Adventure of the Seas- 2/06-just returned any ??'s ask away

[firstcruiser06]

Hi,

We just returned from our first cruise, which was on RCI, Adventure of the Seas, (2/12/06). We embarked in San Juan and visited Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Thomas.

It was great, would do it again next week.

 

 

Any questions, ask away, I will try to answer as fast and best as I can. Because I know I had quite a few when we went.

I posted review on this website but it is not there, yet:confused: .

 

M:cool:

[Carolrd]

Didn't you just love Aruba!!!

 

Carol

[firstcruiser06]

We liked Aruba where we went 4 wheeling, shopping and the sunset cruise. I liked how we were right there in town and didnt have to take a taxi, water taxi, bus or walk 1.5 miles to town. It was great.

 

M.

[Nick Needs To Know]

My questions are all food related. How are the meals in the main dining room? Did you go to Portofino or Chops, if so, how was it? How was the Windjammer? Any theme days like Italian day or Mexican day there? Lastly, is there a SeaView cafe on AOS? If so, where is located and what is the menu.

 

Even you can only answer a few of my questions, the answers will be appreciated.

 

Nick

[firstcruiser06]

Hi Nick,

We did not go to Portofino's which was an additional $20.00pp. The first formal nite Portofino's had a murder/mystery dinner which 6 people in our group went to and said it was great. I thought the food in the main dining room was very good, I would order a few of each things, so that I could try alittle of everything, the waiter said he is suppose to wait till you finish one thing b4 he brings another, but he didnt always wait. If you go to the main dining room for breakfast, the chefs (like in the windjammer) will prepare what every kind of eggs you would like. At lunch in the dining room they offered a chef doing whatever pasta you would like. The food was not "themed", italian or mexican. But my suggestion is to order a few appetizers, entrees and desserts so you can try everything. The waiter would tell us what he suggested for the night for eating. He was great and his name was John Lobo. We ate at the windjammer sometimes for breakfast and lunch and for getting food to bring down to our room. THe food was good but I kind of felt like I was eating at Ponderosa and people would mingle at the tables and there would not be a place to sit and eat. No Seaview cafe, but they had the Cafe Promerade which I think is on deck 4 or 5, open 24hrs. served pizza, cookies, sandwiches, danishes, coffee, drinks and other quick items. We use to get room service in the morning coffee, milk and OJ while we were dressing for the day, only had to tip a few dollars and did not pay anything extra. On the mornings we had to get off the ship right away we would get a full breakfast from room service instead of one of the dining places. All and all I thought the food was good and the service great. If you are going on the AOS check out the bathrooms near the windjammer, you have a "view" while in there (no kidding)..

 

M. :cool:

[AngieC]

Hi First Cruiser! I leave 3/12 for AOS. I am getting very excited! We have been on 3 cruises with Carnival in the past. This is our first time with Royal Caribbean.

So what good things did you do in each port of call?

did you get your own private transportation from San Juan Airport to the Peir? If so, how did that go?

Also, what time did they allow you to board the ship? What was the hightlight of the cruise? Any other fun information would be nice.. thanks.

[cheezwhiz]

Do you know if they had to pay additional to the 20.00 for the murder mystery that really sounds fun.

[firstcruiser06]

Hi AngieC,

We went extra day early to P.R. because we come from the northeast, didnt want to miss the cruise, as it was our flight was cancelled for our trip home and had to stay in San Juan for two extra days because of a snow storm. When you get your bags at the airport and go outside you will see a line of people (it goes fast) and they are waiting for taxis, the person will ask you how many in party, how much luggage and where to, and gets you a taxi and gives the slip to the driver, so you know while in the taxi how much it costs.

 

Well lets see good things in each port, Aruba was great because you are a stone throw from town (right there), we drove ATV's to the natural pool (which we swam in) cool, the old gold mine and the ex- natural bridge, it was just beautiful, the place picked up our group right on the pier and bought us right back to the pier about 4 1/2 hours or so. It was the highlight of the cruise I think. We shopped in town- beware shops close at 6:00PM, then when on ship sponsored sunset cruise from 5-7, from right there next to the ship, that was great to. And they did not water down the unlimited rum punch like I had read somewhere online.

