Caribbean Princess October 29th 2011 NYC-FLL 10 days

[KansasCityGuys]

I could be wrong but I believe the Baja, Aloha, and Riveria all have fully covered balconies. The Carib is partially covered. And the Emerald and Dolphin are fully covered. If I am incorrect, someone please correct me.

[drtravel47]

I could be wrong but I believe the Baja, Aloha, and Riveria all have fully covered balconies. The Carib is partially covered. And the Emerald and Dolphin are fully covered. If I am incorrect, someone please correct me.

 

I believe I was on Aloha deck last year and was able to see down to each level below me. If I they were all covered, I might still be out on the deck =--locked out (see other posting).

[KansasCityGuys]

We have never been to San Juan before. DR Travel thanks for posting on the other message board the information about the San Juan Free Trolley. I looked at the map of the routes.

 

Our plan currently for San Juan is to spend the first part of the day in and around Old San Juan and then for the second half; go to the gay area Condado/Ocean Park Beach. I also know the Atlantic Beach Hotel is right there. Is the bar at the hotel worthwhile? Does the hotel bar and/or restaurant have any problems with day only cruise passengers. Is there anything else in this area? Can we rent Chairs and/or umbrellas to use on the beach?

 

And Finally, does the free shuttle go anywhere near this area or is a taxi our best bet?

 

Scott

[JerseyGuys]

I could be wrong but I believe the Baja, Aloha, and Riveria all have fully covered balconies. The Carib is partially covered. And the Emerald and Dolphin are fully covered. If I am incorrect, someone please correct me.

Your correct on all counts except Dolphin, Dolphin are all minisuites and all full exposed..no cover...

[drtravel47]

Scott,

I think you'll need a taxi to get to Condado. What is that hotel like?

 

I would like to go to El Yunque National Park, but I'm not sure there's not enough time to get there and back in the daylight (no point in being there at night).

[KansasCityGuys]

Scott,

I think you'll need a taxi to get to Condado. What is that hotel like?

 

I would like to go to El Yunque National Park, but I'm not sure there's not enough time to get there and back in the daylight (no point in being there at night).

 

Thanks, I have never been there before. Below is the link to the Atlantic Beach Hotel. I will send them an email later today and ask them a few questions.

 

Scott

[JerseyGuys]

Thanks, I have never been there before. Below is the link to the Atlantic Beach Hotel. I will send them an email later today and ask them a few questions.

 

Scott

 

 

We spent 4 nites at La Concha on Condado beach last fall. Wonderful hotel, great pool, wonderful bar, smaller casino and great beach. THey do have day passes, not sure of the cost, and its a short taxi ride or right on the public bus line less than 50 cents by bus, real deal

[drtravel47]

For fancy hotels, go all the way to Isla Verde and stop in the El San Juan or the Ritz Carlton. Very nice beaches there.

[KansasCityGuys]

We spent 4 nites at La Concha on Condado beach last fall. Wonderful hotel, great pool, wonderful bar, smaller casino and great beach. THey do have day passes, not sure of the cost, and its a short taxi ride or right on the public bus line less than 50 cents by bus, real deal

 

Thanks! I was just reading some of the reviews on Gay Cities. It looks like a fabulous resort. From your experience, were there a lot of other gay couples or individuals there.

 

Scott

[KansasCityGuys]

I just got an email back from La Concha Resort. I am posting it below. The day pass is kind of pricy but wouldn't be too bad if the ship was arriving at 7am, but not worth it for our arrival time. Back to Plan A for us!

 

¡Buenas tardes!

 

Thank you for your interest in La Concha Resort! We do sell day passes; they are sold based upon availability at the hotel. The day pass includes a room from 9am until 5pm and access to all of the hotel’s facilities. We have 3 swimming pools, a 24 hour casino, as well as our restaurants Voga, Solera, Sidewalk Café and our lobby bar and we are a beach front property. The cost for the day pass is $125 plus taxes. Due to the fact that the day pass is sold on availability I would recommend contacting the hotel either the same day or a day before you arrive to Puerto Rico to see if it is available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[oceanvoyager]

I just got an email back from La Concha Resort. I am posting it below. The day pass is kind of pricy but wouldn't be too bad if the ship was arriving at 7am, but not worth it for our arrival time. Back to Plan A for us!

 

With a 2pm arrival time, figure on it pushing 3pm before you get beyond Old San Juan. After 2.5 days at sea there will be a made rush for the gangway(s).

[oceanvoyager]

For fancy hotels, go all the way to Isla Verde and stop in the El San Juan or the Ritz Carlton. Very nice beaches there.

 

And really wonderful pool/beachside bars.

[oceanvoyager]

stupid question. How did you know which decks or cabins have covered balconies? Is it in the deck plans? I haven't looked.

 

dave

 

 

In my case, all you need to do is click on the Y! thingee at the top of my posts or within my profile. You will see "send message to oceanvoyager_nyc" Just add @yahoo.com to that and you have an email address.

 

Warren

[KansasCityGuys]

I had to double check to make sure I was posting this to the right board. An interesting book has just been released.

 

http://queerplanet.gaysocialites.com/2011/08/07/the-gay-travel-guide-for-tops-and-bottoms-a-new-way-for-gay-travel/

[KansasCityGuys]

Has anyone ever taken an Atlantis or RSVP Cruise? We never have and we don't have one planned for any time in the future. A good friend of ours has been on an Atlantis Cruise and every time he gets, he tells Cory and I we need to go on one.

