Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[DaniDanielle]

3 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

Okay…when I took Lola’s picture earlier, Cairn Terrier popped up, Marietta.🤷‍♀️

Distant cousin then

[bobmacliberty]

5 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I am looking at hotel options for our San Juan cruise in January.   Anyone have any suggestions?

 

We would arrive early afternoon Saturday then board Rhapsody on Sunday.  

 

I'm thinking Condado Hotel or Hilton Garden Inn near Condado Beach.   We definitely want a hotel with a pool and restaurant/bar. 

 

We've stayed at 3 hotels and I'd stay at any of them again, depending on the situation.

 

- Used to be the Sheraton Old San Juan, now the Hotel Rumbao - I've not stayed here since it changed from the Sheraton.  Reviews say that it's under renovation so check first.  Good if you want walking distance to OSJ places (lots of bar and restaurant options plus the 2 forts).  Restaurant, rooftop bar and pool.  Right in front of the OSJ piers and across the channel from the pier that Royal uses.  Hotel El Convento and CasaBlanca Hotel both get good reviews on Cruise Critic for other OSJ hotel options.

 

- La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort - Large, resort style.  Several restaurants and pools.  Great beach area on Condado Beach.  Casino on site.  Loved this place.

 

- AC Hotel San Juan Condado - Nice hotel with rooftop bar and pool.  Has privileges at the San Juan Marriott Resort (pool, beach, casino, restaurants).  Short walk to several restaurants.  Good for a quick 1-night stay where you won't be doing much that night.

 

I haven't stayed at any of the conference center hotels, but they are the shortest drive to the pier in the morning.

 

AC Hotel Rooftop Pics:

 

 

 

La Concha Renaissance Pics:

 

 

 

 

 

[MJSailors]

Good to hear about all the grandchildren having happy birthdays.

Congratulations to all! 🥳 🎂 😊 

@Lionesss OMG -a cat as a plus1 at a wedding reception!

I can’t imagine what the other guests and you and hubby thought when you saw the cat at your table!

The older I get, the less phased I get at wacky happenings!

But….a cat - Wow!

Take care

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

[aussielozzie18]

Good morning.  We have a new Metro train line here in Sydney. DH loves it as it makes his commute quicker.  This morning he got off at the new Barangaroo metro stop and then walked to his office.  Photos from his walk.

 

 

 

[Tree_skier]

The perfect Sunday afternoon

 

[A&L_Ont]

13 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

The perfect Sunday afternoon

I agree. 

[DaniDanielle]

Me too

[Sea Dog]

45 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

The perfect Sunday afternoon

 

Look great. How’s Navigator?

[Sunshine3601]

6 hours ago, Arzeena said:

We stayed at the El Conquistador in Fajardo, which had its own private island where they ferried you for a beach break (Palomino). I think that hotel is no more. But it was really really nice.

The El Conquistador Resort is still there.   Looks like somewhere we would really enjoy staying; however, it is well over 1 hr drive to the cruise port.    As much as I would love to stay here, I think we want to be closer to cruise port in Condado or Old San Juan area.     

[Arzeena]

4 hours ago, h20skibum said:

No cats, but I did see a first last night at WaterFire.  Someone pushing a cat in a stroller.   
 

I have seen dogs in strollers before, but not cats. 

My daughter has a cat stroller and her cat loves being strolled around in it. 😁 
She also hides in it at times.....the cat that is, not the daughter!

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

We've stayed at 3 hotels and I'd stay at any of them again, depending on the situation.

 

- Used to be the Sheraton Old San Juan, now the Hotel Rumbao - I've not stayed here since it changed from the Sheraton.  Reviews say that it's under renovation so check first.  Good if you want walking distance to OSJ places (lots of bar and restaurant options plus the 2 forts).  Restaurant, rooftop bar and pool.  Right in front of the OSJ piers and across the channel from the pier that Royal uses.  Hotel El Convento and CasaBlanca Hotel both get good reviews on Cruise Critic for other OSJ hotel options.

 

- La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort - Large, resort style.  Several restaurants and pools.  Great beach area on Condado Beach.  Casino on site.  Loved this place.

