Cruiser24

Yes you can bring it back unopened to the US. I brought reindeer and whale home last year from Norway.

1 hour ago, hubofhockey said:

The guides in Tokyo will meet you at your hotel.  I had a bunch of Hilton points and free night stays, so we stayed at the Conrad Tokyo.  The Hilton would have been fine too.  We wanted an American brand with helpful people and larger rooms, but look at TripAdvisor.  All of the AMEX Hilton cards right now have sign up bonuses with points and free nights.  If you can, take advantage.  Definitely get the AMEX Hilton Surpass.  The annual fee is $150, but $200  can be earned with quarterly purchases of $50 gift cards, which you would redeem on vacation.  That card gives you gold status / free breakfasts as well.  If you just get one, get that one and stay at the Hilton.  If you get a couple of FNCs, go with the Conrad.  Love the location and views.

Thank you for the suggestion.  I’ll definitely look into it.

Hubofhockey:  We are going to be in Tokyo for three days prior to our April 2025 TA.  I would love to have a local tour guide rather than go with a larger group.  My biggest concern is where to stay while we’re there.  It is overwhelming to me.  How do you know where to meet the guide? Does he come to the hotel?  And the biggest question:  what hotel would that be.  Help!

14 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

You will have to wait in line.

Hi Chillburn.  I hope I am correct that you are from Australia.  Would you mind telling me your opinion on whether you prefer to sail to/from Australia in the fall (Oct-Nov)versus the spring (March/April)?  Is there a better time of the year to sail?  Thank you.

We just got off the 12 night Southern Caribbean sailing on Grandeur.  I read the OP's review just before  leaving and was rather disheartened.  Thankfully, we did not have the same experience.  

We prefer the same ships and are well aware that most of them need to be updated.  You can see wear and tear on furniture both in the cabin and around the ship.  This is to be expected when these ships are 20+ years old and I absolutely agree this needs to be addressed by Royal.  However, I did not think that the Grandeur was "filthy and ill maintained".  It seems that all day, every day, there were crew members cleaning in the public areas but indoors and out.  

We ate in the MDR most nights and found it to be quite good.  The food was hot when delivered and we enjoyed the variation the menu.  On the nights we ate in the WJ, we also had no complaints.  I did not seem to us that they served the same food every day.  

We did not go into the solarium, fitness room or sit on the pool deck so I cannot address those areas.  

My problem with the linens is not that they are threadbare but that they are SO ROUGH!  I have a problem with this on every ship.  

Since we cruise with Royal a lot, we had seen several of the entertainers and production shows before.  Nothing outstanding but fine, especially for first time cruisers.  

We also found the app to have incorrect information on many occasions.  

One thing I absolutely agree on is the WIFI.  It was horrible.  We had no WIFI service in our room and had to go the Schooner Bar to sign on.  

Even though it is old and could use some TLC, we would not hesitate to go on the Grandeur again.

On the Jewel now and asked the Captain at the Captains Corner if he had any insight into what the Jewel will be doing in spring/summer 2025.  His answer:  “I haven’t been told anything as to what will happen with the Jewel but hopefully we’ll find out soon”.  Not the answer I was hoping for😕.  The wait continues.

12 minutes ago, andreasfcb said:

 

Just FYI, the blog does not mention any official confirmation of the reduction in Europe. All they did was checking the current deployment according to the website.

 

There is still hope for Jewel.

🤞🤞🤞

On Liberty now.  Giving out RCCL small squeeze balls and coozies as well as highlighters.  

The ship model is from our first cruise on the Nordic Prince in 1987. Not purchased with dollars,  just the beginning of our Royal adventures.

We used to participate in every activity they offered, just to earn the coveted Ship Shape dollars.  We still have lots of swag purchased with those dollars.

17 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

There should be numbers under the bar code. If you see “GTY” instead of numbers to the right of the dash then you haven’t been assigned a cabin yet & just have to keep checking. The numbers to the right of the dash represent your cabin.

 

One tip off is that if you see a muster station listed on your sea pass then you likely have been assigned your cabin.

 

Hope this helps.

Yes, this was very helpful.  It still says GTY so I’ll keep checking.  Thank you.

On 5/26/2023 at 7:09 PM, OCSC Mike said:

 

Are you not using the bar code trick?

