Welcome to episode six of the Go Places Do Things podcast! Joey and Cheryl, a pair of 50-somethings, are back to talk about their most recent adventure: a five-night Royal Caribbean cruise on the Mariner of the Seas out of Galveston, Texas, in August 2025.

This trip was a special one for two reasons: celebrating their daughter's 18th birthday and cruising with their expert-cruiser friends, Jack and Viv, who are Royal Caribbean masters.

Join them as they share the details of their journey, including:

• The road trip to Galveston and mandatory stops at Buc-ee's (and the decision to break their diet with a shared cinnamon roll).

• Their impressions of the older but well-cared-for Mariner of the Seas, from the glass elevators to the unique ice skating show at sea.

• The Main Dining Room (MDR) experience and the joy of traditional dining.

• The port days, featuring a day trip to the Mayan ruins of Chacchoben in Costa Maya and the exhilarating, but picture-less, experience of swimming with manatees at Chankanaab in Cozumel.

• Tips on cruising with an 18-year-old, the best quiet spots on the ship, and how they enjoyed their sea days relaxing and playing Mexican Train dominoes with friends.

Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first trip, Joey and Cheryl hope their stories give you ideas for the places you can go and the things you can do!