Just back from AOS 8/23-8/30 any questions

[atgatari]

Hi Just returned from the Adventure of the Seas cruise (8/23-8/30). My wife and I went away for our 20th anniversary without the kids. I plan to post a review real soon. We had a good time. The ship was great but the food was mediocre at best. We visited Aruba, Curacao, Dominica and St. Thomas. I am glad to answer any questions you may have.

[CruisinManiac]

Could you elaborate on the food issue? This is the second review that I have read today that mentions the AOS food not being up to par. :(

[atgatari]

The food in the MDR for dinner was just ok not terrible but nothing great. The menu choices were very weak especially on Wednesday and Thursday. The steaks were of poor quality. They offered lunch in the MDR on seas days only. The first sea day lunch was good but the 2nd day everything was dried out and not that hot. Breakfast in the mdr was hit and miss. The windjammer was not that good. The buffet lacked variety and taste. Nothing seemed to change from day to day. Portofino's was very good but you have to pay extra for it. The room service menu had very few items to pick from mostly light fare. We were on a Princess cruise last year that blew the food out of the water compared to the AOS.

[CruisinManiac]

Thanks for the information. Sounds about what I have experienced before and am expecting on my upcoming AOS cruise. At least I don't have to cook. And yes, Portofino's is outstanding!

[LadyQuasi]

I do have a few questions: how is the Casino? When you say the food was not good, do they have the usual cold fruit soups as appetizers? Did the ship feel crowded? COuld you find a space in the hot tubs? How about the pools?

[atgatari]

We only played in the casino on one night did not do to well on the slots but won it all back at the blackjack table. We were up $10 in the casino for the trip but down $65 in bingo. The cold fruit soups were the best part of the meal. The only times the ship felt crowded was coming back from port and at peak dinning times at the Windjammer. We never had any problem getting hot tub space in the Solarium. We spent most of our pool time in there.

[mcaron]

I was also on this sailing with a group of 21....I echo the Op's comments on the food.....The quality was Good not great...The big miss on the food was the selection, The menu's in my opinion have certainly been scaled back over the last several years in the MDR...The Steak selection offered nightly was terrible ( Ranch Steak )and like a rubber sole of a shoe it was so chewy and the deserts were nothing to write home about. MDR Breakfast selection was weak as well and the WindJammer seemed to have repeat selections on most days..Portofino's as always was excellent..with that said I will add that of our many cruises this was probably one of the best. The islands were great the ship is in wonderful shape and the staff were some of the most Friendly we have encountered in years....( Thanks Joseph, Gerald and Kathy ) Spent time in the casino....came out ahead which is always a plus. The ship did not feel crowded although the solarium was tough to get a lounge chair unless you got there early.

[LovesToTravel47]

Hi Just returned from the Adventure of the Seas cruise (8/23-8/30). My wife and I went away for our 20th anniversary without the kids. I plan to post a review real soon. We had a good time. The ship was great but the food was mediocre at best. We visited Aruba, Curacao, Dominica and St. Thomas. I am glad to answer any questions you may have.

 

Hi and welcome back. I asked this question on the "foodies" forum but have not gotten an answer, so here goes, I've seen in different threads that people seem to like 'savory bites' my question is What is a 'savory bite'? Thanks:)

[atgatari]

Savory Bites are small tasty seeded rolls served at dinner-similar in size to a doughnut hole.

[fridaythe13th]

Hi Just returned from the Adventure of the Seas cruise (8/23-8/30). My wife and I went away for our 20th anniversary without the kids. I plan to post a review real soon. We had a good time. The ship was great but the food was mediocre at best. We visited Aruba, Curacao, Dominica and St. Thomas. I am glad to answer any questions you may have.

 

What did you do in each port? We are trying to decide. Which side of the ship docked looking at the ports (just curious). Seems the menu in the MDR is getting weaker all the time. :(

[atgatari]

Here is what we did at each port:

Aruba:Spent the day at the Radisson on the beach-day pass cost $16 pp.

Curacao:Walked around the town -shopped and went to the oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere.

 

Dominica:Took a tour with a taxi-went to Trafalgar Falls, Sulphur Springs and a small black sand beach-cost $20 pp + $5 admission for the falls +tip for the guide

 

St. Thomas-Went on the skyride across the street from the dock-great views of the harbor and the ship -buy these tickets on the ship -it's cheaper than at the attraction ($18 vs $22 p/p). The ride takes about 7 minutes each way. Once at the top they have a restaurant and bar with great views, gift shop and a nature trail.

 

Next we went to Meagan's bay beach-$16 r/t +$4 beach admission p/p. Lounge chair rental $7 p/p.

 

We had cabin #6562 and had perfect views at each port (we were center deck 6 balcony).

I hope this helps

[CruisinManiac]

We had cabin #6562 and had perfect views at each port (we were center deck 6 balcony).

 

Being on the port side, were you able to see Frenchman's Reef as you sailed into St. Thomas? I thought that the starboard side would pass by the resort, so that's how I booked our stateroom.

[Jan_In_Maine]

We were on the same cruise and also found that the food in the dining room was fine, but not what it used to be. I ended up order the chops steak one night.

 

The casino was wonderful to us on the slots. There are 3 machines (penny I believe) that most people don't find until the end of the cruise and then it is impossible to get to them. If you come in from the dining entrence go to the right second row in toward the front. The middle one is a dragon and the two on the sides are something else (I forgot), but anyway they are a riot ... all sorts of bells, whistles, graphics that appear. they are about 9 lines with so much per line ... playing 20 per line adds up. Wish I could remember more!

 

We were on the starboard side of the ship and only in St. Thomas were we able to see any part of any island when we were docked. Jan

[lostdart58]

Being on the port side, were you able to see Frenchman's Reef as you sailed into St. Thomas? I thought that the starboard side would pass by the resort, so that's how I booked our stateroom.

 

Well.....if they didn't see it on the way in they would have seen it on the way out....:p

 

 

...but you are right in being on the starbourd side being much better for St thomas........as they island is to starbourd before it enters the harbor and after it leave the harbor.

[CruisinManiac]

We honeymooned at Frenchman's Reef 30 years ago this month. That's why we want to see the resort as we enter St. Thomas. We want to be able to go out on our balcony and reminisce. :) Then, we plan on seeing about getting a day pass to spend time at the pool. I know the resort has changed some, but the view hasn't. On the way our of port, we will watch the departure up on the top deck.

 

So, I take it by your description, that the ship will back in, and the starboard side will have a view of the harbor of Charlotte Amalie? That really is one of the most beautiful ports. ;)

 

BTW - This will not be our first trip back since our honeymoon. I think we have been to St. Thomas by cruise at least 4 times, but the last time was in 2004 (doesn't seem that long :eek:).

[cruisecookie]

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