Please explain the barcode trick again.  I downloaded my seapass to Apple wallet but still don’t see the room number.  Thanks.

On 3/24/2023 at 4:04 PM, shipfriend_max said:

 

In recent years they have been served by the ship spending the summer in Northern Europe either from Copenhagen or AMsterdam, Jewel in that case. As she is likely to move to the Mediterranean Sea in August 2024, she's not likely to operate on those itineraries, and any other ship either. All other ships are already deployed elsewhere.

We are booked on the Jewel, 12 night Northern Europe Aug 10-22, 2024.  I’ve read a couple of times where she is moving to the Med in August 2024.  I sure hope it’s after this sailing.

On 3/8/2023 at 6:33 AM, Sunshine3601 said:

Did you ask for chips at the salad bar area of 270?   Usually have to ask, haven't seem them sitting out on any of 2022 cruises on Anthem.

We were on last week.  I asked for chips at 270 Cafe and they told me they didn’t have them anymore.😠

Jewel TA,  April 5, 2024 has been released.  Fort Lauderdale to Southampton.

And the Jewel TA in spring of 2024?  I’m still waiting for that one!

1 hour ago, SummmerInKefalonia said:

Also not yet mentioned:

Limassol/Haifa cruises in 2024 seem to have been omitted.

But actually according to Limassol cruise schedule Jewel of the seas will do these cruises but they start in August in contrast of May in 2023 with Rhapsody ots.

 

Summer/Fall 2024

17/08/2024 Jewel of the seas Limassol from Santorini to Rhodes

24/08/2024 Jewel of the seas Limassol from Santorini to Rhodes

31/08/2024 Jewel of the seas Limassol from Santorini to Rhodes

07/09/2024 Jewel of the seas Limassol from Santorini to Rhodes

14/09/2024 Jewel of the seas Limassol from Santorini to Rhodes

21/09/2024 Jewel of the seas Limassol from Santorini to Rhodes

28/09/2024 Jewel of the seas Limassol from Santorini to Rhodes

05/10/2024 Jewel of the seas Limassol from Santorini to Rhodes

12/10/2024 Jewel of the seas Limassol from Santorini to Rhodes

We are booked on the Jewel Arctic Circle cruise, Aug 10-22, 2024.  Something’s wrong somewhere!

I’ve been checking many times a day and this is the first I’ve seen Oasis.   Is a Jewel crossing available and I don’t know about it?  That’s what I’ve been waiting for.

Oasis TA in April 2024 is now showing on the website.

Any word on a Jewel TA for Spring 2024?    I’ve been watching everyday and still nothing.

Thank you everyone.  I called back this morning and got our $350 C&A discount applied to yesterday’s booking.😁😁

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Booked a few on Anthem this morning.  Voyager not available in Cruising power but all the other ships are available to book

Do you see a TA on Jewell?  My TA says there is nothing available.  Thanks.

When I talked to an RCL agent this morning to make a booking, I was told that I could not combine my C & A number with the current 30% off offer.  I know this happens occasionally but it seems strange the it’s not combinable with an offer that Royal offers all the time.  Does anyone know if this is true?

I was quarantined on the Jewel of the Seas from May 8-12 during a 14 day TA.  The letter I received included the following:  

      "Royal Caribbean International will be providing you with a refund of the days you were quarantined.  The value will be calculated on a prorated basis, based on the cruise fare you paid for this sailing and the number of days you spent in isolation.  Our Customer Service department processes your refund directly to your original form of payment, there is no further action required on from you.  If you have not received your refund with 30 days, please contact the CS department at 800-529-6918."

    I did not receive the refund with the 30 days.  I called and the prorated amount of $702.14 was credited to my account shortly thereafter.

    No one ever told me that this refund was for my whole party, nor would I have expected it to be.  Since my husband did not test positive, he was allowed to continue on with the normal activities from our original stateroom.  I was pleasantly surprised with the refund I received because I wasn't expecting it.

  I hope you get this issue resolved to your satisfaction.

I called on June 14 and followed the same procedure as you mentioned above.  I received my refund in two credits.  The first was on June 29 for the food and the second on July 7 for the hotel.  Obviously it took longer than the  5-7 days promised, but I'm just happy I got it.