AOS Aruba route 11/18 Quince Cruise NO PROBLEMS!

[titomalu]

Everybody is entitled to their opinion. Take it easy folks. I think that I have a right to defend myself and the place that I call home.

 

I wish you had to constantly read the BS that is put here about where you live or your race. You would probably have the same reaction I have.

 

I am Puerto Rican and very proud of my heritage, background and culture and I will not let anyone make generalizations of our people. That is what is really uncalled for.

 

I think it an issue of respect. How can you expect to be respected if you dont respect others. With comments that I have read here about latin mafia, thugs, etc... etc... I have to be very defensive.

 

If I offend you, that is not my intention. But many of your comments have offended me. I'm sorry but that is how I feel.

[Happy Mom]

Everybody is entitled to their opinion. Take it easy folks. I think that I have a right to defend myself and the place that I call home.

 

I wish you had to constantly read the BS that is put here about where you live or your race. You would probably have the same reaction I have.

 

I am Puerto Rican and very proud of my heritage, background and culture and I will not let anyone make generalizations of our people. That is what is really uncalled for.

 

I think it an issue of respect. How can you expect to be respected if you dont respect others. With comments that I have read here about latin mafia, thugs, etc... etc... I have to be very defensive.

 

If I offend you, that is not my intention. But many of your comments have offended me. I'm sorry but that is how I feel.

 

 

I wish I could have met you on the ship. I would've liked to have shaken your hand. I have a lot of respect for the way you have handled yourself on these boards. Perhaps next year... Thanksgiving week on the Liberty of the Seas!

[joelmarj]

I wish you had to constantly read the BS that is put here about where you live or your race. You would probably have the same reaction I have.

 

I am Puerto Rican and very proud of my heritage, background and culture and I will not let anyone make generalizations of our people. That is what is really uncalled for.

 

I think it an issue of respect. How can you expect to be respected if you dont respect others. With comments that I have read here about latin mafia, thugs, etc... etc... I have to be very defensive.

 

If I offend you, that is not my intention. But many of your comments have offended me. I'm sorry but that is how I feel.

 

First of all, I'm from New York, so I know what it's like to be bashed all the time.

 

The generalization is the fact that the ship sails from PR and is heavily populated with PR's. My experience was that they were the ones that caused the ruckus, rudeness and loudness. That is MY experience and is not perception but reality.

 

As for respect, it's earned not entitled. How can you speak of respect when you yourself were disrepectful of our experiences by saying that it was "BS". We are all entitled to our opinions and pass on our experiences. That's all that has been done. I have nothing against Puerto Ricans or Asians or French or anyone else (even Hasidics ;)). I do have a problem with the crowd that seems to be attracted to this particular itinerary and I will therefore chose not to sail it ever again. I also chose never to sail Carnival for many reasons as well, but again that is based on my experience. I'm just sharing those experiences with those on board.

[Dengail]

Titomalu- sorry, off topic- just read your post and we are really looking forward to visiting PR on the Liberty this Dec...our adopted 2 yr old is part Puerto Rican and we would love to find some stores to shop for some cute clothes for her- to celibrate her heritage...any ideas? We will be in San Juan for a few hours..you can email me too...thanks..DSikkenga@aol.com

[KillaFee]

Hey Titomalu - I'm going on the AOS on January 20, 2008 and we're going down to San Juan on the 18th - the same weekend as the San Sebastian Street Festival. How fun is it? :D

Laura

[Let'sGo!]

Finally a positive post about AOS and again, it turns nasty! Jeesh!

 

I didn't take Titomalu's remark about the BS as offensive at all. It was just a comment. It's what these boards are about.

 

I do think some people have had really bad times on their cruises out of PR, probably because they weren't prepared for the cultural differences in lifestyles. And let's face it, you don't want to pay lots of money and have a bad time. Those people are entitled to complain and certainly to proclaim they never want to cruise out of Puerto Rico again. Frankly, I ran into so many rude people on a Christmas cruise out of Miami that I probably won't cruise during that time of year from there again! But seriously, I think the personal attacks on this subject have just gotten out of hand.

 

Happy Mom - I'm glad you and yours had what sounds like a wonderful time. I'm really looking forward to our AOS cruise in February, come what may.

 

In the meantime -- Titomalu, I for one am glad you have spoken up on the boards. I am going to ask you lots of questions about Puerto Rico between now and February! We're going to be staying at El Convento before our cruise in February. I'm a huge fan of Spansih folkart. I've heard there is some little store around OSJ that makes little statues of missions. Do you know where I am talking about?

[titomalu]

Titomalu- sorry, off topic- just read your post and we are really looking forward to visiting PR on the Liberty this Dec...our adopted 2 yr old is part Puerto Rican and we would love to find some stores to shop for some cute clothes for her- to celibrate her heritage...any ideas? We will be in San Juan for a few hours..you can email me too...thanks..DSikkenga@aol.com

 

I'll send you an email shortly with some information.

[titomalu]

Hey Titomalu - I'm going on the AOS on January 20, 2008 and we're going down to San Juan on the 18th - the same weekend as the San Sebastian Street Festival. How fun is it? :D

Laura

 

San Sebastian is an absolute blast, but beware, it is full of people all over Old San Juan.

 

San Sebastian Street is a street in Old San Juan that is about three to four city blocks long. Thousands of people flock to the street at night.

 

During the day all around Old San Juan artisans set up shop to sell their stuff. By the city hall there are some artisans selling paintings and lithographs. In the Ballaja Museum the best artisans of the island show their creations. You may find lithographs, paintings, sculptures, wooden figures of the three kings and all variety of local arts & crafts that are highly coveted by local collectors. (including myself !!)

