Julescroose

I had picked it up so mnay times on here, didn't know it was US-based only. Hey-ho;)

So after being helped in no small measure before cruising by the folks on here, I've taken a break from unpacking to post a short account of how we found our first RCCL trip.

Positives:

Beautiful ship, stunning Centrum, staff could often be seen cleaning/polishing public areas, 7 year old loved the Kids Club, overall staff vibe good, nightly towel animals (no longer on all P&O ships so we hadn't had them before), choice of food in Windjammer buffet.

Negatives:

Given conflicting advice at Medical Centre (will be making a complaint, for all the good it will do), kids club staff only pick up kids 10 mins after dinner starts, ie before they've even ordered, not the 40 mins as advertised pre-cruise, so that service is basically non-existent as no-one can use it (we assume they are using the same printed kids compass as on other ships, where dinner may indeed start at 6pm so 6.40pm fits for those ships....lack of brain applied here methinks), MDR menu and quality a bit hit and miss (where were the promised lobsters?!), no towel stand at kids pool, kids pool runs on restricted hours (nothing is said about this before booking), annoyance for Select package as each bar charges different prices ie we could have a sauvignon blanc in the package at one bar but at a sedond bar it would be priced over the $8 cut-off.

Yes, the negatives list looks longer but that's due to my lengthy explanations!Overall we had a great holiday. I found the Windjammer buffet better than the P&O buffet but the MDR food not nearly as good as the P&O MDR. These are the two lines we've now cruised with, hence my comparisons.

Oh yes, another thing was the entertainment at night didn't seems as varied as P&O, ie no comedians or much else other than song & dance shows. During sea days I was disappointed not to see any crafts or talks on offer (but Husband points out the average cruiser age was much lower on Jewel and at 44 I am clearly now an old fogey). There were of course lots of talks aimed at selling you something...

But the staff of both boats were polite and helpful, I couldn't split them.

The crazy golf must have been smartened up in the refurb as I had read on here that it was looking tired but we didn't think so.

For parents, be aware that they only have one area for age 6-11 at the club, so both the 6-8 and 9-11 groups are together the whole time. Our 7 year old was fine with this but I did wonder how she'd find it. There was a separate, much smaller area for the age 3-5 group.

That will do for now, got to go put more washing on! Any questions please ask.

Yes, the ship's time went forwards an hour in Greece and we put it back before we got back to Italy.

So for UK cruisers we were two hours ahead most of the cruise.

Thanks! Think am about ready now, been packing all day...

I heard nights 2 and 6.

Thanks Bob. I really don't think I could have cruised without you!

Taxi arrives 4.15am tomorrow.....it's happening folks!:D

Thanks for the useful tips. Is it necessary to book for all shows, I didn't know this?

Can I ask a question about electrical sockets in the staterooms, are they all USA, or are there any UK or European ones? Thanks.

Thanks so much for this thread, we sail on Jewel on Sunday (I'll wave as we pass each other;)). The info is very useful.

So far I have learnt that I still got a discount on our drinks package, despite the UK Brexit vote, and all about Santorini and tenders.

We are due to visit Turkey off Jewel next week. Our TA says she rang RC this morning and they are still intending to stop there.

I can't find anything with useful information on the RC website, the link given earlier seems to pertain to one particular TA.

Sorry Folks,

Have gone back through reams of pages but can't see the thread where people were advising that there was currently a good rate if we buy some OBC by phone before we sail.

Sailing on Sunday :-) and would like to do this as the pound unlikely to be kind to us at the final reckoning.

Could I also check, can anyone get OBC or do you have to be in the C&A?

Thank you:)

Hi, we are on your cruise and also hopimg we get to stop in Turkey. This week they did, so I would think we'll still stop there.

It's great to get your recent experiences, thanks, we are on Jewel in two weeks, on 24th July :) Not looking forward to the tendering saga. We have still to sort out our Ephesus day so any tips would be appreciated.

So not Europe in general then?

Is this a US based question? When we cruised the Norwegian Fjords I don't recall taking our passports off the ship, we got on and off with our Seapass (or whatever the P&0 equivalent is called).

We will soon be visiting Greece and Turkey (bit worried given the dreadful terrorist attack there yesterday) and wouldn't think to take passport off the ship. I guess having spent 25 years holidaying in Europe leaving passports in the safe of wherever we were staying, it wouldn't dawn on us to take them anywhere! Am I missing something?

P&O is our only experience to date, and they are hot on themes and dressing appropriately, I guess we may not need to be so formal with RC?

Hi, thanks for letting me know - so was it mainly crew who dressed up as Bob said? Or do we need white clothes and flares?!

We're also on Jewel out of Rome, 24th July, are you on same cruise? My memory of the roll call names is hazy...Anyway if so we have a 7 yr old who'd love a buddy at the club.

Ok thanks, that's good to know, plus I really don't have a lot of white gear!

Where's Bob when you need him....?!;)

Should I be getting on to my TA about this? Am in UK and wasn't offed a free drinks package! How common are they?!

:D Both!

Does anyone know which cafes will be open on Jewel at lunch on first day? Apart from WJ? I don't think she has Promenade or Park cafes. Thanks.

Hi,

I have read a few threads which mention a white night and a 70s night, are these standard on RC cruises? Just need to make sure we pack for them if so, and does the themed dressing-up only apply to the MDR?

Thanks

So can I trust that it'll be OK if I want to pay the difference or are they likely to deny all knowledge of such a thing?!

I know that the Solarium is 16yrs and above, but I read there's a cafe in there too. Is it a take-away and an adult would go in and collect food, then the family find somewhere nearby on deack to eat it? (Will be on Jewel soon). Thanks :)