Jewel of the Seas - recent reports?

[DandDM]

Days 7 - 9. If anyone wants any other info from the inside of the compass, or anything else, let me know!

 

Cheers

Day 7.pdf

Day 8.pdf

Day 9.pdf

[BEENSAILING]

Dustin - NICE JOB - I want to know when we are getting the amazing group together again....

[skiiergirl]

I am still on Jet lag time...

 

Haven't yet done the laundry (no water in our building yesterday when I had the energy...) I am consoling myself from cruise withdrawal by finalizing plans and creating spread sheet for our Sydney to Honolulu cruise on Radiance in April 2018.

 

Dustin - NICE JOB - I want to know when we are getting the amazing group together again....

 

I am still jet-lagged also!!!!! This was a marvelous group! Would definitely love to sail with this CC group again!!!! Tons of fun!!!!!

[BEENSAILING]

I am still jet-lagged also!!!!! This was a marvelous group! Would definitely love to sail with this CC group again!!!! Tons of fun!!!!!

 

I think one of the reasons it was so much fun was (a) the people and (b) because the ports were new for so many of us we grouped up for private excursions and © so many people active in our roll call contributed time and effort in early planning to make things happen and (d) a smaller ship and we all kept seeing each other! When DH and I go to certain Caribbean ports we barely get off the ship as we have (happily) repeat cruised to many of the ports. Our next "far away" cruise begins in Sydney on the Radiance in April 2018 and two of us in our roll call have already organized excursions. Only 4 port days on that cruise to HNL. I started a google doc and I am sure by the time we cruise the on board activities sections will be very active. Hope "Mr. Ski" has his new glasses...and enjoy your next cruise...

[giberkat71]

Do any of you know what time self debarkation began? We're sailing in a few weeks and I'm trying to figure out airport transportation.

[skiiergirl]

Do any of you know what time self debarkation began? We're sailing in a few weeks and I'm trying to figure out airport transportation.

 

I know it all ran just a few minutes late but I believe

self-carry luggage / express walk-off was scheduled for 6:30-6:40.

[skiiergirl]

I think one of the reasons it was so much fun was (a) the people and (b) because the ports were new for so many of us we grouped up for private excursions and © so many people active in our roll call contributed time and effort in early planning to make things happen and (d) a smaller ship and we all kept seeing each other! When DH and I go to certain Caribbean ports we barely get off the ship as we have (happily) repeat cruised to many of the ports. Our next "far away" cruise begins in Sydney on the Radiance in April 2018 and two of us in our roll call have already organized excursions. Only 4 port days on that cruise to HNL. I started a google doc and I am sure by the time we cruise the on board activities sections will be very active. Hope "Mr. Ski" has his new glasses...and enjoy your next cruise...

 

Totally agree on A-D!

 

Your next "far away" sounds awesome!

 

Yep....he obtained replacement frames by 10:00 am Tuesday so no more "Mr Cool" for the moment!

[BEENSAILING]

skiiergirl - question on the TA was the miniature golf event you all did - does Royal have score cards or did someone bring cards and pens or pencils to keep track? did whoever organized it arrange for best (and worst) to win something?

[skiiergirl]

 

From 5/6 sailing that ended 5/15/17.

 

 

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[BEENSAILING]

[ATTACH]407151[/ATTACH]

 

From 5/6 sailing that ended 5/15/17.

 

 

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what did you post? I can see a visual but don't know what it is...

[skiiergirl]

skiiergirl - question on the TA was the miniature golf event you all did - does Royal have score cards or did someone bring cards and pens or pencils to keep track? did whoever organized it arrange for best (and worst) to win something?

