Jewel of the Seas Review - Good & Bad - March 6-13th

[colesc15]

Just got off the Jewel of the Seas from the March 6 through 13th 2016 cruising. We had a blast, it was myself (27), fiancé (23), and my parents & sister. This was our 5th cruise with Royal Caribbean, and 3rd year in a row going out of Puerto Rico. Absolutely LOVE going out of Puerto Rico. We live in Wisconsin, so after a long winter, and a long year-end time (I work in the 401(k) industry so January & February are a hectic time, March is always the time of year we go.

 

We flew out of Wisconsin on Saturday morning, the 5th, at a little before 6 am. We got some snow and ice the night before so I wasn't sure if we were going to be delayed or not, thankfully we weren't. After getting our plane de-iced, we left about 15 minutes late and a short 2 hour flight to Atlanta. Once we landed, we only had about 40 minutes to get to the opposite side of the airport and we made it just in time.

 

In San Juan, we just took a taxi to our hotel. We stayed at the Sheraton Convention Center, and this was the 2nd time staying at this resort. We won this hotel on bidding online. It's a pretty nice hotel, nice pool area over looking the port, but not a whole lot around the hotel itself. We just lounged by the pool (a nice infinite pool), and had ordered some food from the pool bar (pretty pricey but was too tired to go anywhere). We hit up the hotel casino for a bit before bed and called it a night pretty early.

 

More to come

[Keith1010]

Look forward to reading the rest of your report as you post them.

 

Keith

[colesc15]

I woke up pretty early Sunday morning and looked out the window and saw Jewel of the Seas out there waiting for us. We got ready, and headed to the port around 10:30. We got there and got inline outside after dropping off our luggage at the porter, and we waited for about 15 minutes before they opened the doors. We checked in within about 5 minutes and then sat there to wait to get in.

 

Around 11:15, the workers passed out a letter stating that the US Coast Guard was doing an inspection and we would not be able to board until 1:30. I was just thankful we were inside because they shut the doors since the terminal was full so I can only imagine how long the lines were to get inside in the hot humid air.

 

Around 12:30 they announced the inspection was done and we could get on, so we headed up the escalator. My fiancé somehow dropped her seapass card on the way up the escalator and it fell down in the crack so we then had to go back downstairs to get a new one. After a few minutes, they printed a new one and we were back on our way. We headed straight to the windjammer for the traditional lunch then wandered around until the rooms were ready right around 1:30. We had an aft balcony, 8172, and the room and balcony was awesome. The walk wasn't too bad to the elevator. The only things I did not like about this room was on the balcony floor it had tiny pebbles like (just the way the surface was made I guess) so you had to go out there barefoot or in shoes and then when you went back in, they were be on the carpet. The other thing I didn't like was there was something underneath us, I think for crew only, like a closet or something, that the door constantly slammed throughout the day whenever they went in and out and we heard it everytime.

 

The first day we just hung out by the pool, and then go ready for dinner and we had an awesome table by the window (my time dining) and we met our waiter/assistant for the week, Ariel and Rommell both from the Philippines. They were AWESOME.

 

After dinner we went to the welcome aboard show, where the comedian was hilarious and we met Dennis Charles, our cruise director (who was awesome as well) and then went to the casino for a bit before calling it a night.

 

Next up - Sea day and Barbados

[colesc15]

The sea day was the standard sea day, pool time, belly flop contest, etc. Nothing to write about here - nice relaxing day. I got way too much sun though and my shoulders were fried by the end of the day which made it tough for the rest of the week. Another good dinner and Ariel and Rommell.

 

The next day we docked in Barbados. What I noticed throughout the cruise was that we seemed to always be docking late at every port. On cruises in the past, we'd be docked and ready to go by the expected time but on this cruise I felt like we were late by 10-15 minutes each time. Not sure if it was Captain Lis or what. Our pickup time on Glory Tours today was 8:45. We got in line to get off the ship around 8:10, and we were supposed to be docked at 8 and getting off at 8:30. We waited for about an hour in line to get off the ship. We finally made it to our pickup around 9:20, and thankfully they were still there. It was a good day with Glory Tour, however I was expecting more from Barbados than what it was.

 

Once we got back on the ship, relaxed for a bit, watched sail away from our balcony, had dinner, I believe this night was one of the broadway shows which I didn't go to but the rest of my party did and said it was good.

 

The next day, we were in St. Lucia and this turned out to be one of my favorite islands in the Caribbean. We toured with James Tour and it was a great day! I would highly recommend them. The Pitons were gorgeous and the Mud Bath was cool tool. The small fishing villages they took us to were great too (while pushy for tips, etc, still awesome). We had dinner in chops tonight so once back on the ship, we got ready for dinner. Chops I thought was well worth the price. The appetizers were okay, but the actual meal (I had the Filet) and the dessert was awesome. Last time we were at Chops, the T-Bone was not an extra charge but this time it was which I was somewhat disappointed with.

 

After dinner, we enjoyed some stuff in the centrum and then went to the comedian and retired to our balcony before going to bed..

 

Next up.. Antigua!

