"Live from Adventure of the Seas"

[BuyReallyLow]

Hello Cruise Critic!

 

My DW and I will be flying out from Wisconsin to San Juan this morning to begin our week-long trip on Adventure of the Seas! We plan on posting live from the ship to provide you with our impressions/opinions and to answer your questions.

 

Adventure has been receiving her share of poorly reviewed posts over the past few months - so we will be looking around with a critical eye to give provide you with the most accurate review of current situations on-board. But remember that much is left to our opinion - so we'll do the very best we can!:p

 

To set the stage - we are a happily married couple in our early 40's. (17 years of happiness!). We are joining some very good friends of ours on this trip with the purpose of helping our cruise partners celebrate her 40th birthday! This will be our fourth cruise - Explorer, Serenade, Radiance being the first three - and will be setting sail on Freedom in a bit over 60 days. We will be staying in cabin #1314 - an Owners Stuite on Deck 10, eating at 2nd seating, and hopefully boarding tomorrow (Sunday) at around noon.

 

But first things first - we will be heading to the Madison, WI airport to catch a 6 AM flight to Chicago, and then onwards to San Juan, PR. If you have been watching the weather, you know then that the Chicago area was punched with a pretty serious storm for the past two days - over 16" of snow in the Chicago area. So we are hoping the flight goes off without a hitch today! I checked the American Airline website this morning, and thus far the flight is still leaving on-time so we have high hopes. We'll let you all know later today if all goes well. Tonight we will be staying at the Courtyard by Marriott San Juan Miramar, so we will post with our opinions on this hotel later tonight.

 

Feel free to ask away with any questions you might have as we go. I also encourage other shipmates, either from our meet and mingle thread or others to add their .02 as we go along. Johnbob7 and FrugalOne, I have your questions and will fire an answer as soon as I am able.

So hopefully the flights leave on-time, the flying is smooth, and we'll be able to leave this forsaken 10 degree land to a land of 70s/80s and friendly hospitality - San Juan here we come!

 

BRL:)

[Jamrenjer]

You will love it! Don't believe all the negative comments! We will pray the weather will cooperate with you-- and you get to San Juan in time to enjoy it as well! Have a great time!

[dave&micki]

Will be looking forward to your comments as we will be on that cruise JAN. 14--07'-- have a great time!!!!!

[lauren0309]

Can't wait for your review as I will be sailing on January 7, 2007.

[divaofdisney]

Likewise for me, I am very interested in this cruise as we just booked this for next June. Can you see if they have the new bedding in the rooms, I am just curious. I look forward to hearing and reading your live posts...thanks so much. ;)

[johnbob7]

Safe travels and bon voyage!

 

bobj

[MrsKnuts2]

Bon Voyage!

[EggDropErin]

I loved that ship! Have a great time! :)

[golfer1966]

We will be and reading your reviews as we are on her when you get back. We leave Dec 10. I hope you have fun...!!

 

Keith

[sicsinohio]

We have booked this cruise for March 2008, so we will be reading your posts with great interest. Have an absolutely wonderful time!

[CruiserTK]

As I will be on AOS March 11, 2007, I look forward to reading your reviews, and, hopefully, seeing any pictures you may post. I am particularly interested in the evening entertainment line-up as well as any excursions you may take, and if you should recommend them.

 

Bon voyage!

[ED MARY ANN]

Hope your flight get off on time have a wonderful cruise.

[drarill]

BRL:

Two of my favorite restaurants are located at the Miramar Marriott; "Augustos" and "Bistro de Paris", both pricey but worth every cent. Hope you enjoy the AOS, we will be on the New Years Eve sailing, and I'm just counting the days.

Have a great time!!

[BuyReallyLow]

Temperature- 84 degrees - Mostly Sunny

 

The flight from Madison to Chicago went off without a hitch. Quite a bit of snow on the Ground in Chicago, but they have had a chance to clear it off. Grabbed some breakfast at the Airport and caught our flight from Chicago to San Juan. The flight again went off without a hitch, taking off at approximately 9:45AM Central and getting into San Juan, Pr just before 4 PM local time (you lose two hours) - just a little over 4 hours.

