I'll start by saying this one cruise has me planning more! The Jewel of the Seas is a wonderful ship! I now know why so many people love RCL's Radiance Class ships. The efficient flow, all the windows, outdoor dining, the adult solarium, the relative spaciousness of the ship are all things that made our cruise so incredible.

Embarkation: This was astounding!! I carried on my luggage and from the time I stepped off the shuttle from the off site parking garage I utilized (1/2 the price of the terminal parking garage) to the time I stepped into my stateroom was less than 14 minutes!!

Stateroom: Deck 8, mid-ship and it was perfect!! There is a bit of an over hang from Deck 9, which I really liked. It rained as we left Tampa, and my friends and I were able to stand out on my balcony with no rain blowing in. It was also nice in the direct sun as that over hang mostly shaded my balcony. The bed was a bit thin, but ok for my tastes. The bathroom was fine for me, although some may think the shower is too small. My mini-fridge didn't cool well, but I only used it for water. Read more