Royal Caribbean Blog

Of the popular activities to try while a cruise ship is visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico, going to the beach is in the upper echelon of choices. The Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino offers day passes (Link contains affiliate link, which means I get paid a finders fee, but no additional cost to you) to purchase, where guests can enjoy access to the resort grounds and I decided to try it out on a recent visit with my family.

The Marriott advertises itself as a great choice for families of all ages to enjoy time under a palm tree at the beach, or at one of their three pools.  Given the fact it can get quite warm in San Juan, the idea of relaxing in the water sounded like a great idea.

Description

The Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is located in an area of San Juan known as Condado Beach. It is a very short taxi ride away from where the cruise ships dock in Old San Juan, and perhaps a 5 to 7 minute ride from when you enter the taxi to when you exit it.

We purchased a day pass in advance from Resortforaday, and the website advertised you have access to the resort from 9am to 5pm with the pass, but when we arrived, the staff informed us we could stay as late as 11pm.

Upon arrival, you check-in at the front desk and pay the remaining balance due for the day pass. You are then given wrist bands that must be worn during your visit. There is a vigilant amount of security guards who monitor all entry and exit points of the resort to prevent people from accessing the Marriott who are not guests.

Here is exactly what is included with your day pass:

• $20 food & beverage credit per adult pass
• 20% discount on nail, massage & body treatments at on-site spa
• Beach access, pool access, whirlpool access
• Lounge chairs, umbrellas, beach & pool towels
• Water slide
• Children's pool
• Outdoor shower for casual clean up
• Bathrooms available for changing
• Sauna
• Beach volleyball
• Children's activities

Walking down to the pool and beach area, you will find multiple pools and even a water slide to enjoy.

Each pool area features plenty of seating, and the resort's tall buildings tend to cast a shadow on part of the pool area. This means you should be able to find seating in the shade or in the sun.

There is a swim up bar in one of the pools, and waiter service that is fairly easy to flag down when needed.

The water slide was a big hit with my kids, who relished going down it all the time. 

Of course, beach access is also available and the walk from the pool and resort to the beach is a mere few steps.

While the Marriott is not an all-inclusive, it does include $20 food & beverage credit per adult pass purchased. You will find pretty standard hotel food and drink, although I was happy to find some local craft beers available on the menu.

Comments

Our family enjoyed our visit to the Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino because it was exactly what we wanted: a place to enjoy time at the beach or pool, where the kids could splash and play to their hearts' content and my wife and I could relax while watching them.

Day passes are not a popular offering in San Juan, so options are limited, but I think we were satisfied with the choice to come to the Marriott. The taxi ride from the port was extremely short, and the resort amenities are exactly what I think most want in a day pass visit. There was plenty of seating (we arrived after lunch), and the resort is well-maintained.

We paid $60 per adult, which does include that $20 food and beverage credit.  So essentially, $40 each to spend a few hours at the resort. That is a pretty good value for access to the resort.

The food is not anything special, and we relegated ourselves to drinks and snacks.  We figured it would be best to spend money on a meal back in Old San Juan. I think most people visiting are interested in essentially a beach or pool day, with snacks and drinks mixed in as well.

Overall, if you are looking for some time in the water while visiting San Juan, the Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino fits the bill for a fun option. While it may not rank among my favorite day pass resorts in all of the Caribbean, it met every expectation I had for it.  Families should find this to be a good value for spending a few hours beachside or poolside.

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 332 is available for downloading which has a review of a listener's recent experience on Adventure of the Seas.

Kurt has returned from his cruise on Adventure of the Seas to share his experience.  Kurt talks about why he chose to sail on Adventure, what he and his family did onboard and how his shore excursion plans worked out.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 332. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Royal Caribbean is offering up to 30% off certain Cruise Planner purchases during its Save, Sail & Be Merry sale.

The offer runs between December 11 - December 18, 2019 and applies to select sailings departing December 20, 2019 – June 30, 2020. 

BEVERAGE: Up to 40% off on select sailings.

