Aviator of the Seas

1 hour ago, EeyoreRN said:

LOL folks, I'm not any closer to a decision...in fact, I think I'm more confused than ever! Now considering doing 3 instead of 2.

 

1. Definitely something that involves the Pitons and volcanic mud baths in St. Lucia, hope I can find a sail so we can see Pitons from the water. 

2. St. Kitts - sail to Nevis? Full Island Tour?  ATV's (yikes)?

3. Barbados - catamaran sail with lunch? (ship offers one that looks identical to Calabaza on sale now for $2 less.) Or just Boatyard beach with snorkel? What to do?!

4. Now that BOSS thing in St. Thomas is in contention but I had pretty much decided on either Water Island (Honeymoon Beach) or Magens Bay. Easy/cheap awesome beach day.

 

Any more feedback?

 

 

More on Magens Bay, we spent the day there last Saturday.  The beach has pretty much been restored, in part thanks to Royal Caribbean.  But, since the new palm trees are young, shade can be lacking.  They do rent umbrellas for $12.00 (deposit $32, get $20 back when you return it).  You have to carry the umbrella, and loungers if you get any, to your spot or pay the guy a tip and he will take them for you and install the umbrella.  The beach bar and snack concession are up and running and prices are decent (for STT).

The area around the gift shop/snack/bar can get crowded.  We always elect to go to the far edge of the beach, near where they rent the SUPs.  Almost tranquil.

Hope this helps.

In St. Thomas, we almost always just go to Magen's Bay (beach) on our own, by way of Safari taxi.  Taxi from Crown bay is $10.00 pp each way.  Admission to Magen's Bay is $5.00 pp.

We've also done the ferry to St. John, then safari taxi to Trunk Bay, which in my informed opinion is the most beautiful beach in the world (and I live in the Caribbean).  But I would do this through the ship's shore excursions to assure that you make it back on time.

I second the island tour by Thenford Gray in St. Kitts.  St. Kitts' beaches are not the best but the island is beautiful and worth seeing most of it if you can.  We did Thenford Gray last year, but this year we just hired a taxi to take us to Romney Manor/Caribelle Batik, which DD wanted to see again.  The taxi driver still showed us around the island, being appreciative of the business.  it only cost us $40.00 for all 4.

3 minutes ago, puertorican said:

 

I have been on the Freedom long time ago, actually on her early years, and on the Adventure a few times, differences that I saw on both, and maybe could explain a little the busy feel, at least in the Windjammer, before there were no Chops and No Giovanni's, that physical space on both sides of the ship, used to be tables and space to seat and eat, now it is occupied by both specialty restaurants, so less space to eat on the Windjammer, crowd is the same but less space to be. 

Yes, you're right.  Didn't think about that or I wasn't aware that the two specialty joints had been moved there.  Thanks.

2 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

We're booked on Freedom 3 weeks this winter.  Have sailed from PR for years, not concerned.  Most ships sail pretty much full most of the year.

I very much enjoyed our Freedom cruise and still recommend it.  It's just that it had a different feel from my previous Adventure cruises.  I don't mind kids.  But some people do.

If anyone's worried, I found most kids on board well-behaved, even if sometimes clueless about personal spaces.

I posted a question on this original thread:

Wondering about the occupancy rates, especially on my recent Freedom cruise where we encountered some serious overcrowding issues.  I believe I answered my own question when I received this [late] offer from a travel agent. Big FYI for those considering a cruise between these dates:

"Kids sail for free!  Offer extended to December 4. On select dates between October 2018 and May 2019, and September 1, 2019 and December 15, 2019.  Offer does not apply to holidays or school breaks.  Minors must be 12 years old or younger AND TRAVELLING WITH TWO ADULTS PER CABIN.  Minors pay only tips and taxes.  Some other restrictions apply.  Contact your travel agent".

Had I seen that, I would have selected other dates.  BTW, I traveled with our 10-year old grandson, and we never received this offer.  He paid full fare.   Also, it wasn't all Puerto Rican kids.  There were kids from all over.  Our grandson befriended one kid from the UK and several from NYC (his Spanish is not so good).  So it is not a "last-minute offer just for locals to fill up the ship", as the legend states.

Word to the wise.

22 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

Aviator of the Seas:

 

I am guessing that some of that feeling is because Freedom is one of the ships that added extra cabins.  Find a ship that didn't.  The public spaces would have been built to accommodate the number of passengers in the original plans.

I think I found something that answers my overcrowding concerns.  I received an offer from a travel agent that states as follows:

"Kids sail for free!  Offer extended to December 4. On select dates between October 2018 and May 2019, and September 1, 2019 and December 15, 2019.  Offer does not apply to holidays or school breaks.  Minors must be 12 years old or younger AND TRAVELLING WITH TWO ADULTS PER CABIN.  Minors pay only tips and taxes.  Some other restrictions apply.  Contact your travel agent".

Had I seen that, I would have selected other dates.  BTW, I traveled with our 10-year old grandson, and we never received this offer.  He paid full fare.   Also, it wasn't all Puerto Rican kids.  There were kids from all over.  Our grandson befriended one kid from the UK and several from NYC.  So it is not a "last-minute offer just for locals to fill up the ship", as the legend states.

This is the answer I got on our Roll Call:

"At the Top Tier Event, I thought the Captain said around 4600.  He wasn't very specific in his answer to a direct question.  If I remember correctly about half were pre-Gold (1st timers). 

