Come Cruise with Me-Jewel Review 4/8/11-Southern Caribbean/2,000+ Pics/Super Long

[mafig]

Very much enjoying your review.

 

A question about the train in Panama.

 

Isn't there supposed to be a dome car? (I'm sorry if this has been asked or addressed by you, it's been really difficult to get to posts on Cruise Critic the last few weeks, today is the first day I've been able to really enjoy your thread).

 

:)

[waterbugohio]

Great review. You had me researching the Panama canal cruises last night. Looks like it would be awesome to see.

 

Can't wait for more

[SolsticeAZ]

I am absolutely loving your review, and I'm now seriously considering doing the same cruise next year. One question: what do you think was the average passenger age on the ship? It generally goes without saying that longer cruises = older passengers. My husband and I are young-ish (OK, 40...sigh), and we like meeting people around our age when we cruise. The seven-day cruises have been great, but we took a 12-day last year that my husband still refers to as "God's waiting room at sea." So, I'm wondering how your experience was.

 

And keep up with the great review -- I can't wait to see what happens next!

[bionicman97]

I love all the Panama Canal pictures! I really want to visit it one day now that I've seen them. Plus the train ride looks cool too. Hubby's never been on a train so I think he'd really like that excursion.

 

 

Thanks, the train really was nice :)

 

STILL loving your review!! You are doing a brilliant job - thanks for taking the time!

 

 

Thanks :)

Sorry about the quality on some of these pictures. Remember, 90% of these are shot while we are on a moving train/bus.

 

 

 

Your very worst photos would probably outshine my very best by miles. What a terrific review!

 

I'm sure your pictures are very good also. Some ofmthese weren't great, but I'm pretty good at Photoshop ;)

[wg6530]

today I boarded the Jewel for her transatlantic voyage. She returned from her brief dry dock in a timely fashion and all seems well. Better than can be said for the Grand Princess who returned late from dry dock with still unfinished work; she spent an extra 14 hours in Port Everglades. It makes me grateful.

I have enjoyed your review so far, Curtis, and look forward to reading the rest when I return to stateside.

I am absolutely loving your review, and I'm now seriously considering doing the same cruise next year. One question: what do you think was the average passenger age on the ship? It generally goes without saying that longer cruises = older passengers. My husband and I are young-ish (OK, 40...sigh), and we like meeting people around our age when we cruise. The seven-day cruises have been great, but we took a 12-day last year that my husband still refers to as "God's waiting room at sea." So, I'm wondering how your experience was.

 

I cannot speak for Curtis' cruise, but in my experience longer cruises draw an older crowd. Retirees have more time. In the windjammer toady, my husband called me a "kid" as he looked at other cruisers. Laughable because I am late forties. I have seen a few actual children, but I think it will be an older bunch. Fine with me, but if you like younger guests, you may want to keep it at 7 days or 10 at most. You could do back to back cruises if you want a younger crowd on long vacations.

[bionicman97]

Very much enjoying your review.

 

A question about the train in Panama.

 

Isn't there supposed to be a dome car? (I'm sorry if this has been asked or addressed by you, it's been really difficult to get to posts on Cruise Critic the last few weeks, today is the first day I've been able to really enjoy your thread).

 

:)

 

There was a dome car attached to our train. It was about $10 more than the $150 we paid. We considered it, but the excursion description wasn't very clear. It did look like they did all the same stuff we did.

 

Thanks also :)

 

Great review. You had me researching the Panama canal cruises last night. Looks like it would be awesome to see.

 

Can't wait for more

 

Thanks :). It really is a great cruise to do.

 

I am absolutely loving your review, and I'm now seriously considering doing the same cruise next year. One question: what do you think was the average passenger age on the ship? It generally goes without saying that longer cruises = older passengers. My husband and I are young-ish (OK, 40...sigh), and we like meeting people around our age when we cruise. The seven-day cruises have been great, but we took a 12-day last year that my husband still refers to as "God's waiting room at sea." So, I'm wondering how your experience was.

 

And keep up with the great review -- I can't wait to see what happens next!

 

Thanks :)

 

the cruise definitely skewed a little older, but there were a lot of people between 30-60 also. I would say about 40% to 50% in the 30 to 60 age range.

[bionicman97]

today I boarded the Jewel for her transatlantic voyage. She returned from her brief dry dock in a timely fashion and all seems well. Better than can be said for the Grand Princess who returned late from dry dock with still unfinished work; she spent an extra 14 hours in Port Everglades. It makes me grateful.

I have enjoyed your review so far, Curtis, and look forward to reading the rest when I return to stateside.

 

 

I cannot speak for Curtis' cruise, but in my experience longer cruises draw an older crowd. Retirees have more time. In the windjammer toady, my husband called me a "kid" as he looked at other cruisers. Laughable because I am late forties. I have seen a few actual children, but I think it will be an older bunch. Fine with me, but if you like younger guests, you may want to keep it at 7 days or 10 at most. You could do back to back cruises if you want a younger crowd on long vacations.

 

Thanks:). Hopefully I will have the review done before you get back:eek:

 

I think your TA will definitely skew older. I think ours was more split since we had so many ports and it covered over a period of one week and two weekends, so some families could get off work/school.

 

Have a great cruise and take lots of pictures :)

[sarahc78]

Loving the review... however those ports seem a bit ummm dirty. Not really sure I would enjoy this particular itinerary, but the ship is just gorgeous. The food looks great too!

[LBumb]

tons of great pics

[seadog67]

Just checking in again to say those Canal Tour pics are awesome, thanks for so many, it really feels as though we are right there with you as you show so much detail.

 

Thanks again!!

[seadog67]

Double Post.

[bionicman97]

Loving the review... however those ports seem a bit ummm dirty. Not really sure I would enjoy this particular itinerary, but the ship is just gorgeous. The food looks great too!