 

Curacao, we had to walk about 3/4 or mile or so to the little town to take the water taxi over to the center of town because the floating bridge is gone till the fall for repairs. We hung out in town pretty much all day then had to walk back to the ship. If you want to buy "curacao liquor" there will be a vendor right before you get back on the ship and he has different flavors than they sell in town and as cheap as $7.00 a bottle. I was told trolley ride not worth it.

St. Maarten I have to say was probably the most beautiful, we took a tour of the french side of the island (ship sponsored) and dropped off in town, we shopped and there is a beach right there next to town, it was not the greatest but we cooled off in the water and sat under the umbrella and drink our bucket of beers while watching the harbor in the distance. We took a free water taxi back to ship.

St. Thomas, both my husband and I were not impressed with, very far to town 1.5 miles or so, only way is by taxi $4.00 pp one way. Everything around the new pier is under construction. We also took tour of island then to town and back to ship.

As you can tell I had a long list of stuff to buy for people (not next time)and we like the water, but do not like to just sit on a beach, we have the ocean here at home.

WE WERE ON THE SHIP ON SUNDAY BY 12:30PM, yes about 12:30, your room is not ready till about 2:00 but who cares, you are on the ship, we breezed through check in no lines, no wait. GREAT...........

Another highlight for us was the balcony cabin, we got up and watched the ship pull into every port each time, it was really sometime to watch and when the ship left a port that was also balcony and upper deck time. very cool, as you can see I can go on and on. I think I answered everything if not let me know.

Thanks,

M:cool:

 

P.S. see the ice show, dont do shelby the shopper, get room service for coffee in the AM, royal carribean dancers were good, get up and check out the sunrise............

[TryingCruising]

I too am going on AOS 3/12.

 

What cabin did you have?

 

Any recommendations of what not to miss?

 

This will be my first cruise and I am getting so excited! Tell me anything! :)

[firstcruiser06]

I believe the murder/mystery was $49.95 Per person that night, not the usual $20 pp.

:eek:

 

M.

[TryingCruising]

You answered my questions in the post you must have submitted right before mine. Thanks for sharing :D

[cheezwhiz]

Thanks for answering the questions.....

 

What night would you recommend eating at Chops

Did they have a Jade on the ship it is in the Windjammer

 

Thanks

 

Looking forward to your review...still not up yet maybe tonight.

[cheezwhiz]

One other question: Do you know if they had luggage handling to go to the airport when you come back. I know American does...but they were suppose to have all airlines starting in Jan.

[biledo]

Any more hints would be great. We leave on the 3/26 saililng of the AoS, same itin.... and VERY ready to go!

[mccasey]

I went on AOS this past August/September for our honeymoon. It was amazing!!

 

We also had a balcony room and ordered in breakfast sometimes (my husband got it everyday but I sometimes slept later and ate at the Windjammer where he would nibble again). We loved to watch the ship leave port every evening too. We often order room service for lunch or a late afternoon snack if we had missed lunch. That was so great! Great food, good selection!

 

I personally think that the best night to eat at Portofino's is the very first night on board. We ate there and the food was so amazing!

 

A must see is definitely the Quest! So fun!

 

We saw quite a few of the shows (Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers) and they were all pretty good. The comedians were very good. Our newlywed game was awesome!

 

I did a different itinerary than the original poster. I did St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados and one sea day. I think Barbados was the highlight of our trip - we did a snorkeling excursion (sea turtles) through the ship and it was really great!

 

There were theme nights for dinner in the dining room. They weren't official themes really, in the sense that they didn't advertise it or anything, but our waiter would tell us. for example, one night everything was Italian style (but there are always the main stays that you can order every night like a New York strip steak and stuff.)

 

Anyway, I would also be happy to answer any question you may have. I am also fairly familiar with San Juan since my grandmother lives there in the winters and so I can answer quite a few questions on San Juan and the airport and stuff as well.

