrive between 7:30 and 8am.
When our room service hadn’t arrived a few minutes before 8, I decided I would have to caffeinate after my facial and made my way down to deck 5 for the spa. Speaking of, I loved our location on deck 7. We had easy access to Marceline’s and the pool deck on 11 but still close to the spa, gym and shopping on deck 5. It felt like a great middle ground. Our room was also very near the stairs and elevators, which was ideal.
When I entered the spa right at 8, I was surprised to find out it was actually only 7! I forgot to take into account the time change as we were sailing west. I’m so used to my phone automatically updating to the correct time, but on the DCL Wi-Fi, it didn’t. When in doubt, check the stateroom TV, which will always show the most up to date time and info. So, I got an extra hour to enjoy my coffee and donuts on the balcony, which did arrive on time after all! I can’t say enough about the complimentary room service on DCL – what a luxury!
My facial was with Ashley, who was excellent. I have gotten some great facials before and this was right up there, if not at the top. I also expected there might be some product pushing after the facial but honestly, I really didn’t experience this. It was overall a lovely way to start my cruise and I would definitely recommend! After the facial, I took advantage of the Rainforest Room pass I purchased on board (you can also purchase ahead of time) and indulged in the saunas and private adults only sun deck. The Rainforest Room is gorgeous and so relaxing. If you love day spa amenities, the Rainforest Room is for you!
We grabbed lunch on this day at the Festival of Foods on deck 11. I was so surprised at how delicious the food here was – it looks like it would be pretty basic, but it’s great! I got a burrito bowl and it was perfection. We spent the afternoon checking out the main pool deck and the adults only area. The main area can definitely get a little busy but there are so many places to be, it’s really not hard to find a quiet spot to lounge, especially if you can take advantage of the adults only areas. We also rode the Aqua Mouse, which was so much fun, before heading back to our stateroom to get ready for dinner. On this night, we dined at the very elegant 1923 and then checked out a few of the lounges, including the Haunted Mansion Bar, DeVil’s and the Rose. I loved them all, but DeVil’s was probably my favorite. I love the live piano music and the whole vibe is very cozy. They also have a very fun special event called “Treble Making with Cruella” that we caught on a different evening – it’s a must do!
The next day we were docked in Cozumel. I started my day in the Senses Fitness Center and then with breakfast from Marceline’s – another delicious dining option with everything you can imagine. The onboard gym is definitely small, but it’s really nice and well equipped and I was able to get right on a treadmill both times I went. We had pre-booked an excursion to tour the Mayan ruins and visit the Mayan Cacao Company. We had great tour guides and it was definitely an interesting experience, but it made for kind of a long day with a lot of walking and not many opportunities for food or drink. I probably wouldn’t recommend it for families with young children. It did seem that most people opted to stay on the ship during the Cozumel day and honestly, there is so much to do on the ship I don’t blame them!
That evening was DCL’s signature Pirates Night! Everyone receives a complimentary pirate bandana, which you can choose to wear or not. Many people go all out with pirate themed attire, but it’s totally optional. We ate at World of Marvel that evening, which was excellent. Character meet and greets seem to be going on all the time on the ship (you’ll see these in the DCL app too!) so that evening I took pictures with Chip and Dale and Mickey, which was a lot of fun. Later that night the cast performed their amazing pirates themed show on the pool deck – seriously, it looked like something you would see on the Disney channel – followed by fireworks at sea! DCL is the only cruise line to do this and it’s really a special experience. Definitely worth staying up late for!
The next day would be our final full day at sea! Thanks for reading!
