Jewel of the Seas Review 3-10 May So. Caribbean

[surfnsun]

UMMM .......Hellooo that's what DH's are for:D

 

Hahahaha. Well..YEA!! I like the way you think! :D

 

Besides, I have a review to finish and there r priorities don't u know.:D

[surfnsun]

This was formal night and we chose to eat in Chops instead of the main dining room. I prebooked Chops on Royal's website a few weeks before the cruise. I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get a table if we waited until we boarded the ship. The reserve times options were limited and I ended up reserving for 8pm. Only to find out right after we boarded that particular evening was being sold on the ship for 20% off. :( Oh well.

 

You can't prereserve a table as it is first-come, first-served. We were out and about the ship by 710pm and I went straight to Chops to let them know we were probably "first" for our 8pm reserve time, hoping to get a two table top by the window. When we showed up there was hardly anyone in the dining room. In fact, the only seats taken were the two table tops by the windows. They informed me if I waited 10 minutes, they could seat me then as one of the couples were about done. It only took 5 minutes. :)

 

I think I mentioned before what might be a really good meal for some, may not be for others. So, this is just a personal opinion. Obviously, the ambiance in Chops is more upscale than the dining room and it's more intimate and intended to be a extended dining experience. Chops didn't disappoint on that level and the steak was better than you will get in the dining room. So, if you think that's worth the extra investment, then you won't be disappointed. I liked it but it's not something I would highly recommend and tell you not to miss it. That might be an overstatement and you would be disappointed.

 

Other than that, the end of our day was typical roaming the ship and chatting with folks we've met throughout the cruise. And, of course, a little gambling in the casino. :)

 

Next up...St. Kitts. I should be able to get in a couple hours done tonight but it's time consuming to load the photos and such but I've always found photos helpful in reviews, no matter the quality. The wait time is worth it, don't you think?

[surfnsun]

We've never been to St. Kitts before and this was the last excursion I booked before the cruise. While I could find information on the port of call boards and other reviews and tripadvisor, the information was generally not as positive as I've seen on other islands and didn't seem like all that much to do. I was wrong and I know that's hard to believe. :p:D

 

Having not been to the island before, we wanted to do an island tour. I ended up booking Thenford Grey and I'm so happy I did! We booked his excursion called "The Tour" at $48 per person which included the $10 per person fee into the fortress. He takes cash or travelers checks only unless you use pay pal before the cruise.

 

A little about Thenford Grey and his brother. His brother greeted us and took the group who booked a private tour. Thenford took the group of us on a fairly good sized bus (I'd say roughly 20 pax) and he wore a headset with speaker so all could hear. Also, what was nice about the headset with speaker is he wore it off the bus as he toured with us among the various properties so you didn't have to all group around him to hear him. Thenford is by far the most knowledgeable and professional tour guide we've ever experienced. Quite the gentlemen with a stately, aristocratic manner who recites beautiful poetry from the likes of Tennyson and other famous poets. Thenford takes pride in being able to answer every single question he's ever been asked. Thenford KNOWS St. Kitts...and so much more. And he dresses in the manner he acts. We loved him.

 

Now that I looked at the pictures again, this is the port that we backed into. Of all the ports, I thought this one with the most beautiful views as you pull in. Perfect for an aft cabin.

 

P.S. Sorry for any typos or misspellings...I'm trying to go a little faster with less time editing. Loading pics now...and feel fee to pop in every now and then so I don't think I'm just talking to myself. :-)

Edited May 13, 2014 by surfnsun

[surfnsun]

 

 

 

 

[surfnsun]

After driving around Basseterre and several other sights while staying on the bus and learning more about St. Kitts than maybe many locals unless they knew Thenford, our first stop was Romney Manor. This day was again a spectacular day and perfect for photos:

 

 

 

 

See the bird eating the fruit in this one?

 

 

[surfnsun]

Thenford skillfully described every plant and tree in Romney Manor. I'm telling you, folks, if you are a history and nature buff you will especially enjoy his tour. Next stop was Brimstone Hill Fortress:

 

 

 

 

 

[surfnsun]

There were monkeys roaming the whole island although I didn't manage to get a picture. I thought I had video of a couple but must not have worked. Probably operator error. :rolleyes: Thenford will tell you the monkeys far outnumber the human population.

