This is our 3rd family cruise, second with RCCL, the other being with Celebrity. Prior to having children, my wife & I traveled on a NCL Norway cruise and a RCCL Song of America cruise. We are a family of 4, 2 daughters ages 9 and 12. We just got back last night, so Iw ould like to start off saying we would rather be back on the Jewel. We had a fun, relaxing, and entertaining time.
We flew via Delta the night before our cruise, only to get stuck at JFK for a few hours. Finally arrived at our Marriott Courtyard Hotel at 2:00AM. We stay here because we're Marriott loyalists and they provide free shuttle service to/from the airport and cruiseport. Kind of expensive ($210)for a night's stay, especially when you arrive at 2:00AM, but the place is clean and the service is solid.
Arrived at the Jewel of the Seas Terminal at about noon, and got through the check in lines within 30 minutes. We noticed no lines for Platinum and Diamond members, but we haven't reached those loyalty levels yet. Our room wasn't quite ready so we went where cruisers always go......to the dining room! As always, there was plenty of food.