MITSUGIRLY has a JEWEL of a time on my 1st RC cruise in years!

[mitsugirly]

They had us running all over that ship (as all of the ships seem to do every year)...you'd think I would lose a lot of weight cruising.

 

Of course the other side of her bag had to have a peacock...because it's her favorite bird.

 

 

When we made it to the last 2 places on the list, there wasn't anyone there. We were all disappointed! It wasn't even 8pm yet like they said. They had also told us the ending spot was in the Arcade and I guess I'm used to Carnival having a huge party at the end...and there was NOTHING here. Nothing. No people, no nuttin! Well that was a disappointment.

 

What they handed out was very tiny little plastic eggs. I didn't realize they even come this small. Inside was 1 sticker, 1 pack of very small round pieces of candy and a dinosaur (with each egg being a different type of dinosaur). Hmmm.

 

 

 

Not sure it was worth my time racing around the ship for that, but at least Sakari had fun.

 

We headed back to the room to find our luggage had finally arrived. I broke the rules of immediately putting our contents from the luggage away and just let it sit. Then I would see what "probably" took so long to get our luggage...

 

 

 

There was obviously something in my luggage that looked suspicious. However, the paper said it wasn't taken. I have no idea what it was.

 

We found a fruit and cheese plate left in our room. But, we have no idea why or who it came from. Usually there's a note or something and there was nothing. I wasn't even sure it was delivered to the right room. I would later ask our room steward about it and he said "It's yours".

Hmm, ok.

 

 

There was also 8 bottles of water. Obviously someone who doesn't know me left it? Because everyone who knows me knows I don't drink water (however, I'll let you all in on a little secret...I have been drinking water right before going to bed and I keep one on my nightstand at night in case I get thirsty). <---shhh, that's a secret. I have a reputation to live up to as being a pop drinker only!

 

 

 

[JaniceB]

Loved your pictures of the ship. It really looks beautiful.

Buffets are not my favorite food option. I do love the choices but hate having to walk around and look for what I want. I like hash browns and omelets and they are never easy to find right away. I wish they handed out a buffet map with what is where, I might like them more.

[mitsugirly]

Now knowing that we could possibly starve on this cruise, I decided it would be best to go get our bellies full at the buffet for dinner. I also knew that the kids club WAS OPEN tonight for 1 hour and I was going to take advantage of that! Carnival does NOT open on the first night, NCL does.

 

Off to the buffet we went.

 

They had some awesome displays to celebrate Easter. Chocolate fountains, carved bunny fruit, chocolate everything else.

 

 

 

I couldn't believe the amount of huge chocolate eggs and stuff laying all over the place for the taking.

 

 

 

 

 

They also had some HUGE chocolate bunnies (not in the picture below and I forgot to get a picture) and these are one's that are bigger than the ones you find in the store!

 

 

I guess it's probably a good thing that I don't like or eat chocolate or I would have needed to grab several of those.

 

But, it was a very impressive Easter display.

[mitsugirly]

Dinner consisted of a baked potato with bacon, cheese and sour cream and a salad and I was very pleased...

 

 

until I went to find some desert and decided loaded fries with bacon and ranch dressing would also need to be consumed...along with the desert.

 

 

I was happy with the food selections and the taste of everything was great...including the deserts (one thing that NCL can NOT get right).

 

We were pulling out of OSJ for a week adventure and the party was on!

 

 

 

There's the Fascination...what an amazing vacation we had that time around on her! I was hoping that this would be no different.

 

 

 

 

 

[Thrilled2012]

Hi there! I decided to pop in here to see if you’ve started your review and it’s already up to page 12!! Hehe, looks like I have some reading to catch up on. Miss you guys 🙁

[mitsugirly]

Sakari had been begging to go swimming but for some reason, we just never swim in the pool on the first day. It always seems too crowded and I'm just never in the mood.

 

I knew I wanted Sakari to go to the kids club tonight so that we could head to the casino to check it out. So, I made a deal with her. If she went to the kids club for 1 hour (how long they were open), then when I picked her up, I'd let her swim for awhile. She agreed and off she went.

 

The hubby and I high-fived each other after dropping her off and skipped happily to the casino...wait...where is everyone? Why are the machines all disabled? FAIL! They weren't even open yet. I assume we just wasn't out far enough yet. Darnit. Night one was a complete failure.

