Jewel of the Seas - recent reports?

[skiiergirl]

All of the previous port shore excursions had an RCI escort, except the one in Santorini. My complaint is we should have had one on this tour to monitor the lines and our location.

 

Thanks for the info. Very Interesting.....we have never had shipboard personnel on an RC shore excursion in any part of the world. We did 2 ship's excursions on the crossing and did not have any shipboard personnel on either. For the same itinerary you just did....we used all independent excursions. I had never even heard of shipboard personnel going on a shore ex....so I am learning something new!

[BEENSAILING]

In Athens we went on an excursion thru Royal and there was no Cruise line rep on the tour. Only the tour guide whose company was hired by Royal who was with us as we drove around and then for a while at the Parthenon and then when we were heading to the Plaka. Over the years DH and I have done some excursions thru the cruise line - and there has never been an employee of Royal on any of those. Just the guides (and drivers) working for the companies engaged by Royal.

[little britain]

Thank you for your feedback, I am onboard on the next sailing: 2nd June. Are they doing buckets of beer?

 

 

 

Yes, $28 for 5, +18% [emoji482]

 

 

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[little britain]

Disappointing, but thanks for reporting back.

 

 

 

I physically went and asked them too, and sorry, definitely no brekkie.

 

 

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[little britain]

I physically went and asked them too, and sorry, definitely no brekkie.

 

And D+ tours only galley and backstage; no bridge tour FYI

 

 

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[SpainAlien]

Yes, $28 for 5, +18% [emoji482]

 

 

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Excellent, I know what I'm buying as soon as I board next Friday. Thanks for letting me know :)

 

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[DENNAS]

I'm sorry, I'm confused. If I buy my Ultimate Drink Package from home, for $39/day, which happens to be the cost for the June 2 cruise, is there a VAT tax added to that? Is there a separate tip added too? I am trying to figure out if I should buy it now (at home) or on the ship. Thanks-

[SpainAlien]

I believe that if you buy it at home you don't pay the 22% VAT but don't forget that it's 39$ per day plus 18% tip.

 

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[BEENSAILING]

Everything you purchase once on board (from specialty dining to internet to magnets) on a cruise which is only porting in EU countries has 22% vat added. There are no bottles of alcohol on sale (like when you cruise the Caribbean). But you can buy bottle of wine at dinner - with VAT added. There are no tobacco products for sale. The cruise we were on earlier this month kept running promos on board for specialty restaurant dining but you haveto add in 22% vat. There is a person on the ship to answer questions about getting VAT refunds once you are at the airport. so if you plan to purchase anything on the ship or in port, keep your receipts. Any purchase you do from home does not have VAT added. (Beverage package does have the gratuity added.)

[DENNAS]

OK, thank you very much, will order from home then- appreciate the help.

[BEENSAILING]

Everything you purchase once on board (from specialty dining to internet to magnets) on a cruise which is only porting in EU countries has 22% vat added. There are no bottles of alcohol on sale (like when you cruise the Caribbean). But you can buy bottle of wine at dinner - with VAT added. There are no tobacco products for sale. The cruise we were on earlier this month kept running promos on board for specialty restaurant dining but you haveto add in 22% vat. There is a person on the ship to answer questions about getting VAT refunds once you are at the airport. so if you plan to purchase anything on the ship or in port, keep your receipts. Any purchase you do from home does not have VAT added. (Beverage package does have the gratuity added.)

 

OK, thank you very much, will order from home then- appreciate the help.

 

You are welcome. And enjoy your cruise...

[Zutcorp]

From what I've read Jewel attracts an older crowd, but what your expereince about that - my boys are 11 and 13 and quite sociable, and loves making new friends in the pool! If anyone has any experience with tweens/teens? Maybe even a copy of a recent kid cruise compass?

[little britain]

Ultimate package is $49 on board so $39 is a good price!

