Jump to content

Live From The JEWELL Of The SEAS


Recommended Posts

Cartagena turned out to be a wonderful stop for us, on the Monarch of the Seas. Hopefully you will have longer in this port than we had..which was less than 4 hours.

 

There were 6 of us, and we hired a driver to show us as much as possible in the 3 hours that we had before being back aboard. Our cost was $25.00 per couple to see the old town. It's much cleaner than I thought it would be.

 

Rick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So tipping with One Dollar Coin's is the way to go! What amounts do you tip them as they bring you a drink or for other services.

 

Somebody here on the Boards suggested a year or two ago that we use the new US One Dollar Gold Coins for tips on board.

 

I brought 100 of them with us and they are a big hit. All of the waiters and bar tenders like them and they remember us which results in super service.

 

Note that this is the friendliest RCI Ship we have been on!

 

The entire staff seems to be interested in us having a good time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bear with me folks... :D

 

This morning the RCI WI-FI was "Down For Scheduled Maintenance" and this afternoon PhotoBucket doesn't seem to want to accept uploaded photos.

 

More to come including:

 

- The Secret Bathroom

 

- The Secret Route to the Helicoptor Pad

 

- The Sign of the Day

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Family is on the December 19th Cruise on the Jewel what is the cost of the WiFi as I do need to keep in touch with my office and also the cost of using my cell phone?

 

I was hoping to see about getting a Sim card from a service called Crewzfone which is a discounted service for Cruise Ship employees. You might want to ask one of them if they have heard of the service and if you can buy a SIM card from one of them for a unlocked phone.

 

Maybe you can ask your Steward about the vending machine selling the SIM card.

 

I posted a link two weeks ago on Crewzfone:

 

This thread is located at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=868186&goto=newpost

 

"CrewzFöne - Prepaid Service for Crew

 

http://www.cellularatsea.com/crew_services_services.htm

Do you know any place in the Miami area to buy the SIM card for the Crewzfone service. I know that when I travel to Israel, I buy the sim card with a preloaded local phone number and it works perfectly in a unlocked phone that accepts SIM cards.

 

So are there are vendors of the Crewzfone Sim cards in the Miami Port area or Fort Lauderdale port area. I would be curious if anybody has had any luck tracking this down?

 

I know the service says they sell the SIM cards from vending machines on board in the Crew areas of the ship. Hmmm I wonder if I can get a Crew member to purchase for me?

 

 

SIM cards and PINs can be purchased from a vending machine in ship’s crew area. The machine accepts USD bills in $5 / $10 / $20 / $50 denominations, (No coins, credit or debit cards are accepted; and no change provided.) Top up instructions are printed on the PIN receipt. "

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does Cybercabin download Outlook email fast?

 

 

If you are receiving straight text is is pretty quick.

 

If you are downloading large attachments forget it.

 

I can normally open the Cruise Critic board and my Photo Bucket account at the same time using Cyber Cabin's dial up connection. I can then type in text for posts and copy in URLs from Photo Bucket for photos.

 

Sometimes, early in the morning, it is quick enough to upload photos.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Family is on the December 19th Cruise on the Jewel what is the cost of the WiFi as I do need to keep in touch with my office and also the cost of using my cell phone?

 

 

WI-FI can be purchased at $50 for 150 minutes or $.33/min

 

Both Alltel and RCI told me there are no extra charges to use myNationwide Alltel plan on the ship. It works well, both making and receiving calls.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So tipping with One Dollar Coin's is the way to go! What amounts do you tip them as they bring you a drink or for other services.

 

 

Every Bar Bill has a 18% tip built in.

 

The gold Dollar coins are on top of this.

 

I use my soda card a lot so I give them a single $1 coin each time I order a soda and use my card.

 

Carol gave the guy (Juan) at the Sky Bar one and he asked "Do you know James?" and she responded that I was her husband.

 

Juan takes good care of us bothnow!

 

To be realistic, I brought 100 of the $1 coins and at the rate we are drinking we will not give them all out duringthe10 days.

 

The crew works hard for their money and it won't hurt us at all to give out an extra $100 spread over 10 days of cruising.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is the Concierge Lounge being used for the 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM drinks and snacks?

 

YES! The Concierge Lounge is open every evening for drinks and snacks.

 

The Odyssey Lounge on Deck 13 is being used for the overflow with drinks and snacks also. Both are really nicely run!

 

We have ended up cravatting to the Odyssey on Deck 13 because being (UGH POOH) "Evil Smokers" we can slip across to the Vortex Lounge for a smoke. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Every Bar Bill has a 18% tip built in.