[Nick Needs To Know]

McCasey - I have a question. We currently have the Hilton Caribe booked for a pre cruise stay. Is this a good location? In your opinion, is this one of the better hotels in the area? I know it doesn't have a casino but, everyone gives it high ratings. I'd like a more "local" opinion. Thanks.

 

Nick

[GMoney]

McCasey - I have a question. We currently have the Hilton Caribe booked for a pre cruise stay. Is this a good location? In your opinion, is this one of the better hotels in the area? I know it doesn't have a casino but, everyone gives it high ratings. I'd like a more "local" opinion. Thanks.

 

Nick

 

Nick - You could also check TripAdvisor.com for more opinions.

[MGoBlue2]

Thanks for answering the questions.....

 

What night would you recommend eating at Chops

Did they have a Jade on the ship it is in the Windjammer

 

Thanks

 

Looking forward to your review...still not up yet maybe tonight.

There is no Chops on AOS. I would recommend Tuesday for Portofino unless you're doing the Murder Mystery.

[cruisin' molly]

ATTENTION FIRSTCRUISER06

My husband and I are "ambassadors" for Adventure of the Seas -- we have been on the ship 6 times and #7 is booked. We not only know the waiter you had, John Lobo, but we are Godparents to his daughter. We know many on the ship and stay in touch with them by phone and e-mail. We love the ship and the crew and am very glad to hear you had the best cruise for your first one. When Johnny calls this week, I will tell him about your post of him and I am sure he will be happy to hear it!

[cruisin' molly]

ATTENTION FIRSTCRUISER06

My husband and I are "ambassadors" for Adventure of the Seas -- we have been on the ship 6 times and #7 is booked. We not only know the waiter you had, John Lobo, but we are Godparents to his daughter. We know many on the ship and stay in touch with them by phone and e-mail. We love the ship and the crew and am very glad to hear you had the best cruise for your first one. When Johnny calls this week, I will tell him about your post of him and I am sure he will be happy to hear it!

 

Cruisin' Molly from MA

[ramoss_jorge]

Hi firstcruiser

 

I leave on 3/19. I have a balcony too do you know if the tvs of balcony have the in and out to connect a dvd? also I hear that you can order whatever is on the dinning menu but by room service does this is correct?

 

Tanks in advance for your answers.

 

 

Caribbean Travel Photos & Pictures

[firstcruiser06]

Cheezwhiz

Good morning, the temp here is about 20 degrees, my sisters are cruising out of Old San Juan this afternoon. I keep remembering the temperature of all those islands. I WISH I WAS THERE NOW.

Sorry,

Anyway, I am not sure about the baggage deal with anyone other an American Airlines. There were 10 of us that flew AA. Other people in our group flew Spirit and United and I dont think they were offered the deal. But you could probably call RCI toll free number and ask them.

 

M

[firstcruiser06]

Good Morning biledo,

What else would you be interested in knowing? alcohol, cigarettes, liquor prices, photo gallery, shopping....

 

Let me know

 

M

[firstcruiser06]

Good Morning biledo,

What else would you be interested in knowing? alcohol, cigarettes, liquor prices, photo gallery, shopping....

 

Let me know

 

M

[firstcruiser06]

Trying cruising

Our balcony cabin was in the middle of the ship on deck 7, I think it was E1, we were right across the hall from the service stairs and elevators, but we never heard anything from it, it least it was not loud neighbors. I think you are going to love cruising, we went for our 25th wedding anniversary and picked that cruise, because of all the ports and two sea days spread out, this cruise critic board helped out alot and that is why I wanted to give back and answer the questions that no one could answer for us before we went. There are 2 formal nights, the 2 sea days, people did dress up for them (if you have heard different). There were no "themed" dinners but suggested apparel for one night was 50's,60's and another was caribbean, but they didnt really push it. The waiter sing and dance for you, the 2 mid nite buffets were good, although we only took pictures and did not eat, we were to full from dinner (second seating) so we just looked.

Ask away with the questions.

M