Adventure of The Seas Photo Review 4/19/2015 (S.Caribbean B)

There is no Sandals at this port so we are dropping off at Ottley's Plantation Inn. I will reach out to see about a school visit. I am a substitute teacher and very involved in our school so I would relish the opportunity for myself and my family so I will inquire about that.

Traffic is supposedly terrible on St. Kitts but we have no other agenda for the day so it seemed a perfect fit. I will post an update of how things go.

There is no Sandals at this port so we are dropping off at Ottley's Plantation Inn. I will reach out to see about a school visit. I am a substitute teacher and very involved in our school so I would relish the opportunity for myself and my family so I will inquire about that.

 

Traffic is supposedly terrible on St. Kitts but we have no other agenda for the day so it seemed a perfect fit. I will post an update of how things go.

Well, if you can't get to the school, you can at least get a day pass for the beach at Ottleys and enjoy the rest of the day! I also teach pt and really enjoyed collecting items I knew my kids would like! Have fun, and can't wait to see the results! Be sure to share your picture with PFP too, they published my blog post on their website!

Hi Kathy: It has been awhile since your blog but I am going back through it. We fly to San Juan one week from today. We are booked for Calabaza and I am sure it will be the highlight of our cruise. I have packed a carryon bag full of school supplies to drop off in Nevis. We will take a ferry from St. Kitts to Nevis when we dock in St. Kitts. I am very excited to do this and am thankful you posted about it. I have a material carry on packed in my big suitcase so I will not lose space for the trip home. We plan on leaving the carryon at the hotel. I hope we have no security issues as I have no way to call ahead. The carryon weighs a ton but my husband will be the one to lift it to the overhead compartment thankfully. I have been nervous about the ships dress code as I am usually a t-shirt girl and appreciate your views on this. I have been buying clothes I never would have but at least summer stuff is supper cheap at this time of year. We are in a balcony on level 8. I was hoping this would be a quiet deck as any little noise wakes me. I will bring ear plugs as well. We will have three nights in San Juan prior to the cruise and are renting a car for two days. We are planning to go to El Yunque but do you have any other suggestions outside of San Juan? Also have you been to any of their casinos? It might be fun to go one evening. Thanks for all your info. it has been so helpful. Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas, Alice

Hi Kathy: It has been awhile since your blog but I am going back through it. We fly to San Juan one week from today. We are booked for Calabaza and I am sure it will be the highlight of our cruise. I have packed a carryon bag full of school supplies to drop off in Nevis. We will take a ferry from St. Kitts to Nevis when we dock in St. Kitts. I am very excited to do this and am thankful you posted about it. I have a material carry on packed in my big suitcase so I will not lose space for the trip home. We plan on leaving the carryon at the hotel. I hope we have no security issues as I have no way to call ahead. The carryon weighs a ton but my husband will be the one to lift it to the overhead compartment thankfully. I have been nervous about the ships dress code as I am usually a t-shirt girl and appreciate your views on this. I have been buying clothes I never would have but at least summer stuff is supper cheap at this time of year. We are in a balcony on level 8. I was hoping this would be a quiet deck as any little noise wakes me. I will bring ear plugs as well. We will have three nights in San Juan prior to the cruise and are renting a car for two days. We are planning to go to El Yunque but do you have any other suggestions outside of San Juan? Also have you been to any of their casinos? It might be fun to go one evening. Thanks for all your info. it has been so helpful. Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas, Alice

Hi Alice!

How exciting! Im Sorry I missed this earlier, it's been crazy here with Thanksgiving, both girls home, relatives from Britain in and 15 for dinner yesterday! Yikes! Hope your Thanksgiving was great!

It's wonderful that you can do the PfP! I'm sure if you let the security guard have a good look that it's all just supplies, you will have no trouble. Once you get to the resort, I let the security know to contact the people who handle the "charitable work" and that person knows all about it!

