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Two Hours Onboard... Jewel of the Seas
October 2011
By Lisa Plotnick
It is understandable that passengers flock to brand new cruise ships. It’s often exciting to experience the latest in technology, design, and innovation. Yet, in limiting themselves to the youngest ships, cruisers will easily miss out on other marvels of the sea—most just a few years old—that offer many of the same amenities. Among these is Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) Jewel of the Seas, a ship I had the pleasure of visiting on a turnaround day in October 2011.
Ship Facts
Jewel of the Seas was built at Meyer Werft Yard in Papenburg, Germany and made her
maiden voyage in May 2004. She is the fourth, and last, of RCI’s Radiance class ships,
following sisters Radiance of the Seas (2001), Brilliance of the Seas (2002), and
Serenade of the Seas (2003). The Radiance class was introduced between two highly
innovative classes of RCI ships—the Voyager class (1999-
At 90,090 gross tons and 2,112 guests double occupancy, Jewel of the Seas and her
sisters are smaller than her newest fleetmates, yet continue to wow. The Radiance
class ships exude a feeling of openness, from her 8-
My tour of Jewel of the Seas was self-
The Centrum
We begin at the Centrum, or atrium, the hallmark of RCI’s ships. Yet, this was not
the reason to use this area as a starting point—quite simply, I was directed here
after boarding the ship on Deck 5. Indeed, this made for a wonderful first impression.
The soaring atrium, which extends from Deck 4 through Deck 12, has an open feeling
on every level, largely due to the bright marble, brass, and chrome décor and plenty
of natural light. A piano in the Lobby Bar on Deck 4 provides an ambiance that carries
through to each overlooking deck.
The areas surrounding the atrium on each deck are also put to good use. All have comfortable seating areas overlooking the Centrum. Decks 5 and 6, feature a latté bar and champagne bar, respectively. Although they are set back from the Centrum rail, they are hard to miss. Deck 7 has some seating outside an Internet Café, and Deck 8 has an entry to the International Ambassador’s desk. Deck 9 was my favorite, as it was home to the Library. I am one of those passengers who enjoy shipboard libraries and, while this one wasn’t large, it was comfortable. Deck 10 is home to a club for members of the line’s repeater program, with the concierge lounge off to the side. The atrium elevators extend further up to Deck 13, home of the line’s signature Viking Crown Lounge.
On the port side of the Centrum, across from the Centrum-
Restaurants
Jewel of the Seas offers six dining venues (aside from room service). I saw all but
the two outdoor venues—a pizzeria and sandwich shop—and even enjoyed a meal in the
main buffet area. I was invited to the Windjammer for lunch, and had a lovely meal
of fish, green beans, lentil salad, key lime pie custard, and unsweetened iced tea.
Other offerings included the usual sandwiches, carving station, salads, and desserts.
The weather was cool, so there were plenty of seats just outside from which to choose,
as I didn’t want to bother the passengers who were seated indoors.
The main dining room, called Tides Dining Room, is lovely. It is two decks high, and features a beautiful mural in the aft section that captured my attention. The white columns, large dome lighting, and twin staircases give it a comfortable, old world feel, punctuated by the bright colors of the mural and dinnerware. I glanced at tonight’s menu…the sea bass would have been my choice.
