Jewel of the Seas made its debut in spring 2004. Measuring 90,090 tons and carrying 2,100-plus passengers, it was the fourth and final limb on Royal Caribbean's Radiance-class family tree.
2019 Best for Service
2019 Best for Families
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Jewel of the Seas Overview
About Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas
Pro
Few gimmicks, great service, rarely raucous
Con
Costly extras, unimaginative entertainment
Bottom line
Uncomplicated classic cruising with all the traditional trimmings
When launched, the ship had the same DNA as its classmates; it featured all the innovations of the time, such as a climbing wall, solarium and Adventure Ocean kids' facility.
In 2016, the ship went into dry dock for a nip and tuck that gave it two new specialty restaurants, a new wine bar, an outdoor movie screen and also gave its staterooms some TLC.
The makeover didn't change the ship beyond all recognition, however. Its look is still quite classical. With the exception of the revolving bar in the Vortex nightclub and the racing theme of The Pit Stop bar, the ship doesn't really go in for gimmicks. Instead, it drops nautical hints throughout, with lots of dark wood, blue-hued fabrics and brass.
The entertainment offering imitates the ship's look. Daytime activities include cruise ship classics like line dancing and trivia sessions, while the nighttime line-up features cabaret, karaoke and live piano music.
Food on the ship can be a bit of a game of roulette. The Windjammer Café buffet restaurant is consistent as a crowd pleaser. However, the main Tides dining room giveth one night and taketh away the next, especially when it comes to portion sizes. The specialty restaurants, meanwhile, knock the proverbial ball out of the park, and are pretty reasonably priced.
No matter where you eat, service is first-rate. In fact, great service doesn't just apply in the eating areas. Waiters, bar staff and cabin attendants are friendly, attentive and have the memories of Mensa members.
Jewel of the Seas is ideal for cruisers who don't go in for bells and whistles, but instead prefer a traditional cruising experience. It's a laid-back ship, where customers enjoy long lazy mealtimes, a few G&Ts an evening and a bit of nostalgia when it comes to entertainment.
One final thing to bear in mind when deciding whether to pick this cruise ship is that, as mellow as it feels on sea days, there can still be some 2,000 plus passengers onboard. That means there can be a bit of a crush in tender ports. Another downside is that you have to cough up for quite a few additional expenses, such as specialty coffees and room service.
Top Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas Itineraries
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Jewel of the Seas10 Night Barcelona To Copenhagen CruiseBarcelona, Cartagena , Gibraltar, Lisbon, Paris, Brugge , Amsterdam, CopenhagenNow -
Jewel of the Seas7 Night Italy, France & Spain CruiseBarcelona, Villefranche, Portofino, La Spezia , Rome , Naples, BarcelonaNow
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Jewel of the Seas11 Night Italy, France & Spain CruiseRome , La Spezia , Portofino, Marseille, Sete, Cartagena , Gibraltar, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca , BarcelonaNow
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Jewel of the Seas12 Night Holy Land CruiseRome , Taormina , Jerusalem , Haifa , Limassol, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Athens , Naples, RomeNow
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Jewel of the Seas10 Night Ultimate Scandinavia & RussiaCopenhagen, Berlin, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Visby, Riga, Stockholm, StockholmNow
Fellow Passengers
The passengers on Jewel change depending on the itinerary; for example, you get more Americans onboard during Caribbean sailings, while Brits dominate European sailings. The ship is particularly popular with the mature traveler and a favorite with Royal Caribbean's Diamond Club passengers --some of the line's most loyal cruisers.
Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas Dress Code
During the daytime, passengers dress casually. Passengers dress to the eights rather than the nines on formal nights. For men, the ratio is about one bow tie for every six or seven neckties, and some men even go for open collars. Women, meanwhile, tend to go for cocktail dresses over ball gowns.
Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas Gratuity
The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar. A $14.50 gratuity is automatically added to each passenger's account every day, and this rises to $17.50 for suite occupants. Passengers can prepay this ahead of their trip and can modify or remove gratuities by visiting the reception desk while onboard. A gratuity of 18 percent is also added to all bar bills.
Note: Australians and New Zealanders do not have the stateroom service charge added to their account; fares automatically include this gratuity as long as the cruise was booked in AU or NZ dollars.
Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas Awards
Cruisers’ Choice Awards
2019 Best for Service
2019 Best for Families
2017 Best for Embarkation
2017 Best for Value
2015 Best Overall
2015 Best for Embarkation
2015 Best for Fitness
2015 Best for Public Rooms
2015 Best for Service
2015 Best for Shore Excursions
2015 Best for Value
2014 Best for Embarkation
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Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas Member Reviews
svandermeulen
Sail Date: Dec 2018
Just got back from the December 22 Southern Caribbean cruise aboard the Jewel of the Seas. The cruise was awesome with a perfect itinerary.
This was our second recent cruise on RCI. Our last one...Read More
AZRetiredRN
Sail Date: Jun 2019
and there is no time to shop in Athens (Piraeus).
All things considered, I would recommend Jewel of the Seas as a very good ship. The itinerary to the Greek Islands however is somewhat lacking in excitement...Read More
BillHu
Sail Date: Apr 2019
our meals were at the buffet, solely due to the lack of quality in the dining room. Overall, Jewel of the Seas is a good ship and we'd do this same cruise again and we recommend it to others, just be wary...Read More
mmoeller
Sail Date: Apr 2019
We just completed an 11 day Mediterranean cruise on the Jewel of the Seas in April. Overall, we found it to be an enjoyable experience.
Pros:
The train from Rome to Civitavecchia was convenient...Read More
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