Just Back from 7/30 Adventure

[BillfromWV]

Just a few observations and comments about the cruise. This is a wonderful ship with an outstanding crew. One can tell that the captain runs a tight ship as it shows with the service provided, which was excellent. There were apparently 3500 on the sailing of which 1500 were hispanic passengers. Earlier threads, at times, indicate that this could be a problem. I disagree, different cultures make the trip more interesting. The ship never felt croweded.

 

They are searching bags for alcohol now when you board. A little xray is set up on the way in once boarded. Also, there is a new policy, anyone under 21 cannot consume alcohol. The casino was not very crowded and not many people played bingo, maybe the economy, interest rates, and gas prices are finally taking a toll on discretionary spending.

 

As a side note, we spent the night at the Caribe Hilton prior to the cruise. An excellent property. Also, upon return, we stayed for the day and bought a day room for $120 for four people since our flight was not until 600 pm. We also used the valet luggage program, well worth the $10 a person to not have to touch our luggage once it was set in the hall until our flight arrived home.

 

Each port of call was a good experience. Personally, we enjoy beach and pool days and took advantage of local resorts which really paid off!!

 

In a nutshell, it was a fantastic cruise on an excellent ship with an incredible crew. If you are booked on her you will definately enjoy yourself!!

 

Bill

[cruiseman_tx]

Glad you had a good cruise.

We enjoyed the AOS for 2 cruises and would love to cruise on her again someday.

[KKeeganS]

Thanks for the review. We're counting down the days! Do you happen to remember who the Cruise Director was?

[thompson4131]

We also used the valet luggage program, well worth the $10 a person to not have to touch our luggage once it was set in the hall until our flight arrived home.

 

Bill

 

Can you go into further detail on this service? We're leaving this Sunday and I've not heard about this new service. When were you notified of this service? I agree...definately worth $10 p.p.

 

Thanks! Steve

[69VeeDub]

I too just got back from that cruise and I agree it was great.. I couldn't have asked for a better get away :) to KKeegan : the cruise director was Simeon Baker..he wasn't very funny and kept messing up his own jokes..oh well :)

[KKeeganS]

I too just got back from that cruise and I agree it was great.. I couldn't have asked for a better get away :) to KKeegan : the cruise director was Simeon Baker..he wasn't very funny and kept messing up his own jokes..oh well :)

 

Thanks for the info!

[Madkitty]

I'll get on it eventually :p

[cruiseman_tx]

Can you go into further detail on this service? We're leaving this Sunday and I've not heard about this new service. When were you notified of this service? I agree...definately worth $10 p.p.

 

Thanks! Steve

 

We did this on the Mariner last year and it worked real well. We were on American Airlines, and I don't know if all carriers are set up for the valet program. Just call guest relations when you're onboard and inquire.

A couple days before the end of the cruise you get a form to list all pertinent info...airline, destination and flight numbers. I believe we turned it in at the purser's desk. On the final day they will deliver to your cabin, the genuine, bar-coded luggage tags and boarding passes. Attach the tags to your luggage, set them outside the door that evening, and you won't see (or handle) them untill you arrive at your final destination.

As always, never pack anything in checked luggage you can't afford to part with. Cameras, electronics, jewelry etc...should be in a carryon. Have a great cruise. Bon Voyage!!

[dfgf]

Brings-up a question of mine. How do they keep from putting English- and Spanish-speaking people at the same table for dinner? Do they just assume that anyone that books from PR is Spanish-speaking and anyone from the mainland is English-speaking?

 

I've always wondered that.

[Punderful]

Brings-up a question of mine. How do they keep from putting English- and Spanish-speaking people at the same table for dinner? Do they just assume that anyone that books from PR is Spanish-speaking and anyone from the mainland is English-speaking?

 

I've always wondered that.

 

When you complete your online registration, you're asked which language to use (for the registration). I guess they take it from there.

 

Ron

[thompson4131]

We did this on the Mariner last year and it worked real well. We were on American Airlines, and I don't know if all carriers are set up for the valet program. Just call guest relations when you're onboard and inquire.

A couple days before the end of the cruise you get a form to list all pertinent info...airline, destination and flight numbers. I believe we turned it in at the purser's desk. On the final day they will deliver to your cabin, the genuine, bar-coded luggage tags and boarding passes. Attach the tags to your luggage, set them outside the door that evening, and you won't see (or handle) them untill you arrive at your final destination.

As always, never pack anything in checked luggage you can't afford to part with. Cameras, electronics, jewelry etc...should be in a carryon. Have a great cruise. Bon Voyage!!

 

Thanks for the info! This will be our 11th RCCL cruise and this is the part I've always dreaded. If USAir does this, I'll be extremely happy (& surprised)!

 

Thanks! Steve

[wrp96]

Thanks for the info! This will be our 11th RCCL cruise and this is the part I've always dreaded. If USAir does this, I'll be extremely happy (& surprised)!

 

Thanks! Steve

 

When I flew out of San Juan in March, it was only AA that had this service onboard.

