For all those who have booked or are going to book the AOS - read this!

[Lorey2007]

San Juan

Resort Caribe Hilton

Resort Condado Lagoon Villas at Caribe Hilton

Resort El San Juan

Resort Inter-Continental San Juan

Resort Marriott San Juan Resort

 

I'm sure all of these are well worth staying at.

 

Do any of these "resort" hotels have any shopping, CVS, Walgreens, grocery store or fast food restaurants:eek: within walking distance?

[lovemylab]

The Marriott Stellaris is the only one that is a "resort" on Priceline. There is no way to guarantee which resort you will get, but they are all nice. Go to the San Juan board sticky on bidding for hotels for all the tips and tricks, there are too any to mention here.

 

I think you mean it's NOT the only one that is a resort. I've received the Hilton Caribe and Intercontinental through priceline - both resorts and great properties (and never paid more than $100 a night for each).

[toonjie]

Toonjie, the reason I asked is that I'm sure we bid on a resort and got the Caribe Hilton. In fact I just checked better bidding dot com and the list of reported winning resorts in the San Juan area is as follows:

 

San Juan

Resort Caribe Hilton

Resort Condado Lagoon Villas at Caribe Hilton

Resort El San Juan

Resort Inter-Continental San Juan

Resort Marriott San Juan Resort

 

I'm sure all of these are well worth staying at.

Yes, I was replying to the post, (by Alexis), about the many different Marriotts in San Juan and was saying that you don't have to worry about which one is which if you stick with the resort category on Priceline. The Marriott Stellaris is the only Marriott on the list. I then went on to say the other resorts are all nice as well.

In answer to the other question, the Intercontinental and El San Juan also have shopping and restaurants nearby. Caribe Hilton is the most isolated.

[toonjie]

Do any of these "resort" hotels have any shopping, CVS, Walgreens, grocery store or fast food restaurants:eek: within walking distance?

 

This pic shows you how close Walgreens is to the Marriott, this shot was taken from the street right in front of the Marriott:

[kaybeeeeeee]

Yes, I was replying to the post, (by Alexis), about the many different Marriotts in San Juan and was saying that you don't have to worry about which one is which if you stick with the resort category on Priceline. The Marriott Stellaris is the only Marriott on the list. I then went on to say the other resorts are all nice as well.

In answer to the other question, the Intercontinental and El San Juan also have shopping and restaurants nearby. Caribe Hilton is the most isolated.[/quote

 

Toonjie, my apologies if I misread/misunderstood your post.

[Alexis]

Great hotel review Alexis but how does one go about trying to get a particular hotel? I've only used Priceline a couple of times but from what I've seen all you can specify is region, star level and price?

 

After I posted that, I tried to add "if not bidding on Priceline just go and look up the rates on the website address I posted". But, my 15 minutes were already up and CC would not allow me to edit my post.

I never use Priceline myself, I just book direct with the hotel. I have stayed at that hotel since the 80's when it was another name hotel. Then it closed for many, many years. And now I say there again whenever we sail from there.

Someone told me how to get it and now I have to find that post. I think they said put in for a 4 star hotel resort. ??

[Alexis]

I love your pictures of the Starbucks and the Walgreen's. You can not get much clearer than that on where they are. :D

I love the people who say there are none around there. :confused:

They have to be at another Marriott?

[toonjie]

I love your pictures of the Starbucks and the Walgreen's. You can not get much clearer than that on where they are. :D

I love the people who say there are none around there. :confused:

They have to be at another Marriott?

 

Thanks! Must be, they are right across the street so I don't know how anyone could miss them.

[toonjie]

Yes, I was replying to the post, (by Alexis), about the many different Marriotts in San Juan and was saying that you don't have to worry about which one is which if you stick with the resort category on Priceline. The Marriott Stellaris is the only Marriott on the list. I then went on to say the other resorts are all nice as well.

In answer to the other question, the Intercontinental and El San Juan also have shopping and restaurants nearby. Caribe Hilton is the most isolated.[/quote

 

Toonjie, my apologies if I misread/misunderstood your post.

 

No problem! I may not have been clear with all the allergy medication I'm on! Hoping the leaves will come out and my allergies will go away!

[Lorey2007]

After I posted that, I tried to add "if not bidding on Priceline just go and look up the rates on the website address I posted". But, my 15 minutes were already up and CC would not allow me to edit my post.

I never use Priceline myself, I just book direct with the hotel. I have stayed at that hotel since the 80's when it was another name hotel. Then it closed for many, many years. And now I say there again whenever we sail from there.