 

I decided if we can't have fun at the casino, we might as well go back to the room and unpack. Sounds like fun right? Blah

 

It felt like only minutes after dropping Sakari off that it was time to pick her back up. Sigh. We headed to the pool and gasp...it was closed. Oh no, now I'm the bad mom. Oops. I had no idea they would close by 10pm.

 

I must think quickly on my feet, I must come up with something equally as fun to do to make up for it. I know...putt-putt!

 

 

We made the mistake of taking too long to pick out our putters and balls and a huge group of teens went ahead of us...and stayed and stayed and took forever. We finally decided to skip #1 and head to #2.

 

 

I can see the improvement in Sakari's game with each cruise. She actually made several hole in ones...and so did I...and so did(n't) daddy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time we made it all the way around...guess what group of teens were still on #1? Yep, still there...just hanging out. I'm glad I didn't decide to wait on them. It could have been an all night thing.

 

 

[mitsugirly]

We decided to hang out in the sports area for awhile.

 

 

 

Sakari insisted in playing a game of basketball. Do you notice anything?

 

 

She's the only girl in the group. She don't care and even though a majority of these boys were a lot older and bigger, I can assure you that their shooting skills were level with hers...non-existent. LOL The entire game, which lasted forever, both teams combined made 3 baskets. LOL

 

 

 

I stopped at the buffet to fill up my VIP fancy pop cup and back to the room we went.

 

It was time for the shower and packing our beach bags for our very first port...TOMORROW!

 

Sakari would do a quick drawing while waiting for me to finish packing and then I hear a "mom, I have something to tell you"....oh no, I have only heard those exact words twice in my life from my children and both times it was from Kendra and it followed with an "I'm pregnant". Well, I know this can't be the case in this scenario, so...I felt a little relieved.

 

Sakari continues "For about 2 years now, I've had an imaginary friend named Gola. She is a girl and I talk to her in my mind". Allllrightyyyy then. "This is a fast picture I drew of her, well not really her, but something like her. My picture I drew on the plane was her"

 

 

On that note...it was time for bed where I would now dream of dragons racing around in my daughters head.

 

 

 

[Thrilled2012]

I only made it through page 3 and I have to go make dinner for the minions now. But before I go I just wanted to say that I am so happy that you have "a do not avoid" hotel in PR coming up at the end of your review. I was hoping that you would like since I was saying positive things about it. Also, please keep an eye out over the next couple of days for an email from me. I will be requesting certain pics :(, if you know what I mean. (aarrgghhh). Great review so far as always!

[mitsugirly]

I'd forgotten how beautiful that ship is. It's a far cry from the Carnival circus look I'm used to.

 

Yes, she is a beautiful ship.

 

 

Your pictures are very good, thanks for sharing.

 

 

Wow, Sakari is growing up so fast but kind of neat that we all get to watch her grow up.

 

 

The Jewel is a beautiful ship I have only been on he newer bigger ships and the Majesty and to be honest I don't think I have ever seen the Jewel in any reviews that I have read. Very nice. I hope your trip was enjoyable.

 

Thanks for the compliments on the pictures.

 

 

She is definitely getting big.

 

 

I didn't do any research on the Jewel prior to going so I really didn't know what to expect or what the ship was like. I was definitely pleased.

 

 

Absolutely loved your review. My hubby and I are celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary on the Jewel; Med Cruise 21 Oct 2019 and I cannot wait. Your pictures are fabulous it looks like a really gorgeous ship. Thank you so much for a really informative review.

 

Thank you so much. There's much more to come!

 

Loved your pictures of the ship. It really looks beautiful.

Buffets are not my favorite food option. I do love the choices but hate having to walk around and look for what I want. I like hash browns and omelets and they are never easy to find right away. I wish they handed out a buffet map with what is where, I might like them more.

 

See I'm just the opposite. I would much rather go to a buffet and actually view my food before picking my selection. Then I like the option of going back for more if I really liked it or going back for something else if I didn't.

 

Hi there! I decided to pop in here to see if you’ve started your review and it’s already up to page 12!! Hehe, looks like I have some reading to catch up on. Miss you guys 🙁

 

Well hello there love! We miss you too! I can't wait until next Spring Break!

 

I love, love, love the food on RCCL! It all looks delicious.

 

It definitely was good!

 

 

 

I only made it through page 3 and I have to go make dinner for the minions now. But before I go I just wanted to say that I am so happy that you have "a do not avoid" hotel in PR coming up at the end of your review. I was hoping that you would like since I was saying positive things about it. Also, please keep an eye out over the next couple of days for an email from me. I will be requesting certain pics , if you know what I mean. (aarrgghhh). Great review so far as always!

