8 night repo plus SJU 1 day prior, cruise 60,61. Cabin 6140 RS
1 day in San Juan, Puerto Rico then St.M; St.T. NO Tortola, Bermuda overnight and ending in NJ. Captain Anastasios Lekkas, Hotel Dir.: Paul Kelly, GRM.: Monica Gomez, Cruise Dir. Rich Clesen, Capt. Club: Ashley Whitaker, Michael's Club Concierge: Jole Jacoby, pronounced Yo-La, Butler: Dominic, Room Steward: Anthony, Asst: Ida, Waiters in Luminae: various Juan Carlos, Lazaro, Dominic, Johan.
We've done this cruise each of the last few years in the spring. The car picked us up at 4am for a 710 flight at EWR. We flew Jet blue down to SJU for $200pp plus $50 for the second bag. We grabbed a muffin, bagel and coffees while waiting to fly. For once, I was able to get some serious additional sleep in on the plane, which is unusual for me. The cab took us to the Sheraton Old San Juan around noon. No bargain this time for the hotel which was higher than last time at $259 plus taxes but nothing beats the convenience of being in the center of Old SJU.
We were able to check in right away so we did our usual routine in town. We stopped for tappas, Randi got blessed by a bird, then strolled to the Ralph Lauren outlet. We picked up a few sale items and continued through the streets of old San Juan, toward the other outlets. When we got to the Coach outlet we saw that the Dooney store across the street was for rent. Randi found a Coach wallet she was looking for. On the way home in front of CVS, a pan handler was asking for money. Since neither of us had small bills we popped into CVS to make change for him.
We killed some time before dinner by lounging by the pool, catching some cat naps and enjoying the 89 degree temperature after another terrible northern winter.
Randi had been looking into biting into a big burger all week and
especially since the accident, so we strolled down stairs to the outdoor
Chicago Burger joint and were pleasantly surprised to find a live band
playing some great oldies. We enjoyed listening while we sipped
Margaritas and Pino Grigios. The burgers were great too!
The next day we saw Summit docked at the Pan Am pier across the water. It wouldn't be long now. Randi had the buffet breakfast and I had the buttermilk pancakes and sausage in the hotel. We spent the remainder of the morning by the pool, chilling out before our cab ride to the ship. We got to the pier about around noon. Check in was a breeze. One of the first crew members we met was the perky, Ashley, who is the Captains Club Hostess.
She handed us off to a dancer who escorted us to Michael's club. They were just putting the finishing touches on the newly frosted windows at Michael's.
We were introduced to the very bubbly, Jole Jacoby, pronounced Yo-La, who is the Michael's Club Concierge. Some old friends were there also.
Dave and Denise, originally from Keyport, NJ, now from Freehold, NJ, were there. Also we saw Frank and Marilyn. We had a light lunch of berries, cold cuts and Prosecco. That’s all we needed since we were dining in the Normandie that evening.
About 1pm we were able to go to our cabin, 6140, the Royal suite.
It had a living room, a dining area, bedroom, beautiful bathroom with jacuzzi and a deck with 2 lounges and a hot tub.
When our bags hadn't arrived by 4pm, which was odd, we went down to guest services to inquire. After talking to Erica, we decided to give it til 4:30. Before you knew it, poof, they magically appeared.
We got them un-packed, only finding one maybe two items that needed pressing. We then got ready for our early 6pm dinner in Normandie. We ate early since it was the first night and the muster drill was at 7:45. Randi had the Lobster bisque soup and the table side prepared lobster and cognac cream sauce, minus the bacon, while I had the mushroom soup and the venison. We shared the pear cheese tart. The meal was delicious. Everything went like clockwork and we were done minutes before the emergency signal was sounded.
The muster drill changed since the last cruise. We met in the Rendezvous Lounge, but people were placed into formation order rather than a causal stance. The instructor’s directions from the floor was longer then in the past, lasting a full 30 minutes. It was hot in the venue and it was hard to stand in one place for a full half hour, especially after you've had a few glasses of wine.
After it was over we strolled to the Martini bar, but didn't stay too long. It seemed that it would be quite a while until they got back on track, following the drill. Rather we went to Michael's and were served a cognac and a pino immediately. We strolled around deck until bedtime.
St Martin was the first port, the following day. We had an exquisite breakfast in the new Luminae restaurant.
I had a bagel and lox and Huevos rancheros and
Randi had fruit and Buttermilk pancakes; all tasted yummy and were served on modern plates.
