Jewel of the Seas Review

Fantastic ports but ship needs to be retired

Review for the Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Jewel of the Seas
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nevadaman
10+ Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Jun 2017
Cabin: Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

We chose this cruise because of the Rome departure and the ports and we were not disappointed with Italy or Greece. We totally fell in love with the Eternal City and had over-the-top tours in Athens (Acropolis), Katakolon (Olympia), Mykonos (Delos) and Santorini. However, the ship was a major disappointment. One pool for 2500 passengers! Another indoor pool, called the Solarium, supposedly adults-only, was constantly invaded by boisterous middle-schoolers. Nearly every dining experience was a disappointment as the food was usually mediocre and lukewarm. Although the food was better than expected in the Windjammer Cafe, sometimes it felt like all 2500 passengers were grabbing their grub at the same time! Our balconied stateroom was spacious and well-appointed but the bed was lumpy and uneven. The Jewel of the Seas featured some talented musicians but our dining times precluded us from seeing some of the shipboard entertainment. Nearly all of the orchestras and singers performed in the Centrum and because there were fewer than 20 chairs, most of the guests watched the entertainment peering over balconies located on the upper floors. The Viking Crown Lounge was a ghost town, a total waste of space. I understand Royal Caribbean has eliminated it from its newer ships. Thankfully the Mykonos beaches, Santorini's blue-domed churches, the columns of the Parthenon and the sights and sounds of the Eternal City remain in our minds and not the cruise ship experience.

Cabin Review

Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

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