mattpro
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Posts posted by mattpro
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Nights #2 & 6
Also, on 2nd formal night there is no smoking in the casino.
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Shorts are alright for the rock climbing wall and they have climbing shoes for you - gratis.
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Since we have a late arrival into SJU the night before embarkation this trip, was wondering if anybody knows if RCCL permits guests to check in (was thinking 11:30 am ish), eat lunch, then grab a tax to/from SJU before returning to the ship. I've only read comments here that people drop their luggage, tour & then check in later. We could store luggage @ the Hilton and cab over to SJU but don't want to miss lunch lol.
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You can check-in, have lunch and tour SJ & return to the ship before sailing.
A few things to know:
If all goes smoothly you can be checked-in by noon and have lunch, however the staterooms are not open to store your carry-ons until after 1:30 p.m.
Taxis charge extra for each bag and I doubt if you want to lug your bags thru SJ.
Muster is at 5:30 p.m. - lasts to about 6:oo - 6:15 p.m.
If you miss this muster there is another one at 8:00 p.m. - check with guest services for actual time and location.
The Adventure sails from the Pan Am pier - not the one in front of the Sheraton in old SJ, like the Carnival cruise do.
Taxi fare each way to old SJ & back runs about $25 + tip = $50+tip for round trip.
This a 15 minute ride.
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Coloradodude
The Adventure's internet is woefully slow currently.
Will ask an officer when I'm on the ship two weeks from now if an upgrade is in the cards while in drydock, though I won't be back until after the first week of May.
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Bob
From what I heard it had something to do with Izumi's kitchen on the Navigator.
As a side note on the Adventure's 3/19/2016 sailing the ship was delayed ( almost a 9:00 PM sailing) because inspectors came on the ship (happens once every 3 months) to inspect all facets of the ship with an emphasis on inspecting the galley and restaurants.
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Hi Bob
The Navigator currently has an Izumi where the card rooms were on the port side of deck 14, but there are probably plans to remove that too, even though they just added it on their recent drydock.
Heard this from the Hotel director on the Adventure the week of 3/19/2016 cruise during the meal with an officer on the last sea day (3/25).
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Also, expect the Rock Wall to be pushed out so the entrance will be on the 13th floor, which will allow for a passage way between the CL and the DL behind the Rock Wall on deck 14.
This may not be entirely completed in dry dock and if so, will be done while the ship is cruising, similar to what is being done on the Navigator.
Have also heard that Izumi restaurants may be removed from all ships.
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Adventure drydock
The new restaurant will be Chops Grille. Currently Miami wants to locate it where Giovanni's is, however the ship management wants it on deck 5 where Jester's will be removed (4th floor inside cabins - 5th floor restaurant). This is still a fluid issue.
A flow rider will be added on deck 13 - still undecided what will happen to the space where incline skating is located when it is removed.
The Concierge Lounge will be put on the 14th floor, which is currently occupied the card room, which will be moved to the interior of deck 9, where the CL is currently located.
The jogging track will go behind the Sky Bar on deck 12 and overlooking the Solarium.
A deck 13 forward will be added which will be open space above deck 12, where new panorama cabins will be added ( floor to ceiling windows).
These will be the major changes, though new carpeting and refreshing rooms, especially mattresses, are expected as well.
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There is a Marriott in Condado, not far from the PanAm pier - but you will need to get a taxi from any hotel in Puerto Rico to get to the pier.
The closest hotel to the PanAm pier is the new Sheraton.
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Departed ship at 10:30 and noticed there were 8 bags in a section marked "no luggage tags" - may have been lost in handling or some other reason.
May be worth checking out with RCL.
Also, Global Entry Cards were not allowed to go through immigrations line with suite guests/pinnacles (gold cards) , unlike in Nov. 2016 where they were allowed to go through.
When questioned RCL rep checking cards, I was told the policy of letting Global Entry Card holders through is no longer in effect at San Juan.
