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ish drakes

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Posts posted by ish drakes

    Adventure OS - A Wonderous (and Occasionally Strange) Journey

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Hi Drakes.

     

     

     

    8620 is in my favorite location, hard by the aft elevators (which are the only ones that go all the way to the Viking Crown). It's a really short stagger off the elevator at 3:00 AM.

     

     

     

    I had ZERO noise problems. The elevators are separated by the internet café. Motion is very much a function of luck BUT I will tell you that I get sick on a merry go round and I never once used my scopolamine patch. If you are concerned, consider my regimen of meclizine x2/day and Jack Daniels somewhat more often.

     

     

     

    The cabin itself is clean and the steward, Keith, is very efficient. We don't ask for much beyond a bucket of ice but he always had the place looking good. After 30 years I have trained the wife to leave the furniture home and pack relatively lightly. For us, there is way more than enough stowage and we didn't need to put the suitcases under the bed.

     

     

     

    The balcony is roomy enough but it does have those "poopies in the corner". Didn't bother me but it does indicate some age/maintenance problems. Also, if you are travelling with anything approximating a child, I would avoid the balconies. On Adventure, the bottom rail is sold metal. In my nightmares I could see my 3 year old GDD standing on a chair and having a ready made one step up and over. STILL get the shivers. Had we not put the kids in an Oceanview instead, not one of us would have slept all week.

     

     

     

    My real problem with 8620 (as well as 8618, 8622, 8624 and 8626) was Flushin Roulette. Hopefully they will have that resolved for you.

     

     

     

    Anything else I can help with, let me know.

     

     

    Thank you. Hopefully the flushing roulette will be resolved by the time we get onboard.

     

    Very sorry to hear about your friend, condolences.

    Recommended hotel for Summit from San Juan

    in San Juan, PR

    Posted

    We usually stay in the Condado area. We have stayed at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino and enjoyed it very much. Have also stayed at Embassy Suites. There are not as many restaurant choices but a nice hotel. We also like the Doubletree. It has a grocery store right across the street. I would recommend any of these three. The only hotel that we have stayed in and would not recommend is the Holiday Inn Express.

     

     

    Not to hijack the topic, but I am thinking of staying at the Holiday Inn Express for pre and post cruise 1 day stay in Early June.

     

    May I ask why you would not recommend it.

     

    Thanks

    Hotel help

    in San Juan, PR

    Posted

    Heading out on Adventure of the Sea on June 6th and will be doing 1 day in San Juan before and after the cruise.

     

    Currently trying to select between Best Western Plus and Holiday Inn Express.

     

    Can anyone who has stayed at either of these properties give me the pros and cons of staying there.

     

    I'm especially interested in cleanliness and location, would prefer to be walking distance to restaurants and shops in safe areas.

     

    Thanks

    Latest arrival time

    in San Juan, PR

    Posted

    Hi, my husband and I will be on the Adventures of the Seas on June 6 and we are unable to arrive the day before the cruise. I am checking if a flight arrive at 3:28 pm is too late to try to get to the port. The ship is scheduled to leave at 8:30pm. We could try for a flight that arrives around 1pm but I believe the likelihood of our missing that flight is too great to risk it, as we are coming in from Miami on another cruise and would need to get to the airport by 9am.

     

    Please help!

     

    Thanks

    Ocean suite upsell on Splendor for $482 more than balcony Sep 13

    in Canada (Alaska/Pacific Coastal)

    Posted

    Yes it is...ocean suites are terrific....we upgraded without the call and on our last cruise we had an ocean suite on splendor...deck 7... Magnificent. You won't regret it.

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

     

     

    Oh dear, sorry I didn't get this response yesterday. We decided not to go for it this time around. Hopefully we will still have a great cruise in our balcony room.

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Boston duck tour and New England Aquarium

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    Fenway Park tour is very popular

     

    Freedom Trail walk is great

     

    Harvard Square, with Harvard University and/or MIT is enjoyed by lots of folks

     

    Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market

     

     

     

    These are all things you can easily walk to or take a short MBTA ride to get to.

     

     

    Thanks

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Boston duck tour and New England Aquarium

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    I had clicked the bostonharborcruises.com link, clicked Harbor Island, clicked "Buy Tickets" (on the left), and picked Sept 15 on the calendar, and had 4 choices for the George's Island cruise (which I think is the nicest one). Looks like the Historic harbor cruise is only on weekends after Labor Day, so you won't have that option, but the George's Island cruise will also have narrative -- you just won't get to see the USS Constitution.

     

    Harbor Cruise is harbor, Duck tour is Charles River, there won't be any overlap

     

    Oh ok. Will look into doing that as well.

     

    So my options are Aquarium, Quincy market, harbour cruise to George Island and HOHO bus tour.

