buckeyemom16
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2012
Hi everyone!
Wanted to give you all some feedback from our recent cruise on the Jewel. This won't be a full review just some longish thoughts. Ask any questions! Quick background: Me, DH, DD10 and DS3. This was my 7th cruise and we've sailed CCL, DCL, and NCL.
Cruise departed from San Juan on 5/24. We flew in same day with Southwest because the cruise didn't leave until 9pm. I purposely picked a flight that we didn't change planes so there would be minimal risk with our luggage. Guess what? They took out luggage off in Orlando and didn't put it back on. After some major tears at the baggage counter they said they would attempt to get it on the next flight to SJU that would arrive around 6:30pm. We proceeded to the ship on a hope and a prayer it would arrive. We were actually sitting at the Windjammer aft open seating and saw the plane come in. Our luggage was on it and it arrived 10 minutes before sailing!! One note: When I called our travel insurance they suggested I ask that if it didn't arrive it be sent to the next port of call, St. Maarten. I was told Southwest does not do this and we would be stuck without it. The travel insurance agent seemed surprised and said most of the major US airlines will do this. Just something to be aware of.
Ship: I thought it was a very nice ship. It seemed elegant to me. It was clean and well-maintained. It is an older ship and I believe it is due for dry dock next year. Yes there are signs of aging but you have to be looking for them and honestly I don't care about that as long as it is clean! I loved the glass in the Centrum area and it was always nice to take the elevators and look out at the port or the sea. Beautiful!
Room: We had a balcony stateroom on deck 9. After staying on deck 10 on the Fantasy and listening to chairs scrape on the pool deck every morning I always go a deck down. Room was fine and balcony was pretty deep. The pull out sofa seemed to rest on the floor but DD and DS liked it. The size of the room was good for the four of us. There is a nice lighted vanity where I would get ready while everyone was showering. Our room steward Gerry was very good and would always ask if everything was ok when we saw him. We got towel animals every night without asking.
Dining service: We had early seating (6:00) and had the most fabulous team ever! I had requested a table for four near a window and our request was fulfilled. Our experience on DCL was somewhat soured by a bad serving team and I will say our last CCL and this RCI blew that service out of the water! Joaquin from the Philippines was our waiter and Maria from Jamaica was our assistant. I cannot put into words how much of a delight they were! DS loved "Bakeen" because he really showered him with lots of attention. He let him lead the precession of singing waiters out of the back and DS was smiling from ear to ear and swinging his towel. I happen to love the singing waiters! PSA: Be on time for dinner, people! The table nearest us was routinely VERY late for dinner (6:45-7:15) and really messed the service up. They spoke very little English so I'm not sure they completely understood the concept. The team served them with the same grace as they did us but it really caused them to have to hustle around since they were completely off course.
Wanted to give you all some feedback from our recent cruise on the Jewel. This won't be a full review just some longish thoughts. Ask any questions! Quick background: Me, DH, DD10 and DS3. This was my 7th cruise and we've sailed CCL, DCL, and NCL.
Cruise departed from San Juan on 5/24. We flew in same day with Southwest because the cruise didn't leave until 9pm. I purposely picked a flight that we didn't change planes so there would be minimal risk with our luggage. Guess what? They took out luggage off in Orlando and didn't put it back on. After some major tears at the baggage counter they said they would attempt to get it on the next flight to SJU that would arrive around 6:30pm. We proceeded to the ship on a hope and a prayer it would arrive. We were actually sitting at the Windjammer aft open seating and saw the plane come in. Our luggage was on it and it arrived 10 minutes before sailing!! One note: When I called our travel insurance they suggested I ask that if it didn't arrive it be sent to the next port of call, St. Maarten. I was told Southwest does not do this and we would be stuck without it. The travel insurance agent seemed surprised and said most of the major US airlines will do this. Just something to be aware of.
Ship: I thought it was a very nice ship. It seemed elegant to me. It was clean and well-maintained. It is an older ship and I believe it is due for dry dock next year. Yes there are signs of aging but you have to be looking for them and honestly I don't care about that as long as it is clean! I loved the glass in the Centrum area and it was always nice to take the elevators and look out at the port or the sea. Beautiful!
Room: We had a balcony stateroom on deck 9. After staying on deck 10 on the Fantasy and listening to chairs scrape on the pool deck every morning I always go a deck down. Room was fine and balcony was pretty deep. The pull out sofa seemed to rest on the floor but DD and DS liked it. The size of the room was good for the four of us. There is a nice lighted vanity where I would get ready while everyone was showering. Our room steward Gerry was very good and would always ask if everything was ok when we saw him. We got towel animals every night without asking.
Dining service: We had early seating (6:00) and had the most fabulous team ever! I had requested a table for four near a window and our request was fulfilled. Our experience on DCL was somewhat soured by a bad serving team and I will say our last CCL and this RCI blew that service out of the water! Joaquin from the Philippines was our waiter and Maria from Jamaica was our assistant. I cannot put into words how much of a delight they were! DS loved "Bakeen" because he really showered him with lots of attention. He let him lead the precession of singing waiters out of the back and DS was smiling from ear to ear and swinging his towel. I happen to love the singing waiters! PSA: Be on time for dinner, people! The table nearest us was routinely VERY late for dinner (6:45-7:15) and really messed the service up. They spoke very little English so I'm not sure they completely understood the concept. The team served them with the same grace as they did us but it really caused them to have to hustle around since they were completely off course.
but that they usually adhere to the schedule. The next day they were doing the activity as planned and she happily stayed. Off the top of my head some of the themes for each session were: carnival games, boys vs. girls, under the sea, sports, space mania, etc. DD likes this type of structure (she loves school lol) so I think this is another reason why she didn't care for DCL. Definitely two thumbs up from her for Adventure Ocean! DS went a few times for an hour here or there but didn't spend a lot of time there. His age group had the same theme but more age appropriate activities. DD stayed on the last night for the extra party hours ($7/hr) for the Gaga Ball tournament and won the gold medal! It's a cool medal of the crown and anchor. 
We usually book tours through the cruise line, but this time we are going to try getting a private tour in ST. Kitts and we booked motorcycle trikes in Aruba
