FlyOverGirl

2 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Ate Dinners in WJ on Serenade and Jewel last Fall, if hasn't changed there was many Gluten Free choices in there, lot more then in Main Dining. My Daughter's Diet so always watching

There are no longer signs noting dietary restrictions in WJ or Solarium Bistro, so you have to ask. Asking questions didn’t really get me anywhere. I think it might be part of the dining updates.

And my experience on Jewel (NYE 2019/2020) with dining staff was incredible. Nuran was my head waiter - loved him.

I am just off of Wonder this morning and eat gluten free due to celiac. I have always enjoyed cruising because it makes eating so easy for me. Wait staff on RC has always been amazing and they still are but their hands are pretty tied by the new menu/dining changes.

My options were extremely limited, there was pretty much no GF dessert any night unless it was sugar free and/or vegan, and the accommodations staff could make were very limited. For example, crème brûlée used to be regularly available, this trip it was offered one night and I couldn’t get it any other night. There were cookies available in the cafe promenade but only a few every day and then they wouldn’t restock (also learned the staff there was giving the entire allotment every day to 1 person). They are prepackaged frozen cookies so it wasn’t a matter of needing to make more.

All this to say if you have a medically necessary dietary restriction and are used to a very accommodating experience be prepared to be underwhelmed. It of course will probably vary based upon ship and wait staff.

I've cruised multiple times with Celiac and have always had amazing service.

When you get on-board go to the main dining room and talk to the head waiter (you can call prior to the cruise and have your reservation noted) and have them take down your name and cabin number. 

For dinner, the head waiter will come by and give you the menu for the following night and have you pre-place your order so it can be prepared in a separate kitchen. If you're going to a specialty restaurant the next night, just tell them and they will make sure the head waiter at that restaurant knows. 

For breakfast and lunch I've always had the head waiter spot me and come over to take my order. Head waiter becomes your best friend. If there's something you want and don't see - ask. Many times they will make it happen. I've had all kinds of things - cake, breakfast items, even a specialty item unavailable in the main dining room. Key is to make friends with the head waiter, your waiter, and your assistant.

I had less luck in the Windjammer. Again, find the head waiter and they will get the chef for you. I try to avoid Windjammer.

In main dinning room you can also ask to be seated with the same wait staff every evening even with MyTime Dining.

Jamie Lees was incredible - huge repertoire, would learn something if he didn't know it, good personality, performed some of his original works. He was last on Jewel of the Seas and left in January. Unfortunately I don't think he's sailing with RC anymore.
 

Chris was on Adventure of the Seas. Great voice. He played romantic tunes and had limited song selection. He frequently didn't know the words to what he played (or just knew a verse). I found it odd he did pull up the lyrics on his iPad. Very nice guy.

4 hours ago, spanky said:

Is Chris still on board with the cruise staff? I was trying to get in touch with him.

Honestly not sure. We haven’t been to very many activities. Mainly music in the evening.

3 hours ago, bren61 said:

Well...your thoughts, is he a fun CD?

I think so - good personality. Went to a salsa lesson with him earlier and had fun. He has lots of energy and is friendly.

2 hours ago, Rogueperson said:

I was the one who said Marvin Wilson on Adventure, but, I got that info  from someone who got it from Tanya.  Things could have changed from that time, so that's on me.  Maybe Lauren is just a stop gap before Marvin, or maybe she'll be there when I board on the 24th (and you on the 29th).  I'll update when i board.

I’m on Adventure now (Sept 1 - 10 Canada) and Marvin is the cruise director.

Well, besides today's very sad news it has been a good day.

Had breakfast and lunch in the MDR and have held down a lounge chair at the pool. It feels a little less busy out here today.

Tonight is formal night and we're going to Chef's Table.

Captain speaking now - Jewel sailings after this one are canceled through February.

2 minutes ago, HappyInVan said:

 

Many pax may not appreciate the terrible conditions that the crew (non-officers) live under. Its already difficult when they have to practice safety protocols, and not being able to step ashore in the ports. 

