mom2mybugs

Bumping this up.  I posted in the main discussion about where to stay pre-cruise.  Trying to figure out the around the cruise logistics!! Jane

Hi everyone!  I'm back and planning 3 cruises this year :).  The one I'm focusing on planning right now is our Alaska northbound from Vancouver to Seward.  Jeff and I and our youngest are planning on  flying in Monday and remaining until Friday when we board the cruise. Our daughter, her husband, my son and possibly my daughter's in-laws will come in Thursday afternoon or evening.  My question is where do people stay? If we get a place near the cruise port, is it easy to get to downtown Vancouver by Uber? What about getting to Victoria? I'd rather not rent a car if we can uber from the airport to a hotel or Airbnb and function. I'd love any and all advice on hotels, VRBO and Airbnb.

   On the way back, is it walkable from the port to hotels in seward? Are there easy ubers?  Anyone have a good hotel? Is it easy to store luggage and get to the Alaska train to Anchorage?  And once in Anchorage, is one mostly full day enough? What is downtown Anchorage like.... Any museums etc? We won't go exploring outside of shows, restaurants, etc.  

Thanks in advance!  I know there are blog posts on what to do cruise wise, and we are good on that, but planning the beginning and end is a bit overwhelming!  Jane

6 hours ago, MaryS said:

What is the blue drink?  Is it a Curacao Cosmo?  

Yes and it's fantastic!  Jane

Formal night this cruise is day 3.  We got dressed up and again had a really good dinner in the main dining room.  The food has been very hot and mostly good flavor.  The desserts have been mostly soso, but I'm drinking so many sweet drinks it doesn't matter! 

It was also 70s night.  I don't have a lot of pictures, because I was too busy dancing! Part of the fun of being on this smaller ship though is that there are fewer people shoving to get the rings, and I finally got two!

We finished our night with an amazing mudslide and finally got to bed.  Three late nights with early excursions is just about killing us!

Yesterday was St. Thomas.  We booked "St John on your own" which gave us a small boat ride to Cruz on St John's. 

From there they put us right on a taxi (round trip was 18/person) and then $5 a person to get into trunk bay, which is part of the national Park.  It is truly my favorite beach in the Caribbean.  Just gorgeous and not overly crowded like some of Aruba's beaches or magen's Bay in St Thomas.  We had about 2 hours before we had to get back on the taxi.

Back on the ship we got to the pool where we had an hour before, yes, more rain! It didn't last long, but we decided to go round 2 of progressive trivia.  I ended up leaving Jeff so I could get the numbers at the top tier event. He didn't do great, but everybody said the last ones were hard and I certainly didn't have any better answers lol!

We got the park Cafe pizza and it was very good! I forgot to take a pic until the end!

This every day port thing is exhausting!  End of St Croix day involved dinner and me finally getting to do silent disco.  I think it would be more fun in something like a viking crown lounge where it's darker.  On Rhapsody they do it in the centrum.  

Not sure why it repeated that last quote! Today was St Croix.  We decided to do the rainforest hike and beach.  It was a really great excursion!  It says strenuous and I would say that's accurate. The first part of the walk is very uphill, and the last part is very up and down rocky with lots of tree roots.  We could do it (I'm 55, my husband has MS and fell once), so it's totally ok to do, but you will home about 3 miles and huff and puff a bit.  It was beautiful!  It's private property, and the guide is actually building the trails!  

If you look above, you can see hermit crabs on the tree.  I took a picture with the guide... He was fun to listen to and reminds me of a good friend of mine! 

We finished at the beach after a rum punch.  We finally got a little sun, and then the rain came... Epically.

No pics but the windjammer was busy, but there were tables.  The food was very very good!!!!   We had a drink and had a 20 minute nap on the pool deck before heading to schooner.  

We hung in the schooner playing trivia and we are happy to announce WE FREAKING WON Disney name that tune trivia!!!  I got my key chain and I can now rest assured my cruise joy is complete!!!

Jane

4 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

 

47 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yummm…I spy a pumpkin seed roll !

Yes I took it... Jeff wasn't happy

Last night was a blur!  We enjoyed trivia, got all unpacked and moved out table. Fyi... They didn't honor our request and all and we got seated at a 4-top right in the middle of the restaurant!  But I went back and asked to move, and I'm not sure if being a key member helped (she wrote it down that we were) but we were moved to a two table right next to the door.  It's perfect.  

We did the welcome aboard show, dinner (which we thought was amazingly good!), Name that tune and then spent hours closing down schooner.  He played "your song" by Elton John which was our first dance at our wedding and we danced away! 

More drink pics!

Service so far is awesome and we have our cups already (that we may never use lol).  They are definitely smaller than when they started getting them. 

The elevators have been updated. Obviously not destination ones, but maybe getting some tech ready? 

The inside was a screen too, as opposed to push buttons.  Jane

We are on. The Uber was 5 mins early, the driver was awesome, and just so friendly.  We got here in a downpour!  