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Yes there is a priority line for suites, Diamond+ & Pinnacles.
As earlier mentioned there is very little signage, but the line is against the wall to enter terminal - note that there is also priority luggage handling in this area as well, which can move you up a few hundred spots - depending on what time you arrive at the pier.
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Voyager or Freedom class ships.
Reason is that they have a Royal Promenade, which means if you want a cup of coffee or something to eat before 7:00 a.m. or after midnight you don't have to call for room service.
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If they do to the Adventure what they did on the Navigator these are some of the things to expect.
- Izumi restaurant on 14th floor where the card rooms were
- Removal of the nightclub on decks 4 & 5 - deck 4 will have inside state rooms - deck 5 will have Sabor restaurant
- Flow rider to be put on back of ship on deck 13 center , which means the miniature golf has to be reconfigured on starboard side, while the incline skating on port side will be removed for either lounging or part of golf course
- On deck 12 forward they may put in panorama staterooms with floor to ceiling window, which means there would be stairs leading up to a 13th deck for lounging - this would also mean that the walking/jogging track would go behind the sky bar and overlook the Solarium below on deck 11
- other changes may occur on the ship as well
But as Bob states, it is best to wait and see what happens.
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Was on the Indy for 3 consecutive cruises
2/8/2016 - 5 days
- the problem at the ports with disembarkation are centered around how many immigrations officers there are present. There were only 5.
- for consecutive cruisers ( in the high 80's) we were marched off the ship at 11:30 a.m. heading for the main terminal, but we were stopped after about 200 feet and an immigration officer arrived at the ramp, so those at the end of the line boarded the ship first. By the time consecutive cruisers at the end of the line boarded - had their picture taken - and headed for the elevators - new passengers had already occupied the elevators. There was a special lunch at noon on deck 3 for the consecutive cruisers.
2/13/2016 - 5 days
- same problem with only 5 immigration officers. Consecutive cruisers (18) were led to the gangway on deck 1 at 11:15 a.m. where their sea passes were pinged - then led into the waiting office of the medical facility to await the immigration officer to come on board to check passports - then led back to the ping station for new photos on sea pass. No lunch for B2B'ers - but this time we were the first to use the elevators to the WJ.
2/18/2016 - 4 days
- disembarking was a trip. Shortly after self-embarked left with their luggage shortly after 8:00 a.m. a line started forming for those with numbers 1 & 2.
Going down the stairs starting AT DECK 5 (forget about the elevators) to deck 1 gangplank took about an hour - with more than half the folks toting their own luggage.
- the main hang-up about all this was created at the ping station on deck 1 - where only 15 people at a time were allowed off the ship until those who departed were 1000 feet away from the gangplank. Once these folks entered the building there were 4 more twisting lines to go through before you entered the main terminal where another 400 folks were waiting to get to the 5 immigration officers.
- note if you have a global entry card you can bypass the last 400 folks.
This was Terminal 25
Each week was different as if RCL had never done this before - though Congress"s cutback in immigrations was definitely the main culprit.
Special note for Diamond and up - have one of the concierges take you off the ship.
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Personally, I find the Adventure to be my favorite ship having cruised her 7x in 2015, will be on her for 6 cruises this March & April 2016 and have her booked for six 7 day cruises in 2017 followed by a 10 day cruise starting in Feb. 2017.
Love the southern Caribbean with 6 port days on a 7 day cruise - the best itinerary for me in the Caribbean.
If you're a foodie, currently the only specialty restaurant is Giovanni's, but there are plans to add Izumi on deck 14 where the card rooms are, Sabor on deck 5 when the nightclub is removed and possibly a Chops Grille in the front of the WJ - opposite Giovanni's.
However, with RCL when changes happen that is the time to believe them.
Cruising is as fun as you want to make it and there are a lot of other folks on the ship who paid good money to have a good time, so if all else fails, hang with the group that is having a good time.