 

However, the conditions on a ship with a mass outbreak must be horrendous for the crew.

 

You can isolate roommates. But, they're working in close quarters. What about fellow workers in the department? Who stepped into the shower room when one of the infected was un-masked.

 

Hope that RCI will follow the example of AIDA, MSC and NCL. Pause a ship when there's a mass outbreak. That's the only way to stop the contagion, and safely resume.

 

 

This.

The conversation I had with the crew member was essentially all of this. There were some passengers who were upset at being told to put on their masks. The passenger responded with cheers and got a very blunt I’m not joking put on your mask response. Crew said I hope they go complain - customer service will back me up. These are the people none of the crew want onboard. They are putting crews health and livelihoods at risk by refusing to follow safety guidelines.

We all knew the risks getting onboard, crew included. I don’t think it is too much for crew to ask us to follow safety protocols while we’re on vacation so they can continue to earn a living.

5 minutes ago, Flaps_15 said:

I’m on the 1/9 trip and keeping up with this. Seems like they are offloading I’ll crew at different stops. Guess we will see what’s in store for us. 

The person who gave me the number of crew also said at 5% positivity cruises get canceled. I don’t know if this is total onboard population or just crew. I also don’t know where he got this information.

Crew is currently at 10.5% based on the 755 crew number I saw.  The head beverage guy (not sure actual title) was missing last night and nowhere to be found today.

They are very quiet (ie no information) on what’s going on. You only know if crew tells you anything. But not really sure what we’d do with the information at this point. I would hope everyone plans on taking appropriate precautions when getting off. Given some can’t follow basic safety measures onboard I know that’s wishful thinking. But to be honest, those same people probably wouldn’t change their behavior even if we were given more information.

5 hours ago, Lobbylin said:

Oh dear - stay safe everyone!

I was told last night (by a crew member) 72 crew tested positive yesterday.

We’re off to Miami 😭

Aruba was nice - we did an overview of the island.  Stopped at 4 locations for 20 minutes each. My mom and I then went shopping. Now, my mom is less mobile than I thought and the ship further from the port entrance than I thought. We attempted to walk it; we failed. Very, very, very thankful for the 2 passengers who came back from the ship with a wheelchair or we’d probably still be walking to the now departed ship. Love my mom and the fact she has an amazing sense of humor.  We hope those watching from 5 and their balconies were appropriately entertained by our antics.

We did have someone leave in Aruba with a medical emergency but non Covid related. Don’t know the details - just saw them leave via ambulance from my balcony.

All the crew I interact with the most is accounted for but it sounds like it was a very rough testing day for crew. I don’t know how many but there is a feeling of tension with the crew.

Evening show was swapped out for another show due to “unforeseen” circumstances. Our waiter confirmed it was Covid related in not so many words.

Even though at least from my perspective something seems off the crew is doing a great job and doing their best to put on a good front.

5 hours ago, Jasukkie said:

Had a good laugh at myself reading the wine list up thread. What, those bottles of Pinot Noir for over $600? Oh, those are the numbers of the wines from the next column. 

Same 🤣

For crew (at least some of them) it is Covid test day today. That might be part of the explanation.

Intriguing tidbit from a couple at our dinner table. They were in an interior stateroom on 3. They received a call today and moved to a balcony on 8. Everyone in that section was moved off the floor. They also saw individuals at the end of the hall in protective gear.

Forward halls/staterooms were already closed off. This would be the section after the forward elevator lobby through the fire break. If that makes sense.

Aruba is looking good provided we don’t dock and then get denied entry. Pilot boat just pulled up

Wine list - taken at Giovanni’s

Sorry they might be out of order. Took a big one of each side and then tried to get a closer shot of each of them.

Okay - I’m still here and enjoying life.

@njkruzerhas done a good job answering questions and giving updates - thanks!

In Costa Rica we did a private sloth and canal tour. Didn’t do the walk through the park with the guide as my mom isn’t as mobile as I thought - the canal portion was fantastic. We saw several sloths including two mommas and their babies.

