Recent Jewel Canada/NE passengers

[voyager70]

I read on the Roll Call board for our Jewel sailing leaving this Saturday that on at least one of the recent Canada/NE sailings the dining times were changed to 1/2 hour earlier that normally scheduled. Can anyone confirm this for me? Thanks.

[shirlr]

Yes, I sailed on the Sept. 30th sailing and first seating was at 5:30. It really marred our cruise and I complained on our customer survey.

[voyager70]

Did they give a reason for this? We normally do the late seating but one of the couples going with us really wanted the early seating so we gave in - but 5:30 is just TOO early. I hope this was an isolated event.

[Linda/Ohio]

So what time does that change the late seating to????

[Linda/Ohio]

So what time does that change the late seating to????

[Linda/Ohio]

So what time does that change the late seating to????

[Linda/Ohio]

So what time does that change the late seating to????

[shirtee]

I also was on the Sept 30 sailing and yes dinner was at 5:30 and 8:00pm.

I had heard that many people complainted from the previouse cruise to have dinner earlier, so they did. Just to let you know, the dress on this cruise was more casual than any I have been on. Not many tuxedos and most people changed into casual clothes after dinner. I personally was very disaponted as I like to dress for a cruise, I feel being dressed is part of the cruise experience. Lots of Jeans in the dinning room on the first and last nights.

[weareadams]

I was on the cruise Sep 23rd. We had 2nd seating that started at 830, I can't answer about 1st seating. We were the 1st cruise after the TA and there seemed to be lost of confusion on things. The day we were at Bar Harbor, we watched from the Viking Crown lounge (before dinner) people still being tendered at 7ish. We were supposed to be onboard by 530 (I think). Our tablemates overheard someone waiting in the tender line from 515 to 700. It was a bizarre cruise. And yes, quite a bit more casual. But, of course, it was still a cruise!! :)

[shirlr]

I was escorting a big group on the Sept. 30 sailing who wanted early dining, but 5:30 was too early even for them. When I complained to the Group Coordinator, she said that a lot of people on the last cruise had complained and they moved both times up 30 minutes. This cruise was definately an older, more subdued crowd. I also saw lots of people changing into jeans after dinner. It's a pity - the ship is beautiful and the lounges were so underused. It looked like everyone on the ship went to the show and then went to bed. It was pretty boring in the evenings, especially when you finish dinner by 7 or so. They really need to rethink the 5:30 dinnertime. I'll never do it again!

[redsoxfan56]

Posted this on the last thread discussing this topic...I do not think it is something new. Last year on the Jewel Bermuda and Eastern Caribbean early seating was 5:30 as well....that 1/2 hour made quite a difference, not for the better IMO

[negc]

Last year the Jewel's sailing out of Boston to Bermuda and the Caribbean had first seating at 5:30 and second seating at 7:45. Since we had second seating it worked out really well for us and gave us more of the night to enjoy the multitude of shows and other activities offered after dinner. We didn't find the demographic on our cruise to be significantly different from any other RCI cruises we have enjoyed.:)

[rubrrick]

My DW and I were on the Sept 30 cruise, and apparently there were many complaints about the 8:30 seating being too late, so they tried to see if backing it up by 1/2 hours would make a difference, and the difference it made was that many of the early seating crowd didn't like 5:30 dining.

 

Rick