• NEW! Water Packages - 12 & 24 bottles: 40% off onboard prices; Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings + SC)
• Classic Soda Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings & SC)
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings + SC)
• Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings + SC)
• Refreshment Package: 30% off onboard prices: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings + SC)
• Shore Excursions: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings & SC)

DINING: Up to 55% off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 3N - 9N sailings. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings, MJ, & SC)

INTERNET: Up to 60% off

• The Key: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings, MJ & SC)
• VOOM Surf & Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Devices(s): Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings & SC)
• VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Devices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings & SC)

ACTIVITIES: 10% off

• All Access Ship Tour: 10% off onboard prices. (Excludes Charter Sailings & SC)

GIFTS & GEAR: Up to 20% off

• Anniversary Decorations with Champagne: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Charter Sailings, OY, QN, SC & VY)
• Happy Anniversary Decorations: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Charter Sailings, OY, QN, SC & VY)
• Happy Birthday Decorations: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Charter Sailings, OY, QN, SC & VY)
• Happy Birthday Chocolate Cake and Strawberries: 20% off onboard prices.. (Excludes Charter Sailings, OY, QN, SC & VY)
• Happy Birthday Vanilla Cake and Strawberries: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Charter Sailings, OY, QN, SC & VY)
• Inky Travel Set: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Charter Sailings, OY, QN, SC & VY)
• Royal Caribbean Beach Towel: 20% off onboard prices.(Excludes Charter Sailings, OY, QN, SC & VY)
• Strawberries with Champagne: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Charter Sailings, OY, QN, SC & VY)

The Cruise Planner sale promises savings on certain shore excursions and drink package purchases.  Guests can check which discounts, if any, are available for their upcoming sailing by visiting the Cruise Planner site. Keep in mind that not all sailings may see the sale applicable, nor are all offers significantly cheaper than previously posted.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

Royal Caribbean has issued an advisory to guests who wish to tour the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, on their own.

Guests will now be required to have an E-visa for the port, and must apply via the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

The issued E-visa will be valid for 30 days, allowing a single entry for stays up to 8 days. Applicants must apply for the E-Visa within 20 days of their intended arrival and no later than 4 days before.

Although the E-visa is single entry, this will allow the guests to go through the St. Petersburg immigration check points multiple times during any stays that are multiple days long.

If you want to save money on your Royal Caribbean cruise (and who does not?), then we have a list of things you should buy before the price goes up later.

Essentially, Royal Caribbean rewards those that buy early, and we have a list of the types of offerings that typically go up in price the longer you wait.

And if you love this video, we have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: What is something you always buy early to lock in a lower price?

Looking for a few tips to make the most of your Royal Caribbean cruise vacation?

We are sharing some of our top tips and secret tricks for an awesome Royal Caribbean cruise experience.

Social media to the rescue

When you have a question about your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise, your natural instinct may be to pick up the phone and call someone, but we have found you can get equally good service at a faster speed by reaching out to Royal Caribbean's social media channels.

The social media team at Royal Caribbean are rock stars whose job is not only to help promote new and exciting things happening at the cruise line, but respond quickly to customer queries.

If you have a question, consider tweeting Royal Caribbean or sending a message to Royal Caribbean's official Facebook page. The social media team routinely answers questions at a fantastic pace, and go to great lengths to get you the answer. No hold music required!

How to get around the alcohol drink package rule

You may or may not be aware that all Royal Caribbean passengers 21 years of age and older (18 years in Australia and the U.K) are now required to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package if at least one other person in their cabin has one.

That is fine if each adult in the room wants the alcohol package, but what if someone does not want it or cannot consume alcohol? 

Before the cruise, call Royal Caribbean and explain that you would like to purchase the deluxe beverage package, but someone else in your room does not want it. While not an official policy, in every instance we have tried, the cruise line will allow you to purchase the Royal Refreshment (non-alcoholic) drink package instead for that person.

This helps save money on what would have otherwise been a drink package that the other person would not have been able to fully utilize.

