First Mediterranean Cruise Questions

[lbislander]

We are long time Royal cruisers, first sailing on the Nordic Prince in the 80's and have booked our first Mediterranean cruise on the Jewel later this year.  I have some (probably dumb) questions that I hope you can help with:

 

1)  Is it possible to somehow pre-pay the gratuities before we board? 

2)  Can I purchase additional OBC and later draw on it in the casino? 

3)  Are the slot machines programmed for US dollars or euros?

4)  Is there a place on or near the pier in Civitavecchia where we can pick up water to carry on board?

 

Any other tips or advice is also welcome.  Thanks in advance.

 

[Biker19]

1.  Yes, call whoever you booked with. 

2.  Yes, opt for a cash account if you want to do it this way. 

3.  Everything on the ship is USD. 

 

[Bee Guy]

I can not recall anything on or near the pier in Civitavecchia where water could be purchased.

[little britain]

There is nothing at the cruise terminal at Civitavecchia however there is a supermarket in the town itself, opposite the church. You can also buy your wine there.

How are you getting to civitavecchia?  Or are you staying there the night before? 

Edited May 27, 2019 by little britain

[Merion_Mom]

3 hours ago, lbislander said:

We are long time Royal cruisers, first sailing on the Nordic Prince in the 80's and have booked our first Mediterranean cruise on the Jewel later this year.  I have some (probably dumb) questions that I hope you can help with:

 

1)  Is it possible to somehow pre-pay the gratuities before we board? 

2)  Can I purchase additional OBC and later draw on it in the casino? 

3)  Are the slot machines programmed for US dollars or euros?

4)  Is there a place on or near the pier in Civitavecchia where we can pick up water to carry on board?

 

Any other tips or advice is also welcome.  Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

You are going to LOVE cruising the Mediterranean on the Jewel!  Which itinerary will you be doing?

 

The "cheapest" way to play the slots from your account is to make it a cash account - do NOT put down a credit card.

 

When you want to play the slots, just go to the cashier's window and tell them how much you want.  They'll give you a voucher for that amount, no fee.  Just insert the voucher into the machine and start losing, er, playing.  😄

 

On the last day, go to Guest Services and give them your credit card.

 

P.S.  You can only run up $500 in charges before they want you to put down that credit card, so it will help a lot to pre-pay the gratuities.  If you booked directly with RC, call them and have them charge you now.  (I assume that you are past final payment date)  If you used a travel agent, call and have him/her handle it for you.

[Clarea]

16 hours ago, lbislander said:

 ...

4)  Is there a place on or near the pier in Civitavecchia where we can pick up water to carry on board? ...

 

There is a market not far from the port entrance. You could take the shuttle to the port entrance and walk to the market. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Norwich Cruiser]

If you get the free shuttle to the drop off point then cross the road you are immediately on one of the main streets along here there are cafes bars and shops at the end of this road turn left for more of the same plus a supermarket or turn right for McDonalds the beach ( not the best though) the sea and promenade again with a few shops bars and restaurants 

[grapau27]

22 hours ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

If you get the free shuttle to the drop off point then cross the road you are immediately on one of the main streets along here there are cafes bars and shops at the end of this road turn left for more of the same plus a supermarket or turn right for McDonalds the beach ( not the best though) the sea and promenade again with a few shops bars and restaurants 

We have been to Civitavechia many times and your description is perfect.

[little britain]

59 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

We have been to Civitavechia many times and your description is perfect.

Only there is also a supermarket halfway way along this road opposite the church... no need to walk as far as the junction with the ice cream 🍦 shop.   And it is a fair walk..about 10 minutes. 

[grapau27]

3 minutes ago, little britain said:

Only there is also a supermarket halfway way along this road opposite the church... no need to walk as far as the junction with the ice cream 🍦 shop.   And it is a fair walk..about 10 minutes. 

True and a market up the back street as well.

Seems a shame they would just get off just for water and not have a look around Civitavechia first.

[Truluv]

Very informative - I'll be doing 1st Mediterranean cruise later this year too, so thanks to the 1st poster! It's good to know about the grocery store and shopping just in case.  

 

Hmmm - McDonalds???  There's just something wrong about going to McDonalds in Italy.  I saw one on a business trip in Prague  A Czech co-worker told me that people enjoyed trying "American" food LOL.

[grapau27]

4 minutes ago, Truluv said:

Very informative - I'll be doing 1st Mediterranean cruise later this year too, so thanks to the 1st poster! It's good to know about the grocery store and shopping just in case.  

 

Hmmm - McDonalds???  There's just something wrong about going to McDonalds in Italy.  I saw one on a business trip in Prague  A Czech co-worker told me that people enjoyed trying "American" food LOL.

There is a McDonald's on Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

[voyager70]

7 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

There is a McDonald's on Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

 

And in St. Petersburg, Russia.  As well as Subway.  They're everywhere!

 

 

[Norwich Cruiser]

On 5/29/2019 at 10:43 PM, little britain said:

Only there is also a supermarket halfway way along this road opposite the church... no need to walk as far as the junction with the ice cream 🍦 shop.   And it is a fair walk..about 10 minutes. 

Only there are actually two or three supermarkets along this road along with the shops bars and cafes that also sell water.

