Bit of a blog - Adventure of the Seas – B2B in the Caribbean – 18th November 2012

[funbythedozen]

Linda, I love the pictures you take. What camera do you use?

[crisndeefromde]

My son seems to think that we can just use our 3G with unlimited wifi. Any ideas how I would be able to check would I need to call RCCL or my internet provider here?

 

I don't wish to burst your bubble....but...we have 3g unlimited wifi but if we used it on board......we wouldn't be able to afford to cruise again..you will be using the roaming data charges. We only used our phones in the ports where we got free service as we are with att. we check email and so forth then. Now we did use free wifi in the hot spots in some of the ports that offered free internet but didn't check voice mail due to the high costs. data roaming is very expensive. texting very expensive. Our daughter had a 420 dollar phone bill on her nine night explorer cruise...one morning at breakfast she told us it was still snowing at home. I said wow...they showed that on the news on tv? she said oh no...I have been texting so and so...hmmmmn I said you are going to have a whopper phone bill...she lived on her own then...she said no...that she checked with verizon before she left as that was who she was with as our now son in law was with verizon.. nah....not the case...the texts stilled bounced off ship tower when at sea. In the ports it was off the local carrier. only free phone stuff she got that trip was in san juan and in st thomas...

 

We usually have everything turned off on ours including the roaming and keep in the safe. Unless something has changed since our trip in feb for other carriers, it is hasn't for att. My hubby just checked for our next cruise in two months. I have read where some others have gotten international calling which would be great but still bouncing off the ship and there is an additional charge for that.

 

Good luck and if you find out something different that what we have experienced please post for all of us.

[crisndeefromde]

Its been so so great reading your blog and what great pictures. I can't thank you enough. Many members of both of our roll calls have been reading and of course Robyn is so excited for the owners suite that you took pictures of.

 

Can't wait to hear about where your next adventure will be....

 

Take care and best wishes.

[kastke]

I don't wish to burst your bubble....but...we have 3g unlimited wifi but if we used it on board......we wouldn't be able to afford to cruise again..you will be using the roaming data charges. We only used our phones in the ports where we got free service as we are with att. we check email and so forth then. Now we did use free wifi in the hot spots in some of the ports that offered free internet but didn't check voice mail due to the high costs. data roaming is very expensive. texting very expensive. Our daughter had a 420 dollar phone bill on her nine night explorer cruise...one morning at breakfast she told us it was still snowing at home. I said wow...they showed that on the news on tv? she said oh no...I have been texting so and so...hmmmmn I said you are going to have a whopper phone bill...she lived on her own then...she said no...that she checked with verizon before she left as that was who she was with as our now son in law was with verizon.. nah....not the case...the texts stilled bounced off ship tower when at sea. In the ports it was off the local carrier. only free phone stuff she got that trip was in san juan and in st thomas...

 

We usually have everything turned off on ours including the roaming and keep in the safe. Unless something has changed since our trip in feb for other carriers, it is hasn't for att. My hubby just checked for our next cruise in two months. I have read where some others have gotten international calling which would be great but still bouncing off the ship and there is an additional charge for that.

 

Good luck and if you find out something different that what we have experienced please post for all of us.

 

 

We have Verizon and we do put international calling on one phone for cruises, in case of an emergency. It's peace of mind - we received a telegram once while on a ship about a family death. I now give family members the phone number to reach the ship and our cabin number to leave a message in an emergency. Then we would call them back from the cell. Other than that, the phone stays turned off while on the ship!! Way too expensive. Any usage while on ship has to go thru ship's service.

 

Data usage, texts, phone is only used in ports that offer free wifi or Verizon service area. Text messages are reasonable cost with Verizon's international plan, but again I only text to check on health/welfare of family/home. I'm on vacation. I don't care if it's snowing at home!!! :D

[NorbertsNiece]

Linda, I love the pictures you take. What camera do you use?

 

Hey :D

 

Thanks :)

 

99% of them were taken with a Canon Isus 230 HS. It's a point and shoot with other possibilities but I just used the : see it, point and click technique with occasional zoom! The battery comes with a separate charger and is easy to remove to charge. Charge lasts a good while. I carried it in the little case (purchased separately) everywhere with me..... this doubled up as a carrier for the seapass card, bar receipts etc ;)

[fishtaco]

Linda,

 

Just got back from Australia and New Zealand cruise on Voyager, where there was no smoking anywhere inside the ship only on the open decks.

 

Has this been adopted on Adventure as we are on the TA from San Juan to Southampton in April.

 

We also did the TA from San Juan to Malaga on Adventure this year when smoking was allowed in the pub and the casino and I can assure you this was not pleasant and where ever you were in the promenade one's clothes always had the smell of tobacco smoke.

 

 

 

I think you will find that VOS cruises from Australia would have to abide by Australian/New Zealands staunch smoking laws which are among the toughest in the world.

 

I cant imagine the inside smoking areas on VOS all being closed once 12 miles out at sea (22 miles for west australia i think?) Was it just when in port or not out at sea?