[beshears]

It was good to hear that you had a good time on the Adventure of the Seas cruise.:)

 

 

I don't know what islands you went to, but I want to go to St. Lucia :) next year, and I know AOS, and Seranade O S, also goes there.

 

Can you describe a little about the rooms or ship itself? I have been on two other RCCL's, but not either of these.

[Fang]

We were also on the Cruise. It had been 11 years since we sailed on Royal Caribbean. Makes our last RCI ship that we sailed on "Sun Viking" look like a lifeboat.

 

The luggage valet was great. We were on American and everything worked perfectly. It was really worth the $10 per person.

 

I found the food very hit and miss in the dinning room, while the food in the Windjammer was good to very good. The lobster, jerk chicken, duck and prime rib were very good. The Thai BBQ chicken, veal parm., eggs benedict very poor.

 

Since it had been sometime since we have sailed on RCCL, do they always use so much rice and mashed pots. in the main dinning room? It seemed that almost every dish had one or the other (not the prime rib or veal).

 

I had always assumed that you could get room service from the dinning room during the dinning room hours, but that was not the case. It made for a lot of breakfasts in the Windjammer.

 

The Ice Skating show was very good, as well as the Newlywed game.

 

I wish that hand sanitizers were in the Windjammer, like on other lines.

 

Overall, it was a very nice cruise with the only major complaint being the rain in St. Thomas.

[mjyanne]

Brings-up a question of mine. How do they keep from putting English- and Spanish-speaking people at the same table for dinner? Do they just assume that anyone that books from PR is Spanish-speaking and anyone from the mainland is English-speaking?

 

I've always wondered that.

 

Doesn't matter as almost everyone (I know there are exceptions) from San Juan speaks both English and Spanish since PR is a US territory. And I assume it wouldn't matter as we have been seated with Europeans who spoke little English (made for challenging dinner conversation to say the least).

[nanfromatlanta]

Doesn't matter as almost everyone (I know there are exceptions) from San Juan speaks both English and Spanish since PR is a US territory. And I assume it wouldn't matter as we have been seated with Europeans who spoke little English (made for challenging dinner conversation to say the least).

 

That's part of the fun of cruising. We have had the opportunity to meet all kinds of people from all over the world.

[BillfromWV]

Thompson...

As I recall, American Airlines, USAir and United all participated in this program. As noted, you fill out the form take it to guest relations, they bill your account $10 a person. On Saturday night, you receive your boarding passes, and luggage tags. When you get onshore prior to clearing customs, you take your bags, we used a porter. Clear customs and take the bag to representatives of your airlines. They take the bags from there. There is no need to check in when you get to the airport as you already have your tickets. Just go through security. Don't tell anyone but this service is probably worth more than they charge. A peice of cake.

 

Have a good trip

Bill

[Mikensusanl]

We were on that cruise as well, this being our 3rd time on AOS. I would agree about the service and the captain was very personable compared to the others we have had in the past.

The rain in St Thomas was a bit disappointing, but it is in the Caribbean. :cool: it only lasted a short while anyway. I am happy to see all of the developement along the water front going on as you go into town. We have always walked in from the ship, this time we taxied since we had the girls with us. We enjoy being able to see the changes taking place in each port we have been to previously.

My husband and I decided we prefer the other southern route to this one even though it was cool being only 30 miles from Venezuela!. Aruba was great for snorkeling, lots of pictures of fish taken with those great underwater cameras! It was nice to be there for that length of time, only the shops close so early and having done 2 shore excursions during the day, we didn't have time to shop. But my 18 year old step daughter and I managed to make it over to Carlos and Charlies for a while. . . . what a crazy place! Got the big yard glasses for a momento to prove we were there! We did a cave excursion on Curacao as part of the historical tour, it was very interesting. It amazes me that the buildings are so incredibly old in this part of the world. St Martin is always beautiful and worth the trip as well. Snorkel and swimming was great as we took the Golden Eagle tour out to an island quite a ways from the main island.

We have done the Eastern route as well and prefer the southern. I would love to experience the western route sometime too.

We were told by our head waiter that in 2008 AOS is going to be retired from the southern routes completely and placed on the route sailing from San Diego. As the bigger ships roll out they will be taking over the southern routes.

I thought there were less Puerto Rican's onboard this time than any of the other times we have done this route. This is the first time we have gone during the summer, we usually cruise at the end of September around our anniversary. There are always a large number of spanish speaking people on board though, I thought there were less of other ethnic groups than we usually experience. Could be I just wasn't paying attention either, having a 16 and an 18 year old with us was a bit distracting.

I hope all who are cruising on the AOS will have a great time!!!!

Susan

[TheEngineer]

Brings-up a question of mine. How do they keep from putting English- and Spanish-speaking people at the same table for dinner? Do they just assume that anyone that books from PR is Spanish-speaking and anyone from the mainland is English-speaking?

 

I've always wondered that.

 

In my experience, there were more English speaking people in Puerto Rico than there are in California. Most of them are bilingual.