Jewel Day by Day Photo Review 11/16/2013 (Southern Caribbean)

[Familygoboston]

At least all of your pictures are viewable now.

Yes, seems pbase has figured out their issue! I didn't hear back from kewlguy about deleting my overly large photos, so I guess we are just stuck with them:D

 

I love the flying fish photo! :D

They are really neat, and I am sorry that DH didn't get any photos from when 5-10 of them all jumped out at the same time! By the time he came over the big school of them had been passed by and only one or two jumped out at a time, but for a while there were big schools jumping out of the water...it was amazing!

[Familygoboston]

Day 7 Sea Day: Walk for Wishes

 

After lunch we went to the pool deck to get ready for Walk for Wishes. DH likes to get a new tee each trip; I like to recycle and bring my WFW tee with me and just make the donation. On Jewel, several members of the senior staff came out and sat at a long table signing everyone's WFW tee's if you wanted. I had never seen that done before, and it was a very nice way to greet the senior officers, but the line to get the tees signed was well over a 1/2 hour long. DH waited in line; I didn't since I had my tee on already.

 

The pool deck was jammed!! I mean not a chair to be had. The only place we saw plenty of nice empty chairs was on the Promenade deck, most in the shade and 1/2 in the smoking section. The crowding was on the upper and lower pool decks and the Solarium- when you do the WFW you see all the upper chairs too. Of course not every chair was occupied by an actual person; many were occupied by the tell tale single flip flop of covetousness, or a towel. Sometimes a whole string of chairs might be owned by a pair of separated flip flops, a towel and a book. But by that time of day, there were a lot of bodies too!

 

I just wanted one chair to relax on for 15 minutes while DH had his tee signed before WFW. So I have a technique where I "sublet" a chair for a short while. I went over to one of the chairs with a single flip flop on it and moved the flip flop to the floor and sat down. If someone arrived and told me that this was "their chair" I would have explained in my nicest voice that I was just using it till the walk for wishes in 10 minutes but that I would gladly move on and yield the chair to them right now. But it never came to that, because as expected, flip flop owner never returned for "their chair" and after 15 minutes I left and returned the flip flop to it's God granted spot on the chair.

 

This leasing system works well. The "lessor" of the chair never even knows "their chair" has been used. The last time I was on Jewel (which is also the last time I had a chair problem on a Royal Caribbean ship, because our most recent cruise we had sailed Allure, which doesn't have this problem) I leased a chair for about an hour and a half in the Solarium and the person never returned, so they never knew they had leased their chair! Try it; the key is absolute politeness and the cheerful willingness to move the moment the person returns (don't worry; they won't!)

 

[me in my "leased" chair...the only reason the one next to me was empty was because the strap was broken)

 

 

 

 

 

(eventually DH got to the head of the line and we had our photo taken with Capt Gus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the photo, Carly got the walk started with little fanfare (on other ships there is stretching, clapping and cheering or even line dancing preceding the first lap!) We did a few laps and then Carly went off to run the "Sexiest Man Competition", and we beat a hasty retreat back to our nice quiet balcony to relax on "our" chairs! No flip flops required!!:D

 

 

[Familygoboston]

Day 7 Sea Day: the dreaded...packing!:(

Since were back at the cabin, we decided to get a bit of packing done in addition to relaxing on the balcony. I have to say that after years of getting debarkation information on your bed on day 2 or 3 of the cruise...Royal has really made an effort to hold off on Debarkation paper work and lectures until the last day of the cruise (they must read my comment cards;)) It is so much more enjoyable this way!

 

(Sean and I continued our playful notes...here is my note for the last day, and his response, but, alas, he was just telling me what I wanted to hear!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(we decided to take a photo of all the pals he made for us)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(DH enjoyed taking one last sunset photo on the balcony)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After it got dark, we got cleaned up and went to dinner.

