BeatArmy2010

Thanks Ray 

The pier you are looking at probably isn't the one you will be embarking from. The pier closer to old San Juan is usually used by ships in San Juan for the day. The pier next to a small airport is where we have always boarded. We have been very pleased with Uber when we are in Puerto Rico.

We sailed on a spring break cruise once. It was fine, but we like to tell people there were so many kids in the pool that when one jumped in, two were squirted out!

Is this true for Bayonne as well? Our train gets to Newark Penn Station at 9:30.

thanks

October 5th is sold out.

I was hemming and hawing and finally called one morning last week. There  weren't any balconies left, just an inside and a suite. They called back that afternoon that a balcony was available. I took it. At that point in time the suite and inside were gone.

Mine come when called, although I do wonder what the nearest neighbors think when I am calling "horse critters " versus "boys" for the dogs and "girls" for the sheep. I will have to look up how to train a horse to drink water though.

We've sailed on the Jewel several times. I really like ship. The vast majority of of the staff are super helpful. I've been tempted by her Norway itinerary and almost booked it this week.  Enjoy the ship. 

YOLO,... Just booked a cruise this week out of Bayonne in October. 

I will be checking train schedules versus driving ... Even though we are between Baltimore and Philly, I am already feeling nervous about missing the boat!

We have thought about taking Amtrak to the Newark airport and ubering over to the cruise port. That way we aren't worrying over traffic and don't have a car to park at the cruise port. We haven't done this, but we live close to an Amtrak stop.

We were on one of the Empress cruises this fall because we wanted to see Cuba. We decided not to go even withe 50% off they were offering. I keep looking at a world map and see how little I've experienced. I had booked non-refundable flight to MIA on AA. The return flights were on SW. So, I started to look at what we could or we could fly to that we haven't been to before or was too good a deal to pass up. So now we are flying to SXM and we can see the people on Maho Beach. We are going to do some diving and either take the ferry or a commuter flight to St Bart's, (it has been a bucket list item to see the planes land at St Bart's )... We are also looking at going to Saba if time permits. 

I was thinking about getting travel insurance since we are not spring chickens anymore. After reading Twangsters blog, I was wondering if there were anymore / other insurance recommendations. We are rafting in the Grand Canyon in a few weeks... I tend towards adventurous activities sometimes.

We've done three or four cruises (5 maybe?) out of San Juan. I love going to the southern Caribbean. I will go again as soon as the stars align. I haven't been able to find cheap airfare to go to aBonaire so it will to be another cruise so I can stare across the lagoon there and not go diving. I haven't been on that ship, but I wouldn't hesitate. I like to go out of San Juan since you are already in the Caribbean.

This was years ago when we did a cruise in Europe that started in Barcelona. 

We met a couple who had seen people being denied boarding because their luggage had been stolen in the lobby of the hotel as they were checking in. The passports were in their luggage. 

The cruise compass said to carry nothing valuable in Rome. I'm glad I followed the instructions, the backpack I was wearing had every single compartment opened as I was walking. They didn't take my water or spare car key that I had forgotten was in the pack.

our table companions, almost fell victim to the "baby" ploy at the next port. Some women distracted the parents with a doll while someone else lifted the wallet out of the mom's pocketbook. The daughter saw it and started yelling. 

I loved Barcelona and the other ports, have a great fun and secure time.

We've taken a few cruises out of San Juan. The mix has always been different, but fun. I prefer to go the southern Caribbean . The worst part is the over weight guys in their skimpy Speedos!

I love you all. I constantly check and double check, especially after I did something like this.

Years ago, when my girls were little we flew into Florida to go to Disney and visit relatives. I had booked the car for the day before! Luckily, there was another car available.

i can't even blame it on a Muscato!

A quick update on our future cruise credit. The email said it expires May 31, 2020 for us. The travel agent that I was using said we needed to be booked by then. I wasn't so confident about that so I called Royal and was told that we needed to use it by the end of May. 

We were booked on a cruise to Norway next May. I booked our aft corner balcony the day the cruise was released. We got the cancellation notice on Friday. We still haven't received the email that says how long we have to use the Future Cruise Credit. Do we need to rebook in a year or do we need to use it in a year? I was looking at other lines that go to Norway for next summer. But if we have to use the credit in a year, I would look at Alaska with RC.

thanks

There is a set price schedule from SJU to the various areas for the taxis. We have mostly had good experiences with Uber in San Juan. And Uber is much less expensive.

We ate at Condal in January. We were lucky to get in without reservations! I would go there again.

In January, we booked an eight day in October on Empress because we were concerned that Cuba might be restricted again. I am hoping we will get there then but fearing the worst. I already have euros for the trip 

darn..

We are going in October. Our travel agent said to keep our documentation for five years if we go with non Royal excursions. I'm really looking forward to seeing the different ports. There was a great article a few months ago in the daily Smithsoonian newsletter about a man who essentially saved old Havanna.

In the Bahamas, you can get your passport stamped. Whenever we travel internationally, I almost always ask where we can get our passports stamped. I just saw people doing it last month on ouB2B, and was wishing I had asked for our cruises.

We just got off the Jewel of the Seas. I don't have the receipt available but we found a place called the House that had a decent selection 

5th and 9th Jewel

San Juan is one of our favorite ports to leave from. You are already in the warmth. The old town is great...

the only complaint I've ever had is one the taxi driver left us at the Celebrity ship when we were going on Royal Caribbean or maybe it was vice versa...

plus if you sail out of San Juan, you're helping that island recover from the hurricane.

we will be there in less than a month!

I'll add that to my list of cruising essentials! We've aft balconies booked on the Jewel and for Norway.

thanks

Did you bring the hammock or was it already set up?