All things "Victory"

[hutat]

Does anyone know what time the porter will begin to accept luggage on the day of embarkation? I've been reading the reviews, and one thing in common is the mention of the heat of the day. Normally we are doing beach excursions so it doesn't really bother me, but we are planning on walking around OSJ, and going up to the fort. So I was thinking to check out early (we are going down a day early), and drop off luggage for 9am. Then doing sightseeing, and chilling out on the ship in the afternoon.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Hi Dvan, I have heard they start letting people in between 11am and 12:00pm. As for walking around Old San Juan as long as you wear comfortable clothing(shorts,t-shirt) you'll be fine. It is hot and humid but the sidewalks are almost always in the shadow so the heat doesn't affect you as much.Take care and enjoy.

[nathan_wv]

It seems we'll have to depart the ship around 9:30 AM upon returning to San Juan. However our flight out isn't until 3:30 that afternoon. Suggestions on what to do during the hours inbetween? This is our first time in San Juan.....

 

Also, what do we do with our luggage during that time period?:confused: Thanks!

 

Nathan

[SoonerOne]

The pictures in this review are AWESOME!!!! Best I've ever seen:D

[HAULNTA]

It seems we'll have to depart the ship around 9:30 AM upon returning to San Juan. However our flight out isn't until 3:30 that afternoon. Suggestions on what to do during the hours inbetween? This is our first time in San Juan.....

 

Also, what do we do with our luggage during that time period?:confused: Thanks!

 

Nathan

There is a place that will hold your bags for a small fee. We used it last time. It was right across the street.

There is so much to see right there in Old Town SJ. Lots of shopping and great sight seeing. Do the El Moro Fort tour if you have the time.

[sunseeker09]

This is a great thread and I found it most useful before out cruise. I thought I'd add to it some pictures of our suite on the empress deck - 7269

 

 

dressing area - walk through to get to bathroom

 

 

[sunseeker09]

bathroom

 

 

balcony - in front of bed. On other side of door there was a chair that reclined (not a full lounger). Lots of space.

[goLC]

Here ya go, Christy!

[GLENANDT]

Does anyone have pictures of room 7425?

[dying2cruise]

I have searched the thread but can't seem to find out - is there a mini-bar or fridge in the balcony cabins on the Panorama deck? Just wondering if we should be making plan B? Thanks.

[CynamonKis]

Hi Dvan, I have heard they start letting people in between 11am and 12:00pm. As for walking around Old San Juan as long as you wear comfortable clothing(shorts,t-shirt) you'll be fine. It is hot and humid but the sidewalks are almost always in the shadow so the heat doesn't affect you as much.Take care and enjoy.

 

On EMBARKATION day, for our cruise (departing SJU 3/28), I'm told by my PVP that we are allowed to enter the ship as early as 2:30 pm on Sunday 3/28, but must absolutely be on the ship by 8pm, as it sets sail at 10pm that day. If they will let us in as early as 11am, that would be wonderful!!

Edited January 25, 2010 by CynamonKis

[kelz66]

On EMBARKATION day, for our cruise (departing SJU 3/28), I'm told by my PVP that we are allowed to enter the ship as early as 2:30 pm on Sunday 3/28, but must absolutely be on the ship by 8pm, as it sets sail at 10pm that day. If they will let us in as early as 11am, that would be wonderful!!

 

You can drop your luggage off and get your S&S card and go off into town before 2:30, can't you? :D

[libtrek]

Hi all, just back from 1/17 trip. Have some comments/answers for fellow posters.

1. If all goes well on the previous cruise, you can board as early as 11:30 a.m. Can't get to your room until later but can get to the buffet on Lido.

2. Being VIP (10 or more cruises on Carnival) is fab. You go to vip lounge and get escorted on. We were first on board, yeah. Also loved the free laundry.

3. Never take room 6363 or close by room. We forgot band was underneath. The floor vibrated and the noise was awful at night. Our bad but Carnival did compensate us a bit. We had 6 rooms in a row for family so we could open balcony so didn't get upgraded. We're debating if it's just better to book early and take best available and not be together.

