A Day at Sea to Unwind Before the Islands Begin

As our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure” continues, we drift farther from routine and closer to the quiet magic of open water. This is post five of the series, and we are aboard the Odyssey of the Seas for our first full day of life at sea with no destination in sight, just sky, sea, endless views, and no pressure to be anywhere else.

If you missed earlier posts, you can catch up by going to the first post here.

Unpacking and Easing Into Cruise Mode

We left port around 5 pm, and our voyage to the Greek Isles officially began! Once we unpacked and got our stateroom organized, we spent the rest of the first day grabbing dinner in the Main Dining Hall and doing a bit more exploring of the ship. The service in the dining hall was fabulous. During the pre-trip phase, we selected “early” seating, which gave us a window to arrive between 5:30 and 6:30 pm.  Being the first night, there was palpable buzz and excitement in the dining hall—plenty of conversations were taking place at tables with groups large and small. You are assigned a table to sit at for the entire cruise. We had no idea where we might be sitting, but like most, I’m sure, we were hoping for a table with a view close to a window. As we were led to our table and we rounded a corner, it became clear to us that we would have just that. We were seated at one table away from a window, offering a clear view of the water. A table for two in a somewhat secluded area considering the massive size of the dining hall.

We were greeted by our head waiter and the waiter’s assistant. They were both personable and attentive. The food was delicious, from apps to dessert. The menu changed each night and was available on the RCI app. I know some who have never cruised wonder about a “dress code” in the main dining. Don’t sweat about that issue. You can “come as you are,” within reason, I suppose, even on those nights that have a theme.

Still feeling the effects of a long travel day, we decided to turn in early. We hung out on the balcony for a while, taking in the darkness of the night and the sound of the sea as the ship made its way towards our first port, Santorini.

Waking Up to a Sea Day on Odyssey of the Seas

The first full day at sea! The first thing we did upon waking up was open the balcony door and take a look around to see where we were. We could see land in the distance. We took our time getting ready for the day. I went and grabbed some coffee from the Windjammer for Demi and me. We enjoyed coffee on the balcony, taking in the sight of the blue sea and the sound of the ship’s wake crashing below as we made our way closer to Santorini. We ate breakfast at Windjammers. It’s just easy and convenient, with plenty to choose from. A wide variety of breakfast meats, eggs (cooked to order), a large selection of fresh fruit, yogurt, breads, coffee, tea, juices, and breakfast desserts are also available. We were still somewhat pinching ourselves that we were here!

Crossing the Strait of Messina and a Quiet Spot to Lounge

Checking the TV in our stateroom to see where we were (there is a channel dedicated to all things about the cruise, one being a map showing the current location of the ship), we saw that we were approaching the Strait of Messina. The Strait separates Sicily from the mainland, basically, at the big toe of the boot of Italy. As we crossed the Strait of Messina, the shimmering water stretched endlessly, sparkling like diamonds beneath the bright Mediterranean sky.  We could see Sicily on one side and Calabria on the other. I used my phone to take photos, and looking back at them, I believe that one actually shows Mt. Etna on Sicily. That’s the first image on the left. The image in the middle is Sicily, while the image on the right is Calabria.

The pool deck was alive with music and activity, a mini party under the sun. The lively beats of reggae music pulsed from the many strategically placed pool speakers as laughter and splashes mixed with the warm, sun-drenched air. Sunbathers were lined up in rows of lounge chairs, bartenders were in full swing, and kids of all ages were romping in the pool. We discovered a quieter area on deck 15 and lounged for a while, taking in some sun and just relaxing. I managed to get a bit too much sun on the very first day. Not way too much, but enough for a mild burn on the top of my thighs and a portion of my forehead (no hat).

Riding the North Star: 300 Feet Above the Sea

The ship has this “ride” for lack of a better term, called the North Star. It’s a big bubble on an arm that extends up and out over the ship and the water. At its highest point, it’s 300 feet above the water. We knew we wanted to experience this and had a plan to do it in the morning on the day that we scheduled an afternoon excursion. It would be a great way to spend the morning before heading to the shore for a tour. Luckily, we consulted the North Star’s schedule (through the RCI app) to reserve a time. We discovered that many passengers on the ship must have had the same idea as us, and there were no times left for the particular day we had in mind. So, we found a time available on this day, and that’s how we spent part of the afternoon on our first full day at sea.

It was a great experience. We recommend it. Some of the others in the “bubble” with us were funny. They seemed to be afraid of heights and stayed toward the middle. I’m sure some of it was exaggerated, but they appeared glad when it was over.  Only after the ride did it occur to me to wonder—what if it had broken while we were suspended in the air?

Here is a link to a full review of the North Star.

After a day of calm seas and soaring to new heights on the North Star, we were ready for something new. In the morning, we’d open the curtains awaiting the cliffs of Santorini, and a whole new kind of wonder. Join us next time as we explore one of Greece’s most iconic islands. If you’re enjoying the journey so far, consider subscribing so you don’t miss what’s next.