“Live” from the "Jewel of the Seas": April 13-April 18,2013

Day One Compass

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

My Room. Sure there's enough room for all of you. I wasn't quite as fortunate as Radio and get a Mac daddy upgrade, but must say its quite nice.

No nasty shower curtain to deal with. :-)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

Have a great cruise! Go listen to Rhythm Explosion, they're pretty good. Playing poolside now! ha :)

Other items.

Today's first drink. Drink of the day. Only have 7 more to go. :-) I'm up for the challenge. Was cool to sign a receipt that was zero. :-)

Off to venture around the ship more.

Till a later time, "Live" from the Jewel of the seas!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

We were on the Jewel in March, and did the drink package. To answer the champaign question - champaign (or sparkling wine) is included. But only the "house" sparkling wine, and none of the champaigns in the Champaign Bar were included. But we had delightful martinis in the champaign bar.

Mr. Fun in the Sun - let us know if our favorite bar tender Yvgeni (? spelling), is still at the Solarium Bar. He was awesome. Enjoy! I look forward to reliving my cruise with you.

Going on the Jewel in May and again in September. Looking forward to your live review. It will make the time pass much faster!

After my last post I ventured around the ship more and got some food in the Windjamer so I could drink more. :-/ Opps I mean because I was hungry and time to graze. Had some of the honey stung chicken that I believe is only available the first day. It was very good.

Live island music. Much better than a loud DJ on deck that's for sure. Much more relaxing. (Rythm Explosion from Jamaica as another poster mentioned) They are very good, listening to them from the edge of the solarium.

Rock climbing wall.

New nets going up on the basketball court.

Edge of the solarium.

My 2nd drink. Captains Caipirinha. Very good. Captain Morgan is a very good friend of mine, we go way back. Am sure many of you are good friends of his too. Certainly different drinking this, this way.

Everyone around the ship seems very happy and energized and ready for some rest and relaxation. It's a beautiful day here in Tampa, partly cloudy but very nice. Muster drill is at 4:00 and sail away is around 4:30. Looking at today's compass, there is a solo travellers get together at the sky bar at 5:15. Must be a lot of solo travelers on this cruise. I've never seen such a gathering before.

Just now over the loud speaker everyone is being advised of the Muster Drill in a half hour. Everyone is being advised because of flu season to not shake hands during the cruise but do the fist bump. Haha, thought that was kind of funny.

Till a later time "Live" from the Jewel of the Seas...

Up next sail away from the port of Tampa.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

I'm sailing on the repo to San Juan 4 weeks from today. Thanks for serving up this "appetizer". :D

Have a fabulous time. Cheers, bon appetit and Bon Voyage!

Thanks for the Rhythm Explosion pic! If you ever get a chance/feel like talking to them, ask for Arthur--hard to tell from this pic--I think he's the guy all the way in the back (left side when facing the band..tall, skinny guy). He is a friend of ours from way back on Majesty of the Seas. We saw him last year on Navigator. You can use my dad's name, Wally, or our last name, the Ohler's, from Ohio. If not, no big deal. But he's a nice guy and has been around a long time!

Have a great time, I'm jealous of your drinks, they look awesome!!

Bon Voyage! Thanks for doing this! I'm another one who is boarding the day you bring her back to port! Relax and enjoy! B)

And we're off!

Being able to be at the bow of the ship at sail away is awesome.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

A young family saying goodbye to us.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

My husband and I were on the Jewel several years ago and had an amazing cruise - you will have a great time - thanks for sharing your journey with us.

I am very curious about the drink package. My husband and I love our mimosas in the morning and drink wine along with an occasional martini. I think the package seems like a good deal for us but want to know exactly what wines, champagnes and liquors are included. what about wine at dinner? We usually order a bottle so I assume all wine is by the glass if you have the package?

Please share info with us as we have never seen this available on any RCCL cruise we've been on in the past.

Thanks,

Barbara

So looking forward to this report. We will be on her in June from San Juan. We leave just south of you in beautiful Manatee County and the lovely little town of Palmetto. Thanks for taking the time to do this report and hoping you have a wonderful trip!

Okay, I've subbed and can't wait to hear about it. :)

Sail away was fun at the bow of the ship on the helipad. This one lady Atlanta Georgia was so funny, she hadn't cruised in 24 years. The other people around me and I told her she was basically a first time cruiser, she will now have a new addiction. She was so full of energy it was so funny.

More sail away...

Till a later time "Live" from the Jewel of the seas...

Next up the Skyway Bridge.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

Enjoy your cruise on board one of the most beautiful ships at sea - I just LOVE the Jewel and agree that yes, she is amazing.

I'll be right here hanging on your every word and waiting for pictures to jog my ever-declining memory. Have a good one!:)

Enjoy your cruise on board one of the most beautiful ships at sea - I just LOVE the Jewel and agree that yes, she is amazing.

I had a chance to hear Captain James speak last week (noticed he is not there for this cruise) and you can tell the staff has a bit of swagger about how beautiful she is. The had a surprise health inspection the day we left Tampa and scored a 99 out of 100. Captain James was quick to add that they have scored the most 100s in the fleet. A female office chimed in that this is not by accident, that its due to the standard they hold themselves to every day. Very impressive.

Hi

Hope you're having a great cruise so far!

Would you be able to find out what the prices of the internet are on the ship, are there any packages that work out cheaper?

Louise

I was on the jewel earlier this month. Best wifi was in the library area, but I saw people using their iPads everywhere.

Great, thanks for letting me know! Guess I'll be spending a lot of time in the library :D

I am looking forward to following your live tour. We board her on Apr 22 and Apr 27 B2B. First time on Jewel, the only Radiance class ship we have not been on.

Doing B2B's next fall out of San Juan. We met Carly, your CD, on the Mariner this January, she was good. I suppose she didn't want to go to the Orient with the Mariner.

Have a great cruise, we'll be watching.

Sally

Thanks for the pictures of the room! I'm in an inside cabin for my sailing and it looks so comfy in there! I love the blue chair as well. So looking forward to this cruise!

I'd be interested in internet rates as well. I'm glad to hear all the good impressions about this ship.

I'm following too! Will be on the 4/22 sailing. Thanks for doing this! Can't wait for your Skyway Bridge posting! So exciting!

Very excited for you. I will be anxiously waiting to hear all about the trip. I will be on the April 18 -22 Jewel of the Seas trip from Tampa to Cozumel. It will be my very first cruise! :D

Thank you for reporting, Mr. FunInTheSun. I look forward to living vicariously through your experiences :-D.