"Live from Adventure of the Seas"

[EricJen]

Still 10 degrees here in Chicago, have fun in the heat.

[Annefran]

Thanks BuyReallyLow, This has been great to get your perspective on AOS as you're experiencing it. Too many negative postings lately about AOS. It's been very refreshing and enlightening to get positive feedback. My daughter & I are booked on AOS Easter 2007 and cannot wait.

 

I liked your idea of going to Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, we are definitely going to try that. Have fun and keep giving us your wonderful comments!

 

Happy Holidays!

[Cruise doggie]

Hi ByReallyLow, I appreciate the time you have taken to write about your adventures on the AOS. We will be sailing on her in a little more than 90 days from now, and Im sitting here at my desk dreaming of being right where you are. This will be our 4th cruise and one cant help the excitment of the count down.

Thanks again for putting a smile on my face and glad to hear that the AOS is in as good of shape as you have mentioned in previous posts.

 

Happy Holidays to you and your family...

[lauren0309]

Thanks for taking the time to give us a day by day report of your cruise. I anxiously await your daily report and can't wait to read it each day I come home from work as I will be on AOS on 1/7/07!

 

We are trying to decide which night to eat at Portofino's. The first night is out since we want to meet our tablemates. The night in Aruba is out and the formal night is out unless we eat there the second formal night which we did on one of our other cruises since we didn't feel like getting all dressed up twice. Is one formal night better than the other? Can you tell me the menu for both formal nights?

[BuyReallyLow]

Everyone has their own favorite island - and the reasons why vary for many, many reasons. But when it comes to a couple of islands that most people like and figure into many cruise itineraries - one can't beat Sint Maarten and tomorrows Port - St. Thomas. They are not our ALL-TIME favorite, but visiting both puts smiles on our faces (for different reasons, as your about to findout!)

 

Today is our friends 40th Birthday! She is not all too excited about it - but we thought we would try to give her a day to remember, so we rented a Jeep Cherokee from Best Deals Rental ($75 for the day), and took a trip around Sint Maarten.

 

There are so many memorable beaches around this island - there's Maho Beach with the Jets flying right over you as they land and a great little bar (where some can drink free if they qualify:p ) to Orient, Dawn, and too many others to even count - not including the fantastic private ones! If you made an effort to have a drink and enjoy each one - you could not in the time alloted, and you certainly could not drive home (I don't know what the legal limit is on Sint Maarten, but I'd blow over .10 for sure). But just hitting the highlights makes for a wonderful day. One quick note - you may want to avoid the Dawn Beach area for the foreseeable future - they are building a new Weston resort and it the area getting to Dawn beach is all tore up - you'd better have 4-wheel drive to get there and even then like to mix it up a little. But the Ocean, the water, and the sights are unforgettable!

 

Normally, if you don't try to stop at each one and you get a decent start to your day, you will be able to have a nice lunch in Marigot on the French side, do a little shopping there, and still get back in time to do my wife's favorite thing - shopping!! St. Thomas has the reputation, but Sint Maarten is no slouch herself when it comes to shopping. I wish that I could invest in Diamonds International - because I made another deposit there today for more bangles for the DW - and I'm sure St. Thomas will get a deposit as well! Using the water taxis to flirt around the down town is just part of the charm of Phillipsburg - $4.95 gets you around for the day. If you have never been to Sint Maarten, your in for a treat! Make sure you sample the Guavaberry!

 

But today also starts the foreboding - since our trip has almost come to an end!! Normally today is the day when the suitcase gets rediscovered, and some items are stored to make tomorrow easier. We are not used to having a port on the last day, so it should be interesting in St. Thomas tomorrow.

 

Tonight, it is off to the Concierge Lounge (Again!), then off to Portofinos (Again!) to celebrate our friends 40th, then maybe take in the show tonight (though maybe not - it is the Royal Caribbean Dancers/Singers), and then who knows where? Everynight is an adventure on Adventure (pardon that) if your open to the possibilities.....I wonder who we will meet tonight!

 

So be well this fine Friday - Sunny and mid 80's today. Will post later tonight on happenings and to answer any of your questions.

 

BRL

[TamaLee]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write your live review. I am enjoying it very much.

 

I have a question I hope you can answer for me when you find out. What time do the first passangers get off the ship and does the Adventure offer the self debarkation.

