For all those who have booked or are going to book the AOS - read this!

[olemissreb]

This caught my eye because I have been wondering if we made a mistake by booking AOS. Not much to do in Aruba or Curaco. I have asked for suggestions that go unanswered.

 

 

In Aruba, we did the TomCar tour. It was so much fun. Think dune buggy that doesn't go above about 40mph. We went all over the island and saw so much more than the ships excursions. I can't remember the company that we went through (there was only one in 2010) - just google TomCar and Aruba and you should get it. I'll post if I remember.

 

In Curacao, our excursion was cancelled due to the weather - driving rain on an island that only gets about 4 inches per YEAR! I think they got it all on the day we were there in April, 2010! We booked a Jeep Tour independently, but again I don't remember the company. I do remember that when I tried to call them to let them know we wouldn't make it to the excursion there was no answer. We were prepared to eat the cost of the excursion. Ended up we didn't have to because they cancelled the excursion and I had a refund by the time I got home a week later!

 

Check out the Aruba and Curacao ports of call board for ideas on excursions. That's where I got my ideas.

[Aviator of the Seas]

Welcome back to San Juan and the Caribbean, Adventure and fans. We missed you.

 

Hi Robyn and OceanBoy and the rest of the wonderful Adventure and Southern Caribbean ambassadors.

 

I didn't do a cruise this year as the Mrs. and I did a (very expensive) land vacation in and around Japan. Maybe next year (although there are still 28 days left in this one...).

[ckrobyn]

Welcome back to San Juan and the Caribbean, Adventure and fans. We missed you.

 

Hi Robyn and OceanBoy and the rest of the wonderful Adventure and Southern Caribbean ambassadors.

 

I didn't do a cruise this year as the Mrs. and I did a (very expensive) land vacation in and around Japan. Maybe next year (although there are still 28 days left in this one...).

 

Hey Aviator :) Keep San Juan beautiful until we return......;)

[Aviator of the Seas]

Check out this video of the public works underway in San Juan. It's in Spanish but I'm sure you can figure it out. It's titled "From San Juan You Can See the Future".

 

 

It shows the plans for the light rail system that will connect to the metro further inland, a boardwalk along the northern coast which will link with the one around the bottom of El Morro and on along the bayside, a central market, an equestrian center, and a dolphin therapy and research facility which will be open to the public.

[sadie8]

I can't wait to see it all happen, I love San Juan. I ran the text through the Spanish translator.

 

Train light, eco-friendly transportation

Riding Centre, promoting the tradition

Central market, agricultural support

Paseo Tablado, rescue and enjoyment of our natural resources

The Dolphinarium, innovative therapy and tourist attraction

 

FROM SAN JUAN YOU CAN SEE THE FUTURE

 

MAKE YOUR HOME HERE!

[Lorey2007]

This caught my eye because I have been wondering if we made a mistake by booking AOS. Not much to do in Aruba or Curaco. I have asked for suggestions that go unanswered.

 

I'm not too sure of your interests here's what we did. We are young seniors with some slight walking issues. In Aruba we took a ship tour that included a boat ride down the coast to Palm beach. After a short stop there we boarded a bus that took us on a tour of the island. We enjoyed every minute of it. On Curaco we also took a ship tour. We took a taxi to the Trolley Train which took us on a tour around the town. Back at the town we walked around the shops, crossed the bridge and walked back to the ship.

[Aviator of the Seas]

I can't wait to see it all happen, I love San Juan. I ran the text through the Spanish translator.

 

Train light, eco-friendly transportation

Riding Centre, promoting the tradition

Central market, agricultural support

Paseo Tablado, rescue and enjoyment of our natural resources

The Dolphinarium, innovative therapy and tourist attraction

 

FROM SAN JUAN YOU CAN SEE THE FUTURE

 

MAKE YOUR HOME HERE!

 

The "make your home here" part refers to a package of incentives being rolled out for non-Puerto Rico residents for idle condo purchases. Something like no or very low property taxes, no capital gain taxes on equity when sold, no filing or registration fees, etc.

[Ocean Boy]

Check out this video of the public works underway in San Juan. It's in Spanish but I'm sure you can figure it out. It's titled "From San Juan You Can See the Future".

 

 

It shows the plans for the light rail system that will connect to the metro further inland, a boardwalk along the northern coast which will link with the one around the bottom of El Morro and on along the bayside, a central market, an equestrian center, and a dolphin therapy and research facility which will be open to the public.

