My detailed AOS review 4/3/05 (sort of long)

[FMZ]

You might have already mentioned this.... are there any ports that require being tendered opposed to just walking off the ship? Just curious because I'm planning our days. Thanks again!!

[lephysteria]

Hi,

 

I don't think I mentioned it, but in every port we were in (Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas) we did not have to tender in at all. In eahc port, we arrived on time, but we were never one of the first ones off the ship, as we did our own thing on each of the ports.

:)

[PSCruiser]

What a great review- so detailed! Your description of your near tragedy on Curacao brought back memories - almost exactly the same thing happened to my wife and I a few years back at Hanauma Bay, Oahu. We were doing some early morning snorkling and went through a small opening in the reef while the tide was going out. As soon as we did it we knew we couldn't get back through, and we were left clinging to rocks - luckily we were wearing vests or I think we would have gone down. We didn't know it, but while we were out there, the life guard came on duty, red flagged the area where we were, and when we got in trouble he was out there and helped us. We'll certainly be careful in Caracao, which is a stop on our next cruise.

Also, was glad to hear that the wine thing went (mostly) OK, as I was thinking of booking with that TA, however if I understand correctly all of those promotions are going to be stopped soon.

[lephysteria]

Hi,

 

I would definitely be careful when snorkeling again. I would think that you would need to watch the water, and see if you can tell that the wind is blowing the current snorkelers around, and sucking them into a current.

 

Other than that, and always making sure where you are ... beause we were just happily going along, and BAM! It caught us!

 

The wine promotion was great. It truly was the reason our Sea Pass was only $200! :)

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask :)

[ATL_CRUISERS]

Mrs. Tulpule

 

Thanks, great review. Happy belated anniversary. I'm glad to hear you had a good time in spite of your challenges.

 

My wife and I will be sailing on the AOS in November. I was wandering if you could scan the Compass and post it on your website. We would like to do as much planning on this side as possible.

[ATL_CRUISERS]

Mrs. Tulpule

 

Thanks, great review. Happy belated anniversary. I'm glad to hear you had a good time in spite of your challenges.

 

My wife and I will be sailing on the AOS in November. I was wandering if you could scan the Compass and post it on your website. We would like to do as much planning on this side as possible.

[lephysteria]

Mrs. Tulpule

 

Thanks, great review. Happy belated anniversary. I'm glad to hear you had a good time in spite of your challenges.

 

My wife and I will be sailing on the AOS in November. I was wandering if you could scan the Compass and post it on your website. We would like to do as much planning on this side as possible.

 

Thank you for your kind words and well wishes. I'm glad you enjoyed the review and Kudos for reading the entire thing! :D

 

With regard to the Compass, I'm not sure if I can put it on my website, but I can certainly scan the Compass pages and email it to you. Are you going to be doing the same itinerary that we did (Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, St. Thomas)?

 

With regard to our home office, we have just moved into the new house, and I'm afraid our office isn't up to "Normal Operations" yet. It won't be too long though (probably a week or two). If you would please send me an email at lephysteria@yahoo.com, I can then reply to you with the attachments. I also have the shopping maps ... but not those dorky "$1 per inch of gold" flyers :)

[lephysteria]

I'm not sure who will see this posting, perhaps I'll have to start a new thread ...

 

Anyhow, I've been asked to post the AOS Compass pages. I'll be getting to that in a few days (my goal is the end of the month). When they are ready, I'll post again, and then mail them out to anyone who wanted them.

 

If you'd like to be on the mailing list, please email me at lephysteria@yahoo.com :D

[maggieq]

Hi Jen,

 

I met you and Naren at the meet and mingle on Sunday (b4 the official one). I had a great time. I think the ports (minus curacao) were great and weather was terrific. I didn't care much for the room attendant nor the waiter or head waiter. I did like a couple of the bartenders in the pub.

 

We didn't get to go the official meet and mingle. We were just getting a chair out by the pool at 10:00 a.m.

 

We went to all of the shows except for the quest.

 

I do have to say that I was disappointed on this cruise with overall service. Not sure if you thought the same.

 

Thinking about trying a "radiance" class next time. One of the bartenders told us that the service is better on a small ship? I'd like to try one anyway and am thinking about the Jewel or serenade.

 

I think so far....the golden princess far exceeded on service but I am hooked on the rccl ships.

 

If anyone wants the copies of the cruise compasses I can mail them to you.

 

M

[lephysteria]

Hi Maggieq!

 

Of course I remember you! I'm glad that you got home safely. I was really only disappointed with the service by our cabin attendant. Well, actually there were 2 attendants and they both didn’t equal one good attendant!

 

Thanks for the help with the compass pages. I feel bad that our house can’t instantly be unpacked and that I’d know where everything is located right away! I don’t know the adjective to describe what I’m feeling! I want to help, but working 9 hours with a 1 hour commute each way leaves little time for unpacking at night. I could snail-mail them to CC members, but then again, people are leery about giving others their mailing address.

 

Maggieq, did you play at all in the casino? Sheila and Jeanne had NO luck at all, the same with us!

[sandgrand]

Hello Maggieq

 

I would love to see the compass from your AOS cruise. We are thinking about our next cruise and trying to decide which one. Please mail me or post and let me know where to find them. Thanks. kelleysando@bellsouth.net

[lephysteria]

I'll also take note of your email, and put you on the mailing list when my Compass Pages are ready.

[ATL_CRUISERS]

Hello Maggieq and Jen

 

Could you send me a copy of the compass pages and misc. stuff? Thanks.

