zippydodah

I was on the Enchantment with my 13 year old son over Thanksgiving week. He had a blast in the Teen center.

There's no sign up involved. You can visit the center on the first day just to orientate yourself but parents aren't allowed in the center the rest of the time. The first night the teens do a scavenger hunt of the ship together so it's a great way for them to get used to the layout and make friends. BTW - You can sneak a peek into the center at night to make sure your teen is there if you want. There is a window where you can see in but they can't see out.

They had plenty of activities in the evening and I honestly didn't see him until close to teen curfew (1am) every day. It was a port heavy 4 night cruise so activities didn't start until 8pm. We had dinner together and then he was off with the other teens for the rest of the evening. The center was open during the day but it wasn't staffed until 5 pm or so.

Here is the teen compass. Sorry the pictures are a little blurry but hopefully they can give you an idea of the activities. If you have questions, just ask!

We did Chops for embarkation day lunch on the Enchantment in November. The menu was what's listed above. We were the only people in the dining room and really enjoyed out first meal on the ship. The price was right for us ($18- I think this was a sale price on the website) to try a specialty restaurant and skip the Windjammer. I would absolutely do it again but I don't think we would do the burger again. Everything else we had was delicious and the Salmon Filet was so big I couldn't finish it.

I just returned from my first cruise on the Enchantment of the Seas. I had read many negative things about the state of the ship. From what I read, the interior staterooms would be airless, lightless caves of despair. I read that the crew were rude and the food was bad.

I found all of this to be over exaggerations of someone else's over pickiness. Yes, there was a little rust on the outside of the ship but she was beautiful anyway. Who doesn't have blemishes? The interior cabin we had was delightfully filled with AC and so much light came from under the door, we closed the curtains at the end of our beds to block it out. The crew was very kind and accommodating. And the food was great.

We all only get one chance to experience something for the first time. It's fleeting, so enjoy it.

However, there are some things I was glad I read about before we went. Like doing Chop's on Embarkation Day for lunch. We were the only ones there and it was a lovely start to our First Cruise.

That seriously made me LOL.

I'll be taking my first cruise on Monday with my 13 year old son. I imagine it will feel like a solo trip more than a family trip since he's planning to spend more time doing teen things instead of sitting around drinking and reading. I've solo travelled a lot in my life including to Disney. I prefer solo most of the time, especially at Disney (sorry, kid).

Thank you for your trip report. Can't wait to read more about Robo!!

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I go to Santa Teresita about 3 or 4 times a year. I love the thermal circuit. You'll be guided through pools with different temps designed to get your circulation going.

Don't be put off by the surrounding area. The spa is lovely and you only really see the rest of the neighborhood coming in or out.

One note I'll make just as a head's up. I've found the massages to be hit or miss with them. It's never a horrible experience. It just can be a little odd sometimes. Like they're not quite the same as massages I've gotten in First World countries. Everything here is an adventure. It's why I love living in Guatemala!

You'll see 3 volcanos on your way to the spa. 2 of which are active. As you're coming north from the port, the one in the middle is Agua. It's dormant and probably the most impressive as you're driving along. The ones on either side are active. The one on the right is Pacaya and constantly smokes a little. Fuego, on the left, is more active and is constantly throwing out ash. If it's a clear day, you should have a good show.

Enjoy your cruise and your visit to Guatemala.

I live in Guatemala. Where does this excursion take you? I may be able to help you a little if it's to Santa Terresita as I've been there on my own (not on a cruise excursion).

You're pictures are gorgeous! We are on the Enchantment for our first cruise ever over Thanksgiving. I'm more excited now after seeing these. Thank you for sharing!