Just Returned from AOS

[pml13504]

Hi Debby

Thank you for the wonderful report...did you need a passport in Barbados? thanks..

 

I know God won't give me anything I can't handle.I just wish he didn't trust me so much =  The sun in one hand - the moon in the other* Live by the sun and Love by the moon. Chocolate makes my clothes shrink!!

phyllis

>^,,^<   

 

Monarch of the Seas May 2002

Explorer of the Seas May 2003

Adventure of the Seas May 2004

 

 

Adventure of the Seas Cruise 5/23

 

[Hoopster3145]

I agree with the origional poster, I can not believe with the amount of weekly traffic that goes thru the airport, that they have not saught out a better way of handeling the crowd.

 

They act like every week it is a suprise that 4 cruise ships arrived!

 

1/01 NCL Majesty

1/02 NCL Majesty

1/03 RCCL Brilliance of the Seas

3/03 Carnival Jubilee

8/03 RCCL Navigator Of the Seas

1/04 RCCL Adventure of the Seas

3/04 RCCL Radiance of the Seas

 

 

8/15/04 Rhapsody of the Seas

 

14 DAY LEGEND OF THE SEAS PANAMA CANAL CRUISE (12/26/04)

 

3/13/05 SPRING BREAK on the Explorer of the Seas

 

[Kteacher]

We are saling the AOS for the second time on July 11th. We really enjoyed staying at the Wyndom Old San Juan the last trip for our pre-cruise stay. it was nice being right in the center of Old San Juan. We took a taxi to the ship instead of waiting for the transfer, and it was well worth it. We are staying one night post -cruise this time at the Condado Plaza. One reason we are doing a post cruise stay is to avoid the crowds at the airport on Sunday!

 

AOS 7/04

Sovereign 4/03

AOS 7/02

Nordic 7/01

Zenith 7/00

Nordic 7/99

Sovereign 5/98

Monarch 5/97

Sovereign 5/96

[KFC]

We took our 1st cruise last Nov on AOS and really enjoyed it. We stayed at the El Convento in Old San Juan one nite, precruise. It was a really pretty hotel with a local flavor. Consider the fabulous Continental breakfast and the wine and cheese predinner hour when comparing prices with other hotels down there. And also that you can walk to everything so no taxis to and from Condado area.

There was a delay getting off the ship and early flights out were missed by people so you are taking a chance booking one before noon unless you go thru RCCL. We booked our own flights with AA and were able to check in outside at SanJuan airport which sped up the process a lot. It also depended where your destination was as to whether they'd let you use the curbside check-in or not(JFK). I think if you have the time and $$ a post cruise stay would be wise.

Karen

[moai]

Cruiselover,

The Radisson is in the Condado area. I paid $75 thru Priceline. I have not stayed there, but I have read good reviews.

 

Adventure of the Seas 7/18/04

Roll Call AOS 7/18/04 click here

[Adventure Girl]

I stayed at the Radisson Ambassador Hotel in San Juan, (Condado area), in March...I enjoyed the hotel very much. Nice restaurants and shops in walking distance, small casino in the hotel.

 

Kimberly

Monarch of the Seas 4/02

Disney Wonder 11/02

Adventure of the Seas 10/03, 3/04

 

"Girl's Getaway" on Mariner of the Seas 11/7/04 !!

 

 

[welenja]

We also recently cruised on AOS, the week before Aunt Debbie's review. It was our 6th cruise and a great experience despite questionable weather.

 

I wanted to respond to some of the questions or subjects that have come up in this thread.

 

First of all the San Juan airport experience. For us it was clean and easy. We liked the organization at the taxi curb. An attendant asks you for your hotel and gives you a slip with the price and directs you to the taxi line. We were on our way in no time. Also would like to note that our departure flight was 9:45 AM on Sunday and could have made a flight an hour earlier. We were the first to step off the ship at 7:30 and were at the airport by 10 to 8. At that hour the crowds were light.

 

Regarding San Juan hotels, we were happy with The Normandie. The price was 110.00 or so and was clean and recently renovated. It has some nice history and flavor that the more modern hotels probably don't offer. It's on the beach and has a nice pool. We would go back if we shipped out of SJ.

