Tips for San Juan cruise port

 Having been to Puerto Rico many times, I decided to check out the post hurricane old town. Below is what I found and some tips.  Note that while a lot of the buildings need paint and repair still, much of the former beauty is back.

I am not sure why but several years ago they closed all the casinos? 

Get up early to see the ship enter the port. It’s probably one of the most scenic entrances in the Caribbean.

You don’t need a tour for old town just head up the hill to shop, see the fort and view the buildings.

The blue cobblestone streets are in very bad shape. Ruts, broken stones so be careful crossing the streets. 

The traffic was heavy but cars always stopped so I could cross. I was amazed at how nice the drivers are.

Walk up to the fort and go in as the views are spectacular of the coast and cemetery.

Shopping isn’t great but the poetry and pottery store beside the central square continues to be my favourite for one of a kind pottery and art. I always buy something. Last time it was the pottery door . They are replicas of the old town doors and they personalize them.  This time it was an angel wall plaque . Always a great gift place for $20 to $30 dollars 

Good quality T-shirts we’re 3 for $10 in many stores. I bought 3.

If your going to take a tour the half day to the rain forest is probably the most scenic. The walk they do is relatively easy and the views great.

If you are staying for a few days take the tour to Ponce. The scenery was great on route. Lunch was good.

If you want a close beach go to Condado, either take the trolley or a 10 minute cab ride. The beach is most  popular in front of the Marriott and it’s easy to get a cab or the bus back.  All buses leave from the central station a five minute walk from the dock. 

Hope this helps 

Marcia

Allure of the seas-good and bad

 It’s now day 4 of my cruise on Allure of the seas. Below is the good and bad things I have experienced.

Good

Complimentary pcr testing on last day at sea. I have not had it yet but I’m booked 

Wifi is good. It does take some time for some emails to download but overall fast. Book it before you get on board when they have a sale for about $10 a day.  I still think it should be free

Food in the dining room has been very good at dinner and service fast

Make  your own salad is a nice option in the park cafe but the offerings are the same each day at lunch

While small the cabins are clean and sanitized 

The running track is good but the view is blocked by the tenders for the most part

Guest relations have great and helpful staff. 

Bad

The Windjammer has poor quality service and food . I have only had breakfast there but the omelette order  is never right. How hard is cheese and tomato? 

There is very little fruit and today the blueberries were moldy. There was no hot water for tea. It took them four tries.  The officers managing it are rude to passengers. I know now why it’s not busy.

The lack of enforcement of mask wearing and what they call vaccinated only areas aren’t. Wear your mask at all shows.

Overall it just seems poorly laid out and crowded even though it’s not full

Hopefully this helps 

Marcia

Day 2 of cruise Coco Cay port tips

 We arrived at 7am but it took until 9am for customs to clear the ship.

Tip 1 if you can’t walk well they have a shuttle.  I didn’t use it but it is frequent. 

Tip  2 if you want a chair with an umbrella get off quickly.  

The water is cold but I have a rash guard so it keeps the warmth in. The beach areas are quite small and rocky, so it is not good for a long walk on the beach.

I didn’t do the thrill park as $100 is too much for a day.

Tip 3 don’t expect a bargain from the vendors. T-shirts are over $25 and sweat shirts $50 plus.

Tip 4 go back to the ship for lunch as the venues are empty.  I ate a build your own salad at Park cafe that was delicious.

Hope this helps. 

Marcia 

Travel day to Allure of the Seas cruise from Canada to USA . What you need to know

 As advised by the WestJet I arrived 3 hours early.  The US check in was a breeze. I had checked in online and at the kiosk I got my bag tag. Tip 1 If you check in on line and agree to the US declaration of vaccination and PCR test you can drop your bag off a the automated machine.

Going through US customs took 5 minutes as no one was in line. They did not ask for proof of vaccine nor PCR test. 

WestJet  does not check any documents before you board they just tell you it’s a 5000 fine if you lied on your declaration.

I arrived at 1 pm and wait forty minutes for the RCCL shuttle.  It’s cheaper for a solo to take the shuttle at $30 round trip but pack your patience.

At the cruise port it’s chaos you have to walk around bags and I stood in line for an hour . It’s and endless roped off line up. At the end they check your vaccine proof and the date on you PCR test 2 times.  Tip 2 pick any time to arrive at the port as they don’t check but I was told the afternoon is quieter so expect at least an hour in line in Fort Lauderdale port.