[Familygoboston]

Day 7 Sea Day: Dinner and Show

 

We went back down to MTD for an early dinner...the farewell show runs just once tonight and we didn't want to miss it!

 

 

Day 7 Pomodoro Menu

 

Tandoori Chicken Salad

Rigatoni Pasta

Fish, Seafood and Mash

Roasted Turkey

Rosemary Lamb Shank

Sweet and Sour Premium Vegetarian Chicken Chunks

(I think this is a typo that is corrected on the actual menus..chicken is not "vegetarian";)

 

 

DH had the French onion soup/ Caesar salad/ rigatoni with prosciutto.

I had the French onion soup/shrimp cocktail/fried seafood and mash.

 

We took a photo with our waiter and said our goodbyes and headed back to the WJ for ice cream.

 

(Ice cream in WJ)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight's show was the Farewell Showtime, at 7:45 PM with a comedian, the always excellent house band, Royal Caribbean dancers and singers and even the passengers got up and did a Zumba routine they had practiced. Of course one of the fun parts of the farewell show is seeing the cruise in review video snippets before the show starts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the other fun part is seeing all the crew come on stage for applause (my favorite is the room stewards carrying the towel animals onto the stage!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We still had a few free "spin to wins" so we stopped into the Casino Royale to try our luck with those (we only play with house money) We were big winners!;) ( We always are when we don't play with our money!)

 

(Here is DH with his "winnings")

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all that excitement we went to the Majority Rules Game Show run by the cruise staff in the Safari lounge. Its a little like Family Feud, and it's a lot of fun, but more challenging with such a mixed international crowd (you have to guess what the majority answer will be!!)

 

Throughout the evening, we ran into lots of new friends and got emails exchanged!

 

Then it was time to put the luggage out into the hall and go to bed!

Edited December 11, 2013 by Familygoboston

[Familygoboston]

Cruise Compasses Day 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(departure info)

 

 

 

 

Coming Up : Debarkation..."well, whats so exciting about that?" you ask.

 

Well, nothing...but we did have an action packed 24 hours in San Juan...want to travel into a tunnel under a fort, kayak on the bio lumi bay with us? Well, that's all up next!

[Familygoboston]

Day 8 San Juan

 

 

 

We were up early and off to the WJ for breakfast, another busy day in the WJ, but even today you could find a table.

 

After breakfast we head back to the cabin to get our carry bags and go to our departure lounge. We have the option of going to Vortex for the diamond departure lounge, instead of the safari lounge on 6, which was assigned to our number 4, but I'm not seeing the advantage to going to deck 13 from deck 8 to debark at deck 5- so we head the the Safari Lounge. We are group 4 and when we arrive, we see folks leaving and our number had been called, so we just turn around and head out to the customs and bag claim.

 

Usually we pack very lightly for travel, a roll aboard each, plus a personal item (a back pack for me and camera bag for DH). Sometimes on a Caribbean cruise where we will be unpacking for the whole week, and "dressing up" in the evenings, we pack a large roller garment bag. On this trip, we also packed a large roller suitcase so we could plan more "dressy" nights. Whenever we do this (overpack) we always regret it. We just don't like having to manage so many pieces, even if they all roll. So it's back to light packing for us!

 

I'll include our Debarkation time line here for your planning purposes. I didn't see any kinds of back ups, and we moved through very quickly!

 

 

7:45 left lounge

7:55 arrived in luggage holding area

It took a little while to find the luggage, there are numbered areas throughout the luggage pick up area where your corresponding numbered luggage should be. But not all luggage is placed under the correct numbers, so luggage with different numbers are sometimes under the wrong labels or on the very edge of a numbered area, seemingly in the next numbered area. So you might have to do some looking around.

8:15 Passed through customs and found a cab

8:45 Arrived in OSJ by taxi ($19 with 4 bags...we tipped $2)

 

So for us that was one hour from lounge to OSJ hotel curb...I consider that quite speedy!