 

As far as dinner time, the late seating IS 8:30. Muster caused night one seating at 9. Even the cruise director was confused telling us on Wednesday that the late seating was at 9 following the ice show. Its 8:30.

 

One plug for godfreytours.com in St. Thomas. Picked us up at the ship, brought us to the shopping district for 2 hours, on a very nice 1.5 hour tour of the island and then to the beach of our choice for 2 hours before bringing us back to the ship. It was 20 bucks each. Not bad. We went to Coki Beach and would advise it. Very clear and somewhat secluded. Not terribly busy.

 

Love the AOS!

 

Dan

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4/17 Adventure of the Seas

 

[aunt debbie]

Sorry it has taken so long to get back with answers, but was having computer issues this past weekend.

 

Formal nights were Monday and Thursday. A good portion of the men did wear tux, saw more on this cruise than others I had been on.

 

I prefer the late seating, that way we can be on deck when departing the port. 8:30 p.m. seating is nice, not an over abundence of children, in fact I don't think we had any in the dining room, was very relaxing. One draw back is...eating that late, your bed calls you early. We did manage to stay up a few nights, but we did have a lot of early shore excursions to deal with. Early dinner seating is 6:30 p.m. The first evening, I believe the early seating is 6:00 p.m. and the late is 9:00 p.m. due to the mandatory muster.

 

Some shows were before the dinner seating, some afterwards.

 

Did not need a passport for any portion of the cruise, my sister-in-law used a driver's license and certified copy of her birth certificate, no problems.

 

I would definitely stay on in San Juan an extra night to miss the cruise traffic at the airport on Sundays. Loved the ship, the service and the food...no extra charge to eat in Johnny Rockets, just the milkshakes we had were extra. Were not charged for juice at breakfast like I had read.

[NoVa Mimi]

atonal1, we got our air out of Washington National on Spirit Airline. It was much less expensive than the others.

 

ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS

 

[Guest]

Question for Aunt Debbie or anyone else just back from AOS cruise including Antigua. If anyone has the cruise compass and could fax, scan, etc. one or two days to me it would be appreciated. My son will be on the May 23rd sailing and would like to get an idea what to expect.

 

Sovereign of the Seas 10/1997

Sovereign of the Seas 10/1998

Sovereign of the Seas 10/1999

Nordic Empress 2000

Zenith 7/2000

Nordic Empress 2001

Horizon 6/2002

Enchantment 6/2003

[pml13504]

Did they still have the horse race on the ship? We are leaving on the 23rd and I hope they do...

 

I know God won't give me anything I can't handle.I just wish he didn't trust me so much =  The sun in one hand - the moon in the other* Live by the sun and Love by the moon. Chocolate makes my clothes shrink!!

phyllis

>^,,^<   

 

Monarch of the Seas May 2002

Explorer of the Seas May 2003

Adventure of the Seas May 2004

 

 

Adventure of the Seas Cruise 5/23

 

[texasag]

Aunt Debbie - leaving 6/6/04 for same itinerary. What did you do on St. Lucia? Could you give a brief run down of what you did on each islands for those who haven't been on those particular islands. This will be our first visit to St. Lucia and can't decide what to do.

 

Did AOS 2 years ago but did opposite itinerary.

 

Thanks

Happy Cruisin'

[aunt debbie]

Did the following excursions:

 

St. Thomas - Kon Tiki Party Boat (Unlimited Rum Punch)

 

St. Maarten - Afternoon Beach Bash (lots of peddlers on beach, BEWARE!!!, also includes unlimited rum punch)

 

Antigua - Antigua Beach Break (this was our

favorite, included a buffet lunch)

 

St. Lucia - Coastal Cruise to the Pitons (included a short stop at a swimming area)

 

Of course we also did lots of shopping. Shopping is wonderful in St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Shopping in downtown Antigua isn't too great. In Barbados, there is a shopping area just off the pier, nice shops, decent prices. Don't bother going to the downtown shopping area. Liquor and cigarettes are very, very reasonable

 

For Nkelly14 - please furnish your fax number and I will fax the Compass to you, I have all 7 days. Just let me know how many you'd like.

 

Happy sailing to all!

