9/23-9/30 AOS Review WOW What a Ship!!

[frito58]

This was our first cruise on RCI after 5 Carnival cruises. We were ready for a change and really wanted to try the southern itinerary.

We are an almost 50 year old couple who love cruising and meeting new people, our CC roll call was a blast and we met so many great people who were fun to hang with.

 

I should say I hate to type so I'll try to touch base on most things but if there are any questions ask away and I'll try to answer them.

 

We went a day early and stayed at the El San Juan Hotel and Casino, it was very nice, yes there is some work being done but it is not a bother. The pool area was the nicest I have ever seen it was just beautiful. Thye gave us a room along the pool it was in an older building but was still very nice. We ate at the hotel they have a country and western type place on the 10th floor, reminds you of Gillys from the movie Urban Cowboy.

 

We checked out around 11:30 it was pretty hot and we didn't want to have to wait outside to get on the ship. About a 10 minute cab ride and yes there was a line but we were inside and on the ship in about 20 minutes. We went straight to the Promenade as we wanted to see it and was so impressed we hung out there a lot through the week . The Duck and Dog was so much fun I wish we had went more. The sports bar was fun as well but really only had things to watch on Sunday and the following Saturday if you liked football, the rest of the week was mostly soccer.

 

We grabbed some food and since our rooms were going to be ready at 1pm we just hung out and went to our room when it was ready.

 

We were in 7388 corner aft room, Wow what more can I say about that room and balcony, this should tell you how much we loved it we booked it again for next Sept. with the Aruba itinerary. That balcony is so big we sat out there all of the time there was always a nice breeze and never too hot even when we were stopped. We took an Ohio State flag and hung it on the side , it was funny how many people I heard saying something about and I would tell them it was us.

 

The first day was a sea day I used it to explore the ship and the casino, my DW used it for sun. The casino was pretty good to me I had won money in San Juan so was off to a good start and it continued on the ship I put 50 bucks in the Wheel of Fortune machine and hit the jackpot , $1000. So it was a nice way to start the week, it even gave me $300 more the next morning. I would give some back but had enough left to buy my wife a new diamond ring for our 25th anniversary. Mike a CC friend hit a straight flush on 3 card poker, so there was some money to be won.

 

 

Barbados , my wife had got plenty of sun so we opted to explore the island by cab. The first driver wanted $80 to show us around I said too much and then we hooked up with an nice couple from Miami, Armando and Natalie, who also wanted to explore the Island and we found a driver with a nice van who agreed to a 2 hour tour for $20 PP. He showed us all around and as we were in out travels the weather turned crappy so Armando decided they would skip the beach and continue our tour so for another $15 per couple he showed us most of the Island. More in a few minutes

[frito58]

I figured I would post what I had If it would disappear I would hate to type it again LOL.

 

Day 4 St. Lucia, we did the Cosol Tour what more can you say about his tours. Thye are the best very professional and fun , we had a lot of our CC roll call friends on the tour so that made it more fun. Bumpy our driver was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot about there island.

 

Day5 Antigua, It rained off and on most of the morning so we just shopped along the pier, did get a nice diamond ring here.

 

Day 6 St. Marten, Thanks to our CC friend Mike we had a great time here. We were going to to Orient beach but he was telling us to just take the water taxi to the shops and there was nice beaches right there . So we shopped a little and as we were walking a nice young man asked if we were looking for chairs to rent so we got a 3 wood padded chairs a table 3 umbrellas and a chair for my wife a bucket of beer and a bottle of water and a soda for $ 25. We also had some really good food, I don't know the name of the place but everything had different colors and there stuff was yellow.

[frito58]

Day 7 St. Thomas , someone really needs to explain to me the why we have to get up and check in , I know why but it seem pointless if someone had got on the ship do you think they would go through this check???? I know everyone was grumbling but it was quick and we were off to downtown. It was a quite dissapointing we had been there in 2003 and got some good deals but now they dont seem to want to deal on things we were looking at the knock off purses fo my wife and daughter. In 03 we got some fo $20 now they wat $75 and up and don't want to come down I offerd them $100 for 2 and he just grabbed them up and hung them back up so I said fine keep them.They had literally thousands of them so I'm not sure what the deal is. We did buy some alcohol looked around and headed back to the ship.