 

 

 

Surviving the Taxi Stand:

When we got to the taxi stand; there are multiple people, all trying to look like they are the "official" taxi dispatcher and waving that you should follow their instructions to go to their cab...but here is the thing...there really isn't an official dispatcher and they are all "competing" for passengers. There are some guys waving people to cabs that "look" somewhat official, but they are working for their own cab company to fill multiple cabs, so there is more than one of these guys standing there too. It can all be a little confusing! Here is my strategy for managing it:

 

Some "cabs" are those large vans and they are going to make you wait for it to fill and you'll possibly stop at one or two places before you get to yours (for instance, a van will go to the Condado Beach area, but stop at 2 different resorts there) You can save a couple of bucks a person by doing this, what you give up is some time. Prices will usually be quoted per person.

 

Some cabs will be smaller and will be willing to leave immediately, but will cost more per person. The Cabbie is likely to quote you a price for the trip, rather than per person, and remember to add a buck a bag for any bags that go into the trunk.

 

If you don't like the first cab offered to you by the "unofficial" dispatcher, just walk down the side walk to the next "unofficial" dispatcher. Tell them your destination and ask each one, "which one is your cab?", and ask if they plan to leave right away and how much. If they motion to a nearly full van; you might be in luck, leaving right away for a good price. If you prefer to leave right away, or go alone then you should seek a small cab. If you are motioned to an empty van, move on, unless you don't mind killing some time.

 

Don't hesitate to say 'no thank you" and keep moving on till you find the right match of size, departure time and price! You don't owe them anything, and you have the right to choose!! No one is officially "in charge" at the cab stand...just you!;)

 

 

 

The first fellow we encounter motioned to have us stand in line behind a huge family (with even more luggage than we had;)) for transport in one of those 15 person vans, (they were trying to fill a SECOND van, and arguments were raging about who would ride in which, with what luggage:rolleyes:) Because this family appeared to be very high maintenance, with tons of luggage, lots of demanding women and whiny kids, we decide to bail and find the next guy who would take just the two of us immediately.

[Max Density]

Glad I found this review! My family and I are sailing aboard Jewel in June on a different itinerary, but this information is very helpful.

[BillOh]

 

 

Surviving the Taxi Stand:

 

I was waiting for that, thanks. This will be our first cruise from San Jaun, so this was helpful.

 

 

Go ahead and book your Freedom cruise for this time next year as I've sailed Freedom before as well, but have not sailed out of Port Canaveral, so you can help me out a 4th time :D Maybe I can talk you into doing Anthem out of Port Everglades the year after that?

[Familygoboston]

Glad I found this review! My family and I are sailing aboard Jewel in June on a different itinerary, but this information is very helpful.

Very fun, Max! hope you all enjoy!:D

 

I was waiting for that, thanks. This will be our first cruise from San Jaun, so this was helpful.

 

 

Go ahead and book your Freedom cruise for this time next year as I've sailed Freedom before as well, but have not sailed out of Port Canaveral, so you can help me out a 4th time :D Maybe I can talk you into doing Anthem out of Port Everglades the year after that?

 

Yes, Bill, its funny, some ports have a very organized taxi stand with published rates and a clear taxi "concierge" who gets you set up and matched folks for the big vans. Other places, not so, and I think one of the knocks on SJ is that it is disorganized and so people feel like they are being taken, even when they aren't. It seems that the guys hustling for fares "act" like they are the "boss" man handling you into cabs or lines, but really, you get to choose.

 

I think the cabs (if you get an official one -which is what is allowed at the pier) are pretty well regulated in terms of prices, and they aren't trying to rip anyone off, they are just hustling for fares! But if you ask up front there can be no surprises. I found everyone was fair and polite and helpful, it's just a bit of a free for all at the curb and if you are shy about it, you can get a little jostled...you probably wont get ripped off, but you may not get what you want...does that make sense?