On board you must check in at the right muster number at customer service right when you come on board. Note you were supposed to have watched the safety briefing but they cannot check so I had checked in prior to finding my cabin.

I bought the internet package and it was not easy getting on their app. Tip 3 you must put your phone or iPad on airline mode to get their app to work. I had to go to customer service to get it to work.

Canadians need a PCR test to get back into Canada so customer service gives you a card with a url to book your appt.  It is done on the last day of the cruise. It’s confusing as the address is Florida but it’s actually on deck 3.  It’s a 10 minute window and the email you the results. Note it is currently complimentary.

Dinner in the main dining room is seating by your party so if you are travelling alone, you will eat solo. I liked it as it’s much faster so the food is hotter.  I will ask to sit alone from now on.

Booking entertainment can only be done on board on their app and all the comedy shows were already filled. Tip 4 book all your entertainment as soon as you get on board. Note they have shows for vaccinated only and then for everyone.

My cabin is a Central Park balcony.  It very loud until about 11 pm so don’t choose it if you want quiet.

Hope this helps.

Marcia 

Countdown to Allure of the Seas cruise

 Just a couple more days until my cruise on Allure of the Seas.  Below is what you should expect in the week before the cruise during this COVID 19 era

1. Daily emails from the cruise line with a checklist - documentation, pcr or antigen test required 2 days before sailing, proof of vaccination uploaded to their app

2. Emails for Royal up which is a bidding process for upgrading your cabin.  With just a couple of days to go - they are down to $45 US per person for an ocean view balcony upgrade from the Central Park balcony.  But this is risky as you don't get a choice of cabin so you may get a bad room - ie. with bunks, adjoining cabins etc.  I am going to pass.

3. Constant changes to the times and or cancellation of your shore excursions. They just sent me a new time for my beach excursion in St Thomas to 7:30 am.  I have a spreadsheet of the cancels and re-bookings at that is how many there have been and i will have to check this against my credit card statement

4. Sea pass, booklet with the transfer coupons (its actually cheaper to take the transfer through RCCL) than a taxi - it cost me about $19 Canadian each way

5. Here's my checklist for you at this point

check and re-check US entry and  air and cruiseline requirements

download the airline and cruiseline apps

Print out all documents - airline, cruise, vaccination proof, pcr test proof, travel insurance proof and have a copy on your phone or ipad

take copies of your passport, and other key documents in case of loss; write down the numbers

Pack including all bathing suits, chargers, mini humidifier, all lotions, shampoos etc as they are expensive on board the ship and in Caribbean ports

Leave a copy of the itinerary with family

Hope this helps

Marcia

Pre-cruise experience with Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas

 Heres an article by Cruise Critic on what you should do before you cruise

11 Things to Do the Week Before You Cruise (cruisecritic.com)

These are mostly common sense - but I agree - check and re-check requirements for documentation and vaccines for the countries you are going to, the cruise line, the airline and especially the re-entry rules for Canada.

Now for my pre-cruise experience with Royal Caribbean Cruises.  I will give you the good and the Bad

The Bad

1. If the cruise goes I will have lived thru 3 cruise cancellations - The Oasis of the Seas for which I got the FCC for this cruise. The two Baltic cruises (RCL's lift and shift campaign was a disaster - as I lost money on flights and hotels) and likely due to currency conversion money on the cruises.

2. Trying to get refunds for the booked shore excursions took over six months and several calls and emails to RCL.  But I finally got the credits on my card

3. Shore excursions on the current cruise were cancelled due to itinerary changes(I am still waiting for my credit card to be credited). Then the ones that I kept went down in price so after waiting over an hour on the phone with RCL I had to cancel them and re-book to get a lower price. 

4. Contacting RCCL is painful - long waits on the phone - lack of help once you get someone. I will need a PCR test on board in order to get back into Canada.  The first rep said I was on a "list" and then the supervisor said "what list" and to go the first day to Guest Relations and make myself known as they have no information on what to do once on board.  Given the COVID times you would think they would have info.

5. Their "toted" app for your phone is useless.  There have been itinerary changes and the app is not updated - its still showing shore excursions on sea days and not the new ones I booked

6. You can not pre-book entertainment or activities on board - only the extra restaurants. Why - who knows but given the recent reviews it appears entertainment on board is iffy with many entertainment venues shut down.

The Good 

1.  As of 23 days to go - they say the ship is still sailing.

Hope this helps 

Marcia