REVIEW: AOS Southern Caribbean (Barbados route)-Sept. 13th-Sept 20th

[ThinkingInPink]

I read so many reviews on here and searched so many threads about the AOS, I hope I can contribute and help answer some questions as well. I have started my review but will need some time to finish it and work on it! I didn't think it would take so long to write! I have Pre-cruise and boarding so far written out. I hope you enjoy and I hope it helps at least one cruiser!

I have cruised in Alaska on a very small ship. My husband had never cruised before. This was the best experience ever and would do it in a heartbeat again!!!

Please excuse any typos!

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Back from the Cruise! Cruised Sept. 13th-Sept 20th on the Adventure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean - for those reading this on my blog). This was the Barbados route. This cruise was to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary.

Pre-cruise...I worked until Thursday. We booked the cruise back in February and I had counted down ever since! Unfortunately I woke up Thursday and I was sick. As the day went on I got more achy and more sick. Came home and slept for a few hours. I had planned on doing last minute things, being giddy and excited...UGH!! It was a real downer. It is what it is though and nothing I could do. I was sick all through Thursday night and planned I would go to doctor if still feeling this way on Friday. Friday rolled around and by the time I dragged myself outta bed, I just felt like I had a cold of sorts. Skipped the doctor and did a lot of running around. Had my nails down nice and Carribbean-ish (haha). French tips with pink and black swirly things and a hint of glitter. They were cute!

We woke up around 3am on Saturday, September 12th as we were flying out of Washington - Reagan National, Washington, DC on Saturday morning. Our flight was at 7:59am on Delta. Unfortunately I was NOT feeling well. I was blowing my nose a lot and just felt utterly crappy. We left our home in Maryland around 5:15am. We were at the airport around 6am and on the bus to take us to out of the long term parking by 6:20. The airport was not busy at all so we had no problems. I did online check-in the night before for our checked luggage. There was a 15$ per bag fee that I also had already paid online so we could skip all that and just get the printed slip and put it on luggage and boarding passes and be on our way. It was simple. We have not flown Delta before. We have flown US Airways most of the time and once on Northwest. We were very pleased with Delta. Only reason flying them this time was they had the best price for us. We paid $298.20 each for roundtrip from Reagan National airport to Atlanta (about an hour layover) to Puerto Rico. We had a layover in the Atlanta on the way back as well. Only problem with flight is that my ears would NOT pop and along with being sick my ears were stuck and I couldn't hear right and when I talked I felt like I was talking soooo loud! ugh!

Our flight landed in Puerto Rico around 2:30pm. Original plan was we would get there with time to still see something in the evening, but with me being sick it wasn't happening. That's ok, we made the best of it! I have no regrets (except should have made hubby take some pics at hotel!). There is a taxi stand right outside the airport, we went up to the stand, told them where we were going, they gave us a piece of paper with the amount we would pay and we agreed. It aws 12$ to get from airport to Embassy Suites and we had two pieced of big luggage. I was happy with this. Only thing we were not sure on is how much we should be tipping the taxi drivers. We always gave at least $5 as a tip. I hope that was ok. I should have looked into that. The ride from the airport to the hotel was seriously less than 10minutes. Possibly just 5. The hotel was really close.


We stayed one night pre-cruise at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Casino (Isla Verde Carolina - for anyone looking it up on travelocity or such, just because I'm paranoid and wasn't sure if I was staying at the right Embassy, no idea if they have even more than one!). We paid $134.15 to stay one night. I had originally wanted to stay at the Mariott Stellars San Juan Hotel and Casino. The place looked amazing and I read amazing reviews about it. However at $250.00 + for a room I decided against it. I figured I would be smart and save some $$$ and put it towards something else on vacation. I did try to bid on priceline a few times but got nothing. After reading more reviews on hotels in the area, I booked the Embassy. (I booked in June for our September cruise, for anyone wondering how early or late I did that...if that is something you wonder about!).


The hotel was great. The lobby was gorgeous! The rooms were also very nice. A couch, tv, desk, free wi-fi, little fridge, seperate bedroom and we had a king bed. I didn't take any pictures of the hotel as I was too sick to want to do much of anything. Boo. Here is a pic from online though for ya!





