Jewel of the Seas 12 Night Scandinavia & Russia
Back in February 2009, I was told to book the four night cruise on Vision of the Seas on the 3rd-7th May from Harwich to Oslo by my partner, Patrick Patton.  Flight, hotel and everything else was booked then a month later he informed me he'd got a job on Jewel of the Seas, flying to Miami on the 3rd to join the ship the following day.  I was devastated, since it was supposed to be our first holiday together.  He promised he would get me on Jewel to make it up to me.  I could only do three ex-UK dates due to other commitments - 10th June, 22nd June and 4th July.  I'd told him the 22nd was non-negotiable since during that trip it would be a year since we met but when he came to finally fill in the application on the 19th May after dragging his feet, he said it may be too soon and so I opted for the 4th July.  He submitted it the next day minus my passport number.  He phoned on the 29th when they were back in Harwich to tell me I was now on the manifest.  I now had five weeks to get things sorted, which wasn't easy when the person you're a guest of won't answer your questions and no one at Royal Caribbean will either.  He only forwarded the email confirmation because Amy was convinced I wasn't really going.  It really would be more helpful if RCI sent a letter telling the guest what they need to take and to serve as a confirmation.  It would also be useful in case the crew they're the guest of is unable to check them in due to illness or something.  This would be a VERY different cruise.  For a start, while I would be a passenger, I would be staying in crew quarters with bunk beds.  I'm all for experiencing something new!  I've wanted to go on Jewel since I first saw her back in 2004 (the first Radiance class I'd seen) and this was one of the cruises out of my reach due to price.  Now I was doing both and all thanks to the QE2 for giving me a piano player a year before. I was up bright and early on the 4th ready for my journey into the unknown.  Jewel was docked and looking gorgeous.  The BBC weather forecast had said rain in Harwich, Copenhagen, Stockholm and day one in St Petersburg but dry in Helsinki.  Didn't go further than that.  Well so far it was boiling hot and not even 8am!
Patrick finally turned up gone 9.30am.  Many people at the Premier Inn were waiting for taxis to the ship but we got the one which was ordered by someone else but they'd taken another.  Once the rest realised he worked on the ship they didn't mind.  I was wearing my Indy T-shirt, since she was at home that day.  The second time I'd gone to Harwich and there was another RCI ship in Southampton.
We took my case inside the terminal building and had to queue.  When we got to the lady, Patrick explained I was his guest and was told we had to go to the pier manager.  She directed him to the desk at the very end.  It was painless enough.  He handed over a piece of paper, she asked for my passport and credit card.  Credit card was one thing I'd asked him about so didn't take it since he'd insisted all I needed was the passport.  After a slight disagreement he then turned around and said it was going on his anyway.  So why the fuss????  I was handed my SeaPass and for the first time since Navigator it didn't say Gold Member.  I had been told by the Crown & Anchor Society these trips are logged as complimentary so I hope it's on my record.  The lady wrote out a luggage tag to 2818 and while Patrick took it to a porter outside, I went to board the normal way after having by photo taken.  It always amazes me at security how many seasoned cruisers aren't ready with everything they need to remove ready.  I went through no problem and took the looooooooooooong walk onto the ship.  They took my card for the photo and the machine said it was an invalid ID!  Great start.  I was asked several questions so explained my situation.  The man did manage to fix it which was a relief.  I began to get visions of that train ride home because of a simple cock up!  I'd arranged to meet Patrick in the Centrum but deck 4 was so stuffy I went up to the next deck.  I have to admit this was my first disappointment.  Vision is my favourite Royal Caribbean ship.  Like everything, there's room for improvement in some areas but besides that she's perfect, starting in the Centrum.  This was more like the Sun class Princesses and I wasn't impressed.  I waited for Patrick by the window and when he arrived he brought my yellow pass which entitled me access to the crew quarters but nowhere else - boo!  I would be in corridor I-95 and behind door 33.  We went to get some lunch in the Windjammer so I took a photo of the Centrum before we set off.
He asked if I wanted to see the Hollywood Odyssey on Deck 13 where he worked so we went up two decks.  He showed me The Vortex first, the disco.  I really liked this room.  It reminded me in a way of Vision and had plenty of space, unlike the equivalents on the Voyager and Freedom class.  Patrick said it doesn't really get busy.  While I snapped away, he was talking to his friend Stevie on the phone.  Stevie was currently on a break from Queen Victoria but would be returning there.  I had a brief chat with him before we went to the hidden nook that is the Hollywood Odyssey.
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			(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 4th-16th & 25th July 2009 Not to be reproduced without permission