 

- AC Hotel San Juan Condado - Nice hotel with rooftop bar and pool.  Has privileges at the San Juan Marriott Resort (pool, beach, casino, restaurants).  Short walk to several restaurants.  Good for a quick 1-night stay where you won't be doing much that night.

 

I haven't stayed at any of the conference center hotels, but they are the shortest drive to the pier in the morning.

 

AC Hotel Rooftop Pics:

 

 

 

La Concha Renaissance Pics:

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Bob.    La Concha Renaissance looks like a great option.   I have made some notes on a couple of places and will check out my rewards with both Marriott and Hilton and make a decision soon. 

Eric has liked all the places I have shown him and said it is my choice.    Big help he is 😂   He would be happy anywhere that has a bar, food and a bed (not necessarily in that order - LOL).  

[Arzeena]

1 minute ago, Sunshine3601 said:

The El Conquistador Resort is still there.   Looks like somewhere we would really enjoy staying; however, it is well over 1 hr drive to the cruise port.    As much as I would love to stay here, I think we want to be closer to cruise port in Condado or Old San Juan area.     

Yes Sis, it is a long drive. They had round trip airport transportation so we used that. Also it makes it worth while if you stay there for at least 2 nights so you could use their facilities and enjoy everything there, including their island.
If you have just an overnight stay, I would stay closer to San Juan.
Can you not swing 3 nights pre cruise? You would love this place.

[Sunshine3601]

1 minute ago, Arzeena said:

Yes Sis, it is a long drive. They had round trip airport transportation so we used that. Also it makes it worth while if you stay there for at least 2 nights so you could use their facilities and enjoy everything there, including their island.
If you have just an overnight stay, I would stay closer to San Juan.
Can you not swing 3 nights pre cruise? You would love this place.

Unfortunately, I cannot take off work pre-cruise (my boss will be returning home / work from an Antartica cruise the weekend that I leave).    We are booking a flight that will get in SJU at 1:30 pm on Saturday and we board on Sunday (we like to board around 1 pm or so, after cabins are ready).   

 

Wherever we stay we will probably just hang out around the hotel / beach / pool and relax and enjoy a nice dinner / evening at the hotel    I also want somewhere that has a good breakfast since we will probably skip lunch on Sunday and do one of our D+ BOGO's at Giovannis or Chops.

 

Maybe do some wandering around Old San Juan on Sunday morning or just hang out at the hotel.     We will both be happy to be in the warm sun since it is a January cruise. 

 

If I had more time in SJ I would definitely stay at this resort.  Definitely looks like our kind of place.   

 

[Tree_skier]

59 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Look great. How’s Navigator?

So far so good.  Raj is already on holiday so I haven’t been in the Bamboo room very much but the boys working the Sky bar on deck 12 above the pool deck are taking very good care me this cruise.  Just when I think I have found my favorite bartender another steps up with something even better.

 

The latest and what is in the above picture is called an “AMF”. I asked what that stood for and he said if could be fired for saying those words.  I’ll leave it to your imagination a few these any you are if excellent condition. 😉 

[Sea Dog]

4 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

So far so good.  Raj is already on holiday so I haven’t been in the Bamboo room very much but the boys working the Sky bar on deck 12 above the pool deck are taking very good care me this cruise.  Just when I think I have found my favorite bartender another steps up with something even better.

 

The latest and what is in the above picture is called an “AMF”. I asked what that stood for and he said if could be fired for saying those words.  I’ll leave it to your imagination a few these any you are if excellent condition. 😉 

I had one of those but they called it “BMF” the “B” was for bye. I assume the “A” is for adios. Great cocktail and potent.

.5oz Vodka

.5oz Rum

.5oz Tequila 

.5oz Gin

2oz Sweet and Sour Mix

.5oz Blue Curacao 

Top off with Sprite

Lemon and cherry on top

[Luckynana]

3 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

 

- La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort - Large, resort style.  Several restaurants and pools.  Great beach area on Condado Beach.  Casino on site.  Loved this place.

 

La Concha Renaissance Pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Bob for the pictures of La Concha!  Jim and I stayed there for a week on our Honeymoon, before flying to St. Thomas for our second week.  We stayed at the Pineapple Beach Hotel while in St. Thomas, in a Beach house right on the sand.  That hotel is no longer.

Thanks for the memories!!