 

During the day and night in front of Ballaja Museum they setup a stage where many of the famous local bands play. You will have typical music, salsa, merengue and headliners playing there every night starting on Thursday through Sunday.

 

You will see many local groups playing alot of percussion and singing on the street all over the place.

 

It is a very local festival and loved by many puertorricans. At night, you will be pushed, shoved, probably stepped on, and you will be moved by the throngs of people - you will not be able to walk, you will have to go with the flow.

 

During the day it is not as full. At night it is bonkers. If you can tolerate the feeling of being a bit claustrophibic then you will be fine. It's a bit like Mardi Gras, people walking all over the place having a blast.

 

When you get to san juan look for the tourism company's publications which will have the San Sebastian festival schedule.

 

they have activities for all ages.....make sure you check out the program.

 

here are a couple of pictures of what I'm talking about:

 

 

hopes this helps....

[titomalu]

I'm a huge fan of Spansih folkart. I've heard there is some little store around OSJ that makes little statues of missions. Do you know where I am talking about?

 

There are many stores in Old San Juan. The best place is called Puerto Rican Arts and Craft in Fortaleza Street. It has a great selection of local arts including some similar to that which I put on the pictures about San Sebastian.

 

There is another store by La Bombonera on San Francisco Street that you can check out.

 

You can always also go to the main shopping mall called Plaza Las Americas which has another store but is a bit pricey.

[Aquahound]

I am Puerto Rican and very proud of my heritage, background and culture and I will not let anyone make generalizations of our people. That is what is really uncalled for.

 

Actually, if you do a search for my posts, you'll see that I reported spending time in PR pre-cruise and loved every second of it.

 

The cruise itself was a different experience. And if all the rude behavior came from Puerto Ricans, so be it. That's the way it was. And I'm no stranger to the island, so it's not a culture thing either.

 

So yes, your comment was UNCALLED FOR. You have no right to say other people's experiences are B.S. :rolleyes:

[Happy Mom]

I'm a huge fan of Spansih folkart. I've heard there is some little store around OSJ that makes little statues of missions. Do you know where I am talking about?

 

 

My husband bought a wood carving at a store that also sold all sorts of statues. It was a little corner store on the same street as a Starbucks and Walgreens, but a block or two closer to the pier. I can't find the receipt and I don't remember the name of the store. We LOVE the shopping in osj. Polo Outlet, Coach Outlet....lots of beautiful architecture. We usually grab a bite at Senor Frogs. The streets and sidewalks are all cobblestone. It's really beautiful there.

[KillaFee]

Titomalu - thanks for the photos and advice!!! I'm definitely looking forward to the craziness!!! We're staying in Condado so I think that we'll be able to get some sleep if we do want to escape the festivites after say 4am....right? What do you think is the easiest way to get from Condado to OSJ during the festival? I know the bus is usually pretty cheap and fast but who knows what it'll be like during that weekend. I can't wait! Ah!!! :p

Laura

[FL_Cruiser64]

Just wanted to let all future AOS cruisers know that we had a great time on our cruise 11/18-11/25. There were over 1500 Puerto Ricans on board. We did not have any issues. I didn't see anyone laying on the steps or any rough stuff. The Quince girls were not a problem. On the last formal night, they had a little parade of them walking down the steps escorted by their dads. They all were dressed beautifully and as far as I could tell, behaved appropriately. We weren't seated near the steps and didn't really pay any attention to the parade. There was no Spanish music played at the pool...just the usual island music that we've always experienced. We only attended the Love and Marriage Show, Quest, and the comedian's shows and there wasn't anyone talking over the performance. In fact, there wasn't really a big turnout for these shows so maybe many Spanish speaking cruisers didn't attend. Another thing I noticed was that we had no problem finding pool chairs on sea days. I think that a lot of the Puerto Rican cruisers didn't rush to the pool and maybe slept a little later because they are used to the beautiful weather. No one attempted to butt in line in front of me at any time. One time there was a young girl about 10 or 11 blocking my path and I said, "Excuse me". She turned around and with a thick Spanish accent said to me, "I'm so sorry" and she quickly stepped aside. My husband was sitting in the Windjammer alone one morning and he said a young Spanish boy came over and asked if he could share the table. He sat down and then a few of his friends came over and sat as well. He said they were very polite to him. My husband also made some Spanish friends in the gym...one of them happened to be the swim coach for the Puerto Rico Olympic team or something like that. All of the people we met were very nice..Puerto Rican or otherwise. There were some young men wearing sunglasses day and night even in the gym... but that didn't effect our trip in any way. You did hear a lot of Spanish being spoken everywhere....if that would bother you, then cruise from a different port. It didn't bother me.

I'd be happy to answer any questions. We had a wonderful week, beautiful weather every day and magnificent ports. Based on my experience only, I would sail again tomorrow.

 

Good to hear. I always looked forward to Sept despite negative comments.

 

Heck, I heard horror stories about the Falls in Ochos Rios as well. Like how pushy they are in that market and harassing. I loved it. I crossed the entire market in less than 5 minutes. I just waved them off saying I just spend all my money in tips at the Falls. :D

 

One guy got so frustrated he yelled after me: I hope you never come back.

 

:D:D

[titomalu]

the bus or taxi. they will drop you off in the same place. you will have to walk from the port area, where the destiny docks up to san sebastian street. The bus will be cheaper. just ask the bus driver if he/she is heading to old san juan.

[Happy Mom]

Happy Mom - I'm glad you and yours had what sounds like a wonderful time. I'm really looking forward to our AOS cruise in February, come what may.

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TexasAnn, if what I've experienced is any indication, you are in for a great time!!!