 

There are definitely some depressed area's on the trip, but almost all of the places you get out of the bus/train are ok. :)

 

tons of great pics

 

Thanks :)

 

Just checking in again to say those Canal Tour pics are awesome, thanks for so many, it really feels as though we are right there with you as you show so much detail.

 

Thanks again!!

 

Thanks -- that's the goal :)

[QTMichele]

LOVE yesterday's photos! Makes me want to consider doing this trip... gotta get the kids just a little older, or out of the house first. ;) Thanks again, Curtis.

[bionicman97]

Double Post.

 

We'll let it slide this once, but let's not make it a habit :eek:;):D

[bionicman97]

LOVE yesterday's photos! Makes me want to consider doing this trip... gotta get the kids just a little older, or out of the house first. ;) Thanks again, Curtis.

 

Thanks :)

 

We had more kids on the cruise than I expected, but I bet it was still only about 50 to 80 total.

[bionicman97]

Day 6 - The Ride to Panama City

 

After leaving the Mira Flores Observation Center, we went on about a 20 to 30 minute ride to the somewhere. I wasn't real clear on where we were headed.

 

I did see a familiar friend on the way

 

 

Can't emphasize enough how much shipping drives the economy here

 

 

 

Now we are getting closer to the Panama City side of the country. You can see how much nicer things are here compared to the Colon side.

 

 

 

 

 

Wanna see something really cool? I just couldn't believe it. So fitting. . .

 

 

 

 

Almost to the Pacific Ocean (To my surprise) - Up next. . .

[bionicman97]

Day 6 - The Ride to Panama City

 

We passed this convention center also. I think they had a "Miss Universe" or something here recently

 

 

 

This was a unique building under construction

 

 

Then we start going over this causeway. I realize for the first time in my life, I am seeing the Pacific Ocean.

 

 

 

And then we arrived at the farthest point West of Panama

 

 

More Panama City - Next. . .

[bionicman97]

Day 6 - Panama City

 

We didn't get to go to Panama City, but we did get this nice view, which was nice considering I wasn't expecting it.

 

This was the little area where we stopped

 

 

 

And Now, Panama City

 

 

 

 

And here we are

 

 

Would've been nice if that freighter wouldn't have been there in some of the pics, oh well.

 

Up next - The bus ride back to the train station. . .

[bionicman97]

Day 6- - Bus Ride Back to the Train Station

 

Here I am shooting the breeze with mom before the ride back

 

 

Here is the start of the ride back

 

 

Headed back over the causeway

 

 

A little shop

 

 

Some building

 

 

And another familiar friend

 

 

Up next - Train Ride back to Colon. . .

[bionicman97]

Day 6 - The Train Ride Back to Colon

 

So we are back on the train. So at this point you are probably wondering if I am having a food withdraw, the answer is of course - YES. Luckily, the gave us another free snack box - literally

 

 

We kept the box

 

 

I thought it was a pretty good snack. I started to barter on the train and managed to swap my chips for more cookies and my peanuts for cookies and my raisins for cookies - Not like I have a sweet tooth or anything

 

 

Here we are running beside the canal on the way back

 

 

Some kind of patrol boat

 

 

More of the canal

 

 

Up next - more of the train ride. . .

[bionicman97]

Day 6 - The Train Ride Back to Colon

 

Here comes the bridge

 

 

Crossing the bridge

 

 

Wait a second, I'll run to the other side to get a pic

 

 

Caught these electricians working

 

 

Ships on the water

 

 

I thought this was a pretty cool pic of us on the train

 

 

Up next - The end of the train ride. . .

[bionicman97]

Day 6 - End of the Train Ride

 

We had to pull over for over 30 minutes to wait for a cargo train to come and pass by again. This time I was prepared - Make sure you scroll real quick down the screen through the first four pics to get the correct effect ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

For some reason, this reminds me of when we were kids and had sleepovers. We would get big flash lights and wait for the first person to fall asleep, then we would shine the flash light on their face and yell "Train!!!". - oh come on, you all did stupid stuff when you were kids too ;-)

 

We saw a lot of these kinds of areas on the south side of the canal

 

 

I wanted to get one picture that I could work on and try to make it like it would have been taken during the construction of the canal. This is that attempt

 

 

Up next - bus ride back to the ship. . .

[bionicman97]

Day 6 - Bus ride back to the ship through Colon

 

More of Colon

 

 

Some school kids

 

 

Street vendor

 

 

It's sad, as I passed by this, my first thought was "I wonder if they have 2 apple pies for a dollar here?"

 

 

Finally seeing the ship

 

 

Up next - getting back on the ship. . .

[bionicman97]

Day 6 - Getting back on the ship at Colon

 

Our tour guide mentioned this Super 99 alot. We didn't go to it. We did shop at a little area right where they let us off. Bought some salt and pepper shakers for my wife's grandma and a trinket for her grandpa.

 

 

The area around the ship

 

 

 

The buses for excursions

 

 

The path back to the ship

 

 

View from back on the ship

 

 

All together, our 6 hour excursion somehow ended up being just under 8 hours. It was a great trip though. Definitely a highlight of my traveling life to see the Panama Canal in action.

 

By the time we stepped back on the ship, my camera read that I had taken 731 pictures - I ended up keeping just under 500.

 

Up next - back on the ship. . .

[bionicman97]

Day 6 - Panama - Back on the ship

 

Had to get a quick snack when we got back on. Almost forgot to take a picture!

 

 

Then I went back up to the pool deck to get a few pictures before sail a way

 

 

 

 

 

After taking these pics, I went and changed and headed to the gym for about 45 minutes. I did the elliptical again because my leg was still giving me a fit.

 

Up next - A Show and Dinner. . .