We did walk around near the hotel for a couple blocks. I didn't feel like doing much. I did see Ponderosa, Subway, Burger King, Walgreens...all this was with within walking distance if you have a need for any of those. We ended up just eating at the Outback Steakhouse which is inside the hotel. I am a picky eater and I also hadn't thought to look at recommendations on where to eat near the hotel. We were fine with this. My ears were so messed up and I was sick. We didn't even really talk during dinner, I felt like I was yelling and everyone could hear me everytime I talked. LOL.
We spent after dinner taking an extended nap, like 4hrs. Seriously. We were going to go to the managers reception where you can get complimentary drink but the line was SO long when we came out from dinner that we just skipped it. The goal from the nap was that hopefully my ears would be fine when I woke up. No such luck. I finally got the laptop out and googled everything under the sun about getting them to pop. I read that when you're sick it's even worse. Boo. I tried some wierd suggestions to get them to pop...but nothing. Next step was to go to Walgreens in the morning and stock up on meds and get nasal spray which I read would help.

Sunday, September 13th 2009:
Woke up around 8am on Sunday morning. I had to keep taking breaks from getting ready as I didn't have much energy. At one point I thought I was going to need a doctor in Puerto Rico. The good news is that one ear had popped, still had the other one to deal with but at least I could hear and speak semi-normal!! There was a free breakfast buffet at the hotel. I told dh we should go to it as I wasn't sure how long before we would get to eat and how long we'd be at pier to board ship. From our room when we looked over the balcony into the lobby I could tell the breakfast was pretty big looking! This wasn't just some donuts and little cereal packets set out! We went down and they would make you custom omlets! There were pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, potatos, fruit, muffins...to me it was great for being complimentary! I'm a picky eater - but more so in the way that I like my things bland...so maybe to me this was fine. haha. I didn't mind it though. I was just surprised they did all that complimentary...wasn't expecting it.

After breakfast we went to Walgreens and spent $24.00 on meds. I got some sinus meds and nasal spray and some cough meds. My other ear was starting to get better thankfully.

We checked out of the hotel a little before noon, just by calling down to the front desk and letting them know we were leaving.
Outside the hotel there were employees who were motioning for the taxi's to come up. We took a taxi over to the Pan American Pier and I believe it was 24$ but I can't find my slip so I migh be wrong...maybe it was only 15? Someone else hopefully will have the price or I can update if I find my slip. It was more though than from the airport to hotel. The ride from hotel to the pier only took about 15mintues. There was not much traffic at all!
We pulled up to the pier and there were plenty of taxi's unloading but it was not crowded at all in my opinion. I was expecting a long line at the pier. It was around noon. There was no line outside at all. Employees directed us where to drop our bags (they ask your room number and put a bag tag with your room number on it on your luggage). We walked right in the Pier terminal building after that! Inside the building there was a long desk area where they had employees at computers where we could check in. I had checked in online for the sea pass three days prior (you have up to three days before to do it, I thought I had missed the cut-off but guess I didn't). We gave her the printed sea pass I had printed out. She had our cards ready and then looked at Public Health form we filled out and saw that I had been sick within the past 7 days and so could not issue us the cards right away. I was honest on the form about having been sick. I'm guessing some folks are not, but I was sick and I was not going to lie about it. The employee directed us over to the side where I would have to wait for the ship doctor to see me. I kinda felt silly, waiting on him, like we were being disciplined but I don't think anyone knew what we were standing there for Haha. We probably waited around a 20min-1/2hr for the ship doctor to come over. He basically just looked at me and asked me some questions...he was really not personable at all. I was intimidated! I answered honestly and he said I was ok to board (I did have to report to medical facility in morning to have temperature taking by them).

They were not boarding the ship yet. I had read reviews where people said they were on the ship and eating in the Windjammer by like 12:15 but that was not the case this time around. We boarded around 1:15. In the meantime they had a bunch of chairs set up and some snacks set out while you waited. We found two chairs and waited. Wish I would have brought my book to read while waiting but I had put it in suitcase not thinking which they had.

We were glad we got to the pier though when we did, even if we had to wait around an hour in the building till we could board. Only because they stopped letting people in the building and a line formed outside. That line got very long we noticed once we were in our balcony room and looking out. I would definately go early again!

Around 1:15 they started the boarding process. YAY! It was VERY organized. I was worried they would announce we could board and everyone would go running and stampeeding for the ship. Thankfully RC employees had it under control. They dismissed you by rows of seats. I still saw people trying to cut in and get on the ship as if it was going to pull out of port any minute. HAHA.

You walk on some walkways to get on the ship. They check the RC card issued to you and your passport as you get on. There are a couple different checkpoints for this. I was very pleased with their security. It might seem a pain to have several checkpoints...but hey they are doing their best to protect us! There is also an xray machine everytime you get on that scans your carry-ons and purchases. I'm ok with that. They have their photographer waiting for you before you board on one of the walkways to take your picture by the Royal Caribbean sign...they swipe your card before they take it so that your card is linked to all your pictures they take in case you want to buy any. Once at the ship you slide your card in a little slot and look at a camera and it takes your picture. So anytime you board after that and slide your card it shows your picture to the security on the other side. I like this...obviously if someone picks up my card and trys to get on board, hopefully I'm assuming this would show them that 'oh wait that's a male using a females card'. That's the idea I got anyways??