 

Australia now has a Branch of RCI, RCI Australia and if any RCI Australia employees were working onboard then Australian work place laws and employer duty of care laws would have to protect them with a smoke free working environment same as all Australian employees?

 

Den

[Sunebeach]

Linda, I have really enjoyed your blog...and after seeing your pictures, have decided next Christmas I will try a holiday cruise. Thanks for all your wonderful photos, now I'm really undecided as to what to do. Doing the Aruba leg of your journey, and hope and pray we don't run into the rudeness you experienced, but most likely will. That's the risk we take. Unfortunately there are "THOSE" people out there. It's just more noticeable on a ship.:rolleyes: as those same people seem to follow you around.

[NorbertsNiece]

Linda, I have really enjoyed your blog...and after seeing your pictures, have decided next Christmas I will try a holiday cruise. Thanks for all your wonderful photos, now I'm really undecided as to what to do. Doing the Aruba leg of your journey, and hope and pray we don't run into the rudeness you experienced, but most likely will. That's the risk we take. Unfortunately there are "THOSE" people out there. It's just more noticeable on a ship.:rolleyes: as those same people seem to follow you around.

 

Thank you :D

 

I've been assured that sailing during other times are less likely to be as crowd heavy as the 2 weeks I experienced. I'm just not a fan of the port location (for a B2B especially) nor that port experience in general.

[AOSmom]

Thanks again Linda for connecting with my daughter during your cruise. The question I have is how to you post photos that remain large. All I have been able to do is upload a photo and it's thumbnail size. Hope you can help.

Kathy

[NorbertsNiece]

Thanks again Linda for connecting with my daughter during your cruise. The question I have is how to you post photos that remain large. All I have been able to do is upload a photo and it's thumbnail size. Hope you can help.

Kathy

 

Hi there,

 

Hope everyone is well.

 

I upload the pics from my camera to my laptop then from there to photobucket.com There are other photo sharing sites. It's real easy to just click on the link within Photobucket which automatically copies the image link and just paste that into the CC reply. You can select the photo sizes within Photobucket.

 

Hope I've not confused you too much. Let me know!

[dizzywv]

Do you have any sense of what made the difference? I know on the week before we had approximately 1/3 of the passengers from PR....and LOTS and LOTS of family and kids... And as you said, we really noticed no problems at all. Just chance that the second week had more unruly people?

 

My family and I had a wonderful time the previous week with over 600 children aboard and a large percentage of Puerto Ricans aboard. I would go as far as to say it was our best cruise experience. My daughter also made several friends from Puerto Rico. These teenagers were well mannered typical teens.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Linda--we are sailing from SJU in April for a repo of the Grandeur to Baltimore. We hope that since it is a repo we will not have an issue with many children and large groups of pax traveling together. I think that the feeling of "safety in numbers" encourages behavior they might not otherwise exhibit.

[NorbertsNiece]

Linda--we are sailing from SJU in April for a repo of the Grandeur to Baltimore. We hope that since it is a repo we will not have an issue with many children and large groups of pax traveling together. I think that the feeling of "safety in numbers" encourages behavior they might not otherwise exhibit.

 

I'm sure that it will be fine. I can't wait to cruise again, just have to get over the seasonal effect on my bank account to figure out what and when!

[AOSmom]

Hi there,

 

Hope everyone is well.

 

I upload the pics from my camera to my laptop then from there to photobucket.com There are other photo sharing sites. It's real easy to just click on the link within Photobucket which automatically copies the image link and just paste that into the CC reply. You can select the photo sizes within Photobucket.

 

Hope I've not confused you too much. Let me know!

 

No, I think I've got it. Thanks

[mpff]

Does anyone remember what the laundry special was ? Is it a flat $25 for a bag or for a certain weight ?

[NorbertsNiece]

Does anyone remember what the laundry special was ? Is it a flat $25 for a bag or for a certain weight ?

 

It's $25 for the bag as stuffed as you can get it.

 

[mpff]

Thank You

[Betsynh]

Hi Linda--

I leave one week from tomorrow for our delayed honeymoon. Reading your blog (of the St Thomas/Aruba itinerary) has gotten me so excited and even better informed.

 

If I notice the "No Soliciting" sign, I'll snap a pic and post it for you... too funny. Can't wait to get out of the cold!

[NorbertsNiece]

Hi Linda--

I leave one week from tomorrow for our delayed honeymoon. Reading your blog (of the St Thomas/Aruba itinerary) has gotten me so excited and even better informed.

 

If I notice the "No Soliciting" sign, I'll snap a pic and post it for you... too funny. Can't wait to get out of the cold!

 

Lol. The signs are outside the port area so you're more than likely see them on your way into the Pan Am pier. Have a fabulous trip. Wish I were heading to a cruise in the sun.... or anywhere really!!

[Cupcrazy]

Linda, thank you very much for posting this great review with your wonderful pictures!

