recent Jewel of the Seas passengers ☆STOP HERE☆

[shykitten]

We plan to spend majority of our time exploring ports but would like a balcony or window.

Traveling with teens. Extra adjoining cabin for extra bathroom worth $?

10yr old ship concerns?

Water slide for teens/adults in pools?

Surf simulator?

Scuba certification or get/ bring own from lessons at home?

Options besides soda pkg? Milk, water, lemonade included in any?

Airfare pkg worthwhile?

Best excursions?

Extended stay?

 

Best dining time? We plan to spend majority of time in ports.

Hidden fees? Well...not hidden but the ones that snuck up/racked up too quickly?

 

 

Thank you. :)

[Clarea]

No surf simulator on Jewel.

[MaritimeR&R]

 

Scuba certification or get/ bring own from lessons at home.

 

 

If you plan on making SCUBA a on-going experience, I would recommend you take your initial classroom and pool requirements at home and if possible, your open-water certification as well.

Another option is that you can do the classroom pool work at home and always get your open-water certification in the islands through one of the dive shops on whatever island you choose.

Resort/cruise line certifications often fall short on providing you with the best foundation for open-water certification.

[firemedic1560]

If you plan on making SCUBA a on-going experience, I would recommend you take your initial classroom and pool requirements at home and if possible, your open-water certification as well.

Another option is that you can do the classroom pool work at home and always get your open-water certification in the islands through one of the dive shops on whatever island you choose.

Resort/cruise line certifications often fall short on providing you with the best foundation for open-water certification.

 

As a 20+ year diver I would agree with this wholeheartedly. Nothing wrong with the "try scuba" experience but if you really want to learn and be safe a full course is absolutely the way to go. Diving is generally a very safe sport, but the penalty for a mistake can be very high.

[30scruiser]

We plan to spend majority of our time exploring ports but would like a balcony or window.

Traveling with teens. Extra adjoining cabin for extra bathroom worth $?

10yr old ship concerns? Its a beautiful ship

Water slide for teens/adults in pools? no, only in kiddie pool

Surf simulator? No

Scuba certification or get/ bring own from lessons at home?

Options besides soda pkg? Milk, water, lemonade included in any? Yes to all these drinks plus iced tea, basic coffee, juices at breakfast

Airfare pkg worthwhile?

Best excursions? Yyou didn't say where your cruise goes

Extended stay?

 

Best dining time? We plan to spend majority of time in ports. Either late or my time if you want to maximize time in port

Hidden fees? Well...not hidden but the ones that snuck up/racked up too quickly?

Alcoholic drinks, casino use, specialty coffees, etc

 

Thank you. :)

 

See answers in quote

[critterchick]

We plan to spend majority of our time exploring ports but would like a balcony or window.

Traveling with teens. Extra adjoining cabin for extra bathroom worth $?

10yr old ship concerns?

Water slide for teens/adults in pools?

Surf simulator?

Scuba certification or get/ bring own from lessons at home?

Options besides soda pkg? Milk, water, lemonade included in any?

Airfare pkg worthwhile?

Best excursions?

Extended stay?

 

Best dining time? We plan to spend majority of time in ports.

Hidden fees? Well...not hidden but the ones that snuck up/racked up too quickly?

 

 

Thank you. :)

 

For domestic flights, usually not - you can usually do better on your own. Compare the Choice Air cost which will include airport transfers, but if you're sailing from San Juan a cab is only about $25 from aiport to pier) with your preferred airline or one of the booking engines.

 

There's a sticky on the Cruise Air boards about using Choice Air, and it's worth a read.

 

And for 4 people (or more?), the extra bathroom would be well worth some extra money IMO. The cabins aren't that large, and in most of them the extra 2 berths are a smallish-sofa bed that will take up all of the sitting area once unfolded. To save some money, you could see about booking an inside across the hall from a balcony - if they are close enough, you could put the teens in one together. Otherwise you would have to book one adult in each cabin and then change around once onboard.

[shykitten]

Thanks to all who replied. Your advice helped and board links useful. I was well informed when making reservations and even found a deal with more cabin space and onboard credits. We are looking forward to our vacation. :)

[Ashland]

Thanks to all who replied. Your advice helped and board links useful. I was well informed when making reservations and even found a deal with more cabin space and onboard credits. We are looking forward to our vacation. :)

You have chosen a beautiful classic RCI ship...We've sailed on her before and have two upcoming cruises booked on her....Southern Caribbean in 2 weeks and the Northern Pacific Sept 2015..Enjoy your cruise !!

[BETEP]

We plan to spend majority of our time exploring ports but would like a balcony or window.

Traveling with teens. Extra adjoining cabin for extra bathroom worth $?

 

Travelling with teens: we found that it's best to book a balcony cabin for adults and an inside cabin directly across the hallway for the kids. Extra cabin is worth every penny and I found that in many occasions it may cost only a little more.

 

Options besides soda pkg?

Get one soda package for 2 kids: that is usually sufficient.

 

Best dining time?

Traditional dining @ 6PM works best for us. Ship usually sets sail around 5:30 which means you are back onboard by 5. That gives you about an hour to shower / dress for dinner and works perfectly.

If you are having dinner at 8 - you are tempted to snack / eat after getting back to the ship. Also kids don't want to stay at the dinner table from 8-9:30 because they want to get together with their friends.

I also prefer fixed seating because you have the same team of waiters for the duration of the cruise. They quickly learn your preferences and things work much smoother. We also like to start our dinner with the shrimp cocktail and a plate of prosciutto - they usually await us at the table when we arrive for dinner.

Edited September 24, 2014 by BETEP

[welshrich]

We sailed on her in April, beautiful ship, none of the bells and whistles of the brand new ships but we were so tired after a day in port we hardly noticed this. only excursion I can recommend is cosol tours in St Lucia (others on here have enjoyed this tour also), it was a great full day tour of St Lucia.

[Ashland]

Love the Jewel...just returned...however she is ready for some upgrades and some cosmetic's...her furniture is looking very tired...to bad she isn't due until 2016.

[Bailey & Sophie]

Get one soda package for 2 kids: that is usually sufficient.

 

This is TOTALLY against the rules for purchasing the packages. You are not allowed to share them. You need to purchase a soda package for EACH person drinking.

[John&LaLa]

This is TOTALLY against the rules for purchasing the packages. You are not allowed to share them. You need to purchase a soda package for EACH person drinking.

 

Totally agree, I can't believe it took over 4 hours for someone to call them out :eek:

 

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