Someone told me how to get it and now I have to find that post. I think they said put in for a 4 star hotel resort. ??

 

Would really love to stay at this Mariott and don't want to take the chance of using Priceline but the rates I have seen are way over my budget:o. Can you post the website you use or if you call direct do you think there is a chance of getting a better deal?

[kaybeeeeeee]

 

No problem! I may not have been clear with all the allergy medication I'm on! Hoping the leaves will come out and my allergies will go away!

 

Hope you clear up soon. Allergist keeps telling me I have no allergies but yet I'm always stuffed and I sneeze like 7 times in a row....people around me are always saying gesundheit, even though I tell them to wait till I'm done! lol

[Alexis]

Would really love to stay at this Mariott and don't want to take the chance of using Priceline but the rates I have seen are way over my budget:o. Can you post the website you use or if you call direct do you think there is a chance of getting a better deal?

 

I book on line at this one.

 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...llaris-casino/

 

Then I keep looking to see if there is a price drop and last November they did drop the tax fees a bit before we stayed there.

 

You could try the Sheraton in Old San Juan also. They were running a special not long ago. I will get the website and post it. ;)

Here it is. It is right on the water front near the piers for other ships, but not the RCCL ships. The pier you will leave from is across the harbor from there at the Pan American Pier.

 

http://www.sheratonoldsanjuan.com/

 

Unfortunately San Juan is quite costly to stay in. Besides the cost of flying there, they get you by their high cost to stay over there.

It makes it all worth it to sail from there to see the Southern Caribbean ports. ;)

 

Here is a great map of the San Juan area. If you are sailing RCCL, you are going out of the Pan American Pier. That is across the water from the Old San Juan Piers. you can see it on this map.

 

http://www.langland.org/cruises/sanjuan.asp

I do not know if people realize that when you open this San Juan map, it does not just show you where your pier and the hotels are. If you click on the names of the hotels, it opens to show their websites with all their information such as pictures, prices and such..

Of course many of the hotels are not listed that are closer to the airport.

This website was created by Cruise Critic Clubber. He has done a great job of putting information there for all of us to use..

[olemissreb]

Just returned today from our AOS journey! Had an awesome time! What a great ship. Wasn't real impressed with CD Casey Pelter and his staff, but Dede, the concierge was amazing! Adventure Ocean staff was awesome and my 10yo made a ton of friends - and he originally didn't want to attend any of the AO events and he ended up spending a ton of time up there! Only negative was when said 10yo jammed his little finger in AO and no one said anything about it to us - not sure if they really knew or not, but since our son signed himself out using his left hand, that should have been a clue. Obviously - this was a minor thing and didn't affect the cruise in any way. I'll write up a review later this week. Just wanted to pop in and say thank you for all the wonderful advice!

[SD210]

I also just got off the AOS yesterday (embarked on April 4th, returned on April 11th). Had a great time, despite some rainy weather! I thought that the staff on board (particularly the dining room staff) were excellent and that the food was very good. I actually thought that the CD Casey Pelter was a pretty funny guy, but I didn't see him around the ship that much (aside from the shows). Overall, it was a great vacation. I submitted a detailed review under Member Reviews, which is awaiting approval.

 

Also, I want to say thanks to everyone on CC for all the helpful info! It made my first Royal cruise a little smoother.

[Rosieo]

I also just got off the AOS yesterday (embarked on April 4th, returned on April 11th). Had a great time, despite some rainy weather!

We just got off too! Had a terrific time, loved the ship. Why, oh why, could the weather not cooperate with us! Despite the overcast and rain we still made the best of it and had a great time in all ports!

[JackieJ]

Yes, I was replying to the post, (by Alexis), about the many different Marriotts in San Juan and was saying that you don't have to worry about which one is which if you stick with the resort category on Priceline. The Marriott Stellaris is the only Marriott on the list. I then went on to say the other resorts are all nice as well.

In answer to the other question, the Intercontinental and El San Juan also have shopping and restaurants nearby. Caribe Hilton is the most isolated.

 

Hello,

 

I am trying Priceline for the first time. So, do I select "San Juan" on the top and then "resorts" or "4+ stars" on the bottom? Do you think it's ok to start early or wait until my cruise gets closer to get a better deal.

 

Thanks!

[kaybeeeeeee]

Hello,

 

I am trying Priceline for the first time. So, do I select "San Juan" on the top and then "resorts" or "4+ stars" on the bottom? Do you think it's ok to start early or wait until my cruise gets closer to get a better deal.

 

Thanks!

