Day 2: A Magical Day at Sea

Sleeping In & Spa Bliss

Josh and Blake took full advantage of the lazy sea day, sleeping in and ordering room service for breakfast. Meanwhile, Rusty and I had a very different kind of morning—we headed straight to our couples massage, a generous gift from the family as a thank-you for planning the trip. Absolute heaven! The funniest part came at the end. My therapist was holding my hand with my arm extended, slowly lowering it down. I figured this was some kind of final relaxation technique. I heard Rusty’s therapist leave the room, but mine continued holding my hand for what felt like forever. Should I open my eyes? Was she waiting for me to let go? Finally, there was a squeeze on my hand, so I looked—only to realize it was Rusty’s hand! The therapists had joined our hands together, and I had no clue. I burst into laughter.

Exploring Every Nook & Cranny

Gwen’s favorite part of the day? “Running around wild with Leo,” exploring the ship from top to bottom.

Meanwhile, the Royal Gathering was equal parts magical and stressful. It had been a nightmare to book, and not everyone got tickets. But when it was time to line up, Carlie simply told them her stateroom number, and Grandma and I just… casually jumped in line with them. Crisis averted! Watching the little girls meet Cinderella and the other princesses was absolutely precious. I think it was one of Grandma’s favorite moments, getting photos with Cinderella and her granddaughters.

The little cousins were feeling a little left out of all the freedom and adventures of the big cousins. Halle—being the world’s best cousin—took Simon and Mave on their very own ship exploration adventure.

Poolside Relaxation & Adults-Only Escape

We spent the afternoon lounging in the shade on the pool deck while the kids popped in and out, coming and going from their various adventures. Then, while the kids went off to the Oceaneer Club, the adults escaped to the quiet, blissful serenity of the adults-only deck. Halle and Josh, now officially “adults” on the ship, joined in on the fun. We all grabbed the drink of the day and soaked in the relaxation.

Showstopping Entertainment & Sunset Shenanigans

That evening’s show was The Little Mermaid, and wow—it brought the house down. The production was incredible, and the whole audience was enchanted. (Well, except for Josh and Blake, who opted for video games in the teen club instead. Priorities.)

After the show, we attempted sunset photos with our Mickey ears at the bow of the ship. Beautiful? Yes. But also? So windy! Our ears kept flying off our heads, and at one point, Papa’s ears blew overboard… well, almost. They actually landed down in the Serenity Spa, and we had to go ask them to retrieve them for us.

First we tried ears on. And tried to use the “Add Me” feature on Rusty’s Pixel. Fail.

Then we asked someone to take it for us. Much better, but I’m still cursing that wind!

Mom’s ears were making a run for it.

Dinner & Late-Night Fun

Dinner that night was at Arendelle, and while the show was fun, it did make it a little hard to chat. The true star of the meal? The Troll Family’s Rock Chocolate Bar. Absolute perfection. It’s a signature dessert featuring chocolate cake, pistachio cookie rocks, and elderflower meringue.

Most of us called it an early night, but the teens had one more adventure ahead—the Oogie Boogie party. After that, they made a triumphant return to karaoke, where Halle, Gwen, Leo, Jack, Blake, and Josh belted out “That’s What Makes You Beautiful.”

And with that, another incredible day came to an end. Next up: our first stop at port!