Aviator of the Seas

This article is blowing things out of proportion.  Murder and violent crime is actually way down in Puerto Rico, and it is almost always all drug trafficking-related.  There is no "wave of daytime violence".  There were a couple of incidents over the past few weeks, and they are only highlighted or notorious because they were filmed on cell phne cameras and posted online.

4 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Most places we have cruised, one can find the port calendar with pier assignments (subject to change of course) months in advance....but doesn't seem to be the case in San Juan.

Thanks!  

All of the San Juan harbor piers are at some stage of reconstruction after the hurricanes so that's one of the reasons for the constant changes.  Viking is the only one who does turnarounds from Pier 1, and the only one with a schedule of 10+ days.  Depending on when their turnaround falls in relation to other disembark/embark operations by other lines, the US CBP has to parse out their personnel and that's why the risk for changes, as the US CBP has the last word.  

March 29 is a Friday so I'll bet you a bottle of Don Q Rum that you will sail out of Pier 1 (the higher risk for changes occur on Saturday or Sunday).

34 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Aviator - where did you find this info?  Trying to confirm our pier for our cruise in March and can't seem to find it.  Thanks and sorry to the rest for being off topic

What's your cruise ship?  if you direct me to your roll call, I can place the info there.  If it's a Viking turn around, most likely Pier 1 right in Old San Juan.  If its a port call, any cruise line, I get the info from the PR Ports Authority the week before. Disclaimer: I am NOT a Viking employee, but I have stayed at HI Express before - UPDATE: Just saw on your signature that you're on the 3/39 SJU to BCN.  As I said, most likely Pier 1 in Old San Juan, unless PR Ports or the US CBP change their minds.  Pier 1 is Viking's preferred berth, but the authorities have changed that on us twice this year already, sending the operation to the Pan Am pier across the channel from Old San Juan.

Your assigned Pier in Old San Juan is 3-West.  Just a few more steps from Viking's usual home port pier right at the south entrance to the old city.  Enjoy!

11 hours ago, minnieiowa said:

Yes I've tried calling the Golf course at Fort Buchanon every day and get no response. I've been able to get in contact with the Rio Bayomon golf course but only via email as they said their phones were dámaged?  Is ths course in a safe area? 

Yes, it is in a safe area.  But bear in mind that it is more of a practice course than a full one.  If you want a "real", beutiful course you have to go outside of San Juan to Rio Grande, for example.

1 hour ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

 

Aviator, I appreciate your posts on this thread.  Salud!  

Salud & Felicidades! (Happy Holidays)

I'm going to add something else for your consideration.  Not making any excuses, and perhaps if there are any social scientists here they can confirm or reject this theory.  I acknowledge that there's a different "feel" to the Freedom cruises out of San Juan when compared to earlier years Adventure, Jewel, and Serenade cruises.  But I don't think it is because of the novelty of the Freedom being our new home port ship. I think Puerto Ricans are suffering from collective PTSD, if there's such a thing.  We've had an extremely difficult year, and I think people are just blowing steam and acting out their mass trauma, by going on cruises where there's a guarantee of lights being on, air conditioning blowing, free flow of ice cold beverages, unlimited hot and delicious food, and for some people even a roof over their heads.  Things we all take for granted and which most islanders lacked for too long.

I think that by next summer our need for hedonism will ebb back to more normal levels.    

2 hours ago, prmet said:

The bad reviews recently were for one date, november 25, and the problem was that it was partially charted by a radio station. Not gonna find that chaos on other date.

Oooooh!  That was "El Crucero de la Salsa"!  Organized by the # 1 salsa music radio station in the world, Z93 FM. That explains a lot.  I love salsa music, I am Puerto Rican and live in San Juan, and I wouldn't consider going on THAT cruise!  The whole objective of that cruise is to parteeee and be rambunctious!

Having established that I am, in a fact, a Puerto Rican I can go ahead and talk about Puerto Ricans.  I was on an October 2018 Freedom cruise, and my only complaint was the crowding, which in my opinion, is what causes the rude behavior perception.  Here in PR they are heavily promoting "kids sail free sales", as I have stated on other threads.  Now, Puerto Ricans are party people, more so when they travel in large family and/or friends groups.  That might come as a culture shock to some people from the mainland.

But other than the crowding and the boisterous party behavior, I didn't find any actual rude behavior from my island mates.  In fact, I think they were being too courteous at times where it caused problems, like queuing up or making lines at and around food stations at the WJ, that were not designed for lines to begin with, and essentially blocking access for everyone else. 