 

 

 

They had scorecards and pencils available in the box with the balls. We didn't do any "prizes". It was a "just for fun" event with another opportunity to meet people and "pass time" during the consecutive sea days. I think we actually ended up playing as a group 3 (or maybe even 4) different days. On a previous cruise (a Panama Canal run) a couple of years ago one lady had brought cute little trophies for various "prizes". My luggage space is too "precious" these days! [emoji3]

 

 

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[kdnmom]

Thank you Dustin and DeeDee!!! Those daily compasses are so helpful!

 

Question for you or anyone else who may know: What are the hours for the kids' program? (I know that the May cruise probably had not many children on board...)

[BEENSAILING]

They had scorecards and pencils available in the box with the balls. We didn't do any "prizes". It was a "just for fun" event with another opportunity to meet people and "pass time" during the consecutive sea days. I think we actually ended up playing as a group 3 (or maybe even 4) different days. On a previous cruise (a Panama Canal run) a couple of years ago one lady had brought cute little trophies for various "prizes". My luggage space is too "precious" these days! [emoji3]

 

 

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thanks....

[familytrip2017]

If you are traveling soon he may be booked -

Santorini (with excavations at Akrotiri)

Kostas

santoriniguides@gmail.com

 

I have recommendations for the other port stops we did...

 

 

Have you checked with others on your roll call to see what your fellow cruisers have arranged?

 

So far, I have a couple of websites I'm checking out. Thank you!

[giberkat71]

I know it all ran just a few minutes late but I believe

self-carry luggage / express walk-off was scheduled for 6:30-6:40.

Thank you! Exactly what I wanted to know. I couldn't find anything that listed the times elsewhere online. At least now I have a guesstimate.

[travelbug1325]

Hi All,

I am currently on the May 15th sailing and I will not be traveling with RCI again. We just finished in Santorini and it was a nightmare. The ship's shore excursion dropped us off in Faria and we went immediately to the cable cars. It was a 2.5hr wait and we were in danger of missing the last tender back! Unfortunately, we had to walk down the 900, feces-covered donkey steps. Also, we had no RCI tour escort, so we had no idea how they were keeping track of tour participants. It was miserable and stressful. Athens, we docked 3-hours late and we still required to leave at the same time...we did not get our money's worth from these tours.

 

Internet is not worth the cost!! It's spotty and barely connects. I will be traveling with my normal carrier Norwegian who values the importance of their customers.

[SpainAlien]

Hi All,

I am currently on the May 15th sailing and I will not be traveling with RCI again. We just finished in Santorini and it was a nightmare. The ship's shore excursion dropped us off in Faria and we went immediately to the cable cars. It was a 2.5hr wait and we were in danger of missing the last tender back! Unfortunately, we had to walk down the 900, feces-covered donkey steps. Also, we had no RCI tour escort, so we had no idea how they were keeping track of tour participants. It was miserable and stressful. Athens, we docked 3-hours late and we still required to leave at the same time...we did not get our money's worth from these tours.

 

Internet is not worth the cost!! It's spotty and barely connects. I will be traveling with my normal carrier Norwegian who values the importance of their customers.

I'm sorry you had a bad time but I don't think you would have fared any better with Norwegian. In Fira there is always a queue for the cable car and the steps are always covered in donkey poo, the cruise line has no control over this. Also presumably the delay in arriving at Athens was forced upon RCI by weather, sea conditions or medical emergency, they won't have Just delayed the arrival for a laugh, this sort of delay can impact any ship. As for still leaving on time they typically would have to because they have to clear the space at the pier according to the port authority.

 

Regarding the speed of the internet, this should be expected on an older ship, presumably you are comparing it to the fairly new Epic which is not a fair comparison.

 

 

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[familytrip2017]

Days 7 - 9. If anyone wants any other info from the inside of the compass, or anything else, let me know!

 

Cheers

 

Dustin & Dee - Thank you so much! I'll have 5 teens traveling that have never been out of the country or on a cruise. They are so excited. Once they see the compass you posted, I'm sure the volume of squeals will go up!

