Almost "LIVE" Jewel Feb 18; Late but Great! (the ship, not the review!)

[Cruzin-K]

Great review! More please :)

[bionicman97]

Hey :)

 

1) Enjoying the review!

2) Pic's are not nearly as bad as you claim :D

3) You've got a lot of work to do to ramble as much as I do ;)

 

Thanks for doing the review. Bringing back good memories of the ship :)

[CruiseEm]

Hey :)

 

1) Enjoying the review!

2) Pic's are not nearly as bad as you claim :D

3) You've got a lot of work to do to ramble as much as I do ;)

 

Thanks for doing the review. Bringing back good memories of the ship :)

 

Im so glad you are onboard! I took a photo just for you on board and it's coming up tomorrow;)

[bionicman97]

Im so glad you are onboard! I took a photo just for you on board and it's coming up tomorrow;)

 

Cool! I have the thread bookmarked, looking forward to more :)

[Familygoboston]

Cool! I have the thread bookmarked, looking forward to more :)

 

Whoops, that was supposed to be my response -Kathy, Em's account was still open on our computer from her post:o

Sorry ' bout that!

[Familygoboston]

Great review! More please :)

 

Thanks! I'm working feverishly, hogging the computer, definately more tomorrow!

[Cotswold Eagle]

I'd love to be the kind of laugh out loud writer like Dave Barry, one of my heroes. Or be able to wittily describe incredible adventures Bill Bryson style (another favorite) I want people to read what I've written and laugh out loud. (Like Sailor Jack!) The problem is even if I might have a slightly funny idea, I can't write. No, really, I can't write. My teens correct my grammar on emails, my husband is constantly complaining about tenses.

 

Oh, shut up, you write great reviews :) Tenses are, were or perhaps will be over-rated. And EVERYBODY's photos suffer in comparison to your DH's, but then if I remember correctly he's a pro who takes pro-style kit with him on vacation?!

 

Loving it so far, looking forward to the rest. It will be interesting to see how you feel back on a proper ship, after the floating city block.

[Buffettphan1]

Our next stop was to our beautiful aft balcony cabins.

WOW!

These are as advertised, just a phenomenal view and huge balcony. I adored having the lounge chairs and we spent so much more time on our balcony than ever having this balcony.

These cabins are considered D2; I think D1 are the same cabins on the higher decks and some of the cabins with larger balcony on the forward and aft humps. This is 8672, the set up is exactly the same as 8170 inside, the balcony of 8170 is ever so slightly tapered on port side and slightly smaller (not even noticeably so) than 8672. 8172 and 8670 had exactly the same size balcony and were on either side of us. 8168, the furthest port (left) has a slightly larger balcony that would allow you to peek around on the port side, you could not sit there, as its too shallow, but the extra space is standing room. 8668 is a 2 bedroom Suite, it also has an enlarged balcony. So that is the lowdown on the neighborhood. We chose 8 rather than 7 because those aft balconies are directly above the Safari Club and Mom is early to bed (she always was, it's not because she is a senior...shhh!) Deck 9, I think were D1; we could have upgraded to those (it was a mammoth price drop!) but there were not 2 available up there. I'll have more info on the pros and cons of the aft balconies later.

 

(Photos of Jewel Cabin Balcony 8672)

 

 

 

 

On board, I found my box o' dried fruit (Is this stuff not disgusting? I think its like the worst part of the fruitcake!) and cookies for being Emerald and my bottle of water "amenity". We had packed a 12 pack of water in our luggage, it arrived at the cabin without incident. But they may not have been checking very carefully in an effort to expedite the luggage handling; but that is just pure guessing on my part. This is my diamond making cruise, so I wonder what nectar of the gods awaits my next cruise?

 

Also, my travel agent was very kind and sent a bottle of champagne for each cabin as well as a 25 OBC. This was very kind, but also a touch inattentive. Half the occupants of our cabins are minors- maybe strawberries or a fruit basket might have been a better choice? But the credit was great and I sent her a thank you for thinking of us! Mom and I don't really like champagne, it doesn't make sense to carry it off the ship to palm it off on someone at home, so I decide to use it strategically!