 

Our thoughts. . . cruising has changed a lot over the last 10 to 15 years. There was a time when yes, an all-gay cruise was the way to go. I believe that time has changed; We have always meet other gay couples and individuals on our mainstream cruises. . . most are wonderful people, and a few we hope to never see again. As for being accepted by the hetro cruisers, we have only ever encountered one problem. For the most part, that is not even an issue in today's society.

 

If we were still in our twenties then we might like the 24 hour bath house/gay bar scene or an all-gay cruise. But, the defining line is that we can take at least 2 if not 3 mainstream cruise than what 1 Atlantis cruise would cost.

 

Scott

[JerseyGuys]

yeah we haven't done an all gay cruise yet either, intrigued but not sold. I hear that the mix of ages and types is diverse, but I don't have any confirmed reports. We did do a one week Chumley's Bear cruise a couple years back on Princess. It was a great time. 250 bears on the Caribbean Princess with 2700 other passangers. The excursions with the bears was a lot of fun, so were the dinners. Very friendly group of guys, a little clicky but only because many of them had cruised with each other before. It was amazing to me how well the 250 bears were accepted by the ship, they basically took over the aft pool for the entire cruise as well as the night clubs a number of nites.

 

We too have had a lot of fun on mixed cruises and met some great friends we stay in contact with and who we have cruised with again. I find the atmosphere on the Princess cruises pretty accepting and yet to really experience any problems.

[oceanvoyager]

I took an Atlantis cruise but it was too long ago for my opinion to be current now. Let's just say that I wasn't out of my 30's yet and I'm now 51. :o

 

Never booked another one (which should sum it up nicely for you). I'll be glad to regale you with stories over cocktails aboard ship.

[JerseyGuys]

I took an Atlantis cruise but it was too long ago for my opinion to be current now. Let's just say that I wasn't out of my 30's yet and I'm now 51. :o

 

Never booked another one (which should sum it up nicely for you). I'll be glad to regale you with stories over cocktails aboard ship.

 

:) Whats everyone do for dining, traditional or anytime?

[KansasCityGuys]

:) Whats everyone do for dining, traditional or anytime?

 

We always do anytime. . . When we are on Vacation, we don't like to be bound by time restraints!

 

Scott

[KansasCityGuys]

yeah we haven't done an all gay cruise yet either, intrigued but not sold. I hear that the mix of ages and types is diverse, but I don't have any confirmed reports. We did do a one week Chumley's Bear cruise a couple years back on Princess. It was a great time. 250 bears on the Caribbean Princess with 2700 other passangers. The excursions with the bears was a lot of fun, so were the dinners. Very friendly group of guys, a little clicky but only because many of them had cruised with each other before. It was amazing to me how well the 250 bears were accepted by the ship, they basically took over the aft pool for the entire cruise as well as the night clubs a number of nites.

 

We too have had a lot of fun on mixed cruises and met some great friends we stay in contact with and who we have cruised with again. I find the atmosphere on the Princess cruises pretty accepting and yet to really experience any problems.

 

I took an Atlantis cruise but it was too long ago for my opinion to be current now. Let's just say that I wasn't out of my 30's yet and I'm now 51. :o

 

Never booked another one (which should sum it up nicely for you). I'll be glad to regale you with stories over cocktails aboard ship.

 

We have been thinking about going on a Pied Piper cruise in the future. That might be more up our alley and not having to deal with all of the pretentious queens. I am glad the two of you had a good time on the Chumley Bear Cruise. And Warren I would love to hear some of your stories about your Atlantis cruise experience. I am sure we all have stories that we can share of previous cruises. I know we would have some. Probably the strangest was this guy who was traveling with his family who was totally closeted. He comes to a Friends of Dorothy and he is expecting an orgy to break out. That is one problem I have with a lot of people's thinking, they think living a gay life style is all about sex. Some gay people even have that attitude. I have a friend here in Kansas City, he is only gay part of the time. I am sorry Cory and I are gay 100% percent of the time. We get along great with each others families, but I do realize that is a problem for some gay and lesbian individuals.

 

Scott

 

Scott

[JerseyGuys]

yeah I'm sort of amazed even today they are so many people who wont even show up at the friends of dorothy..i mean gay couples....it sort of amazes me.

[drtravel47]

I agree with everything you said. I don't need to hear crappy gay bar techno music 24/7, I don't care about "White Parties" or any other parties. Give me a group of sophisticated gays (and lesbians) drinking martinis and wine and enjoying intellectual chat and good food.

[drtravel47]

Anytime--

On the last CP cruise, I started with Anytime and was annoyed we had to wait for table. We then went to late seating and didn't like the first group of people (boring). We tried it one more time, a worse group. This one included newlyweds from Utah who only wanted hamburgers and such, a very wealthy Mexican couple who snapped their fingers at the waiter,....you got the idea. Plus the CP has that one dining room which is impossible to find.

 

In short, we went back to Anytime. We became friends with the Str8 couple in the next cabin, had cocktails and ate when we chose to.

 

On Celebrity we went Aqua class, which allowed us to eat in Blu, which is all anytime. SO much better.

[drtravel47]

how do you know they won't. Who gave this Dorothy a crystal ball? LOL

[oceanvoyager]

yeah I'm sort of amazed even today they are so many people who wont even show up at the friends of dorothy..i mean gay couples....it sort of amazes me.

 

I've discovered that younger guys and those not from the US don't always know what "Friends of Dorothy" means. Some lines are actually starting to use "LGBT" - which is fairly universal.