 

Anthem is on the list...maybe we will actually get to cruise "together" one day;) I think I'd rather travel to FL and sail Anthem than drive and park in NY to sail for a couple of days in the chilly Atlantic on Quantum...so I'll wait a bit. Friends we met on Allure want to do Allure again June 2015, and that's tempting too, but I'd like to switch it up and go on Oasis so my girls get to see a different set of shows! SO I will be looking at Freedom or Oasis or Allure for June '15, when those come out.

 

We've got a European river cruise booked for next fall, and Antarctica is on our radar as the next "big trip" so I don't know yet when and where our next Royal cruise will be. With the kids leaving school, we have a little more flexibility to wait for some "last minute" deals; though I'm not good at last minute..Im a planner:o

[Familygoboston]

Old San Juan: Hotel Plaza Des Armas (HPDA)

San Jose St #202 OSJ, PR

 

We did some research (ya think?:p) before we left and knew we wanted to stay right in OSJ at some point during our vacation. Originally we had booked this hotel for a pre night stay, based on good reviews from TA and CC, thinking we could tour around OSJ early before boarding. But our flight was quite late and I was worried if this small hotel would have a clerk at the desk if we checked in late. When we arrived, I asked that question and Louis the manager, assured me that they are staffed 24/7, so don't let a late flight deter you!

 

We had heard good reviews about this hotel. But I will tell you it is very boutique/euro style. You are staying on a city street in a very old building. Things are quirky, and doors stick, things are worn and maybe even a bit shabby, and the elevator is ancient. But we found the service and location to be excellent. For the price (we paid around $150 for a Queen suite, but were upgraded to a King suite) we felt the location and "experience" of staying in a small, local, wonderfully located place was "worth it".

 

But, if you are looking for a luxury resort; with all new furnishings, this isn't it! If you want to stay in OSJ at a more traditional style "resort" hotel, try the Sheraton at the cruise port (which is NOT the port where Jewel is docked) The Sheraton has valets, and concierges and a casino and all those kinds of things, if that's what you want. (we got to check out the Sheraton when we met a tour there later in the day; though we didn't see any of the rooms!)

 

The HPDA is located on a street diagonally across from the Plaza Des Armas. This little park was hosting a little sidewalk art show, and was truly charming. The hotel appeared to be having some renovations to the exterior and could use a little freshening up of the interiors.

 

(The exterior of the Hotel Plaza Des Armas)

 

 

 

 

 

This is the ancient elevator...I found it charming; but then I only used it twice to move luggage. If it was not operational -which probably happens with an old elevator, or if I needed it several times a day, I might not find it so charming!

 

Elevator and the lovely couple who made the mistake of taking fashion advice from ME! story below)

 

 

 

Funny story about this couple...they were in town for a wedding, and Mr did not know how to tie his bow tie...Mrs tried this, and then they came to the lobby to take a poll of the front desk staff and visitors in the lobby about whether this would pass muster for the wedding. My opinion (which I gave them) was yes, if they were just guests; older folks can get away with a lot and just be lovably "eccentric", no if they were in the wedding party and the bride wants you in formal photos. He seemed to want to take my advice (and you all know how shy I am about giving it:rolleyes:) He was an uncle of the bride, not a grandpa, so I think this was a go!

 

 

This is the Plaza. it had a nice little cafe in the center and when we were there there were artists who were showing their work. One artist told us that you can't sell crappy crafts there, only artists with their own work can get a permit to set up. So a real effort is being made to create a lively and authentic street scene in OSJ.

 

(the art show in the plaza)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also in the plaza is this is a statue of "Tita" Alonso- as best I can translate, he was a community/political figure who was instrumental in the modern development of SJ, who passed away 10 years ago, while we were there many people plopped onto the bench to have their photo taken with him!

