Jewel of the Seas Review 3-10 May So. Caribbean

[rblank28]

We are ro excited to read every work of your post. we will be taking this cruise in Feb. Although we have cruised alot, we have never been to these ports. Keep writing!!!!!

[surfnsun]

While we wait for Doc to post some St. Lucia photos, I thought I'd share this one with you all. It's a pic of workers in a field and something struck me about. It's on the road from nelson's dockyard area over to devil's bridge, so maybe less traveled than your typical tourist route. Enjoy!

 

[surfnsun]

We are ro excited to read every work of your post. we will be taking this cruise in Feb. Although we have cruised alot, we have never been to these ports. Keep writing!!!!!

 

Well alrighty then! :):D Thank you! I'm thinking between Doc and I tag teaming and 2500+ pictures between the two of us, we could probably do this for a while longer.

 

What's up...I mean...whatda ya say, Doc?

Edited May 18, 2014 by surfnsun

[docsdrillers]

A few photos to add to Peg's wonderful review and commentary on St Lucia.

 

 

 

 

The were views from our chairs under the thatched roofs that you see on the left...just breathtaking.

 

 

Peg is what i like to call a very creative person...a so called "mover and shaker"...you will see the picture of what i alluded to earlier in the review where Peg figured out how to keep the Rum Punch going even under water...just a brilliant person....as well as some underwater sights..

 

 

 

 

 

A few more in the next post.

[docsdrillers]

 

You'd be lucky to cruise with these wonderful people !!!! and may God bless you and your families for just doing what you do!!!!

 

 

[rblank28]

I loved your whole review, and it gave me some great choices for my cruise in Feb. but..... I also like bargain shopping. I don;t mean the $10,000 diamond ring--I mean the $40.00 silver pendant. Usually local stores more so than diamonds international. Does anyone have favorite places in the southern carribbean?

[Marilyn Johannes]

I was wondering what time you got off of the ship? We are looking at an 11:45 AM flight in September. We've done this itinerary before and didn't have trouble catching a 10:45 flight.

[cruiseapril]

Totally enjoyed the great review(s)- especially all of the notes about the excursions.

 

Surf- I noted that you were on the Dawn Princess in 2005. We were too- a fine 10 day Southern to: Curacao, Isla Margarita, Barbados, Dominica,

St. Thomas, and Princess Cays. Was this your itinerary also? We liked the variety of islands and cultures.

 

Am noting your experiences in Antigua and St. Kitts, as we have not yet been to those islands.

 

Also, on our second Southern, we stopped in Barbados again and went to the beach nearest the port- Carlisle Bay. Did you go there?

[surfnsun]

I loved your whole review, and it gave me some great choices for my cruise in Feb. but..... I also like bargain shopping. I don;t mean the $10,000 diamond ring--I mean the $40.00 silver pendant. Usually local stores more so than diamonds international. Does anyone have favorite places in the southern carribbean?

 

Thanks! Our favorite port to shop is St. Maarten. We've gotten some really great deals there over the years. DH bought a silver bracelet there on this last cruise. A lot of options in terms of stores and we usually store hop from one to the other negotiating for a good deal. Lots of stores close together so it's easy to store hop.

Edited May 18, 2014 by surfnsun

[surfnsun]

I was wondering what time you got off of the ship? We are looking at an 11:45 AM flight in September. We've done this itinerary before and didn't have trouble catching a 10:45 flight.

 

DH and I were one of the last off the ship but that was ok because our flight didn't leave until 2pm. We probably didn't get off until nearly 1100, much later than typical and maybe the weather had something to do with it. If we had stated our flight was leaving earlier, we would have been able to depart much earlier. Additionally, if you can do "self assist' and handle your own bags, you can depart as early as 7am and not later than 715am. I think Doc got off earlier than we did and he had a later flight, but I think he used a trick of the trade to do so...

Edited May 18, 2014 by surfnsun

[surfnsun]

Totally enjoyed the great review(s)- especially all of the notes about the excursions.

 

Surf- I noted that you were on the Dawn Princess in 2005. We were too- a fine 10 day Southern to: Curacao, Isla Margarita, Barbados, Dominica,

St. Thomas, and Princess Cays. Was this your itinerary also? We liked the variety of islands and cultures.

 

Am noting your experiences in Antigua and St. Kitts, as we have not yet been to those islands.

 

Also, on our second Southern, we stopped in Barbados again and went to the beach nearest the port- Carlisle Bay. Did you go there?

 

 

 

Hi cruiseapril! Thanks and I'm glad you are enjoying the reviews! :)

 

Our Dawn Princess cruise was our one and only 10 day cruise and we loved it. Don't think it was the same itinerary as it included the Western route. I hope to do the one you mentioned as it does sound like a great variety and I do like a variety of cultures! :)

 

We drove by Carlisle Bay on the way to the catamaran tour. Dancer 19 and family went to Brown beach on Carlisle Bay and absolutely loved it! That was our Plan B had the catamaran excursion not worked out to our advantage.

 

Best!

Surf

[surfnsun]

Oh my gosh, Doc! Your St. Lucia pics are AMAZING! How did I miss some of those snorkeling scenes? Probably because the line to snuba with the rum punch didn't extend that far. :p:D

 

And thanks for your pic of us and kind words! :):)

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

 

DH and I are doing the same itinerary on Jewel in 4 short weeks. Your review is amazing!!

 

I have a few questions that hope you can answer...

 

We are also doing the Eco Tour in Antigua. What was on the buffet for lunch? DH is rather picky. He likes plain food, chicken, beef, pork, without sauces. Was the food plainish? Or should I make sure he eats a big breakfast and bring snacks?