Ask the waiter for special menu items

When you sit down for dinner in the main dining room, do not assume what you see listed is the entire menu.

Royal Caribbean is known for its fantastic cuisine, and there are a few extra options to consider.

First and foremost, Royal Caribbean rolled out a vegan menu. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or simply looking to try something else, this is an option that you can ask for during your sailing.

In addition, the chefs in the galley are happy to provide additional options upon request. Provided they have the ingredients, there is a lot of flexibility to get additional culinary choices that can cater to tastes, health needs or special requests. 

As an example, I always ask for an Indian curry dish to be included with my dinner meal every night. On other cruises, I have seen special orders that served up Mediterranean favorites, Chinese specialties, various breads and more. The key is to simply (and politely) ask your head waiter for additional options. They are usually very open to doing what they can to make your dining experience even better.

Read more: How to request your favorite foods be prepared in the main dining room on your Royal Caribbean cruise

Free breakfast at Johnny Rockets

If you are sailing on an Oasis Class ship, you can go to Johnny Rockets for breakfast and pay absolutely nothing extra to enjoy a hearty American-style breakfast.

On Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, Wonder or Utopia of the Seas, Johnny Rockets is open for breakfast and charges nothing extra for guests to enjoy eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes and more.

Johnny Rockets retains a cover charge for lunch and dinner, but many guests are unaware Johnny Rockets is open for breakfast, or that it is complimentary for that meal.

Custom pizzas at Sorrento's

Sorrento's pizza has improved considerably lately, but many guests are unaware you are not limited by the daily selection made by the crew.

You can request to customize an entire pie to be prepared to your liking. This includes gluten-free crust options as well. A new pie will take about 10 minutes to cook, and you can include whichever fresh toppings you prefer.

Go to the pool, water slides or signature activities on embarkation day

If you are excited to try all the amazing things to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise, one of the best times to try them all with minimal waits is embarkation day.

The first day of your cruise is a busy day, with guests coming onboard and exploring the ship. While most are getting their bearings on day one, activities such as the zip line, water slides, FlowRider surf simulator, mini golf and pools are open and it is the best time to try them all.

Pack a bathing suit in your carry-on bag to bring aboard the ship. Once onboard, you can change clothes in one of the public restrooms and then take advantage of shorter lines for these fabulous activities.

Read more: 30 cruise ship embarkation day do’s and don’ts

Secret menu item at Perfect Day at CocoCay

If your Royal Caribbean cruise is visiting the cruise line's private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, be sure to order the secret chicken sandwich!

At any of the Snack Shack locations on the island, you can ask for a chicken parmigiana sandwich, which is essentially a cross between the crispy chicken sandwich, mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce that are on the menu.

How to avoid long waits for the water slides at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Thrill Waterpark is where you will find the fun water slides at Perfect Day at CocoCay, and as you might imagine, a lot of other guests on your sailing are going to want to try them too.

If you want to enjoy these slides with a minimal wait, try to hit the slides before 11am or after 3pm.

Alternatively, Royal Caribbean offers the Rise & Slide option on select sailings, which includes priority access to the water slides to guests who have already purchased a full-day pass to Thrill Waterpark. For an additional fee, up to 200 guests can enjoy exclusive access to the water slides before Thrill Waterpark opens.

Your favorites?

Do you have any favorite "hacks" for making a Royal Caribbean cruise easier or better? Let us know in the comments.

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A volcano in New Zealand erupted on Monday, coinciding with a nearby visit by Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas.

Ovation of the Seas was in the port of Tauranga, a coastal city about 90 km (56 miles) from White Island. White Island (or Whakaari) is one of New Zealand’s most iconic, active, volcanoes that you can visit by boat. 

Authorities report around 50 people were on White Island when the eruption took place, and CNN reports more than 30 passengers were there from Ovation of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's Australia website posted an update at 7:30pm AEDT:

During Ovation of the Seas call to Tauranga today, a shore tour was visiting White Island at the time of the volcanic eruption earlier this afternoon. We do not have any additional details to share at this time. Ovation of the Seas will remain in Tauranga overnight until we learn more about the situation. We will offer all possible assistance to our guests and local authorities. Please keep all those affected in your prayers.

