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Hello from Iceland Jewel TA w/ Itinerary Change

wrp96

By wrp96,
in Royal Caribbean International

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wrp96

wrp96

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Greetings from Jewel of the Seas!! We have just departed Iceland which is gorgeous!! Having had totally fantastic weather so far, nature has decided to detour us and we are skipping St Johns Newfoundland but are getting an extra day in Sydney Nova Scotia. Anybody got any recommendations of good things to do with an overnight in Sydney?

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willing292

willing292

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Greetings from Jewel of the Seas!! We have just departed Iceland which is gorgeous!! Having had totally fantastic weather so far, nature has decided to detour us and we are skipping St Johns Newfoundland but are getting an extra day in Sydney Nova Scotia. Anybody got any recommendations of good things to do with an overnight in Sydney?

 

Fort Louisborg is incredible.

 

drive the Cabot Trail - counterclockwise diretion is best.

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negc

negc

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Can you do that on your own? The only excursion is at 8:30am and I believe it's already full.

Wrona, sorry you will miss St. John's but perhaps the following website will help you with ideas about Sydney, NS and Cape Breton Island: http://sydney.capebretonisland.com/

Glad you were able to stop in Iceland. Apparently folks on the Crown Princes weren't able to because of bad weather just before you arrived. Also there was someone on our next year's TA who was predicting that Iceland would be eliminated from both this year's and next's, because of the volcano eruption earlier this year. Glad to see he was proven wrong about this year and hope he is equally wrong about next year.:)

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CVU

CVU

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On our Jewel TA last year they took away St. Johns NFL before we even left!!

 

Too bad.........we really wanted to see it and were not given Sydney as substitute, they just omitted it.:(

 

Hope you have good weather there and enjoy the port.:)

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cincytravelers

cincytravelers

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In Cape Breton is the amazing Alexander Graham Bell Museum. You can rent a car or van (share with some other folks) and drive there in about an hour. Cape Breton looks a bit like Bar Harbor: hilly with lots of overviews for photo ops of the bays. There's the Coal Miners Museum in Sydney with a real coal mine tour. It's pretty extensive but you need reservations to go down into the mine itself, which is narrated by former miners. There's a casino in town and the Visitors Center at the cruise terminal can help you make reservations, give you maps and they often have local vendors with handmade crafts.

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wrp96

wrp96

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Wrona, who did you end up with for captain? I'm so jealous you were in Iceland!! Please post some pics!

 

 

We ended up with Captain Stig. He's fabulous. I believe I got some great pictures of him with a look of evil delight on his face when we had King Neptune's Ceremony for crossing the Arctic Circle.

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wrp96

wrp96

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Wrona, sorry you will miss St. John's but perhaps the following website will help you with ideas about Sydney, NS and Cape Breton Island: http://sydney.capebretonisland.com/

Glad you were able to stop in Iceland. Apparently folks on the Crown Princes weren't able to because of bad weather just before you arrived. Also there was someone on our next year's TA who was predicting that Iceland would be eliminated from both this year's and next's, because of the volcano eruption earlier this year. Glad to see he was proven wrong about this year and hope he is equally wrong about next year.:)

 

Except for this we've been really lucky in regards to weather this cruise. It's been sunny most days and relatively warm for all the ports we've visited. And we've heard about Crown Princess.

 

On our Jewel TA last year they took away St. Johns NFL before we even left!!

 

Too bad.........we really wanted to see it and were not given Sydney as substitute, they just omitted it.:(

 

Hope you have good weather there and enjoy the port.:)

 

Sydney was always on our itinerary we're just getting there a day early so we'll have some extra time. I've actually got so much onboard credit that I decided to do a spa day the Sydney day and use some of it up.

 

Hi...sorry you have an altered itinerary.

 

BTW, keep the Jewel in good condition for us, we're on her Oct 30. :D

 

***

 

You know me. An altered itinerary won't get me down. A few people though do need some attitude adjustments about it. Captain is going to give a talk on the reasons for the change at 10am and I hope most people attend. What I was told is the area we needed to sail through to get to Newfoundland is forecasted to experience 35 meter seas. And if that is the case, then I think I'll bow to the infinite wisdom of the Captain.

 

And Jewel is just lovely. Still my favorite ship. I can highly recommend Shashi and Balram in the Champagne Bar.

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wrp96

wrp96

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So the info on the storm straight from the Captain's mouth:

 

The storm formed in the Arctic and is headed from Greenland to Norway.

 

Last night we had wind gusts of 60 knots. Currently we are experiencing swells of 3-4 meters, maybe getting up to 5 meters later but nothing worse than that.

 

If we had stayed on course to intercept the storm, we would've encountered wave heights of 12 meters or higher and possibly wind speeds of 100 knots or greater.

 

And yes, some people are still complaining.:rolleyes: But most of us are quite happy with the decision and are having a fabulous time.

 

We will get to Sydney around 4pm on Wednesday but can't port until Maasdam leaves from her port call that day.

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ladylawyer

ladylawyer

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Hi Wrona!