Originally we thought we would walk to town but we decided to take the water taxi because it was so hot. We found that many stores on Front Street were not opened by 10:15 since it was Sunday. After searching from store to store, Randi found all the perfume that she and her friends wanted. I was able to get my liquor order filled and
Randi found a ring and ankle chains that she wanted at Sam and Raj's Ultimate Jewelery on Front Street.
Damage done, we returned to the ship and ate at Bistro on 5. We both had potato soup.
I had a Chicken Caesar salad and Randi had a turkey club. I enjoyed seeing her chomp into that.
After relaxing the rest of the afternoon away, we got ready for our dinner at Qsine. We had a nice tableside window, watched our sail away and enjoyed a scrumptious meal including the Mediterranean shadowbox, lava crab and lobster escargot. We made our way to Michael's club for a meet and greet with the officers at 745. We sat with passengers Dave and Denise, and met
the Captain, the HR officer, Kat and the Guest relations officer,
Monica. After spending a little time with Jole, we went to the show to
see a great acapella group, "the edge effect.” Five outstanding guys
performed all the vocals and percussion using their mouths only! They
were pretty amazing.
St Thomas was the 2nd stop. Randi's suggested switching things around by going off ship later. it was a great idea. After eggs benedict and an egg wrap at Luminae for breakfast, we went to the pool for a while and soaked up the St Thomas sun.
Pretty soon we jumped in the hot tub for a while and chilled. We both noticed that all the lounge chairs have been replaced with new grey ones. Also new grey towels are now given out from the cabana room, poolside; perhaps a way to prevent holding of chairs with towels.
Around noon we showered and took a walk through Havensight but couldn't find anything to buy. Is it possible we've reached our buying limit? LOL. Got a couple of sandwiches on deck 10.
We went back to our veranda to chill and nap a bit in the lounges.
Later, Randi sorted through work emails and I cleaned my personal emails.
Tonight is formal night. Yes on the third night not the second. This is a first for us, being on the third night.
Day 3 was a sea day. Last year it was Tortola, but we were not stopping there this cruise. We went to the Captains club breakfast in Normandie. Gail would be happy to know that you now order off a menu and sit at cafe style tables watching the sea go by.
It is a full service continental and drink menu. We are missing her a bunch and also missing Joan and Al. All the window tables were taken when we got there so we sat in the second row. We both had a light breakfast of cold cuts, bagel and lox since we were supposed to be in Qsine for a special lunch.
Checked in with the future cruise person to see if upgrades were available on our upcoming cruises but nothing changed. We spent the rest of the morning on deck 5, the lifeboat deck, sitting in the shade on a lounge and watching the waves drift by.
We returned to the cabin about 15 minutes before lunch when I spotted on the table the confirmation to Normandie for lunch- not Qsine. We quickly dressed and went down to lunch and we were not disappointed. We a wonderful new Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough New Zealand called Clifford Bay. We both had the sautéed scallops and I had the poached lobster while Randi had the Loop de Mer (sea bass). For desert I had the Ivory Carmel Tart and Randi had the Gianduja Soufflé. Now we have to rest up before dinner. LOL.
Dinner was in Luminae. We both had the crab cakes and I also had the seafood soup, creamy and good. We both selected the lamb prepared as a rolled-tenderloin. For dessert it was a double flavor sorbet. Went to see the new show tonight called iMagic, which offered great illusions using ipads, with magician, Adam Heppenstall.
Our 2nd sea day, heading to Bermuda, it was colder about 73 and rainy, but after waking to a new time after the clocks moved ahead, we had breakfast in Blu for the first time this cruise. Randi had an omelet with fruit and I had poached eggs with pecan pancakes.
Afterwards we bought a few things in the shops and meandered back to Michael’s club. We have been spending some quality time there sipping on complementary coffees or drinks and eating snacks. It is quiet place mostly and Randi reads her book while I write this blog. The solitude does however take you out of the mainstream of passenger interaction which we also enjoy.
We had another wonderful dinner in Luminae. I had the duck and pasta bolognaise with a Chianti while Randi had the short ribs; Yummy. Sat next to Larry and Donna from Medford Long Island and had some good dinner conversation. We strolled afterwards to the wine cellar for a nightcap then retired early since we planned on going to St. George and the 930 ferry.
Now that the sun finally came out, sure… because we didn’t go to St George. We headed to the lounges by the pool. We started covered with towels because it was cool, but the sun came out strong and it sure felt good.
