bouhunter

Hopefully they'll be available on my cruise so I can understand all the hype about them.

 

Snails are among the cheapest foods and easiest to cook so I really don't understand why everybody on CC is so excited about them :confused:

Just because something is cheap and easy to prepare doesn't mean it isn't good :rolleyes:

This thread is making me reconsider our plan... I have already booked El Convento for our pre-cruise stay in May of next year. We have sailed out of SJ twice, and both times we stayed there, so I just automatically contacted them to book our stay for next year.

 

Yes - it is pricey, but we just love walking about OSJ in the morning before leaving for the cruise port, and usually try to eat breakfast at La Bombanero (which apparently is reopening) or Cafe Majorca.

 

I'm thinking I might try seeing what is available elsewhere though, just to save a little $$$, since we are going to be forking out some big $$ on our port stops.

 

I got confused by the posts about the Hilton, Sheraton and Marriott --- which one has the city bus you can catch to go to OSJ? And where does it let you off once there? How often do the busses run?

 

thanks for your help,

Ann

There is a bus stop near the Caribe Hilton. Taxi from there to OSJ is only 10.00, we've usually done that for the convenience.

It's not, and it was never a big deal until recently.

 

The noise from the churn is extremely loud, and sometimes there is soot floating around.

 

And when the ship was really cruising the noise is really bad to the point where you cannot talk to each other.

 

It is also a long walk from the nearest elevator.

 

All you see is where you have been.

 

Too funny. Yes they have a big balcony. Other than that I can't think of an advantage. Looonnnnggg walk to get there, potential for soot, long way from the elevators and food etc. I know people love them, but we've never seen the advantage. We like a balcony and enjoy it, but never spend enough time there to want the large ones aft. I don't see the difference in view, no matter the balcony location all you see is water......... To each their own

We haven't been on Jewel but we too will be on her in March. We were on her sister ship Brilliance last March and loved it. This will be our 9th straight year sailing RCCL and all the ships have been great. We have no concerns regarding Jewel.:) Food has been consistent on all ships - In our opinion, every RCCL ship we've been on the MDR dinners have been average. We've become burned out on the entree choices, atmosphere, and food quality in the MDR. When we want average food we go to Windjammer buffet which has an atmosphere that is more subdued, calm and quiet. We dine at Chops and Portfino 4 nights on a 7 night cruise.

As someone else said, you really need to read between the lines and sift out the exaggerated complaints on reviews. Sometimes there will be a legitimate major complaint, but often times it's minor things being blown out of proportion.

If you like to watch guys dance around wearing bra's you'll love it:rolleyes:

It's just us, but we've grown weary of the banquet/large/hectic atmosphere in the MDR. The food is generally average, which is all that can be expected when you're feeding 1000 people at a time. And we got tired of pasta's, chicken, pork etc, we'd rather have better beef and seafood for the most part on vacation. Our last prime rib on RCCL in the MDR was pathetic - small, thin, and tough. Service, atmosphere and food are definitely better in the speciality restaurants (at least on Royal Caribbean) so we choose to pay to eat there (usually 3-4 nights on a 7 night cruise). They are cooked to order meals, not mass produced and plated for a 1000 at a time. That in itself is going to make a difference. Not to mention better food quality to start with and better desserts! It's just a matter of choice and priorities, like cabin choice, drinks, etc.

Well those are good recommendations, maybe we'll give it a try when we're on a ship with Izumi:)

OK I'm curious. RCCL seems to be adding the Izumi restaurants as paid specialty dining options on a lot of ships. How many people would consider this? I know we don't mind Japanese food on occasion, but we'd never consider paying extra for it on a cruise.

It's not, and it was never a big deal until recently.

 

The noise from the churn is extremely loud, and sometimes there is soot floating around.

 

And when the ship was really cruising the noise is really bad to the point where you cannot talk to each other.

 

It is also a long walk from the nearest elevator.

 

All you see is where you have been.

 

I have to agree. If you're into a large balcony it's the way to go. Otherwise it's a LONG walk to get there and the (maybe remote) possibility of soot on your deck. We prefer a balcony near the elevators (hump). To each their own:)

Bar scene, sold t-shirts,

Bar food menu

 

Sounds like every Margaritaville we've been to. Wouldn't expect much more in Falmouth or elsewhere.:rolleyes:

Here is the link from RCI Visa Card link http://www.royalcaribbean.com/dealsandmore/offer/visa.do?cS=NAVBAR&pnav=3&snav=5

 

According to the See Rewards Chart you can still get $50 OBC from redeeming 5,000 points.