 

Pshh, the nerve of the minions thinking they need food for some reason.

 

I will definitely keep my eye out. I haven't got to all the pictures yet, but I'll send you anything I can find.

[Cafedumonde]

I almost laughed out loud when you said the mom I'm pregnant. lol. Awesome review. What a beautiful ship. I love the nautical decorations.

[rkkunk]

We were on the Radiance of the Seas last summer to Alaska. I agree, all of the windows to be able to look out is just amazing!

We also don’t get making reservations for MTD. That is why we choose MTD, so we can just show up when we’re ready.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[perfect match]

Great start, Kim, as usual! I have been wanting to do the itinerary you just sailed for a while now, but I'm spoiled by living in FL and being able to drive to port instead of flying. Maybe you will inspire me to finally book......

[mitsugirly]

DAY 2: St Croix!

 

We had never been to St Croix before and I was super excited to visit. I knew that the one thing I wanted to do was to go to Buck Island. It looked so beautiful from the pictures I had seen.

 

Buck Island is a small island that is uninhabited and about 176 acres. This is a protected area and a National Park. It is known for it's great reef and snorkeling area and I just knew I had to go!

 

Thanks to the wonderful people here on the boards, I found that there were several vendors that would take you there: Big Beards, Caribbean Sea Adventures, and Jolly Rogers.

 

It was next to impossible to get in touch with Jolly Rogers. No email, no return calls. Eliminated!

 

CSA, I had been in contact with them off and on and when I said I wanted to book, they informed me that they were already full. Ugh-Eliminated.

 

So that left Big Beards. Now I went back and forth about which excursion to book. They have full day and half day sails. I see a lot of people say they have had a wonderful experience with Big Beards, so I felt that I was in good hands.

 

However, I didn't feel too comfortable with the full excursion because of our time frame in port and the amount of travel involved. Although I try to make the most of our day any time I get the chance.

 

The half day trip: 9:30am-12:30pm and also 12:30pm-3:30pm. The cost is $75/pp adults, $60 for children, $22 for tots.

 

...goes to Buck Island and offers 2 stops. One on the beach at Turtle Beach for about 45 min-1 hour, which is supposed to be rated one of the prettiest beaches by National Geographic. The second stop involves the reef and underwater trail where you snorkel for 1 hour. They give you the guided tour for about 10 minutes and the "cut you free to explore on your own". Then you are returned to Christiansted.

 

The full day tour: 9:30am-3:30pm and is $105 per person/adults and $26 for children 6-12 years old and $25 for children 5 and under.

 

...same as above but then you go to a beach (which is back on the main land, but feels like you are on another island and is very primitive and secluded). You have a BBQ lunch here, for about 1 hr 45 min, and then you sail back to Christiansted.

 

So, you have to take a taxi from the cruise ship area (you meet a rep at the taxi station named Ms Gumbs). You also have to pay an extra $16/pp round trip for the taxi that is NOT included in your excursion price. Check in is at 8:30am at the taxi's and check in at Big Beards is 9am.

 

Note that you must prepay for this tour with Big Beards!

 

After considering the travel time and the return boat time was 3:30pm, add another 1/2 hour in the taxi puts us at 4pm, then more time for anything that could go wrong (with all aboard time at 4:30pm), I decided I didn't want to cut things that close and I would just do the half day tour.

 

I mean really when you think about it, $105 x2 + $85=$295 for the full day.

 

versus

 

half day... $75 x2 + $60=$210.

 

This is a difference of $85!!! Do you really think we are going to eat $85 worth of food? It's hamburgers, hot dogs and chips with fruit and rum punch.

 

I decided to book the half day...then was told they were SOLD OUT! UGH! Go me for waiting for so long. Now I'm stuck with a full day.

 

I started frantically researching and seen someone comment about how much they enjoyed their trip with Big Beards and they had really wished that they would have done the full day sail instead and was recommending it. So, I felt a little better after that...but still nervous.

 

Jill at Big Beards said they would make sure that they had enough taxi's waiting for when we returned to head back to the cruise ship and we would make it on time.

 

So, the day had come! I knew I was going to be a nervous wreck all day, but yet trying to enjoy myself.

 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

We were on the Radiance of the Seas last summer to Alaska. I agree, all of the windows to be able to look out is just amazing!

