Creatine is like any other supplement; taking a megadose at once will give you progressively worse absorption, so mixing it with other things is useful to help you get more. It doesn't have to be juice. It can be milk or any other liquid you enjoy. I've known some people who put it in their tea. I personally think the texture of that is pretty vile, but whatever, works for them.
As for when to take it, before and after is the generally accepted wisdom, because those are the times your body will be making good use of the nutrition you're providing it. Taking it when you don't need it just makes it more likely that it will get passed with your urine.
Someone else will have to handle the cycling question; I have only my own experience to draw upon there and I consider that way too little to make a statement on.