Camillus112

Thanks Dr. Cocktail! DH and I are pool people...not swimmers, just moving and relaxing...and chatting with fellow pool people.

Thanks very much for posting. One question...are there two pools? One seems infinity and the other does not, but very narrow. Maybe it's the photo perspective...

A few years ago, with the knowledge that there was nothing to walk to from the Caribe Hilton (except for the very nice Luis Muñoz Rivera park during the daytime just crossing the street), an adjacent "street" was opened called Paseo Caribe with good restaurants and bars. The Vanderbilt is in the Condado area...three pools, an adjacent beach, and very good restaurants. If you stay in the Condado area, I recommend two very good restaurants (Mario Pagán, and Antonio). As the name implies, El Convento hotel used to be a nun's convent and restorations have respected colonial architecture and decorations, while modernizing its offerings. The hotel is in front of the San Juan Cathedral and walkable to all major Old San Juan landmarks, as well as to the pier. Well, without luggage...😇

The two nicest hotels near the pier in San Juan are the Condado Vanderbilt and the Caribe Hilton. However, if you do not need a beach front hotel, Hotel El Convento is very near, right in the center of Old San Juan.

This would be such a disappointment for us!! Living in Central/Upstate NY where winters are so cold and looong, we look forward to our usual December Caribbean cruise...when we mostly enjoy the pool during the day. We hope the pool will be adequately heated in the Grandeur this coming December!! I better have my TA look into this. 🧐

Sorry Squeeze1...what is a Regent TP?

Only to give you an idea: Regent will be using the Intercontinental for our next December cruise and we will be arriving one day earlier than the "Regent included" date. Our TA informed us that Regent would charge $489 for the extra day. Booking sites have rooms in the same hotel for around $250-$350. Yes, Regent charges more, and includes transportation to pier.

Silversea is very good at caring for solos. I remember (before Covid) a staff member named Ana, who was responsible for coordinating solo activities and joint tables. My DH and I met her because she was also the international passengers' coordinator. She was excellent at both jobs! Through her, we met solos and enjoyed them at our table for dinners. Because we met a good number of solos, we know that they were very pleased and enjoying their cruises.

Last December DH and I spent one week in Madrid without our luggage...we became the prime clients of El Corte Inglés, even buying needed formal wear!! We returned home while the two airlines involved had our luggage flying everywhere but to our destination. We received our luggage a whole month after we arrived home!! BTW, we had booked AA all the way, but due to their delay, our second leg was transferred to Iberia. End result, Iberia refunded our purchases made in Madrid...a little consolation for all the aggravation.

Thank you, Lirio. l would love to be able to visit the Museum of Sacred Arts! Unfortunately, due to medical reasons, I cannot go to Brazil, which is ironic, as I have done research on Carmen Miranda. Always appreciate your postings.

I think Gpilon is well aware of Cazenovia...I tend to think he used to live in Baldwindsville or Liverpool (the NY one) some time ago. It's just that we from CNY rely on humor pass the rural time. 😇

Well hi, bebop bonnie from lovely Cazenovia!! Hope to meet you in a Regent cruise someday, as well as the delightful couple sharing their adventures with us. Z and TB, enjoy your rest from the sea...but hope not for long!

DonQ from my homeland, my favorite. Can't get it in Central New York...glad you can get it in Florida!!

Hi JP & Chris, keep enjoying your cruise. We at Central New York are feeling the impacts of the smoke and haze from the Quebec wildfires. At 1pm our air quality measure was 438, labeled hazardous to your health. Thankfully we fly to Puerto Rico next Monday...where a dangerous and unusual heat wave is threatening the electricity grid...now, should we be dismissing climate change?

Hi JP, I am so glad you enjoyed PR. Due mostly to DH's engagements, we don't get the opportunity to travel back as much as we like (love) to be back. Next month, however...back!! We will definitely try El Ladrillo; thanks for the recommendation.

Thanks Lirio, outstanding!

English is not my first language, but I'll be darned if...nothing "beets" a good salad...is incorrect!! Easy does it.

There is another thread by Makai 7 which explains their experience.

Applause!! Thank you Ms. Teegen for your quick reply and concern, and for providing us "audience" an expectation for a happy ending.

DH inherited from his grandmother a figurine of Tom Sawyer, one hundred years old, which was not at all to my taste and I placed it on top of our fridge. By chance, a friend told us to look up its valuation...turns out it is worth close to one thousand dollars...I still don't like it, up in the fridge it will stay. I do like your vases.

When in Málaga, I would recommend Restaurant Los Mellizos, walking distance from the port, where we enjoyed the most delicious paella.

Would you believe vinyl? Many young and older folks are joining a group that plays vinyl songs in town squares...somehow....retro?

Wendy, we think very much like you. Since DH has had to travel inland so much, we have enjoyed many sights. Nowadays when we cruise, we prefer to spend leisurely time in the ship. Food, Wine, Service, Activities and Entertainment are our benchmarks for a happy cruise.

Dance classes!! Wonderful. I don't remember them in my SS cruises...granted, two years pre-covid. This would be a highlight for me.

Not all tour descriptions and ability ratings are accurate. Also tour guides often change at the last minute and seem not to avail themselves of the ability ratings. We had such an experience in Malta a few years ago. The tour description and rating (only one walking image) did not prepare several couples without mobility impairments, but not speed walkers, what they were in for. It was a guide change and she seemed to be running a marathon. My DH and I, and we are brisk walkers, could hardly keep pace. We asked her to slow down...which she reluctantly did, but after losing some couples who went on their own. Of course we gave feedback!!