 

Can you have it all ready for when I get there in March?:D We won't be doing Adventure this time, for the second year in a row, but will be stopping there on Navigator. That is unless I have second thoughts and book Allure in which case it would be two years that I have not been in San Juan.:(

[suezyq50]

Thanks for the input and ideas. I need to do more research. Nothing jumped out to me that seemed to fit what I was interested and DH was also interested in.

[rupertfrog]

Check out this video of the public works underway in San Juan. It's in Spanish but I'm sure you can figure it out. It's titled "From San Juan You Can See the Future".

 

 

It shows the plans for the light rail system that will connect to the metro further inland, a boardwalk along the northern coast which will link with the one around the bottom of El Morro and on along the bayside, a central market, an equestrian center, and a dolphin therapy and research facility which will be open to the public.

 

 

Aviator we are so excited to be cruising from San Juan for the 5th year in a row!!

This will be the first time we are arriving a day before the cruise .. We are booked at the Stellaris. My DH loves history and plans to see the Fort on Saturday afternoon. We are going to meet some other cruisers for dinner Saturday night. Any tips regarding the area of the Stellaris (such as safety walking in the area & things/services within walking distance .... as we don't plan to get a car)?

We've looked at other cruises but so love the islands of the Southern Caribbean and without leaving from San Juan the options are limited and Mexico just doesn't excite us as an option. I'm hoping that RCCL will change up the islands for 2013 so we can stay on the AOS which we love!! We did the same route (Barbados - St Maarten) two years in a row since we enjoy Barbados & St Lucia so much. St Croix really was the only letdown. We'd like to see at least one new island which is why we are doing the Aruba route this year.

The AOS is a perfect size not too big but big enough. We enjoy the Promenade and the layout of the AOS. We've been on the Serenade and would certainly sail her again although the AOS is larger with more options on board such as the Promenade.

Love your updates & having resources such as you and Robyn on this thread!! Thanks to both of you!!

[gxchan]

So glad I found this thread. Although I've ported at San Juan a half-dozen or so times it wasn't until last July that I sailed from SJ on Serenade. I arrived the day before sailing but loved it! I stayed at the Marriott Stellarius (very nice hotel, wonderful pool and beach area, live music in the evening in the lobby) and it was an easy walk to JAMS restaurant. I so enjoyed sailing from SJ that I'm booked b2b on AOS for November 2012.

 

This will be my first cruise on AOS but I've sailed three of the other Voyager class ships and loved them all. LOL, I joke that I'm making my way through RCL's Voyager class ships before moving on to the Freedom class.:D But each is just a little bit different and I'm interested to hear what the difference is between AOS and Voyager, EOS and/or Mariner. For example, Mariner has a wine bar and Voyager's Crown bar had a great Salsa band, as opposed to the bands in the Crown bars on Mariner and EOS.

 

Also, I'm arriving at least 2 days before sailing in November and thinking of staying after the cruise in December for a day or two more. Please let me know what your favorite activities, restaurants, etc. in SJ are so I can check them out. Naturally, I have already done the Fort and the rum factory.:)

 

Thanks for your previous posting (I'm going back and reading them) and your future suggestions.

 

Ginnie

[mojonah]

We're booked on the Jan 22, 2012 itinerary and we're soooooo excited! We've cruised twice before, but never on RC. Soooo glad to hear that AOS is such a nice ship.

 

Can any of you veterans tell us if there are safes in the rooms?

 

Thanks

[Ocean Boy]

Thanks for the input and ideas. I need to do more research. Nothing jumped out to me that seemed to fit what I was interested and DH was also interested in.

 

Well maybe we could offer better advice if you told us what type of stuff you like to do instead of us guessing and wasting time replying with ideas that are of no value to you.;)

[Ocean Boy]

We're booked on the Jan 22, 2012 itinerary and we're soooooo excited! We've cruised twice before, but never on RC. Soooo glad to hear that AOS is such a nice ship.

 

Can any of you veterans tell us if there are safes in the rooms?

 

Thanks

 

All the cabins have a safe. They are the type where you set your own 4 digit code. You don't have to worry about having a card with a magnetic strip to operate it.

[Aviator of the Seas]

Aviator we are so excited to be cruising from San Juan for the 5th year in a row!!

