Embarking Celebrity - San Juan

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lesliedear

Guest
Just taking a much needed break from the holiday festivities....

Hello there,
I still have more and more questions. We are leaving out of San Juan, PR and are planning on staying a couple of nights there prior to sailing. The hotel we are staying at is supposedly only 5 miles from dock. Is the process pretty self-explanatory when we arrive at the dock? Is it pretty easy to "re-board" the ship after each stop too? We have a CC class veranda room.
We are planning on taking advantage of some the excursions but are mainly looking forward to laying around on the well spoken of beaches on route. Who would be the best to talk to about finding out how to get to the beaches that are good for lounging? Going on the Southern Caribbean sailing.

Thanks!!! Merry Christmas!
 
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BSeabob

Guest
5 miles normally at a cruise Port is a big far away actually but it really doesn't matter to anyone but you guys....

At the pier X has everything basically the same at every port. There will be security run by the Port and then you enter a large area with lots of desks and you go in Alphabetic groups. Front of th line is a nice person who will check your docs give you your boarding card (onboard roomkey/credit card/ID) Then off you head to the ship to get your Photo's snapped by the ship photographers that they will sell back to you later (along with many others) Somewhere you will get your ID picture snapped also and this will be shown when you put your boarding pass into the machine as you board and leave in each port. I believe all M class ships do this as you actually step on the ship now. (Maybe the whole fleet actually.)

Leaving in port is just the opposite depending on if you will be using a tender or not. If tendering you gather in public rooms and go down as groups for a full tender until they announce "Open tenders) and you just show up on the proper announced deck and position.
Coming back aboard they run your bags and articles through security each time and will remove any flaunted liquor or beer for sure and sometimes all booze.

I along with several others here am a beach bum. Confirm your stops and we will give you our experiences.
 
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lesliedear

Guest
Thanks Seabob for a very thorough explanation, it helps a lot!!
Here is the itinieray:
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Roseau, Dominica
St. George'S, Grenada
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Oranjestad, Aruba

Any suggestions on good beaches or definite must see's, would be appreciated!
 
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BSeabob

Guest
St. Maarten. it's been quite a few years for us but we beached just about a hundred yards to the left from the old tender dock. 99cent beers and a big old banyan tree.. Which may not be there because of hurricanes since then. (;

Grenada.. take a water taxi from the pier to Grande Anse a great day. Small restaurant and very nice beach.

Aruba... too many to even try to pick . Hotel beaches.. small out of the way spots etc etc. FYI it is usually windy here. Anywhere from a short cab ride to the North to a rental car for the day (Which I recommend)

Haven't been to the others (Yet)
 
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Ted_D

Guest
I concur with most of Bob's recommendations.

I would add that Dominica really doesn't have great beaches, and the best are a fair taxi ride from the Roseau dock. I might plan on something other than beach time here. The little downtown is rather shabby, but can be explored on foot safely and will only take an hour or so unless you stop at the hotel verandah for a drink or lunch. A second option is to take an excursion into the rain forest (I'd pass on the sulpher springs). Or finally, you can lounge by the pool that day.

Also, St Maarten has the world famous Orient Beach. It isn't nearly as close as the one Bob mentioned, but it is very nice. Be aware, though, that one end of the beach is reserved for topless bathers -- either a plus or a minus, depending on your point of view and eye sight!

Ted
 
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StrumSong

Guest
We're on the same itinerary. We often book the shore excursions of the cruise line because if something happens we won't get left behind which I have seen happen to some people in some ports. We went to Orient beach once to snorkel and there were so many people in the water that it got stirred up too much to see the fish very well. We would recommend checking out several of the live music venues on board and the shows are worth seeing as well. This will be my 4th time on Celebrity.
StrumSong
 
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alisnana

Guest
Will be on Celebrity Summit 2/23 - 3/1 for same itinerary. Interested in hearing about your experience on board and excursions and beaches. It has been 10 years since we cruised.
 
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lesliedear

Guest
Just returned from a fabulous cruise on the Summit. The experience and service surpassed our expectations. Here are a few things that we did or would recommend:

We did not participate in any of the cruise organized excursions. However, in hindsight, we should have done something organized in Aruba, but we ended up hanging out with a couple that we met that didn't want to. You can find people on the island to do the same services for cheaper.

Tipping: We did the recommended daily tip through the ship, which the crew stated that they are aware of who did this through the ship and who did not, the tip gets processed mid way through the trip so they are able to find out. I think next time we will just tip directly to those that we saw giving service.

The food wasn't spectacular but it was very good in some instances. The disembarking went well. The entertainment was OK there wasn't a whole lot going on, especially at the dance club. And I was surprised how many men did wear tuxedos during formal nights.

If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask. Have a great cruise!!
 
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alisnana

Guest
Lesliedear - Thanks for the info. Getting anxious for 2/23. Meeting tomorrow with traveling companions to plan excursions. What tours etc.can you recommend instead of cruise ship tours. Also you mentioned tipping. It's been 10 years since we cruised. Did you experience different treatment after the tips were processed? Do you see everyone each day that they suggest should be tipped? If you tip thru the ship -is that done daily or all at one time? Any more tips or experiences anyone can share would be appreciated.
 
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BSeabob

Guest
[quote alisnana]Lesliedear - Thanks for the info. Getting anxious for 2/23. Meeting tomorrow with traveling companions to plan excursions. What tours etc.can you recommend instead of cruise ship tours. Also you mentioned tipping. It's been 10 years since we cruised. A>Did you experience different treatment after the tips were processed? B>Do you see everyone each day that they suggest should be tipped? C>If you tip thru the ship -is that done daily or all at one time? Any more tips or experiences anyone can share would be appreciated.[/quote]

A. No difference at all other than some bigger smiles.
B. Not all the time.
C. All at once about 2/3 way through the cruise. You can see all the entries to your account on the TV almost as they happen.

We just find it very convenient you don't have to go looking for envelopes or change etc. You still get envelopes on the last day or so and can add if you wish or put in comments..... or give to others rather than just those that are in the program. The staff know if you are on "The Plan" .

Don't forget the bar drinks already have a tip % already built in.

Everyone always asks about the head housekeeper,(X does this other lines don't) as you hardly ever seem to see him..but I'll tell you if you do you know exactly what it is he does. "He rules"

If there is someone that you do not wish to tip (for whatever reason) you can not just remove him/her from the program but must opt out of it completely and then you revert to the "Old way" giving to whom and how much you wish in envelopes.
 
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