B-52

90% of the diners in a Specialty on formal night book because they refuse to dress up for the MDR.

True...We always book a specialty restaurant at least for one of the formal nights...

We are D+ and just don't want to be bothered with formal nights anymore...we've learned to pack lite and efficient.

So we stay away from the MDR...

All RCI ship are non-smoking, not even on your own balcony. Smoking is allowed only in designated areas.

 

 

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Ok, at first I thought there was a new smoking policy which has been discussed at length.....but smoking is still allowed, in designated areas as it has always been...only recent change that I'm aware of is balconies.

And there has been talk about casinos also.

This is mighty good news! Thanks Bob! I love the location and outdoor seating of the diamond club, and we will probably go for breakfast, but we really don't want to hang out there with our 18 yo, we can make the rounds instead, especially now that the ships are nonsmoking there are more options! :D

 

So far I'm hearing no tickets for ice shows on Adventure tho!

The ships are non-smoking??

All I can say is 15 pages of posts and I still don't have a clue what the new suite enhancements will be.

We always stay in a GS, and have one booked this coming summer....

I have been reading through all the pages of posts here, 13 thus far, and No One knows WHAT, WHEN, or even IF there are actually any upgrades ?

A lot of talk about what other cruise lines off, and a lot of talk about what people would like to see on RCI, but is there any facts? Or is this just a lot of speculation an wishful thinking.....

Can some one please state what the upgrades, if any at all, will be?

Am I correct to say, when flying into San Jaun from the states, ther is no customs and passport stamp?

And vice versa returning to the states?

Just don't bother going to sleep!!

I suppose not....will be taking a shower, etc come 1am!

I will be there with RCI also, different month, but the excursion is not showing up to book either. The excursion is listed as:

 

Mount Liamuiga Volcano Hike - KT63

 

Maybe it's too far in advance to book? I've noticed on my booking that they've released a few excursions, waited a few months, released some more, etc. If you do a search on KT63 to see what cruises it's offered on, our cruise is listed, and likely yours will be too; I guess we will have to keep waiting. Having the same issue with San Juan excursions.

Yes, Thank You

I had e-mailed them asking if it was offered...it took a week but they responded with the same designation # you mentioned.

They also booked me, and kept it pending untill I called and paid.

So yes, I am now booked through RCI.

We went back to find an excursion for my wife...she's not coming with me on this one.....and lo and behold, the Volcano hike is now listed and available for everyone

So you are correct as to them selecting when to release them.

Our last 10-12 cruises have all been in a GS...and we could care less about any "Perks" we do not even us the CL, except the first night just to introduce ourselves...other than that it is a Zoo...although with what I'm hearing lately about D and D+, it may be better next cruise.

We simply like, the layout of a GS...closer to a standard Hotel room with a normal sized bathroom, closets, etc.

I don't think the "perks" they offer are much to get excited about in the first place...

So yes, maybe it is time they made some improvements...

I'd be interested in knowing also....will be on the adventure this summer....

Cigars are always way overpriced for the tourists, and you're not sure what it is they're selling....

I have found, when taking a cab anywhere, is to ask the driver exactly what you're looking for...a place where he would buy his cigars...

I've done the deep sea fishing with RCI, but not at St. Kitts....

I am considering it for our trip next August...

It was 6 people to a boat...and if you're prone to sea sickness I would re-consider it.

Out of the 6 that were on our excursion, 4 were sick and stayed down below trying to sleep it off....only saw them when they came up to vomit over the side (they were from Oklahoma)

Which meant me and my son had the whole boat/trip to ourselves....

Do like us...we have a 4am flight home!...the next morning.

Will stay at a hotel and enjoy the pool for the day after getting off the ship...

All flights, other than the very early ones, had long lay overs. Would be traveling all day and not get home till the evening.

Needless to say we will sleep very well on the 4am flight, and be home by 8am!

Our biggest worry is making sure I get up and off to the airport at 2am....

We always stay in a GS, was never "Escorted" on board, but..we sailed Explorer many times when you had to take the buses from the terminal to the ship...

They would take the Bridal parties first....then, would call for "Suite Guests, Suite guests only"

This happened 2-3 times, but only when the priority lounge was particularly crowded, I noticed.

But now they have a new terminal, so no more waiting for the shuttle buses.

That wasn't us- I booked through the cruise line.

We will be there with RCI in August, and I cannot find the volcano hike listed in their excursions...closes is the rain Forrest..... what was the name of the excursion?

I can e-mail the excursion desk for more info....

Thanks

I'm hoping someone can help! We arrive in San Juan at 3:45 A.M.:eek: I know!

