I've Had Better
Jewel of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Reviews: 3
Helpful Votes: 50
7 Night Southern Caribbean (San Juan Roundtrip)
Sail date: December 01, 2018
Ship: Jewel of the Seas
Cabin type: Balcony
Traveled as: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
It wasn't the best cruise I've been on, but it wasn't the worst one,either.Embarkation
It was great, we got out of the Uber and walked directly into the terminal and onto the ship. I always do my own carry-on, so with my luggage carrier, it was a breeze to go straight to the Windjammer to kill time until they opened the doors for the rooms
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
I had a meh time here over all. The Windjammer was great. I liked the variety. Its the first time I've cruised and we didn't have the food on each side. You walk in and it's all in the back, like a stage with different stations.
I did the MDR 2x. The first time, because we like free time, we just showed up and the people were were sat with were great. Second time, the people were still great, but the service was atrocious. We sat down at 530, got our salads and the food did not come til 630. We had a 7pm show to make, so we skipped dessert and bolted at 745. The hostess was also VERY rude. My aunt is very introverted, so a two person table is better for us. The previous host told us the tables were all booked, so when I arrive to sit and she says a private table or a group one, I was confused. I asked her "we CAN get a 2 person table?" She snaps back "its a yes or no question." Lots of thoughts went through my mind but I didn't want to make a scene because I THOUGHT my aunt would be able to get lobster that night included with our meal. The menu is very confusing. It says its a $30 upcharge, but others said they got it for free.
Onboard Activities
The solarium pool was nice and they did a great job keeping kids out. One of the showers was broken all week, so that was annoying. And they only had THREE tiny hottubs for the WHOLE ship. It says 13 people can fit, but that was a sardine stretch.
Entertainment
I went to all the shows for the most part. The dark comedian they had first was funny, but the one on the last night was SUPER awkward. Love and Marriage gameshow is always one to see. The Quest was equally as funny.
I went to trivia 2x a day. Its a fun adrenaline boost and they gave out ACTUAL Royal Caribbean medals this time!
Children's Programs
No kids with me
Service and Staff
They pester you too much on this ship. If I want your help, I will ask for it. I can carry my items fine and you trying to help me is NOT helping me. If I want to buy a drink, I will call you over. I love MSC, they NEVER bother you unless you actually speak to them. Royal just made me super uncomfortable. Our room steward was plenty nice, as was the staff who give the sanitizer in the buffet. Not the rude crew overall, but not the nicest either.
Ship Quality
The Jewel isn't a huge ship, but it's nice enough if you haven't seen any other newer Royal ship before. I sailed on Adventure first and loved that layout and design. We were right near the elevator. Kids on this sailing were LOUDLY everywhere and running all over the place. Not with my mom. We could NEVER. I could people watch in the center, the Jewel was not a jewel, so I won't willingly return again.
Children were everywhere, so naturally, the tables weren't super clean and the staff did not even try to remove used items when done.
Cabin / Stateroom
Pretty standard balcony cabin. I chose a corner one for some privacy, but I should have looked at the exterior map. It wasn't a true corner. And crew kept walking by our room during the day, so that was annoying. The covering to the lifeboats were right in front of us which created a boardwalk of sorts. It also blocked your view of the ocean. You could see OUT, but not down, a real bummer.
The cabin has a standard couch, TV, bureau for 2, cabinets and such. It was just 2 of us in the room, so we were comfy. The beds could be better, kind of hard. Not prison hard, but Adventure's were better.
The bathroom was great. You didn't sit on the toilet and have your leg in the shower. The cabin was always clean, no bedbugs or stray hairs.
Ship tip
The Jewel is a nice enough ship if you want to go on a specific itenerary and have no other choice. Its a good starter cruise if you don't want to be overwhelmed by people. But there is MUCH better out there on Royal, Holland America and MSC
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
PR is always great. You can't take an Uber FROM the airport, but you CAN take an Uber TO the airport. Even from the terminal (if taxis aren't on strike blocking the road again) to the airport. Remember, PR taxis charge an airport fee of $3 plus $1 per bag. So bring CASH with you and expect to pay no less than $25 for 2 people to go to Santurce or Old San Juan in taxis. You can find the rates online by just googling Puerto Rico Taxi Rates. It's all metered taxis by zone.
Take an Uber from your hotel to cruiseport. WAY cheaper. PR is the US, so our cells work fine there.
PR was hit bad by the hurricane, but for the most part it still looked the same to me. Walmart and Walgreens were still there and the $.50pp water taxi from Brumbaugh (behind Subway) to Cataño was there. The free bus shuttle is a different bus now, that's a bummer. I liked the open air bus vs this new ACTUAL bus.
We just walked the 15 or so minutes to Pirate Cove beach. Why take a cab when I can walk and see the island? We left first off the boat, so the sun wasn't horrible. The crabs on the beach were FAST though.
We got tobacco for cheap here and the wifi was free in the first store area, but I will never get off the boat again here. The people were NOT friendly at ALL. Just staring at you. No streetlights, either, just a cop directing traffic. So be weary.
We only stayed in the cruise port area but there is REALLY nothing to do here if you don't do an excursion. The sun was too hot, so we didn't stay out long. We were back on the ship by 10a.
I have been to the island a few times on previous cruises. They changed the port after the hurricane and we didn't know about the water taxi until we were back home. Oh,well. The line for a taxi was long and not worth it.
From what I saw of it, St.Thomas was ok. It rained a bit, but its ALWAYS raining in the Caribbean. Not much to do in this port without an excursion.
Disembarkation
If it wasn't for the fact that PR was on strike AGAIN, it was great. This is why I never book a flight before 1pm. They had to open up the gates of the small airport to let us out and drive over the tarmac in the rare taxis not on strike and allowed in.
Traveler Photos