 

 

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[kdnmom]

From what I've read Jewel attracts an older crowd, but what your expereince about that - my boys are 11 and 13 and quite sociable, and loves making new friends in the pool! If anyone has any experience with tweens/teens? Maybe even a copy of a recent kid cruise compass?

 

My boys are 15, 11, and 9 and we are on the June 2 sailing. I will report back here about the experience for them.

[Zutcorp]

My boys are 15, 11, and 9 and we are on the June 2 sailing. I will report back here about the experience for them.

 

Sounds great. We sailing on 2 july!

[Bobal]

I believe that if you buy it at home you don't pay the 22% VAT but don't forget that it's 39$ per day plus 18% tip.

 

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If you buy the package at home it will include the VAT. I am speaking from experience of a couple of occasions when we were travelling with our sons and bought the package for them. The system will not allow you to pre-buy a package for anyone under 21, even though they can drink alcohol at over 18 in the Med. On a couple of occasions we pre-bought the package for our son who was over 21 and had to wait to board until we could buy it for our son who was over 18 but under 21 - both times the prices were exactly the same and included the Spanish VAT

[little britain]

I'm confused by the "free" tapas in Vintages; apparently if your drink is over $13 then it's free; if not you pay $1.50. Means that those on a drinks package are excluded as the wine allowance is up to $12

It was suggested I buy a glass for $13, pay $1 supplement to my package and then I could have tapas... [emoji849][emoji848]

 

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[skiiergirl]

I'm confused by the "free" tapas in Vintages; apparently if your drink is over $13 then it's free; if not you pay $1.50. Means that those on a drinks package are excluded as the wine allowance is up to $12

It was suggested I buy a glass for $13, pay $1 supplement to my package and then I could have tapas... [emoji849][emoji848]

 

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The tapas is not like the tapas on the larger ships with "enclosed Vintage". It is just a small selection of meat, cheese, roasted peppers, etc. that is under cover at the bar. No selections to order, etc....it is just st whatever they have out. Nice and we were fine with paying the $1.50 but nothing special so I would not stress over the "tapas".

[BEENSAILING]

Never even knew they had that as we did our grazing in the CL.

[DENNAS]

If you buy the package at home it will include the VAT. I am speaking from experience of a couple of occasions when we were travelling with our sons and bought the package for them. The system will not allow you to pre-buy a package for anyone under 21, even though they can drink alcohol at over 18 in the Med. On a couple of occasions we pre-bought the package for our son who was over 21 and had to wait to board until we could buy it for our son who was over 18 but under 21 - both times the prices were exactly the same and included the Spanish VAT

 

Bought it today. It included the 18% gratuity and no VAT was added on - so I'm ok with that! 😉 We start and end in Rome Italy.

[little britain]

thats some expensive beer! I saw in another compass that it's possible to buy a 10 drink card - is that still on? That might be the way to go for us, since we don't expect to drink much, but would like a drink once in awhile.

 

Also, if you could scrounge up some info about the teens club, that would be great. My kids are 11 and 13, and are wondering what happens in there...

 

 

Today day 5 they offered the 10 drinks for $85 card [emoji481][emoji485][emoji484]

 

 

 

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[Zutcorp]

Today day 5 they offered the 10 drinks for $85 card [emoji481][emoji485][emoji484]

 

 

 

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Thanks!

 

The cruise going well? Any other tips you've gathered so far?

[Bobal]

Bought it today. It included the 18% gratuity and no VAT was added on - so I'm ok with that! We start and end in Rome Italy.

 

Yes - it's Spanish VAT so the VAT is added if you sail from Spain, not from Italy ;)

[SupaGoo]

If anyone is interested we docked in Mykonos, not tendered. Had to take water taxi to old port which was 2 euros each way.

[skiiergirl]

If anyone is interested we docked in Mykonos, not tendered. Had to take water taxi to old port which was 2 euros each way.

 

Interesting because we tendered on the 5/6 run. We were told they wouldn't know until the night before whether it would be "tender" or "dock". Tendering was fine there.