[NorbertsNiece]

Linda, thank you very much for posting this great review with your wonderful pictures!

 

You're very welcome. I can't believe how many people are still reading this blog after this time. Am seriously chuffed.

 

Wishing you all a very happy new year and calm waters ahead.

[Clansman37]

Great blog thankyou

[Toothfairy41]

Hi everyone, it’s been a while.

 

Off on my travels again. Hopefully I will be able to post an entry daily and, connection permitting, upload pics.

 

Here’s the itinerary for week one (UK date style) :

 

18/11 San Juan, Puerto Rico

19/11 St Croix, USVI

20/11 Phillipsburg, St Maarten

21/11 St John’s, Antigua

22/11 Castries, St Lucia Thanksgiving

23/11 Bridgetown, Barbados

24/11 At sea

25/11 San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

 

And for week two :

 

 

25/11 San Juan, Puerto Rico

26/11 Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas

27/11 Basseterre, St Kitts

28/11 At sea

29/11 Oranjestad, Aruba

30/11 Willemstad, Curacao

1/12 At sea

2/12 San Juan; disembark and fly back to the UK

 

 

A bit about me. I am 61, mother to 3 daughters and Oma to one adorable grandson. I have mild mobility issues following hip revision surgery in 2010; just means I have to pace myself. I am also Gluten Intolerant so have noted that on my booking (through my TA) and also emailed Special Needs as a back up. Not a terrific experience last year on Navigator where meals were concerned so will see how this trip goes. I’ve heard the new menus start this trip and am looking forward to that a lot. May also give the glass of wine package a go. As I am preparing this blog the news has been announced that 2 bottles of wine can be brought on board. I’m more likely to be bringing on some cans of Caffeine Free Diet Coke and / or water.

 

Travelling solo though not alone. Last year I met some people on the roll call and we have become friends for life! They live in the US so we have spent the last year or so chatting on Facebook and planning this adventure on Adventure. None of us have experienced a B2B before but the cost saving in hitting the itineraries in one shot was too good an opportunity to miss. Fare prices have only gone up since I booked. I have the same room for both cruises; an E2 Balcony. I turn Emerald during Cruise 1 and will visit the Loyalty Ambassador to ensure s/he is aware :)

I’ve been to San Juan, St Maarten, St Kitts and Aruba before; every other stop will be new for me. I’ve independent excursions arranged for Antigua (Gordon), St Lucia (aerial tram), Barbados (Calabaza Catamaran) and Curacao (Gigi Scheper). I plan to book the visit to Nevis (St Kitts) on board…. I had been trying to arrange a private tour with Royston but despite lengthy discussions with him he wasn’t able to put it together for me.

 

I’ve removed the repetition of my sig for ease of reading as we go and will turn it back on at the very end. It’s here not just as a sig but just so you can have a look at previous blogs if you have way too much time on your hands!

 

We’ve heard that Drew Devine will be the CD.

 

 

Will be interested to report back on how a B2B is handled and also how they do Muster on a late sailaway. My understanding is that Muster will be after All Aboard around 6pm…… we shall see….

 

Will be happy to answer any questions you have.

I’ve already been asked for an update on the bringing of power strips and is Dede on board (used to be Concierge).

 

 

Navigator of the Seas - Eastern Caribbean - 26th November 2011 Bit of a blog : here Link to pics : here and here

Adventure of the Seas - 5 Nights out of Malaga - 8th November 2010 Bit of a blog : here

Radiance of the Seas - Alaska Cruise Tour - 31st July 2010 Bit of a blog : here Link to Linda's FB pics : here Some of Darran's pics are here

Jewel of the Seas - Panama Canal - 2nd March 2009 Bit of a blog : here Link to pics : here

Independence of the Seas - T

 

Hi there! I am new to cruising and posed a question on Gluten Free options and someone referred me to your post! I hope you had a lovely time on your trip and was wondering if you could comment on how your "eating" went. My husband is gluten intolerant as well! ;)

[windham depot]

Hi Linda, Wow I am so surprised your Blog is still being read, not surprised it's still getting attention and responses it's very good. I hope all is well with you. Have you booked another cruise yet?

 

Rhonda

[NorbertsNiece]

Hi there! I am new to cruising and posed a question on Gluten Free options and someone referred me to your post! I hope you had a lovely time on your trip and was wondering if you could comment on how your "eating" went. My husband is gluten intolerant as well! ;)

 

Hi, :)

 

The cruise was awesome!

 

I ate really well and did not go hungry. The staff really worked hard to meet my needs and any issues that arose were swiftly dealt with. I had different MDR wait staff week 2 but both weeks I was well looked after. The bread at dinner was simply amazing. Really delicious. I was never hungry enough to go to the Prom Cafe to try out the pizza! Breakfast in the MDR was easier than in WindJammer...... the GF pancakes extremely good.

 

The little muffins that eventually appeared at breakfast were yummy and made for useful snacking when out for the day. I experienced no symptoms whatsoever the entire trip! :D

 

Happy to answer any questions you may have.