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drarill

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    Dinner recommendations in Condado

    in San Juan, PR

    Posted

    Can anyone recommend a good place for dinner in Condado? We're staying at the AC Hotel by Marriott.

     

    I personally love seafood and would love something local and authentic. BUT I also have to accommodate a group where some do not feel the same way lol. Is there anywhere that has a menu that would have something for everyone?

    Here are some great recommendations close to the Condado Area:

    Santaella is one of our favorite restaurants in "La Placita de Santurce" http://josesantaella.com

    Close by Ariel; http://www.restauranteariel.com

    In Condado, a couple of options with amazing views http://www.1919restaurant.com http://www.perlarestaurant.com/index.html

    http://oceanopr.com

    If you go to old San Juan, this is a great place for breakfast or lunch... https://www.casacortespr.com/bienvenida

    Hope this helps, and enjoy our beautiful Island

    Dinner recommendations in Condado

    in San Juan, PR

    Posted

    Go for dinner at Marmalade.

    Happy to accept groups. Great good and service, but book early as popular with discerning cruisers and locals.

     

    Speak to them direct for your "Off Menu" Menus, as they are always pleased to assist.

    Marmalade could also offer a special wine pairing menu, same being constructed to the specific and varied requirements of your party. Enjoy.

     

    Take pre-dinner drinks and The Mezzanine. They have a long, long happy hour.

    Marmalade is one of my favorite restaurants but probably not the best option for a big group. They only offer a taster's many for parties of six and over, here is a link to the menu and the price. BTW, we have done this and it is a great dining experience, with excellent wine pairing. http://www.marmaladepr.com/pdf/tastingmenu.pdf

    Marigot?

    in St. Martin/St. Maarten

    Posted

    I am not finicky about amenities or what is open /available. Mainly want to do it for my teen daughter who is in love with everything French. Our cruise has a tour plus beach that includes 1 hour of Marigot time. Trying to see if

    I can do it myself for a longer period of time and or cheaper

    You can either rent a car to go there by yourself or take a taxi. I've been checking different websites to see what is open and close, and looks like some restaurants are already up and running.

    http://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Caribbean-islands-affected-by-hurricanes-mapped

    BTW, this is my favorite restaurant to have lunch in the Marina Royale, Marigot. I just found out that is open for business!!! https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147348-d2022320-Reviews-Tropicana-Marigot_Saint_Martin_St_Martin_St_Maarten.html

    Marigot?

    in St. Martin/St. Maarten

    Posted

    A. I'm sure you realize St. Maarten was severly damaged during Hurricane Irma and Maria. The French side has been less able to revitalize the seriously damaged downtown. Hotels are still closed. Of course, you have time which is on your side, but I wouldn't have my heart set on any particular sites. Orient beach only has one area open with a makeshift bar.

    B. Phillipsburg, is up and running as are some beaches. Airport is open for some flights but with hotels still closed, those "big" planes are far and few in between.

    We are going there overnight in 2 weeks on our cruise. I'll be reporting back when we return. I may use Bernard's tours.

    Looking forward to your report. The french side is our favorite in St. Maarten and will love to go back in June. Happy cruising!!

    Embarkation Day in San Juan

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Just booked Adventure of The Seas April 14th Cruise from San Juan.

    This will be our 2nd cruise and 1st leaving from San Juan.

    Looking for tips on arrival and check in at the port.

    We will be flying in on the 13th staying at Double Tree Hotel.

    The double Tree is located across the street from a really good grocery store (Supermax) If you want to buy a couple of bottles of wines to bring aboard, this is the place to go. If you are a wine snob, then go to the wine store on the second floor.

    The Double Tree is located close to Loiza Street. There are a couple of really cool restaurants on that street. Sabrina's, The Mac'n Cheese, La Cueva del Mar and Double cake.

    Happy cruising!!!

    Any update on cruises scheduled to leave from Puerto Rico?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Then I would HOPE Sheraton will do something for them since clearly they were lied to.

     

    Do you know if they called the hotel directly or the reservations line? It shouldn't matter, but the reservations line is likely not located in San Juan, and they for some reason might have missed the memo.

     

    (Incidentally, assuming they are talking about the Sheraton Old San Juan, their website states "no reservations before November 30, 2017")

    The Sheraton Old San Juan had some issues with the generator. They also had problems getting diesel, like everyone else. A new generator arrived last week, last time I talked to someone that works there they were about to open. But, like most hotels they are being used by first responders.

    Only 10% of our population has electricity, including some areas in Condado and Isla Verde. Try to book hotels or apartments on those areas. Many apartment buildings have generators. Finding diesel is not a problem anymore, like it was the first week after the hurricane.

    Another good option is to book hotels in the Convention Center area, which is really close to the Panamerican Pier. The Convention Center is being used by the government to coordinate all the help and logistics.

    #KeepPuertoRicoInYourPrayers

    Any update on cruises scheduled to leave from Puerto Rico?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I don' have time to read the entire thread. Wifi for us here in Puerto Rico is really limited. The Adventure is sailing today taking many puerto ricans to Florida. They are going to make a couple of humanitarian stops to bring help to some Caribbean Islands. Passengers won't be allowed to leave the ship during these stops. Our neighbor's daughter goes to UM, she came to San Juan after the university was closed for Irma and her flights to Fl has been cancelled a couple of times. She wrote an email to the university explaining the situation and yesterday was given the option to take the Adventure. Kudos to Royal for this effort.