 

Have you eaten in either Chops or Portofino, on this trip? I'm scheduled to be on her in a couple of weeks and was wondering if you had a recommendation.

 

I have eaten at both speciality restaurants on other ships, so I understand the difference ... just wondering about any current experiences. Thanks!!

 

Have fun! ~ L

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wrp96

wrp96

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Hey L (saw your email about Wal-Mart but won't read it until I get back:p).

 

We ate at Chops the first night and it was fantastic. I've never been a Chops fan but the service and food were outstanding.

 

Haven't been to Portofino yet but might still go as I have a large amount of onboard credit to use up (and don't think I can do that just by drinking). Friends though have been and have enjoyed it.

 

We've been really go with the flow and casual this cruise. So we decide at the last second where we want to eat and if we can't get there we go somewhere else. It's a rough life but somebody has to do it.;)

 

At the Captain's talk yesterday people kept asking if the storm would make their families back home worried and they were repeatedly assured it wouldn't be on the news. I of course was sitting there laughing because I'd already posted it on CC and then one lady got the microphone and let everyone know she'd already posted it on Facebook.:D

 

A few things. We had 287 people registered for the Meet and Mingle and most showed up. There are over 900 Diamond and Diamond Plus onboard. BUT I have also met several people that this is their first cruise so quite a contrast.

 

Crew onboard is delightful from the Captain on down. Oh and I believe I qualify for the kids club this cruise.;)

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new seekers

new seekers

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Hey L (saw your email about Wal-Mart but won't read it until I get back:p).

 

We ate at Chops the first night and it was fantastic. I've never been a Chops fan but the service and food were outstanding.

 

Haven't been to Portofino yet but might still go as I have a large amount of onboard credit to use up (and don't think I can do that just by drinking). Friends though have been and have enjoyed it.

 

We've been really go with the flow and casual this cruise. So we decide at the last second where we want to eat and if we can't get there we go somewhere else. It's a rough life but somebody has to do it.;)

 

At the Captain's talk yesterday people kept asking if the storm would make their families back home worried and they were repeatedly assured it wouldn't be on the news. I of course was sitting there laughing because I'd already posted it on CC and then one lady got the microphone and let everyone know she'd already posted it on Facebook.:D

 

A few things. We had 287 people registered for the Meet and Mingle and most showed up. There are over 900 Diamond and Diamond Plus onboard. BUT I have also met several people that this is their first cruise so quite a contrast.

 

Crew onboard is delightful from the Captain on down. Oh and I believe I qualify for the kids club this cruise.;)

hi im on this cruise next year, im a diamond member, where are they holding the diamond event,and whats the age group in general, im 51. 900 hundred diamond members wont fit into holywood oddysy.

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negc

negc

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hi im on this cruise next year, im a diamond member, where are they holding the diamond event,and whats the age group in general, im 51. 900 hundred diamond members wont fit into holywood oddysy.

We will be on next year's TA as well and have been on previous Jewel westbound TAs when hundreds of diamond members were on board. Wrona can confirm what is happening on this cruise, but when we have been onboard with that number of Diamond members, they have used the Vortex (Viking Crown lounge) for the nightly Diamond event. There have also been so many Diamond plus members onboard, that they have opened the Hollywood Odyssey as a satellite concierge lounge for Diamond plus and suite guests.:)

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wrp96

wrp96

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hi im on this cruise next year, im a diamond member, where are they holding the diamond event,and whats the age group in general, im 51. 900 hundred diamond members wont fit into holywood oddysy.

 

 

Hollywood Odyssey is the overflow for the concierge lounge. The Vortex is the Diamond Lounge.

 

As to age group, the best description is retired.

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ladylawyer

ladylawyer

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Hey L (saw your email about Wal-Mart but won't read it until I get back:p).

 

We ate at Chops the first night and it was fantastic. I've never been a Chops fan but the service and food were outstanding.

 

Haven't been to Portofino yet but might still go as I have a large amount of onboard credit to use up (and don't think I can do that just by drinking). Friends though have been and have enjoyed it.

 

 

Obviously, I didn't know you were on this cruise, when I sent the WalMart email. Good plan to wait until you get home. It's :eek: funny!!!

 

Thanks for the info on Chops. If you end up at Portofino, would love to hear your thoughts, too.

 

I can't tell you how sorry I am that I'm not there to "help" you drink all that OBC! ;) :D

 

You have my permission to join in the Pirate Parade. Just what is a Pirate's favorite letter???? ®

 

Have fun! ~ Lorna

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negc

negc

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Obviously, I didn't know you were on this cruise, when I sent the WalMart email. Good plan to wait until you get home. It's :eek: funny!!!

 

Thanks for the info on Chops. If you end up at Portofino, would love to hear your thoughts, too.

 

I can't tell you how sorry I am that I'm not there to "help" you drink all that OBC! ;) :D

 

You have my permission to join in the Pirate Parade. Just what is a Pirate's favorite letter???? ®

 

Have fun! ~ Lorna

Lorna- what date is your upcoming Jewel - New England/Canada cruise? Rita and I will be onboard for the last one of the season: October 23rd, and will stay on for the thirteen night repositioning cruise.

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