TinkBellaMom

we are looking for a trip to Pompeii and Amalfi Coast, full day, not private but small group, max. 16.

They have one offered from port for $ 125.00 pp.

Considering booking but wanted to ask for recommendations from CC folks.

Deb

Each ship has around 14 different menus that can choose from, so while you might see an entree or two repeat, you should not see any identical menus.

 

 

Jewel has both a Concierge Lounge and a Diamond Lounge up in the Viking Crown area with excellent outside views. There is also the rest of the Viking Crown area open to all guests that also has excellent outside views.

Thank you Bob! We are only platinum level, so I am happy to hear we can enjoy that area too. It is so pretty. We were on our first cruise and on the Oasis when we happened on the cast of Hairspray and an impromptu concert around the piano in the C & A lounge. It is one of our favorite cruising memories,

I have a couple of questions for those who have been on Jewel.

Wondering if the menu is different on a 9 day sailing, do they just repeat?

Also, is there a Crown and Anchor Lounge on her, does it have a nice view?

One of our favorite things to do on the Oasis was to go to the C&A lounge and have a cocktail, looking out at the sea. It is gone now.

So excited to board in Oct.

ThankYou! Traveling there in Oct. Really made me excited to see all the sites in Athens.

We will be in Malta on Oct 9 on Jewel of the Seas. Wondering if there are any beaches close by that we could go to?

If you haven’t already joined- the roll call for that cruise is very active. Lots of info and groups to join. The people are so nice. We would love to have you!

Deb

Just know that if you want to enjoy the view while eating you must tell them that you are eating in.

Funny story- we had a private guide that left on our own to explore for a bit. We found this amazing pastry shop that had a takeout window. We ordered pastries and coffee and proceeded to go between a couple buildings a took a seat by the railing. This man started screaming at us in Greek and waving his arms, coming at us, we were sure he was directing his anger at us but we didn’t know what we could’ve done to make him so angry.

A kind lady came up and told us that you need to tell the person at the window that you were eating in, they charge more so you can sit down and enjoy the view.

We laugh about it now.

We will be spending our time seeing Rome and Florence before our cruise, therefore ,we would really like to get a hotel close to the airport for our departure the next morning, post cruise.

Any recommendations close to airport? Looking for something near a few restaurants and maybe breakfast for the next morning. Transportation to the airport would be helpful

Thank You!

Can you estimate for me how long it takes to walk down assuming average walking speed on an incline?

We walked down the donkey trail on our trip in Sept. 2015. It was a very hot day and the lines for the cable car was very long. I would estimate it took us 45 min. You can see from the top that is a short distance--but straight down. The trail is a switchback, so not so steep as it is slippery, smelly and crowded. It was an experience that we have relayed to friends with great detail--part of the adventure of traveling.

I did not know it was against the rules to leave anything on the balcony. I must admit I have been breaking the rules. I always pin our wet bathing suits to a chair to dry. I have even forgotten them overnight.

Thank you everyone! Lots of options! It seems that my husband feels we should do the Rome part of our trip after Florence instead of before.

Oh the joys of planning.

When in Venice a few years ago, I was disappointed at not being allowed to take pictures in St. Marks. I bought postcards instead.

Now we are planning a trip to Florence and Rome and I am wondering are pics forbidden in the Vatican for example, how about Uffizi and the Museums in Florence?

We will be landing @ Rome a week ahead of cruise on Jewel in Sept. 2018.

We have planned on using Florence as a home base for a few side trips and then traveling to the port for our cruise.

My question is what is the best way to accomplish this with luggage? And approximate cost. The trip to Florence is clear to me, it’s getting to the port I’m worried about. I am a planner and I am trying to set up a reasonable budget for the trip.

Thank you!

I would say no bed bugs also. You would see bloodspots on the bedding. I unfortunately know too much about them, having experienced the bites so severe it required a Dr. visit. We discovered them the next morning after a late arrival at a hotel. Noticed them on the screen of my tablet while reading in bed. We travel a lot and I always do a "hunt", before moving in with luggage, but we were tired that night after a long flight.

The sores actually didn't show up for several days after the incident, I thought we had escaped. I can tell you the bites will have liquid in them and they will itch so badly they actually begin to hurt. Sorry if TMI.

Just received notice from RCCL that our Oct 6, 2018 of the Jewel of the Seas will not include Turkey. Rhodes has been added instead

We visited in 2015 and by far our favorite excursion was a trip to Mercouri Winery. It is a small family owned and run winery. Absolutely charming man is the owner, he was so welcoming. Gave us a tour of the older parts of the winery, out into the vineyards and the machinery. After all we went to a wine tasting under the trees overlooking the ocean. We had local meats and cheeses and more wine. We still talk about that day. The wine was fabulous!

Thank you everyone! It seems it is hit and miss with the communication from RCCL. We really weren’t surprised as we knew the problems over there. We visited in 2015 and it was a highlight of our trip, glad we were able to visit before it got removed from itinerary. We understand the changes are allowed by contract we signed.

We booked a Med. cruise for Oct. 2018 while onboard the Harmony in May. We noticed that the port in Turkey is no longer on the list of stops, Rhodes has been added. We have never been there but have been to Turkey, so it’s a plus for us. I was just wondering if Royal actually contacts guest with the change or do they leave you to “discover” on your own.

We brought 2 bottles home from our trip in mid-May. It was $19.99 US. We purchased right in port on our way back to Harmony.

Not a secret at all. I just did not want to name her because I didn't want dozens of responses telling me how much they loved the ship. I was looking for a Transatlantic or Greek cruise for our retirement and the Brilliance has some very nice prices!!!! Thank you again for everyone's input.:cool:

We booked a Greek cruise several years ago and we heard a few negative things regarding the ship. There was even a thread going rejoicing in her departure from the fleet. It was the Splendour out of Venice. She was very small in comparison to the ship we had sailed on before, but we loved the itinerary. We found her to be a lovely ship with some of the best service we have ever had. We had a very memorable trip and plan on going again next year on Jewel.

Jewel of the Seas, Oct 6, 2018, retirement cruise from Rome.

We experienced toilets in Turkey and Greece, it is all part of the discovery of another country and culture,

It was a bit strange but in Turkey you pay your money and the attendant provides you with 2 sheets of paper and 1 paper towel. I learned to take along my own "supplies".

No flushing because the pipes are narrow.

We were on a RCL cruise in Sept.2015. We did a ships tour to the Olympic site with a tour of a small family owned winery. Mercouri Winery was a standout of our trip. After a tour we had a tasting under some trees on a bluff overlooking the sea, they served us local meats and cheeses with the fabulous wines. We loved it!

I assume you're spending your first night in a Rome hotel before departing on the train. Hopefully the same hotel as after Florence.

Tip the Desk staff well to hold onto your luggage for you.

That's a great idea, but we arrive in Rome early and will travel onto Florence the same day.

Thank you! Both great info! My husband would say pack less, but we do like to dress for dinner on the ship, so I always take his suit, which takes space. I really need to rethink my packing style.

This may be a little "out there", but is it possible to store luggage somewhere before a cruise?

We will be arriving in Rome, but then heading straight to Florence by train for a 5 day stay. Then we will be heading back to Rome for 3 days before leaving on a 9 day cruise.

Because of the amount of luggage we would like to travel light to Florence.

Thank you for any guidance.