My “Solo Cruise” on Rhapsody of the Seas… Here’s the Truth (Ep 5)

In this episode of The SeaLog Podcast, Sean wraps up a 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas — a solo sailing from San Juan with stops in St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Martin, St. Lucia, and Barbados. This is an honest, end-of-cruise debrief: what worked, what didn’t, what was worth the money, and what Sean would do differently next time — day-by-day and port-by-port. ⸻ ✅ What We Cover in This Episode • Getting There + Pre-Cruise Hotel Flying into San Juan, staying at the Marriott, and the real costs (including resort fees). • Embarkation in San Juan (The Real Story) The long wait outside the port, what caused it, and a simple tip that saved a ton of time once the gates opened. • The Ship Experience (Solo on Rhapsody) Why this was the smallest Royal Caribbean ship Sean has sailed, first impressions, crew vibe, and what surprised him most. • Ports, Excursions + What It Actually Felt Like – St. Thomas: canceled “signature” excursion, Magens Bay + Skyride combo, and the unexpected road incident leaving the beach – St. Croix: what’s walkable without an excursion, what to avoid, and why the Carambola beach day was a standout – Saint Martin: small-group foodie tour, rum distillery tasting, French-side stops, and what “signature” actually means in practice – St. Lucia: west coast catamaran + snorkeling — what the description promised vs. what it really was (and why it was still fun) – Barbados: scenic drive + Harrison’s Cave — the highlight, the slow parts, and what made the day drag • Food & Dining: The Wins and the Misses Giovanni’s, Chops, and why Sean ended up at Izumi almost every night — plus a quick note on the updated sushi & sake menu. • Shows + Nightlife (Or Lack of It 😄) What Sean skipped, why solo cruising changes the evening routine, and what he did instead. • Final Verdict Who this itinerary is best for, what’s worth paying for, and whether Sean would sail Rhapsody and this route again. ⸻ This is no-hype, no-filter feedback — just a real recap of what happened, what delivered, what didn’t, and what you should know before booking a Southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, tap like and subscribe — and tell us in the comments: Which stop would you pick most: St. Thomas, St. Martin, St. Lucia, or Barbados? ⸻ ✅ Video Information This video is 4K — don’t miss out on the scenery by watching it in a lower resolution. Share this video with a friend: https://youtu.be/jE0_hZvrrZ8 🔗 Subscribe for Weekly Videos: (put your channel link here) ✅ Recommended Ship Tour Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGdHP0yyduETKFGP5mM1yu7fF4vfb3qKi ⸻ #rhapsodyoftheseas #royalcaribbean #southerncaribbean #sanjuan #cruisevlog