Opinions: Southern Caribbean Cruise

[Stefan Patric]

Posting for a friend: Anyone done Royal Caribbean's Southern Caribbean
Cruise out of San Juan in June? Interested in quality of food and
services, amenities, size of staterooms, but most importantly wheelchair
accessibility.

Couple is mid-forties and fit: One fully ambulatory; the other needs a
wheelchair, but can stand and walk short distances with assistance. This
will be for a honeymoon.

Stef

[Sue Mullen]

Nonny wrote:

> Be sure to also inquire about the type of shower in the cabin. Our
> recent Ryndam cruise had tubs with HIGH sides, rather than a flat floor
> shower or even a step-in low based shower stall. With a broken shoulder,
> I still had no problem stepping over the 18" or so side for my daily
> shower, but Mrs. Nonny had a lot of difficulty. Outside of the tub
> issue, though, the Ryndam was very accessible otherwise.

I thought that all accessible cabins would have roll in showers?

> Also, many of the ships have an elevated threshold for access to deck
> areas, including the pool area on the Lido deck. It's not specific to
> any line in particular. While ramped, the 2" or so threshold can be a
> barrier to someone wheeling themselves in a manual chair or with a
> scooter that has a low clearance between the wheels.

The higher barriers are even hard on someone in an electric wheelchair.
My friend was able to get over them with some help, but it hurt her neck
and also lossened up somethings on her chair. There were also a couple
of places she just couldn't go, but that was on the Azamara Journey
which is an older ship.

sue

[Sue Mullen]

gmbeasley@*************** wrote:
> On Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:48:31 -0800, "Nonny" <somebody@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> "Sue Mullen" <kjmullen@************> wrote in message
>> news:7t3addFiu8U1@mid.***************...
>>> Stefan Patric wrote:
>>>> Posting for a friend: Anyone done Royal Caribbean's Southern
>>>> Caribbean Cruise out of San Juan in June? Interested in
>>>> quality of food and services, amenities, size of staterooms,
>>>> but most importantly wheelchair accessibility.
>>>>
>>>> Couple is mid-forties and fit: One fully ambulatory; the other
>>>> needs a wheelchair, but can stand and walk short distances with
>>>> assistance. This will be for a honeymoon.
> I see two of these on Serenade of the Seas. Is that the ship you were
> asking about? (It would be better to say what ship)
>
> One itin. is:
> San Juan, Puerto Rico; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Roseau,
> Dominica; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico
>
> And the other one is
> San Juan, Puerto Rico; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; St.
> John's, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin
> Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico
>
> I looked because I wanted to know if there would be any tender ports,
> but it does not look like there are. I don't know how wheelchair
> accessible those ports are.

You just reminded me of another issue, many ports are not wheelchair
friendly. Since the person in question can walk a few steps, having a
folding wheelchair to use in the ports would be very helpful and make
more excursions possible.

sue

[Stefan Patric]

On Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:38:11 -0500, gmbeasley wrote:

> On Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:48:31 -0800, "Nonny" <somebody@cox.net> wrote:
>
>>"Sue Mullen" <kjmullen@************> wrote in message
>>news:7t3addFiu8U1@mid.***************...
>>>
>>> Stefan Patric wrote:
>>>> Posting for a friend: Anyone done Royal Caribbean's Southern
>>>> Caribbean Cruise out of San Juan in June? Interested in quality of
>>>> food and services, amenities, size of staterooms, but most
>>>> importantly wheelchair accessibility.
>>>>
>>>> Couple is mid-forties and fit: One fully ambulatory; the other needs
>>>> a wheelchair, but can stand and walk short distances with assistance.
>>>> This will be for a honeymoon.
>>>
> I see two of these on Serenade of the Seas. Is that the ship you were
> asking about? (It would be better to say what ship)
>
> One itin. is:
> San Juan, Puerto Rico; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Roseau,
> Dominica; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico
>
> And the other one is
> San Juan, Puerto Rico; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; St.
> John's, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin
> Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico

I didn't know the ship or itin. My friends didn't say. Just Southern
Caribbean. Royal Caribbean. But if those two are the only Southern
Caribbean trips, then it's probably Serenade of the Seas.

Stef

[Stefan Patric]

On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:21:06 -0500, Brian K wrote:

> Stefan Patric consulted a Magic 8 Ball and declared On 2/6/2010 1:34
> AM:
>>>
>>>
>> I didn't know the ship or itin. My friends didn't say. Just Southern
>> Caribbean. Royal Caribbean. But if those two are the only Southern
>> Caribbean trips, then it's probably Serenade of the Seas.
>>
>>
>> Stef
>>
> Some tropical ports in the Caribbean can be mighty hot in June. If
> there's a lull in the breeze off the sea, a daytime outing anywhere
> without air conditioning or swimming in cool water can be mucho
> uncomfortable. Ask your friends if they don't mind the heat.

I don't think heat will be a problem. They both have lived in the US
Desert Southwest for the past 20 years where in late June (the time they
plan to take the cruise) the highs average 105F (40C) and the lows are 85
- 90F (30C+-). To them, the Caribbean in June will be cool. However,
the ocean may be way too warm. They are accustomed to California waters,
which are quite cool (by my standards) even in the Summer.