 

My email address is rtmathis@excite.com .

[lephysteria]

I'll put you on my Christmas list too ;)

[maggieq]

Unfortunately, I don't have a scanner but would be more than willing to send copies via u.s. mail???

 

M

 

Also, Jen how would you rank this cruise???? RCCL vs. Princess?

 

M;) ;) ;) ;)

[lephysteria]

Hi,

 

I wouldn't really be able to compare the Princess Cruise we went on to any other cruise, only because it wasn't in the caribbean. We took the Star Princess to the Mediterranean, and while that was a nice cruise, we were one of 20 people ages 18-35 on that ship, there were 17 kids under 18 yrs old, and there were about 200 35-50 year olds.

 

Everyone else out of the 2500 passengers were over 50!!! The ship was totally dead by 10pm. The disco wasn't hopping, the shows weren't packed ... etc.

 

I think alot of that had to do with the fact that not many youngins could afford the Med Cruises. So be it.

But in order to be able to compare Princess, we'd have to take a Princess Caribbean Cruise.

 

But, I can compare this cruise to Carnival Caribbean cruises. They were about equal. I've had good and bad service on both. I do think that Carnival has bigger cabins, but RCCL has prettier ships.

 

Either way, it was a great experience, and a cruise, and a vacation away from work. So therefore it was great! :D

 

I'll get the office plugged in this weekend, and I'll send out the capers on Monday. ;)

[lephysteria]

Hi Everyone!

 

I just wanted to post that our home "office" is now working and installed ... thanks to Naren ;) ... and the compasses will be coming as soon as Monday!

 

Donna, I got your email. You'll be included in the listing.

If anyone else wants them, please send me an email or reply to this posting. :D

[skogler]

My son and daughter asked if there is an arcade on the AOS. Does anyone know if there is one and if so, how was it.

 

Thanks

[lephysteria]

There is an arcade. We passed by it on a ship exploration. It looked bustling ... as there were many kids in there, and they all seemed like they were having a good time. We didn't play any games though, so I'm not sure how much they were per play.

 

Hope this helps :D

[skogler]

Do you remember where the arcade was located? Also, did they show any movies?

 

Thanks

[lephysteria]

I really don't remember about them showing movies. We didn't have any kids to take to the Adventure Ocean program, so I can't answer that for you.

 

The arcade/teen disco that we saw was on deck 12 in the aft, just forward of Johnny Rockets.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. :)

[ckrobyn]

Hey Jen :)

 

Congrats on getting the home office set up, it's a lot of work moving into a new house isn't it? By the way....love the house! I took a peek at your pics and it looks lovely! Don't let the house (and decorating etc) suck up all your cash....you gotta go cruisin' remember? LOL

I sent you an email last week...did you get it :confused:

Have a great weekend!

[lephysteria]

Hey Robin! It's good to hear from you again. I hope you're well.

 

I haven't worked up the nerve to ask for another cruise. My mother asked if I could try and get Mother's Day weekend free so that I can go to the 3-day Mexico with her, but I don't know how to ask for that ... seeing that we JUST moved in!

 

God I hate moving! But at least a house suggests some sort of permanency. I hope that's a word. :confused:

 

Thank you for your kind words on my love shaque. I'm about to post the "after" pics now that we're all unpacked and there is actual furniture in the house. I'll post it next to the "before" picture to let ya'll see what work we've done lately!

 

I did not get your last email :mad: Bloody computer stuff! :mad: Could you be a doll and resend it? Perhaps it is still in your sent email box.

 

TTFN,

Jen :) :)

[winterstar]

Wow. Thanks for the review. I'm not going south and I'm not on that ship but I read it anyway because I remember some of your other posts being funny. I definately got a few chuckles. What stuns me is that you guys almost drown, and then you go shopping. OMG!! LOL. You are too funny. Nothing like making the best of a situation!

 

Thanks again for the entertainment. :D

[cdjulie]

We just returned from AOS yesterday! Two years ago we were on Voyager. It is the exact same ship. Richard Spacey was our CD on Voyager and on AOS. He is a great cruise director, but it was disappointing to have him twice. He does the EXACT same jokes, etc. The video he showed on the last show was the same one we saw two years ago. I was waiting for the Beatlemania show everyone talks about and they didn't have it. They had a show called "Velvet Rope" which was okay. I was disappointed in the entertainment, other than the wonderful ice show. The comedians were just okay. the final one was terrible--I think his name was Jeff Caldwell. We traveled with a large group who were also on the Voyager two years ago. We have noticed big cutbacks in a lot of areas.

 

Overall, being with our big group we had a great time anyway. As far as islands--Aruba wasn't what I thought it would be, we went to the beach at the Hyatt (high rise side)--it was very crowded and people were approaching us constantly. Won't go there again. Should have gone to low rise side.

In Curacao we went to Seaquarium beach and loved it. Very pretty and much quieter. St. Marten was the best. We went off on our own and rented a "pirate ship", called, I think, The Lord Sheffield. It was a big sailboat. We were a little skeptical because it was all we could find, but it turned out to be the most fun that week. He charged us $50 a person, which included food and all the beverages you want (beer, punch, soda, water). We sailed along the whole dutch side and turned the corner onto the french side where he dropped the anchor at the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen in my life. We all swam and snorkeled and he let the kids dive off the front of the boat. They loved it. It was a bargain for what we got. We were gone from 11-4!

The next day we went to Trunk Bay in St. John's. That was wonderful, too. We didn't have enough time there.