 

(Tita)

[BillOh]

Very fun, Max! hope you all enjoy!:D

 

 

 

Yes, Bill, its funny, some ports have a very organized taxi stand with published rates and a clear taxi "concierge" who gets you set up and matched folks for the big vans. Other places, not so, and I think one of the knocks on SJ is that it is disorganized and so people feel like they are being taken, even when they aren't. It seems that the guys hustling for fares "act" like they are the "boss" man handling you into cabs or lines, but really, you get to choose.

 

I've seen it be similar in Miami some times, I'm comfortable with that. I've heard of people having problems on the other end at the airport, getting in the wrong line and then finding they had to get in another agricultural line and taking longer. Any issues there?

 

 

Anthem is on the list...maybe we will actually get to cruise "together" one day;) I think I'd rather travel to FL and sail Anthem than drive and park in NY to sail for a couple of days in the chilly Atlantic on Quantum...so I'll wait a bit. Friends we met on Allure want to do Allure again June 2015, and that's tempting too, but I'd like to switch it up and go on Oasis so my girls get to see a different set of shows!

 

Ginny who has been commenting in this threa and who was on my Allure cruise and on my next Jewel cruise will be doing Oasis in 2015 for just that same reason. I was tempted as they are a fun bunch of people (see if I say that after 2 cruises ;) ) But I want to go back on Freedom and for the same itinerary you get one more port at Grand Caymen which I will probably use for diving.

 

 

 

SO I will be looking at Freedom or Oasis or Allure for June '15, when those come out.

 

 

Well, maybe my Freedom review will come out just in time for you and you can come hound me in my roll call. (499 days to go and I'm the only one in there)

 

We've got a European river cruise booked for next fall, and Antarctica is on our radar as the next "big trip" so I don't know yet when and where our next Royal cruise will be. With the kids leaving school, we have a little more flexibility to wait for some "last minute" deals; though I'm not good at last minute..Im a planner:o

 

Those both sound like cruises I'd like to do someday, but the Mrs. is a sun goddess who actually has an allergy to cold so even Alaska is a tough sell. Look forward to that empty nest. Its enjoyable!

Edited December 12, 2013 by BillOh

[Familygoboston]

Interior of Hotel Plaza des Armas

 

We didn't get to check in till 3:00 on the dot, so we actually did bit of touring before we took these photos, but I'm going to post them here with the hotel info.

 

Now, here is the bad news...it took every second of the time (check in time was 3 PM) to "clean the room" and I didn't find the room to be spectacularly clean once we got in! I've had worse, but given we couldn't sneak in a few minutes early, I was surprised that it wasn't quite up to my standards.

 

I don't mind threadbare and shabby, which this room was, but I don't like to find hair that's been "cleaned". In other words, it looked like someone ran a rag around to "clean it" but didn't really look to see that it was "clean". I found a few hairs on the floors, and on the toilet. I guess I gauge cleanliness on whether I feel compelled to wear flip flops everywhere in the room, and that's what I felt compelled to do in this room. The linens and sheets were clean, but the floors and bath room fixtures looked like they had just had the wet wipe down. I didn't want to be disappointed, but I have to say, I was a little!:( As you can see it's very neat and a little worn.

 

Would I stay again? Probably, if the price was right, because I like the location and service, and I'm not so picky about clean, because I never sit on floors or use showers without flip flops anyway (I'm a little germ phobic, so I take precautions anyway) I have friends who wouldn't even have been happy with how "old" and worn things looked- so if that's you, this place isn't for you! I also will report that being in the middle of the city in an old building is not the most restful nights sleep, but that is no fault of the hotel, but it something to consider when choosing. I was disappointed with the room cleanliness I feel I had to share that with you!

 

(room)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(balcony- no seating, just a place to stand and look around)

[Familygoboston]

I've seen it be similar in Miami some times, I'm comfortable with that. I've heard of people having problems on the other end at the airport, getting in the wrong line and then finding they had to get in another agricultural line and taking longer. Any issues there?