 

Met our neighbors in the cabin between us, the " meat" in our girl sandwich, Sean and Seth, just before sail away. I knew my teens will be hailing each other across their balcony occasionally despite admonishments not to do so. So to get started on the right foot, I offered them both bottles of champagne, and since they have a little family reunion going on and they were thrilled with the offer! They are a wonderful couple and we enjoyed having them as neighbors!

 

I feel bad for our cabin steward, Olton. He introduces himself, and I let him know we like ice daily, we will empty the minibar, I need my robes, and that we have MTD and will be religious about leaving out the sign so he can get in our cabin when he needs to.

 

I tip him additionally now (as well as later) in anticipation of that very short morning clean up window he will have due to my snoozy teens. These guys work like dogs and today must be a very difficult day!! It was 10:24 and he was just getting to our turn down service...he had several cabins with small children who needed service STAT to get into bed, and my teens won't arrive till midnight, so we don't mind. I'm sure his day is not done after he finishes with us! He was terrific all week, no request was denied. For instance, I asked for the laundry bag early, and requested a change in luggage tags for departure so luggage from both cabins would be in the same place. He handled everything cheerfully, and we got 2 towel critters. (photos later!)

 

 

Great review,

Judging by your screen name i assume your close to Boston, I grew up and lived in Hopkinton until 40yrs old. Now just a bit north.

Anyway, loved your reveiw and you have a nack for writing, i loved it.

You mentioned that you brought water and as i am writing i just realized you drove to the ship so you most likely didnot fly into FLA with it in your luggage.

We are sailing out of San Juan in April and want to do the same thing but wondered if folks bought it there or lugged it.

Anyway, great review, i have always dreamed of taking mom and dad, but i think that ship has sailed, no pun intended.

[Familygoboston]

Oh, shut up, you write great reviews :) Tenses are, were or perhaps will be over-rated. And EVERYBODY's photos suffer in comparison to your DH's, but then if I remember correctly he's a pro who takes pro-style kit with him on vacation?!

 

Loving it so far, looking forward to the rest. It will be interesting to see how you feel back on a proper ship, after the floating city block.

You are kind! Yes, husband has pro style equipment and although not a pro, he is an avid amatuer and has lots of experience. You should have seen the look on his face as he patienly explained what I "should" have done on each photo:rolleyes:. Unfortunately for me I insisted that the camera I took met two criteria ...fit in my tiny evening bag and be able to go to the beach and pool. So it was a little limited, but I tried!

Loved Jewel! It is a lovely ship, but it wasn't designed for all RCL's "revenue enhancements" (photos, sales etc) and therefore I found it crowded at times and that was not the case for the larger ships. But if I could make this ship AI, and sail her to somewhere scenic (like Australia) I'd sail only her...so beautiful! I can see why Radiance Class has so many fans!:D

Great review,

Judging by your screen name i assume your close to Boston, I grew up and lived in Hopkinton until 40yrs old. Now just a bit north.

Anyway, loved your reveiw and you have a nack for writing, i loved it.

You mentioned that you brought water and as i am writing i just realized you drove to the ship so you most likely didnot fly into FLA with it in your luggage.

We are sailing out of San Juan in April and want to do the same thing but wondered if folks bought it there or lugged it.

Anyway, great review, i have always dreamed of taking mom and dad, but i think that ship has sailed, no pun intended.

I'm sorry you can't get a trip in with your parents...I'm acutely aware that the days for this are getting shorter, and we were so glad to be able to do it!

As for water- yes, we drove to port, so mom had picked the water up before we left, but if you have a pre night you can buy some water at a local shop, and pack it. It's technically prohibited; Im speculating it's because they are trying to prevent getting bogged down trying to weed out the booze smugglers. Thats what really hits them in the pocket book. Also, if they are pulling out everything including water; unlike the booze smugglers you aren't out much $$:D

 

Ok, have to get some work done this AM, then I'll have time to post day 2!

[bionicman97]

Whoops, that was supposed to be my response -Kathy, Em's account was still open on our computer from her post:o

Sorry ' bout that!

 

No problem. Looking forward to more:)

[Familygoboston]

Day 2 Sea Day

 

 

Here is a glorious sunrise over the Gulf Of Mexico on Sunday morning.

 

(photo of sunrise)

 

 

The girls were still tucked in their beds, but Mom and I decided to have breakfast in the dining room so she could have her eggs Benedict at least once during our cruise. Eggs Benedict is only offered in the MDR for breakfast, which is open seating. The eggs were not the best I had ever had, because the sauce was a little heavy handed, but they were tasty enough. There was a buffet area where you could select your own fruit and cereals.

 

We met a delightful little girl named Anna who was thoroughly enjoying her first cruise and wanted to tell us all about the interesting melon carvings on the fruit buffet. I didn't have my camera for breakfast, unfortunately, but I went to the buffet to check out the howling wolves and flowers carved into whole melons. We had a wonderful chat with her family and the others we were seated with!

 

When we returned to our cabin, the girls had risen, grabbed a quick breakfast at the Windjammer and when they returned we decided to go up to the pool for a while and mom decided to do some shopping in the Shops of the Centrum. I'm going to take a little break in the action here to give you a little tour of the Centrum on Jewel and my ideas about her design.

 

Here is my opinion about the design of this ship...I have sailed all the classes of Royal Caribbean ships that are still on the seas, except for the Freedom Class. Sovereign, Vision and Radiance class (Jewel is a Radiance) all feature a vertical "centrum" style central gathering area. Voyager, Freedom and Oasis class all feature the Royal Promenade, which is a horizontal (mall style) central gathering area. I had just sailed Oasis in December, so that is freshest in my mind and it's inevitable that I would make comparisons, but I also make comparisons to the other ships too.

 

I found Oasis to be designed in a way that avoids the bottle necks you experience in other ships. For instance, where as on Navigator or Jewel, the photographers set up in the passageways each evening and create obstacles to getting around (as well as dangerous cords stretched and taped across the walk areas); on Oasis these areas were incorporated in the design and never interfered with navigating the passageways. The sales in the Centrums or Royal Promenades seem to create bottle necks on all of the RCL ships, but its far worse on the smaller ships, especially on Jewel where there is only one way through the middle of the ship on deck 5. ( although many extoll the virtues of using the outdoor Promenade deck on 5 as a way to circumvent that the crowds, and they are right! It's a delightful way to go...outside the dining room, just exit outside on either port of starboard and walk outside to the other set of doors by the theater)

 

I found that even though the larger ships have more passengers, they are wide enough for people to pass along 2 sides of the central area, and less bottle necking occurs during the busy times. This was most true for the largest ship- the Oasis, which I know seems counter intuitive. But many times a day when things got a bit crowded, someone would inevitably say, "boy I wouldn't want to be on one of the bigger ships with even more passengers". But my experience was the opposite, the larger the ship, the fewer bottle necks we encountered. Please don't misinterpret this to mean that I felt the Jewel was too crowded; not at all! Just at times when it would be crowded, it was more so than the larger ships. I will address this same conundrum about the pool areas later too.

 

So here is the Centrum tour. These are some photos of the Centrum, which is the heart of Jewel, it is a lovely space and rarely crowded, except on 70's night and when the photographers were set up on formal night. There is the guest services desk, a band stand, a small Royal Caribbean Online lounge, the Lobby Bar and, dance floor on deck 4. You must pass through this space to go from the MDR to the Coral Theater.

 

(Photo of Internet lounge)

 

 

(Photo of dance floor and band deck 4)

 

[Familygoboston]

The shops are located off of the Centrum, in the center of the ship on deck 5, that you must pass through in order to go from the dining room end (MTD) of the ship to the theater (Balcony) end of the ship on deck 5. (or you can take the outdoor Promenade deck if you don't mind mussing your 'do in the wind)

 

The shops are often a bit crowded, especially since there is a large kiosk in the center of the area where specials are offered every day. Early on it was booze and cigarettes, and later in the week it was the $10 Bijou accessories, but also watch sets and the inch of gold jewelry station (where you can buy costume necklaces and bracelets at about $4-7 an inch).

 

There is also a fashion store, where you can pick up anything that may have been forgotten or lost in your luggage, an RCI logo shop with gifts, bags, caps and tees. There is a small fine jewelry store, with a much smaller selection that the larger ships and the pieces themselves seemed more affordable (smaller) to me, but I didn't do a lot of shopping. I was just looking in the windows, and that was my impression. There was also a liquor and cigarette store with over priced toiletries and a cosmetic and makeup shop.

 

A little further along you could find the art gallery and the photo gallery. The photo gallery got progressively more crowded as the week went on and people who had selected packages were trying to get all their photos together for inclusion in the package. If you haven't sailed recently you will see they have packages you can pre purchase which will include every photo you can pose for (and the opportunities are endless!!)

 

(Photos of Centrum Shops deck 5)

 

 

(kiosk in the center of the Centrum Shops)

 

 

(The Lattitudes Cafe near the Centrum shops on 5)

 

[Familygoboston]

The Centrum is open all the way to deck 10; off of the Centrum on deck 6 is the Champagne bar and the Casino Royale.

 

(photo of Champagne bar)

 

 

The upper decks of the Centrum are hung with sculptural artwork and features another RC Online lounge on deck 7, ( not sure what's on 8 ?) a library on deck 9 and the Concierge Club for Suite and D+ members guests on deck 10.

 

(artwork in the Centrum from several stories above)

 

 

View through the Centrum to the Library on deck 9 and the other RC Online lounge on 10; and a light well up to the pool deck on 11. You can just barely see the "bridge" that leads to the Loyalty Ambassadors C & A lounge on 12 above the Centrum. Its a hard space to describe, you really have to see it!

 

 

[Familygoboston]

While mom was shopping the girls and I enjoyed the pool deck. We did not have to look to hard for chairs in the shade, which is where we prefer to sit. It was a sea day and almost 10 AM, but were still able to find a place on the same deck as the pool.

 

Because the girls are in the pool so much, I don't usually "reserve" 3 chairs with our gear, and instead, just put our stuff on one or two chairs. I might swim a bit with them, or take a few photos, then read while they hang in the pool. They occasionally come back to dry off or check in and they can share the remaining chair or sit on the end of mine. Usually within minutes they are back in the pool or hot tub.

 

I honestly believe if all of us with children, if we expect them to spend most of their time in the actual pool, only "reserved" a chair or 2 rather than one for everyone in the party, there would be a lot more chairs available for everyone. So many times on these cruises you see a family of 4 or 5 "reserve" chairs all together, then mom reads in one while the other 3 or 4 sit empty all morning as dad watches the kids in the pool...they aren't chair hogging, but is it a resource that a 5 year old really needs? Will they actually sit there for any length of time? Maybe 2 or 3 chairs would be enough? A dry one for mom and dad and one for the kids to drip on! Just my thoughts for improving pool courtesy!

 

(some photos at the pool deck- much less crowded at 10 AM on Day 2 than on day 5!)

 

 

 

(I just knew she'd meet a guy on this cruise! )

 

 

And on this ship, on the Sea days the pool area and decks above it were definitely packed! The first Sea Day was not too busy, and on port days, there was plenty of space all around. At 11:30 AM on the second Sea Day, there was not a spare chair to be had anywhere. As we Walked for Wishes around the jogging track on the upper deck, every chair was taken, and I saw young girls dressed "to see and be seen" having to take loungers in the secluded area near the rock wall (where a few empty ones remained) where they were definitely "out of the action".

 

When resources are this scarce, there is quite a bit more "chair hogging" going on, and I saw more on Jewel and Grandeur than I did on Oasis, (where I think the only thing that outnumbered passengers were the number of lounge chairs.) They turned over faster, because people were willing to relinquish them, knowing it would be easy to score another good one later. This is another example of where; although counter intuitive, Oasis felt "LESS" crowded than the smaller ships.

 

Again, this didn't diminish my enjoyment of Jewel, but I did find that just one pool (in addition to the Solarium pool for older teens and adults and the kiddie pool area on 12, which also looked terrifically crowded) did create an environment I found less relaxing than my own balcony. So that is where I spent most of the second Sea Day. Also note, the first Sea Day was much less crowded on the pool decks; possibly more people still exploring other areas and activities of the ship? But that's just speculation on my part!

