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There’s always a mix of emotions on the final morning of a cruise—gratitude, exhaustion, and that tiny pang of sadness when the intercom announces the first group can disembark. As we pulled into Galveston, I couldn’t help but reflect on what a relaxing week it had been aboard Harmony of the Seas—a cruise that checked both of our goals and taught us a few lessons along the way. Our disembarkation was quick and easy, as we always take our own bags off. We were off the ship and in our car by 8:00 am.

Good Morning Galveston

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Our Cruise Goals

We came on this sailing with two clear goals:

• 1. Hubby to reach Casino Royale Prime status.
• 2. To experience the Ultimate Dining Package—something we’d never tried before.

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The Ultimate Dining Package Experience

We’ve eaten in most of Harmony’s restaurants over the years, but this was the first time we committed to a full week of specialty dining—never once setting foot in the main dining room.

And honestly? I liked it.

It felt more relaxed not being locked into a set dinner time. We could eat when we wanted, linger over dessert, or call it an early night. The smaller restaurant atmosphere was cozier and more personal than the large dining room hustle.

Service varied—some venues were slower than expected, and a few meals missed the mark—but overall we enjoyed the experience. If we’re not cruising in a suite (and eating in Coastal Kitchen), we’d definitely consider purchasing the Ultimate Dining Package again.

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Casino Royale Results

Our casino goal was just as straightforward:

Budget: $1500 total | Goal: Hubby to reach Prime Status

We not only accomplished that, but also added 800 points toward my own Prime status. Total Cost: $1,477 with a cost per point of $.82.

For context, that’s a fantastic result for a 7-day cruise. We maximized playtime, hit the goal, and even came in under budget—a rarity in cruise-casino math!

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Looking Ahead: What’s Next

Our next adventure is already in the works. In January, we’ll be combining a Florida cruise with the Tampa RV Show—the perfect kickoff to our next chapter of RV travel and extended road adventures.

Right now, we don’t have a specific cruise booked. The plan was to either earn a free cruise offer from this sailing or redeem one for the week leading up to the show.

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Lessons Learned

Every trip teaches something new. Here are a few takeaways from this cruise:

Free Cruise Math Matters.

🔹 With my 800 points I earned $250 off a future cruise or a choice of select sailings from the 800-point list,

🔹 Rob, with 1,000 points, earned $350 off and qualified for the same select 800-point sailings.

Since we’re going to be in Tampa in Jan, we were looking for a cruise mid-month on either the Utopia of the Seas or the Wonder of the Seas, neither ship we’ve sailed on before. Unfortunately the ship and sailing we were wanting wasn’t on the list.

BUT, it WAS on the 1200 points list. In hindsight, we should’ve played a bit more to hit 1,200 points, and we would have scored the sailing we wanted. Of course that would have put us slightly over budget.

This is why it is so important to head into this with a clear strategy and goals. We had them, but they weren’t complete.

Some would say – why not just use the $1400 you lost and PAY for the cruise you want. Yes we could do that BUT – you’re missing out on hundreds of OTHER free cruise offers. We’re receiving 2-3 offers a week that includes somewhere between 15-20 different sailings and ships. You could literally live on cruise ships for a year just from the casino offers you receive. So it’s more than just this one sailing. There is also the annual FREE cruise that can be used on nearly any sailing. There is still a list, but it includes nearly every ship except the absolute newest.

Timing is Everything.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on new Casino Royale offers over the next few weeks. The goal is to book our next sailing by the end of October to take advantage of our NextCruise onboard credit.

We purchased a NextCruise certificate for $200, which applies as a deposit toward any cruise and should cover most port fees. If we book within 30 days, we also get an extra $50 onboard credit. Check out my post on the ins and outs of NextCruise Certificates.

Next Trip Game Plan.

The plan is for me to finish my Prime status on that January sailing, which means by mid-year we’ll both have Prime status and can start combining offers—or bring friends along for a fun, comped cruise. As mentioned earlier we are hoping for Utopia or Wonder, but we’re open to which ever ship is offered that meets the dates we’ll be in Florida.

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Final Thoughts

This cruise was exactly what we needed—laid-back, goal-driven, and full of little wins. From quiet mornings on the balcony to the thrill of watching jackpots hit all around us, it was the perfect mix of relaxation and excitement.

🔹 Rob hit Prime.
🔹 I made strong progress.
🔹 And we proved that you can cruise smart, eat well, and stay on budget.

Until next time—good morning, Galveston, and goodbye Harmony.
Here’s to the next adventure… both on land and at sea. 🌊

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