ninasdream

Summary – The What Where How and Why of it all
Royal Caribbean Eastern Caribbean 9 day cruise sailing out of Bayonne, NJ
2 days at sea followed by 4 ports, and 2 days at sea on return
ports: San Juan, PR, St. Thomas, Samana, DR and Labadee, Haiti

Why- I was itching to get away , found last minute I could take the time & wanted to take everything I desired in my luggage without checking it/flying. 2 days at sea to unwind sounded good to me.

Conclusion: 1) I cannot recommend this itinerary. It is a very weird choice! The ports are not good locations and we had to be back on the ship SO EARLY 3:30-4:30.
2)It's my VACATION, so I had a wonderful time.
3)I recommend booking the shore excursions as they will get you to prettier areas and a better overall cruise experience here. I tried to do it myself & missed.

ninasdream

Getting there – yes, it's boring.
Summary: RC cattle line & check-in **VERY SMOOTH**
Day 1
Friday afternoon 2: 20 p.m. I arrive at Cape Liberty at 2:20 p.m. Due to the size of my one suitcase (28”?), they will have to porter it. The line inside looks long, but divided into 2 groups and moves swiftly. I had been unable to complete my registration online, but had the forms & filled them out as I waited- cost me only 2-3 minutes at the counter when my turn came. I was processed, given a sea card, had a photo taken for security & went to the shuttle that takes you to the ship. I was in my cabin by 3:00. I think that is EXCELLENT, and I did not have to go to another reception line to check in, as I did with Carnival. I walked from the shuttle, directly to the elevator.

Since the 2 previous days had been the coldest we'd had to date, I had to give up the cute little dress & shoes I'd planned to wear with the little pink jacket, and put on a cashmere sweater, jeans wool socks, and a heavy winter jacket, scarf & gloves. I was comfortable during the mustering, except that my knees were starting to feel all the standing. One reason I chose a cruise, so I can pace myself with activities. Though young, I have arthritis in both knees and cannot be the avid walker & explorer I was only 3 years ago.

Still, it has been a while since I cruised, and I am not so jaded that I cannot laugh at the corny stuff. During mustering, the captain advised that the elevators and halls were not for running and playing...”So, children, if you see any adults running or playing, please...”
We laughed, but we all wanted to get off our feet. It was freezing, so I wasn't on deck or even inside viewing our departure. I can't really remember what I did. I think I had a nap, as I'd been up since 4 a.m. tying up loose ends, went to the cafe for a snack, unpacked and organized everything, went to explore, and then came back to change for dinner.

The Dining Room Experience- Overall: not good.
The food was mediocre to bad with a few exceptions, just as I'd read in my online research before I left.

ninasdream

I had late seating, 8:30 p.m. and was assigned to the Magellan dining room. I had requested a singles table, but was assigned to a table immediately on entrance, (women who eat out with female friends may recognize the table placement issue), a very long table that seated 10-12 I think, and there were 4 of us, a Russian woman who spoke hardly any English and was supposed to be seated with her friends, myself, and a young married couple, who I will call (the husband) E & the wife T. No one else came to the table that night or any other night. I was never able to get any answer at all from guest services or the head waiter as to whether there was any singles table, was it full, and why were we assigned to a table right at the entrance, when there were other tables also empty. After the first day or two, it became clear that our waiter had developed a strong dislike to us and was cold, rude, and tried to rush us. Maybe it was because we were routinely about 10 minutes late coming in, but the assistant waiter was a real gem. Friendly, attentive, big smiles, conversation, great service, and always remembered each of our preferences.

I was a little nervous when on the second night, the couple I was eating with talked to the head waiter about a table change, due to the location, and to have more people. I talked to him too about a singles table, but got no real response. Nothing further was able to be done as it turns out, and the couple and I ate together every night we all made it to the dining room, which I think was all but the first Saturday. I should say that we hit very rough waters the last night, Saturday night, and the wife, T did not make it down to dinner, so it was just the husband and I . As we were sitting across from each other at the far end of the table, E leaned in and said, “You know T & I initially put in for a table change, but now, we wouldn't have had it any other way.” . So that's just to let you know the three of us shared a lovely cruise of meals and conversation.

Day 2
The biggest enemy of the solo traveler is inertia. I slept in, and then looked at the day's activities sheet over breakfast in the Windjammer cafe, eggs, corned beef hash fresh honeydew & cantelope, coffee, several glasses of ice-water. There were 3 interesting things at 11:00. It was still cold and overcast outside. One was an art lecture of some sort, but I was torn between the digital camera for beginners and a cha-cha class. I had just purchased my very first digital camera only the evening before departure, and hadn't even gone through the owner's manual yet. I was also afraid the class would be filled by old duffers whose VCRs were still blinking 12:00, and I was pretty much a Ludite in my own way. So I chose the cha-cha class.

ninasdream

That's Luddite. Sorry.

SusieQQ

Anxiously waiting for the rest of your report. I'm going out of Bayonne on Explorer of the Seas as a first time solo cruiser next month.

ninasdream

SusieQQ, would you prefer a summary to a journal? Or if you have specific Q's, I am happy to answer.

SusieQQ

Ninasdream,

I guess I'm interested in a summary...also....