 

Aunt Debbie

[Guest]

To Aunt Debbie. My e-mail address is NKelly14@aol.com. If you e-mail me, I'll send you my fax number that way. Thanks soooo much

 

Sovereign of the Seas 10/1997

Sovereign of the Seas 10/1998

Sovereign of the Seas 10/1999

Nordic Empress 2000

Zenith 7/2000

Nordic Empress 2001

Horizon 6/2002

Enchantment 6/2003

[pmfan]

Will be sailing on AOS this summer. Daughter is excited about Johnny Rockets. Sailed on EOS last year and I believe she lived in Johnny Rockets. I understand some of the Johnny Rockets are charging a cover charge in addition to the soft drink or milkshake charge. Is there a cover charge on AOS?

[auntdebbie]

There was no additional surchage for use of Johnny Rocket's when we sailed. Also, I had read being charged for juice at breakfast, never happened.

[alexkrn46]

What is the earliest time to book flight through American Airlines in San Juan ? Thanks

[pmfan]

Aunt Debbie, Thanks for the info my daughter will be so very happy.

[Valerie]

Aunt Debbie, thanks for your review.

 

I see a lot of Marylanders on this board. What a small world.

 

For all those checking airfare to San Juan from the Washington DC area, try all the airports to see where you can get the cheapest. I'm flying out of Dulles non-stop to San Juan on United. It's not the closest airport to me, but got the best rate (under $300.00).

 

 

Valerie

 

Until Adventure of the Seas (St Lucia/Antigua.......

 

 

Grandeur of the Seas 6/00

Voyager of the Seas 6/02

Adventure of the Seas 7/18/2004

 

 

[GreggNKara]

Wow all these marylanders, we are from Owings Mills. We are on the AOS the 29th of August. I have to say the best air we found is from spirit airlines (2 round trip tix for $500).

 

What I did was I went to the SJU airport website and found all the airlines that fly to san juan, and check all the fares for the days we needed, and alternate airports...Spirit was the best rate out of Regan in DC.

 

 Days Till We Leave For THE Cruise

 

[Valerie]

Marylanders,

 

We all should get together and have a party.

 

 

Valerie

 

Until Adventure of the Seas (St Lucia/Antigua.......

 

 

Grandeur of the Seas 6/00

Voyager of the Seas 6/02

Adventure of the Seas 7/18/2004

 

 

[slyster]

Hiya Marylanders! Valerie, I grew up in Mitchellville (Enterprise Estates) and trust me, Mitchellville is a real small city. Small world!

 

I have been trying to keep an eye out on airfares. I live in Columbia now and it seems Ronald Reagan Airport is typically $100 or more cheaper than BWI. I would much rather fly out of BWI since it's a 15 minute drive from my house (RR airport is 45 min).

 

Someone in one of the early posts said there was curbside check-in for AA? I didn't think San Juan airport offered that service hence the reasons for the horrible lines inside the airport. Any information on this? If not, I can post a separate message.

 

Sarah (Slyster)

Tropicale 9/00

Imagination 10/01

Sovereign of the Seas 9/02

Explorer of the Seas 10/03

Adventure of the Seas 10/04

 

[atonal1]

I think that because my cruise is the week of Thanksgiving, I'm not going to be able to find airfare cheaper than RCI's. I have tried all 3 area airports, Spirit Airlines, etc. and NONE of them beat RCI's fare. I'll just cross my fingers and hope I get put on the AA non-stop flights.

 

Inspiration 6/96, 12/01

Carnival Destiny 7/97, 11/00

Rhapsody of the Seas 11/98

Norwegian Sea 7/00

Norwegian Star 6/02

Paradise 11/02

Sovereign of the Seas 8/03

Serenade of the Seas 12/03

 

 until Carnival Triumph 8/04

 

 until Adventure of the Seas 11/04

 

 

[imosoreal]

Aunt Debbie: I really enjoyed your review and continue to check back to see if you have added new thoughts. Were you able to meet any CC's?

 

I was also able to find cheaper airfare out of National for $230 on Spirit. Looking so forward to this cruise. I booked the Radisson for two days pre-cruise and the Wyndham OSJ one day post cruise. Still looking for reviews from some CC's on both hotels.

 

Til our Adventure of the Seas 10/03/04

 

 

Triumph -- November 2003

Fantasy -- July 2001

Imagination -- Nov 2000

Fantasy -- Nov 1999