Don't sweat the dress code...there is quite a range of dress; a nice sun dress, or a pair of nice slacks and summery top is fine! I bet you will look great! (Are you doing a review?I hope so! )

I love San Juan, and it is such a fun place to embark! For outside the city, El Junque rain forest is great It's the only "tropical" rainforest on Us soil and the tour operater will take you there for a hike, to play in the falls, and you can even add a stop at a beach on the way back. If you check out my review of Jewel Southern Caribbean in my signature below, I have a review of the Bio luminescent bay in Farjardo at the very end of it. This is a kayaking trip on the bay, really neat phenomena, but a little crowded for my taste, if I was recommending this excursion I would say go to St Croix to do it, but if you are only going to be in PR at nighttime, then Farjardo is worth seeing once in a lifetime. The hotel can also book this for you. It's a late evening, van ride (included in the price) to Farjardo about 1 hour away, then a 2 hour kayaking trip in the mangroves and bay. Now we have a full moon right now, which means there will be a lot of moon next week and so the viewing may not be great.

We have not done the casinos, but Marriotts and other big chain hotels on Ashford Ave all had a really nice scene in the lobby casinos, nice bar scene, clean, safe etc. I know the bigger casinos are in the convention center area and Miramar. Again, the concierge/travel desk can help with this!

I hope you have an amazing trip! Even if you don't do a report, please come back here and post a few pictures, reviews of your Pack for a Purpose experience! I really want to know how it goes!

Happy cruising!

Going on the AOS in September and booked a D3 7676. Travel agent said it was bigger than an E2 7616. And 7616 would be noisy because it was right at the elevators. Does anyone know if this is the truth. I can switch cabins, but I need to do so by tomorrow. Thanks

How was the nightclub during this cruise, packed or no?

I have not found the elevator area terribly noisy...a lot of foot traffic around dinner time but really less than most hotels...

Well I decided to go to the "2nd" page of Cruise Critic, and see what other posts/questions I could find in regard to Adventure of the Seas, and low and behold, here is YOUR review. :) We will be cruising the AOTS Apri 2nd for the first time, so each day here in Kansas City (pretty ICY this afternoon/night :() , as you can guess, is bringing us closer to a warmer climate.:) I so enjoy your pictures, and the ones of San Juan bring back so many good memories. I will look forward to being there, but my HEART cannot hardly wait until I get to St. Lucia. It has been almost 9 years, and I fell in LOVE with that port and the people.:)

I'm going to try to "sneak" ;) in the rest of your review/report tomorrow when I get back to work.

Well I am back here at work, and was able to read your review of St. Lucia. As I said before, I can't hardly wait until Aprkl 2nd comes, and we will be on our way.

I agree with you, when getting someone to take me/us around. I prefer going to places that most tour guides go to, in otherwords like you, out of way places. That is one reason why I normally get a Taxi or "native" to take us around. I know this way, they will know of some places that normally they don't take most tourist, and sometimes, those are the best. Since it has been almot 9 years since I have been to St. Lucia, I went on Cruise Critic, and read several reviews of a tour company called Cosol Tours. I was able to get in touch with them, seen what all we will be seeing, as well as eating along the way FREE, and the cost, I don't think it could get any better.

Once again, thank you for your review, and great pictures.

Hi again. I've just finished reading through your AOS review and loved the way you made me feel like I was tagging along. Thanks for sharing such wonderful insider tips. I now have just a few more questions for our trip in just TWO weeks!

1) Regarding the first night Sail Away at 8:30, our MDR reservation is at 6:30 and I know they recommend allowing 2 hours. Do you suggest we cancel that and just eat at the Windjammer so as not to miss the departure or do you think we'll have time to finish dinner and get a decent viewing spot on the starboard side (that you recommended.)?

2) I've heard all ports accept US$ even though not part of the USVI. I've also heard the locals won't accept damaged bills. I've also heard to expect such expenses as paying for restrooms while out on tours. Do find all this to be true?

