Just returned from an 11 day cruise aboard the Jewel of the Seas. Carol and I had a grand time. The Jewel is a jewel of a ship, somewhat smaller than the ships we had been on recently. We found lots of things to like about it and very little to dislike. We did find that we were comparing the Jewel with the Miracle which we sailed on earlier this year. One thing we definitely liked was the many venues that were non-smoking.
The lay out of the ship worked pretty well. The Centrum is a large open area that extends from Deck 4 through Deck 11. It has a nice little bar and and hosts a variety of of musical performances which can be listened to from the Latte-tudes Coffee Shop on Deck 5 and the Champagne Bar on Deck 6. The music may sound better a deck or two above the performers.
The Champagne Bar was one of our favorite locations. Lorenzo, the bartender, has a tremendous facility for remembering names and faces. After the first visit, he knows you. He also makes a great drink.
Aft of the Champagne Bar, still on Deck 6 is the Schooner Bar. We played Trivia with a young friend we met on the ship several times there. Still further aft is the Billiard Room. The tables are self leveling which is fun to watch as the tables stay level as the ship rolls. The balls stay steady. Then bringing up the rear is the Safari Lounge with a nice dance floor and another bar where one will find Carlos, another fine bartender. From the Champagne Bar all the way aft is totally non-smoking.
Forward of the Champagne Bar is the Casino which is a smoking venue and is so imbued with smoke that it can be smelled all the way to the forward end of the Centrum. Really bad, I walked through one time and thought I was going to choke. I react badly to tobacco smoke. There is a smoking sports bar just forward of the Casino. An interesting ploy was that the two formal nights on board were also designated non-smoking nights in the Casino. The lingering odor of tobacco was still strong but much better. It did not help that the sports was still a smoking venue. Further forward is the Coral Theater which can fortunately be reached from either the 5th or 6th Deck so it was unnecessary to go through the Casino to reach it. The Coral Theater is well laid out with no really restricted sight lines.
The Tides Dining Room is aft on Decks 4 and 5. It is pretty well laid out and comfortable with none of the glaring decor of the Carnival Miracle. I give Jewel the edge in dining room service, however, Miracle food was in my opinion better and better presented. The food was good but not great.
All in all, the service staff on Jewel was better and more readily available than we had on Miracle. In fact, we commented while on board Miracle that it seemed there was a shortage of personnel. Not so on Jewel; there was always someone there when you needed them.
Our stateroom was nice enough but relatively smaller than the one we had on Miracle. We don't spend a lot of time in the stateroom other than getting ready to go out so it was not a major distraction. Don't know if I would particularly care about having a balcony next time, it was very small and not at all private. Our stateroom attendant, Edna, was fabulous. She was personable and very efficient; never in the way but always around when needed. The best we have ever had on any cruise.
The staff music performers were great on this cruise. Much better than most. Even the pool band was very talented and more that just noise makers for the party goers. They played several times in other venues and even we old folks could listen and enjoy them. There was also a piano/violin duo that was most enjoyable, a mixed quartet, a pianist, and a great trio with a lead female singer that was really a pleasure to listen to.
The running track really is awkward because it threads through sunbathers and other general traffic. I haven't seen anything quite like it elsewhere. Early or late is the only time that works without serious collision concerns.
We only spent one afternoon catching rays on deck, it was just too crowded with wall to wall lounge chairs.
I went to the Windjammer Cafe on Deck 11 (Lido Deck?) for my coffee and enjoyed it in the open air on the fantail. There are no tables out on deck forward of the Windjammer which was disappointing since I like to watch the ship come alive as I drink my coffee. All I could see was aft, which was great, but better to see where you are going than where you have been. It was very quiet and uncrowded in the fantail area.. I don't know if folks just didn't know about it or if they just didn't like it.
The Jewel has more glass than any other ship I have been on. From almost everywhere you can see the ocean. It is a great selling point for me.
I would, without hesitation go on Jewel again.