We also don’t get making reservations for MTD. That is why we choose MTD, so we can just show up when we’re ready.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Radiance was my first RCCL cruise - also to Alaska. As I understand it, she (being the first in this class) was specifically designed FOR Alaska with all the glass. My second RCCL cruise was on Brilliance (sister #2) to the Med. And in 76 days I'll be on Jewel (baby sis) to Greece! Only the Serenade to go and I'll have cruised all the Radiance sisters.

 

I will speak to why I make reservations with My Time Dining. I make them for the same time every night at a time between the two seatings. First it allows me to eat at a "decent" time instead of stupid early or crazy late. Second, since I have to eat gluten-free, I like having the same service team, but since I cruise solo I do NOT like being put at a solo dump table or worse being the lone solo with a group of couples. It's just never a good scene - way too awkward. With my reservation for the same time each night, they are able to give me the same table in My Time Dining each night with the same service team. It works beautifully. There was a whole little colony of us on Brilliance who did the reservation at a normal time thing and all sat in the same area. So while *some* people may feel that the point is to eat whenever, for others of us the point of MTD is to allow us to make a reservation at a time that works for us between the two fixed times.

[mitsugirly]

Monday morning and time to rise and shine at 6:30am. I was having problems sleeping...truth be known I was VERY worried about the time frame today.

 

 

 

I woke my family up at 7am and we were out the door by 7:15am.

 

Up the elevators we went to the buffet. Only this time...we noticed something...

 

 

 

All the elevators said "Monday" on them. Hmmm. The day before they said "Sunday" and the hubby even ask me if that might have been the previous name to the ship. LOL So now we know. They actually change them daily to say what day it is. How neat is that!

 

I feel like such an idiot now.

 

We made it to the buffet and there was hardly anyone here. That's weird. No crowd and your choice of tables to sit at. No waiting in line for food. Well this is a first.

 

Then I discovered it...the ABSOLUTE BEST BACON IN THE WORLD!!! Made right here on the Jewel. It was cooked PERFECT and crispy with no fat or chewy stuff and layered in the tray perfect and best part...NO BACON POLICE! Hallelujah! I had found my favorite place to be!

 

They also had corn beef hash! It was AMAZING <--- I'm singing that word now in my opera voice.

 

(Notice the potatoes and no hashbrowns discovered yet.)

 

 

Well hello there St Croix...

 

 

 

[rjrice1]

Continue to follow...

We were on the Jewel a few moons ago in Fort Lauderdale.. She is a beautiful ship too.

We sailed out of San Juan a few times... but its nice to hear other experience and shore excursions as well

Thank you

[CruisinChills]

 

 

 

Up the elevators we went to the buffet. Only this time...we noticed something...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the elevators said "Monday" on them. Hmmm. The day before they said "Sunday" and the hubby even ask me if that might have been the previous name to the ship. LOL So now we know. They actually change them daily to say what day it is. How neat is that!

 

 

 

I feel like such an idiot.

[\QUOTE]

 

 

We did a transatlantic on the Jewel 10 years ago (my then-3-year-old’s very first cruise, in fact!). I’d forgotten how beautiful the ship was, but I’ve NEVER forgotten those glass elevators with the ocean view and the days of the week! My daughter LOVED those. (And more than one staff member joked during the cruise that “they change them on every floor”.).

 

Enjoying the review!

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[mitsugirly]

We were able to get off the ship right at 8am. It was a L-O-N-G pier.

 

 

We headed out and tried to find this taxi stand they said to go to.

 

 

We had to ask a few people, but found it.

 

 

The person that was working this "Christiansted Shuttle" tent was actually the person they told me to look for.

 

I did see little booths set up with vendors there.

 

 

 

We paid for our taxi and got our tickets. We were in the van and leaving by 8:28am

 

I'm not sure what "Welcome to Fire" means...

 

 

I did see a sign along the way that said "Free estimates for basic home repairs from hurricane". I guess the hurricane must have tagged them too?

 

The driver told us that the oil factory there was the second largest and owned by someone that lives in New Jersey.

 

My view:

 

 

[mitsugirly]

I didn't really see much poverty like you do in a lot of the ports in the Caribbean.

 

 

 

It seemed fairly nice here.

 

 

I don't know just how many motorist have to hit a fire hydrant before you have to put up a concrete barrier around it and paint it bright red...

 

 

 

We are coming to a dead end...we must be here.

 

 

 

It took us 34 minutes to get there.

