pjlee3333

I think the casino opened about an hour after we left port. In November the shops opened then as well. When we were on in December the ship said that they could not open the shops while in the Chesapeake. This meant they were closed the first night and closed at 8:30 the last night. Shops included the photo gallery.

AA is shorthand for Anne Arundel Co. BWI Airport is actually in Anne Arundel Co. even though its just 15 - 20 minutes from the pier.

Merion Mom is correct in that there is not a direct captains dinner. There is, however, a captains welcome aboard reception that is usually the 2nd night of the cruise (first formal night). I tend to eat in the windjammer but think I've heard people mention that the food may be a bit better this night.

It may or may not be because you drive. We drive (actually have airport shuttle pick us up and drop us off) and we're almost always the 2nd or 3rd group behind the suites. Whether it is because of the Jr Suite or our C&A status, I don't know. I think our latest departure time was 8:20 or 8:25.

Self assist normally runs from 7-8 with luggage tag numbers starting at 8. I'm diamond plus, usually in Jr. Suites, and have had anywhere from the 2nd-4th number called (Suite guests (grand suites and above) are the first tags called as soon as self assist is finished. As mentioned, timing can vary from what is printed based on how many agents are working, etc.

I've gotten to the port as early as 9:15. Sometimes have had to wait a couple minutes to drop off luggage. Terminal is open and screening starts about 9:15-9:30. Boarding, assuming no problems from the previous cruise, starts around 10:30 with the windjammer opening at 11.

His name is Anderson Hamilton. You'll know him by his outgoing personality and great sense of humor. He cracked me up!

Isn't he great? He never was officially my stateroom attendant but I met him on Grandeur in September 2009. Our room was near his section (he had the os and gs). We would see him on our way to the windjammer and he. would always make our day. Where on Jewel is he? I'll be on a month and would love to see him again.

We did the 10 night in December. There were 3 formal nights - nights 2 (captains reception), 7and 9. I'm not sure if the middle formal night was different because it was New Years Eve. We were on the cruise before and the 2nd formal night was night 6 or 7. It was one of the days the ship was in port.

Over Thanksgiving there was only one drill and it was at 8 pm.

Jeffrey was the CD on our first RCI cruise 12 years ago. At the time, he was one of RCIs top CDs, and we enjoyed sailing with him very much. A few years later, he took an extended break to spend time with his family. Last year, he returned as a fill-in, and didn't get the greatest reviews (mostly that he seemed to struggle with getting back into the swing of things again). This is his second time back as a fill-in, and I haven't heard/read any feedback about him. Hopefully, he's back to his previous form as a great CD!

Unfortunately I don't think he's back at top form yet. Just got back (1/3) from a back to back with him as cruise director. Only time I saw him was on the morning show (multiple errors and I knew more about the ship than he did based on what he said during the show) and at the love and marriage game on both cruises. He didn't show for any of the "parties" such as the disco night, 50's night, Christmas Carols in the centrum, Captains reception, welcome back parties, or top tier parties - activities manager did what I usually see the cruise director do. Also didn't show for the New Years eve party or countdown or either drawing for a new cruise.

I'd think I was the oddball person but I heard similar comments from others on both sailings that I talked with when they brought the subject up.

I'd love to see him at his best though.

they were installed for the 12/14/2013. There are two on the right side of the windjhammer and one just to the left of latitudes.

We have parked everytime (we drive to Baltimore) while people are still getting off and leaving. You pay to park as you enter so it doesn't matter if there are people still departing.

Thanks for the update. I know that almost every time we go the airport shuttle (cheaper to take that than to pay parking) goes around a line of cars waiting to get on the lot. The line that is for people parking isn't moving so (and is well ahead of where luggage drop off or paying for parking is) always assumed that the lot wasn't open yet for people parking.

s

That was John Blair (not Dave) who was originally scheduled for NV after drydock.

 

I still don't have that sorted out, because both he and Simona have stated that they would be the CD in Feb. Also, Simona's date doesn't coincide with the day the ship returns from drydock.

 

I would really appreciate if anyone who can find out more conclusive info from either John, Simona, or the activities staff on NV.

I've also heard from someone that works on a completely different ship that John Blair may be made permanent on that ship. Timing with the cd currently on the ship would work. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

No suggestions but wanted to let you and family know you have thoughts for a good outcom

One thing I found interesting is that the surveys use the day you get off as the cruise date. I just got off a b2b on Grandeur and on 12/24 (the last day of the first cruise) I received a link asking me to rate my 12/24 cruise within 7 days. Assuming it was for the cruise that started 12/24 I didn't answer thinking how could I rate something that was still in progress. At the end of the 12/24 cruise I got a survey for my 1/3 cruise.