4. My earlier comment about hubby taking pliers to open doors is making me LOL. In San Juan, we boarded, ate lunch, then got off ship to tour town. My card made a bad noise in the machine and I was told I had to report to Security to get my checked bag. First thought was that they found the bottle of vodka. Got to office and remembered it was in DH suitcase which was put through. Couldn't figure why my suitcase got dinged. To my family's delight, it was the darn pliers. We were told no household tools or appliances. So leave your toolbelt and blenders at home. They will be confisgated.

5. They are checking for booze in SJ. Fine in your checked bags but NOT carryon. The store at the ship entrance is doing very little business and they will tell you to cut the tags. Wouldn't rec it. We heard of folks sneaking it on but seems the policy has really changed.

If anyone has specific questions, post em before I forget the answers. LOL

Libtrek

[jpg1747]

I posted this on the Barbados board but didn't get any responses.

 

Does anyone know of a private tour where you can snorkel and go to the wildlife reserve? I can find one or the other, but not both. I'm not thrilled about having to take a private cab to the reserve and would prefer to spend the day with a small group. As my cruise time gets closer, I'll try to get something going with my roll call group. Thanks.

[sholto]

Hi all, just back from 1/17 trip. Have some comments/answers for fellow posters.

1. If all goes well on the previous cruise, you can board as early as 11:30 a.m. Can't get to your room until later but can get to the buffet on Lido.

2. Being VIP (10 or more cruises on Carnival) is fab. You go to vip lounge and get escorted on. We were first on board, yeah. Also loved the free laundry.

3. Never take room 6363 or close by room. We forgot band was underneath. The floor vibrated and the noise was awful at night. Our bad but Carnival did compensate us a bit. We had 6 rooms in a row for family so we could open balcony so didn't get upgraded. We're debating if it's just better to book early and take best available and not be together.

4. My earlier comment about hubby taking pliers to open doors is making me LOL. In San Juan, we boarded, ate lunch, then got off ship to tour town. My card made a bad noise in the machine and I was told I had to report to Security to get my checked bag. First thought was that they found the bottle of vodka. Got to office and remembered it was in DH suitcase which was put through. Couldn't figure why my suitcase got dinged. To my family's delight, it was the darn pliers. We were told no household tools or appliances. So leave your toolbelt and blenders at home. They will be confisgated.

5. They are checking for booze in SJ. Fine in your checked bags but NOT carryon. The store at the ship entrance is doing very little business and they will tell you to cut the tags. Wouldn't rec it. We heard of folks sneaking it on but seems the policy has really changed.

If anyone has specific questions, post em before I forget the answers. LOL

Libtrek

 

hi we in room 6211 will that be ok or will that be noisy

[kelz66]

hi we in room 6211 will that be ok or will that be noisy

 

You should be ok...it looks like you are over the backstage of the theatre.

 

I have not been that far forward on that deck before on any ship.

[cruisecamp]

 

3. Never take room 6363 or close by room. We forgot band was underneath. The floor vibrated and the noise was awful at night. Our bad but Carnival did compensate us a bit. We had 6 rooms in a row for family so we could open balcony so didn't get upgraded. We're debating if it's just better to book early and take best available and not be together.

 

If anyone has specific questions, post em before I forget the answers. LOL

Libtrek

 

We have rooms booked near this one. What time did the band stop, did they play every night? We tend to stay up late at night so are hoping that this won't be too much of a problem. We have 4 rooms in a row so don't think we can switch at this point.

Who did you have to ask to get the balcony dividers opened? Were you able to have all the dividers opened so that all of six of your balconies connected?

Thanks!!

[wdnoble9999]

bathroom

 

 

balcony - in front of bed. On other side of door there was a chair that reclined (not a full lounger). Lots of space.

Thanks, Sunseeker09, so much for posting the pics of your suite! We're in 7249 on the Victory in March, and was quite curious as to what how the Cat OS cabins are configured. Really good stuff. 49 days to go, and hoping that 'time flies'!

[libtrek]

What time did the band stop, did they play every night?

Who did you have to ask to get the balcony dividers opened? Were you able to have all the dividers opened so that all of six of your balconies connected?

