krisko

I’m confusing ship names, first cruise was on Valiant and we booked Brilliant but obviously that was canceled. Then we booked Resilient Australia at the same price. 
 

I submitted proof of my RC status, will they send an email when they approve the status upgrade? I hope it applies to my cruise in 6 days, website said my status will upgrade in 7 days.

Thanks, I'll be able to sail twice before Dec 31 and submit by RC info for status match.  All I need to do is call Virgin with my Royal Caribbean number?

I cruised on Brilliant Lady last NYE and cruising on Resilient Lady this NYE.  I didn't sign up for their program because it was still coming together and I think they scrapped the first program?  We're in a Brilliant Suite so I really want to register for a program if there is one.  I'm Diamond level on Royal Caribbean, though I haven't been on a cruise with them in at least 4 years.

Also, is there an actual Cigar lounge as advertised or is it an outside deck?  Asking for a friend.

I just discovered this and uploaded my RCL Diamond status to Virgin.  Thing is the cruise is literally tomorrow, any chance Virgin will match the status with so little lead time?

Okay, so similar policy to RCL.  Thanks.

I won't be smuggling booze on board but I'm wondering if it's okay to pick up a bottle of bubbly for sail away.

Us and some friends or booked for Dec 27...can't wait!

The stolen debit card purchases were for items, not cash. She should be protected by Visa.

We know about travel insurance but we self insure, simple as that. We're healthy people, we're on time and never have issues like this. We've taken 15 cruises and 4 international flights a year, never a hiccup.

Thanks for the tip on the AMEX office in Rome, I let her know.

She did file police report and canceled her cards. $1000 taken from her debit card but visa should get that back to her.

We didn't have cruise insurance from the agent or line but my credit card might offer it for free, need to look into that.

It was my girlfriend, we're actually in different parts of Italy and meeting up tomorrow. She lost her wallet, money, credit cards, and passport. She does have a work ID and a virtual passport, like an App thing. She called Royal and they said they won't board her. Cruise leaves sunday and US embassy is closed tomorrow, she thinks her only option is to go to embassy on monday and fly to Santorini to hopefully board there. She's staying in civitavecchia, tomorrow she'll go down the RCCL office there if it's staffed on saturday.

Surely there are other options, she can't be the first to be pick pocketed a day before a cruise. She does have a work ID, she's Diamond level so taken many cruises, and I can vouch for who she is. If we can get her on the ship, I'm thinking we can get an emergency passport in Athens later in the week.

What are the options here?

People, where's your sense of adventure! Take the train, FM5 from Civitavecchia to Tratevere, FM1 to FCO. Will take about an hour and cost 5 euros I think?

https://www.rometoolkit.com/airport/civitavechia_train.htm

You have no more fees to pay. There's no fees associated with My Time except gratuities paid up front and you've already done that.

Oasis class, eastern itinerary...hands down. Get the 5nt dining package for $115 and go to Chops, Giovannis, 150 Central park, back to Chops and Giovannis.

I'm doing Jewel 7nt (out of Rome) Greek Isles (santorini, mykonos, athens, katakolon) next week and everybody I've talked says it will be an amazing cruise. We're getting there 4 days early and going to Amalfi Coast just south of Naples. Then two days in Rome after the cruise.

Amalfi would be a fine place to go for anniversary. You could also consider Tuscany (wine country!), Venice, Lake Como, or the Cinque Terre before or after the cruise. Since it's an anniversary, I'd pop for a suite of some kind if it's affordable.

Have fun!

I can recommend The Travel Insiders. They are very helpful and adaptable. They provide guided and unguided options.

https://www.the-travel-insiders.com/

That's what I went with, 39 euro PP for guided.

No one would take a cruise or go on any vacation if "One's self financial interest" were a driving factor. That money would be much better used saved. Food, water, clothing, and shelter I'm sure is what you spend your money on then save the rest. Just as I'm also sure you are using the free internet provided by your local library to post on topics here.

 

What I don't understand is how you are able to offer ANY opinion on a cruise. It would be against your own self financial interest to go on one.

Biker's point isn't that cruising is against one's financial interest, he's saying that Royal has successfully made customers willing to spend more and drink more than they otherwise would. How many posts do you see that say 'I don't know if it's worth it, but with the package I don't have to worry about my bar bill at the end'.

I just did the math, with a drink package I'm looking at $809 for 2 on a 7nt cruise. I've never had a bar bill approach $800 on a cruise. I know people at work that buy the drink package, but they're admitted alcoholics...they've had bar bills in the thousands before drink packages (I'm not judging those who buy packages).

My only regret with the appearance of drink packages is the huge increase in drink prices. A beer is over $9, Royal is clearly driving people to this packages. End result for me is I'll drink less during the day and wait for the Diamond Lounge at 4:30.

I'm a little unclear on Jewel out of Rome. If I buy specialty dinner while in port I have to pay 22% VAT but if I pre-buy from home I don't have to?

Yeah...we don't get that post either.

 

Any thread with the word "hate" in it never adds benefits to the people coming to this site.