 

We are staying tonight at the Marriott Miramar - a courtyard Mariott. The Cab ride from the airport took approximately :20 minutes - and was a set "Zone 2" ride which was $15.00. A $0.50 per piece of luggage was added, making the total cab fare $16.50.

 

The Marriott Miramar is not on the water - It is about 2 blocks from the Miramar Lagoon, which then has about 4 blocks to the water. Water can be seen (depending upon which way the room faces, but you are not on the water.

 

I would describe the hotel as "clean". It is not fancy, but in keeping with the Marriott chains commitment to clean, comfortable rooms. It is a bit small (compared to regular Marriott rooms), but we are very satisfied. Our quoted rate was a bit over $150.00 per night. I will try to attach photos from out the window of our room and a corner-to-corner shot so you can see the approximate size. It is an 12 story hotel - it has only 1 elevator (which can be a bit slow), but that is just preparing us for the Cruise ship elevators, right?

 

Tonight we are going to hunt out a nice upscale hotel to eat at (which we of course will comment on!) drarill - thanks for your suggestion of Augustos - we just might try it!:)

 

Divaofdisney - got your question and will let you know on the bedding once on board tomorrow.

 

Cruiser TK - We've got a couple of requests to comment on the evening entertainment - so we'll certainly comply!

 

Off to find dinner - and to take in some of the nice scenery! Until later tonight....

 

BRL

 

P.S. - tried to upload the pictures, but it says they need to be "resized". Any of you know how to do that easily?

[Tex_Jen]

BRL,

Enjoy your cruise! I was on Adventure last April and have scheduled the Aruba itinerary for Feb'07. Obviously, I found the ship to be quite nice or I wouldn't be going again. Looking forward to your updates and glad you were able to warm up.

 

Jen

[BuyReallyLow]

Boy drarill, you were right on when you suggested Augusto's!......

 

A bit more on the hotel and the area its found:

 

It appears that the Hotel is found in a relatively upscale part of San Juan - no shortage of nice cars driving around here! After making our last post, we left the room at about 6 PM and went over for pre-dinner drinks at a restaurant called Delirio - it is about 1 1/2 blocks from the hotel. We did not look at the menu, but the atmosphere and drinks beforehand were top notch! Have a drink/appetizer or two on the outside balcony.) We stayed there until around 6:50 local time, where we went back to the hotel to eat at Augusto's Cusine. This is one of two restaurants at the Marriott Miramar (the other being the Bistro De Paris - where we are having brunch tomorrow AM). My DW and I have eaten at some of the better restaurants in the United States, and have sampled a few of the better restaurants in the world. I would put Augusto's on a high pedestal when compared to these other restaurants - It is pretty special! :) My wife could not stop saying "ummmm" - and she does not do that often!

 

It is not a low priced establishment - for the two of us including drinks it cleared $250 before tip - but if you are looking for an experience to match your romantic side or making it a meal to celebrate a special event - I would HIGHLY suggest you give it a try. Try the Lobster Medallions with a delicate cheese sauce over rice!!!!

 

It is 11 PM here in San Juan - time to get to bed in order get up tomoorw to grab some breakfast and board the Adventure of the Seas!! Our next post hopefully (given that the on-board internet is working) will be from the Adventure of the Seas, where we will give you an update on Embarkation, the crew, and the drink of the day! We will also start to get the answers to your questions on Adventure of the Seas.

 

Be well and Good Night!

 

BRL

[PhoenixCruiser]

Thanks for the update, so glad you made it to San Juan :D :D Hope you have a fantastic cruise!

 

###

[teacherkim]

I am so jealous of you right now! Sunny and 84 ARGGHHHH!! I started another thread about being stuck in the crappy weather with no cruise, we did not get as much snow as Chicago here in St. Lou but got lots of ice and then some snow (even harder to get around in) We were on the AOS last June and LOVED it, I wish you an awesome, warm, and snow free vacation!!

[CruiserTK]

P.S. - tried to upload the pictures, but it says they need to be "resized". Any of you know how to do that easily?

 

Not to give you anything extra to do while on your cruise, but perhaps you could ask in a new thread if someone would advise you on how to do this. I don't know if you have followed any of Radio's posts, but he does post images.

 

Enjoy the cruise! I look forward to your live posts.

