Liberty's Memorial Day Review (photo heavy) - Including Extra Days in San Juan!!

[jmebgiv]

Following, less than a month to go until our trip on Liberty!!

[trippingpara]

Can you post photos of the menu's? Thank you

 

Sorry BcIcemen, that's one of the few things that I did not get photos of! Sorry! Go Hokies!!

Edited June 15, 2015 by trippingpara

[trippingpara]

Nobody ever talks about Arecibo! I am stalking your review as we leave in 19 days for the same sailing. We plan to go to Arecibo on Sunday before we board. I was beginning to think we were weird for wanting to go there!

 

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Nope, you're not weird. If you are, then so are we! I really tried to make a run out to Arecibo/Camuy work on this trip but just couldn't get it to fit into our agenda. We're looking to do a land vacation here so it's definitely on the agenda then!

[trippingpara]

Really enjoying your review & your sense of humor.

You have some fabulous unique photos!

Keep it coming Mr Trip :D

 

Thank you very much for the kind words and I promise to keep it coming!

[trippingpara]

We had a great time just strolling the streets of OSJ. We stopped around 2 pm at Barrachina’s for lunch and to partake in their famous Piña Colada (they are one of the two places in San Juan that claim to have invented the drink – more on the second place later).

 

Trippette happy to be at the home of the piña colada

 

Lady Trip is certainly enjoying hers!

 

If you get a chance, I would highly recommend stopping in Barrachina’s for their Piña Colada. Normally, I am not a fan of anything coconut related, but let me tell you…that drink was a like getting a kiss from God with a mouth full of rum! Okay, so maybe that was a little too much, but I think you get the picture. Go to Barrachina’s. Order the Piña Colada. Drink it. Smile. End of story!

 

We left Barrachina’s and headed back to the Cervantes to get into our room and change as we needed to meet our ride out to Fajardo for some kayaking in the Bio Bay. When we got to our hotel, the lady at the front desk told us that our room wasn’t ready yet. We expressed to her that we needed a place to change as we had an excursion in about 20 minutes. She immediately called the housekeeping manager who quickly ensured that our room was now ready and we were free to use it. She even escorted us up to our room and showed us around. Yes, she needed to show us around. Our room was actually a multi room suite with 3 balconies that overlooked the street and Old San Juan. Wow!! Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to really check it out so we thanked her, quickly changed our clothes and bolted down the street to the Sheraton to meet our ride to Fajardo.

 

Notice the use of the word “bolted”. Yes, we’re freaks about being timely. Our driver told us that he would be in front of the Sheraton Old San Juan between 4:00 and 4:15. Of course, that might to us “be there at 3:50”. The driver showed up at 4:45! Grrr! However, it turns out that the first passenger that he needed to pick up was staying right next to the convention center. Which unbeknownst to him (or us), happened to be the site of the Puerto Rican ComiCon this weekend and the streets were packed with giant Hello Ms. Kittys, Stormtroopers, zombies and other costumed characters.

 

The ad for the Comicon

 

We used to live in San Diego, the ComiCon capital of the world and we always enjoyed watching the…ah…”characters” stroll around in their costumes. For those of you that don’t know what a ComiCon is, it’s a comic convention which is generally a giant convention for the sci-fi and fantasy genre. I’m really oversimplifying it (and probably upsetting a lot of the “characters” that attend) but for sake of ease and time, let’s go with it.

[Pandot]

Really enjoying your review. Thanks for taking the time to share it - looking forward to the rest.

[trippingpara]

Any ways, Ricardo our driver, finally arrived and we piled into the minibus and headed out toward Fajardo. The drive took about an hour and was very pleasant. Pretty countryside. When we arrived in Fajardo, we pulled into the packed parking lot for Los Croabas, Fajardo (a small bay on the NE tip of Puerto Rico. Our tour guides, Kayaking Puerto Rico has a nice tent set up and our kayaks were already in the water waiting for us. We quickly (and efficiently) checked in and were fitted out with our mandatory life jackets. We were then given a briefing on what we were going to be doing and what we could expect to see and experience.

 

Our kayaks ready and waiting for us.

