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After spending a cheap DIY day on Aruba, it was time for a Caribbean themed dinner in the main dining room of Symphony of the Seas. A Taste of the Caribbean Dinner MenuRoyal Caribbean Dinner Menu Photo:  Although it's the Caribbean menu, as you can see there is still a mix of offerings that are not Caribbean-inspired at all and our choices reflect that. Crispy Coconut Jumbo Shrimp"Breaded coconut shrimp paired with a tangy pineapple-celeriac slaw and a sweet chili dipping sauce"  Coconut shrimp is always a win, and I will always order it on a cruise! Asian-Style Pork Bao Tacos"Roasted pork belly in a sweet-chili sauce topped with sautéed vegetables and pork crackling in a soft, steamed bun"  I'm always enticed by Bao, but at the end of the day I think I'm just not crazy about the texture of the steamed buns - on or off a cruise ship. Garlic-Herb Buttered Tiger Shrimp"Broiled until golden brown, served with jasmine rice, sautéed seasonal vegetables, and a garlicky herb butter"  Shrimp appetizer, Shrimp main ... as long as you're not allergic this is a win! Jerk-Seasoned Pork Chop"Tender marinated pork chop with rice and beans, sweet plantains and Jamaican fried dumplings" Can we all just look back to the shrimp meal and then this one and agree that this is a massive amount of food! Being Cuban-American, my eyes light up when I see plantains on a menu and of course I love rice and beans. We honeymooned in Jamaica where I had my first bites of jerk seasoned foods so how could I not order this dish? Despite all that connection, in retrospect I liked the garlic herb buttered tiger shrimp better - who knew?! Pineapple Sunshine Cake"Light and fluffy pineapple cake with a sweet whipped cream frosting"  More Symphony of the Seas Cruise Food Pics and Reviews:
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Free Shuttle from Aruba Cruise PortAfter waking up to this gorgeous water view from our Oceanview cabin (room tour with photos and review here), we were eager to start our day on Aruba. Conveniently, after exiting the ship's gangway there were shuttle buses waiting to take cruise ship passengers to the main gate. The shuttle buses were free (hooray!) and had comical names like "Honey Boy" and "Lady Blue". They were clearly marked with the name of our ship, Symphony of the Seas. Aruba Cruise PortFor those with limited mobility, there is plenty of shopping to do in the main port area.  If you're able to walk a bit more you can check out the "local market". At the main intersection walk left, and you'll see the sign for the local market right across from the I ❤︎ Aruba sign. Souvenirs in Aruba Cruise PortThere are plenty of classic t shirts, ball caps, and magnets available to purchase in port (pics to come), but there are also some more unique items from local artisans to consider! The colorful boho sandals were calling my name, but I restrained because I was afraid they were too flat for my feet. :( Knock Off Ray Ban Sunglasses in Aruba Cruise PortI got a kick out of this sunglasses display which announces that all of the $25 sunglasses are fake items. lol. But hey if you want some D&G, Chanel, or Ray Bans ....  Cute paintings and decorative signs for your home. Cost of Souvenir Hats in ArubaLoads of souvenir hats and visors were available. As seen below the prices at this shop ranged from $5-8. The PaddockThe Paddock is located in walking distance from the port in Oranjestad, Aruba. A popular spot due to it's convenient location and vibe, a bucket of 5 local beers would set you back just $20 and a meal consisting of French bread, chicken salad, and fries ran $10. If you want to leave your mark you can leave a $1 bill on the wall and sign your name and where you're from. I do believe this was also a spot where you could catch wifi in Aruba cruise port. Walking Around OranjestadBeyond the ornate, colorful buildings when you first enter the town, we strolled beyond the main strip of stores and toward the far end of the marina.  A pair of giant flamingos nuzzling stood between the yachts and the cruise ships in the distance. It looks like Carnival was also in port with us on this day.  This was just at the edge of the Renaissance Marketplace in the Aruba cruise port where we found a really cool store. Mopa Mopa ArubaThis store was filled with unique and intricately decorated home decor. Have you heard of the Mopa Mopa Tree?  Much to my surprise, these items are not painted. Rather they are decorated using a centuries old technique of extracting resin from the Mopa Mopa Tree. Inside the store you could ask an associate and read other information to learn about this unique art form. They do accept all major credit cards, so if you don't have enough cash on you for one of these treasures, don't worry. I think this is a very cool store to walk around and learn about this unique craft even if you're not in the market for a piece. Murals by Armando GoedgedragAbsolutely incredible art murals can be seen on the sides of buildings in the Renaissance Marketplace which have been painted by the very talented Armando Goedgedrag.  