Went to Michael's club this evening and meet some officers and friends. We stayed there longer than we expected but finally left for dinner at 8 rather than at 7. We went to Blu for the first time for dinner. While my pumpkin gnocchi over salad was good I guess since it wasn’t what I expected so I was a little disappointed. Randi had the salmon. We also saw a few waiters that we knew from the past like Jose from Indonesia and a few others. We sat next to some nice ladies who wanted to chat so we did. We than went back to the stateroom.
I woke up early around 5 but stayed in bed watching the news about the protests in the US cities regarding Baltimore. Looked out the veranda to see whitecaps on the bay and although it was pretty warm, would estimate the winds to be between 25-35 mph gusts.
After an 8 o’clock breakfast in Blu, we walked back to the
store we were at yesterday to see if he found a shirt for Randi in his
warehouse, but no luck there.
Walked back slowly to the ship and
took a picture in the moon structure for lovers. Did a few odds and
ends and grabbed a coffee at Il Baccio when we got back. Picked up the
computer and the Kindle and went to the inside pool to do some reading,
but were soon napping in the lounge chairs.
Then we went to the
"brunch" in the Cosmopolitan which turned out only to be a lunch but
well worth it since the BBQ ribs were delicious. We packed two suitcases
after lunch to get a jump on that then headed to the sunset bar at 10
aft, where I’m writing this blog and with a tequila sunrise and Randi is
reading her kindle. It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon with a
light breeze and a temp of about 72 degrees.
We went to dress in our formals. Randi looked beautiful in her pink and silver dress and she got many compliments. After meeting some friends in Michael's we went to see Dan Wilson, the comedian in the theater then back to a singer and guitar in
Michael's than to the wine cellar to meet up with Jole beforedining again with Paul Kelly, the Hotel director at 830. It was fun because he is a great host.
Joining him was the chief revenue officer. There was another couple from NJ, Kirk and Elena and a couple from Ottawa who just got married in St Thomas and their two girls.
We were also invited to a new "closed" event after dinner called Indulgences. Normally $20 per person, we were comp-ed. The wine cellar was closed off and reinvented into a red velvet cafe, with burlesque style entertainment and music, free odd drinks and food.
While we were there many officers including the captain filled
the room. It was different and exotic, maybe if we weren't tired and in
more comfortable clothes then in formals we would have enjoyed it more.
Time now, for bed.
The next sea day on the way back to NJ, we found Luminae closed so we went to the Cosmopolitan. Bananas and cream was no longer on the menu but the Matre'd, went out of his way to get heavy cream for Randi's sliced bananas. That was the best part. Otherwise, Randi’s French toast was cold, sugar free syrup was forgotten and my side of sausage was missing with my fratatta. Oh well.
Afterwards we packed a little and Randi went to fortunes casino
to make a donation. I went to Michael's. The waves of the sea began to
get angry and before you knew it they were up to 8 feet. We still tried
to lunch in Luminae for their brunch but Randi didn't make it through
the meal. When we went back to the stateroom, she got sick. Meanwhile
the waves in my estimation rose from 8 to about 14 feet so we spent the
rest of the day in the cabin. I packed while she rested. Finally it calmed around 730 and while I thought solid food would be good for her, it didn’t agree. We went back to the cabin. I put the bags out and said goodnight.
Enjoyed our last breakfast in Luminae then headed to Michael’s club which was our disembarkation venue. There was an announcement that there would be a delay this morning.
We decided to take our last "Royal "pictures to prove we were
King and Queen for a week. Even though it was out of the ships control I
overheard people blaming the ship. I think it was around 8:45 when we
got the word to go. Apparently the port attendant didn’t get the same
word. He began to send us back to the ship from the jet-way. He
repeated, “only numbers 2 through 10 can get off.” That was
impossibility. We were actually number 1 VIP, but no one apparently told
him.
After walking past the port attendant “Victor” the new terminal was almost a breeze. First, you don’t have to board that bus to the old building, since the new terminal is right there. They do however need to reconfigure the bag placement there. Lower numbers should be placed closer not farther away.
As first off, we had to walk down to the far side of the room, gather our bags and walk back against the crowds to the exit. Once we got a porter, we were through customs and out the door in no time flat, with our car, minutes away.
As this cruise came to an end, we found it to be one of the most relaxing yet. Just what we wanted and how it should be. Now we wait for the Panama Canal, next.
To see all the other pictures, go here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/markdegennaro/Summit042515?authkey=Gv1sRgCLme6ZKBxZOoAw