 

DH and I were on Oasis 3 years ago and absolutely loved Chops. Does chops have the new menu or the old menu? I am specifically looking for the parmesan potatoes.

 

Thanks again for your amazing review!!

Teri

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Chops did have the parmesean potatoes as well as the baked potato & sauces & porterhouse steak that have been noted in other posts to be gone from the "new" menu so this is the old menu as far as I can tell. I thought I remembered seeing the surf & turf but it doesn't show on the menu I posted below:

[bumbletigger]

Chops did have the parmesean potatoes as well as the baked potato & sauces & porterhouse steak that have been noted in other posts to be gone from the "new" menu so this is the old menu as far as I can tell. I thought I remembered seeing the surf & turf but it doesn't show on the menu I posted below:

 

 

 

It does look like the old menu. That makes my heart and stomach happy. 😊. Thanks again for everything!!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[docsdrillers]

We had a 305 pm flight and wanted to get off as late as possible.

We were initially told that would be around 930-945 but due to the rain they were running over an hour behind and we were thrilled.

 

Since we were in one of the suites we were very fortunate to have the concierge escort us personally off the ship...we felt badly because he also made arrangements for a porter to take us to the front o fa special customs line as well as the cab line.

 

I think if the weather is fine and you can do self embarkation then you should be fine with an earlier flight.....

 

 

DH and I were one of the last off the ship but that was ok because our flight didn't leave until 2pm. We probably didn't get off until nearly 1100, much later than typical and maybe the weather had something to do with it. If we had stated our flight was leaving earlier, we would have been able to depart much earlier. Additionally, if you can do "self assist' and handle your own bags, you can depart as early as 7am and not later than 715am. I think Doc got off earlier than we did and he had a later flight, but I think he used a trick of the trade to do so...

[surfnsun]

Chops did have the parmesean potatoes as well as the baked potato & sauces & porterhouse steak that have been noted in other posts to be gone from the "new" menu so this is the old menu as far as I can tell. I thought I remembered seeing the surf & turf but it doesn't show on the menu I posted below:

 

Thanks for the assist, Lisa! :)

[surfnsun]

Sorry for the repeat...but I've been sitting here looking at the photo I posted earlier trying to figure out why I like it so much. I think I know...it shows the typical (probably) day of a field worker and while there are a lot of pictures around that show people working in the field, I doubt there are too many like this one. I cropped it a little more and maybe you can see....this guy standing up to smile and wave at us. Now, that may seem like no big deal, except I seriously doubt working in the field is a dream job for most and this guy took the time to actually stop and smile and wave at someone in a taxi with a bright yellow stripe along the bottom taking the picture...hmmmmm...maybe that's the reason I like it so much....or maybe it was already big news all over the island that we were going to visit John Jacob's mother. :)

 

[Familygoboston]

While we wait for Doc to post some St. Lucia photos, I thought I'd share this one with you all. It's a pic of workers in a field and something struck me about. It's on the road from nelson's dockyard area over to devil's bridge, so maybe less traveled than your typical tourist route. Enjoy!

 

 

One of the reasons I like biking on islands is you get a chance to see these "out of the way" locations! I have found everyone is so friendly when we are on the bikes, weve often chatted with workers on the side of the road!

Edited May 19, 2014 by Familygoboston

[docsdrillers]

Peg requested some photos to whet your appetite for any upcoming cruise...i must confess that i don't take many pictures of the interior of the ship so sadly i just have a few.

 

 

A picture of our neighbours balcony at sunset....just kidding!!

 

 

The ship really glows nicely at sunset times.

 

 

 

[cruiseapril]

Enjoying the great photos in these reviews.

[docsdrillers]

Thanks..Glad you are enjoying them...Peg told me that there will be 2500 more:)

 

Enjoying the great photos in these reviews.

[surfnsun]

Thanks..Glad you are enjoying them...Peg told me that there will be 2500 more:)

 

I'm not quite sure that is exactly what I specifically stated. :D

 

What I do believe I exactly and specifically stated is that you, Doc, have some catching up to do as according to my tinypic account, I've posted 200+:eek::eek: pics and videos and you, my friend, are no where close to that and you even had a second camera that had a lense on it the size of a size 13 shoe with all sorts of gadgets and I think even a foot pedal of some sort for something or other.

 

I hope the above was perfectly clear. :D

[docsdrillers]

You can't handle the truth:)

 

 

I'm not quite sure that is exactly what I specifically stated. :D

 

What I do believe I exactly and specifically stated is that you, Doc, have some catching up to do as according to my tinypic account, I've posted 200+:eek::eek: pics and videos and you, my friend, are no where close to that and you even had a second camera that had a lense on it the size of a size 13 shoe with all sorts of gadgets and I think even a foot pedal of some sort for something or other.

 

I hope the above was perfectly clear. :D

[Ashland]

Loving your review...We'll be on Jewel mid September but doing the itinerary that includes Aruba...then on her again next September for the wonderful return of RCI to the west coast (Pacific Northwest).. Having sailed for many years on RCI....Jewel is a favorite of ours one of the best was a 12 nighter to Northern Europe/Baltics...I'll be sad when she under goes her next drydock for the new updates..she's a classic.

[surfnsun]

Loving your review...We'll be on Jewel mid September but doing the itinerary that includes Aruba...then on her again next September for the wonderful return of RCI to the west coast (Pacific Northwest).. Having sailed for many years on RCI....Jewel is a favorite of ours one of the best was a 12 nighter to Northern Europe/Baltics...I'll be sad when she under goes her next drydock for the new updates..she's a classic.

 

Thank you Ashland! Very much agree with your comments about what a wonderful ship Jewel is.

 

And if Doc can get his other camera going with that foot pedal, we might see some more good pics....if not of the ship...maybe some more islands/excursion experiences. :)