2) Sadly, we will have to leave from the ship directly for the airport after the cruise. Our flight is at 11:30am. We're not Diamond members so do you think we will have a problem getting off the ship, get our luggage and to the airport in time?

Thanks again for all your help!

Glad you found our review helpful! That s why we do them! See my notes below-

Hi again. I've just finished reading through your AOS review and loved the way you made me feel like I was tagging along. Thanks for sharing such wonderful insider tips. I now have just a few more questions for our trip in just TWO weeks!

 

1) Regarding the first night Sail Away at 8:30, our MDR reservation is at 6:30 and I know they recommend allowing 2 hours. Do you suggest we cancel that and just eat at the Windjammer so as not to miss the departure or do you think we'll have time to finish dinner and get a decent viewing spot on the starboard side (that you recommended.)?

Unless you like to linger, dinner doesn't usually take 2 hours. If you are doing MTD, you definitely can pace the dinner faster than that and be out

by 8 or even 7:30. We often skipped dessert for Ben and Jerrys! Lol! But don't miss sail away- it's spectacular from San Juan!

 

2) I've heard all ports accept US$ even though not part of the USVI. I've also heard the locals won't accept damaged bills. I've also heard to expect such expenses as paying for restrooms while out on tours. Do find all this to be true?

Which ports? Most of the ones we visited accepted USD no problem at all! In St Martin they may also accept Euro, but they take dollars too! Just watch the prices, most are offered 1/1 dollar to euro, but sometimes they quote 6 dollars then bill your card 6 euro, if they advertise one to one, have them bill in dollars, you won't get a fee if you use your credit card, and it's a bit cheaper for you!

We did not find we had to pay for restrooms in the Carribean the way we did in Europe or South America. Rarely have I seen a public restroom in the Caribbean with an attendant who expects a small tip. But I do carry a few small ones around for tipping just in case! I have also not had issues with damaged or old bills in the Caribbean- again, that has only come up in Africa and South America for us, and even then was never an issue, it was just mentioned as part of our pre trip documentation. I wouldn't worry about that!

 

2) Sadly, we will have to leave from the ship directly for the airport after the cruise. Our flight is at 11:30am. We're not Diamond members so do you think we will have a problem getting off the ship, get our luggage and to the airport in time?

If you put down that your flight is at 11:30 on the departure paperwork, you will get one of the earliest times off the ship. You can also expedite that by doing "self assist" where you carry your own bags right off, not leaving them out the night before. Only you know if you can manage that or if you just have too many. If you feel you don't have a departure time assigned by 8 AM, I would go to guest services and request an earlier time. Of course debakarion can get backed up and that's when things get stressful, but if you have a departure time before 8- you should be in York way to the airport by 9 and have 2 full hours to check in, get your bags scanned and tagged with the agriculture sticker, and then pass security. 11:30 is not so early that it's not doable, but you will want to be organized and advocate for the earliest possible debakarion time! (Or take your own bags which really speeds up the process!

Thanks again for all your help!

Good luck, I am sure you will have an amazing time! Happy Cruising!

Sorry I missed you folks posting earlier! We were away at a destination wedding when you posted and I missed the email notifications!

Going on the AOS in September and booked a D3 7676. Travel agent said it was bigger than an E2 7616. And 7616 would be noisy because it was right at the elevators. Does anyone know if this is the truth. I can switch cabins, but I need to do so by tomorrow. Thanks

Sorry I didn't respond before you had to decode, but either way is fine, really these ships are so large that the elevators are in their own little area, quite separate from the hall with cabins. The inky thing you might notice is more people going down the hall (the further down the hall you are, they fewer cabins, like living in a dead end street) But generally, the cabins are well sound proofed, we rarely hear people in the hall, and I'm a light sleeper!

Well I am back here at work, and was able to read your review of St. Lucia. As I said before, I can't hardly wait until Aprkl 2nd comes, and we will be on our way.

