Anyone Currently on Jewel?

[scottie99]

We are due to fly to Dubai on 31 January, and to cruise on Jewel on 3 February. 
 

The current crisis in the Middle East is causing us great concern. We are seriously thinking of cancelling, realising we would lose around £3000.

 

Is anyone currently on board and give us some insight as to the situation?  Were there any obvious extra security checks or presence?
 

Can anyone provide some comfort and reassurance?

 

Would your travel or cancel?

[blubeaver]

We are also sailing on the Jewel but joining on 13/01 Monday coming I have heard nothing to suggest any changes to the cruise itinerary etc … I will watch your post with interest 

[icsys]

We're on the 20th Jan sailing and plan to travel.

Certainly will not be cancelling unless circumstances beyond our control require it.

 

Jewel has been sailing around the gulf as normal so far. Currently enroute to Doha.You can follow the ship on marinetrafic.com

(Type 'jewel' in the search box top right)

 

We will also watch this thread with interest.

Edited January 7, 2020 by icsys

[ldubs]

14 minutes ago, icsys said:

We're on the 20th Jan sailing and plan to travel.

Certainly will not be cancelling unless circumstances beyond our control require it.

 

Jewel has been sailing around the gulf as normal so far. Currently enroute to Doha.You can follow the ship on marinetrafic.com

(Type 'jewel' in the search box top right)

 

We will also watch this thread with interest.

 

Very cool link -- thanks for sharing!  👍

[normannna]

Read a comment on Jewel (meet and mingle) that Canadian government has. advised against travel to Oman.  Given the geography I’m surprised that Oman is still part of itinerary.

 

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, scottie99 said:

We are due to fly to Dubai on 31 January, and to cruise on Jewel on 3 February. 
 

The current crisis in the Middle East is causing us great concern. We are seriously thinking of cancelling, realising we would lose around £3000.

 

Is anyone currently on board and give us some insight as to the situation?  Were there any obvious extra security checks or presence?
 

Can anyone provide some comfort and reassurance?

 

Would your travel or cancel?

The UK foreign office is still telling us in the UK it is safe but take sensible precautions.

The Jewel is currently sailing around the Arabian gulf.

A friend from our church is sailing from there in a couple of weeks.

Hope everything stays okay for you.

Graham.

[Norwich Cruiser]

The diamond lounge was absolutely rammed the first night ran out of food by 17.15 and ran out of drinks by 19.30 there are 700 diamonds 500 Russians on board announcements both in English and Russian.

Second night they’ve got there act together and sorted it completely closed off the Vortex lounge plenty of drinks and food being replenished all the time.

Bahrain today an industrial port $20 pp each way for ships shuttle.

Waste of money takes 1hour 20 minutes each way the dearest rest room you’ll ever have.

Weather though is very good hot and sunny.

 

 

 

[chmusar]

We are on the Jewel in February , have no intention of cancelling unless royal cancel it ,home office advisory is be vigilante . We are still looking forward to our trip and some nice sunshine 😁

[grapau27]

14 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

The diamond lounge was absolutely rammed the first night ran out of food by 17.15 and ran out of drinks by 19.30 there are 700 diamonds 500 Russians on board announcements both in English and Russian.

Second night they’ve got there act together and sorted it completely closed off the Vortex lounge plenty of drinks and food being replenished all the time.

Bahrain today an industrial port $20 pp each way for ships shuttle.

Waste of money takes 1hour 20 minutes each way the dearest rest room you’ll ever have.

Weather though is very good hot and sunny.

 

 

 

Hope you have a fantastic cruise.

[Norwich Cruiser]

I’ll try and report more tomorrow I should really get to bed we are three hours ahead were four but lost an hour somewhere.

Probably left it in the diamond lounge.

Think I may have to pop out and put my towels on the chairs in the diamond lounge before I get to bed ready for tomorrow evening just to be sure.

😅😀🤣😉🤪🤩😎

[normannna]

35 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

I’ll try and report more tomorrow I should really get to bed we are three hours ahead were four but lost an hour somewhere.

Probably left it in the diamond lounge.

Think I may have to pop out and put my towels on the chairs in the diamond lounge before I get to bed ready for tomorrow evening just to be sure.

😅😀🤣😉🤪🤩😎

 

Thanks for the updates.  I'm on 27 Jan and 3rd Feb

[kccrzr]

We just got off Jewel on December 31.  Things sound very bad now with Iran attacking not just military bases in Iraq but threatening UAE, with first priority target being Dubai  including resort area according to recent media stories. I hope the conflict can be de-escalated quickly.  

[icsys]

10 hours ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

Bahrain today an industrial port $20 pp each way for ships shuttle.

Waste of money takes 1hour 20 minutes each way the dearest rest room you’ll ever have.

 

$40 return ?? that's certainly a WOW considering Khalifa Bin Salman Port is a commercial port and passengers are not allowed to leave the terminal on foot, so you have to get a shuttle or a taxi to the port entrance.

Shouldn't there be free transport to get passengers to the port entrance, otherwise your trapped?

 

Having researched the port and seeing the distance from the city we have booked an excursion.

 

Re the media stories, they always sensationalise the headlines for more impact.