1)how many types of activites were available on Sea Days? Classes, etc.
2)did you see any shows?
3)do you drink? i have been looking at buying the wine package but not sure if it worth it...how much were glasses of wine on board?
4) did you get dressed up and eat in the dining room on formal nights?
5)did you get off in San Juan? we are there for an evening and i've heard nasty things about it...
6) which ship were you on?

ninasdream

Hi SusieQQ - Ship: Explorer of the Seas - didn't realiza I hadn't included the name! I'll start with your questions. A summary sheet called a Cruise Compass is left on your bed at turn-down - if you don't get one, just go to Guest Services & ask for one. (The one the cruise director reads on the cruise channel is not complete, it's highlights) There are usually at least 3 activities starting at 11:00. A lot of these revolve around the art auction and also shopping. There are nutrition & exercise classes, art history lectures, crafts, and also some with fees like pilates or some wine tastings. Here are some activities I did: a dance class, the golf, music trivia games, movie in the theatre ( very uncomfotable, skip that). Shows: 2 of the 3 comedians were great. The headlliner of Marty Allen & his wife- songs & Vaudeville-type act was superb. The Vegas music shows are not my style but I went to most on this trip, some were better than others. If you are traveling solo, it's a nice thing to do before or after dinner. Liquor: I don't usualy drink on cruises because I don't have $8-$10/drink. People bought me drinks, and I reciprocated by sharing the bottle of chanpagne that the ship sent to me. Some people who bought the wine package said they didn;t really get to use it or use it all. I brought 2 nice dresses & wore them on formal nights, which I recommend doing, basics with nice shoes bag & accessories. You will see everything from ballgowns to designer togs to a simple shift & wrap. You decide. San Juan - my advice - get off ASAP & do one activity, either shopping or pick one site. I took the trolley up to El Morro, the fort, because I wanted to see it again. Once there, I had about 1 hour of daylight & time to catch the trolley back. I have been to SJ several times and I cannot imagine what nasty things you may have heard. More questions? Fire away!

SusieQQ

ninasdream,
I will be on the same ship leaving on the 14th, but will be stopping in antiqua and dominica after st. thomas instead of DR and Haiti...

I have been advised to plan to take my luggage off with me when I disembark rather than have the ship do it to save a lot of time. I can easily handle my suitcase.. how long did it take you to disembark? i need to tell the car service the time to meet me.

i am at the early dinner seating and then hope to see the shows after. do these shows fill up? is there ever a problem getting in? do you need to make reservations? how and when?

With such a large number of people on the ship, is there a long wait to be seated at meals?

Did you have a favorite place on the ship ?

ninasdream

How many dayus is oyur cruise. Is the 14 day? I envy you your itinerary - if I were you, I would go to the RC website & cruiswe critic and others and see what the recommended shore excursions are. Also, you can sign up for meet-ups and pre-travel contact through bulletin boards with other travelers. I didn't have or make time to do any of that. This was the first time I didn't snork or other things because I thought I could just do it from port, but it turns out you needed to get to a prettier or better location. No waiting to be seated at meals at the dining room, because you just go to oyur assigned table. Sometimes finding a table in Windjammer Cafe was tricky. Disembark - definitley recommend the Express - tip: go t to the elevator bank all the way at the end of the ship, rather than a delay in disembarking form 7:45 to 8:15. But I was in the taxi line by 8:30 and home by 9:45. Very smooth! No problem getting into shows, plenty of seats. just go, no reservation needed, except getting tickets in advance for the ice shows, which I skipped.

SusieQQ

thanks again,ninasdream.
It is the 10 night cruise leaving on the 14h. I think the 14 day one goes the day we get back, the 24th.
I have been reading all the comments on Cruise Critic and have signed up for their Meet and Mingle. Except for San Juan I know what I am going to do at the other ports. I would like to go to all the shows and as many other activities, particularly classes. Since this is my first cruise I am more interested in experiencing the ship rather than the ports.

Eschew

Found it! Great post.

ninasdream

If you have seen El Morro, the fort in San Juan, you will have about 2 hours of daylight, and that is what I recommend. A lovely free trolley ride - you pick up about 1 block from dock, and great views, and a wonderful historic site. Great photos. Then, you can shop or walk the plazas which may be lit up. On a previous cruise I did the night kayak trip through the mangroves to the biolumescent bay of Viejas. Lovely, except the tour guides were not organized. On the cruise itself there will be at least 3 activities offered in every hour, so you'll have a ball. Do post back & let me know how the cruise critic & other meet-ups went. When I get a chance, I will post more on my cruise here. Let me know if you have other questions.

ninasdream

Well, I am still in touch with my table mate from the trip. I am also looking at my finances and travel time. I think a cruise is going to be the way to go again this year. I will fly to a more southern destination, so that means I may go early and look around first. Anyone have favorite cruises that leave from southern ports or other that they recommend? I want to get to some of those island I haven't seen yet, beyond PR, St T, St Croix. I live outside NYC, so would be looking to fly to Texas, CA, Florida, even PR, tho I have been there several times. Thanks for your suggestions.

Dayenu

Of our only 4 cruises so far the best was Panama canal west to east if you have 14-16 days and can start in San Diego or Los Angeles.

ninasdream

Dayenu, nope don't have thta kind of time to take all at once. And I have been to Panama, thanks tho. Anyone have suggestions for islands are welcome.