I’m excited to share my Cabo San Lucas cruise recap with you because this trip was one I won’t forget.
My sister and her family had a five-night cruise booked out of Long Beach, and when my nephew had to work and couldn’t go, I happily stepped in. It didn’t take much convincing to leave Chicago when it was negative six degrees and head somewhere warm.
We sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, two sea days, a day and a half in Cabo, then two sea days back.
Here’s exactly how it went, day by day.
Day 1: Boarding & Exploring
We checked in around noon and dropped our luggage with the porters. They guarantee your bags will arrive in your room by 6 p.m., and ours did. Check-in was very easy and organized.
It was a beautiful day in Los Angeles, so we went straight up to the pool deck to sit outside and relax. My first drink onboard was a Strawberry Blonde – Tito’s Handmade Vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, strawberry purée, lemon juice, and fresh mint. Light, refreshing, slightly tart.
I had purchased the drink package ahead of time, which worked out to about $80 per day including gratuity. Since bottled water and specialty coffee drinks cost extra otherwise, and I knew I’d enjoy wine and cocktails throughout the week, it made sense.
Our Cabin
I shared a cabin with my niece on the 7th floor. It had two twin beds, two closets, a dresser, desk, bathroom, and balcony. The layout was surprisingly efficient, our suitcases fit perfectly under the beds, and it never felt cramped.
The balcony became one of my favorite spots. While the lifeboats were directly below us so we didn’t have a straight-down view into the water, we still had beautiful open ocean views. Sitting out there felt peaceful.
We officially embarked around 3 p.m. and spent the afternoon exploring.
The SeaPlex is a massive indoor complex featuring bumper cars, roller skating, and a pickleball court that changes depending on the scheduled activity and a FlowRider surf simulator.
Two70 is a panoramic lounge at the back of the ship where they host trivia, dance lessons, and shows. There’s a Music Hall, an adults-only Solarium at the front of the ship, a large Royal Theater, a casino, shops, art auctions, and a spa.
There’s also the North Star, a glass observation capsule that lifts 300 feet above the ocean for 360-degree views. It’s free while docked (though it only goes straight up), but costs $45 per person when the ship is at sea and extends out over the water. I considered it for about two seconds, but remembered I’m afraid of heights, and then passed.
Dinner at Chops
That night we had reservations at Chops Grille, one of the specialty restaurants we upgraded to.
The decor is classic steakhouse with dark wood, white tablecloths, dim lighting. I started with a crispy goat cheese salad, tuna tartar and ordered a filet with gruyère tater tots.
Unfortunately, once the ship started moving, I did not acclimate well at all. I wasn’t nauseous, but I felt extremely unsteady, like my body felt very heavy and couldn’t find its balance. Luckily, I had my doctor prescribe a motion sickness patch before the trip, and I absolutely recommend doing that if you’re going on a cruise.
After dinner, we went to the Starwater show in the Two70 lounge. It’s described as a visual exploration of human emotion through performance and technology. The dancers were talented. The choreography… not so much. The first fifteen minutes featured a very strange voguing segment set to “Strike a Pose” on repeat, at least six times. I don’t think I ever want to hear that song again. People were laughing. Some walked out. We stayed. It got slightly better, but it wasn’t our favorite.
Day 2: Sea Day
I slept surprisingly well but still felt slightly unsteady when I woke up.
I grabbed a latte from the coffee shop and headed up to the 15th-floor pool deck people watch. It was about 70 degrees but breezy. I did not pack for that. I brought one sweatshirt and one pair of leggings and ended up wearing them repeatedly throughout the cruise.
The main dining room was much calmer than the Windjammer where the buffets were. We were seated right next to a window with beautiful ocean views. The options were pretty extensive eggs made to order, eggs Benedict, French toast, avocado toast, pancakes, etc. I had the eggs Benedict and it was made perfectly.
After breakfast, my sister and I headed to the spa. The spa uses Elemis products, which I love. You can immediately recognize that calming spa scent when you walk in.