Thanks!!

 

Bands stopped anywhere from midnight to 1:30 a.m. Not all of them were as bad as the Latino who had heavy bass which vibrated in the room. Room stewart will open balconies and yes, all six in a row. Dividers did flip over some of the room doors but we managed. Loved sharing sailaways and cocktails with family on the long "verandah".

Libtrek

[Buffettfan 225]

Thanks, Sunseeker09, so much for posting the pics of your suite! We're in 7249 on the Victory in March, and was quite curious as to what how the Cat OS cabins are configured. Really good stuff. 49 days to go, and hoping that 'time flies'!

It better fly fast we have 159 days to go!

Balcony question- is there a small table out there?

Bathroom- was there one or two sinks, and any "medicine" cabinet or storage area/ shelves above sink?

I love the bathroom tile, same as in our kitchen and reminds me of rootbeer barrel candy.

[pitz0005]

Just back from the Victory. They are taking bottles from the carryons. When it goes through they tag the bag. The duty free tells you to either bring an extra bag and send it through checked luggage or to cut off the tag. Another option would be to have your travel companion with an near empty bag bigger than the bag with the booze. Let them tag your booze bag and then between the checkpoint and the ship slide the tagged bag inside the non tagged bag. The bags are NOT reinspected so as long as there is no markings visible you will be fine. We put our liquor in our checked bags and had no problems. The duty free is located upstair from the checked bag drop off, so if you want to check it, bring an extra empty bag and extra luggage tag. Check your bags as normal, check in, buy your booze, put in checked bag, walk back downstairs and give bag to porters. You can walk between the checked bag location and the duty free without going through security. Long story short, it is easiest just to purchase booze ahead of time, put in your checked bag and go on your way without messing around with the duty free store. If you insist on buying it at the duty free it can be done using one of the above methods.

[cruisecamp]

Bands stopped anywhere from midnight to 1:30 a.m. Not all of them were as bad as the Latino who had heavy bass which vibrated in the room. Room stewart will open balconies and yes, all six in a row. Dividers did flip over some of the room doors but we managed. Loved sharing sailaways and cocktails with family on the long "verandah".

Libtrek

 

Did you need any bungee cords to keep the doors or dividers open?

Thanks for your help with all the info!:)

[libtrek]

Some of the dividers "stuck" in the closed position when you wanted to close it. Others did not and banged against the cabiin wall if it was windy during the night. So, short answer, bring the bungees. Also, on this cruise our room door would stay open to the balcony, first time that ever happened.

Libtrek

P.S. small table and 2 chairs on balcony. dumb us, didn't realize until last day that chairs recline. duh

[cruisecamp]

Some of the dividers "stuck" in the closed position when you wanted to close it. Others did not and banged against the cabiin wall if it was windy during the night. So, short answer, bring the bungees. Also, on this cruise our room door would stay open to the balcony, first time that ever happened.

Libtrek

P.S. small table and 2 chairs on balcony. dumb us, didn't realize until last day that chairs recline. duh

Thanks for the tip on the chair recline--don't know if I would have known that either!:) Would you mind me asking what were the numbers of the 6 rooms your family had all together? Did you have good weather?

[libtrek]

numbers of the 6 rooms your family had all together? Did you have good weather?

Weather was wonderful. No rain. Sun is intense in most of the ports. Be smart and sunscreen your feet and ankles also. Another duh for our team, LOL. We had 6363, 6359 on down. Most rooms heard music but not as bad as 6363.

[Buffettfan 225]

Some of the dividers "stuck" in the closed position when you wanted to close it. Others did not and banged against the cabiin wall if it was windy during the night. So, short answer, bring the bungees. Also, on this cruise our room door would stay open to the balcony, first time that ever happened.

Libtrek

P.S. small table and 2 chairs on balcony. dumb us, didn't realize until last day that chairs recline. duh

that's why I asked about balcony table, I knew chairs reclined, and use table with a folded beach towel on it to create my own recliner.

We never closed our dividers once steward opened them, just closed curtains, never thought of it or had a reason. But we only had two balconies - now 6 cabins perhaps I could a need.