Live AOS 4/30/06

[Ohio-C-Luver]

We're newbie cruisers and are sailing on AOS 9/3/06. You walking us through all this is a great help. We're new to cruising but have been traveling for years. We're so excited, we're in the same age bracket as your group. Sounds like you're having a great time! Enjoy! Oh, keep us posted to whats going on!

[ronaldfelder]

I am SO jealous. We were on the AOS last year & had a ball. We also stayed at the Marriott & were pleased with our accommodations.

 

We are counting the months and days until we board the Radiance again (3rd time) in December.

How's the Marriot? We're staying the the night before. Then staying at the Radisson after the cruise. That's the draw from Priceline. Got good prices I believe.

 

ron

[njoyndride]

The Marriott was great for us! The property was beautiful and the staff couldn't do more for us. I had read mixed reviews so was a little apprehensive about staying there. Yes they have salsa on Saturday nights, didn't hear a peep in my room. It was no more noisy than the casino. The pool area is really pretty and the location is perfect. I would definately stay there again.

[njoyndride]

Debarkation was really great. We went to breakfast at around 7:30 then went back to our cabin to pick up our carryon etc. We went to the Platinum/Diamond waiting area which was the small dining room on the port side, deck 3. There were plenty of places to sit and they offered rolls, coffee, tea and mimosas. We grabbed a cup of coffee and joined another couple. Within 5 minutes a gentleman came in and escorted all of the diamond members up and out the gangway. After another 10 minutes he came back for the platinum members and did the same thing. Passengers were already lined up even though they weren't calling colors yet and got pretty verbal thinking we were cutting in line. It was kind of weird. I finally had to tell them we were the diamond/platinum members and had priority debarkation.

 

I looked at my watch when we got to baggage area and it was 8:10. One plus to the diamond/platinum debarkation is your bags are spread throughout the colors. You don't have to protect yourself from 100 other people swinging bags in the same rows where you are looking for yours. Also the porters are lined up ready to go. We grabbed one and found our bags within a few minutes, a record for us :D . The porter walked us throough customs and since we had Luggage Valet took our bags to the American Airlines check-in area. You don't really check-in, he just takes your bags over to the right area and then went out to hail a cab for us. $19 and about as many minutes later we were at San Juan airport. We grabbed some sandwiches at the deli there and went through security. Watch check....9:05 and 2 hours until our flight.

 

We flew from San Juan to LAX, which is a 7 1/2 hour flight. We then were bussed to a small terminal for our flight to San Jose which takes about an hour. We had about 45 minutes until our flight would leave perfect timing for bathroom and to grab a soda. A few minutes before we were supposed to board they announced our flight would be about 30 minutes late. Then after another 10 minutes they announced it would be 60 minutes late.....a few minutes later...."your flight has been cancelled, please line up to make other arrangements" :mad: :mad: We're tired and want to be home now ugh! They rebooked us on a flight 90 minutes later that ended up in San Francisco. Well gee our car is in San Jose maam. They told us they'd bus us to San Jose, 45 minutes south AND we'd go right past our house on the way down:cool: . What happens to our luggage one might ask, they didn't have a clue BUT told us oh it will go to San Francisco with you, pick it up and meet the bus, just ask when you get to San Francisco..riiiiiiight.:rolleyes: The couple we were traveling with called a sister to make new arrangements for picking up their son, the beagle, and she offered to collect us from San Francisco...OUR HERO. We arrived, waited for our baggage and SURPRISE it didn't show up. So over to the baggage claim office to fill out the forms. Sister picked us up, we love her now, and dropped us at home. We had decided to deal with the car the next day. These things happen when you travel and I'm grateful our travel partners were good spirited and good company to wile away the additional vacation hours LOL. We collected the car the next day and the luggage was delivered that afternoon, no harm done.

 

That's our trip in a nutshell. Please let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer.

[rascalious]

I am going on the AOS again in September and am flying American Airlines. Tell me what is involved with the valet luggage service (disembarktion). This must be a new service, as I don't recall being able to check the luggage on through to the airport with AA. It is something I would want to do.

[wrp96]

It is a new service only offered in a couple of ports. What you do is a few days before the end of the cruise you sign up for it. Royal Caribbean checks you in on the ship, and prints off your boarding passes, and your luggage tags. At the end of the cruise, you retrieve your luggage and then drop it off after you've gone through customs. It costs $10 per person. It's only available if you are flying American, your flight leaves after a certain time (I think 11am) and before midnight that night, and all your travel is within the US and on American. I wasn't able to use it because I was flying home the next day, but I would've gladly used it to avoid having to wait in line so many times at the airport in San Juan.

[rascalious]

Thanks, I am going to do it!

