6th cruise with family, 3rd with RC. We tend to choose older, smaller ships as we don't need the bells and whistles, and Jewel was perfect. The crew have won awards for customer service and it is they that made the holiday. The rooms, dining and ship were exactly as I had expected, so to specifics:

PORTS port heavy with 5 cities in 7 days but all were easy to do. In Cannes we took the ferry over to Iles St. Margarite to see the.fortress where the Man in the Iron Mask was incarcerated. Palma, Ajaccio and Cagliari are easy to do on your own and we booked a private driver for Barcelona. BEWARE: on the daily Compass, RC completely exaggerate the distance to town, especially at Palma to get you to buy €10 return bus rides. They said 8-10km, it was less than 5 and a taxi would have been so much cheaper!

DINING I am happy to say in the MDR the Secret Curry Menu is not so secret any more. It is out on the table in addition to the main menu. Food and service were very good, if still meat heavy and sparse on the veg, but I did not like having to choose pudding right away with the starter and main course. Drink service is slow because it is crazy busy (we ate at 6.30) so get a drink before you go in. And don't think about asking to change tables! We were in a terrible position with banging drinks behind us. We did get free lobster dinner for 4 and choc dipped strawberries as apology, but change table? No way. Read more