Full-Body Deep Tissue Massage
I booked a 60-minute full-body deep tissue massage. It was exactly what I needed. The therapist focused heavily on my shoulders and upper back where I carry tension, and I left feeling noticeably lighter.
I had lunch that afternoon was at the Windjammer buffet. I’m not a big buffet person, and while they had an extensive spread, deli sandwiches, burgers, pasta, desserts, the food was mediocre and didn’t vary much from day to day.
The rest of the afternoon we played live trivia games and bingo and had dinner in the main dining room.
Day 3: Cabo San Lucas
We pulled into Cabo around noon and as we were approaching, there were schools of dolphins playing in the ship’s wake. I love seeing marine life and was ecstatic. I have a few videos but no photos to share.
It was much warmer when we docked, 80 degrees and sunny, and coming from subzero Chicago, I wasn’t complaining.
Because Cabo is a tender port, we had to take a smaller boat from the ship to the marina. We walked around for a bit, grabbed gelato, and then headed back to check in for our sunset cruise excursion.
Sunset cruise
The sunset cruise ended up being one of the highlights of this Cabo San Lucas cruise recap.
The boat was smaller and more intimate than I expected. There were about 12 people on the sunset cruise. Food was included and they handed out cute bento-style charcuterie boxes with meats, cheeses, crackers, and fruit.
We cruised past Cabo’s famous Arch and dramatic rock formations. And as the sun started to lower, the lighting was beautiful and everything felt golden.
The highlight? Whales. We saw multiple whales surfacing and breaching in the distance.
When we docked back at the marina, seals were piled on the docks sleeping in clusters. They were so cute and much bigger than I thought they’d be.
That night we had dinner at Las Casa Country, where the waiter made fresh guacamole tableside. It was delicious. After dinner we walked around some more, then took the tender back to the ship.
Day 4: Cabo San Lucas
We could have taken a tender back into Cabo, but we decided to stay on the ship. It was 85 degrees and I spent most of the day outside on the pool deck with my niece, soaking up the sun.
That night we saw Sonic Odyssey in the Royal Theater, and it was hands down the best show on the ship. High energy, immersive, creative. It features musician William Close and his massive Earth Harp, along with a 136-drum wall and even a violin dress. The production was impressive.
Day 5: Last Day
It was surprisingly cold outside on our last sea day, so I spent most of it indoors. After a leisurely breakfast, my sister and I headed back to the spa for my second treatment.
Seaweed Wrap + Massage
I had a 60-minute seaweed wrap that also included a massage. You’re brushed with warm marine-based products, wrapped and cocooned under heated blankets, then rinse off before the massage portion begins. It’s detoxifying, hydrating, and incredibly calming.
Two massages in one week? Yep. And, it’s something I could get used to.
Wonderland
But the highlight of the entire cruise was our final-night dinner at Wonderland, one of the ships speciality restaurants. Wonderland isn’t just dinner, it’s an experience.
The dining room is whimsical and surreal with mismatched furniture and playful decor. The menu arrives as a blank sheet of paper in a gilded frame. You’re given a paintbrush and “magic water,” and as you brush it over the page, the menu appears.
The dishes are grouped into five elements, Sun, Ice, Fire, Sea, and Earth and every course felt theatrical.
Some of the appetizers were the purple potted shrimp wrapped in a crispy shredded-wheat-like coating, crab cones with avocado mousse, smoky deviled eggs served in an edible “bird’s nest” and a single-bite spoon of lobster with bone marrow and caviar. For my entree, I chose the short ribs.
Every dish was creative and beautifully presented. The combinations were incredible and delicious. If you’re considering specialty dining on this ship, Wonderland is worth it.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this Cabo San Lucas cruise recap comes down to having the best time with my family.
Would I cruise again? Yes, probably. Now that I’ve dipped my toe into cruising, I’m ready to plan something different, an European river cruise for our 30th anniversary.
If you’ve done both ocean and river cruises, I’d love to hear about your experience!
Thank you for reading!
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