We are officially back at sea! We are taking you along for our embarkation day on Royal Caribbean’s newly amplified Ovation of the Seas
Welcome back to the vlog! After exploring the sights of Seattle and the charm of Vancouver, the big day finally arrived: it was time to board our cruise ship for a 7-night northbound Alaska adventure on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas.
Stepping onto a Quantum-class ship for the very first time brought a ton of excitement. Here is a look at how our embarkation day went down, what our room looks like, and what you need to know if you are sailing out of Canada Place!
1. Boarding the Ovation of the Seas in Vancouver
We woke up just steps from the port at our downtown hotel and made our way over to Canada Place.
The Port Experience: Unlike ports in Florida where curbside porters take your heavy bags right away, the Vancouver port layout requires you to carry or wheel your luggage a bit further before reaching drop-off points. It takes a little extra coordination, but once you get through the customs and security lines, the boarding process itself moves smoothly.
First Stop—The Windjammer: Tradition is tradition! The very first thing we did after stepping onboard was head straight up to the Windjammer Marketplace to grab lunch and get our bearings. We also had to sort out a quick double-booking on our dining reservations, and the crew at the restaurant helped us get everything straightened out in no time.
2. Junior Suite Stateroom Tour (Room 10210)
For this sailing, we booked a Junior Suite (Stateroom 10210), and it proved to be the perfect size for three adults traveling together.
The room features:
A massive, incredibly comfortable couch and plenty of square footage to move around.
Incredible storage space, including separate closet units with pull-down racks so everyone has their own dedicated area.
A massive private balcony with great views of the port.
(Fun fact: There is also a glass infinity floor panel outside the room that looks straight down five stories into the Royal Promenade—which is slightly terrifying if you look straight down!)
3. Exploring the Ship & The Royal Theater
After unpacking, we set off to explore the lower decks. The Royal Promenade and Esplanade on Deck 5 are packed with guest favorites like Sorrento’s Pizza, a pub, duty-free shopping, and casual watering holes like the newly added Pesky Parrot bar.
We also wandered forward to check out the Royal Theater. We loved the layout of this multi-level theater, especially the upper viewing spots and unique seating configurations that give every guest a great view of the production shows.
4. Dinner at Chops Grille
To celebrate our first night at sea, we grabbed dinner at Chops Grille, Royal Caribbean’s signature specialty steakhouse.
As always, Chops delivered an absolute home run. From perfectly cooked steaks to incredible sides and desserts, it remains one of our absolute favorite places to dine on a Royal Caribbean ship. If you want to elevate your first-night dining experience, a reservation here is 100% worth it!
The Final Verdict
Embarkation day on the Ovation of the Seas was a massive success. While navigating the luggage drop at the Vancouver port has a bit of a learning curve, the ship itself is stunning, our Junior Suite is fantastic, and the energy onboard is electric.
Have you ever sailed out of Vancouver, or tried a Quantum-class ship? Let us know in the comments below!
Want to see our Junior Suite tour, our time at Chops Grille, and our epic time-lapse sail-away from port? Watch our full vlog on YouTube right here:
👉 We're Back at Sea! | Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas Embarkation Day 🚢⚓️
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