It's very cool to see support for local artists like this and it really adds to the vibrance of Oranjestad, don't you agree?! Wilhelmina Park, OranjestadWilhelmina Park in Oranjestad is a well-manicured park with a nice walkway stroll through.  Here in this park you will see a statue of Anne Frank.  As well as Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands whom the park is named after. She reigned from 1890 until her abdication in 1948.  Queen Wilhelmina was the longest raining monarch in Dutch history. Apparently she was also the world's first female billionaire.  Her park is also full of iguanas!! It's hard to tell from the photo, but they are quite large! Mangroves and BeachesThere is a wooden boardwalk from Governors Bay Beach in Oranjestad which allows you to enjoy views of Banyan Trees.  These cool trees have aerial roots that grow into accessory trunks. Over time a Banyan tree can cover several acres - isn't that insane?! It was hard to pass up an opportunity to walk down through this banyan tree and onto a beach via this sort of secret path.  The beach area here was quite narrow, but felt private. There was no one in sight although it was not that far from the main Governor's Beach area. When traveling, very often you are rewarded when you're willing to take just a few extra steps. Continuing on toward Surfside Beach, we passed some more incredible trees like this Acacia tree.  And I found it fascinating how this tree looked like it was currently caught in a violent windstorm although the weather was calm. :)  We finally made it to Surfside Beach!  There were just a few families there. With plenty of trees to catch some shade from or sit on, I really enjoyed this beach! By the way, all beaches in Aruba are free. :) The Pastechi HouseThere was one last stop we wanted to make before heading back to our cruise ship after this day in Oranjestad. That stop was The Pastechi House.  We visited The Pastechi House on an ABC islands cruise back in 2017 or around there and were thrilled to see it survived through the pandemic, though it was a struggle the owner shared. Pastechi House Menu with Prices Pastechi is an ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) version of an empanada and they are tasty!! We also nabbed ourselves a fresh orange juice which was a tad bit more expensive than in Portugal.  Just outside The Pastechi House was this spectacular rooster ...  Even more exciting was the exotic black, white, and orange bird in this palm tree! It appears to be a Venezuelan Troupial!  Downtown OranjestadIt was time to make our way back through downtown Oranjestad and to the cruise ship terminal, past the blue horse ... Beyond all the cute buildings ...   Took one last look at the cutest souvenirs for anyone who loves a cultural touch! Probably should have gotten a Where's my Pastechi at!? mug. It was a cool honor system sort of set up where when the artist wasn't there in person (like the day we were there), you could snap a picture of what you wanted to by, message her on whatsapp and then send the payment to her! I Heart Aruba SignDon't forget, you can't leave the island without snapping a pic of the I ❤︎ Aruba sign, can you?  We got back on board Symphony of the Seas and headed to our room to get ready for dinner - Caribbean Night!  We returned to a cute little towel animal welcoming us back and I put on the closest thing to a "Caribbean" themed outfit as I had for dinner in the main dining room.   Outfit: Quince European Linen Long Sleeve Shirt, Etsy Skirt, Nisolo Bag, Melrie Jewelry A Taste of the Caribbean MenuAfter a lovely day exploring Aruba, we were ready for dinner in the main dining room onboard Symphony of the Seas. Tap the menu to see what we ordered! A Taste of the Caribbean Menu Utopia of the Seas "The World's Biggest Weekend" Review in PhotosUtopia of the Seas began sailing in July 2024 as the sixth Oasis Class Ship in the Royal Caribbean Fleet and my lovely friend Evelyn enjoyed sailing during Utopia's inaugural season along with her husband and daughter in a 1D Ocean View Balcony 11658. Please enjoy the photos she has graciously shared!  Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas From elaborate displays as seen above and monkey scavenger hunts to unique art displays throughout the ship, Utopia of the Seas is a fun-filled short cruise vacation for anyone who wants to get away but doesn't have loads of time off. Boardwalk Neighborhood on Utopia of the SeasAn iconic feature of all Oasis Class ships is the carousel on the boardwalk. The carousel is free to ride as many times as you'd like and makes for a great photo with the ship name in the background and the mirrored purple Ultimate Abyss slides.  Carousel onboard Utopia of the Seas cruise ship If you spend some time in the Boardwalk neighborhood, you may find one of the jewel eyed monkeys!  Jewel Eyed Monkey Scavenger Hunt on Utopia of the Seas
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Oh, Hey!We're Justin and Marissa
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