 

Sounds like you're doing it right but you don't say when your cruise is. We did our Priceline about 8 weeks prior. There's no right or wrong time to do it as it depends when the hotel/resorts provides the availability to Priceline and you won't know when that happens. I'd suggest you book a hotel based on retail pricing then start low on Priceline and work your way up, deciding what the max you will pay is. If you have the time then it never hurts to start low and see what happens but bear in mind that that you can only bid once per star level in any one 24 hour period.

[JackieJ]

Sounds like you're doing it right but you don't say when your cruise is. We did our Priceline about 8 weeks prior. There's no right or wrong time to do it as it depends when the hotel/resorts provides the availability to Priceline and you won't know when that happens. I'd suggest you book a hotel based on retail pricing then start low on Priceline and work your way up, deciding what the max you will pay is. If you have the time then it never hurts to start low and see what happens but bear in mind that that you can only bid once per star level in any one 24 hour period.

 

Thanks!

 

My cruise isn't until Next March. I usually book way in advance because of work. Not sure if it's good to start this early. The dates just started showing on priceline. I'd like to try for 2 nights pre-cruise at any of the hotels people seem to be calling "resorts" (Marriott Stellaris, Caribe Hilton, etc.). Just want to be sure I'm putting in the correct information for those.

 

We cruised out of San Juan on the Serenade this past March. We stayed at the Holiday in Express because we needed 5 rooms, but this time I only need one so I thought I'd give priceline a try and stay somewhere nicer.

[kaybeeeeeee]

Thanks!

 

My cruise isn't until Next March. I usually book way in advance because of work. Not sure if it's good to start this early. The dates just started showing on priceline. I'd like to try for 2 nights pre-cruise at any of the hotels people seem to be calling "resorts" (Marriott Stellaris, Caribe Hilton, etc.). Just want to be sure I'm putting in the correct information for those.

 

We cruised out of San Juan on the Serenade this past March. We stayed at the Holiday in Express because we needed 5 rooms, but this time I only need one so I thought I'd give priceline a try and stay somewhere nicer.

 

Sounds like a plan to me. Yes, the two you mention would be classified as resorts. I can tell you I was able to book 2 rooms at the Caribe Hilton for Saturday March 6th of this year, for $90 / room. I did this booking about 2 months prior. I'm pretty sure you're way early right now. There's no reason for hotels/resorts to give away rooms to Priceline during peak season until they have an idea what their occupancy levels will be. I wouldn't be looking at this until the end of this year, beginning of next. Having said that, I won't hurt to pick a low price and keep tossing it out there and if you get lucky, then more power to you.

[ckrobyn]

Hi everyone :)

 

I have been absent from this thread recently - been so busy at work with little time to plan my next cruise! However - I have snuck in some time at home in the evenings, and it looks as if we are going to book the AOS for Feb 20, 2011 :D With a daughter just starting high school, I had to wait and see what her schedule was like before we made any decisions.

 

So now the real planning begins as we are looking into flying to San Juan on the Thursday before the cruise and staying one night post-cruise :)

 

We almost thought we would have to skip a year on the AOS :eek: NO WAY!!!!!!!!!

[rupertfrog]

Hi everyone :)

 

I have been absent from this thread recently - been so busy at work with little time to plan my next cruise! However - I have snuck in some time at home in the evenings, and it looks as if we are going to book the AOS for Feb 20, 2011 :D With a daughter just starting high school, I had to wait and see what her schedule was like before we made any decisions.

 

So now the real planning begins as we are looking into flying to San Juan on the Thursday before the cruise and staying one night post-cruise :)

 

We almost thought we would have to skip a year on the AOS :eek: NO WAY!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Robyn -- sorry to hear you are going in February 2011 -- We are working on getting a group together for the 3/20/11 sailing. Be sure to let us know how it goes for you & leave her ready for us!!!

[ckrobyn]

Robyn -- sorry to hear you are going in February 2011 -- We are working on getting a group together for the 3/20/11 sailing. Be sure to let us know how it goes for you & leave her ready for us!!!

 

Of course I will leave her ready for you! There may be no boeze left, but the ship will still be there! :rolleyes::D;)

[Ocean Boy]

I am looking at the week of Feb 27. Either Adventure or Oasis. Which will it be? I can't make up my mind.

[olemissreb]

Oh how I would love to join you for that week, but with my oldest starting a very rigorous high school program in the fall, we just can't afford to take him out for a week and him maintain his grades. One of these days we'll get back on the AOS. Right now I'm laying the groundwork for an Alaskan cruise in 2014 - graduation trip!

[Jolimont]

This thread has been seriously hijacked by very nice people who are not talking about the AOS very much. Can we get back to praising the ship and crew? ;-)