 

We next stopped at a scenic spot to get out of the van and take a photo overlooking Nevis island with the Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean on the other:

 

Stunning

 

 

[surfnsun]

Thenford gives you the option at this stop to stay at the beach and will he come back to pick you up or just take a look around for a few minutes and then go directly back to the ship. We chose to stay for almost two hours. This bar only takes cash so please be prepared. And you can spend a lot of money here as it the food is pretty expensive. Two rum punches each and fish taco platters and it was $55 without the tip. Add more if you get beach chairs, snorkel gear or a massage.

 

Here is a photo of the beach and you can see someone getting a massage and notice Nevis island (very popular with the rich and famous) is the background. Absolutely beautiful place to hang out:

 

 

Our very yummy meal with an amazing view:

 

 

I didn't bring any snorkel gear or rent it but took this photo while standing in the water. It's a little rough and I don't think the snorkeling would be that great:

 

[surfnsun]

Thenford's tour was the most informative for getting to know an island and the way of the life of the people and not just facts about sights. It was a good, relaxing tour for day 3 when day 4, 5 and 6 would prove to be exciting and exhausting at the same time.

 

We had dinner in the MDR that evening and it was great as usual. After dinner, we sat at a table at Schooners and had a drink. Unknown to me, DH went up to the bar and asked if they had a flowers (I'm obviously the one that does all the vacation planning in the family. :)) So the bartender made a heart out of the paper on the straw:

 

 

Then, one of the female bartenders actually made a flower. She took a straw and attached the flower made with a tissue knapkin and dipped it in grenadine and it even smelled really good. Can I get a big awwwwww here?: :)

 

 

It brought me to tears and she presented it to me with her husband who is an assistant waiter in the dining room. It was their last cruise on the way home for two months were they could see their son, Rome. He was conceived in...you guessed it...Rome! Their next cruise is an Alaskan cruise and they hope to name their next children Juno! :) I tipped Rome $20.00. :)

Edited May 14, 2014 by surfnsun

[surfnsun]

We had originally booked with another family of 3 with Adventure Antiqua Extreme Nav tour which is a power/speedboat excursion around the island with beach and snorkeling stops. But...I cancelled a couple of weeks before the cruise as my doctor warned against it with my neck disk issues. (BTW, according to the other family, it was an awesome tour.) Anyway, we've been to Antigua once before and rode horses on the beach and that was also fun. I really struggled to the point of what to do on this island that I booked nothing and decided to wing it. Some of our best excursions were just winging it. As it turns out, it was a really good decision and you will understand why soon. It truly was made to be.

[surfnsun]

DH has a coworker who is building a retirement home on Antigua because his family lives there. To protect the innocent, we'll call his friend John Jacobs. After departing the ship, I went straight to the tour desk to check out options while DH asked all these taxi/bus drivers in the orange shirts if any of them knew John Jacobs or his family. (Did I tell you earlier I can't take him anywhere?) Can you imagine? I mean, it's such a small island I'm sure everyone knows each other. :rolleyes::rolleyes: Double sarcasm.

 

Here is a pic and you can imagine. Please notice they all appear to be running the other way. :D

 

[surfnsun]

So the tour desk suggested I talk to the guys in the orange shirts who would gladly give us an island tour for $25.00 per person or $30.00 per person with beach. So I left the tour desk to mingle with the guys in the orange shirts searching for just the right one at that price. :D

 

Turns out, that is if you go with a group and we really wanted a private tour just the two of us this time (must have been the flower the night before that inspired me). We were offered $120.00 and we turned it down and moved tot he next orange shirt guy who wanted $100.00. We tried to negotiate that price to and he pointed to a woman in a white shirt and suggested we talk to her. She turned out to be the orange shirt guys cousin and that is when "destiny" started.

 

Here she is with her taxi and DH. Her name is Emelda Frank and the name of her service is Cutie's Tour and Taxi Service.:

 

[surfnsun]

Now, I could be wrong here (again) but I seriously doubt Cuties Tour and Taxi Service has a lot of raving reviews and recommendations on cruise critic. I may be the first!