 

We are trying to decide if we can make a 11:40am flight.

 

Thanks.

[Platypus]

Thanks, BRL, for all of your wonderful posts. I have enjoyed reading all of your posts. My SIL and I will be sailing on AOS 2/4 and we can't wait. It is the first cruise for both of us.

 

Can you tell me how ship time compared to island time in St. Maarten today? We have a tour arranged in St. Maarten but have been a little confused about what time to meet our guide. If we want to meet her at 9 am ship time, what time is it on the island?

 

Thanks for your help and for taking your valuable vacation time to share the AOS experience with all of us. :)

[johnbob7]

Thanks BRL,

 

You continue to entertain and inform those of us that will follow in your footsteps.

 

If you get the chance (I think only the 50th time you have read that line here!) maybe you could ask Ana about the New Years Eve questions (what are they going to do on board, since we leave early at 8:30 PM on the 31st). She sounds like a wonderful Concierge, we look forward to meeting her on our cruise.

 

Enjoy St Thomas!

 

bobj

[diamond girl 000]

Hi BRL - So glad that you are having such a great time! Know that we at home are drooling thinking about the places you are seeing and have been this week! Even here in the South we're single and low double digit temps!

there's Maho Beach with the Jets flying right over you as they land and a great little bar (where some can drink free if they qualify:p )

Hopefully none of your group was drinking for free!!;) We had lunch there in August.

We have really enjoyed and appreciated sharing your cruise. Thanks for the bright spot in the chilly winter days and for taking the time from your vacation to share with all of us.

Please pass a message of hello to Dexter when you see him. One of the nicest guys you'd ever meet - took good care of us this summer!

Thanks so much and enjoy St. Thomas!

Sande

[cme4ltc]

BRL: As i have posted before #1' LOVE YOUR POSTS! #2 Will you stay on posting until we get on on 1-28! HOW IS YOUR ROOM? I realize that most on these boards wil not have the opportunity for this type of room, but we will. So please spend a few sentences on your room. Enjoy tomorrow, only wish for you it could last a little longer, as many are enjoying your posts. Happy Holidays:)

[ckrobyn]

BRL - Thanks again for sharing your cruise with us!

 

I can't wait until February 24th when we are on the AOS for 14 days :D

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise :)

[bplazo]

I have to agree with BRL this has been a great cruise.

 

The staff is friendly, Ana in the conceirge lounge is wonderfull, so is our room steward and our server in the dining room. We did try Portofins one night and it was great.

 

We have done two excursions s far. We did a jeep tour with ABC tours and it was the highlight of our cruise. We went to some amazing places with the jeep. It was scary in some places especially with my husband driving. This excursion was in Aruba.

 

We also did the America Cup sailboat racing which I thought was just so-so. We only had eight passanger on each boat and because of this you had to work alot harder to sail the boat. I did not get a change just to enjoy the sailing part.

 

I will also post more when we get home. It has been a great cruise!

[BuyReallyLow]

Thanks for taking the time to give us a day by day report of your cruise. I anxiously await your daily report and can't wait to read it each day I come home from work as I will be on AOS on 1/7/07!

 

We are trying to decide which night to eat at Portofino's. The first night is out since we want to meet our tablemates. The night in Aruba is out and the formal night is out unless we eat there the second formal night which we did on one of our other cruises since we didn't feel like getting all dressed up twice. Is one formal night better than the other? Can you tell me the menu for both formal nights?

 

The 2nd formal night is "pork night", with Pork Loin chops among other things. Friday night is Fisherman's Platter night, with the Lobster, shrimp and others. I do not remember what the first formal night was (since we did not attend), but I will try to find out.

[BuyReallyLow]

I have to agree with BRL this has been a great cruise.

 

The staff is friendly, Ana in the conceirge lounge is wonderfull, so is our room steward and our server in the dining room. We did try Portofins one night and it was great.

 

We have done two excursions s far. We did a jeep tour with ABC tours and it was the highlight of our cruise. We went to some amazing places with the jeep. It was scary in some places especially with my husband driving. This excursion was in Aruba.

 

We also did the America Cup sailboat racing which I thought was just so-so. We only had eight passanger on each boat and because of this you had to work alot harder to sail the boat. I did not get a change just to enjoy the sailing part.

