We have just returned from a 12 night cruise on the Jewel of the Seas cruising the Baltic and St Petersburg. This was my birthday wish to see these exciting ports of call. We are Crown& Anchor Diamond Plus members and always look first to RCCL for excellent itineraries.

We arrived at Harwich and found the VIP area for check-in was closed. When ask why they would close this area 2 hours before ship departure, the manager said they wish to pack up their equipment early so they could leave early. This was not acceptable and several VIP members got very upset when told we would all have to get in the regular line behind the 30+ people who had just arrived by bus. Is this the way to treat a RCCL VIP?

The balcony cabin was a big disappointment. The cabin was very small and the closets so tiny the clothes hangers hit the closet door when closed. Worst balcony I've ever had. It was 41 sq. feet, shaped like a triangle, the 2 deck chairs took up all the room on the balcony. It protrude about 4 feet in front of the other balcony, which were aft of our balcony and we faced aft with a view of the entire side of the ship with no overhead covering and no privacy. We were told by guest services that there are 6 cabins like this on the Jewel of the Seas. Passengers should be alerted to the fact that it is a very strange design balcony and there is not enough room to eat outside. The cabin vanity chair material was very worn and dirty. It had actually come loose from the back of the chair. I ask the cabin attendant for a new chair, which she replaced the next day. Read more