This whole process took about a 1/2hr to get on the ship after they started boarding. It was 1:15pm when we were allowed to start and it was 1:45pm when we entered the ship. I remember because when we got to the 6th deck, we were told we had 15minutes till we could go into our rooms. It didn't seem like it took a 1/2hr to board as we were talking and looking in awe at how big the ship was from where we were outside and such. The employees were doing a good job for the boarding process! And hey, my other ear was almost completely popped!

We're on the ship!!!!!!!

To be continued!

[toonjie]

Great review! Keep it coming!

[ckrobyn]

Great review so far I am looking forward to the next installment.

I have to say that I am impressed that you declared you had been ill within the past 7 days I often wonder if people are honest when they fill out that form?

[Kaboochi]

May I ask what the final cost was for Embassy Suites? I like that hotel chain and would consider it for our 2/10 cruise, depending on the price. Thanks

[ThinkingInPink]

I'm glad someone was impressed! I wondered the same thing. I said I was probably 1 of 3000 passengers who admitted it...but being sick can be serious in a situation where you're on the ship and such and I wanted to be honest...if it meant not sailing or being quarentined I would have been soooooo bummed...but I just couldn't lie.

Next installment to come later tonight.

[ThinkingInPink]

final cost was 149.15. There was a 15$ tax that travelocity did show me up front that I'd be charged at the hotel. Some sort of tax I guess for Puerto Rico hotel, but it did show up on our bill the following morning.

[ckrobyn]

Originally Posted by ThinkingInPink

I'm glad someone was impressed! I wondered the same thing. I said I was probably 1 of 3000 passengers who admitted it...but being sick can be serious in a situation where you're on the ship and such and I wanted to be honest...if it meant not sailing or being quarentined I would have been soooooo bummed...but I just couldn't lie.

Next installment to come later tonight.

I will await the rest of the review, and I hope to hear that by day 2 you were feeling much better and had a fabulous cruise!!!!

[ThinkingInPink]

I can only do six pictures per post so I have to break this up into a couple of posts!!!
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We have boarded and we're on the ship!!!!

We had balcony cabin # 6568. I booked directly through Royal Caribbean via phone and downloaded cruise shark eventually to watch for a price drop. I also had higher decks and suites in cruise shark just in case there was a price drop worth jumping on. Cruise shark found price drops for me a couple times on the different decks but never in my category. That's ok, I was willing to pay what I paid for it and that is fine by me, but hey...if I could get a price drop I wasn't gonna complain either.

We milled around for the 15minutes till 2pm when the rooms were ready. There were a few others waiting around but not too many. The RC employee checked a couple times and finally opened the doors for us to go down the hall to our rooms. Yay!!!

Inserted our sea pass card into the slot and waaahhhh laaa we were in our room!!!



I was satisfied with the room. A little couch and coffee table, queen bed, a closet with PLENTY of hangers. There were at least 20 hangers + in our closet. Plus there was a vanity by the tv where you could get ready and FYI the hairdryer was in the drawer of the vanity...I was looking in the bathroom for it. Also there were no outlets in our bathroom. I did take an extension cord with me for anyone that had read the thread on things you might want. I agree...very handy. I could see if you were charging camera batteries, cell phones, how you would need it. There were only about two plugs available near the vanity and I was using one for an alarm clock I took. There are no alarm clocks in the room. I do not like to wake up and not be able to know the time or not have a clock to see time (don't wear watch) so I took an alarm clock with me. I was VERY glad I did. Definately something I'll take again. Also for those that ask, tv is not flat screen but that doesn't make difference to me. They had a neat channel on the tv that dh would turn on ALL the time...showed where you were at on the map, depth of the water at that time, speed the ship was going...etc. Ok...getting off topic hahaha...back to the room... The bathroom was small...however I wasn't hanging out in the bathroom the whole cruise so that didn't bother me. Someone who is VERY large might have issues in the shower...just a speculation...not positive on that...just sayin'. The balcony was nice too. Originally we worried it would be too small but it was fine. It had two chairs and a little table. Perfect. Plus there was still room for us to stand out there. I thought I would be ok with an inside room but hubby insisted on balcony. I wouldn't go any other way now. We loved going out on the balcony and just looking and watching and it was just something for us that was nice. I don't think if I had an interior room that the cruise would have been any less fun, I'm just sayin'....LOVED THE BALCONY. Nice being in your own space enjoying the cruise and not up on a deck with everyone else at points.