 

Niko and our guides giving us our briefing

 

I was surprised to see how far away we actually were from the bio bay itself (Laguna Grande). They had a large map set up to show us where we were going to be paddling. It looked very far. Turns out it was a very easy trip and was not tiring in the least. Now we own a pair of kayaks and go regularly so it was easy for us, but I didn’t notice anyone else complaining or struggling at all. At least in terms of being tired. Now there were some people that were struggling to control where their kayak was going or how to stop their kayak quickly which caused the couple behind us to do their best rendition of bumper kayaks with us.

 

After crossing the bay, we then entered a narrow river that ran through a mangrove forest. Since we did the early tour (6:30 pm), it was still daylight when we entered the winding river. If you take the later tour (8:00 pm), it will be pitch black when you enter the forest. The benefit to going early is twofold: (1) you get see the really cool mangrove trees and all of the wildlife that is in there, and (2) you get to see where you are going! This is really helpful since the river is very curvy and there are a lot of low hanging branches and roots sticking out from the shore. If you enter it for the first time at night all I can say is: “have fun and duck! A lot!!!”

 

Heading across the bay

 

Entering the mangroves in daylight

 

Light is starting to wane as we enter Laguna Grande

 

It took us about 20 minutes to navigate our way through the mangrove forest and into the Laguna Grande, otherwise referred to here as “Bio Bay.” Since it was still dusk and not quite dark enough, the guides told us to feel free to cruise around on our own and they’ll call us back in to a group when it gets dark enough (look for the lights on the kayaks. Each tour group has their own colored lights. Kayaking Puerto Rico has amber colored lights so it was easy to see which kayaks you were supposed to be with). After about another 20 minutes, the guides had us huddle together. They tied us up and gave us another presentation. This one was more on the science behind the Bio Bay. They then had us start waving our hands in the water and we could now see the little critters start glowing. So cool. After the presentation, they untied us and allowed us to cruise around some more. As we played around in our kayaks, it was slowly getting darker and darker which meant the dinoflagellates glowed even brighter.

 

The guides then called us together again to begin our trek back into the mangrove forest. It was now pitch black and you could not see 2 feet in front of you. Since these are tandem kayaks, Lady Trip was in front, so I told her not to paddle and I would allow the current to push us down river and I would steer as needed. It was super easy. The current slowly pushed us along and I intently watched the lights in front of us which helped to keep us in the middle of the river. Since we had already been through it in the light, we all had an idea of how the river flowed. The really cool thing was with all of the trees overhanging the river, it was absolutely black as black so the water glowed super bright throughout the river.

 

We soon found ourselves back in the bay where the dinoflagellates no longer glowed. With them no longer captivating our attention, everyone quickly paddled back to shore and hopped off our kayaks. What a trip! If you are able to spend a night in Puerto Rico, I cannot recommend this excursion enough!! It was absolutely stunning. Unfortunately none of our water cameras were able to pick up the glow (a dSLR will if you jack up the ISO but since I was in a kayak, there was no way I was taking that camera in with me!).

 

Kayaking Puerto Rico was great to work with. They were very professional yet funny and entertaining at the same time. Their costs were very reasonable and we were able to secure transportation through them (via a 3rd party transportation company). They offer several other tour options for other excursions but we only used them for this so I can't comment as to their other options. However for the Bio Bay excursion, we really enjoyed them and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

[trippingpara]

The ride back to San Juan was uneventful and quiet. Ricardo dropped everyone off at their respective hotels. We were now able to actually inspect our new home in Old San Juan. As I mentioned earlier, we were staying pre-cruise at Chateau Cervantes which is located on Calle Recinto Sur which is pretty much directly behind the Sheraton Old San Juan. This little hotel has quickly become my favorite in Old San Juan. We still really like Casa Blanca (which is just a couple blocks away) but we got a better deal on a much better room (plus Casa Blanca was already filled up). The service we received at Cervantes was outstanding. I hear that they have a fabulous breakfast but we never partook in it so I really can't comment on whether or not that is true. Even though this hotel is located in one of the original structures of Old San Juan, it actually has an elevator (most of the small hotels in OSJ do not). They will also hold your luggage for you before and after your cruise as well. We will definitely be staying here again.

 

Looking into the bedroom

 

The living room with the sofa bed made up

 

The balcony at night

 

Two of our three balconies (I was standing on the third one). Each room had one, the living room, parlor and bedroom

 

I didn't get a good photo of the outside so here is a stock photo from their website. Our room was the whole second floor front.

