Jewel of the Seas
The last of Royal Caribbean’s four Radiance-class ships, Jewel of the Seas debuted in 2004 and received a $30 million renovation in 2016, which added several new restaurants and a poolside movie screen, among other upgrades. This 2,191-guest vessel is a casually elegant mid-sized ship that straddles the big-ship, small-ship realm with her extensive amenities yet intimate feel. Still, it’s important to remember that Jewel of the Seas is a two-decade-old ship, its age is certainly showing, and another refurbishment would do wonders to keep it up-to-date.
What We Love
Light-Filled: Jewel of the Seas’ acres of floor-to-ceiling glass walls — and four banks of glass elevators — flood the ship in natural light, and provide sweeping vistas of the sea and approaching ports from many of the public areas.
Hot & Cool Itineraries: You can cruise the Caribbean aboard Jewel of the Seas, but you can also wander further from home with sailings from Amsterdam to cooler locales in Iceland and the British Isles.
Best Known For
Hopping Nightlife: Choose from the Vegas-style Casino Royale with its dozen gaming tables and 195 slots to the self-leveling pool tables in the Safari Club. Take in a Broadway-style show in the three-story theater, or sip wine in Vintages. In all, there are more than a dozen bars, clubs, and lounges to experience.
Specialty Dining: The Main Restaurant on Jewel of the Seas — one of just two complimentary dining venues on board, the other being the buffet-style Windjammer Café — has menus that change every night. But for noticeably better quality food, you’ll need to reserve (and pay an extra fee) to enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine at Izumi, Italian classics at Giovanni’s Table, and steaks at Chops Grille.
Who It's Good For
Couples: Aside from summers and holiday periods like Christmas when there are lots of families with kids on board, Jewel of the Seas is ideal for couples on a budget who appreciate the ship’s manageable size, numerous nightlife choices, and the Balinese-inspired spa and Solarium.
Families: This is a ship both adults and kids will enjoy. The little ones have an Adventure Ocean playroom and a kiddie pool with a slide, while teens have their own disco. Meanwhile, grown-ups can laze around the serene, adults-only Solarium and take a dip in its pool, or catch up on their reading in one of the many quiet, ocean-view lounges. (Come evening, these become great night spots.) For fun family time, there’s a climbing wall, mini-golf, a basketball court, and a poolside movie screen.
Don't Say We Didn't Warn You
Compact Cabins: Standard inside and outside cabins are efficiently designed, but small (measuring 160 to 169 square feet). Bathroom space is also tight.