[LBumb]

great job so far.

[Familygoboston]

Mom's a sucker for that inch of gold stuff, so after getting herself a necklace and 2 free bracelets, she joined us and we headed to the Solarium for a little peace and quiet.

 

Here I encountered the most egregious case of chair hogging I have ever experienced on a ship. I can see why you read in reviews about people being rude, but you know what? I'm more charitable than that, I think it's actually about people being illiterate. They really can't read! A perfect example. We went to the Solarium, it was a bit crowded already at 10:30 AM, but the girls were relaxing in the pool and mom and I found two chairs, although they weren't next to each other, we planned to read anyway, not chat.

 

Next to my moms chair were two chairs coated with towels and had a nice novel on the end. Right next to a sign, that read "there is no reserving of lounge chairs" (I meant to take a photo but forgot!) You could literally reach out and touch the sign next to these two chairs, but there were no people in them. We chillaxed (this is a teen word I have co-opted; partly because they hate it so much when we old people do that, sort of like how we took over FaceBook to connect with old prom dates, when every teen KNOWS its supposed to be about staying connected to your BFF in the same room not to reach out to some skeevy old dude! and I also stole it because its just a great word!)

 

Sorry for the digression: We chillaxed for an hour at the Solarium, it's now 11:30 AM and still no people in those chairs (or in the pool). A little later on, someone moves away from a chair on the other side of my mom, so I move next to her, freeing my chair for a new arrival. Thoroughly waterlogged, one daughter, ( for whom, you will note, we didn't " hosey" a chair for her since she planned to be largely in the pool) decided to go back to the cabin to shower and change. The other decided to sit for a while on the end of my chair.

 

Still no people in the chairs that are wearing only towels and the latest Danielle Steele. So I told my DD, just place the book and towels on the other chair and stretch out there, when (if) they return before we go to lunch at 12, when we plan to leave, we very politely say " oh I'm sorry, we've been here two hours, I didn't realize you were coming back.".

 

Another 20 minutes go by, and finally people associated with the decorated chairs arrive. The husband is incredulous, " that is my wife's chair" he says while leaning on the sign, remember the sign? ( the one that says "no reserving of deck chairs?) So very sweetly my daughter says "oh I'm sorry, we've been here two hours, I didn't realize you were coming back." So we conclude of course that the poor man must be illiterate, has managed somehow to hold a job despite his illiteracy that affords him the kind of retirement in which you can afford to take cruises and buy Danielle Steele novels that you can't read. Obviously, the wife can read a little.

 

She says to her husband " oh, she can stay there for now, we still have to go to get coffee and then change into our bathing suits." Umm...ok, so now we have chairs held with a towel for at least another 30 minutes to an hour, and still no sense that maybe that sign there right next to the chairs means anything!

 

I explained to the couple that this works perfectly with our plans, because we plan to go to lunch in 15 minutes. Happy now to sublet her chair, the lady asked just that we return her towel and her novel to " her" chair when we left. Truly stunning in the annals of chair hoggery! And yet I can't blame them, they clearly cannot read.

 

(Photos in the Solarium)

 

 

The girls were "carded" a few times in the Solarium; I explained to them that they come from a long line of baby faces on both sides and will one day appreciate that. Their grandfather was mistaken for my big brother for most of my life and door to door salesmen have asked my husband if his "parents were home" after ringing the bell at our home.

 

There is a nice hot tub in here to. And all of the pools feature this shallow area that allows you to sit in a few inches of water by the pool if you like. (although I think it actually exists to keep the pool water form sloshing out during high seas; but I'm speculating again!) The pools are all salt water pools.

 

The Solarium was very quiet and peaceful. The Solarium Cafe, which is just a small counter with sandwiches, various pastries and pizza. The pizzas looked very tasty with fresh toppings, but I never got hungry enough to try them!