While out on our balcony we were facing the peir where people were boarding on the walkway and the line was LOOOOONG. (A couple we rode on the taxi with back to airport after the cruise mentioned they waited a couple hours in line!!) Again...glad we got there early.
We decided to go explore the ship and grab a bite to eat.
I had read a lot about the Royal Promenade. WOW...hard to believe you are even on a ship when you are here. Seriously...by looking at your surroundings and walking along...it was beautiful and amazing!



We ate at the cafe promenade and had Pizza. I think we had pizza almost every day at some point. The Cafe Promenade is open 24hrs, there is a bar too which I believe was open till 3am. The Cafe had pizza, sandwhiches and cookies/treats. Pizza was average and good and sandwhiches average and good. In the morning I went once and there were donuts and muffins. They also have cold water, hot chocolate, tea, coffee and etc. available here 24hrs. Also this is where you get the Ben and Jerry's ice cream. DH got a Ben and Jerry's at some point during the cruise and my receipt shows a medium waffle cone was $4.00. With the gratuity that they automatically add in, it came to $4.60.

Here is the guest relations desk (Just like you're at a hotel!):

Random picture:








I loved that they had a library. I left a book at the end of the cruise with a book ID in it from http://www.bookcrossing.com/. I had seen www.bookcrossing.com mentioned here on cruisecritic. I hope someone picks it up. I saw the shelves where other cruisers had left books (I assume cause they didn't have library label on them) but I just dropped it in the book return since the library was closed when I went in. I hope it makes it on the shelf.

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continue to next post to read rest...

[ThinkingInPink]

After we ate and walked around the ship some, we decided we would go back to the room and see if our luggage was there. It was just after 3pm. We thought we'd go up to the top deck and get some sun. Hubby's swim trunks were in his luggage however I was smart and put a bikini in my carryon cause I knew the luggage might take hours as I had read on here. As we got to the room we saw our luggage in the hallway. HOORAY. We changed into our suits and went up to the top deck. On the deck there is another small deck you can take the stairs too with about 15 chairs probably up there and we loved being up there. Not many people! In fact that first day we were the only ones. Hubby thought the sun would help clear up my sinus's too. We laid out for about two hours.
The picture below is NOT from the first day, but a pic of some of the pool area.



After we got some sun we headed back to the room. We thought it appropriate to take a picture of our first day on the ship out on our balcony. We set the camera up on self timer and took a picture of us before we sail off from Puerto Rico!
The nurse called me this evening and asked me to come to the medical facility at 9am the next morning to have my temperature taken. Bummer I wanted to get up at 8am and get to the top deck and lay out as I had read chairs are hard to find on a sea day, but health first and of course I was gonna go!


We looked at the cruise compass for the day 1 just briefly. Sadly now that I see it laying here in front of me we missed a comedy show that evening. We should have paid attention more to the shows, we finally went to one like three days before the cruise ended and we loved going to them. lol. Something learned for next time! It's all what you make it though!
We saw there was a raffle at 7:30 in the fitness center for the spa so we headed to that. We had stopped by the spa earlier and got prices on massages as we really wanted to book us each one during the week. Prices were as follows:

Teeth Whitening: 199$ or 149 for the voyage special

Acupuncture: 150$ for 50minutes

Ionithermie Algae-Detox 159$ for 50minutes

Micro-Dermabrasion 169$ for 50minutes

La Therapie Oxygen Lifting Facial 119$ for 50minutes

Lime and Ginger Body Massage 196$ for 75minutes

Aromapure Seaweed Massage 195$ for 75minutes or 259$ for 105minutes

Couples Massage 269$ per couple for 50minutes

Asian Spa Ritual 265$ for 100minutes

Hot Stones Massage 165$ for 50minutesor 195$ for 75minutes

Sweedish Massage 119$ for 50minutes

Deep Tissue Massage 129$ for 50minutes

At the raffle there were about 15-20 of us that showed up. The guy was really personable and fun. He gave each person a blue ticket and then pulled them out of the bag. everytime he called a number out if you had the number you would say 'wooh' so it was like 'wooh' 'wooh' 'wooh' from everyone till the last number and only one 'wooh' from the winner. haha. cute. We didn't win anything BUT he said no one goes home a loser in his gym (he was the personal trainer) and he handed everyone a piece of paper and for that night only if you went and booked right now at the spa you got:

"4 steps to Heave"
muscle melting 20min back, neck and shoulders massage
heat treatment for back aches
luxurious 25min anti-aging colagen facial"
deeply relaxing scalp massage
This was all for $79.00. We went ahead and each booked one for Thursday night at 8:45pm. Yay!