 

The gold Dollar coins are on top of this.

 

I use my soda card a lot so I give them a single $1 coin each time I order a soda and use my card.

 

Carol gave the guy (Juan) at the Sky Bar one and he asked "Do you know James?" and she responded that I was her husband.

 

Juan takes good care of us bothnow!

 

To be realistic, I brought 100 of the $1 coins and at the rate we are drinking we will not give them all out duringthe10 days.

 

The crew works hard for their money and it won't hurt us at all to give out an extra $100 spread over 10 days of cruising.

 

What a wonderful idea :)

 

Here in Canada we have a dollar coin called a "Loonie" - Since it is clearly worth less than the U.S $, not sure the crew would want them!!! So....I will do as I always do and bring along lots of U.S $1 bills for extra tips!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Trainman;

 

I have a request if you can find out for us.

 

Is the Casino on board the Jewel charging the 3% for getting chips at the table with you seapass card???

 

We are trying to decide how much cash to bring, and if they are charging a surcharge, we will need more.

 

Could you find out please?????

 

THANKS A MILLION!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were on b2b cruises on the Jewel in September and our Head Waiter, Mr. G., was the best. :) I think some passengers called him Geno. He's from Turkey and was the Head Waiter for My Time dining. Our dining experence on the Jewel was our best ever with great food and even better service.

 

Here's a picture of Mr. G at work. IMG_2475.jpg

 

Even though be just got off the Jewel Friday, it feels as though we're still there through your pictures and writings. Thank you so much! We miss it so.

 

This is the fellow my husband named Joe Peschi. Kinda looks like him a bit??

Then there's the greeter in the Windjammer who so looks like Andy Garcia.

When you see him, you'll know who I mean.

Keep your almost live cam coming!

Suz

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dhaden, not sure if the jewel is but the liberty was and from my reading the threads all the ships are charging the 3%. We use to use the casino as our bank but last cruise brought more cash though you can get money off your seapass at the pursers desk or whatever they call that main desk.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are so excited to read your posts - we are from Mooresville and will be on the Jewel next month - can't wait! I love the pictures too - they are so pretty and we hope we have as nice weather. Can't wait to hear more and more every day -

 

Best wishes for continued safe travels and a wonderful cruise!

 

luvladybug&cats

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Trainman;

 

I have a request if you can find out for us.

 

Is the Casino on board the Jewel charging the 3% for getting chips at the table with you seapass card???

 

We are trying to decide how much cash to bring, and if they are charging a surcharge, we will need more.

 

Could you find out please?????

 

THANKS A MILLION!!

 

 

They charged the 3% in September on the Jewel. The poor girl kept apologizing as she gave her 3% spiel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Trainman, would you please do a favor for me and for all the other fans of the Jewel:

 

Find the Food & Beverage Manager. Tell him IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that we are VERY VERY VERY VERY upset that they have gotten rid of the crepes in the Solarium, and to PLEASE bring that station BACK!

 

Thank you. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Today is Tuesday, Day 5, and we will be in Cartagena, Columbia later this morning from 10:00 am until 3:30 pm.

 

This is our first visit to Cartagena and we are looking forward to it.

 

 

Posting was frustrating yesterday and again this morning. The RCI systems seem to be doing pretty well but I am also dependent on the speed of both the Cruise Critic and Photo Bucket servers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The "Secret Bathrooms"

 

When you are leaving the Windjammer and ask on the way out where the nearest rest room is thay tell you "Out and to the Right"

 

So you head out the corridor from the windjammer and turn right and come to the nice display of art work shown below.

 

DSCN7747.jpg

 

Usually there are some people looking at the artwork and a lot of others to-ing and fro-ing in the general area and your first thought is "Where are the Dang Bathrooms?"

 

And the answer is that they are behind the artwork display.

 

DSCN7748.jpg

 

I have seen a lot of confused people looking for these bathrooms. Carol got caught yesterday not seeing them behind the artwork with lots of other people around.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Who Is This Guy?

 

DSCN7778.jpg

 

Some people think he is simply a random statue, part of the pool area decor, and represents nothing.

 

Yesterday I heard that he represents the "smoking police" and is about to throw his beach ball into the smoking area to drive out the smokers.

 

This is as good an answer as any... :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RCI's New Menus In The Dining Room

 

The old card stock menus started being replaced 4 or 5 months ago and eventually the entire fleet will have these.

 

They consist of two menus shown below. A horizontal formatted fold out menu with a separate smaller menu with the Chef's suggestions.

 

DSCN7742-1.jpg

 

Here is the fold out menu unfolded.

 

DSCN7743-1.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...