Not on RCCL it doesn't. It specifically say's Celebrity or Az...

The OBC doesn't list RCCL until 25,000 points:mad:

It has been many years (10) since we cruised out of SJ. Can anyone update us on the taxi prices from the airport to the Condado area and from the ship to the airport on that sad day when they kick us off once again

Both will be around 20.00 plus 1.00/bag.

Might be just as cheap to use two taxi vans.

That is my thought too. And easier, just get in the taxi van's and go rather than mess around booking shuttles.

Key West is not "just Florida":D It is unique and different.

Make sure you walk the old waterfront - have a drink at Schooner Wharf while there.

Lots of bars will have live entertainers, walk Duval and take your pick.

For a diversion the Hemingway House or Truman Whitehouse offer nice tours.

walk on the historic area docks and see the schooners docked there and see several places along the docks to eat or quench your thrist.

 

If you are into history, there are the Hemmingway House, the Truman Winter White House, the Key West Lighthouse--a fun climb.

 

.

I second these recommendations. In addition to, of course, some bars on Duval Street:D

Scavenger hunt assignment - find the Chart Room Bar:) Assignment #2 - find Jimmy Buffets recording studio:)

do i want to go ny and be stuck with a big floppy slice that doesn't have the fortitude to stand on its own or do i want to go chicago and chew on something so full of crust i need chainsaw to cut it down to size. :p

 

i'll take neither and go thin crust. :d

Too funny. Chicago style almost reminds me more of a casserole in a crust.......

There are a few shops and vendors right at the pier, it's at least worth getting off for an hour or two to take a walk around.

What I did say was that on one island, if the crime is so bad as the OP stated, I will simply stay on the ship that day. .

So an unknown person on an internet forum can post whatever they want about what "maybe" happened once on an island, and you'll let that determine your vacation and plans for your visit......????:rolleyes: Guess you better stay out of Chicago, New York, LA, and every other US city, you know crime happens there all the time.......

We were on Adventure a year ago. Public areas were in great shape. Our room was showing definite wear (scuff's/scratches all over the furniture, drawers, etc), carpet well worn. We had a great cruise but the room definitely needed work.

We toured with Thenford Grey last week: Friendly, professional, timely, clean modern shuttle. All in all a perfect day and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Thenford or tour with him again!!!:)

Pretty funny that people actually believe in something like dice control. Lots of internet sites supporting it which isn't surprising. Here's one that lends some common sense to a theory that's pretty much impossible:rolleyes:

http://brokopp.casinocitytimes.com/article/dice-control-fact-or-fiction-502

But of course you won't change the opinion of the believers. I've seen LOTS of people win 1500.00 who weren't delusional enough to claim dice control as the reason :rolleyes:

The part where the ending "Lonely Man" theme from the Hulk show plays, someone tells the story about how their great-grandmother made their door decorations from the tears of children in concentration camps and spun them into hope, dreams, and magic. How these decorations had been appraised at ten thousand dollars each, how they had been put on every door for the last 45 cruises they had been on, how these decorations actually cured the common cold, how children with debilitating illnesses would come to touch them and walk again, how the captain himself came down and thanked them for decorating their door...

 

and then someone came in the night and stole them! This ruined their cruise and made them loose faith in the whole of humanity! This one event shaped them into a hardened lump of coal and they will forever more be cursed to tell this tale as a way to warn others about the evils of mass market cruising. They will talk of the "good ol' days" when men wore tuxes to the pool and women never even wore white underwear after Labor Day! How a man with a hat on would be scolded to tears with just a glance from the ship's crew, how children sat awake at night fearing the Decorations Demon would steal their soul if they even THOUGHT about touching a door decoration, how cruising was for the Rothschilds, the Gettys, the Rockefellers, and them.

 

Read some of the old threads.

Bengal's fan's are known to over-react:D:p

Chill out at Sloppy Joe's and drink margaritas .. see http://www.sloppyjoes.com/ .. enjoy!

Chill out anywhere but Sloppy Joes. There are many better places to hang out than the town's biggest "tourist bar".

The suggestion for the trolley is good if you haven't been there, good way to see the old neighborhoods and homes and hear some history. Check out the old waterfront, maybe tour the Truman/Southern Whitehouse or Hemingway House. And the Pelican Poop Shop has some nice stuff!

Thanks to everyone who posted their first hand reports on Guadeloupe. We're looking forward to getting off the ship there in a few weeks!:)

We're lowly platinum members and have have had robes placed in our room each year. For us it's a Caribbean warm weather cruise and we have no interest in a warm robe, have given it back to our room attendant each time....:rolleyes: