Jewel Of The Seas

[george35]

Just got back from a 2 week cruise on the jewel doing the caribean. I will be online tomorrow to ans all questions, I saved all 14 days of the cruise compass & will also have some of my own observations, so get those questions ready.

 

George

[habenicd]

I've seen some fairly poor reviews lately regarding the Jewel. I would be interested in your impressions having completed two weeks so recently.

[Jax129]

I'm doing 8 nights on Jewel in March  I enjoy the radiance class but this will be our first time on Jewel

 

[Jbluebird]

Any general/overall impressions you have of the ship would be greatly appreciated!

[smokeybandit]

19 hours ago, habenicd said:

I've seen some fairly poor reviews lately regarding the Jewel.

People love to leave negative reviews, especially of the smaller, older ships

[cruisegirl1]

I'm not the OP but was on the Jewel for the same two weeks.   

 

 

The ship was in good condition.  Entertainment was good ( naturally not as good as an Oasis class ship with so much variety) however the live music was fantastic (Centrum, Schooner bar, shows, etc.)  The food was on par with others RCCL ships.  Few dining options made for a very crowded windjammer on sea days.  Only 3 specialty restaurants. (Izumi Sushi, Chops, Giovani's).  S

 

The 8 night was the old menu, and the 6 night was the new menu.  Lots of changes.  Some good, some not to my taste.  Didn't see any difference between the old menu lobster tail and the  new menu lobster tail.  Had dinner one night (second week) at Giovani's which has a new menu.  I ordered a new dish and the waiter talked me out of it. 

 

Casino was extremely  smokey the second week, but wasn't too bad the first week  I guess more smokers on board.

 

Staff is friendly and helpful. CD staff is energetic. 

 

If you  are expecting a new ship with lots of variety, you will be disappointed.  If you understand what you are booking, you will love the ship/cruise.

 

M

 

 

 

 

Edited January 22, 2023 by cruisegirl1

[Jax129]

One thing I LOVE about Radiance class is sitting outside at the Windjammer!  

[island lady]

27 minutes ago, Jax129 said:

One thing I LOVE about Radiance class is sitting outside at the Windjammer!  

 

Agree there...but very disappointed with the condition of that outside area on Jewel.   Not being cleaned much back there, with dirty tables (only taking the plates, not wiping the table) and spilled food, napkins, etc. all over the floor.  

 

Had to go find a crew member to ask for a rag to wipe the only table we could find.  Was never cleaned from breakfast when we went there for lunch.  The usual dirty dish/cleaning station was not even present in it's usual place in the center of the back area...only on the sides.  Serenade the month before was on top of it at all times.  Not sure why Jewel is different.  

[george35]

Most of the observations from the other people on the cruise that posted here is right along with our thoughts.

Day one---cruise director SUSAN was very up-beat & nice to talk to- they had adult volleyball in the pool-

               Adult rock-a-role plus all the regular venues

Dinning- well that is each persons taste but I will say we NEVER ate in the windjammer or pay for resturants only in the main dinning room for all 3 meals( except when in port when only the windjammer is open for lunch )opening show was very good we thought

DAY 2 tomorrow

 

george35

[goldfish65]

Enjoyed Jewel back in October. I sensed they were short-staffed and many crew were inexperienced. In general I feel that if we as cruisers politely  inform someone in charge of our concerns, steps will be taken. There was a line at the toast station in Windjammer, people were griping and the lone “toast girl” was struggling, I found someone who looked senior and he jumped in and helped her. 
 

There may also be crew that are sick. That has been happening at my workplace. 

Edited January 22, 2023 by goldfish65

[ONECRUISER]

On 1/21/2023 at 1:27 PM, habenicd said:

I've seen some fairly poor reviews lately regarding the Jewel. I would be interested in your impressions having completed two weeks so recently.

Interesting, have read opposite on here , also did B5B on her myself with no issues

[island lady]

14 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Interesting, have read opposite on here , also did B5B on her myself with no issues

 

I was surprised...since we usually love Jewel.   Our experience on Serenade the week before for B2B was much better.   Would have thought the other way around.  

 

Though I am very happy Serenade is doing well....since we have a bit longer stint on board the sweet little ship coming up in December.  😉 

 

We are back on Jewel end of next month for another B2B...will be interesting to see if things have changed....or......

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 23, 2023 by island lady

[habenicd]

On 1/22/2023 at 11:24 AM, smokeybandit said:

People love to leave negative reviews, especially of the smaller, older ships

That is true.  However, we prefer smaller, older, more traditional ships.  We have been on one mega-ship on a different line and were not impressed.

[habenicd]

On 1/22/2023 at 11:28 AM, cruisegirl1 said:

I'm not the OP but was on the Jewel for the same two weeks.   

 

 

The ship was in good condition.  Entertainment was good ( naturally not as good as an Oasis class ship with so much variety) however the live music was fantastic (Centrum, Schooner bar, shows, etc.)  The food was on par with others RCCL ships.  Few dining options made for a very crowded windjammer on sea days.  Only 3 specialty restaurants. (Izumi Sushi, Chops, Giovani's).  S

 

The 8 night was the old menu, and the 6 night was the new menu.  Lots of changes.  Some good, some not to my taste.  Didn't see any difference between the old menu lobster tail and the  new menu lobster tail.  Had dinner one night (second week) at Giovani's which has a new menu.  I ordered a new dish and the waiter talked me out of it. 

 

Casino was extremely  smokey the second week, but wasn't too bad the first week  I guess more smokers on board.

 

Staff is friendly and helpful. CD staff is energetic. 

 

If you  are expecting a new ship with lots of variety, you will be disappointed.  If you understand what you are booking, you will love the ship/cruise.

 

M

 

 

 

 

Thank you.  Our first RCI cruise is this summer on Jewel.

[george35]

Day 2--At sea---eve choices WHO WANTS TO FEEL LIKE A MILLIONAIRE-silent party-adult game show

destination talk

 

 

[Rogueperson]

On 1/22/2023 at 11:24 AM, smokeybandit said:

People love to leave negative reviews, especially of the smaller, older ships

 

Jewel was my first cruise with Royal and unfortunately, stands also as the worst cruise i've ever taken.  Royal has since proved to me that that cruise was an aberration.  To this day, I did not know why that particular cruise was just so bad.  The food was bad, the signature restaurants were bad.  The service was abysmal.  The passengers were just rude all over the place.

 

Fortunately, this level of service and quality never resurfaced for me, but booking on the Jewel always scares me because of this experience.  I am on a 14 night to Greenland in September.  Irrationally, I know it will be okay but a part of me still remembers that experience.  This time, instead of boarding a ship as a new customer, I'm going as Diamond Plus!  It will also be the first time i'm back on the Jewel since that cruise.

[george35]

Day 3 on the Jewel

Headliner in the showroom was Darrtl Williams a singer ( tenor ) wife went I did not she said he was OK---A Royal Mystery ( solve the mystery )---Karaoke open for all

[island lady]

3 minutes ago, george35 said:

Day 3 on the Jewel

Headliner in the showroom was Darrtl Williams a singer ( tenor ) wife went I did not she said he was OK---A Royal Mystery ( solve the mystery )---Karaoke open for all

 

LOL...last week I was walking by the Centrum up on deck 10 while that was apparently going on.  

 

I said to myself, just as Edna (CL concierge) was walking by...."Oh man who is strangling a cat?"   It was awful...she just laughed hysterically.  😄 

[goldfish65]

If you can, I want to know the name of the artist who did the paintings of sailboats at the entrance to the Windjammer. Thank you. 

[Saab4444]

On 1/23/2023 at 2:20 PM, island lady said:

 

I was surprised...since we usually love Jewel.   Our experience on Serenade the week before for B2B was much better.   Would have thought the other way around.  

 

Though I am very happy Serenade is doing well....since we have a bit longer stint on board the sweet little ship coming up in December.  😉 

 

We are back on Jewel end of next month for another B2B...will be interesting to see if things have changed....or......

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serenade was just in dry dock in 2022 and might look fresher at the moment, Jewel has to wait until April 2024..

[island lady]

22 minutes ago, Saab4444 said:

Serenade was just in dry dock in 2022 and might look fresher at the moment, Jewel has to wait until April 2024..

 

Good to know, especially since I will be spending a lot more time on Serenade by the end of the year.  😉 

 

 

[george35]

Day 4--Labadee HAITI

Headliner Show Magic show by Chris Dugdale Very good )-

Arts & Crafts, Napkin folding, Bean Bag tossing tournament,60 second or less gameshow

Finish that lyric gameshow

 

george35