    Keep Puerto Rico in your thoughts and prayers. I really hope my biggest concern today was having to cancel a cruise.

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Live-ish (hopefully) Adventure of the Seas 9/9 - 9/16

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Oceano! Can't say enough good things. You must get the steak egg roll appetizer. Seriously one of the best things I have ever eaten. It's a tad expensive, with entres in the mid 20s to high 30s, but worth it!

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

     

     

     

    Welcome to San Juan[emoji1202]! Glad you made it! Enjoy the Adventure of the Seas and Happy Cruising!

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Guests in Michael's

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Originally we planned to take both our son and daughter so we had planned 2 cabins all along. When the plans changed to just 3 of us we did look at other options, but I don't think any of us liked the idea of my wife, me and our 23 year old in one room, even if we booked a large suite, someone was going to end up on the couch. The price change was at least $1,000 PP or as much as $5k PP so almost any way I figured it, we would have spent more to share a room

    Can I ask you what type of suite did you book? CS, RS and PHS are large enough for you to have privacy and everyone gets the same perks. I saw a concierge once telling a suite guest that his daughter and SIL were not allowed in Michaels Club, and this was before Sky Suite guests were were given this perk. Still, just ask the concierge if your daughter can join you in Michael's Club.

    About Luminae, last summer we traveled with a large group of friends on the Reflection. Most were traveling in suites, except one couple and the children of another couple that had a suite. We never had problems with them joining our group in Luminae. Only on formal nights the 23 of us had dinner together and they were ready for us. Hope you enjoy your cruise, if they give you a hard time there are plenty of places where you can be as a family. :)

    10:45 to early for departure to Rome?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I have a 10:45 am flight out of Rome after my Jewel of the Seas cruise. Will I have time to get to this flight? Traveling 1st class/business...A little concerned.

     

    Thanks for inut!

    We have done this but it was really stressful. IMHO Rome's airport is a mess!! But, if you are traveling 1st class it will help. Try to use private transportation, the airport is 45 min-1hr from the port. You will also need time for the Vat return if you are planing to ask for those taxes back. If you are planing to do this, keep in mind that they can ask you to show the items you bought.

    Last summer we also flew first class out of Rome, but decided to stay an extra night. We booked a room at the airport Hilton and literally walked to the terminal the next day.

    Hope this helps.

    CCL Reflection vs. RCL Jewel for the Mediterranean difference of $1000, worth it?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    That deal is for sailings that go until the end of April 2018 and the itinerary I want is for June 2018. I am going to see what RCL has and if the price is still $1000 less or more than what I booked Celebrity for, I might cancel and go with RCL.

     

     

    Post the same question on the Celebrity's board. I like both lines and have cruised on both ships, but will probably vote for the Reflection. On our last cruise we had many perks included on the price; free internet, gratuities, beverage package and OBC. IMHO even though Celebrity doesn't have a designated lounge for the Elite members, the perks on board are better than Royals. I really like the laundry coupons when we travel to Europe. ;)

    Is the post-partial-refurb Adventure of the Seas really that "bad?"

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted · Edited by drarill

    Interesting to read this as when we were there in Dec we were told that the CL would remain the CL and the SL would not happen. Had never heard that the DL was supposed to move to the card room and the current DL would become the SL. That is "new" "news".

     

    We were told the "additional" staterooms would not be added. They were "scrapped" from the plans as some of these rooms were part of the "mangled" materials during the hurricane.

     

    We got off the Adventure on Saturday. Ryno,the CL told us that the SL would not happen until 2018. We were staying on a Grand suite and our kids had an interior in front of us. Our room looked good, better than the OS we had two years ago, but our children's room needed a good refurbish. Were told that the rooms will be refurbished in 2018 too. Don't flame me please, but IMHO, they should upgrade the rooms in San Juan, shouldn't be too difficult. We were sold many improvements and I understand that some containers got damaged in Freeport. I still think that this is a 16 y/o ship and really needs some upgrades.

    The itinerary was great, the staff and entertainment was also really good. Food decent, no complains. Our children enjoyed the Flowrider and the new water slides a lot. Will be back in June for our daughter's Senior trip.

    Happy cruising everyone.

    Harmony Itinerary Change?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I found an article on USA Today's website showing Puerto Rico was added as a port of Harmony. Does anyone know if this is started? My parents are on the Harmony right now and they were planned to have stops in Nassau, St. Thomas and St Maarten. I just checked the ships location on one of the tracker websites and it says its destination is San Juan, but that was not on my parent itinerary.

     

    In March I have a cruise planned on Harmony with the same stops listed above.

     

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2017/01/04/harmony-seas-puerto-rico-cruise/96015410/

     

    Buck. This article is in Spanish, but looks like there was a change in itinerary due to the bad weather. The HOS will dock in San Juan today. :)

    http://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/positivoparaelturismoboricuaelmaltiempoenelcaribe-2279765/

    Matt & Mary's Great Adenture Review

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    They have updated the flooring and carpet in the current Concierge Lounge. The plans to move it and change it to the Suite Lounge are currently on hold with no expected date for completion.

     

    Thanks for taking the time to do this review. This is a little disappointing. The problem with the old concierge lounge is the size and location. It is too small for all the suite guests, D+ and Pinacles. We are cruising on the Adventure on NYE and also in June. Hope everything is done for our summer cruise.

    Happy cruising and congratulations on your win at the casino!

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