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Back To Abyss-ness! Live from Harmony - December 2, 2017

CruiseLifeRick
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A&L_Ont "Live from...." Rare

A&L_Ont

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Sorry all. I gave up on live. Too much partying.

 

LOL. Just like the gingerbread village, the train went off the track. The photos and reports from dry land should be amazing. Now, we just have to see how much you remember espically if you didn’t take photos. :confused::')

 

Safe travels home my friend.

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CruiseLifeRick

CruiseLifeRick

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Thought I saw you Rick in Chase's recent Snap story. Were you guys on the same cruise?

 

 

 

He was on Oasis and I was on Harmony...don’t ask. Anyways, I had to be in Orlando for a work thing so we met up yesterday so I could see them and the kiddos. Not to worry, the next cruise we will all be together.

 

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Edited by CruiseLifeRick
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CruiseLifeRick

CruiseLifeRick

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Okay, I’m trying to be much more live today.

 

 

Ha! Well I have always been told I'm a jinx. So no surprise that the quote above is where this went off the rails.

 

Rewind!

 

Six days ago I was in San Juan, which many of you know is very a short stop for the Harmony, with an arrival of 7:00 AM and an all aboard at 2:30 PM. However, this was also the morning that I was invited to the bridge tour, which didn't begin until 9:30 AM. So I lost nearly three hours of port time. That said, I refrained from signing up for the Cave Window (Cueva Ventana) shore excursion, which was the only offering that really interested me. The tour is pretty much the entire day, as it requires driving an hour out to a cliff, which overlooks the Rio Grande de Arecibo Valley.

 

My next cruise will be on the Adventure of the Seas and I will be doing a two day pre-cruise stay in San Juan, so I wasn't too upset to miss this.

 

Now I know I did the Bridge tour twice in September, but for some reason its just one of those things that I can never turn down.

 

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After the tour, I went for a quick run at the gym, showered and I was off the ship by 11 AM, which didn’t give me much time. Walking off the ship, my shower was quickly cancelled out as it was hotter than Hades. If you have never cruised to San Juan, you dock right In the heart of Old Town so exploring on foot is very easy. My first destination was Castillo San Cristobal, which always provides for excellent photo opportunities.

 

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CruiseLifeRick

CruiseLifeRick

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From Cristobal, I walked along the north shore and really got to see what great shape Old San Juan was in. I will also say that all the locals I encountered were smiling and very upbeat despite so much destruction and lack of power in many of the areas outside of Old Town.

 

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My second stop was San Felipe Del Morro Fortress, which is the fort that you pass when entering and exiting the harbor. Notice the lighthouse.

 

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From there I took a walk along the Paseo Del Morro, which is one of my favorite things to do in Old Town. It’s just so peaceful and the views are the best. I entered through the San Juan Gates.

 

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The Paseo Del Morro will end right at the Raices Fountain, which never fails to impress me, especially when the sun hits it just right.

 

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After that, I made a pit stop into CVS to pick up some protein bars, browsed some of the local vendors and made my way back to the ship.

Edited by CruiseLifeRick
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CruiseLifeRick

CruiseLifeRick

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I didn’t really have a chance to stop into any of the restaurants or bars given the time constraints I faced with getting off the ship so late, but my fiends were able to enjoy some pina coladas and some local fare, all of which they said was was excellent.

 

So no food in my belly and no alcohol at 2 PM. This is where things went south quickly. Remember this picture.

 

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I spent the rest of the afternoon at the Suite Sun Deck Bar getting tanked. However, I did manage to catch a good shot from our sail out as well as the sunset.

 

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BEENSAILING

BEENSAILING

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Rick -we also love bridge tours. I never get tired of them. We are on the Adventure out of Puerto Rico - end of April ABC islands. I was told ship would be using the new pier - not in Old Town - as Puerto Rico is start and end of cruise and not a port stop. The Caribe Hilton (Hotel and Villas) where we have stayed before has been housing workers trying to rebuild the island. The hotel was supposed to reopen for guests in early April 2018.Got email today our reservation for end of April before cruise starts and May when cruise ends have been cancelled. I called fhe hotel direct and was told they are now looking at 2019 before they will be able to reopen. We have Marriott and Renaissance Condado as back up. Looks like thats where we will be. One pre cruise and the other post cruise.

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CruiseLifeRick

CruiseLifeRick

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Rick -we also love bridge tours. I never get tired of them. We are on the Adventure out of Puerto Rico - end of April ABC islands. I was told ship would be using the new pier - not in Old Town - as Puerto Rico is start and end of cruise and not a port stop. The Caribe Hilton (Hotel and Villas) where we have stayed before has been housing workers trying to rebuild the island. The hotel was supposed to reopen for guests in early April 2018.Got email today our reservation for end of April before cruise starts and May when cruise ends have been cancelled. I called fhe hotel direct and was told they are now looking at 2019 before they will be able to reopen. We have Marriott and Renaissance Condado as back up. Looks like thats where we will be. One pre cruise and the other post cruise.

 

 

For now, I’m booked at the Sheraton in Old Town. I know the Adventure docks on the other side of the harbor, but I rather be in the heart of the restaurants and bars.

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BEENSAILING

BEENSAILING

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For now, I’m booked at the Sheraton in Old Town. I know the Adventure docks on the other side of the harbor, but I rather be in the heart of the restaurants and bars.

 

When is your Adventure cruise? I am sure the bars will want to restock.... hahaha.....

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