Just got off of the Aug 23 sailing of the Jewel of the Seas and as I write this, I'm at San Juan International awaiting our flight home, so my thoughts are very fresh in my mind.

Excellent ship for first-time cruisers and RCL does a good job for the price. I've taken 25+ cruises on several cruise lines, including Carnival, Holland America, NCL and one previous on RCL. The bulk of my cruises have been on Carnival so this review will be helpful for those of you considering your first cruise on RCL.

The ship is tastefully decorated, functional but not over the top. The crew were wonderful, helpful and genuinely friendly. We had no major complaints about the level of service, quality of food or the accommodations. Our balcony room did seem a little smaller than similar rooms on Carnival. Read more