The two extra-
Menu items for the three-
On the menu for Chops were six courses, including shrimp cocktail, smoked duck salad,
warm goat cheese and basil soufflé (appetizers), cheese and onion soup and forest
mushroom soup (soups), a salad course, numerous side dishes, and, for dessert, chocolate
mud pie, red velvet cake, and passion berry duo. Entrée selections included filet
mignon (10 or 7 ounces), broiled porterhouse steak (18 ounces), beef short rib, Alaskan
halibut, free-
Both restaurants also offer a special wine pairing menu at pre-
Lounges
Having been a passenger on some of RCI’s earlier ships, I was naturally drawn to
a couple of their signature lounges. The focal point, of course, is the Viking Crown
Lounge, located atop the ship on Deck 12. Unlike earlier lounges of the same name,
the more recent incarnations do not offer a 360-
The other, the Schooner Bar is my favorite place on Royal Caribbean ships, not surprisingly,
due to its nautical theme. Although the feel is more of seafaring than of ocean liner
history (as you’d find on Cunard or HAL), I have always felt at home here. On Jewel
of the Seas, I think one can even have drinks in a schooner-
The Pit Stop Bar, located between the show lounge and casino on Deck 6, is tastefully
decorated in an auto-
The Champagne Bar, also on Deck 6, is lovely. The design is whimsical yet muted,
including champagne-
I enjoyed the Safari Club, which is actually several venues in one. There’s a dance
floor, a very large seating area alongside an aft-
Recreation and Rejuvenation
As one who occasionally enjoys a cruise ship production show, I always make it a
point to look at the main show lounge. Jewel of the Sea’s Coral Theatre is quite
nice, spanning Decks 5 and 6. The seats are very comfortable (yes, I tried one out
while talking to a very nice couple who were sailing). Having cup holders in the
armrests is a nice feature—one I’ve seen before, yet always appreciated. And the
décor depicting underwater hues was beautiful to admire, yet I don’t imagine it would
distract from performances that are held here.
The Shopping Mall—difficult to avoid as one traverses Deck 5—is similar to what I recall from my earlier cruises on the line’s Vision Class ships. The shops are congregated in one area, along a pathway that encircles a central jewelry desk. I imagine this area may get crowded in the evenings, as passengers make their way from the main dining room to the show lounge, or vice versa. It appeared that the stores offered a variety of merchandise, from logo items to fine perfumes.
I made my way up to Deck 11, where I was in for a superb treat. Located forward on
this deck are two areas in which to find some peace and quiet. The one more associated
with RCI ships—the Solarium—is stunning. Given the cool weather, the roof is up.
I think I prefer it this way, as it gives it a more spa-
Just forward of the Solarium is the large area that encompasses the Spa, Gymnasium, and Hair Salon. I was given a personalized tour of these areas by a most gracious hostess. I admit that I am not one for spas, yet I could see myself spending some time here, especially on the tiled chairs! The treatment rooms looked quite comfortable.
Now, on to something I know a little more about—the gym. A large aerobics/exercise floor is bordered on three sides my many pieces of varied equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, exercise/stability balls, and weight machines. While I don’t use treadmills on a cruise—as I prefer taking my walks on deck—this room was indeed welcoming, and larger than my gym at home.
The salon was lovely, as well. I noticed that the coloring stations had sea views—something that’s not necessarily a given on ships. There was a large bank of hairdryers against a back wall. Manicures and pedicure stations were set up nearby. (A manicure at sea is one of my indulgences.) Had I thought of it, I would have taken a price list—please forgive me. Yet, I do recall seeing that the prices were comparable to what I would pay at home (keeping in mind that I live in a large city).
On Deck
I enjoy seeing how cruise ship architects design the exterior spaces on ships, especially
as many of today’s ships sacrifice open space for numerous private balconies. Yet,
I believe I would be quite comfortable on the outer decks of Jewel of the Seas. I
often relate how all I need is a book, a blanket, and a deck chair on a lower-
Yet, the weather was not cooperative the day of my visit—it was rainy, cool, and
windy—so I skipped my planned trek to Deck 13, aft, to see the rock-
Yet, I did take some time to explore the outer decks that offered some protection from the elements. The jogging track one deck above the pool appears somewhat tight. Yet I enjoyed the promenade on the deck just below the lifeboats. Although it wasn’t a full circuit and had a spongy surface (which was great in the rain, by the way), it was enjoyable to stand by the deck railing and watch the action on shore. A note for walkers—there are a couple of places where the promenade curves and takes a mild incline.
Closing Thoughts
Jewel of the Seas has made Boston her home during the autumn season for several years, so I have seen her from afar many times. It was wonderful to finally get onboard and have a look around. I would most definitely consider a Radiance Class ship for a future cruise—not just for its marvelous layout and ambiance, but also for the tremendous hospitality shown to me by the crew members I encountered that day. Thank you, Royal Caribbean, for providing me with two incredible hours onboard this beautiful ship.