 

I agree with you, when getting someone to take me/us around. I prefer going to places that most tour guides go to, in otherwords like you, out of way places. That is one reason why I normally get a Taxi or "native" to take us around. I know this way, they will know of some places that normally they don't take most tourist, and sometimes, those are the best. Since it has been almot 9 years since I have been to St. Lucia, I went on Cruise Critic, and read several reviews of a tour company called Cosol Tours. I was able to get in touch with them, seen what all we will be seeing, as well as eating along the way FREE, and the cost, I don't think it could get any better.

 

Once again, thank you for your review, and great pictures.

Thanks! And I hope you have a wonderful time! I had researched Cosol and thought it sounded good, they were in my list. Only chose real st Lucia since they seemed more inclined to do a private tour, and we wanted to make the Pack For a Purpose stop and not drag others into that. But Cosol will also arrange a private tour and they get great reviews. Almost all of them do the same sites, so be sure to tell,them exactly what you want! I really liked doing the hike because it was a little quieter than the botanical gardens and mud baths and I liked the view of both Pitons from the middle. But rather than just "doing the loop" be sure to tell the guide what you want, we weren't interested in the mid baths so we skipped that. But we should have asked for more time in the fishing villages where hubby could have taken more photos of the people!

Hope to see your review when you get back!

Glad you found our review helpful! That s why we do them! See my notes below-

Good luck, I am sure you will have an amazing time! Happy Cruising!

Hi again. Thank you SO much for the latest info. All were extremely helpful. As far as non-USVI islands, we will be on St. Johns-Antigua, St. Lucia, and Grenada so your info about the money and $ to Euro tip is good to know. We will keep our 6:30 dinner reservation since we can now also enjoy the Sail Away from San Juan. Extra good info about the departure timing. We'll definitely plan on the "self assist" method and ask for an early departure time if not by 8am.

Thank you again. Your review and quick responses to my questions have been the most helpful of any sites/reviews I've visited. Have a great time on your next cruise!

Hi again. Thank you SO much for the latest info. All were extremely helpful. As far as non-USVI islands, we will be on St. Johns-Antigua, St. Lucia, and Grenada so your info about the money and $ to Euro tip is good to know. We will keep our 6:30 dinner reservation since we can now also enjoy the Sail Away from San Juan. Extra good info about the departure timing. We'll definitely plan on the "self assist" method and ask for an early departure time if not by 8am.

 

Thank you again. Your review and quick responses to my questions have been the most helpful of any sites/reviews I've visited. Have a great time on your next cruise!

I haven't been to Grenada, but much of Central America and the Caribbean islands use the USD for their economy. Very few have their own currency, there is a Carribean dollar, but it's rarely used in a few island nations. A few European islands do accept or price in Euros, but again, I have never experienced a reluctance to accept dollars, lol! In general, my philosophy is to use the currency of a country (when in Rome! ) and I brought Euros as well as 3 other local currencies on a river cruise through central and Eastern Europe and Turkey, but truly, in the Caribbean for a day trip of a cruise ship, I never do and have never felt it was a problem!

So excited, our next "adventure" is on Azamara Journey, which is in the Bahamas right now being completed refreshed in dry dock. It is supposed to sail on Wed, and we will be the second trip- Panama Canal and Costa Rica. I'm very excited to try this other Royal brand for the first time, and see the Panama Canal, which is a first for us too.

I will have a complete review, of course, plus live blogging on my own website and Twitter. Can't wait, we dodged a snowstorm this weekend, but it's getting cold, so I'm ready for some sun! :D

Have a blast on Adventure, I just love San Juan and really wish I was going back there this year! Post a review or some pics if you can I'd love to see them!

Beautiful review and pictures! I was just curious...this ship has both a centrum and a royal promenade??? it looks beautiful and we are sailing on her this May

Beautiful review and pictures! I was just curious...this ship has both a centrum and a royal promenade??? it looks beautiful and we are sailing on her this May

Adventure does have two centrums, but they are not like the centrums on Vision and Radiance class where there is seating and events held. They are where the elevators are.