[skiiergirl]

Hi All,

I am currently on the May 15th sailing and I will not be traveling with RCI again. We just finished in Santorini and it was a nightmare. The ship's shore excursion dropped us off in Faria and we went immediately to the cable cars. It was a 2.5hr wait and we were in danger of missing the last tender back! Unfortunately, we had to walk down the 900, feces-covered donkey steps. Also, we had no RCI tour escort, so we had no idea how they were keeping track of tour participants. It was miserable and stressful. Athens, we docked 3-hours late and we still required to leave at the same time...we did not get our money's worth from these tours.

 

Internet is not worth the cost!! It's spotty and barely connects. I will be traveling with my normal carrier Norwegian who values the importance of their customers.

 

So sorry you are having a bad experience. We had no internet issues while onboard the previous sailing (same itinerary). Internet worked fine for us. What was the reason given for the delay into Athens? I am sure they announced the reason. As far as Santorini....since all ships use the same cable car it wouldn't have mattered what cruise line you were on you would have had the same issue.

[familytrip2017]

So far, I have a couple of websites I'm checking out. Thank you!

 

Thank you BeenSailing for your suggestions. I have booked all my port excursions. Some of them on TripAdvisor 'guarantee' if they miss the return to the pier time, they provide you transport to the next port. I hope we don't need it, and it's not in a dingy :')

[travelbug1325]

I'm sorry you had a bad time but I don't think you would have fared any better with Norwegian. In Fira there is always a queue for the cable car and the steps are always covered in donkey poo, the cruise line has no control over this. Also presumably the delay in arriving at Athens was forced upon RCI by weather, sea conditions or medical emergency, they won't have Just delayed the arrival for a laugh, this sort of delay can impact any ship. As for still leaving on time they typically would have to because they have to clear the space at the pier according to the port authority.

 

Regarding the speed of the internet, this should be expected on an older ship, presumably you are comparing it to the fairly new Epic which is not a fair comparison.

 

 

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Respectfully, I disagree. The Norwegian cruise passengers had their port time extended to accommodate the issues with the cable car lines. Also, if a tour is being cut short, proper compensation should be provided to make up the time difference. Also, if you are going to charge $200 for wifi, it should work- old boat or not.

[BEENSAILING]

Hi All,

I am currently on the May 15th sailing and I will not be traveling with RCI again. We just finished in Santorini and it was a nightmare. The ship's shore excursion dropped us off in Faria and we went immediately to the cable cars. It was a 2.5hr wait and we were in danger of missing the last tender back! Unfortunately, we had to walk down the 900, feces-covered donkey steps. Also, we had no RCI tour escort, so we had no idea how they were keeping track of tour participants. It was miserable and stressful. Athens, we docked 3-hours late and we still required to leave at the same time...we did not get our money's worth from these tours.

 

Internet is not worth the cost!! It's spotty and barely connects. I will be traveling with my normal carrier Norwegian who values the importance of their customers.

 

We had no issues with the cable car retruning to the ship. we budgeted the time to make sure we would be back in time. Anytime you are on a Royal Ship and have internet problems just go to guest services and tell them and there would be some monetary compensation. The only place I had problems with internet access was near the pool. I did report it and the person I spoke with said others has also reported it. I really wasn't there that often so for me it was not a big issue. Re your tour in Athens - sounds like a nightmare. Did you go to go to guest services and report the problem?

[gagirl7143]

We too were on the May 6 sailing and had no trouble with the cable car. One must remember that when in Santorini, as soon as the tour is over you must get in line for the cable car, no dilly dally !!

 

 

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[tdtanc]

Thanks for the compasses. Going on this cruise Sept 10th. Anyone have an estimate on how long it takes to walk up or down the donkey path. I'm not very patient so if there is a long line I'm walking for sure. The only caveat is that I will be on a wine tour that day and it might not be pretty!

[aichambaye]

So... if the line is very long can't you just go on a donkey, assuming you don't want to walk?

 

 

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