bumble12

Just now, bumble12 said:

 

what room did u have

52 minutes ago, Laszlo said:

I think the smell at Spice H20 is the least of your worries. From what I have observed and heard the service across the board is lacking. Not because of effort because of numbers. The service in the Haven has remained excellent. We won’t however cruise the Getaway again. Not have a retractable roof of the Haven courtyard is not idea. Our cabin location is terrible, it was cheap and the last one available, I wouldn’t book it again if it was free

went on this tour and it is not worth it. you get there about 1030 and most of the shows are an hour long and do not really start till noon and then you have to be back on bus by 130  and to the airport by 2:45 so up to you

which is best to do heaven courtyard or spa whilpool suite with heaven access  thanks

has any one did a pub crawl with what the ship offers and if so how was it

thanks still looking for more imfro

has anyone stayed in cabin 9674 on the gem if so do u have pictures or can u tell something about it thanks

when r you going

how do u post on star page i do not see new thread button to click on

going to take my chances with 8176 even with all the negitive

did u stay in 8176 during panama canal cruise

Has anyone sailed on the star in cabin 8176 and if so is this a good spot. Thinking bout bookin this

thanks for all ur help we made reservations for the excurison with celebrity but may cancel and do our own time just wanted to make sure something was planned

ending cruise in san juan from celebrity summit and flight to go home is not

till 330 is there enough time to go to old san juan for the day and what to do with luggage

does anyone know if American airlines picks up luggage at cruise terminal when you are at end of cruise

i like to read others' reviews, and so am trying to give a bit back by doing one.

 

A bit about us, i am in my mid50s and dh is a bit older. We love to cruise, and although we have not cruised as much as many people here, have done so about 25 times on various lines. Our preferred lines are celebrity and princess. We have not cruised the premium lines except peter deilmann (a now defunct german river cruise line.) we travelled with some experienced cruisers friends, although they had not sailed celebrity before.

 

Precruise - off we go.

 

Hoping to avoid stress, it is our goal to fly in the day before the cruise, preferably early in the day, just in case.

 

The day started at the lovely hour of 3:00am when we dragged ourselves out of bed to get to the columbus airport for our 6:00 am flight. At the airport, we encountered the longest line we would see all day -- caffeine deprived travelers waiting for starbucks to open.

 

Our southwest airlines flight was without incident, although very full, and we arrived for our connection in baltimore right on time. Ohioans love to travel, yes i know, we all want to get out of ohio. Not so much really, but we do love to go places.

 

The first really good thing of the vacation occurred when we found out that our connecting gate was only 2 away from where we landed. Yeah!

 

The flight from baltimore to san juan was early into san juan, yes, this day was going just fine. There was also no snow in san juan. Our luggage appeared, i did the i have my luggage dance, and vacation officially started for me. Dh always says, don't worry, we can buy clothes and figure it out, but then again, he's a guy and has a different perspective.

 

We stayed at the sheraton convention center casino hotel. It was ok. Not 4* by any means, but it met the criteria. Near the cruise port, very clean, wifi, close enough to old san juan to grab a cab and get there. We would stay there again, but there is a hyatt place right nearby, and i think next time we will try that one. The best part of the hotel was the mexican restaurant right across the street. Good food, good service, good drinks, live music, good view, outside tables, reasonably priced, all in all a good time was had by all.

 

If you haven't been to old san juan, we suggest that you go over and look at the forts. You can walk from one to the other, and they are interesting to tour.

 

Day 2 - all aboard

 

waking up, we could see the summit outside the hotel window. I still think it is very walkable (i think everything is walkable), but my traveling companions talked some sense into me and we would take a cab to the pier.

 

First day of the cruise, always a good thing. We all had breakfast at the hotel; it was ok, but not great. They had good coffee, which frankly is my main interest anyway.

 

At 11:30, we caught a cab over to the cruise terminal. Turn in luggage, enter terminal, get into aqua line, fill out health form, get cruise card, board ship. All in all, maybe 15 minutes. Definitely one of the fastest boarding processes ever. Kudos to celebrity.

 

We toured the ship and at about 1:30 our cabins were ready to go. For the first time, we had aft facing balcony aqua cabins. Deck 11, cabins 1130 and 1141. Very nice, one floor above coffee, one floor above the bar. Who could ask for anything more. The balcony in our cabin was a bit larger, too, which is always a nice amenity.

 

For those who don't know yet, celebrity still brings the sparkling wine, fruit, tea, afternoon snack, and two bottles of water to the aqua cabins. We dispensed with the snack, the fruit and the wine. We had the beverage package and saw no need to trade in the wine for something else.

 

They offered a 2 for 1 deal in qsine, so that's where we went for dinner. It was fun, as usual. Our friends hadn't been there before, and they enjoyed it, too. Our favorites are the indian food and the spring rolls. Our friends liked the filet mignon. The donuts for dessert are always a hit.

 

Three of us attended the welcome aboard show, and were treated to what we found to be the theme of the cruise -- ken (the cruise director)'s entertainment staff/comedy troupe. Ken did a very nice job. This would continue all week.

As a rule, we found there were more things to do than we could get into the evenings. That was new for us on celebrity. And, it is a tribute to the job ken and his staff did.

 

Next... Sea day and golf with monkeys.

 

Ohiodoglover

was there enoough time to eat at qsine before drill

for these of you who ate there is there enough time to do on embark day if reservation is at 6pm thanks

Hey Bumble, My wife and I are looking at tours also,we will be on the same cruise, from Villas NJ. In Wildwood for the storm, worst than sandy I think. :)

lets book it together befor it gets sold out . We live close to you in grassy sound send me your e-mail

has anyone used private tour operater for whole island tour if so let me know how it went:rolleyes:

we were a family of 10 I been on 13 cruise before this. First time for my mom inlaw brother inlaw and 4 time for uncle. Have not sailed on ncl since 1989. Before we left I was reading many many negative things about ncl and the ship dawn. We almost canceled because of them. Paid a lot of money for this once in a life time family outing so because of all the bad posts we started the cruise worried but let me tell you it was the best new years we ever had. The ship is in great shape, the crew is the friendliest people I have ever seen working on a ship, the officers could not do enough, the food was great no matter where we ate. I could go on and on. By the way we had one wheelchair ,one with a walker, two children and 3 other handicap people and the crew helped us everyday with anything we had to do. I could keep telling you how good this cruise was but I just want the people that have pending cruise that the dawn is great, the food is great, and that you will have a wonderful time. thank you

wr party of 10 do not remember price but i know cheaPER then cabs and person was really nice cause he is takin us to ship too

We are a family of 5 sailing on the Dawn 12/28. We are flying in on 12/27 and staying at the Holiday Inn & Suites Convention Center. What is the best way to get from the airport to the hotel? The hotel does not have an airport shuttle. Would we be better off hiring a private car service or are there cabs (van type) that can fit us all plus the luggage?

 

Thanks for the help.

wr on the same cruise we r using a limo #504 561 9050 if that will help u

thanks for getting back but can you tell me anything bout the hotel do u have any pictures

the pre concierge will take care of any needs you want before the cruise and the onboard one will take care once your on board you will meet your butler once your checked in and on the boat he will help with anything you want in your room

has anyone stayed at the royal sonesta on burbon st and if so how was it and do you have any pictures to share thanks