 

I will also post more when we get home. It has been a great cruise!

 

Brenda - I'm sorry that you did not enjoy your excursion - I was hoping that we were going to run into you last night! Talk to you soon!

 

Bill

[lauren0309]

Thanks for the info. I think we will eat at Portofino's the second formal night since neither of us really care if we miss the pork night.

[BuyReallyLow]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write your live review. I am enjoying it very much.

 

I have a question I hope you can answer for me when you find out. What time do the first passangers get off the ship and does the Adventure offer the self debarkation.

 

We are trying to decide if we can make a 11:40am flight.

 

Thanks.

 

 

The first dearkation time is normally 8:30, althought it can be earlier. When you embark, they will ask you to fill out a form and note the time of your flight. If it is really early (before 9:30 AM), you may be able to leave as early as 7:30. Departure Pass #1 is at 8:30 AM (Courtesy of Ana our Conceirge!)

 

Adventure of the Seas does not offer Self Debarkation, by request of San Juan Customs officials.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Bill

[mikeblum]

brl enjoy the last few hrs on AOS...it's always a little bit of a bummer that all of this waiting and in just 7 short days it's over...please don't let the plastic blowup in st thomas today...but if it does i'm sure it will be well wroth...lot's of shops to take care alot of folks on the x-mas list...please let us know how the day goes and how dinner was at portofino's the second time...happy 40th to your friend...FYI...IT'LL BE 45 IN MINNEAPOLIS TODAY...PLAN TO GRILL A COUPLE OF RACKS OF RIBS FOR DINNER...ya it's not portofino's but i can dream until we are on the AOS on 3-18-07...are you heading back tommorrow or doing a post nite in san juan...

[BuyReallyLow]

Thanks, BRL, for all of your wonderful posts. I have enjoyed reading all of your posts. My SIL and I will be sailing on AOS 2/4 and we can't wait. It is the first cruise for both of us.

 

Can you tell me how ship time compared to island time in St. Maarten today? We have a tour arranged in St. Maarten but have been a little confused about what time to meet our guide. If we want to meet her at 9 am ship time, what time is it on the island?

 

Thanks for your help and for taking your valuable vacation time to share the AOS experience with all of us. :)

 

Sorry - I didn't notice the island time vs. the ship time.

[BuyReallyLow]

Thanks BRL,

 

You continue to entertain and inform those of us that will follow in your footsteps.

 

If you get the chance (I think only the 50th time you have read that line here!) maybe you could ask Ana about the New Years Eve questions (what are they going to do on board, since we leave early at 8:30 PM on the 31st). She sounds like a wonderful Concierge, we look forward to meeting her on our cruise.

 

Enjoy St Thomas!

 

bobj

 

 

Ana asked the Hotel Director about New Years, and she said that they are going to have a party, but no other plans (i.e. - formal night being moved up, etc). So you can expect a Party (no surprise there!)

 

BRL

[BuyReallyLow]

Hi BRL - So glad that you are having such a great time! Know that we at home are drooling thinking about the places you are seeing and have been this week! Even here in the South we're single and low double digit temps!

 

Hopefully none of your group was drinking for free!!;) We had lunch there in August.

We have really enjoyed and appreciated sharing your cruise. Thanks for the bright spot in the chilly winter days and for taking the time from your vacation to share with all of us.

Please pass a message of hello to Dexter when you see him. One of the nicest guys you'd ever meet - took good care of us this summer!

Thanks so much and enjoy St. Thomas!

Sande

 

I passed on your note to Dexter - we see him everynight and have our Kir Royal. He remembers you and said he knows "something is wrong" with his email. If you give yours to us - I'll try to pass it on.

[BuyReallyLow]

brl enjoy the last few hrs on AOS...it's always a little bit of a bummer that all of this waiting and in just 7 short days it's over...please don't let the plastic blowup in st thomas today...but if it does i'm sure it will be well wroth...lot's of shops to take care alot of folks on the x-mas list...please let us know how the day goes and how dinner was at portofino's the second time...happy 40th to your friend...FYI...IT'LL BE 45 IN MINNEAPOLIS TODAY...PLAN TO GRILL A COUPLE OF RACKS OF RIBS FOR DINNER...ya it's not portofino's but i can dream until we are on the AOS on 3-18-07...are you heading back tommorrow or doing a post nite in san juan...

