We (Deb and Jack from Massachusetts) cruised to the Southern Caribbean during the week of February 3, 2007. This was our fourth cruise, and our third with Royal Caribbean. Since we had already had the experience of a cabin with a balcony, it was a must for us again. The Serenade of the Seas is a beautiful ship with very nice works of art. Skip to comments section at the end of this review to find out if we would sail on this ship again.
Pre-night in San Juan: We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Condado and got a good deal for that hotel using Hotwire. We paid $90 for one night. I suggest that a pre-night is a must if you live in the snowy northeast like we do, and since the first day is full of travel, it helps to begin the cruise refreshed. The Holiday Inn Express was a clean, comfortable, quiet hotel. It did serve continental breakfast, but had no restaurant. We walked to the Marriott a few blocks away to have dinner and enjoy the beach there. I would recommend this hotel for a one-night stay, but not more than that.
Arriving at Airport in San Juan: We booked our own air arrangements and arrived in San Juan around 3 pm, without any trouble at all. Taxi to the hotel was $20.