Another problem that we didn't see ten years ago or so, is the proliferation of Bluetooth speakers.  That RCI should prohibit along with curling irons and what not.  We had people in the Solarium playing amplified music.  Some people just don't know better.  It would go a long way into passenger fellowship if RCI trained its crew to deal with that annoyance better.  On our side, PR travel agents should tell their clients to leave those at home.

Another thing that contributes to loud behavior is the UDP packages.  And here I am sorry but I must include myself.  I think it leads to more drinking than usual and yeeehahs and "yo soy boricua pa'que tu lo sepas" chants.  Which is another thing that the cruise director staff should pipe down on: egging the PRs into EVEN MORE loudness.

There.  I said my piece.

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

The KSF promo comes and goes.  What if you book when there's no promo and they add it later?  After final payment?  In other words, knowing if there is a KSF promo on or off at one point in time does not protect you from it being applied at some future time.

Really?  There's no "safe" time of the year?  Again, love kids, but don't care for crowds.  Maybe I should start looking at Celebrity or Azamara.  Which means I must be getting old!

That should have been "How do you know..." on the title of the thread...

I wish CC would bring back the board search feature (or is it just me who can't find it?), but here goes the question, FWIW.  I've already complained about the overcrowding issue on the Freedom Southern Caribbean cruises.  I learned after my cruise (October 2018) that my sailing had a "kids sail free" sale, which might explain why some many quads were sold, with the resulting overcrowding.  I keep reading the Freedom reviews and the problem has not abated. I also keep seeing ads for "kids sail free", non-stop.  One travel agent told me that only in the summer are there cruises without such offers.  And here I thought that cruises during school days were quieter, but that seems to have flipped to when school is out?  Is this just on Caribbean cruises or in other parts of the world as well?

I am looking for an RCI cruise for next year but don't want to run into the same problem again.  

I am aware that RCI is a "multi generation family cruise line", but come on.  Am I unreasonable in thinking than in the long run, overcrowded ships will result in lesser appeal to other segments of their clientele?  And disclaimer, we traveled with our kids BUT we only had two people per cabin.  Don't care for quad occupancy at all if I am on vacation and want to relax.

I just wish that RCI would find a way to advertise or target promotions for those who don't care to sail on a ship with the feel of a glorified commuter ferry.

Thanks.

Fort Buchanan Golf Club?  Can't be the federal government since they're supposed to operate on non-appropriated MWR funds. 

Map in attached PDF.

RESTAURANTS & SHOPS
Rincón Ibérico - Ballajá Inner Courtyard
Starbucks - PlazaArturo Samohano
Nono’s Bar & Restaurant - Calle San Sebastián
Patio de Sam - Calle San Sebastián
Aureola Mexican Cantina - Calle San Sebastián
Los Balcones - Calle San Sebastián
La Tortuga Panadería y Pizzería - Calle San Sebastián
Casa Del Valle Guest House - Calle Luna
Aromas  - Paseo Covadonga
Hecho en Casa - Calle San Francisco
Café Puerto Rico  - Calle O’Donnell
The Chapel Restaurant & Bar - Calle Cristo
Mariel Arts & Crafts  - Calle Fortaleza
Seny Gifts Calle - Fortaleza
Haitian Gallery - Calle Fortaleza
Borinquen Discounts Souveniers - Calle Fortaleza
Jungle Burger - Calle Tetuán
Caldera Café - Calle San José
Cinema Bar 1950  - Calle Norsagaray
Concha y Flori - Calle Tetuán
Stylo Salón - Calle de la Cruz
La Garita Souveniers - Calle San Francisco
Bari Handcrafted - Pizza Calle Cristo
Tradición Quetzal - Calle San José
Raíces - Calle Recinto Sur
Chocobar Cortés - Calle San Francisco
Wae-era Tea Room - Calle San José
Los Cuatro Vientos de María - Calle San Francisco
Bien Papayas - Calle Norsagaray
Ostra Cosa - Calle Cristo
Café Berlín - Calle San Francisco
Cueva del Mar - Calle Recinto Sur
Farmacia Luma - Calle San Francisco
Cafe Teatro Hermanas Rivera - Calle San Sebastián
 

0051218- Turismo-Map-San Juan(3) DIC 25-18.pdf

Hotel delle Nazioni near the Trevi fountain.