     

    Thanks

    Boston duck tour and New England Aquarium

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    If you are looking for more to do, you could spend done time at Quincy Market, looking around at the shops, watching street performers, eating lunch. It's quite close to the Aquarium. If you're interested in American history, the Freedom Trail, or parts of it, are an option. Also the Holocaust memorial next to Quincy Market. You can stroll through the traditionally Italian North End, quite close by, to see Paul Revere's house and get some cannoli. The Institute of a Contemporary Art is on the waterfront (by Silver line T) , and has a magnificent view of the harbor. Or go out to George's Island by boat (from near the Aquarium) to see Fort Warren. (YouTube is a good resource to see what these places are like.)

     

     

    Thanks

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Boston duck tour and New England Aquarium

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    The Boston Duck Tour is usually only about an hour and a half for the actual tour, so you will have time to do more while in port. Also note, that while they have tours leaving from the Aquarium, they are shorter than the tours leaving from the Prudential Center or the Museum of Science, so you get more sights in leaving from those two locations.

     

    The New England Aquarium is a bit small, but a very well curated Aquarium and it was recently re-done. If you live near a fairly large Aquarium, you may be a bit underwhelmed, but it is still a very popular spot for both tourists and local kids. I also recommend the Museum of Science as it is one of the better museums in the city and you can catch a full length duck tour from there.

     

     

    We actually don't have an aquarium here in Barbados so I'm not sure how to gauge how I might feel about the smaller one. To the best of my memory don't think I've ever really been to one, so it might be a good experience. Not sure though cause the comments seem to be saying skip it.

     

    Maybe I should check out the Museum of Science instead like you suggested.

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Boston duck tour and New England Aquarium

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    From the Aquarium area, which is Long Wharf, you can take the MBTA water taxi to the Constitution in Charlestown for $3 each way. It's a nice inexpensive harbor ride that might satisfy your need for a "water" experience in Boston.

     

     

    Ok thanks. Sounds nice and cheap...lol

     

    Will look into it

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Boston duck tour and New England Aquarium

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    The original Duck Tour is much more highly rated by my friends than the Superduck tour.

     

    There are tons of harbor boat tours, we did this one: http://www.boston-sailing.com/Schooner-Adirondack-III

     

    this past weekend and loved it (you can find discounts on Goldstar). There are many others as well.

     

    The Aquarium recently upgraded their Giant Ocean Tank, but I haven't heard too much praise for the facility as a whole in many years, so you might consider something else instead.

     

    I do see availability for Sept 15 at http://www.bostonharborcruises.com, but you truly don't have to book this more than a couple days in advance for a non weekend date. Wait until much closer to the date to see what the weather forecast is. If it's going to be cold and/or damp, you probably don't want to be out there.

     

     

    Checked the Schooner schedule, there are no cruises on Sep 15. Where are you finding cruises on Boston harborcruises.com? There is the USS Constitution available but not the historic site seeing, unless I am using the site incorrectly and if I am I do apologise.

     

    Seems like I need to find something to do besides the aquarium as it looks like I won't enjoy it much based on these comments.

     

    Would it make sense to do the harbor cruise and the duck tour? Feels like it could be a bit repetitive.

     

    What suggestions to do for my day in Boston?

     

    Thanks

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Boston duck tour and New England Aquarium

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    There's the original Boston Duck Tours that start from the Museum of Science and from the Prudential, and there is also Super Duck Tours, which has a shuttle from near the Aquarium to the departure point and does a different route.

     

    The Aquarium probably takes about 3 hours or so.

     

    Both could be done DIY in a day, easily.

     

    There are several harbor tours, whale watches, and it is possible to go out to the islands in the harbor as well. http://www.bostonharborcruisrs.com

     

     

    Thanks. I think I checked out that site for the Boston harbor cruises but they weren't available for 15 Sep. will check again

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Boston duck tour and New England Aquarium

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    Are you talking about booking both a duck tour and the Aquarium as a ship's tour? If so, what would Carnival charge for those two tours?

     

     

     

    Boston is very much a DIY port - it would be possible to do both a duck tour and the Aquarium on your own and probably for less money than Carnival will charge you. Why waste your time going from the ship to the tour and all the way back to the ship to pick up another tour?

     

     

     

    What date would this be and what hours are you in port?

     

     

    Not a ship tour. Was thinking On my own.

     

    Will be in port Sep 15 from 8am - 5pm

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Boston duck tour and New England Aquarium

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    Will be in Boston mid September on New England cruise with Carnival.

     

    Been researching and it seems that while the duck tours may be fun, they aren't long enough to cover the entire day.

     

    Will be in port from 8:00 am to 5:00pm, so was thinking if possible would like to take in another tour, possibly the New England Aquarium.

     

    Would like advice on how feasible that is, how I would get it done and what is the best company to do the duck tour with.

     

    Also open to other ideas on how to spend day in Boston. Friend recommended Barbour cruise but wasn't able to find any available for the date there.

     

    Thanks

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