Serenade 7/18/2010 trip report w/ pix

[BeancounterUSA]

The players: my wife and I, both 47 from Birmingham, Alabama

 

The occasion: celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary

 

The itinerary: Southern caribbean (Barbados-St.Lucia-etc.)

 

 

Pre-cruise (Day 0, Saturday)

 

We woke up early and attempted to leave the house at 6:00am but were delayed by a dead battery. After a successful jump start, we were on our way, stopping at Chik-fil-A for b'fast. Our 19 year old son was along for the ride to airport so he could drive the car home and help us avoid the $10/day parking.

 

Our US Airways flights to Charlotte and then San Juan were on time. Baggage claim in the San Juan airport was a little on the crowded side but we got our bags and found a cab in a reasonable amount of time. It was a $15 cab ride plus $1 per bag to the Marriott Stellaris.

 

 

We arrived right at 4:00pm which meant our room was available. There were signs in the entrance instructing early arrivers that rooms would not be available before 4 with suggestions on what to do while waiting. While we were going through the check in process we received a call that our 9:00 pm kayaking excursion to the Bio-luminescent Bay was going to be cancelled due to threatening weather in Fajardo. Bummer, but the weather forecasts were calling for rain all week and we had pledged not to let it bother us.

 

Plan B was to go into Old San Juan so we explored our room and the Hotel before getting a cab into OSJ.

 

[BeancounterUSA]

We got a cab into Old San Juan and immediately headed for Maria's Tropical Drinks. They have frozen tropical drinks (tip #1: don't make the same mistake I did and drink it too fast or you'll get a massive and painful brain freeze) and a limited menu of taco's and enchilada's. We also got the chips and cheese dip that was tremendous.

 

 

 

 

We then enjoyed the shops and narrow cobblestone streets of OSJ. Architecturally, we compare OSJ as a mixture of Charleston and Bourbon Street with a latin influence (and without the crazy people). There is a heavy police presence and the homeowners and shopkeepers leave their doors and windows open.

 

 

 

[LBumb]

nice start, love the photos

[mookitty]

Yay for another Serenade review! Great start! Keep it comin! :D

[ahawco]

I'll be on the Serenade this coming Sunday...can't wait to hear the rest :D

[BeancounterUSA]

That evening we just veg'd out in our room, exhausted from the travelling and the early start to the day. Made us wonder how we would have handing a 9:00pm excursion that would have put us back in our room past midnight.

 

Woke up several times during the evening and sat out on our balcony listening to the waves coming ashore. Happened to be out there at 5:30am to see our ship come in.... literally. Too dark for pictures, however.

 

On Sunday morning, we walked to Danny's Int'l for breakfast. We sat at the bar and the food was good as well as reasonable with attentive service. Not the greatest curb appeal to the place, but I would recommend it.

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, we enjoyed the pool for the rest of the morning. Took a lot of pictures with my brand new digitial underwater camera, but we later discovered the camera had a leak and was rendered useless. Post cruise to do list includes an entry to seek a refund.

 

The Marriott gave us access to the concierge suite on the penthouse floor so we could take some pictures (using my zoom lens) of the Serenade in port along with the Carnival Victory. A recurring problem I was having with my camera was it would get fogged up when coming out of the air conditioning and into the humid air. I didn't always wait long enough for it to equalize or remember to wipe of the lens. sorry for that.

 

 

We took a cab to the port and our first close up look at the ship.

 

[BeancounterUSA]

I'll be on the Serenade this coming Sunday...can't wait to hear the rest :D

 

 

Hey, I wrote down the menu's night by night for you. check this space tonight when I get home from work and I'll lay it out for you. Specialty restaurants were underbooked all week from our own experience plus what we heard from others, so you should still have time to make/revise your reservation depending on the menu.

[BeancounterUSA]

We got to the terminal by 12:30 and gave our luggage (checked 2 bags, we carried on a smaller suitcase and 2 backpacks) to the nearest porter along with $5. I was taking care of the taxi drive while my wife was dealing with the porter and there was a bit of a language barrier. We later figured out that the porter was asking her if we were platinum (we aren't). We tried to take the luggage away and try another porter, but he wouldn't let us. In any event, despite the early check in, our luggage did not arrive until after 8:00pm.

 

We ate in the windjammer dropped our carryon's in our room and explored the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

[ahawco]

You are too sweet :D That is so nice of you to remember all my menu/dining questions :)) THANK YOU!! I will be checking back for sure :)))

[KITKAT0229]

That evening we just veg'd out in our room, exhausted from the travelling and the early start to the day. Made us wonder how we would have handing a 9:00pm excursion that would have put us back in our room past midnight.

 

Woke up several times during the evening and sat out on our balcony listening to the waves coming ashore. Happened to be out there at 5:30am to see our ship come in.... literally. Too dark for pictures, however.

 

On Sunday morning, we walked to Danny's Int'l for breakfast. We sat at the bar and the food was good as well as reasonable with attentive service. Not the greatest curb appeal to the place, but I would recommend it.

