A good, smooth sailing ship with a diverse itinerary of port stops. Being the first time we cruised with Royal Caribbean, we were happy and would cruise with them again.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Civitavecchia has a dedicated, modern cruise ship terminal. Getting on the ship was possibly the fastest and smoothest we've ever experienced.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Breakfast and lunch were eaten in the Windjammer buffet. The food was good and plentiful. Dinner was in the Tides dining room. Food there was good also. The wait staff were excellent and enjoyable.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
The only onboard activity we did was going to the gym. The Jewel of the Seas has a large gym with plenty of room and good selection of equipment. We never had to wait for any machines or equipment.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
We did not attend any shows but did hear the different bands playing in the center atrium. They were okay for what they played. It's very unfortunate that they are so loud. Having a discussion with staff at the Guest Services was difficult because of the volume. I'm surprised that Royal Caribbean subjects their own people to such an environment.
Children's Programs
No children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Everyone who works on the ship is pleasant. We never ran into a negative attitude. It's surprising that that many people can be upbeat and seemingly happy for a 9 night cruise.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The Jewel of the Seas is just the right size ship. It holds 2,702 passengers and 852 crew members. We've not been on their massive ships but found this was perfect. The Windjammer buffet has the best layout. It's open from starboard to port with stations in the middle. Lots of seating. As for the rest of the ship, everything was fine. The interior design was not glitzy but just well done. Everyone should like this ship.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The size of the room was comparable to any balcony room. Ideal for 2 adults. The bed was comfortable. Plenty of storage room with closets, drawers, and cabinets. And Patrick, our room steward, made sure the room was cleaned twice a day.
Ship tip
Don't book a room close to the center atrium, on any floor. You won't have any peace or quiet with the different bands that play in the evenings, sometimes until midnight. In the evening when the bands play, heavy doors are closed to the cabin hallways on every floor (from deck 2 on up) to block out the sound. People can still go through the doors, the sound carries down the hallway, and they slam shut.
We spent a week in Rome before the cruise. We saw the ship excursions to Rome for the day. After spending a week there, we wondered what you would see. It takes about 50-60 minutes to get there by train. I would imagine the tours hustle you along considering the ship leaves late afternoon. But Rome is amazing.
We took a bus from the ship to the old town center. From there we walked to the harbor and then to the lighthouse. Lots of shops and restaurants. Picturesque.
Beautiful port. Take the inexpensive Mykonos SeaBus to the Little Venice area. Wander the many small, narrow streets. You might get lost, but you're in great location.
Perhaps the best stop. Take a tender from the ship to the dock where you can buy a ticket for the cable car ride to the top. Once there, take a look at the spectacular view. It has a village feel and is very well kept. Lots of tourist shops and restaurants, though. Be aware that the line for the cable car ride back down can be very long. We headed back down at about 12:30. It took about 20 minutes from standing at the end of the line to back onboard the ship. Others complained that it took them a long time in line as they left in the late afternoon. But definitely get off the ship for this.
We bought tickets for the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus. There are 2 circular routes that meet at the Acropolis. The first, which leaves from the ship dock, goes along the shoreline and then inland to the Acropolis, returning to the ship. The second route leaves from and returns to the Acropolis. While it takes you to many places, and you see a lot of the city, it might not be the best choice if you want to narrow your time to the antiquities. The bus was stuck in traffic many times. It became tedious after a while. That said, Athens is the capital and heart of Ancient Greece. Do some research as to how you want to see it. And you should see it. But brace yourself for a city that is overbuilt, crowded, not the cleanest, and in the running for the most graffiti.
Great port for sightseeing. The ship docks close to everything. Walk from the ship to the Castel Nuovo. Then over to the Galleria Umberto I, a glass domed covered mall. A great place for photos. Then stroll over to the Piazza del Plebiscito to see the Basilica Reale Pontificia San Francesco da Paola. From there walk down to the Rotonda di Via Nazario Sauro and you might see fishermen with their daily catch. And you can see Vesuvius from there.
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