Nothing was stated at the first show".

18 hours ago, RocCruisers said:

Aviator - was there specific times or locations that made you feel overcrowded? 

On our Allure cruise, we felt crowded at the my time dining line.  As soon as we got traditional early, that feeling went away.  Diamond Club was busy, but not overcrowded IMHO.  Never had a problem with shows, Windjammer, pool, excursions.  Shopping is always hit or miss - but so is Macy's or Walmart. 

Windjammer, My Time Dining on deck 3, even regular dining lines out the door and unto neighboring spaces, main pool, Solarium, Royal Promenade, theater...most everywhere.  Only respite were early mornings or the Aruba port call, where we chose to stay on board and enjoy the quiet, almost empty ship.

21 hours ago, dianajo67 said:

Ate at chops twice and it was probably my best chops experience in 6 cruises.  Food was cooked perfectly.  Had no issues making our shows if we told our servers.  I also like that the chops on Freedom has a high up ocean view with big windows.  Chops and Giovanni’s are at the entrance to the windjammer on deck 11.

 

I’ve seen quite a few negative comments on here about FOS customer service.  I did not experience anything short of cheerful, attentive service at any dining venue.   Ate in the MDR 5 times.  Food was acceptable/good.

 

Lets just say I didn’t leave the cruise (sitting at SJU now) feeling hungry (or skinny)!

D, are you going to be writing a full on review of your (our) cruise?  If so, interested in getting your thoughts on the entire experience.  I have my own, which I will be trying to put together tonight.

8 minutes ago, BillHana said:

I fall for their loyalty perks. I now have D+ status on RCL and it works to keep me with them. It does work for elite on Celebrity. Their marketing strategy works to keep me because RCL status points don't do anything for other lines.

Good point.  Kind of like when you hit the 10-year mark on a military career.  You might as well stay another 10 to get the retirement benefits.

5 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I think that would be very few cruises.  They just keep lowering the price to fill the staterooms.

I don't cruise often enough for my opinion to be significant, but I think that something has got to give.  I don't think that it is in RCI's long-term interest to become or be perceived as just the other cheap, mass market cruise line, if you know what I mean.  if they're trying to compete down instead of up, then loyals will naturally flee to other, more comfy lines.  Not sure if Azamara or Celebrity are that alternative, maybe I should try them (or maybe I'm just getting old!).

6 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Sure, but it can be a huge difference, and that is what the OP was asking about.

 

The difference between 100% and capacity on Oasis is close to 600 people.  And probably all kids. 😇

Exactly my point.  I really like RCI, but would much rather try to find cruises that consistently sail at 100% or below.  Full capacity feels like you're on a ferry, not a pleasure cruise.

18 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

Every time we've been there, they have had a separate entry line for suite guests.

I didn't see one for suite guests, either.  Could be wrong.  Last year for the Adventure, they had priority luggage drop off and check in for C&A.  Not this time.

4 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

You might try asking on the roll call thread, maybe someone there remembers.

Good idea.  Thanks.

I am gathering data and my thoughts for a full review, but in the meantime, an important bit of information for those concerned.  There was no priority bag drop off or boarding line prior to entering the terminal for Crown and Anchor members - at any level - on my recent Freedom cruise.  It was all in one place for everyone for luggage drop off, and then one single line to get into the terminal.  In our case, we arrived at 1;30, just after several motor coaches carrying large groups arrived, and the lines and waiting were quite long and the waits extensive.  If I were you, I would plan to arrive earlier rather than later until the issue is resolved. 

3 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

That's odd, I seem to recall the CD announcing the passenger count at the welcome aboard show.  

That's usually the case, but I must have missed it this time.  I asked around afterwards (front desk/guest services) and they couldn't or wouldn't tell me.  I am just trying to gather some real data before I try to write an informed review.  Don't want to say that the boat was sold at 110, 20 or 30% if it just felt that way.

3 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I've not seen that info published by the cruise line on a per cruise basis.  If you were still onboard, they would tell you the number of passengers on board and you could compute the occupancy rate.

They wouldn't tell us.  There were constant overcrowding complaints in most venues during our cruise, and I wanted to verify if it was just our imagination or perception. 

Hi,

Anyone knows where to get the occupancy rate for a specific sailing, if such information is available to the public?  Just curious, as my recent Freedom cruise seemed to have been oversold/overbook by far more than 100% capacity.

Thanks,

Maybe the Oasis is a mirage! :eek::eek:

If my own transatlantic experience is any indication, U.S. Customs or whatever they're called now decided to check each and every person on board, and many people lost their AM flights, even their early PM flights. Since I live in San Juan they let me off the boat close to 3;00 PM.

Old San Juan is very walkable even if uphill at some points. But nothing's too far. The forts would be a treat for the kids (real pirate stories and what not).

You won't notice much destruction, if any, in and around San Juan. Everything is pretty much back to normal.

La Marquesa park was destroyed by the hurricane and will not reopen. The canopy tour "idea/brand" was sold to another operator at another park closer to the airport.

It's a one hour drive to Fajardo. If you're taking one of the many sailing catamarans that go there, they usually leave at 9:30, the sail is about 45 minutes. Then they sail back around 3:00 PM, back at the marina by 4:00, for another one hour drive back to San Juan (assuming no issues with traffic on the road). You'd be pushing it.