I will say throughout the week they will have specials in the compass. One was for $89 and you chose two out of these: 25min massage, 25min facial, 25min exotic cleopatra milk wrap or a 25min exotic lime and ginger salt glow. for 99$ you could get a hot stone massage and one of the treatments above.....so worth not booking on the first day to me if you wanna watch for a deal in the next couple days.
After we booked our spa appointments we headed to the Windjammer to eat. We had 8:30pm main seating in the dining room but really we are just not dining room folks I guess. We prefered eating in the windjammer or promenade. That is just our personal preference and it's all about what makes YOU happy. Everyone is different. (we ate in the dining room once for anyone wondering at this point in time, haha).

The windjammer was big. Ronald usually greeted us at the door and was so kind. We found Janelle to be the best assistant waiter. She was the only one that really served us, got us drink refills, checked on us...the other two people we tried just let us fend for ourselves. Didn't bother me, I can self serve myself, it was just odd at the difference in service. You don't need much catering anyways in the windjammer cause it is a buffet anyways!


Hubby had a corona durring dinner in the windjammer and the cost was: $4.76, with the gratuity they automatically add in it was $5.71. (I know lots of people have asked before on cost of drinks therefore posting to hopefully help another person wondering!)





After the windjammer we went to the sports bar in the cafe promendate:


Many tv's here (flatscreen lol). And yes they had football and tennis I saw at some point. Also we were able to watch football games in our room while on the ship for anyone wondernig about missing games. A couple times they went out of service but only for a few minutes. DH got to watch his college football and on Monday night we watched Monday night football at the sports bar. I got a screwdriver with Absolut Vodka and dh got a Michelob Ultra (aluminum bottle) at the sports bar. My screwdriver was $6.00 and his beer was $4.95. With gratuity the total was $12.59.
We went to the casino after this and spent some money, not a ton but some. Hubby won 12$ on a slot and then spent it again. Walked out losers. lol

I believe after the casino we just walked around the ship more and eventually went to bed.

Off to wake up for Day 2: Day at Sea.

(this next installment might be a couple days before I get it posted, but probably won't be as long as the inital first too! thanks for everyone who read this far!)

To be continued.....

[mom1965]

can you explain about setting up the online sea pass - 3 days beforehand?

[jeleja]

Without sounding like a 'nag'.....anxiously waiting for the next chapter :-) .....

[BrendaInToronto]

I'm really enjoying your review - can't wait for the next chapter!

[KTMay1917]

I know I'm a bit late on asking this question since the review is now taking place once you were on board.
My question is: In San Juan do they have the attached liquor store inside the Walgreen's like they do in Florida?
Thanks!!

[Samira0207]

great review! I feel like i'm the cruise with you every step of the way! Love your attention to detail! Thanks!

[DrmnOfMaui]

Pink, thanks so much for your review! I remember you asking questions when I wrote mine, and I'm really enjoying going through your cruise with you! I'm eagerly awaiting the rest of your days.

Kim

[ThinkingInPink]

Originally Posted by mom1965

can you explain about setting up the online sea pass - 3 days beforehand?

Log in to the Royal Caribbean website for 'my cruises' and setting up the sea pass is done there. You just have to fill on some information online about those sailing with you and then at the end it gives you a little form you print out and sign and take with you to the pier so that you don't have to do any of the paperwork at the pier. It says you can do it up to three days online before you depart for the cruise.

[ThinkingInPink]

Originally Posted by KTMay1917

I know I'm a bit late on asking this question since the review is now taking place once you were on board.
My question is: In San Juan do they have the attached liquor store inside the Walgreen's like they do in Florida?
Thanks!!

I do not remember seeing an attatched liquor store at the Walgreens...but I also wasn't looking for it and was focused on getting the meds LOL!

[jeleja]

Was there a night when they had a 70's dance party on the promenade? We had such a blast that night on the Mariner.

[ThinkingInPink]

Originally Posted by jeleja

Was there a night when they had a 70's dance party on the promenade? We had such a blast that night on the Mariner.

I think threy did have a dance party in the promendade...not sure if was 70's but think it was something along those lines. we did not go but I remember hearing it mentioned or in the compass. I will have to look at my compass's to be sure.

[Krickett]

Awesome review so far Pink!!
Thanks for posting, keep it coming
We leave in 12 Days!!!! Can't wait

Kar