Getting on with the key was easy peasy.  Only thing that slowed us down was the stupid mini USB fan that we had to show them. If you bring one, bring it on carry on so they don't glad your checked luggage.  We got here at 1050ish, checked the luggage and were on by 1102!  We dropped our carry on at the key, and are sipping drinks on the rainy pool deck.  First drink:  Bahama Mama for Jeff and blue Hawaiian with kraken floater for me.  I'm very sad about the weather, but understanding it's June in the Caribbean.  I hope I get at least one wonderful sunny day, but if not we will pivot to trivia in the schooner bar and adjust! 

The ship, on a cursory glance, is showing age only on the windows, etc.  Everything looks clean and ready for us so far!

So.... Breakfast today is...drunken cookie!  We picked one up yesterday.  It's like infused beignets, but cookies!  They give you a little pipette with each cookie, but the people in front of me didn't want theirs, so they kindly gave it to me :).    We will get on the uber in a couple hours!   Can't wait!  

Jane

We didn't do much last night, but walking through San Juan is just gorgeous!   The buildings are incredible!

We sat in the little waterfront park for a long time.  We heard a great band playing in an open block area.

Jane

9 hours ago, bobroo said:

I hope you and your family have a great trip Jane! I'm not sure which I want to give you a hug more for, this sailing out of San Juan or the way you you spent extra time exploring Ft Lauderdale on your last one.  IMO, you are approaching Royal Caribbean and cruising in general--exactly correct.

Well thank you!  I wish we had more time here... Darn school calendar!!!   We are so excited to get on the ship... Well, I am and Jeff is ready to relax!   I was reading him the blog stuff yesterday and told him you were the person who have us all the chefs table info the first time we went!  Jane

22 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

That food looks good. And the hotel looks really nice and modern. 

It's a weird mix of really old and then modern nice touches.  I don't think I'd stay here again, but definitely loving the old San Juan vibe.  Jane

46 minutes ago, bobroo said:

Try:

San Juan Cruise Port Terminal

 

I got this to work on a mock Uber booking on my PC.  I have to admit this was difficult!

This is what I went with, so im glad that seems right to you as well! Thank you, Jane

31 minutes ago, instaGator said:

Try: FW52+9V6, C. Muelle, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico

I did try that, didn't work. But port of San Juan pulled up what I think will work and I will just emphasize we don't want old San Juan port!  Jane

We are here!   Flight was packed but reasonably on time and security only took 20 mins.  O'Hare is using the new machines so we didn't have to take out anything, and we didn't have to do the screen (just a metal detector).  Which was good because I have to get patted down every time!  

We are staying at la terraza de San Juan and it's location is beautiful.  We didn't get in until after 3, so not doing a lot of sightseeing this trip.

The lobby to the hotel is fantastic!

We ate at El jabarito, which we realized that we had eaten at our first time to San Juan.  The food was amazing!!!

Now we are off to just explore, walk around and go to bed early! Finally figured out the stupid Uber I think. The map looks like the right port so hopefully we get to the right place without a detour!  Jane

28 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Ugh !

Have you asked the hotel Concierge for help ?   Maybe they can help you get other transportation or put in the info for you (into the app).

I haven't... She was kinda clueless checking us in... Asking about housekeeping when we were only there 1 night! But it's a good idea! Jane

Ok, I'm in old San Juan right now.  This is the info to where Rhapsody will be...

Pan American Pier West- PAD 2
Calle Muelle
San Juan, PR 00901

Uber will not let me put any of this in to schedule for tomorrow morning and keeps trying to put me to the old San Juan terminal or 80 other random places.  What am I doing wrong? Anyone put a specific Uber address in that it liked?  I'm freaking out trying to make sure I schedule to the right pier!!!! Jane

I'm all caught up, and I'm gonna end up never blogging because I will be reading yours while I'm cruising!   I love the interaction that everyone has:).  And now I'm really going to sleep because us northerners have to battle the friendly skies to get to the cruises! Jane

Ok the last few days have been crazy!  Today was the last day of school, so endless energy, things to do, more shopping, back to school, closing up the site, repacking to include the stuff I bought...

  Oh yes, and not forgetting clearing the pics off my phone, charging everything, trying to find cords. I need a vacay from my vacay prep.  Uber is coming at 545am and we will hopefully be to O'Hare in 20 mins!  We've already been offered to trade our plane tickets in (nope) and it looks like there are only about 6-8 seats left open on the plane.  We have 2 checked bags and a carry-on (because when you don't listen to Rick Steves and pack for the best case scenario, you over pack!).  I'm hoping actually that with the crowded plane, they will offer to check the carry-on for free! Jane

Can't wait to read your blog, because us shower widows have to stick together (seriously, how long of a shower do you need? We have a drink pkg to use!).  Jane

8 hours ago, Mrs. Regular said:

The Rhapsody is the little ship that could. We took our first cruise ever on her in the Med and she holds a special place in our hearts. She is older, simpler, but wiser, lol. The crew is one of the best at sea. Vibes are low key and with such a port heavy itinerary you'll appreciate the down time with your drink package. Enjoy it!

I've been on her sister Vision twice and I loved it... My very first cruise!  I'm so excited to just look at the beautiful water and relax without feeling I need to do everything on a big ship!!!   Can't wait!!!  Jane