Yet you opened the thread.

I don't normally book any kind of package but we did the 5nt dining package on Oasis, pre-booked at $110. Weird thing was we also booked Solarium at night for the price of $0.00. We didn't have one meal in the MDR but I'm reading the quality is going down and the food is cold.

If I can get $110 for the dining package on Oasis, I'll do it every time. Food was amazing and I feel at $110 it's a good value.

We just got off Oasis were alarmed to see a beer with tip was over $9, these are stripclub prices. It's pretty clear they're driving you to the drink packages. In our case, we don't drink that much and we go to the Diamond club at night so with the higher prices we're drinking less.

If you have more than 5 drinks a day it will generally be worth the drink package. But take into account port days, you might drink less on a port day but you're still paying for the package.

I am looking forward to see the deckplans......Oasis class is sooo awful - there is a good chance this is way better!

(y)(y)

I know this isn't cool to say but I think Oasis is my favorite ship. There, I've said it.

I'm a bit of an outlet nerd and suggest a grounded schuko 2 in 1 if you're on RCCL/Celebrity a good bit as it provides two outlets in the Schuko socket. It is also nice and snug so if the outlet is a bit loose, the adapter won't fall out.

 

You'll want to google for "OREI Schuko 2 in 1" or "Wonpro WA-9". They don't have a fuse for surge protection (to be avoided on ship) in these models. Wonpro's a good outlet adapter brand and the top outlet takes non-grounded Europlug or US while the plug on the front takes grounded US and various European plugs. This is great if you are in Europe and the only outlet already has something useful plugged into it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/European-Countries-Portugal-Netherlands-Protector/dp/B00MNRLVLU

https://www.amazon.com/European-Adapter-Schuko-Germany-France/dp/B004SY5O5K

To your first statement, you weren't kidding!

I believe the Royal ships use American outlets but I can't be positive of that. European nations use 3 or 4 different outlets. Amsterdam and Germany use a two round prong outlet, Italy and Greece use a 3 round prong, England is different but I forget exactly how.

These are extremely cheap on Amazon, I got 3 adapters for Italy for $8.

Another important note is a lot of stuff in Rome is free to everybody (like Panthenon, Trevi, Spanish Steps) and more is free to kids under 18. This is another reason why Roma card may not be worth it.

I've been to Rome and lots of cruises but Jewel in 2 weeks is my first Med cruise...

Money--I wouldn't bring a dime in Euros with you to europe. Any way that you do would require getting killed with the exchange rate at one of those 'money exchange' places in the airport. You might get 70 euro cents per dollar or worse, terrible. Go to an ATM at the airport and don't accept the exhange rate if that's a choice...the ATM will spit out Euros using your home bank's exhange rate. For example, in Germany recently 200 Euros cost me $219 US dollars. Also, make sure the credit card you plan to use has no Foreign trans fee, these are fairly common now but verify with your card company. Also, you'll want to let the card company know the dates and countries you'll be in or they may freeze your card. Let your ATM bank card you plan to use know you'll be in europe as well. Casino is US dollars, though I'm sure the service employees would gladly accept tips in euros as well.

Rome Hotel--I also recommend being near to Termini Station in Rome. You'll be walking distance to colosseum, trevi fountain, panthenon, Spanish Steppes, etc. You won't need a hotel night before in Civitavecchia if you're an early riser...you can easily make it to the port. Make sure the hotel includes breakfast which will be cold cuts, cheeses, and fruit. If it advertises 'English Breakfast' that will be sausages, ommelettes, and french toast, heavier fare.

Sights--Roma card may or may not be worth it as it includes free local transportation for the set number of days. I think you should spend the money on VIP tours to Vatican and Colosseum/Forum. A couple good resources are www.rometoolkit.com, www.darkrome.com, www.tickitaly.com. Book early and you can get a tour of Vatican before it actually opens, my daughter was in Sistine Chapel alone with her mother...that's unusual. At the colosseum a VIP tour will get you into the underground, arena floor, and highest tier of the arena which are all off limits otherwise. Most importantly, you'll avoid a 2 hour line at colosseum and vatican doing this (I've always thought this is a prime soft terror target). When I go in two weeks I'm doing a night time VIP tour of colosseum which I think will be amazing. Avoid getting a tour guide off the street near these monuments...you have no idea how good the tour will be and I think it's kind of scammy.

Transportation to Port--Again, no need to stay in civitavecchia unless you don't trust yourself with a train or can't get motivated in the morning. Civitavecchia is quaint town but it's definitely not Roma! You'll take two trains in the morning, Termini to the airport and (I think) airport to Civitavecchia. Google this to be sure, again I think www.rometoolkit.com is a good resource.

Looks at recent Jewel review threads for more advice. and signing up for the 'Roll Call' for your particular cruise is a good idea too.

Did you go to Sistine Chapel

 

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The Vatican tour ends in Sistine...easily most impressive part of Vatican (second place nod goes to the mausoleum in the basement where past popes are interred).

Thanks for the review, we're going in two weeks.