This was our first Cruise with RCI and Jewel of the Seas. We sailed on the Norwegian Jewel last year on a similar itinerary, so I will make comparisons as I go between RCI and NCL. My previous review is at this link if you wish to read it in full. http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=17910

This is also the first year that we used the Cruise Critics roll call leading up to the cruise and found it very interesting and a good way to get acquainted prior to the Cruise. One of the members (Snorkel Bill) took it a step further with a web page for the ports of call, private tour operators and even invited us to submit our pictures so we could recognize each other prior to arrival. Well on with the review.

Travel: Our flights down and back were booked with RCI air and as always they kept us waiting until about 1 month prior, which seem to be par with Cruise Air. We were booked with Northwest and had two connections on the way down (that's 1 connection too many). Because they couldn't get us out of FLL on the return trip until 5PM we were all upgraded to 1st Class. An earlier flight would have been nicer, especially since the 1st class did not entitle you to the VIP lounge and you couldn't check your luggage until 3 hrs prior to departure. Read more