Jewel of the Seas Review
Rating by category
Additional details
The cruise was disappointing in that it didn't satisfy the itinerary. Due to weather conditions (high winds), we could not dock in Mykonos. There must be a back-up plan in such instances, since this is the third time it has happened in the last 2 months according to the staff. The reason for taking this cruise was the port of calls in Santorini and Mykonos. Also we learned after the cruise that we will not get a refund on the Mykonos port charges.
As far as the entertainment, this was a disappointment also. At the first show, a contortionist was the main act. After the show, Simona (the Cruise Director) talked to the crowd and explained that the planned entertainment, for the cruise, would be geared towards an international crowd, where language would not be a significant problem; no comedians, etc. Because of this statement, and the "bizarre" contortionist act, we decided not to attend most of the remaining shows. Past Royal Caribbean cruises had far better entertainment.
Our kids (college age) went to the club, the Vortex, each night and reported back that the DJ was horrible. They said that many people complained to the DJ that his choice of music was not conducive to dancing. The DJ indicated that it was the ships directive as to what music should be played. Another disappointment.
Cabin Review
Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony
The cabin was fine - enough storage. The balcony was extended which was a pleasant surprise. Since it is an older ship, the walls between the balconies are not able to be unlocked which is now available on the newer ships. My family had 3 consecutive rooms and we like to open the balcony so that we can easily gather outside together.
Port Reviews
Rome (Civitavecchia)
This is a port town - very industrial and fine for a one night stay before taking the cruise.
Santorini
We took a speedboat from the dock to Oia - the waters were very rough that day due to the high winds. From the dock, we took a bus up to the town of Oia which is gorgeous! All white with blue and pinks roofs and tiles walkways. We did shopping and had a fabulous lunch looking out at the sea. From Oia, we took a bus to Fira for more shopping and then walked down the donkey path to the dock to tender back to the ship. The line for the cable car was over 45 minutes long so we opted for the scenic walk which took 20 minutes.
Katakolon (Olympia)
Small fishing town with unimpressive beaches. They did have pretty shells but lots of sea grass along and in the water (looked like shredded paper). The shops were full of the same souvenirs as in Athens (Athens was cheaper) and the restaurants along the water were pleasant. No need to have this port stop, would prefer to spend time on another Greek island.