On our b2b we were at the port at 9:30 and check in had started. Both the 12/14 and 12/24 cruise boarding began about 10:30. Self assist departure runs from 7-8, suite and pinnacle member numbers are called at 8 and, if everything runs like it usually does, the last number called is 9:25-9:30. On the b2b cruise everyone was off and they took us out at 9:40 and we were back on shortly after that.

Grandeur does seem to board earlier than Enchantment did (or even Grandeur did in 2008-2009). I'm assuming that part of the difference with Grandeur/Enchantment is that Grandeur hasn't been stretched thus fewer passengers to get off.

We've gotten to the pier at 9 before and had to wait a couple (maybe 5) for the person taking the luggage to get there. The ones that seem to wait a little longer are the ones that are parking. They seem to have to wait until all the previous passengers are off the log.

On both the 12/14 and 12/24 sailings on Grandeur Ruth was in the diamond lounge and Frances the concierge lounge. While I didn't get a chance to ask if they would be switching places it sounded as if Frances expected to stay until his vacation.

Please talk to the maitre d'- both in the MDR and Windjammer!!! Even if you did not notify RCI in advance, or talk to the maitre d' when you boarded, they will work with you to make sure you have a variety of foods to eat!

 

Also, see my earlier post on this thread (post #60) for suggestions on how to get the food you want and need.

 

I'm doing a 23 day b2b on Explorer next fall and there is no way I'd be satisfied with only fruit all that time :eek:

 

(And if worse comes to worse and if you have the chance, check out the website

http://www.happycow.net for lists of restaurants and stores where you'll be able to shop and dine in each port.)

 

HTH- and hope you get some satisfaction (and satiety)!

 

Ruth

By choice we eat primarily in the windjammer. We have talked to the person who I assume is in charge - at least he's the person the wait staff got for me on the first cruise. He said he wasn't sure what he could do he would have to talk to the kitchen and nothing has changed. First time got him saying some of the sauce was vegetarian then when he checked (it was one of the few items labeled) the symbol was that of gluten free not vegetarian. We found last night the fruit soup had rum in it. He hasn't been able to get anything changed. Given we don't drink this made what might have been a good choice inedible for us. Why the need to alter fruit items so? Giovonis at least was able to go someplace and get marinara or alfredo sauce. Only place that was willing to make an accommodation.

As for making you sick, I would have normally said no but my mom was having some gastrointestinal issues (after unknowingly having eaten a cheeseburger rather than vegiburger) her gastroenterologist said that if you are a long term (I assume years long) vegetarian that eating meat can upset your system with unpleasant side effects.

While not crazy about the sight of meat neither my mom or I are asking that it not be visible, just properly labeled so that we know what is a meat dish and what isn't.

The service trickles down from management to staff, unfortunately.

Haven't read through this entire thread since I'm on the ship but I have to agree with the op that the options for vegetarians are poor. Ask for veg burgers and I get the answer they don't have them. Ask if something has meat in it since the card doesn't have any of the symbols on it and the people in the windjammer either don't know or answer me like I'm crazy for asking. The windjammer had Mexican night last night. Had beef, chicken, and fish for tacos but no beans. Have had some days where all the sauce for the pasta had meat, i.e. chicken, beef, and shellfish. Salads such as potato, macaroni, or Greek, have shellfish in them.

in the mdr some of the soups look like they could be vegetarian but don't have the v. When asked on both cruises about the same soup one waiter said it was vegetarian (didn't have a v on the menu) and one waiter said it was made with beef stock so not vegetarian.

I've sailed this ship 25 times out of Baltimore and Enchantment 20 and many times could be called a cheerleader but the food is getting worse (and the service sometimes as well).

Fruit is good but for 20 days (I'm on a b2b of 2 ten days cruises), nothing but fruit gets boring.

Just got off Jewel yesterday. Christmas tree and garland around the centrum went up early Thursday morning so we had the ship decorated for Christmas on Thanksgiving day.

I may have the start date wrong....

You have the correct starting date for Captian Epsien. We were on the September 5 cruise with him and he said he just returned that cruise. He said he will be coming back about January 14 or 21 I don't remember which.

Ruth came back to Grandeur November 1. This cruise she has been in the diamond lounge but November 8 is moving to the suite lounge. I assume Francis is moving back to the diamond lounge.

John Eddison(last name?) will be filling in on Grandeur during Ricky Martins break.

Captian Epsen is scheduled to go on vacation November 16.

Interesting. I know some of the CocoCay staff are ship crew, but some, especially the craft vendors and perhaps others, surely aren't... How do they get to and from the island for ship days?

 

Surely someone has to "turn on the lights" before the ship arrives...no?

The cabana attendant is also from Nassau and not an RCI crew member. He mentioned living about 4 months on the island and a month off. I apolgize for using the word ferry earlier. It isn't likely a ferry like the staunton island ferry that has a consistant schedule but given the people on our cruise got to the island from Nassau (per more than one ship personnel) there is some means of transportation between Nassau and CocoCay when needed.