[colesc15]

The next day we were in Antigua. We had nothing planned in Antigua, so we slept in. Antigua is by far my least favorite port in the Caribbean, and it still is. We got off and went to just look around the port area, and I just hate the feel and everything about this island. I feel like it's dirty, and majority of the people aren't friendly. Everywhere we talked, there was pushy people to buy their stuff (I even had one guy offer me marijuana and after I said no he just stood there until I left).

 

St. Maarten was the complete opposite. I LOVE St Maarten and it's such a gorgeous island. We took the water taxi over to the downtown area and we just grabbed some beach chairs ($10 for two chairs and an umbrella and $10 buckets of drinks). We spent a few hours then wandered around the shops and grabbed some lunch at a local resteraunte facing the ocean. Their grouper fish sandwich was great and their drinks were even better!

[colesc15]

This was my first time to St Croix and I wasn't all that impressed. We rented a jeep from the port to do our own thing for the day. It was extremely easy to rent, and we were off. We just basically took the roads and went through the rain forest, and found some decent places to hike. It was a really laid back island, but I wouldn't be sad if we didn't make it back to the island.

 

That night was Quest, and I have to admit I greatly missed the ice rink for this event. Normally quest is a highlight of the cruise for me, but in the lounge it was lacking. It only lasted about a half an hour, and I would say maybe 100 people attended. While I loved the Jewel, I missed the promenade and ice rink.

 

The Jewel was a gorgeous ship! I loved all the views of the ocean, and the size was nice because it never felt crowded. This being the smallest ship I had even been on (as you can see in my signature, it was always larger ships), I think I prefer something a little bigger. THe centrum was nice for some things, but the promenade was also nice to walking the length of the ship.

 

Any questions, just let me know and I'll try to answer! Already looking at next year options. This cruise was awesome but the crowd was a little older, and I think the bigger ships have a little more to offer.

[Dunfer]

Thanks for taking time to do a review. Following because we're boarding Jewell this Sunday!

[colesc15]

Thanks for taking time to do a review. Following because we're boarding Jewell this Sunday!

 

It's a great ship! You'll have a blast!

[cruisenfever]

Here is a picture of the aft cabins on Radiance that is a sister to Jewel to show you where you were and what was underneath you. As you can see there were cabins on Deck 7.

 

Edited March 14, 2016 by cruisenfever

[colesc15]

Here is a picture of the aft cabins on Radiance that is a sister to Jewel to show you where you were and what was underneath you. As you can see there were cabins on Deck 7.

 

 

I believe there was a small storage closet under us between the rooms similar to one next to our room which caused the loud noise

[mjgep0316]

The next day we were in Antigua. We had nothing planned in Antigua, so we slept in. Antigua is by far my least favorite port in the Caribbean, and it still is. We got off and went to just look around the port area, and I just hate the feel and everything about this island. I feel like it's dirty, and majority of the people aren't friendly. Everywhere we talked, there was pushy people to buy their stuff (I even had one guy offer me marijuana and after I said no he just stood there until I left).

 

 

 

St. Maarten was the complete opposite. I LOVE St Maarten and it's such a gorgeous island. We took the water taxi over to the downtown area and we just grabbed some beach chairs ($10 for two chairs and an umbrella and $10 buckets of drinks). We spent a few hours then wandered around the shops and grabbed some lunch at a local resteraunte facing the ocean. Their grouper fish sandwich was great and their drinks were even better!

 

 

Do you remember the name of the restaurant in St. Maarten?

[colesc15]

Do you remember the name of the restaurant in St. Maarten?

 

It was Barefoot Restaurant

[davekathy]

P...thanks for sharing your Cruise.

[colesc15]

I forgot to mention the other two headliner acts. One was two comedians, seymour and someone, who were hilarious and I was in tears. The 2nd was El Gaucho who I thought was awful. I left after about 20 minutes because I couldn't stand it anymore.

[Clarea]

... The 2nd was El Gaucho who I thought was awful. I left after about 20 minutes because I couldn't stand it anymore.

You don't like the swinging balls?;)

[colesc15]

You don't like the swinging balls?;)

 

I didn't! Lol. I didn't get the point in the show at all. When he was introduced the cruise director said he's one of the most requested people, and if that's true I honestly don't know how. I pictured him on a show like America's got Talent and getting the red x right away. Seemed like a nice guy but wah.

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report.

[Oneluckywoman]

Did you say there was a promenade on the Jewel? If so, is it similar to the larger ships? We haven't been on the Radiance class and are doing a transatlantic on her soon.

[Clarea]

Did you say there was a promenade on the Jewel? If so, is it similar to the larger ships? We haven't been on the Radiance class and are doing a transatlantic on her soon.

There is an outside promenade on deck 5, but no inside Royal Promenade as on Voyager, Freedom, and Oasis class ships.

[IsanTom]

Just curious how much was the Sheraton Convention Center and how did you bid on the price? We're on Celebrity Summit in November after arriving on the Jewel on a TA from Rome!

[cruiseapril]

Enjoyed your review.

 

Where did the tour go in Barbados?

[Oneluckywoman]

There is an outside promenade on deck 5, but no inside Royal Promenade as on Voyager, Freedom, and Oasis class ships.

 

Thank you. That will be interesting! Looking forward to exploring a "new" ship! At least, new to us.