No actual need to go to a supermarket but for the sake of ten or fifteen minutes walk to the end of the road and onto the promenade that isn’t a bad way quite pleasant in fact from a personal view obviously to spend an hour and maybe have a glass of beer wine or a coffee.

I was just trying to be helpful to the original poster and give options.

 

[Kmangel]

5 hours ago, Truluv said:

 

 

Hmmm - McDonalds???  There's just something wrong about going to McDonalds in Italy.  I saw one on a business trip in Prague  A Czech co-worker told me that people enjoyed trying "American" food LOL.

 

I had an American teenager stop me in Paris to ask if I knew where a McDonalds was.  I remarked that there were loads of cafes up and down the street, and you want McDonalds?  Incredible!

Edited June 1, 2019 by Kmangel

[Sancho_proudfoot]

11 hours ago, Kmangel said:

 

I had an American teenager stop me in Paris to ask if I knew where a McDonalds was.  I remarked that there were loads of cafes up and down the street, and you want McDonalds?  Incredible!

 

In similar vein, l have had a waiter in a bar in Paris refer to Coca- Cola as 'le beaujolais Americain'

[xxHadleyxx]

11 hours ago, Kmangel said:

 

I had an American teenager stop me in Paris to ask if I knew where a McDonalds was.  I remarked that there were loads of cafes up and down the street, and you want McDonalds?  Incredible!

McDs is usually easy to find and well labled---which means it is often a meeting place when people do not know the city well to know local cafes---may not mean people want to eat there, but....

 

Or he could have been like me, and my 20 year old, we live in Europe and have for most of my "kid's" life, but his accent is American.  Maybe you'd be all judgy of him too if he were looking for me at McD's in a city after touring for a bit on his own?.  we got to lcoal cafes all.the.time---but sometimes I really want a place I know will provide me with ice in my Coke and free wifi (and takes credit cards!  I don't like carrying a lot of cash) without having to flag down a waiter for the bill when I am ready to go.

 

 

Edited June 1, 2019 by xxHadleyxx

[xxHadleyxx]

OP, I believe Jewel is boarding in Civitavechia all season, right?  (I know that is where we embark in August).  In which case, the remarks about how you should "get off" and tour and take the pier shuttle off the ship are not going to help much.  

 

Yes, there are a number of stores where you can buy bottled water should you wish to (personally, I think the ship#s water tastes just fine), though none are immediately visible from the pier entrance.  Assuming it is still there, the closest is one which caters heavily towards crew.  If you have google maps you can easily look to see which store is located between where you start (are you taking the train down that morning?  If so, the crew store is between the station and the pier but about a block inland) or staying in a local hotel the night before in which case another store may be more convenient for you.

[grapau27]

21 hours ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

Only there are actually two or three supermarkets along this road along with the shops bars and cafes that also sell water.

No actual need to go to a supermarket but for the sake of ten or fifteen minutes walk to the end of the road and onto the promenade that isn’t a bad way quite pleasant in fact from a personal view obviously to spend an hour and maybe have a glass of beer wine or a coffee.

I was just trying to be helpful to the original poster and give options.

 

I totally agree and that is information I would want if I had never been here before.

We have docked here many times and been on a few tours to Rome as well as walking around Civitavechia many times.

We have walked to the end of the promenade where they used to have a general market.

Also we have walked past the train station where there are a few more shops and around the permanent market.

If you are not doing a tour you can easily spend a couple of hours here sitting having a drink overlooking the sea or browsing around some of the local shops.

[lbislander]

On 5/27/2019 at 5:15 PM, little britain said:

There is nothing at the cruise terminal at Civitavecchia however there is a supermarket in the town itself, opposite the church. You can also buy your wine there.

How are you getting to civitavecchia?  Or are you staying there the night before? 

 

We are staying in Rome for the three days before sailing and haven't figured out how we are getting to the port yet. 

 

On 5/27/2019 at 6:12 PM, Merion_Mom said:

You are going to LOVE cruising the Mediterranean on the Jewel!  Which itinerary will you be doing?

 

 

From Civitavecchia, we head to Mykonos, Athens, Santorini, Valletta, Sicily and Naples.  Really starting to get excited!

 

Thanks to everyone for the sharing such great information. 

 

[grapau27]

14 minutes ago, lbislander said:

 

We are staying in Rome for the three days before sailing and haven't figured out how we are getting to the port yet. 

 

 

From Civitavecchia, we head to Mykonos, Athens, Santorini, Valletta, Sicily and Naples.  Really starting to get excited!

 

Thanks to everyone for the sharing such great information. 

 

That is a great intinerary.

3 of our favourite ports plus Mykonos where Shirley Valentine film was made.

I'm sure you will have a fantastic time.

[Merion_Mom]

23 minutes ago, lbislander said:

 

We are staying in Rome for the three days before sailing and haven't figured out how we are getting to the port yet. 

 

 

From Civitavecchia, we head to Mykonos, Athens, Santorini, Valletta, Sicily and Naples.  Really starting to get excited!

 

Thanks to everyone for the sharing such great information. 

 

 

 

 

Unless you are on a  strict budget, I suggest using a private car transfer service like  romeinlimo.  Then you can ask your driver to stop anywhere you like!

[steven3367]

its a doodle to get to rome on the train dont fall for the expensive cruise trips just short walk to train station get a ticket return the one that includes the underground in rome and off you go you save a fortune under 12 are free and vice versa to get from rome to the ship