AU Crisis Hotline: 1300 026 240

NZ Crisis Hotline: 0800 002 141

Royal Caribbean issued a statement about the incident:

We can confirm that a number of our guests were touring the island today. We do not have any additional details to share at this time.

Ovation of the Seas will remain overnight until we learn more about the situation. We will offer all possible assistance to our guests and local authorities.

Please keep all those affected in your prayers.

 

We are devastated by today’s events and our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy.

We are working together with local authorities, and we are providing all the help and care we can to our guests and their families, including offering medical resources and counseling. We are also sending staff members from both our ship and our Sydney and Auckland offices to assist family members however possible. 

 

Ovation of the Seas will remain in port as long as needed to assist with the situation.

Family members concerned about the status of relatives traveling aboard Ovation of the Seas may inquire by calling the following numbers:

Australia – 1-300-026-240
New Zealand – 0800-002141
USA - 800 829 4050
Germany 0800-180-0885
UK 0-800-014-8339
Mexico 01-800-681-5336
China 400-120-3534
Japan 0800-170-6282
Singapore 65-31582855

Noon update: Royal Caribbean has issued a new statement on the developing situation in New Zealand.

The news from White Island is devastating. The details that are emerging are heartbreaking.

 

We are working to help our guests and the authorities in the aftermath of this tragedy in any way we can.

 

We are communicating with our guests and their families. We’re making sure they are taken care of in terms of medical help, counseling, accommodations, and transport. Our hearts go out to them, and we want to be as supportive as we can.

 

Staff from our Sydney and Auckland offices office are already onsite, and we’re going to be offering all our resources while this terrible tragedy sorts out.

 

We are grateful for the work of all the first responders and medical personnel. We also thank the prime minister and her team, the local authorities and everyone who has reached out to help with their kind thoughts and prayers.

Happy December! We cannot believe that we are already one full week into the month – there is so much going on with holiday preparation and shopping and baking!

Royal Caribbean revealed its 2021-2022 Northeast, Canada & Bermuda sailings and opened them for booking.

Six ships will offer sailings from this region, including the return of Oasis of the Seas to Cape Liberty for another summer season.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean will offer early bird slide access at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
• Cruise Critic named Royal Caribbean the very best in three categories.
• Martinique will require new travel document rules for visits soon.
• We shared the top 10 Oasis of the Seas hidden secrets.
• Check out the 2020 Royal Caribbean Drink Package guide.
• Brilliance of the Seas holds a new Guiness World Record.
• Our full review of Portside BBQ on Oasis of the Seas.
• In case you are wondering how many formal nights are on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
• Some important reasons to get travel insurance for your cruise vacation.
• Take a photo tour of a Category 2C Ocean View Stateroom on Oasis of the Seas.
• We reviewed a fun Polynesian dinner show in Fort Lauderdale.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 331st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is available to enjoy, where Matt reviews his recent sailing on Oasis of the Seas.

Oasis of the Seas is back in service after the cruise line made a ton of changes to this already impressive ship, and Matt shares what he thought of them all in this week's episode.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Top 10 cruise packing mistakes

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Top 10 cruise packing mistakes — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

In The Loop Travel shared the 21 best things on Symphony of the Seas.

Insider provided a look at how one performer onboard lives and works at sea.

We have a look inside one of the most popular stateroom categories available on Oasis of the Seas, the Category 2C - Ocean View Stateroom with Large Balcony. Following the 2019 Amplification, this room received some minor updates as well.

The photos of this room are from cabin 10202 on deck 10. 

Access to all staterooms on Oasis of the Seas are controlled via RFID. This means doors can be opened via a SeaPass card, WOWband or Royal Caribbean app.

Category 2C staterooms have two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, a sitting area with sofa, a full bathroom and private balcony.

