As I said, this was my very first cruise and I knew nothing about the ins and outs of cruising, but I quickly learned and enjoyed myself very much.

I traveled with my 75 year old mother and my brother, so sharing the balcony cabin was tight, not only because of the small space, but also because traveling with family--especially three of us in one tiny space--can be suffocating after the first couple of days. (Am I right? C'mon people, I can't be the only one with difficult family members! So you know what I mean!)

The Jewel was a lovely ship with plenty of excellent food choices. The only complaints I have about the Jewel was that there wasn't anything interesting to do on-board when the ship was at port, and I was unhappy about their recent decision not to allow smoking on the balconies. Going too far if you ask me. Also, the casino was a total ripoff. After I lost $65 in three nights, I decided that it would be pure insanity to spend any more on a losing proposition. So I saved my money. Read more