 

We had a super early flight...so the scanner had no line, but if there are lines I would install one person in a line and then have the other follow it; see if it goes to the agricultural scanner, then you are good, if not follow the scanner back to the end of the scanner line and get yourselves situated there. Because the scanner is just inside the doors (with no real queue set up), I can see how it would get chaotic in a hurry! But we were literally the only ones there when we arrived at 6:30 AM on Sunday. The scanner looks like a bag scanner but it's situated just inside the doors and it does have signs, so look for that.

 

Ginny who has been commenting in this threa and who was on my Allure cruise and on my next Jewel cruise will be doing Oasis in 2015 for just that same reason. I was tempted as they are a fun bunch of people (see if I say that after 2 cruises ;) ) But I want to go back on Freedom and for the same itinerary you get one more port at Grand Caymen which I will probably use for diving.

 

That is something to consider, I do like Grand Caymen

 

Well, maybe my Freedom review will come out just in time for you and you can come hound me in my roll call. (499 days to go and I'm the only one in there)

 

And hound I will ;)

 

Those both sound like cruises I'd like to do someday, but the Mrs. is a sun goddess who actually has an allergy to cold so even Alaska is a tough sell. Look forward to that empty nest. Its enjoyable!

I told DH I was a little wary about the roughness of the drake passage, but he's promised me either a short cruise from or a weekend in Miami on the way home to warm my bones after that trip

 

Thanks for reading!

[Familygoboston]

Old San Juan

 

After dropping our bags we decided to do a little touring around OSJ. DH especially wanted to see the forts. He's a military history buff, and we rarely miss a fort and the two in San Juan are among the best preserved anywhere. We decided to head straight for El Morro, since we were so early and could beat the crowds. But along the way, through out our day, we got some great shots all around OSJ.

 

(another panoramic view of the Plaza des Armas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(one of many street scenes in OSJ)

 

 

 

 

(this lovely little market was at the Recinta Sur, at the intersection with Tanca St This is the view from Trolley stop #12)

 

 

 

 

 

(a lovely painted doorway)

 

Trolley:

 

There is a free Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) trolley that runs around OSJ. Its very easy to use, just get the map at your hotel or at one of the forts, and then you can get on and ride to another stop. There is a stop outside each of the major "tourist" attractions. Be sure to check the color route and direction of your trolley, so you get to the stop you want, but it's a very easy to use open "tram" style trolley. (there is a red route, a long purple route, and a green route) It stops at the designated stops, which are carefully marked with a number, color and "trolley stop" and you just get on. It stops at each stop and you get off when you want. You can also just ride the whole route to get a lay of the land or have a free "tour" (without any commentary obviously)

 

Some major stops I've mentioned in this review:

El Morro-24 or 25

San Cristobal-18 or 19

The cruise piers (not where Jewel docks)- 1, 14, or 13

Plaza Des Armas-8

[Familygoboston]

El Morro

 

We walked up to El Morro, hoping to tour while the walls provided some morning shade and before the crowds arrived.

 

El Morro is imposing from either direction, waterside, which we saw sailing away, and land side, which we saw on our last day! These forts are now National Monuments managed by the National Park Service. In addition to be spectacularly preserved, the National Park Rangers do an excellent job of "interpreting" the forts in a very interactive way. So it isn't just a march around a bunch stone walls! Most military history makes my eyes glaze over, but these sites were very interesting and very well interpreted by the Rangers!!

 

At El Morro and San Cristobal we learned just how many defensive techniques are used during the careful design of these forts. The Spanish planned narrowing tunnels, lookouts, tunnels designed to be blown up in sections, even the shapes of staircases, all designed to prevent the taking of the fort and allow those inside major tactical advantages.

 

Puerto Rico stands as the sentry island to the entrance to the southern Caribbean and the rest of Latin America; it was the first island where the Spanish could land, re stock food and fresh water after a long ocean crossing from Spain before heading on to South America or other Caribbean islands. This made it strategically important to the Spanish, and desired by the Dutch and English, who made attempts to take San Juan. After failed attempts, most countries didn't dare attack it because if its reputation as impregnable, but it eventually "fell" to the United States in 1898 by treaty after the Spanish American War. Since then, the forts have served the US as observation sites during the World War II and the Cuban Missile crises, and eventually as National Monuments.