Edited January 8, 2020 by icsys

[Norwich Cruiser]

12 minutes ago, icsys said:

 

$40 return ?? that's certainly a WOW considering Khalifa Bin Salman Port is a commercial port and passengers are not allowed to leave the terminal on foot, so you have to get a shuttle or a taxi to the port entrance.

Shouldn't there be free transport to get passengers to the port entrance, otherwise your trapped?

 

Having researched the port and seeing the distance from the city we have booked an excursion.

 

Re the media stories, they always sensationalise the headlines for more impact.

Unfortunately I think free ships shuttles seem to be a thing of the past certainly on main stream cruise lines.

[icsys]

From past experiences, its usually the ports that provide free shuttle to the entrances if a working port.

 

I see Costa Diadema is in port with you today.

What's the port like in Doha? Can you walk into town?

Edited January 8, 2020 by icsys

[Gingerbint]

11 hours ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

I’ll try and report more tomorrow I should really get to bed we are three hours ahead were four but lost an hour somewhere.

Probably left it in the diamond lounge.

Think I may have to pop out and put my towels on the chairs in the diamond lounge before I get to bed ready for tomorrow evening just to be sure.

😅😀🤣😉🤪🤩😎

 

 

Love this!

Can you pop a towel on now for me, somewhere near the pool/bar will do!

 

We fly a week Friday to cruise out on the 20th - not yet heard anything from Royal re any changes or cancellations.

 

[icsys]

No news is good news

[kccrzr]

We took ship tours in both Bahrain and Qatar, but according to the Cruise Compass the shuttle in Bahrain from port to town was $20 roundtrip per adult not $20 each way:

 

 

The shuttle in Qatar was $10 per adult round trip:

[mklions]

22 hours ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

The diamond lounge was absolutely rammed the first night ran out of food by 17.15 and ran out of drinks by 19.30 there are 700 diamonds 500 Russians on board announcements both in English and Russian.

Second night they’ve got there act together and sorted it completely closed off the Vortex lounge plenty of drinks and food being replenished all the time.

Bahrain today an industrial port $20 pp each way for ships shuttle.

Waste of money takes 1hour 20 minutes each way the dearest rest room you’ll ever have.

Weather though is very good hot and sunny.

 

 

 

Why so many Russians? we are flying out to join The Jewel on Sunday.

Mkilons

[Norwich Cruiser]

31 minutes ago, mklions said:

Why so many Russians? we are flying out to join The Jewel on Sunday.

Mkilons

I don’t honestly know the answer but will try and find out.

 

There is absolutely no more security than any other cruise we have taken and the Captain has made no speech about any concerns that he or the cruise line may have.

 

Doha today following our bad trip yesterday and $40 for a rest room break we decided to stay on board.

 

The weather was excellent and the ship extremely quiet presumably most people had got off but I’ve no feedback from those who did any excursion or toured independently.

 

The concierge no longer or at least on this cruise issues tender tickets you have to wait in line for them to be issued with everybody else as you need them for Sir Bani Island.

 

The only drinks offer I’ve seen is a 12 pack soda for $24 I’m assuming it’s plus gratuity.

 

Everyone I’ve spoken to got the deals for his cruise that were on offer a few weeks ago and nobody seems to have more than £199.00 or $199.00 for a balcony stateroom.

 

Maybe that’s why there are so many Russians onboard?
 

I haven’t checked it out but will try and do so.

 

Allegedly a guy I spoke to who uses the casino a lot said if he spent $250.00 in the casino he gets a free cruise in an inside stateroom.

 

Take it for what it is worth as I said I have no confirmation of this at the moment. 
 

But if correct it’s obviously well worth a casino visit.

 

MDR the usual very good food and also happy no issues whatsoever with the Windjammer offerings and yes the food is hot.

 

Excellent happy friendly crew.

 

Sorry that’s all bed calling again.

 

 

 

 

[normannna]

45 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

 

Allegedly a guy I spoke to who uses the casino a lot said if he spent $250.00 in the casino he gets a free cruise in an inside stateroom.

 

Take it for what it is worth as I said I have no confirmation of this at the moment. 
 

But if correct it’s obviously well worth a casino visit.

 

Maybe the guy had too many drinks.! 🙂 When you reach Prime status in the casino you get a free (up to 8 day ) cruise in an inside cabins but you need 2500 points per year.  You get 1 point per $5 spent/bet.  You also get free casino drinks

 

 

 

 

 

[icsys]

12 hours ago, icsys said:

No news is good news

 

And the good news is:

 

13 hours ago, pmanchester said:

I just had an update from Royal Caribbean via Messenger

 

"We understand how worrying the situation in the Arabian Gulf is. However, we have not cancelled any Dubai sailings and are monitoring the situation very closely. If there is a change to your reservation you will be notified directly from us. As of right now you will still be going on your honeymoon" - Lucas

[Norwich Cruiser]

6 hours ago, normannna said:

 

You’re probably right.

Expect he’d had to many sodas.

[Norwich Cruiser]

Arrived in Bahrain about an hour ago will try and update later this evening.

[little britain]

On the Jewel Dubai group... the Captain has just announced everything is proceeding as normal 👏 

 

Friends in Doha yesterday said it was spotless. No litter and the most amazing beautiful  subway system. Who knew. Well worth the visit. 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2020 by little britain