The short of it is that Royal Caribbean was able to cut fuel consumption by 3.7 percent.  This improvement is due in large part to smarter sailing practices, better ship design and a better focus on energy efficiency measures.  They beat there year over year reduction goal which was 2 percent this was the result of using about 30,000 metric tons less fuel than what was planned.

When we think of fuel normally we think of ship propulsion however Royal Caribbean was able to exceed their goal by not only sailing more efficiently but by using more efficient HVAC practices.  Additionally they were able to refine some aspects of the hotel and lodging part of the equation to realize further savings.  Some of the measures which were taken include:

• Installing heat reducing solar film on all windows a measure which lessens the need for air conditioning.
• They replaced inefficient incandescent and halogen bulbs with newer LEDs and CFLs
• They replaced their old fresh water manufacturing systems with more advanced higher-efficiency systems.  These systems are able provide the same amount of water by using 35 percent less electricity.

Royal Caribbean also re-used or recycled 21 percent more material than it did the prior year.  This allowed them to reduce the amount of waste taken ashore by 9 percent.

Royal Caribbean has set a goal of reducing fuel consumption by a minimum of 2.5 percent each year.  Royal Caribbean also stated that the reduction goal could be raised depending on which new technologies develop.

The next step in hitting their aggressive goal is to install high-tech clean wastewater systems throughout the entire fleet.  In a business environment where companies are constantly looking to save a buck, Royal Caribbean is investing over 150 million dollars in a fleet-wide installation of Advanced Wastewater Purification systems.  These systems can clean wastewater to a level which is twice as clean as the United States standard.

The cruise industry often comes under fire by environmentalist groups; with incidents like accidental waste dumping this is probably deserved.  However, it is good to see that Royal Caribbean is at the forefront of an effort to reduce the industries strain on the environment.  Hopefully the industry as a whole will follow Royal Caribbean’s lead and become just as vigilant.

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Originally we had planned to get a day room at a resort but due to the fact that we had to try and get one the morning we arrived we decided to just bum around Old San Juan.  We paid two dollars per bag to store our luggage across the street at a cafe.  I’m sorry but the name of the place escapes my memory at the moment but if you ask a porter or taxi driver they will direct you to the right place.  Our luggage was locked upstairs so security wasn’t a problem.

When we arrived pre-cruise we had wanted to eat at La Bombonera but were unable to do that due to time constraints, but it was a priority for us on this day.  I knew the general area the cafe was located but a guy who worked for the tourist bureau gave us more exact directions.  The walk wasn’t very far and it was very easy to find once we got into the right area.

In the cruise community La Bombonera has an excellent reputation and I was especially excited to try the Mallorca.  I had read about this sandwich on several different message boards and the way I understand it Rachael Ray and Anthony Bourdain both gave La Bombonera rave reviews.  Well, if it’s good enough for them it’s good enough for me.

When we walked in it was evident that this was the place for Sunday morning breakfast as the line was almost out the door.  The best part was that it was filled with about 60% locals, so I knew the food would be good.  The line moved pretty fast and in about 15 minutes we were seated.  We ordered two Mallorcas and a couple of glasses of orange juice and a cafe con leche.  Service was very fast and the food was on the table within about 10 minutes.

Who would have known that bacon, eggs and cheese shoved between two pastry pieces and sprinkled with powdered sugar could taste so good.  I’m not sure how many calories were in this sandwich but it sure felt decadent, and I didn’t care one bit.  The total for breakfast was about 10 dollars per person and it was very satisfying.  In fact after we headed back into the heart of town we camped out on the first bench we saw just to let things digest a bit.

The rest of the day would involve walking around town looking at the various crafts for sale, hitting the casino in the Old San Juan and another visit to Raices for lunch.  It was a nice way to end our March Carnival Victory cruise as it was very relaxing.  It allowed us to do things at our own pace and get our last look at Old San Juan without having to deal with any crowds.

By the time we arrived at the airport (around 3 pm.) the place had cleared out and there was no wait for USDA inspection or check-in.  We sat around eavesdropping on an interesting conversation between performers who had finished their contract.  Our plane did take off a bit late but other than that this was probably the smoothest cruise I have ever been on.