 

 

(El Morro from the city)

 

 

 

 

 

(The forts fly the American, Puerto Rican and historic Colonial Spanish flag)

 

 

 

 

 

(your "historian" in a sentry box;))

 

[Familygoboston]

El Morro

 

Inside the fort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Familygoboston]

El Morro

 

(dwarfed by those walls!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Triangle stairs- if you are coming up them from the outside, you can't see what or who is around the corner waiting for you, another strategic defense!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(view to San Cristobal from a lookout at El Morro)

 

[Familygoboston]

San Cristobal

 

We took the trolley from El Morro to San Cristobal which is part of the same National Park, since it was pulling up as we finished walking around El Morro.

 

(San Cristobal)

 

 

 

 

 

(entrance)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(interior)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(just how thirsty do you have to be!???:eek:)

 

Tip: they sell water bottles in the gift shops at both forts!

[Familygoboston]

San Cristobal l

 

We noticed that a tour was just getting ready to leave so we joined in with the Ranger, because the rangers at El Morro were so informative. We lucked out, because this was a tunnel tour.

 

We learned all about the tunnel defenses and got to go into a "locked" tunnel with flashlights they provided. You have to be prepared to be in the dark, in the heat and feeling a little claustrophobic. We walked single file through the tunnel with our flashlights holding the sides of the tunnels. At one point our ranger had everyone turn out their flashlights and be silent for a moment...you really had a feeling of how absolutely dark and silent it would be in there!

 

At the end of the tunnel we were able to see a little air hole lookout to the ocean. The tunnels were all arranged under a large feild that might appear to the enemy as a good spot to land men to attack the fort. Except that all the tunnels were designed to be blown up and those men would apparently be "swallowed" into the earth and from the enemy ships, it would appear very frightening indeed! The young men on watch were stationed there to light the charge and RUN to the opening of the tunnel before they blow!

 

It was really neat to be in the tunnel imagining the lives of the young men who spent 12 hours a day there in the dark on watch, worrying about all the gun powder, which is why they had to stay in complete darkness...no flashlights were invented yet and no candles allowed in the tunnel:eek:)

 

(tunnel tour)

 

 

 

San Cristobal, which was designed to protect against attacks from the land side, so back outside of the tunnels,there were some lovely views of San Juan!

 

(Views to city)

 

 

 

(and of Jewel!)

 

[seashell]

your husband takes some great pictures. I am a month away but can't wait now. I forget all the details I love till I get there. I may go to your beach in St martin. The thought of hearing just the ocean and seeing the water rolling in is so appealing. Thanks for all the detail. Wish I was doing a back to back.

 

michelle

[bostonfred]

Hi,our paths crossed on a previuos post somewhere...can you provide a fellow Bostonian with some feedback??.we were almost set to book this cruise for next Nov/Dec.We have sailed the Jewel twice before and have fond memories.However, we have been reading a lot of negative posts and comments.The entertainment,beds,condition of ship and service were all slammed.You seemed to have a great time.We seem to have similar attitudes as well.I am tall like your husband,did he have an issue with size of bed or quality of mattress...did the lounges seem to have decent entertainment,did you see any slipage in service or condition of the ship.Do you have any real negatives to report?? This is a great itinerary and we are still interested...THANKS!!:cool::cool::cool:

[bouhunter]

Hi,our paths crossed on a previuos post somewhere...can you provide a fellow Bostonian with some feedback??.we were almost set to book this cruise for next Nov/Dec.We have sailed the Jewel twice before and have fond memories.However, we have been reading a lot of negative posts and comments.The entertainment,beds,condition of ship and service were all slammed.You seemed to have a great time.We seem to have similar attitudes as well.I am tall like your husband,did he have an issue with size of bed or quality of mattress...did the lounges seem to have decent entertainment,did you see any slipage in service or condition of the ship.Do you have any real negatives to report?? This is a great itinerary and we are still interested...THANKS!!:cool::cool::cool:

