jamesboat

Old San Juan is very walkable but not very bikeable.

The streets are very narrow and clogged with traffic, to the point that even on a bike it would be difficult to filter forwards.

There are also a lot of hills and cobbles.

New San Juan is different, but has less to do and see as a tourist.

Because of laundry? :confused::rolleyes:

Yup, especially if you have before and after activities planned.

20 days on one 50lb bag does not cut it, especially if you are set to experience different weather conditions

I would suggest princess for any longer cruises.

The instructions are incredibly clear when you purchase.

if you do not like the locations they chose from you, simply switch them once on board. It took me 4 minutes.

We are staying at the Renaissance in Newark. We are Platinum Elite for life w Marriott so we try to utilize their brands. Always clean, nice perks and usually great service. Renaissance and JW Marriotts are our favorite brands.

 

We go to New York quite a bit and we always use a car service. The taxi's terrify me so I am guessing we will schedule a car service if the hotel doesnt offer a shuttle. I need to check on this...

 

My flight is way too early. I made a huge mistake when booking. I thought we arrived back on Sat so I booked an 820 flight home on Sunday morn. Need to call Delta about this mistake since we arrive on Sunday morning not Saturday.

 

How far is the port from the airport w traffic? Is it fairly easy to disembark the Anthem or is it a nightmare?

Assuming youre flying EWR...

You can make it if

a) You are literally the first person off the ship and your car is waiting. Customs is very fast.

b) You have TSA precheck

Sadly, EWR TSA lines are a disaster before 9am. No precheck, no flight.

Only one parent needs to consent to a child going on a cruise, not both, just FYI for both people who are traveling with an unrelated child as well as parents sailing without the other parent (regardless of marital status). It's flying to another country where you need the consent of both parents.

Law actually varies by country. Brazil is very, very strict about the paperwork. A parent traveling with their own children can be delayed if there is no paperwork about the 2nd parent. That includes travel where borders arent crossed.

So OP, always check with the laws of the ports you are going to as well.

and another operator could give another answer. Also, the answer you got applies to Anthem, the other two Quantum class ships could still do it. I'm betting some Aussie will chime in here that on Ovation they have side of the ship Northstar rides. One has to be real careful and very certain when dealing in absolutes, especially with RCI when their policies seem to be up for debate.

 

Biker, who does not discount the possibility RCI has done away with Northstar rides over the side of the ship.

I paid close attention to it throughout the cruise. Only up and down.

However, you are correct that the policy might be different on Ovation and Quantum.

It might also be possible that a part broke and they will resume side to side when fixed.

Disembarkation: Internet service is a mess, it was challenging to get an uber. There is a taxi stand though.

in certain situations.

I was on anthem last week. I asked the operator when I could ride to go side to side. He said that it is no longer done.

You don't "chicken out" on the opportunity when North Star juts out on port or starboard side - only to see sunbathers on their balconies that think no one can see them showing their better sides :D:D

Northstar no longer goes side to side

They were on every table on the Anthem last week

Solarium was listed as casual every night in the cruise compass

Everyone LOVES US Dollars.... and the $2 bill is alive and well

Not exactly. Without the benefit of a bank willing to exchange bills at no cost, people have to be picky.

Good luck spending an older version of the $20 bills or ripped currency.

The money is only useful to them if they can spend it as well.

I'd suggest going to the bank and requesting $2 bills instead, cut down on the size of the wad you're carrying.

That might be an issue for spending on islands that take dollars but it isnt the official currency - not just for you, but the crew you tip.

Most people in the US dont know the $2 is still printed and is legal. The good folks in Antigua or Dominica are much less likely to know about it and be willing to accept it.

Same with $1 and .50 coins

Also true for any bills in poor condition.

It was great but. . .

 

They did not have a ship officer taking pictures when we went. All three of us in are party were scheduled at the same time, so no one was able to take pictures of us. We were told afterwards that we should have staggered our times to get pictures.

.

Since only one person at a time is in the tube, they dont let you simply pass the camera back to your waiting partner?

Interestingly, 45 states actually allow those under 21 to drink alcohol in various situations/locations. They just can't purchase it or publicly consume it.

Yes good point. Many states explicitly allow under 21 to consume with parents.

I do not think the staff would say anything unless they know for sure the child is underage. Then they may get reprimanded or evicted from the ship. This happened on a cruise we were on where a family were evicted from the ship mid cruise due to underage drinking with the parents supplying the alcohol.

Was this because the kids were running wild?

Wow, one way to get what you want by stealth.

Sounds a lot like bully tactics, using intimidation and bribery to convince people of what they want.

Any state is free to do like Puerto Rico and simply opt out of the funding, especially if they think the increased revenue from taxes would exceed the loss.

Does RC care if you pour your own (carried on) wine to an under 21 at a dining room table?

Possibly, we've done 4 at once and not had a problem.

4 is what I was thinking, thanks

Are you limited to checking out a number of towels at any one time?

I believe it was last year that RC changed their rules for 18-21 year olds on cruises leaving US ports. When we went in March 2015 you could sign a waiver for them to drink. After that they changed it to reflect US drinking age. However, as someone pointed out, it's 18 in the Caribbean so they can always drink in port.

The 21+ law is actually a state law, not a federal law. Any state can be 18+, but they would give up highway funding. Puerto Rico chose to remain 18+ and give up the highway funding.

RC is under no legal obligation to be 21+ outside of state waters. The change was more for marketing and liability.

April 16 $385

April 23 $368

Both are for balconies

 

Took screen shots and talking to management and waiting for call back Will be interested to see what happens if anything:rolleyes:

I had something similar.

Took screen shots of the entire process, including the cabin selection confirming the price.

Only at the payment screen did it change.

Emailed them. Never heard back.

One thing to consider: we were on the balcony once enjoying sailaway from Calica, Mexico, about 100 feet from the pier pulling slowly away. A cab pulled up, two screaming people emerged and started yelling. They were screaming: "Our kids are onboard! Our kids!" No joke- it was incredibly sad to see the ship pulling away from them.

 

What wound up happening: the ship stopped (!!!) and after about 1/2 hour sent a tender to the pier to grab the two people and bring them onboard. That night, everyone was talking about it...no one on the crew had ever seen the ship send a tender out for missed passengers. This was Celebrity Mercury in 1999...our first cruise, before we had kids. (I am guessing most ships wouldn't do that, especially these days!). To this day, because that scared me so much, there is no way I could leave my kids onboard.

 

That said, I'll let others speak to the details of the Norway cruise and how it works, but I hope you'll add a BIG time buffer to be sure you get back onboard!

A couple of years ago we watched a Celebrity ship sail away....and then 30 minutes later sail back, and then sail away again. Unsure who they forgot to pick up

Have to wonder if it has something to do with local politics or issues.

I can think of a reason....

$$$$

Oil prices are up. Thats an extra 8 hours to cruise very slowly to the enxt port

A good idea for me to sit with your wife in a sauna or steamroom? Not if I want to stay happily married. :p

Sorry, no "European style" saunas or steamrooms on any cruises I've been on. But I hear you. My wife has multiple sclerosis and sometimes needs assistance. It would be nice to have some steamroom or sauna we could both use. But even "family restrooms" are lacking on many ships.

Royals European brands do have co-ed saunas.

If it happens on my cruise next week I will make sure Consumer Reports / the Consumerist is made aware.