Panama we did the Wonders of Engineering excursion through the ship. First part (the canal) was awesome. Once we reached the lake it was pretty boring.

We’ve both been to the spa and it was pretty standard cruise spa experience. We went to a couple shows - comedian and the ship singers doing jazz. Both were good.

We did Chops for NYE and it was amazing. We did Giovanni’s last night and it wasn’t worth the money. Food was okay and the waiter was cranky. I chalked it up to passengers being cranky and the conditions crew are living under right now.

I go to Schooners each night after dinner and the show for Jamie’s piano music. His contract is up in 3 weeks and he isn't doing another one.

I am spending all my time at the pool. It is crowded especially depending upon where you sit but I haven’t had anyone next to me all afternoon (first row by pool - unheard of in normal times). The pool itself and most definitely the hot tubs get crowded and social distancing isn’t a thing - I’m steering clear.

I do have the complete wine list pictures someone asked for and will see if I can get them to upload.

Happy New Year y'all.

Random observation and complete speculation on my part - there have been a number of requests and reminders to put on masks when walking around, when it gets busy at the bar, and when standing near the piano. There are more people out and about tonight compared to last night. One comment in particular to one person stood out - they were asked to put on their mask because they were near the piano and Jamie could get in trouble/get a warning. All the reminders also mention the high risk to crew if they get exposed.

So, leadership appears to be leaning on crew to provide mask reminders, there is still crew spread, or/and they are concerned about the high risk (any higher than any other night on a cruise ship??) with NYE. All speculation on my part just stood out to me tonight.

7 hours ago, w770496 said:

Ask him to play Alphie he promised would learn this standard 

 

I just asked - he hasn't learned it. It was a good exchange - who said he'd learn it? I let him know we talk so I also couldn't say he played it when he hadn't.

Whoever is on next is up for requesting it.

3 hours ago, MichaelCMTX said:

How are they handling a shared table "under the circumstances"?  Past experience has had us anywhere from 4 - 10 per table and not at all distanced.

 

Hope you're having an awesome time.  Be well and safe.

There are 6 of us. I'm actually having drinks and enjoying Jamie's music right now with one of the couples.

7 hours ago, Meem47 said:

Are you marked as Celiac in your cruise planner? And have the speciality dining approval prior to sailing? I’ve been sailing for years as Celiac and always have the head waiter assist me and our entire table with orders…I would never place an order with a regular server if they asked about potatoes being gluten free.  And yes, cross contamination can easily come from a shared table.  They have an entirely separate workstation in the galley where they prepare these meals, I was lucky enough to have a head waiter show me (it was a slow night haha) once aboard Freedom.  While each person is different in symptoms, if I had a reaction on the ship it would most definitely destroy the entire trip and land me down in medical.   They take allergens and Celiac very seriously…if it’s not noted in accommodations prior to sailing, they will treat it as “gluten free diet” versus “celiac disease/allergy” 

Yes - head waiter and I are good friends already. He just walked by and we chatted. I pre-order dinner and was even able to order French toast for this morning.

I last got sick in 2018 on a trip and it was unpleasant. If I have an exposure at this point it's game over. My niece has a reaction like me and last time ended up in the ER due to dehydration.  I don't mess around or take chances - not worth the short or long term consequences.

10 hours ago, toad455 said:

@FlyOverGirlhas there been any mention of your itinerary changing?

Not yet but I will not be surprised if there are changes.

I think the issue are the inconsistencies; it's a let's throw whatever we think will work/people will tolerate out there and hope it works. 

The point about shared table and close contact is a good one. I am going to see if we can change. Gluten cross contamination at the table doesn't worry me - if it's going to happen it will be in prep or the order being entered wrong. They don't know what is and isn't okay to eat - case in point asking me if potatoes are okay to eat.

Got up this morning and had breakfast. Grabbed a coffee and wandered the shops. Agenda until dinner is to hold down this deck lounger.  Which - no problem finding one.