Adventure of the Seas Review
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This was our first cruise so I have nothing to compare it to, but our family of 5, including 3 teenagers, was very satisfied. I was a little apprehensive about Adventure of the Seas based on some reviews saying it was "tired." We did not find that to be the case at all. We were very impressed with the attention to detail, from the cleanliness of the public areas to the availability of lounge chairs on the decks. Most impressive to me was that when you come back to the ship after a day in port, the air conditioning hits you immediately, and there sits the complimentary water and lemonade right beside you. Impressive.
Although a little crowded on sea days, the pools were enjoyed by all. The public spaces, including Royal Promenade, were energetic gathering places. We had great food and service in the main dining room, and we also used the Windjammer buffet frequently. Room service was on time each of the 5 times I used it for breakfast. The Lyric Theater was absolutely gorgeous, much nicer than the Broadway theater in NYC I had been to a few days prior. Entertainment was very good, especially the ice show. The kids took in a couple of movies in the screening room, and we all watched the Olympics opening ceremonies on the outdoor screen.
What could have been better? Well, the rooms could use some updating, especially the drapes, carpet and sofa. The Internet was only adequate, and only late in the cruise did we find out that there was a special procedure to log out so another member of your family could log on. Also, our port excursion in St. Kitts did not have working AC in the bus, but RCI gave us 20% off when we brought it to their attention. Next time I will be confident enough to book my own excursions when it makes sense, but 2 out of the 3 ship excursions we booked--St. Lucia and Barbados--were excellent values for the money. Both were provided by Foster Ince. Keep that name in mind.
Cabin Review
Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
Room was quite good. Sofa, drapes, and carpet were in good condition but need to be upgraded. Extremely clean room and bathroom. Balcony was a real treat as it was fun to see the port approach each morning and have a quiet place to read or eat breakfast. Don't skimp on the balcony!
Port Reviews
San Juan
Nice city, although you can tell that the poor economy has taken a toll. Some crumbling infrastructure can be seen, and some of the roads are in poor condition. Glad to see some hotels are renovating (El San Juan Hotel). We stayed 3 nights at the Embassy Suites near the airport. We spent a full day in Old San Juan and another full day at El Yunque rain forest. Both were well worth the time. The Puerto Rican people are very polite and friendly. Even the policemen say hello.
St. Maarten
We rented a Jeep here. We first went to Maho Beach to see the planes land. Saw many including the KLM 747 that came at 10:55AM. Had lunch at the Sunset Grill next door and the food and views were great. Then came a pounding rain. We got back in the Jeep and drove around a bit, went into Marigot where it was deserted, and then continued back to the port. I would like to come back to St. Maarten when the weather is better to see the beaches at the shops on Front Street, however, I don't think I would drive a rental here again.
Antigua
We took a taxi to Dickenson Bay for a beach day. It was only $3 per person each way. At Dickenson Bay, Sandals takes up a huge portion of the area, and unfortunately they don't allow the public to come in and use the restaurants. That leaves "Tony's" as the place you must go. Well, Tony's is basically a shack with lots of trash around and a little broken glass for good measure. Food was decent but prices are pretty high, too. For the money they're pulling in it's almost shocking that they don't clean up the place a bit, put out some decent chairs, etc. The Tripadvisor reviews of Dickenson Bay implied there were hotels and restaurants that you could patronize, but from what I could see Tony's was the only game in town. The sea and sand were nice but it sure would've added to the trip to have a comfortable, clean place to grab a bite.