[njoyndride]

It was a great service, I'll do it in a heartbeat where it's available. Especially in San Juan which can be crazy on a Sunday it was soooooo low stress. We received our boarding passes and luggage tags during our nightly turndown on the last night. The only other limitation other than the ones Wrona stated is you are allowed a maximum of 2 pieces of checked luggage per person. The cab driver was a little confused though when we got in the cab, off a cruiseship with no luggage :p .

[EricInCa]

Quick question about your flight back to the west coast....

 

So I know you shouldn't book a flight out of SJU before noon. Given that it seems like immigration is quicker when St. Thomas is the last stop, what are the chances of making a 10:45 flight? I see there is a flight back to SFO via LAX that departs SJU at 10:45 (I know yours left after 11:00). The next available flight is at 1:15 via Miami and gets us into SFO at 9PM, as opposed to 5:30 if I take the earlier flight.

[njoyndride]

Ernie - If you're on the run where St. Thomas is last you'd make it no problem. Since St. Thomas is so close to San Juan all you do is go around in circles on the last night. We were docked at 5:30am. Our flight was at 11:19 and we were at the airport a good 2 hours before the flight. If you are flying AA or United definately do the Luggage Valet. If not leave your debarking tags on your bags and you don't have to go through the agricultural check at the airport, only the regular TSA and check-in process.

[Ohio-C-Luver]

Glad you made it back home safely! We were wondering :confused: what times the Dining room is open for breakfast and lunch, and also what times the Windjammer serves the buffet? Like I said earlier this is the first cruise for us, and after I learn the times of the meal schedule for breakfast and lunch, I'll be out of questions for awhile! Thanks again for the great posts!

Jan

AOS 9/3/06

[EricInCa]

If not leave your debarking tags on your bags and you don't have to go through the agricultural check at the airport, only the regular TSA and check-in process.

 

Sharon,

 

Thanks for the response! If I take the earlier flight, which is on AA, I don't think I am eligible for the valet service as the flight is at 10:45 am. Having said that, could you briefly clarify the debarking tags and the agricultural check at the airport? I 'm assuming that Customs will place a tag on our luggage when leaving the ship? As long as the tags are on, we won't have to go through the agricultural check at the airport? (I don't remember going through this last time I was at SJU...about 3 years ago)

 

Thanks! Eric

[njoyndride]

Eric - First let me apologize for calling you Ernie, never post before morning coffee!!! You are correct the Luggage Valet starts with flights at 11am. Leave your debarkation tags on, the colored ones for announcing departure. Since the luggage is sniffed for food (among other things) when it comes off of the ship you don't need to stop and and get the agriculture sticker on them and can proceed directly to regular check-in. The aggie check is right in front of the terminal if I remember correctly, you may not have removed your ship tags the last time. It's just one less line to stand in.

 

Jan - My Compass' are at home and I'm posting from work, shhhhhhh, I'll get back to you later tonight.

[njoyndride]

Glad you made it back home safely! We were wondering :confused: what times the Dining room is open for breakfast and lunch, and also what times the Windjammer serves the buffet? Like I said earlier this is the first cruise for us, and after I learn the times of the meal schedule for breakfast and lunch, I'll be out of questions for awhile! Thanks again for the great posts!

 

Here's the dining schedule, feel free to ask away :) about anything else.

 

Dining Room

Breakfast 8-10

Lunch 12-2

Dinner 6:00 Main Seating 8:30 Late Seating

 

Windjammer

Breakfast 6-7 Early Bird

Breakfast 7-11:30 Full Breakfast

Lunch 11:30-3:00

Snacks 3:00-5:30

Dinner 6:30-9:00

 

Cafe Promenade

Snacks - 24 hours

 

Johnny Rockets

11:30am-1:00am

[Ohio-C-Luver]

Thanks so much Sharon for the schedule! That will help us plan a whole lot more now that we have a clue. Hubby really doesn't want to take a suit etc for formal night as he travels a lot for work etc and does that all the time. Let me guess, no dress up-no lobster I'll bet. I'm sure they wouldn't serve that in the Windjammer, maybe room service? Again thanks so much for the all the infomation. Looks like breakfast on the balcony on busy early days! Thanks again, the infomation is qreatly appreciated!

Jan

 

AOS 9/3/2006

[njoyndride]

Yes you can do room service for dinner. I ran into a couple who had formal night dinner on their balcony in their shorts. They thought it was the greatest thing. DH doesn't need to wear a suit, do the slacks, shirt and tie thing and it would be fine.

[EricInCa]

Thanks so much Sharon! You're probably right, I must have kept my tags on and didn't even notice the agriculture check. I think I will go ahead and swtich to the 10:45 flight.