 

Heading back tomorrow - have not seen the weather report - with it being that warm do things look clear for the midwest?

[mikeblum]

the weather is supposed to be great until the middle part of the week...saw the weather channel this morning and middle 30's all the way til next weekend...somebody please pinch me...no major issue's...snow showers possible for tuesday nite or wednesday morning but no snow yet on the ground...don't really care if it's going to be a brown x-mas...enjoy st thomas...the next noise you hear are your credit cards shaking...

[BuyReallyLow]

After showing and recovering from our bouncy ride around St. Maarten, we headed to dinner at Portofinos. We requested the same server from our first visit (Jose) who was absolutely fantastic. He has mastered the art of being present when you need him but leaving you alone to enjoy company when he is not needed. The meal of course was great! Our newly minted 40-year old friend received a special birthday cake in her cabin to celebrate her day - I wonder who got that for her? :p

 

After dinner, we headed down to the Imperial Lounge to get our evening laugh - the band. They are such an odd collection of musicians whose musical styles just don't mesh - it made our sides hurt! I know that sounds mean, but sometimes you just have to laugh! If you like to do swing dancing and the like, this seemed to be the place to be - there were four couples working their magic to this odd group and they appeared to be enjoying themselves. After that it was a run to the Prominade for the Latin Feista Parade (ho-hum), then a nightcap at the Champagne Bar, then off to the room by a bit after midnight. So a pretty boring night, huh?

 

A few of you have asked us to comment on the Owners Suite - it is very nice. First off, you have the extra space which those who cruise know is nice to have. There is almost too much space if that makes sense - there are drawers everywhere and I have been spending time trying to make sure I have not left anything behind. We are the kind of people who may spend more time in the room than others - I like to find quiet places to read/relax - so the larger balcony does fine there. My DW really likes the 42' flat plasma screen that is on the swivel that can face the bed or out into the living room. The couch is very comfortable - the DW has taken many naps there this week! The sound system, including the DVD player is very nice - we brought our own CDs with music to fit different moods and listened to them throughtout the day/evening. Be careful if you bring your own creations - the DVD/CD player does not appear to play these discs - I connected my laptop thru the system in order to play them. There is a very nice selection of DVDs to borrow in the Conceirge lounge, but they have been pretty popular so if that is your thing you may want to pack a few of your favorites. The larger bathroom is a big plus - the larger shower is made to order for a taller person, and the twin sinks make getting ready in the morning or before dinner much easier.

 

I would like to experience a Grand Suite so I can compare it to an owners to see if the extra size is worth the extra money, but we'll have to see if we can land one of them (GS) on a future cruise.

 

The mid-ship location is also perfect. It is very close to the stairs, yet since it is behind the wall you don't hear the noise from the elevators. One flight down is the Conceirge Lounge, and one-flight up is Windjammer - so it could not be more centrally located.

 

Well, today it is off to St. Thomas for a morning of power-shopping. We'll give you the update later today on our experiences. Keep the questions coming - I'll do my best to answer them!

 

Remember to give a kiss to someone that you love!

 

BRL

[diamond girl 000]

I passed on your note to Dexter - we see him everynight and have our Kir Royal. He remembers you and said he knows "something is wrong" with his email. If you give yours to us - I'll try to pass it on.

Thank You! Thank You! Dexter was a really important element in our 10th anniversay trip. A large group of us has tried to get in touch with him and could not. We are planning on sailing AOS again in the spring and hope that he'll be onboard! He can reach me at sandeculhane at hotmail dot com . I appreciate this so much! Hope you enjoy your kir royale tonight!! Have fun in St. Thomas - enjoy your day! :)

Sande

[ckrobyn]

BRL - we had GS 1324 on the AOS last February ( and we actually saw the OS that you are in) The GS is wonderful - a really good size with a big bathroom and double sinks!While the GS is not as large as the OS, the space is well utilized with the exception of the bar area which hogs up to much of the room IMHO. Unfortunately there is no 42" TV that swivels, but there is a CD/DVD player. You should definitely try it on one of your cruises! :)

 

Enjoy St. Thomas - I made friends with the Manager at Diamonds International and will visit him again when I am there both weeks in February! My DH is dreading it :rolleyes:

 

Have a great final day on my favourite ship! :D

 

What is a KIR ROYALE?????