 

The ship was very nice and clean about the only dissapointing thing was the huge stain on our loveseat was kind of surprised they had not cleaned or replaced it but that was the only dirt I really saw. The carpet throughout the ship looked brand new and was very nice. I will have to admit this ship is far above anything we have seen on Carnival, and our last cruise was on the Glory. It was layed out so nice just so many little things, for example the publis restrooms were so much nicer looking and always so clean. The deck where the gangway is was so nice looking . Carnivals actually looks like the bottom of the ship.

 

We never went to the dining room and we have always went on Carnival, we just never got in the mood we brought some casual clothes but just always seemed to end up in the WJ or Johnny Rockets or room service. Could have been the fact that we had so many stops and had early dinner. The WJ was okay nothing great and about the same food every night.

 

Service was okay some very nice and attentive and others seemed to be not so good.

 

Shows, The Beatles tribute band was excellent. The Ice show was great. The one vegas type show we saw was pretty good the woman singers were fanatastic the guys were a little weak, thier voices where overpowered by the woman. The cruise director was Pierce Ivan, He was good, I usually pay very little attention to the CD, so they don't make or break our cruise. He did seem to turn up everywhere, He even showed up at the Duck and Dog one night sang a song and hung out for a bit.

 

Disembark was a breeze we used the United pre check so we had our luggage tags and boarding passes the night before. We were off the ship and to the airport by 9:00 so wouldn"t have had to pay the extra for the pre-check but having heard so many horror stories about San Juan airport we figured better safe than sorry. Well thats it in a nut shell if there are ant Questions let me know.................

[roe2ship]

Thanks for sharing. Nice to hear you were pretty impressed.

 

Does Barbados and St. Lucia have shopping at their piers? TIA

[Apoggi]

Thanks for that great report. We are doing the Serenade in March and I am counting the days. I just love the southern route.

 

Ann

[enzeno]

We were on the 9/16 sailing, just before you, and I noticed in St. Thomas, they were putting ROLLS and ROLLS of carpet on the ship. Maybe that is why it all looked brand new :). I was wondering about that... :D

 

Thanks for posting your review.

[frito58]

Thanks for sharing. Nice to hear you were pretty impressed.

 

Does Barbados and St. Lucia have shopping at their piers? TIA

 

Yes both have areas around the pier were you can buy some local things. I heard that the downtown area in Barbados wasn't very nice.

[frito58]

We were on the 9/16 sailing, just before you, and I noticed in St. Thomas, they were putting ROLLS and ROLLS of carpet on the ship. Maybe that is why it all looked brand new :). I was wondering about that... :D

 

Thanks for posting your review.

 

That would make sense because it all looked new, but I wonder when they would have installed it.

[uksimonusa]

Thanks for the review, who was playing in the Duck and Dog?

[EggDropErin]

Glad you enjoyed your cruise. AOS is our favorite ship as of right now. Wouldn't hesitate to go back on her. And congrats on your casino wins! :)

[frito58]

Thanks for the review, who was playing in the Duck and Dog?

 

Shane is still playing at the Duck and Dog.

[paggerscorvette]

Glad you had a great cruise. We fell in love with the AOS. Going to try Freedom or Liberty next year.

By the way, How bout them BUCS????

 

OH--IO

[frito58]

Glad you had a great cruise. We fell in love with the AOS. Going to try Freedom or Liberty next year.

By the way, How bout them BUCS????

 

OH--IO

 

Its funny you would mention the Bucks they were on ESPN the day we got to San Juan so there I was at the hotel sitting there watching the game.:D

[KillaFee]

Yay!! I'm always pleased when I read a positive AOS review because we're taking quite a few first timers with us when we get married in Aruba while on the AOS in January. :D Aren't Cosol tours the best!?!?! We did the same itinerary as you on the Serenade in February. I loooove the Southern Caribbean! Now that you've made the switch - do you think you'll stick with Royal Caribbean in the future?

Laura

[frito58]

Yay!! I'm always pleased when I read a positive AOS review because we're taking quite a few first timers with us when we get married in Aruba while on the AOS in January. :D Aren't Cosol tours the best!?!?! We did the same itinerary as you on the Serenade in February. I loooove the Southern Caribbean! Now that you've made the switch - do you think you'll stick with Royal Caribbean in the future?

Laura

 

Yes we are we have the Jewel booked in March and as I posted we rebooked the AOS for the Aruba route. It's nothing against Carnival we just like this a little better at least for know. We still have a Carnival cruised booked for next Nov. if we decide to keep it.