This cruise liner is the fourth ship in RCI's very successful Radiance class. She entered service in Europe in May 2004. At 90,090 tons, her class qualifies as the best looking Royal Caribbean ships with nicely rounded lines and good overall proportions. A large ship she is, but much smaller than the Voyager and Freedom classes, and while the
Jewel of the Seas has many of the RCI bells and whistles, she lacks the Royal Promenade mall at sea, something that just might suit a more quiet cruise type. The passenger capacity is 2,110, the officers are Scandinavian and the international crew numbers 858.
Royal Caribbean got its start in 1969 with what were then considered highly innovative-looking ships, sleek, with prominent bows and a small bar called the Viking Crown Lounge (a trademark) attached to the funnel. As the ships progressed in design, the trademark grew in size to eventually wrap around the funnel. The line has often boasted the largest ships afloat and the most gimmicks—including rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, Johnny Rockets diners, leveling pool tables, boxing rinks, water parks, and the Flowrider wave simulator. The line now operates nearly two dozen ships with additional units on order, including—again—the world's largest.
The energetic and young at heart flock to this city at sea, with perhaps a slightly older passenger list than is the norm for RCI because of the longer itineraries in Northern Europe and the Caribbean and the scenery emphasis of the New England and Canada cruises. RCI's competitors include Carnival, Norwegian and Princess.
Jewel of the Seas passes the summer based in Harwich, England (northeast of London), a well-positioned port for cruises to the British Isles and Norway, and to the Scandinavian countries, the Baltic and Russia. In the late summer she repositions to Boston for New England and Eastern Canada cruises that enter the St. Lawrence River. After the fall foliage season has ended, she drops down to Miami for 10- and 11-day loops to the Western Caribbean including partial Panama Canal transits. Moderately priced transatlantic cruises link the Northern European season with the New England and Canada fall foliage itineraries.
The decor throughout the ship is clean, modern, colorful and attractive, with none of the over-the-top glitter of Carnival nor the somewhat bland decor of Princess ships. The principal public rooms occupy most of the lower decks 4 through 6. The Coral Theater, three levels and good sightlines located in the forward part of the ship, hosts Las Vegas-style entertainment; it is energetic and draws on the elaborate stage amenities that would make a Broadway theater proud. Several themed bars are the Centrum Bar for people-watching, Champagne Bar for a glass of bubbly and the Schooner Bar, an RCI staple with a maritime theme. A fanciful bar lounge complex at the stern on Deck 6 is called The Game Reserves, with exotic decor in the Zanzibar Lounge, the Safari Club and the Congo Bar. These three decks also house the shops, a small cinema, and the not-so-small Casino Royale.
The Tides Dining Room occupies two levels and features a waterfall. The food is routine mass-market fare with more quantity than careful preparation. Alternate dining includes Chops Grille, a steak and chops restaurant, and Portofino, the RCI-trademark Italian, both requiring reservations and exacting an extra tariff for considerably better dinners. The Windjammer Cafe is the sprawling indoor-outdoor buffet for breakfast and lunch. The Seaview Cafe is a casual alternative for dinner at no extra charge. Johnny Rockets serves hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries and sodas in an ersatz 1950s diner atmosphere with jukebox tune selections.
The signature Viking Crown Lounge has evolved into more than just one large bar lounge to include several sections that see use as an intimate bar, jazz club, disco and daytime observation lounge. Children have extensive facilities geared to four age groups, and special daily soda charge cards allow all you can drink for a set fee. The sports and exercise facilities include a jogging track, wraparound promenade, golf simulator, putting green, rock climbing wall, sports court for basketball and volleyball and a major spa and fitness facility occupying two forward decks. Two outdoor pools and three whirlpools are located near the top of the ship with adjacent pool bar and pizzeria. Glass-enclosed outside elevators face the sea as they rise and fall to link all the passenger decks.
The 1,055 cabins include 817 outside, of which 577 have private balconies and 14 are handicapped-accessible. The standard cabins have twin beds that convert to queens, faux wood drawers and closets, TVs, personal safes, vanities and small shower stalls. Some cabins have third and fourth family berths and interconnecting doors. Balcony partitions are not solid so one is aware of the neighbors. Suite category cabins have access to a concierge lounge and services for booking table reservations, shore excursions and beauty and spa treatments.
The Jewel of the Seas offers three distinct cruising regions—Caribbean-Panama Canal, New England-Canada and North Europe-Baltic—and offer most all the amenities one could want on a longer cruise.