 

We'll be on Jewel for the first time in March. I always take negative reviews on ships with a grain of salt, every RCCL ship we've been on has been great. I have no reservations about going on Jewel in a few months:)

[Ocean Boy]

We always spend the last day in San Juan as we usually have a later flight home. I always find it a bit sad to look across the bay and see the ship that was my home for the week sitting there loading up with all those excited people who are just at the beginning of the week that they have been anticipating for so long.

[Familygoboston]

Barrachina

 

After San Cristobal, we hopped on the HOHO trolley (after a 10 minute wait) and rode to stop 12. We had not looked for the proper color and realized that was as close as our green trolley would get to Barrachina, which is where planned to have lunch. This was fine since it gave us a chance to see some of OSJ along the Recinto Sur waterfront.

 

 

Barrachina

104 Fortaleza St, OSJ

Day luggage storage, a handy place to know about!!

 

We had already checked into our hotel, and wanted to have lunch at this restaurant, but we had also heard about it as a place to store luggage for a later flight, and it turns out to be a very handy location!!

 

Barrachina welcomes cruisers to store luggage at no cost, you are asked to tip the baggage handler. From Jewel which is docked in the Pan American Pier, you will need to take a cab to Barrachina. When you arrive, you will be taken through the courtyard to an area in the back, where your luggage will be stored and you get a claim check. From there you can get a trolley (stop #9) and tour around OSJ or walk around if you prefer. In addition to luggage storage, there are rest rooms, a bar and a restaurant. We saw many people coming to get their luggage back to go to the airport, and it was a very simple process, and easy to find cabs outside Barrachina. There is no expectation that you eat at the restaurant, but it offered excellent Puerto Rican specialties, if you chose to eat there and it is famous for "inventing" the Pina Colada! I cannot say if they were invented there, but the one I had was very well made!

 

 

 

 

 

 

(courtyard, the desk at the rear is where you check your luggage)

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived about 1 PM and sat in a nice air conditioned dining room. When we check in at our hotel, we were given 2 free pina colada coupons and 20% off a meal by Louis, the manager at HPDA. Since we had planned to eat there anyway, this worked out very well! The pina coladas were excellent.

 

We ordered fajitas and I wish I could have eaten mine, but just before they were served I started feeling very nauseous. In my mind I was thinking Noro, and I was a starting to get upset because I really didn't want this to get worse and have to miss the kayak trip we had scheduled in the evening. I really felt too bad to even have a bite of my entree, and I was more worried about eating such spicy food and the "regretting" it later, if things got worse.

 

I just waited with DH while he enjoyed his fajitas; which he said were excellent. I was still feeling badly when we got back to our hotel, but shortly after checking in and resting for a bit, I felt much better and had no further issues, so I think I may have just been a little dehydrated. I was very glad I didn't get worse and get noro or anything like that...and I am certain that it had nothing to do with the restaurant because DH loved it and was right as rain, even though we ate the same things!!

 

(dining area)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(menu)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(famous Pina Coladas)

 

[bouhunter]

Nice to see your San Juan portion. We spent a week there 8 years ago, and several nights before/after each cruise the past 4 years. We love Old San Juan:)

 

The forts are indeed awesome. There is cool little place there to visit called Casa Blanca that was a residence actually built for Ponce De Leon. San Juan is an OLD city!

 

Barrachina is nice, we had dinner there once for the flamenco show.

 

FYI there is a Pina Colada debate in San Juan. The Caribe Hilton where we stay also claims to be the birth place of the cocktail.

 

As others have said, some great photos.

Edited December 13, 2013 by bouhunter