[cme4ltc]

Hi, like you , we are scheduled for a 1-28-07 departure. We too have booked an OS. Can't wait to hear about "my room". By your previous posts, I feel that you will give us an honest opinion of your experience. Enjoy~!

[DanishBeauty]

Dear Buyreallylow.

i could have sworn the courtyard marriott looked right down on the beach, and hotel was right on the beach. Is that not true?

Also, how was the pool at this hotel?

My DH and I will be on the AOS on feb.4 '07. really looking forward to your review. We spent what we think is a lot of money for this cruise!

I am so afraid we will be disappointed, what with all negative comments recently about this ship. Now i wish we had waited and booked after the bedding is replaced and ship refurbished, but the airfare was much higher.

 

Thanks much,

Venda

[drarill]

BRL:

Good Morning. We really love "Augusto's", I'm glad that you did too. As you said Miramar is an old upscale area, most buildings are really old, we love the apartment building in the area of the Marriott, take a minute to enjoy the metal sculptures in the front of the building. You are just minutes away from the port and also really close to the new Convention Center that is also amazing.

Hope you have a great time on the AOS, we had an OS two years ago and had a great time. We didn't like the concierge, but a friend of mine told me that the new one is really good.

Have a great trip!!

Lydia

[bplazo]

We are also on the same cruise as op.

 

We flew in from Cincinnati and also arrived at 4:00 pm yesterday. We had no problems at the airport. We went to baggage claim and was able to get our luggage right away and there was also no wait for the taxi.

 

We are staying at the Hampton Inn. We are impressed with this hotel. It has a separate living room, refrigerator, mircrowave, couple sinks, and two tvs (which is great since my husband likes football). We had dinner at an outside restraunt and just had burgers.

 

We were on the Serenade on our last cruise and just loved the ship and the itenierary. Hopefully, the Adventure will be just as nice.

 

Well, we are off to walk on the beach before we leave for the ship. Buy Real Low see you on the ship!

[BuyReallyLow]

Dear Buyreallylow.

i could have sworn the courtyard marriott looked right down on the beach, and hotel was right on the beach. Is that not true?

Also, how was the pool at this hotel?

My DH and I will be on the AOS on feb.4 '07. really looking forward to your review. We spent what we think is a lot of money for this cruise!

I am so afraid we will be disappointed, what with all negative comments recently about this ship. Now i wish we had waited and booked after the bedding is replaced and ship refurbished, but the airfare was much higher.

 

Thanks much,

Venda

 

No - I think you are thinking of the Marriott Stellaris - it has a casino and sits right on the beach. It also has a fantastic pool area. We have stayed there before and it was very nice. The Stellaris is a resort hotel - Miramar more of a city hotel. I don't mean that in any sort of a negative way to the Miramar - it is a nice hotel in a more urban center - we really like it for a place to stay if you arrive late afternoon/early evening before getting on the ship the next day. You can see the Ocean from higher floors - but it reminds me more of hotels in Manhattan then a resort. The pool is small and more of a sit around and relax pool vs. a swim around in pool. And it is not something that you would picture kids frolicing around in. Again, more like a nice hotel in New York City vs. a resort.Drarill is right on how close it is to the port also - 5 minutes away or about $10 by cab.

 

Took a walk this morning thru the neighborhood - there are some very nice condos and homes in the area - but think City homes instead of estates.

 

So to close my post - I would happily choose this hotel if you come in late afternoon/early evening the day before boarding. Especially if you enjoy a sophisticated environment instead of a resort environment. It is very nice (and the restaurant is unbelievable!) But if you were coming in more than one day early, or wanted to be on the Ocean (Balcony, etc) and enjoy the beach/pool area, I might suggest something like the Marriott Stellaris or other choices.

 

Total cost for the Hotel - Base rate of $159 - plus $10 City/Occupancy Tax, $14.31 Government Tax, and a $14.31 Hotel Service Charge = $197.62

 

Next post - On-board the Adventure of the Seas!!

[dave&micki]

You two are awsume-- I feel like we are there with you every step of the way --Thanks for the pre-cruise info as we will be in San Juan two nights pre-cruise on JAN.12 (JAN. 14th cruise)-- Check out the RFS onboard for us and tell if we will like our room --Have a GREAT time and look forward to up-dates as you go --HAPPY CRUISING to ALL !!!!!!!!