My question is... What the heck are we going be able to do until we can drop off our luggage at the pier/:confused:

We can drop off the luggage around 1pm and do some sight seeing but what in the world are we going to do for 9 hours??

 

I would hate to rent a room cause we will not be in it for very long at all! Anyone have any suggestions?

If you got a hotel room, you would be checking in under "Red Eye" arrival, but have to be out by 11am...

4am..you still need to get your luggage, then go through customs, etc...I would then catch a cab somewhere and have a leisurely breakfast, then do a little sight seeing..it's easy to kill a few hours walking around old San Jaun.

Is there something to do for people who choose not to do the entire climb?

Silly question perhaps, but I want to do the hike...my wife on the other hand may not be in the best shape to do it...

Never stayed in old san jaun, but will be this coming Summer.

We will also be staying at the El Convento.

We have been to Old San Jaun numerous times, but always during the day with plenty of tourists walking about off the cruise ships....so feeling safe was not an issue at all...

Having said that, lets just say I am extremely "Street Smart" (takes one to Know one? In my youth...)

Right outside the El convento there is a small park/square...with plenty of locals hanging out. Most looked innocent enough, but a few..the red flags went up...

Also across the street on the steps of the cathedral was a popular spot.

Lets just say if I was looking for something, I think I found the people who could help me.

And you can find this in ANY city/town if you know what to look for.

During the day with plenty of tourists around, not a big deal...but when we stay there next summer, and if we choose to go out at night, after the cruise ships have left, I will be on my guard.

But that's just my 2 cents worth.

I did not have a problem.....I think it has to do with the time of year, busy season or not.

I am looking at a hotel in OSJ post cruise in October. We have stayed in Condado area twice and would now like to try the historic district as that is our favorite part of the city. We will be there two nights. I can get a great price at Chateau Cervantes, but have seen mixed reviews. El Convento would be my first pick, but it is pricey. We would love the balconies overlooking the pretty streets in a historic building, but also require a working elevator and would like an updated room. Any suggestions?

Our desires were very similar to yours....after much research and anxiety, I kept coming back to it....so we finally gave in and booked the El Convento for our August cruise.

We visited this hotel as stops on tours. It is a bit pricey, but I know we are going to enjoy it and the area tremendously.

We are staying 1 day pre cruise, and 1 day post cruise.

Already have our pre-cruise hotel booked.

Since we will be off the ship between 9-10am., I am looking for a hotel we can arrange an early arrival, check-in....and get into our room ASAP to enjoy the full day.

Any Ideas???

BTW, pre cruise we are staying at the Hotel El Convento....post cruise we are looking for a beach front resort hotel.

I am unaware if there is more than one Zip Line tour, we have done the excursion through Royal Caribbean twice...

I do not remember any rope bridges, etc...

Th tour we had was a series of zip lines that go from tree to tree through the forest...I believe there were about 7 lines in all...

The bus can go so far up the mountain, and you need to walk the rest of the way up.

They fit you with all the needed gear, and give you a quick lesson on what to do.

Then you have to hike further up.

Then you take the zip lines back down, like I said, there were about 7 in all.

WE had a blast, so much so we came back and did it again and few years later...I would consider doing it a 3rd time....

The last time was about 4 years ago....

When are formal nights? Those are the ones we choose for specialty dining.

same here...we don't care for formal nights, so we book the specialty restaurants on those nights....

You want towels??

I see many towels lying about the pool deck as early as 6am!!!

People must have lost them from the night before??

Cheerleaders, whiners, complainers, bad spellers, jokers, you name it, I have read every post of the debate.

 

No one has ever answered my basic question: what is the problem that Dynamic Dining is trying to solve, that a mix of MTD/MDR with better menus cant fix.

 

Have an MDR restaurant, a few MTD restaurants with different menus, everyone is happy.

 

Anyone?

Another way to MAKE MONEY!

It's ALWAYS bout making money, increasing profits when it comes to any changes a large industry makes....It's NOT about solutions to make people more happy....

It may take a year or two...perhaps more, but they are setting the stage now.

It will happen slowly, gradually, and the seasoned veterans will remember the "Good Old days" as change slowly continues.

You might even see a reduction in the up front sticker price for a cruise, instead of ever increasing.....Attract more, new people to replace the veterans who are slowly leaving.

All those people in the MDR eating all that food for free....there's got to be a way to make money off this...start offering the Chops Steak or a whole lobster for $$ ? Maybe, they can try that in the short run. But then I think they are up to something better. (for them)

The menus look enticing, not sure why they couldn't just keep MTD and MDR and use a good portion of the new items to update menus.

Because they can't charge $$ per meal per restaurant as if every venue was a specialty......wait for it, it is slowly coming. They're just setting the foundation now.

It will also change the way gratuities are handled with Dining staff....