This cabin offers 182 square feet of living space, along with a sofa to sit on during the day.

As the category name implies, this room has a larger than normal private balcony, which measures 80 square feet.

One of the best tips for anyone going on a cruise is to fly to their embarkation port at least one day early. If you have an evening to spend in Fort Lauderdale, a great family dinner experience is the Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show.

Mai-Kai is a bit of a local landmark, known for serving up Asian fare, tropical drinks & a Polynesian show. The building alone catches the attention of anyone passing by.  So much so that I took my family to check it out for dinner on an evening prior to our Royal Caribbean cruise.

Depending on the day of the week, there are one, two or three shows offered. The most shows are on the weekend, and they are closed on Mondays. You definitely want to call ahead and make a reservation as Mai-Kai is a very popular choice for tourists, celebrations, date nights and more.

As you drive up to Mai-Kai, the building's Polynesian architecture is hard to miss and in a part of South Florida that definitely has no other buildings that look anything like this one, it is hard to miss.  It is mandatory valet parking, so bring cash or take a Lyft ride over.  They offer standard valet parking ($3), as well as "express valet" ($10) that promises to get you out faster. I paid for the express valet to avoid a rush when the show was over, but there was hardly a line so next time I would go for the standard valet option.

Mai-Kai is a very large building, with the Molokai Bar immediately on your left as you walk in.  You could forgo the dinner show and just enjoy drinks here while also walking the grounds for a less-expensive evening. 

Dinner at the Mai-Kai means you are paying for the meal, and the show.  At the time this review was written, the show charge is $15 for adults, and for kids 2-12 years old, no show charge when ordering from the kids menu, or $10 per child without the kids menu.

You should also be aware Mai-Kai has a business casual dress code for the bar and dining rooms. Their site says, "No shoes meant for swimming or beach (flip flops or such sandals ok for the women). No swimwear or gym attire. No hats for men. No sleeveless shirts for men. Slacks are required for men." 

Upon check-in, the wait staff directs you to your assigned table.  There are a variety of tables with views of the stage, and I am not certain how tables are assigned.  We ended up with a great table that was slightly elevated, which provided the perfect view for my kids of the stage.

Dinner is served prior to the show, and you can (and should) walk the garden grounds before the show begins. Outside the restaurant is a large outdoor South Pacific inspired green space, which is perfect for family photos.

The menu is massive, and features a large variety of tiki drinks to enjoy. In addition, the food menu covers a wide variety of choices. Most of the food is Americanized Chinese food, with some sushi available as well.  

Speaking of the menu, this is not the cheapest meal you will find in South Florida.  It is fairly pricey, but the experience is part of what you are paying for overall. 

The food is far from the best I have ever had, but certainly tasty and everyone enjoyed what they ordered. Mai-Kai is not serving up avant garde cuisine, or looking to break the mold with their offerings. This is comfort Chinese food that anyone can enjoy.

Of course, the reason for going to Mai-Kai is for the show.  A troupe of performers who have been doing the show for decades regales the audience with a variety of musical and dancing styles from across the South Pacific.

The Polynesian Islander Revue provides the music and dancing styles of Samoa, New Zealand, Hawaii and more. During the summer months (starting in mid June to mid November), the Mai-Kai features a Kids Show every Sunday evening.

Mai-Kai claims the restaurant owner and choreographer began as one of the original dancers in 1961, and the show is now the longest running Polynesian dance show in the continental United States. In fact, the owner crafts a new show each year that aims to showcase village life in the South Pacific at the turn of the last century.

Overall, the Mai-Kai restaurant was a big hit with our family. Anytime I can find food that the adults can find appealing and my young daughters do not complain about is always a win.  The show and performance is what truly drew us in, and it was a big winner. 

The show's pacing and styles keep the audience engaged, and it is exactly the kind of pre-cruise family outing that we were looking for to get our vacation off on the right foot.

If the price is not going to break your vacation budget and you are staying in the greater Fort Lauderdale area, Mai-Kai is a great choice for an night out.