 

She offered us a private tour for $80.00 and I gladly accepted while still wondering if we were "getting what we paid for' as the saying goes. What a super nice lady and knows the island. She told us the story of how all the other taxi drivers thought her crazy for painting the bottom of her taxi bright yellow and know they regret that comment because it stops traffic and gets her business. She worked for an insurance company then lost her job and has been driving the taxi for three year now.

 

Anyway, she gave us a route map with a red or blue route option and we chose red to the nelson dockyard, Shirley heights area. We had great sights on the way there and stopped occasionally for a refreshment. At each stop, DH would ask the staff if they knew John Jacobs or his family. :rolleyes: it got to be a joke and we all just laughed about it.

[surfnsun]

We got around the dockyard and Shirley heights area and while pretty, I thought there has got to be something better. So I took another look at the map and saw Devil's bridge and requested she take us there and she gladly accommodated. She did mention it's a good thing we didn't ask for that at the port and most drivers decline since it's not the normal route and you have to drive about 3/4 mile on a rough, unpaved gravel road. Here are a couple of pics from Devil's bridge which is absolutely gorgeous and one of the most beautiful spots I've seen anywhere on the islands:

 

 

[surfnsun]

I'd read a lot about beaches on the island like Turner's and Valley Church and others I can't quite recall the names. I asked which one was best and especially for snorkeling and she recommended Long Bay and at this point I trusted her entirely so off we went to Long Bay.

 

Oh my goshhhhhhh! What a beautiful beach! I'll just pause here and post a few pics and snorkeling videos.

[surfnsun]

 

 

 

 

[surfnsun]

 

[surfnsun]

Snorkeling video:

 

http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=fNkd6hpTbcPEwdilqeBJCoh4l5k2TGxc#.U3LKb2dOWP8

[surfnsun]

As I wait for the videos to load (hopefully), I'll continue...

 

So...we spent a long time at the beach and Emelda never bothered us at all (class act). I suppose she hung out somewhere in the parking lot and only popped up at the entrance of the beach when she saw us packing up. She came into view with a huge smile on her face (as usual) and announced that she just spoke with John Jacobs mom! :):):) After three phone calls to other taxi drivers she thought might actually know, it turns out John's nephew is a taxi driver. I was a little apprehensive about showing up to an elderly woman's home on short notice, but I trusted Emelda entirely. So, off we went across to the other end of the island to visit John's mother.

Edited May 14, 2014 by surfnsun

[surfnsun]

Emelda was so cute. I think she was more excited than we were. She commented on the way that she probably wouldn't sleep that evening, commenting what a glorious day that we were about to make an old woman so very happy. She also commented when she took our fare, she thought we were just "normal" people. :eek::rolleyes::D:D And she couldn't wait to call her three grown children and tell them about her day.

 

Here is a pic of DH entering her home and a picture with her:

 

 

[surfnsun]

And as we stood there chatting with her, she turned to me and asked me to pray that God would bless her to live until she could see her son John again. And as I struggled to control my emotions, she told me about her life and how she attended the church up the hill and sang in the choir and had a solo.

 

And I said the only thing I could think of at that moment and told her I'd love to hear her solo. Without saying a word, she went back into the house and returned with her hymn book.

 

Please enjoy this video. I encourage you to watch it until the end. It says it all:

 

 

http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=fNkd6hpTbcNlYq5PjkIS34h4l5k2TGxc#.U3LPT2dOWP8

Edited May 14, 2014 by surfnsun

[surfnsun]

That's it for tonight, folks. Next up some ship photos and we visit John Jacob's retirement home. :):)

 

Have a good evening!

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

We had the corner aft just like the one next to you but it was on the port corner. Nice balcony. Many ports we pulled in backwards including Barbados and St Lucia I think.

 

We spent most of our excursions doing a beach day with umbrellas and foo foo drinks. :D

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

This is the AZ flag you mentioned.

 

[surfnsun]

We had the corner aft just like the one next to you but it was on the port corner. Nice balcony. Many ports we pulled in backwards including Barbados and St Lucia I think.

 

We spent most of our excursions doing a beach day with umbrellas and foo foo drinks. :D

 

Hi Lisa! Thanks for stopping by! Sorry I didn't stop by your stateroom and visit but you were probably singing karaoke! Awesome accommodations, no doubt! :)