"Editors named San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Best North American Homeport. The city, which serves as the island's main cruise port, witnessed a record-breaking year in cruise traffic -- a nod to its quick recovery following Hurricane Maria in fall 2017".

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/3581/

On 11/14/2018 at 8:07 AM, Stinger-pr said:

That info would be great. Thanks!!

I did find a phone number for the pro shop: 787-707-3980.

On 11/14/2018 at 8:07 AM, Stinger-pr said:

That info would be great. Thanks!!

I still owe you this info.  I haven't been able to stop by the club.

11 hours ago, minnieiowa said:

Thank you!  Do you think someone who is retired from the service would be able to get in? 

Absolutely.  If you have a retired DoD ID, you can get in without problems. 

11 hours ago, cruisepsycho said:

The Pan American pier is now used exclusively for cruises embarking and disembarking in SJ. The Old San Juan terminals are usually reserved for same day cruise ship arrivals and departures which in the winter are several. The schedule for the Viking Sea in PR was actually available  a couple months ago in the PR maritime web sites. Another poster felt sure that the Sea would be embarking from Old San Juan. I was hoping she was right since we will be on the Viking Sea South America cruise in Feb from SJ and   staying pre cruise at the El Convento hotel in the old city. But alas looks like she was wrong so we will take the longer taxi ride to the Pan Am terminal. Nce that shuttle service is provided for the overnight stay in PR. This will be our first Viking cruise after many on the usual players. Enjoy your cruise. 

Except for Viking.  Viking made special arrangements with the Puerto Rico Ports Authority to berth at Pier 1 in Old San Juan for all embarkations but the next two, which the US CBP has issues with (usually because of the very early departures).  After the 11/27 and the 12/18 Amazon cruises, the situation should revert back to the previous arrangement.

Viking will run a shuttle from the Pan American Pier to Old San Juan (Drop off and pick up at Plaza Colón/Columbus Square).   

8 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

With Jade doing 17+ knots at last AIS report, and possibly accelerating at the time, that's about 2 days to Freeport.  This shows she is operating on one pod, possibly with one pod at partial power as well.  A broken propeller blade makes a lot of sense, now that we know she is capable of propulsion.  It would take days to stage the divers and equipment needed to SJ anyway, and I don't remember Jade carrying a spare set of blades (not common on azipod ships), so they would have had to ship the blade as well.  Given the 2-3 days to change a blade with everything on hand, they would have cancelled the cruise anyway, even if doing repairs in SJ, so probably less costly to steam empty to Freeport/Miami (where Miami Divers are headquartered, who are the premier group for doing these underwater repairs), stage everything while the ship is coming, fix the prop, and steam back at full speed, possibly taking last minute paying customers, since a Miami to SJ cruise is exempt from PVSA.

Didn't something similar happen to a Royal Caribbean ship in San Juan a few years ago?  I believe the Jewel or Serenade of the Seas.  They had to replace a propeller or two, and they did it right there in San Juan, while the guests spent their "cruise" all week on board.  I think they finished the job in time for the ship to make an overnight sojourn to St. Thomas and back for the next turn around.

1 hour ago, Misty81 said:

Now the 10.30 is over subscribed.  They need 65 volunteers to get off.  Full meals in old San Juan hotel and $500 pp.  flight tomorrow at 12 noon.

 

 

The Omni flight, since it was delayed coming into San Juan, could not get clearance to depart tonight so that flight is cancelled and the same airplane will depart SJu at noon tomorrow.  These passengers (purple tags) are being sent to the El San Juan Hotel to overnight, then a mid-morning-sh transfer back to the airport for their second go at MIA.

Since the ship will be towed away to Miami at 7:00 PM, passengers need to get off, but not all can go to the airport at the same time and overwhelm the facilities there, so those on later flights or otherwise will be staged at the Convention Center.  Hopefully momentarily.

Anyone following this thread assigned to (perhaps, maybe, depends) the late evening flights?

2 minutes ago, ms Eden said:

Is SJU the only airport they use?  One NCL rep told me there might be multiple PR airports involved though I had a feeling he didn’t know what he was talking about.  

SJU is the only airport they're using BUT the confusion might be that some charter flights are leaving from the regular passenger/commercial/airline terminal and others are leaving from the cargo area of the airport way over on the other side, handled by Jet Aviation, a private/corporate airplane terminal or FBO.

Also, the airport you see right next to the ship is not SJU, but a small executive airport.  SJU is 5 miles to the east of the port.