We chose Jewel of the Seas because of the ports for the Greek Isles and liked the ship but all the ports were very touristy and overcrowded.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
The smoothest and most organized check in I ever experienced with cruise lines.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The main dining food was fine--wish they changed up the menu more than they did. The casual Windjammer was great except for some of the rude and ignorant passengers who thought the buffet only belonged to them. The drinks are extremely expensive and tips on each drink ala carte is ridiculous.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Music on board was good. Pool area was a little small and very crowded on "at sea" days. The signs about reserving chairs and eating by the pool were completely ignored and not enforced at all.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Game shows and trivia shows were fine in the Centrum but the bigger entertainment like the 70's and 80's parties were too big for the Centrum area and should have been moved to the Vortex lounge to accommodate the crowds.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Wait staff was great and our cabin steward worked non stop.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Great size ship--very clean although updating would be wise.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Cabin was a little small compared to other balcony cruises I have taken. There was no room under the bed to store luggage and no room in the closest to store either once the clothes were placed in there.
Took the hop on hop off excursion and the bus driver decided to dump everyone off the bus at the first stop. Didn't give us instructions--just dumped us. Complained to guest services when we were back on board and our money was refunded. Athens as very touristy and overcrowded with people and souvenir stores.
I’m not sure how much research you did about the ports before you left or exactly what you expected. If you just get off the ship and wander around the port area during one of the most popular seasons to cruise, it will definitely be crowded. And why do people seem surprised that there are souvenir shops and “touristy” locations in an area popular with tourists? If you want to get away from the tourist areas, there are plenty of options for excursions.
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