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Jewel vs. Adventure - Southern Caribbean


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Looking for opinions about these two boats for a March 2015 sailing.

 

Itineraries are the same with the exception of:

Jewel: St. Thomas, Grenada

Adventure: Barbados, St. Maarten

 

I've been to St. Thomas/Maarten many times, and Barbados once. Any reason to pick Grenada over Barbados? I prefer St. Thomas over St. Maarten (mainly due to St. John), but I am fine with either one at the end of the day.

 

Been on Jewel multiple times, and Navigator pre-refurb (another Voyager class boat). I don't have anything negative to say about either. I can't say that I really missed the Royal Promenade on the Jewel, although I admit it is a really cool feature.

 

I'll likely be choosing a Grand Suite, and while a GS is slightly bigger on Radiance class boats I wasn't sure if anything about the suite perks was better on the Adventure. I haven't had a suite on Royal yet, and for this cruise it will be just my wife and I.

 

The price is about the same too; only $100 (total) difference for a GS on either.

 

Any opinion on which boat you would choose is appreciated, as I know there is something I am not thinking of. The Solarium is a key feature to me, and while I've read complaints of the Solarium being hot on the Jewel (or Radiance class boats in general, as they often leave the roof closed) I never really had a problem with it.

 

I know that either cruise will be great, but I figured some of you might have your own insight into why you avoid/pick one over the other.

 

Thanks!

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About the only suite perk difference that comes to mind is reserved pool seating. There is a section on Adventure for full suite (GS and better) guests. I'm not sure if that exisits on Jewel.

Edited by clarea
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I love the radiance class ships. They are grand and beautiful and the right size for me in terms of getting from one end of the ship to another.

 

I really wanted to try Grenada because it seems to be a port that is not offered often? At least not in the Fall when we typically cruise. We have been to Barbados. I think since we have cruised quite a bit, I would probably look to visit places we have not seen before.

 

We do love the voyager class ships. We have done adventure and explorer and I just think the radiance class ships are a bit more classier...just my opinion.

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I like the way you think! When I finally do Alaska I'll probably just go for it and do a back for back, taking both the routes that Royal does up there. Being on the east coast Alaska is a special trip, and I might as well see it all while I am there.

 

Love to do a back to back here, if only it weren't my wife's spring break (teacher).

 

We couldn't decide either, so we are doing both as a back 2 back.

 

Personally, I like to pick places that I haven't been before.

 

Both ships are great for their own reasons.

 

Sorry, not much help.

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I would take Adventure. We were on Jewel last year, and while there is no doubt that she is a beautiful ship with lots of glass and an open area in the back of the WJ, she was also a VERY boring ship. The shows, lounge singers, centrum parties, etc, were the worst of all the ships I've been on in both quality and in variety. Service in the MDR was also not up to the standards of other ships we've been on.

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We just booked Adventure for early 2015, after sailing Jewel in late 2013. We had a terrific cruise, due the itinerary and the fabulous aft balcony we enjoyed, but I have to concur with Donna, that while the service and condition of Jewel was top notch...the amount of venues and entertainment left us wanting. Some nights, DH and I like to go somewhere (Johnny Rockets or Windjammer, anywhere) and get a late dessert, and on Jewel the only place for anything sweet was a few leftovers at the Cafe Lattitudes. There was no where to get food late night, well, there was microwaved pizza and a few sandwiches at the Solarium Cafe, but that had weird unpredictable hours too. We found the production shows were stale and dull.

 

In the end, for us the difference is, Jewel, while beautiful, was designed with the "enjoy a cocktail hour then dinner, show, and gaming" type of cruising in mind. Adventure (and the subsequent ships with Royal Promenades) were designed with the extended family in mind; so the the food and entertainment is based on something other than the cocktail lounge, with venues such as the ice rink, ice cream parlor, pizza joint, sports deck etc etc. This appeals to families, who have children who can't enjoy a cocktail lounge anyway, but also to those of us adults who are more active or don't enjoy cocktail lounges and gaming. They also offer the traditional "track" too, it's not like the newer ships don't have a casino or cocktail lounges too ;)

For me that's the biggest difference between the ships; one offers additional dining and entertainment venues, and the other was designed with only the more traditional cruising venues.

Edited by Familygoboston
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Good points; my Jewel cruises were always family cruises so some of these things wouldn't have bothered us (no real late nights when the daughter is aboard).

 

 

I would take Adventure. We were on Jewel last year, and while there is no doubt that she is a beautiful ship with lots of glass and an open area in the back of the WJ, she was also a VERY boring ship. The shows, lounge singers, centrum parties, etc, were the worst of all the ships I've been on in both quality and in variety. Service in the MDR was also not up to the standards of other ships we've been on.
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Thanks for your input. Between this and the other posts I'm leaning towards Adventure since it will just be my wife and I. While I'm content to roast on deck during the day, ensuring that our evenings will have lots of options is important.

 

As I said I've sailed Jewel twice, including Christmas, and had a great time as well. I haven't sailed it since being on Oasis (only Indy this past Christmas), so it is possible I would find it lacking somewhat at this point.

 

We just booked Adventure for early 2015, after sailing Jewel in late 2013. We had a terrific cruise, due the itinerary and the fabulous aft balcony we enjoyed, but I have to concur with Donna, that while the service and condition of Jewel was top notch...the amount of venues and entertainment left us wanting. Some nights, DH and I like to go somewhere (Johnny Rockets or Windjammer, anywhere) and get a late dessert, and on Jewel the only place for anything sweet was a few leftovers at the Cafe Lattitudes. There was no where to get food late night, well, there was microwaved pizza and a few sandwiches at the Solarium Cafe, but that had weird unpredictable hours too. We found the production shows were stale and dull.

 

In the end, for us the difference is, Jewel, while beautiful, was designed with the "enjoy a cocktail hour then dinner, show, and gaming" type of cruising in mind. Adventure (and the subsequent ships with Royal Promenades) were designed with the extended family in mind; so the the food and entertainment is based on something other than the cocktail lounge, with venues such as the ice rink, ice cream parlor, pizza joint, sports deck etc etc. This appeals to families, who have children who can't enjoy a cocktail lounge anyway, but also to those of us adults who are more active or don't enjoy cocktail lounges and gaming. They also offer the traditional "track" too, it's not like the newer ships don't have a casino or cocktail lounges too ;)

For me that's the biggest difference between the ships; one offers additional dining and entertainment venues, and the other was designed with only the more traditional cruising venues.

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Thanks for your input. Between this and the other posts I'm leaning towards Adventure since it will just be my wife and I. While I'm content to roast on deck during the day, ensuring that our evenings will have lots of options is important.

 

As I said I've sailed Jewel twice, including Christmas, and had a great time as well. I haven't sailed it since being on Oasis (only Indy this past Christmas), so it is possible I would find it lacking somewhat at this point.

 

Sounds like you answered your own question. I've been on all Radiance class ships and the Explorer. 100 times over prefer the Radiance class. I don't cruise for the onboard entertainment though and the Radiance class will definitely lack in comparison regarding entertainment.

 

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forums mobile app

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About the only suite perk difference that comes to mind is reserved pool seating. There is a section on Adventure for full suite (GS and better) guests. I'm not sure if that exisits on Jewel.

 

From memory in 2012, it doesn't.

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