Just back from AOS

[mayor_mccheese]

Not gonna do a full review, cause most of you know the drill.

 

I'll expand on these later, but my highlights included:

-Maho beach in Sint Maarten (the one by the airport)

 

-Mallorcas (rolls filled with butter, grilled and covered in powdered sugar) for breakfast at La Bombonera in San Juan...not a tourist trap, it's very much a local favorite. You can watch them squeeze the oranges for your juice

 

-Shop in the morning (if you must ...see one Diamonds International store and you've seen them all, IMHO), then take a tour in St. Thomas around the island. The nature there is very cool. A tour around the island (which you can get from the taxi dropoff downtown) will cost 25 pp and they'll drive you through the hills, let you go to the beach for 2 hours and get you back to the ship in time to set sail. Plus, you pay when the drop you off, so it's no trap

 

-Coki Beach in St. Thomas (looks rather ramshackle, but it gives you a good look at how people live there and the water is clear as a swimming pool. The people working at the bars are all quite friendly)

 

But...Any questions from future AOSers?

[Minorhawk]

Thanks for being short and to the point!

 

1. La Bombonera....Where in San Juan is it...sounds pretty tasty!! We'll be staying at Isle Verde Saturday 4-1 prior to boarding the AOS.

 

2. How long did it take you to get from Maho Beach back to the ship? Thinking of going there after the America's Cup Regatta...

 

Thanks,

Shelly

[Minorhawk]

....

[mayor_mccheese]

Shelly- the restaurant is in OSJ on san francisco st (runs east to west)...if you ask for a cab, theyll drop you at a square on SF street. It's about 3 blocks to the west on the north side.

 

We took bus back from Maho...1.50 PP and quite an adventure. Takes about 20 mins depending on time of day. I'd budget for half an hour if youre getting late in day though. If you want to see commercial jets land (737 and larger), they wont come in til after noon, but you'll see single and dual props as well as private jets every 2 or 3 minutes most of the day.

[BeckyR]

Which nights were formal nights? Who was the pool band??

 

Becky

[ckrobyn]

I automatically read every word written about the AOS because we just sailed on her in January and are booked again for next March! Glad you enjoyed the cruise and thanks for your comments! :)

[Minorhawk]

2 more questions:

 

1) I see on the layout of the ship the Portifino restaurant...Is Chops on the Adventure as well?

 

2) Is there a steamroom in the men's lockerroom?

 

Thanks again,

Shelly

[mayor_mccheese]

Formal nights are sea nights...monday and thursday

 

Pool band was good, played caribbean songs and covers

 

no chops onboard

 

Never visited the locker room but I do believe there is a steam room.

[BeckyR]

Thanks! If you ate at Portofino's, how was it?? We sail this Sunday! I'm really looking forward to it. It will be our first Voyager class ship.

 

Becky

[mayor_mccheese]

Did not eat at portofino. Dining room food was excellent. I especially recommend the leg of lamb...the meat fell right off the bone.

[CruiserTK]

We're thinking of cruising on the AOS on the same week as you were on, but next year. What was the crowd like? Were there many kids? Were there many college students on spring break? Thanks for the info.

[mayor_mccheese]

good mix of folks. Certainly many spring breakers, but no one excessively rowdy. In fact, the middle-aged folks who clearly had been on many cruises were far crazier than most of the younger crowd...and for full disclosure, im not far removed from college myself.

[BopRN]

Were you able to swim at the ports? Water temp ok? We are thinking of going next March. Were there any ports you couldn't go to because of rough seas?

 

Have read horror stories about AOS being filled with loud locals at the last minute...did you experience that?

[baabtx]

Bop - Sailed on the AOS 8/03 and am booked in August of this year. In March almost all of the ports you go to on the AOS will be warm enough for swimming since it's the Southern Caribbean which tends to be much warmer (than even Cozumel). But was in Coz this Jan on the Rhapsody and did a 2 tank dive without a wetsuit and it felt GREAT! When we sailed there were an inordinate amount of locals on board, but they are very active and fun and didn't cause any problems!

 

By the way La Bombonera is awesome, I can't wait to eat there again on this next cruise.

 

And for the person who wanted to know about the steamroom...yes the AOS does have a very nice and large steamroom and locker facility.