 

Coming up, boarding Liberty, Bacardi's tour and Diamonds Steakhouse

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[bda73]

Did you happen to notice if the kayak had a weight limit?

 

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[Oldgoat61]

Thanks for a great review so far....I really enjoy your pics, and you have a great sense of humor.

 

You are giving me some good ideas when we get to San Juan!:)

[bda73]

Uggh found the answer to the weight question

 

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[Dirkgun]

Uggh found the answer to the weight question

 

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Not to hijack but..... We did this tour and I am a big fluffy guy.... there was no mention of weight limit there.

 

To Trippingpara (OP) Great review. Love the pics and descriptions you give, well done. I agree on this being the best itinerary in the cruise industry (3 times for us) Can't wait for more and definitely subscribing. Thanks for taking the time to write the review and to put it together. I know it is a time consuming process.

[trippingpara]

Did you happen to notice if the kayak had a weight limit?

 

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I believe it was a maximum of 485 lbs per kayak. You want to make sure that the heavier person is in the rear of the kayak.

[trippingpara]

Thanks for a great review so far....I really enjoy your pics, and you have a great sense of humor.

 

You are giving me some good ideas when we get to San Juan!:)

 

Glad I could help! Thank you so much for the kind words.

[Bakers1720]

Subscribed. Booked for February

[bda73]

unfortunately for me...I am too big for the kayak...do they have any other tours ..I would hate for my wife and son to miss this unbelievable sight because of me

[trippingpara]

unfortunately for me...I am too big for the kayak...do they have any other tours ..I would hate for my wife and son to miss this unbelievable sight because of me

 

Don't worry, you're not out of luck. There are two companies that do the same tour but on an electric boat instead of a kayak. I contemplated doing these just so I could bring my dSLR camera (told you I'm a camera geek!). I have heard really good things about both companies. I believe Dirkgun used one of them on his last trip on this itinerary and could probably speak better about it. Search for Dirkgun and look up his last review for this itinerary for it (plus he has really good reviews too!).

[bda73]

you da man, thank you for taking the time to respond to me as I cant seem to figure out how to use private messages on this board

[trippingpara]

you da man, thank you for taking the time to respond to me as I cant seem to figure out how to use private messages on this board

 

You're very welcome! I hear that the moderators have disbanded or did not set up private messages on this forum so you can't send one. Don't worry I went insane for a couple weeks trying to figure out how to send a PM myself until I realized that I was already insane and it wasn't from my inability to send a PM so I just gave up.

[RiotAct]

yep no PM's on this board, not sure why (maybe server space issues?)

 

Anyway, awesome review, keep it coming! And congrats on your daughter's graduation!

[trippingpara]

I've been looking forward to your Liberty review since I really enjoyed your Victory review. We've done most of the major itineraries Carnival offers and also a Mexican Riviera on RCI a while back, but this is definitely our favorite itinerary and we'll eventually be doing it again, that's just a matter of "when". I am really enjoying what you have so far and we have similar pictures from the plane flying into San Juan. Your pictures are beautiful! I'm really looking forward to following along and am really excited to see about Culebra. A week in Puerto Rico is also something I'd love to do. Thank you for taking the time to do another review and again, I'm looking forward to more.

 

Thank you so much for the kind words, especially coming from one of my review idols! I can't wait to talk about Culebra. It was such a beautiful island and we had so much fun there! I have to keep telling myself "patience little padiwan, patience! There is still a lot more review to go before we get to Culebra."

[Shih-tzu]

Going on this ship/itinerary in February - can't wait to see more.

[smitty89]

Subscribing, we are taking the cruise in January, and I can hardly wait!!

Edited June 15, 2015 by smitty89

[trippingpara]

To Trippingpara (OP) Great review. Love the pics and descriptions you give, well done. I agree on this being the best itinerary in the cruise industry (3 times for us) Can't wait for more and definitely subscribing. Thanks for taking the time to write the review and to put it together. I know it is a time consuming process.

 

Another one of my review idols! Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate it.

[Jenny in TX]

Looking forward to reading the rest of your review! This cruise out of San Juan is on the top of our list to take next. We were in San Juan for the first time in April on the Glory and fell in love. We want to cruise out of San Juan and come in a few days early so we can see even more of it.