In any case, it will be an experience. Both are fairly well-traveled,
but neither has ever been to the Caribbean.

Thanks for your advice.

Stef

[Stu]

On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:51:21 GMT, Stefan Patric <not@this.address.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:21:06 -0500, Brian K wrote:
>
>> Stefan Patric consulted a Magic 8 Ball and declared On 2/6/2010 1:34
>> AM:
>>>>
>>>>
>>> I didn't know the ship or itin. My friends didn't say. Just Southern
>>> Caribbean. Royal Caribbean. But if those two are the only Southern
>>> Caribbean trips, then it's probably Serenade of the Seas.
>>>
>>>
>>> Stef
>>>
>> Some tropical ports in the Caribbean can be mighty hot in June. If
>> there's a lull in the breeze off the sea, a daytime outing anywhere
>> without air conditioning or swimming in cool water can be mucho
>> uncomfortable. Ask your friends if they don't mind the heat.
>
>I don't think heat will be a problem. They both have lived in the US
>Desert Southwest for the past 20 years where in late June (the time they
>plan to take the cruise) the highs average 105F (40C) and the lows are 85
>- 90F (30C+-). To them, the Caribbean in June will be cool. However,
>the ocean may be way too warm. They are accustomed to California waters,
>which are quite cool (by my standards) even in the Summer.
>
>In any case, it will be an experience. Both are fairly well-traveled,
>but neither has ever been to the Caribbean.
>
>Thanks for your advice.
>
>Stef

Don't forget that Carnival as well does the Southern Caribbean.
We went eastern last time, although it was in Feb. and was 80F
we found it to be a dry heat.

[gmbeasley]

On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:51:21 GMT, Stefan Patric <not@this.address.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:21:06 -0500, Brian K wrote:
>
>> Stefan Patric consulted a Magic 8 Ball and declared On 2/6/2010 1:34
>> AM:
>>>>
>>>>
>>> I didn't know the ship or itin. My friends didn't say. Just Southern
>>> Caribbean. Royal Caribbean. But if those two are the only Southern
>>> Caribbean trips, then it's probably Serenade of the Seas.
>>>
>> Some tropical ports in the Caribbean can be mighty hot in June. If
>> there's a lull in the breeze off the sea, a daytime outing anywhere
>> without air conditioning or swimming in cool water can be mucho
>> uncomfortable. Ask your friends if they don't mind the heat.
>
>I don't think heat will be a problem. They both have lived in the US
>Desert Southwest for the past 20 years where in late June (the time they
>plan to take the cruise) the highs average 105F (40C) and the lows are 85
>- 90F (30C+-). To them, the Caribbean in June will be cool. However,
>the ocean may be way too warm. They are accustomed to California waters,
>which are quite cool (by my standards) even in the Summer.
>
There is a big difference between SW US hot and dry, and tropical hot
and humid. When Bob went through flight training in Pensacola, the
wives from OK and CO just about died from the heat and humidity
although it wasn't all that hot.

>In any case, it will be an experience. Both are fairly well-traveled,
>but neither has ever been to the Caribbean.
>
>Thanks for your advice.
>
>Stef

[Stefan Patric]

On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:51:50 -0600, Stu wrote:

> On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:51:21 GMT, Stefan Patric <not@this.address.com>
> wrote:
>
> [big snip]
>
> Don't forget that Carnival as well does the Southern Caribbean. We went
> eastern last time, although it was in Feb. and was 80F we found it to be
> a dry heat.

My friends weren't all that impressed after investigating Carnival.
Plus, it was too family oriented. And since they would be cruising in
June with school being out... Well, you get the idea.

I personally suggested Celebrity, which has a more mature, adult
clientele, but discovered it doesn't do the S. Caribbean in the summer.

Stef

[Stu]

On Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:19:00 GMT, Stefan Patric <not@this.address.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:51:50 -0600, Stu wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:51:21 GMT, Stefan Patric <not@this.address.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> [big snip]
>>
>> Don't forget that Carnival as well does the Southern Caribbean. We went
>> eastern last time, although it was in Feb. and was 80F we found it to be
>> a dry heat.
>
>My friends weren't all that impressed after investigating Carnival.
>Plus, it was too family oriented. And since they would be cruising in
>June with school being out... Well, you get the idea.
>
>I personally suggested Celebrity, which has a more mature, adult
>clientele, but discovered it doesn't do the S. Caribbean in the summer.
>
>Stef

Then have a look at cruise.com

[Bill]

On 2/9/2010 8:19 PM, Stefan Patric wrote:
>
> My friends weren't all that impressed after investigating Carnival.
> Plus, it was too family oriented. And since they would be cruising in
> June with school being out... Well, you get the idea.
>
> I personally suggested Celebrity, which has a more mature, adult
> clientele, but discovered it doesn't do the S. Caribbean in the summer.
>
> Stef

What makes them think that Royal Caribbean is going to be any different
in terms of being family oriented? If they're cruising them and not
expecting to see a lot of kids they're going to be VERY disappointed.

Bill