 

There are loungers close to the pool and several dining tables and upright chairs along the windows. People were dining there or on Sea Days playing tile or card games at those tables. There are piped in sounds of birds during the day and crickets at night. Unfortunately, the birds are on a very short tape loop and the repetition sort of drove me crazy after a while, more than random real birds would have!

 

(Photos of Solarium)

 

 

[Familygoboston]

Off to lunch at the Seaview cafe. This is wonderful, though the outside tables were windy and although we had beach dresses over our suits, because we had towels, we were not allowed to sit inside. So my recommendation is no matter what you are wearing hide your towels before heading to the Seaview.

 

The food here was excellent, made to order. You order at the kiosk, and get a number. You pick a table and put your number there and they deliver your order. We mostly had the crab salad, chowder, hamburger and fish and chips and they were all excellent. We had no trouble getting a table on the 2 Sea Days we went for lunch, but it was less busy on the first Sea Day.

 

There are no "free" drinks here, so if you want flavored water or lemonade, you can go down to the WJ and bring up a glass, otherwise there is a bar with beer, wine and soda available for purchase. They will pour water for you though.

 

To reach the Seaview Cafe, you can take the interior stairway at the aft of the Windjammer cafe on deck 11 or go to deck 12 and walk to the stern. You have to walk through the kiddie pool and sports court area to get to the Seaview Cafe if you go to deck 12. Don't fret the signs, you have to pass through the area to get there.

 

(photo of menu)

 

 

(inside the Seaview)

 

 

(I'm embarrassed by this, but had to share it...we ordered, we inhaled and this was what was left)

 

[Familygoboston]

Looking at those empty plates is making me hungry :p and its noon here on the East Coast, so I'll post more after lunch!

[BillOh]

About damm time, you've been back a week haven't you? ;)

 

I enjoy reading every review before going on a new (to me) ship and have been waiting! I'll enjoy writing one when I get back and hopefully finding something humorous to write about. Ok, thanks in advance, now I'll actually read it.

 

So I'm just going to tell the story in the best way I know, giving lots of unwanted advice and information, a few pictures and in a way that allows you to laugh along with (at) me. As I've warned in previous reviews; I ramble, speak parenthetically, add asides, hints, tips, opinions and lots of speculation.

 

I always start my reviews with my my perspective and a few caveats, I may steal this one.

[Familygoboston]

great job so far.

 

Thanks! It's fun reliving the cruise, but it sure takes me a lot of hours...I must be very slow!;)

About damm time, you've been back a week haven't you? ;)

 

I enjoy reading every review before going on a new (to me) ship and have been waiting! I'll enjoy writing one when I get back and hopefully finding something humorous to write about. Ok, thanks in advance, now I'll actually read it.

 

And I've put off the laundry, 'cause who is wearing shorts and swim suits in Feb in NE;) Hope you enjoy the review...even if I don't do a good job, I know you will love the ship! It was a great cruise!

[BillOh]

Day 1 Saturday Feb 18th: Fits and Starts

 

 

For you youngsters, a trip tik is a neato invention whereby someone with no knowledge whatsoever of the state to which you are traveling creates a page by page paper map book

 

LOL - (I don't usually use that acronym) But FYI there is a Trip-tik app available for the android phone :p I made the PA to FL run down 75 many times using the old trip tiks.

[BillOh]

Because the girls are in the pool so much, I don't usually "reserve" 3 chairs with our gear, and instead, just put our stuff on one or two chairs. I might swim a bit with them, or take a few photos, then read while they hang in the pool. They occasionally come back to dry off or check in and they can share the remaining chair or sit on the end of mine. Usually within minutes they are back in the pool or hot tub.

 

I frequently participate in the numerous chair hog threads. But if everyone was like this there would be less of them! We think a like in many ways, I'll invite you to compare notes when I do my review. Though I hope I don't see the Channelside Mall.

[BillOh]

Double post sorry

[BillOh]

(Photos in the Solarium)

 

 

 

That sign reminds me of the comedian Bill Ingval, "Here's your sign"! No diving? Seriously? Why not?

[Ocean Boy]

Imteresting. So far your impressions of Jewel seem to match mine of Serenade pretty closely.