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, we enjoyed the pool for the rest of the morning. Took a lot of pictures with my brand new digitial underwater camera, but we later discovered the camera had a leak and was rendered useless. Post cruise to do list includes an entry to seek a refund.

 

The Marriott gave us access to the concierge suite on the penthouse floor so we could take some pictures (using my zoom lens) of the Serenade in port along with the Carnival Victory. A recurring problem I was having with my camera was it would get fogged up when coming out of the air conditioning and into the humid air. I didn't always wait long enough for it to equalize or remember to wipe of the lens. sorry for that.

 

 

We took a cab to the port and our first close up look at the ship.

 

 

Oh yeah you could see the ship come in! I'll have to be sure to get up early enough to watch it :-) Did you have an ocean front room or partial ocean view?

[BeancounterUSA]

So, tip#2 would be to be prepared in case the luggage is delayed, even if you arrive to the ship very early. We were prepared as our carryon suitcase had everything we needed to get dressed for our early seating dinner. We just had wanted to use some of the pre-dinner time to unpack and organize our room.

 

A little about the check in process:

 

You go into a line for the initial security scan. While in line each guest has to fill out a health questionaire, asking you to disclose whether you have been ill recently and other like questions.

 

After the security scan, you are directed to a cue and eventually an agent. The agent takes your check in materials and retrieves your sea pass cards and scans your credit card. Minutes after arriving you go up an escalator and have your welcome aboard picture. After crossing the gangway to deck 4 of the ship, you have your cards scanned and are subject to another security check point, this time by the ship's security personnel. My carryon suitcase did not fit through their scanner, so he asked my to open it and it was thoroughly searched. Good thing we left the sex toys at home as there was a line behind us.

 

Tip #3: Upon arriving at our room after lunch, we had brought some anti-bacterial wipes and we wiped down all surfaces and door handles in the room. Can't be too careful and it only took a minute or so.

 

The ship has an expo that starts about 4:00pm in the afternoon where you can get information about various areas of the ship and about various things they would like to sell you.

 

Tip #4: you can pre-order the shopping guide during the expo. I bought the thing for reasons you will read about later, but I do not believe it was worth the price paid in any way, shape, or form.

 

Tip #5: Make a bucket list for your cruise and tape it up in your room. Use a highliter to indicate the things you have done. Make sure the list includes more than you think you can possibly do and that it includes items that you haven't experienced on previous cruises. One of our items was to make sure we used the hot tub one evening in the Solarium pool. Had never done it in previous cruises. Glad we did it this time. I took a picture of our bucket list, but am embarassed to post it. Maybe later.

 

Enjoyed dinner the first night and enjoyed meeting our table mates. Our table of 10 included a honeymooning couple and an Army sgt. who had just returned from Iraq the week before.

 

Muster drill completed quickly and efficiently which leads me to:

 

Tip #6: the centrum stairs and elevators are always the most crowded. Many times (such as the muster drill) when large crowds are moving at the same time, it might be better to use the forward stairs or elevators.

 

after unpacking and getting organized, we went the casino which leads me to:

 

Tip #7: You can buy (one per person per cruise) $30 of promotional chips for blackjack or craps for the price of $20. You must play the chips until you lose them as they can't be redeemed at the cage, but you just keep playing them and raking any winnings.

 

I cashed out up $80 and headed to the 10:30 welcome aboard show. We got our first taste of Simeon Baker, the cruise director (Dennis signs back on for 7/25 and beyond) and enjoyed the comedian.

 

And so ended day 1.

[BeancounterUSA]

Oh yeah you could see the ship come in! I'll have to be sure to get up early enough to watch it :-) Did you have an ocean front room or partial ocean view?

 

 

Ocean front king room.

Also, ask at the front desk if you can have access to the concierge lounge on the penthouse floor. The place was empty early Sunday morning and it was the only place I could find with views to the port.

[KITKAT0229]

Ocean front king room.

Also, ask at the front desk if you can have access to the concierge lounge on the penthouse floor. The place was empty early Sunday morning and it was the only place I could find with views to the port.

 

Thanks :D

[JenAndDan]

That evening we just veg'd out in our room, exhausted from the travelling and the early start to the day. Made us wonder how we would have handing a 9:00pm excursion that would have put us back in our room past midnight.

 

Woke up several times during the evening and sat out on our balcony listening to the waves coming ashore. Happened to be out there at 5:30am to see our ship come in.... literally. Too dark for pictures, however.

 

On Sunday morning, we walked to Danny's Int'l for breakfast. We sat at the bar and the food was good as well as reasonable with attentive service. Not the greatest curb appeal to the place, but I would recommend it.

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, we enjoyed the pool for the rest of the morning. Took a lot of pictures with my brand new digitial underwater camera, but we later discovered the camera had a leak and was rendered useless. Post cruise to do list includes an entry to seek a refund.

 

The Marriott gave us access to the concierge suite on the penthouse floor so we could take some pictures (using my zoom lens) of the Serenade in port along with the Carnival Victory. A recurring problem I was having with my camera was it would get fogged up when coming out of the air conditioning and into the humid air. I didn't always wait long enough for it to equalize or remember to wipe of the lens. sorry for that.

