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Jewel of the Seas - Jan 27 - Feb 3, 2024 - Live Review

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Hola, Puerto Rico!!! In anticipation of our multi-island cruise, we thought we'd kick start with an early visit to beautiful Puerto Rico. Last time we were here, there was a hurricane in the area so we were limited in activities. In fact, the bars weren't even serving drinks (ya, it was very sad!) So this time we're taking advantage of the non-huricane season and spending a couple days in the sunshine. 

 

We checked in to the Casa Wilson Inn, a small boutique hotel in San Juan, near Condado, and headed out for food. We found a great area with a couple restaurants and a terrific spot called Miramar Food Truck Park. There's a wide variety of offerings including local PR food, Mediterranean, Thai, Pork, Mexican, Poke Bowls and even a cocktail truck - something for everyone. There are lots of both shady and sunny places to sit and dance music to keep your energy up. Dad and Hubby opted for Pollos Scharneco right across the street. Mom and I chose the Que Tostones truck for PR food. It was all excellent: definitely worth the 15 minute walk from the hotel. 

 

Tomorrow... The Bacardi Experience!

 

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AmericanMom "Live from...." Rare

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T-1 Puerto Rico - The Bacardi Experience. Do this! Absolutely! Our tour guide was Alondra (♥️) and our experience could not have been better. She's funny, informative and personable. After our welcome cocktail, we took an open jeep tour of the facility and then went inside to make cocktails. We learned how to make mojitos and piña coladas the right way. The experience was a lot of fun and, of course, the drinks were amazing. They also offer food on site. This was a great way to start the morning!

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End of T-1…. After the Bacardi Tour, we spent the afternoon walking in Old San Juan. What a beautiful city. Lots to see and places to eat and shop (and no aggressive sales people that we run into often throughout the Caribbean). We’ve been before so we didn’t visit the Old Fort but it was always looming large in the background. We found Paloma Park where alllllll of the pigeons come to eat and hang out with visitors. What a sight!!  The views from here are also amazing and worth a look. 
 

Later we went to a SuperMax Supermarket to pick up wine for the ship. Then found a great local spot called El Camerón for dinner close to our hotel. It’s where the locals eat so they don’t speak a lot of English here. But they had a nice parking lot and even offered valet parking if desired. The food was great and I finally got my mofongo. 💃🏽 Mom and dad shared a gorgeous seafood paella. Hubby had bass with coconut sauce. They also have a full bar and great service (but speaking a little Spanish helps). 
 

Headed back to the hotel for the last night to get ready for embarkation day.  

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Day 1- Today's the day!!! We're happily onboard. We upgraded to The Key so we've already had an awesome Chops lunch in the Main Dining Room and have gotten into our stateroom. Our bags are already here and it not even 2 pm. 

 

As soon as we boarded, we headed to Chops restaurant on Deck 6 to make our specialty dinner reservation; one came free with our travel package. This our 17th cruise and we've done them all before so we chose Izumi since it has the most variety. I don't eat meat (everyone else in my party does) so I'm usually regulated to the same dishes in the restaurants on board since the menus don't really change much. Then we had lunch and checked in at our muster station (no one wants to be called out on the PA system for holding up the ship!) 🤣😮📣. Now we're headed up to the Diamond Lounge so Mom and Dad can book another excursion and so we can get a few issues resolved. 

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End of Day 1 - It’s been a whirlwind! It felt like the day flew by! We met sooooo many awesome, fun, friendly people today. Hubby and I are wearing shirts with the trip itinerary on them and lots of people stopped us to ask about them or compliment them. Hubby came up with the idea and I made the shirts. We’re glad they were good conversation starters. 
 

After lunch we walked the ship a bit and then hung out in the Diamond Lounge (now called the Crown Lounge) with Mom and Dad. We watched the sail away party from above, even though we weren’t actually sailing away just yet. After cocktails and snacks, hubby joined the free throw contest on the sports deck. As soon as that was over, it was time for dinner. 
 

Our waiters are Eliseo and John and they are great. Eliseo is all business but John has a light and fun personality. Dress was casual and the dinner menu was a bit of everything - the Sail Away menu. Apps and entrees were good; no complaints. Mom wasn’t crazy about her dessert which was a soft rice crispy treat with peanut butter. Our daughter is a pastry chef so my choice of key lime pie, a dessert that she makes soooo well, was a bad one because it didn’t compare to hers. It was probably good but not for me. 

 

We topped off the evening by checking out the Vortex nightclub. The music was great, the dance floor was packed and the drinks were flowing at the revolving bar. It was a great way to end the evening. Everyone on this ship really knows how to have a good time. If today is any indication, this is going to be a great vacation. 

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Day 2 - At Sea Day and Formal Night. Today was absolutely gorgeous. Not too hot, low humidity and gorgeous sunshine. We slept in this morning because we were out late and also because it will be our last opportunity for a while. We have excursions planned for almost every stop this week. 

 

When we finally got ourselves together, we grabbed coffee in the Crown and hung out for a bit waiting for the Windjammer to open at 11:30 for lunch. In spite of the fact that the Jewel is a small ship, it has one amazing amenity: you can dine Al fresco next to the Windjammer. There is a great open air deck where you can eat and gaze at the waves. So even after lunch, we lingered a while just soaking in the rays and appreciating the day. We walked the ship a bit and caught up with Mom and Dad where we gathered to watch the Bellyflop Competition. It's always a lot of fun. Then Hubby and I went to the Casino. No big winnings yet but there's still time 🤣 Then we all split up. I went to the Schooner Bar where they were playing trivia and spent some time reading. No idea where everyone else went but I get the feeling there may have been a nap or two. Haha! 

 

At 4:00 we collected again to watch the Chiefs/Ravens game 🏈. Hubby collected some popcorn from The Pitstop (which was packed) and we settled in front of a small tv in the Schooner Bar. There are EXCELLENT drinks in the Schooner Bar, by  the way. They have a menu with some original concoctions worth a try. We loved what we had from there. 

 

Looking out at the sunset from our balcony, I could see Dominica in the distance (I didn't know which island it was, I Google mapped it!) The sunset over the water was glorious. 🌅

 

Game over; we're dressing for dinner. There were already lots of sparkly outfits gracing the decks before we came upstairs. I always love to see folks in their finest. More after dinner!!

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