maja651

We were in a forward facing suite on the Pearl in March. We absolutely loved it! We have been in both from and ft facing suites and front is definitely preferred. We never had any issues using the balcony while the ship was moving, not one issue.

We are on the Dawn sailing out of Puerto Rico departing 3/24/2019 and originally Dominica was one of the stops. NCL took it off and replaced it with St. Thomas USVI. I was pretty disappointed that they took it off but I assume it was because they were concerned it would be up and fully running by then since it was hit so hard last year.

We are on that sailing and are also diasppiinted it was dropped. We were looking forward to seeing a new island.

I’ve cruised on the Star and Jewel in the Garden Villa. I feel there is no comparison from the Dawn/Star GVs and the Jewel class GVs. The living room may be slightly larger in the Jewel class, but if it is, it is not noticeable. What is noticeable are the bedrooms. The Dawn class has 2 large masters and a penthouse size middle bedroom. They all have floor to ceiling windows in the bedroom. The Jewel class has one master, which is in my opinion not as nice as either of the Dawn masters, mostly because of the bathrooms. What is also noticeable is the ginormous outdoor area on the Dawn class versus the Jewel class. There really is no comparison. Although, one thing I do like better on the Jewel GV is the location of the hot tub, as it is next to the window so you can see the ocean easily from it. On the Dawn class it is in the middle of the downstairs courtyard so you can’t see the ocean as well.

Anyway, that is my 2 cents. 😀.

We all met in the area the Asian restaurant . Initially they were going to walk the group off the ship but we ended up being checked off a passenger list there(showed our passports ) and went about whatever we wanted to do . We have done a couple of B2B s . In Europe you are cleared on the ship . In the US (Cape Canaveral ) we were giving stickers to wear and walked off the ship and right back on . It's a very easy process . There will be a letter in your stateroom prior to when you would disembark for the first leg .

Thank you!

We did a B2B from San Juan last year . We embarked and disembarked from the Pan American Pier . We've used the downtown location only when it was a port day . Your edocs will tell you pier .

Can you elaborate on the BTB process in San Juan? Did they make you debark? I’ve heard sometimes they have you go to a certain spot on the ship and your don’t debark, but I’ve also read where you debark. I’m just curious as to what they did in San Juan as we will be doing a BTB there next March,

Thanks! Just what we needed!

Does anyone have the current price list for buying a bottle of liquor for the room? Also, is the cork fee still $15 a bottle?

Michelle, I was looking at possible flights to see how I would end up getting to SJU from So Calif and mine would be an evening departure with afternoon arrival much like yours. Coming home means getting back after 10 PM.

We are in the same “boat’. Lol we are doing this cruise back to back, but when we return on March 31, we don’t get home until 10:30 pm. Really sucks because we have to work the next day. I am praying American opens up more DFW flights to/from San Juan before our trip so we can switch back to reasonable flights.

So we changed our arrival flight to a red eye so that we can get in at 1:30pm on Friday versus at 10:41pm. Yes, red eyes suck, but we think it’ll be worth it.

Who was the concierge?

Thanks everyone for your input. I’m glad to hear there was worry for not. I can’t wait to explore Old San Juan!

I was told it is sketchy at night in P.R., to the point of cars not stopping unless they have to, even for red lights. Is this actually true? I realize every city, place, has its dangerous areas, but is San Juan particularly sketchy? Our flight gets in late so I’m wondering if booking a transport company is needed/safer.

I was in a forward facing suite in March. I liked the wind and did not find it too windy. When it’s hot out, the breeze feels good!

The inner 2 front facing penthouse suites on deck 10 on the Dawn class and Jewel class are bigger. They have a bump out in the room which makes the room bigger, and give the room a larger sitting area with a couch, table, etc. The balcony is somewhat smaller but still huge compared to most balconies. By far, those 2 rooms are the best penthouses on that class of ship.

Your change was probably the first of what could be several. That's the problem booking far in advance (we always do)...but it's easy to change usually. We're getting ready to make that AA flight to SJU in the next few days and have had several changes...Our outbound flight has only varied by a few minutes each time so no big deal but our return is a 9:45am flight....the other choices were much too late and since we've done early flights from SJU before know to self disembark ... get to the airport asap..agriculture check and get to our gate...fingers crossed.

I forgot to mention, yes, I know they make lots of changes when you book far out, but for this particular trip they really killed us with the changes. We were originally supposed to get in SJU at 6:40 PM, now getting in at 10:45 pm. Coming home, we were originally supposed to get home at 7:30, now 10:45. Both stink and are flights we would not have booked. We would have likely chosen a different airline.

Your change was probably the first of what could be several. That's the problem booking far in advance (we always do)...but it's easy to change usually. We're getting ready to make that AA flight to SJU in the next few days and have had several changes...Our outbound flight has only varied by a few minutes each time so no big deal but our return is a 9:45am flight....the other choices were much too late and since we've done early flights from SJU before know to self disembark ... get to the airport asap..agriculture check and get to our gate...fingers crossed.

Are you saying it is possible to make a 10 am flight out of San Juan if we self disembark? If that’s the case, maybe we will risk the 10 am flight. Hate getting home at 10:40 at night and having to work the next day.

American changed our flights for our trip next year (March 2019) for both our departure and arrival. Both changes were much worse than our initial flights. I’d recommend checking yours as they put us on a 10 am flight out of San Juan after the cruise. I was able to change it by calling.

Just a heads up!

We will be doing a back to back out of San Juan on the NCL Dawn next year and wonder if anyone has does this before, and if so, what is the process in San Juan. Do they make you debark after the first week?

We will be doing a back to back out of San Juan on the Dawn next year and wonder if anyone has does this before, and if so, what is the process in San Juan. Do they make you debark after the first week?

I’ve stayed in the Garden villa 2 times, soon to be third, also next year on the Dawn. You will be treated like royalty in the GV. It is not like the treatment in normal suites. Your butler will be exceptional, and the concierge will show you a lot of attention. We tend to tip high, but we ask for daily meals in the room, lots of ice, snacks, etc. I highly recommend you dine in the room and out on the patio at least once. That room is made for private in room dining, enjoy that! When will you be on the Dawn? Maybe we will be neighbors!

Super Max in the Plaza de Armas has a pretty decent selection. Although, you will more likely find Spanish Cava than a real Champagne. But we like the wine selection there than most other places.

Thank you! Our hotel is only 2 blocks from there, so that is perfect!

We will be cruising out of San Juan next March and would like to purchase champs to bring on board. We are not looking for crappy champs, medium $20-$30 a bottle champs pr sparkling wine. Is there a place in Old San Juan where we can get this without paying triple the price of mainland pricing?

My personal opinion, the Epic is designed for partying. Lol To me , it is Vegas on the water.

Have you checked the Decanter hotel in Old San Juan? We are paying about $225 a night there for a king balcony room for March 2019. We did book about 2 months ago though.

I just looked and found 2 different room types for $199 a night the night you mentioned.

Decanterhotel.com

 

Note if you are in a Suite or higher class cabin - after registration meet your Butler and have him secure your

luggage for prompt delivery to your Suite cabin while you go about touring San Juan - this maybe the best

compromise.

Having a butler has never made a difference in us getting our luggage sooner. Just my experience.

OP - we will be cruising the Dawn in March of 2019 as well. So looking forward to it! It will be our first time on the Dawn, in Puerto Rico and to many of the islands.