 

 

We took a cab to the port and our first close up look at the ship.

 

 

 

 

Is this a picture of Danny's and was it air conditioned? Also, how long of a walk from the Marriott do you think it is? Thanks.

[rushedmom]

Great review

[BeancounterUSA]

Day 2 - sea day

 

 

We were up early and were at the Windjammer shortly after 7:00 am. The omelet guy is very efficient and personable and his line moves very fast.

 

After breakfast, we got changed for the pool and had our choice of deck chairs at this early hour. We chose to go up to Deck 12 so that we had more of a breeze and no shadows. Saw plenty of chair saving and not a lot of enforcement, but it didn't get too crowded until about 10:30am

 

 

 

 

It rained a little and cleared a few of the less hearty souls away, but you could see the bridge crew was manuevering to avoid the scattered showers whenever possible.

 

We got up to leave about ten minutes till noon and some lucky couple was on the spot to get the now available chairs. Were first in line for the opening of the seaview cafe and had a nice lunch there.

 

After lunch, went to the casino and lost $100 in blackjack prior to playing in the 7 hand blackjack tournament. Entered a second time after going out the first time and lost a total of $40.

 

Later we went to play bingo in the safari club and the turnout was large and late arriving. They started calling numbers at 4:20 but I had to leave to have any chance at the meet and mingle.

 

The meet and mingle was not well attended, and Simeon showed up towards the end to answer our questions and thank us for coming. They laid out a pretty good spread of cheeses and what not. I met Dr. Suess and family who were on the second leg of a back to back and had a nice conversation with them and their son.

 

 

 

Formal night that night and the head waiter found out about our upcoming anniversary to be celebrated in chops the next night so he surprised us with a song and binding of our wrists with a napkin (plus some sugar free coconut cake).

 

 

Lost another $170 in the casino that night playing the don'ts in craps. Running total for the cruise is down $230, but still have enough of a bankroll to get it back later.

 

Went to the show that night and then to bed.

[BeancounterUSA]

Is this a picture of Danny's and was it air conditioned? Also, how long of a walk from the Marriott do you think it is? Thanks.

 

 

Yes on the airconditioning, which is why my picture of the outside is fogged up looking. I took the picture after leaving instead of before so coming from the A/C into the humid air. Had so many problems with that in the early going.

 

It is only a couple of blocks away from the Marriott. Easy walking distance.

[BeancounterUSA]

Still can't figure out what this is:

 

[maxs mom]

Enjoying your review. We just did a B2B on the Serenade for our 25th anniversary as well! I did a review just like you are doing. It was fun to do. The Serenade and our trip was just the best!! Sounds like you had a good one, too.

[i'llbesea-ingyou]

Can't wait to read more! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experiences with us. Love the pictures too! Happy 25th wedding anniversary to you and your wife. :D

[libertylover]

More!

 

 

 

....please:o

[BeancounterUSA]

Night 1 - Sunday (casual)

 

Vidalia Onion tart appetizer

Pan Fried Pork medallions

Prime Rib

 

Night 2 - Monday (formal)

 

Shrimp cocktail, escargo appetizers

Seafood skewer, shrimp ravioli

 

Night 3 - Tuesday (casual)

 

Crab and shrimp salad appetizer

Turkey tenderloin, cornmeal dusted tilapia

 

Night 4 - Wednesday (casual/caribbean) mystery dinner in Portofino

 

crab cake and clam chowder appetizers

sauted catch of the day, Rack of Lamb

 

Night 5 - Thursday (casual/70's)

 

NY strip steak, shrimp & ____ tempura

 

Night 6 - Friday (formal)

 

Lobster

 

Night 7 - Saturday (casual)

 

Scallop Rissoto, Garlic soup

Garlic Tiger Shrimp, Lamb shank

[takevtr1]

You are too sweet :D That is so nice of you to remember all my menu/dining questions :)) THANK YOU!! I will be checking back for sure :)))

 

ahawco,

wow, you are way faster then me on this review. I am still reading thru it and enjoying ever second of it.

 

I am sailing on Sunday also,

Mitch.....

[demodawn]

enjoying your posts!

[takevtr1]

Night 1 - Sunday (casual)

 

Vidalia Onion tart appetizer

Pan Fried Pork medallions

Prime Rib

 

Night 2 - Monday (formal)

 

Shrimp cocktail, escargo appetizers

Seafood skewer, shrimp ravioli

 

Night 3 - Tuesday (casual)

 

Crab and shrimp salad appetizer

Turkey tenderloin, cornmeal dusted tilapia

 

Night 4 - Wednesday (casual/caribbean) mystery dinner in Portofino

 

crab cake and clam chowder appetizers

sauted catch of the day, Rack of Lamb

 

Night 5 - Thursday (casual/70's)

 

NY strip steak, shrimp & ____ tempura

 

Night 6 - Friday (formal)

 

Lobster

 

Night 7 - Saturday (casual)

 

Scallop Rissoto, Garlic soup

Garlic Tiger Shrimp, Lamb shank

 

Are these the menus to the MDR or the specialty restaurants?

Thanks,

Mitch......