 

This will be the first time we are arriving a day before the cruise .. We are booked at the Stellaris. My DH loves history and plans to see the Fort on Saturday afternoon. We are going to meet some other cruisers for dinner Saturday night. Any tips regarding the area of the Stellaris (such as safety walking in the area & things/services within walking distance .... as we don't plan to get a car)?

 

We've looked at other cruises but so love the islands of the Southern Caribbean and without leaving from San Juan the options are limited and Mexico just doesn't excite us as an option. I'm hoping that RCCL will change up the islands for 2013 so we can stay on the AOS which we love!! We did the same route (Barbados - St Maarten) two years in a row since we enjoy Barbados & St Lucia so much. St Croix really was the only letdown. We'd like to see at least one new island which is why we are doing the Aruba route this year.

 

The AOS is a perfect size not too big but big enough. We enjoy the Promenade and the layout of the AOS. We've been on the Serenade and would certainly sail her again although the AOS is larger with more options on board such as the Promenade.

 

Love your updates & having resources such as you and Robyn on this thread!! Thanks to both of you!!

 

Thanks for your kind words.

 

First, if you are going to be using taxis and such, allow me a little correction on your hotel's name. Stellaris is the name of its casino. The hotel is better known as the San Juan Marriott, not to be confused with the two Courtyard By Marriott hotels in other areas.

 

Your hotel is on Ashford avenue in the Condado section. If you worry about safety, the advice I give everybody is that if you stay away from illicit activity like drugs and prostitution, you will have no problems. Of course, San Juan is a big city and it has the same issues as any major metropolitan area. Just be street smart, don't flash cash or jewelry and you should be fine. Having said all that, the area around your hotel is very safe.

 

As far as places to eat, I am sorry but as a local I cannot make specific recommendations on these boards. But there are plenty of great places to eat near your hotel and in Old San Juan. In the San Juan port of call board there are many recommendations.

 

Have fun!

[rupertfrog]

Thanks for your kind words.

 

First, if you are going to be using taxis and such, allow me a little correction on your hotel's name. Stellaris is the name of its casino. The hotel is better known as the San Juan Marriott, not to be confused with the two Courtyard By Marriott hotels in other areas.

 

Your hotel is on Ashford avenue in the Condado section. If you worry about safety, the advice I give everybody is that if you stay away from illicit activity like drugs and prostitution, you will have no problems. Of course, San Juan is a big city and it has the same issues as any major metropolitan area. Just be street smart, don't flash cash or jewelry and you should be fine. Having said all that, the area around your hotel is very safe.

 

As far as places to eat, I am sorry but as a local I cannot make specific recommendations on these boards. But there are plenty of great places to eat near your hotel and in Old San Juan. In the San Juan port of call board there are many recommendations.

 

Have fun!

 

Avaiator ... Thank you for that information especially the Hotel name clarification! I certainly would not want to get you in trouble with the rules of being local & posting here ... but appreciate the reference to other locations!

[mojonah]

Ocean Boy -

 

Thanks for the info!

[Mary521]

Does anyone have a recent compass for the St Croix - St John - St marten - St Lucia - Barbados route??

 

Thanks!!

[markadele]

Really excited to find this site we are looking at Jan. 2013 have never done a southern route sounds real great. Have only cruised two times and love RICI wanted to sail out of Fla. RICI dont really have a southern route out of Fla. so going to fly to San Juan flight is kinda pricey but cruise price isn't bad. Still thinking but this does look like the cruise wife really wants to see Aruba.

[louwoz]

This thread started in 2008. Is the information really relevant anymore?

[blacksheep2]

I am still trying to figure out Formal Nights on the 2/5/12 sailing -have gotten several different answers--any help?:confused:

[JKHawaii]

I read a recent post where people who had done a b2b on the adventure southern carib stated that lobster night (which means formal night) was on friday on both itineraries. If rccl holds true to form, i would expect the 1st formal night to be monday.

[Ocean Boy]

This thread started in 2008. Is the information really relevant anymore?

 

Yes it is. The thread has been going ever since it was started. It has not been sitting dormant.

[sherlynn]

I read a recent post where people who had done a b2b on the adventure southern carib stated that lobster night (which means formal night) was on friday on both itineraries. If rccl holds true to form, i would expect the 1st formal night to be monday.

 

On the Dec.4/11 sailing, our formal nights were Monday and Thursday.....lobster was Friday.

[NH Cruiser]

With Adventure sailing at 8:30 p.m. from San Juan, does someone know when Muster Drill is held? Also, is late seating delayed a half hour so passengers can be on deck?