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Smoking on Voyager & Freedom class ships in the Caribbean
Adventure - 7 day cruises
sailing out of San Juan, Puerto Rico the weeks of 11/28/2015 & 12/5/2015 there was smoking every night in the casinos. On 12/12/2015 there was NO SMOKING on the 2nd formal night (6th day).
Navigator of the Seas - 6 day /8day/6 day
out of FLL the weeks of1/3/2016 & 1/9/2016 there was smoking every night in the casino. On 1/17/2016 there was NO SMOKING on the 2nd formal night (6th day).
Independence - 5 day/5 day/ 4 day cruises
out of FLL the weeks of 2/8/2016, 2/13/2016 & 2/18/2016 there was smoking every night in the casino.
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Well, for the last 18 years there is one cruiser that has been called Super Mario that cruises 350 days of the year.
From what I've read he gets 2 free cruises a year (700 C&A points), stays in an inside cabin and spends less than $70,000 a year for his room.
Do a google search of Super Mario for more info.
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On the Navigator the front section of the casino is smoking - the back section non-smoking.
In January 2016 on a B2B2B there was smoking in the casino for the first 2 legs every night, however on the 3rd leg there was no smoking in any part of the casino on the 2nd formal night.
As others have stated you can smoke in the casino anytime you want during the day and the bar is only open when the casino is open.
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MTD
The advantage of MTD is that you can decide when to eat every evening.
Personally, I go to deck 5 when I board - check out the DR for the table I want , then go to the concierge at the desk and tell him/her what the number of the table is that I want and the time for every night of the cruise.
Flexibility is built in for those who want to see a show or may want later seating if they're going on an excursion that may run late.
Or, you can just show up whenever and just ask for a table, though at busy times you may have to wait a little - usually not more than 10 minutes.
Hope this helps.
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Probably the most popular attraction in Jamaica is Dunne's River Falls.
Grand Cayman swimming with the stingrays is nice since they're located within a secluded reef where you can also snorkel. They will give you a baby squid to feed the stingrays, place them on your back for a photo op or just hold them in your hands.
One caveat while walking in the water shuffle your feet along the bottom - don't pick them up and start walking - lol
Labadee is RCL's private beach resort. Zip-lining over the water will set you back $95 a trip. The best beach for swimming WITHOUT WATERSHOES is Columbus Cove - all the way in the back on the right. Nice white sand beach, steel band music, pavilion for BBQ that can be accessed by walking along the shoreline - by tram or by ferryboat from the dock next to the ship.
Cozumel - for a beach day either Senor Santos or Chankanaab
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Smoking on balcony
As Jan. 1,2014 smoking is no longer allowed on the balconies.
If someone does, most likely they will be turned in by one of their neighbors.
Those who disobey
1st time - warning
2nd time - fine
3rd time - pack your bags because you're leaving the ship at the next port.
RCL takes their smoking policy very seriously.
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Smoking on the Adventure
The 2 places to smoke with a roof over your head is at the casino (deck 4) & the Connoisseur Club (deck 5 - cigar bar).
Note however, in Dec. 2015 smoking was suspended in the casino for the 2nd formal night. (This was also done on the Navigator the 3rd week of Jan. 2016 - seems to be a test that RCL is running to stop smoking in the casino, since the new CEO is highly averse to smoking.)
Outdoor smoking
Deck 4 starboard side, as well as pool deck (11) and the 12th deck, which is open air.
Here's the best for smokers
The Diamond Lounge (located on the starboard side deck 14) allows smoking out on the veranda that overlooks the BB court, miniature golf and abutting the rock wall.
Drinks, entertainment, appetizers and smoking all in one place.
This is the only ship in the fleet that allows this.
Two simple questions on the prepaid gratuities
in Royal Caribbean International
Posted
Gratuities can be prepaid when you book your cruise.
If not prepaid, they will show up on your final bill.
If you have MTD gratuities must be paid in advance.