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This past weekend I was looking at some of my website statistics. One thing I noticed is, many people coming to my site are actually looking intelligentcruiser.com, an honest mistake. Let me give you a little back story on this whole thing. I came up with the idea for starting this blog about a year ago.  However, being the internet newbie that I am I didn’t look to see in any variations on the name were taken. I just saw the name I wanted and registered it. By the looks of things I wasn’t the only person who had my sights set on this name.  You see, earlier in the month someone else must have registered the name “intelligentcruiser”.

By the looks of things intelligentcruiser is an informational e-book written by a “former cruise ship officer”. This book supposedly saves you tons of money on cruises and related expenses. Does it work? Truthfully I have no idea but since so many people come here looking for the item I decided to purchase the e-book so that I could review it and post an honest opinion.

My Intelligent Cruiser E-book review:

When I ordered I expected to get one flimsy little e-book with information that was of little use to me. Actually, what I ended up with was 3 e-books that did actually contain useful information. While I wouldn’t call anything contained in these books groundbreaking, they are informational. In my opinion the ideas contained within are geared more towards beginner and not seasoned cruisers. So, if you are a seasoned cruiser the “intelligent cruiser” e-book may not be for you.

Upon paying the specified amount you will be able to download a package with three e-books.

The first of the e-books is a savings guide. This book does a good job of pointing out some of the more obvious and not so obvious ways to save money or even cruise for free (I like free). Most of what you will find contained in the savings guide is available elsewhere on the internet, but having a condensed version of proven money-saving tips does come in handy.  This segment of the e-book wasn’t meant for someone like myself.

The second of the “intelligent cruiser” e-books is about getting the most bang for your buck. There will be times when you have gotten the absolute lowest price you could possibly receive. That is when the second e-book comes into play. Titled “Spoil yourself with the VIP treatment”, this second installment teaches you all about taking advantage of opportunities that not all cruisers will know about. By using the techniques contained here you can get maximum value for your dollar. This one actually taught me a thing or two which I plan to implement on my next cruise. If all goes according to plan these tips alone are worth the purchase price of the guide many times over.

The last e-book in the series is geared towards shore excursions. Just as in the first book there is nothing groundbreaking, but it is nice to see everything laid out in an organized manner. The tips contained here are definitely geared towards beginner’s or those who don’t quite understand how excursions work. There are also shopping tips (including a couple eye-opening revelations) included in this third segment.  If you are someone new to cruising you will probably get good usage out of the third e-book.  I’d be willing to venture even moderately astute cruisers can get some use out of this.

Would I Recommend the “Intelligent Cruiser” E-book?

The answer to this question is yes and no. If you are someone who enjoys digging around on the internet for your information you probably won’t get much use out of this guide. Conversely if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy research or doesn’t have the time to search out information you will get use out of the book. Personally, I already knew most of what was contained in this book but if I had access to this book when I first started cruising it would have saved me a ton a money.

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My Brain Scan After Drinking a Few of the Strong Ones

Usually we as cruisers will do whatever it takes to avoid a hurricane.  However, there is one instance when a hurricane shouldn’t be avoided but instead embraced (and consumed).  With the increase of hurricane activity in the Atlantic region I figure this week’s cruise cocktail should be something appropriate.  Here is a a recipe for one of my favorite drinks.  In fact I am including two hurricane recipes.  The first is a pretty standard hurricane, the kind you want to sip while sitting on your deck on a breezy day.  The second is more for when you are stranded indoors and the roads are washed away.

Standard Hurricane:

• 3/4 oz. Rum
• 3/4 oz. Meyers Dark Rum
• Apricot Brandy
• Splash of Grenadine
• Sour Mix

Shake with ice.  Serve in a hurricane glass and enjoy.

This one isn’t for the feint of heart.  I first had this in a small little restaurant in Old San Juan (sadly it is no longer there).  The waitress must have liked me for one reason or another because she kept bringing them over to our table.  She only charged us for about one-third of what we drank.  Now that I think about it, that may be the reason why the restaurant is no longer there.

Category 5 Hurricane:

• 1/2 oz. Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Tequila
• 1/2 oz. Rum
• 1/2 oz. Bourbon
• 1/2 oz. Gin
• Sour Mix
• Splash of Fruit Juice

Shake Vodka, Tequila, Rum, Bourbon and Gin with ice. Pour in a hurricane glass.  Fill the rest of the glass with sweet and sour mix and a splash of the juice, stir.  Keep the rest of the juice handy in case you need to water it down a bit.

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