Beautiful review and pictures! I was just curious...this ship has both a centrum and a royal promenade??? it looks beautiful and we are sailing on her this May

Yes! Buts it's really just a vertical stairwell with the promenade radiating off on deck 5. I have pictures that make it easier to see in my ship tour for Adventure on my website!

http://www.goseeittravel.com/adventure-of-the-seas/

Enjoy your cruise! And thank you for your kind words!

This will seem like a silly question, but I'm going to ask anyway.:confused:

You mentioned that we should not miss the sail away from San Juan. You also mentioned the "starboard" side. How are we to know which side of the ship is the starboard side? Also, what time ( if you know) is the sail away?

This will seem like a silly question, but I'm going to ask anyway.:confused:

 

You mentioned that we should not miss the sail away from San Juan. You also mentioned the "starboard" side. How are we to know which side of the ship is the starboard side? Also, what time ( if you know) is the sail away?

Starboard is the right side as you are facing the forward (pointy) end of the ship.

This will seem like a silly question, but I'm going to ask anyway.:confused:

 

You mentioned that we should not miss the sail away from San Juan. You also mentioned the "starboard" side. How are we to know which side of the ship is the starboard side? Also, what time ( if you know) is the sail away?

It's not silly at all! Somewhere around here there is a list of all the nautical terms, but I'll spare you my father, Capn Buds "lade board" lecture!

As Bob points out, starboard is on the right. But our cabin was on the aft, so we had no trouble seeing both sides. Even if your cabin is on the port side, you could still go up top and have a panoramic view. When we sailed both Adventure and Jewel sail away was right around 8 or 8:30 PM.

Another question about sail away... is there a deck party while the ship sails away? Music, streamers, etc? Our cabin is starboard side so I am wondering if it would be nice to sit on our balcony with a glass of wine enjoy the sail away from there or if we will be missing out on some fun festivities.

Thanks!

Robin

Another question about sail away... is there a deck party while the ship sails away? Music, streamers, etc? Our cabin is starboard side so I am wondering if it would be nice to sit on our balcony with a glass of wine enjoy the sail away from there or if we will be missing out on some fun festivities.

 

Thanks!

Robin

Hi Robin- no more streamers, lol, save the waves! There is usually a pool deck sail away party, involving the band, some cheerleading on the part of the cruise staff, and of course line dancing...there's always line dancing! That doesn't appeal to us, so weve always done what you suggest, enjoy the view (and the quiet) on our balcony!

Familygoboston, thanks for answering my question, but I am still confused :confused:of what side we will be on. We have an inner room (9597 on deck 9) , but I still have no clue whether we would be on the right or left side of the ship?

Clarea, thanks. I have it now, once you "described" what I was to look for in knowing the Starboard side of the ship.:)

I really liked your review! I loved Barbados, and all we did here was go to the beach, so next time I plan on using the catamaran tour you used. It seemed like a beautiful way to spend the day, plus I've always wanted to go on a catamaran! In St.Lucia, we had another ship on the other side where the Jewel was in your case, and I did notice the roads to be a little small for that type of magnitude in and out of Castries. However, St.Lucia is absolutely stunning, and I would love to go back there. Hiking the Pitons seems like a great idea!

I'm looking to shift over to RCI, Celebrity or NCL after going on Carnival so much and feeling like I'm not experiencing enough of the cruise world. I really liked what I'm seeing on Adventure.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review, I know they take a long time to write, and I appreciate your time writing them. Thanks! :D

PS- Your San Juan pre/post cuise tips and ideas are helping me plan a weekend trip with some friends, I think we'll try the Sheraton. I fully support the pre-cruise travel at the beginning of the review, because it is part of the cruise. Thank you so much for covering that too!