 

Here is Big Beard's

 

 

This was the place that you check in and they also had a little "store" inside there. You could buy drinks, beer, chips and so on to take with you on the excursion. We did buy some pop of course and a few extras. They provided some coolers with ice and you could put your things in there to keep them cold, which was nice. I just wished that I would have bought more than I did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

This is the dock area and you can see the huge sail in the air...that would be our boat.

 

 

The dock.

 

 

 

So..I just have to comment on the "choice" of boats they have.

 

First- those on the half day sail are on a boat with motors and said they were speed boats.

 

Second-those on the full day sail are on an actual sail boat.

 

Ummm, shouldn't this be the other way around? Shouldn't the people that are on a full day sail be the ones with the faster boat? They are the ones pressed for time to get back and make it back to the ship on time. They actually advertise their "leisurely sail back to the dock" with their sail boat and I'm sorry, but it kinda irritated me with the thought of being late because we we're "leisurely sailing" along. We need to be in a hurry to get back when it's all over. Sigh, I'm going to give myself a heart attack thinking about this all day.

 

 

 

[JoyMouse]

Thanks for your pictures of the lovely Jewel. I had forgotten how truly beautiful she really is! Prompts me to look at booking her again if she moves out of San Juan. I see your Hotel Director is Robert Taggert. Your on board experience should go smoothly, as Robert is one of the very best hotel directors!

 

 

 

Jewel moves to Miami around the first of the year and then after her Mediterranean season is cruising the Middle East winter 2019-2020. The Middle East cruises haven’t been released yet.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[mitsugirly]

They had us wait on the dock, in the hot sun, for some reason, instead of getting on the boat and sitting down. The other 1/2 day trip was allowed to board their boat and sit to wait for them to leave.

 

Our crew was Mike, Kristen and Daniella. They told us a little about the history of Big Beards and how they had been in business for 40 years. The owners name was John, but there was already someone there that had a business named Big John, so he decided to name the business Big Beards...since he had a ... well... big beard. John has since retired and the business was sold off to keep the legacy going. They said John actually did look like the Big Beards picture you see on everything on their logo.

 

They did mention that the boat we were currently on, did get some damage by the hurricane and it tour up the front and the railing down the side and a spot in the back. So, I guess they did get some damage by the hurricane. I just really didn't hear or read much about it.

 

 

 

I tell you what, these little bitty girls do all the work on here. Mike is the Captain and that's what he pretty much does...drive the boat. Both of these girls were doing some heavy labor with carrying everything from food to barrels of drinks, coolers, lifting the sails...you name it. They were really working hard.

video:

CV-bPhUE-4I

We pulled away from the dock around 9:45am and we were on our way to Buck Island.

 

 

 

 

 

Someone lost their boat. The crew mentioned that they had never seen it there washed up on shore before.

 

 

Buck Island was in view and I couldn't wait to see this beautiful place.

 

 

 

[CAC104]

Ok, that concludes my ship tour...WHEW! Sorry if I missed any areas. By the last day of the cruise, I was still finding areas that I hadn't seen the entire cruise. I know there's other places (like the work out place, which always had tons of people in it so I didn't want to go around and snap pictures of them, and places like the spa) but hopefully this will give you an idea of most of what's located on the ship.

 

She's a beautiful ship and we really liked the layout of it! Super easy to navigate.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading. :)

The Country Club is where you go to pick up sports equipment and sign up for different sports events. I love the Jewel. I did a 14 day transAtlantic on her and hated to get off. I liked that line of ships so much we did a 15 day Circle Hawaii cruise on her sister ship. To me, it is the perfect sized ship, but we aren't into all the water slides, rope climbing, etc. and really enjoy being able to see the ocean and feel the ship move through the water.

[mitsugirly]

We arrived at Buck Island some time around 10:45, so it takes about an hour to get there although it sure didn't seem like that long.

 

It was absolutely beautiful there. The beach was gorgeous and so was the water.

 

Now notice in the picture where the boat is docked. Yes, it is out in the water. The steps leading down from the boat are in the middle of it. You have to climb down the steps and wade in the water to the beach. So...if you are bringing anything ashore with you, you are going to have to carry it and if you don't want it to get wet, you carry it above your head.

 

 

 

Immediately the mermaid was off to find her special spot to swim.

 

 

We were told that we could snorkel to the left and it's somewhat of a grassy area and then there's an awesome place to snorkel to the right where there were some rocks. Well, I wanted awesome so we went right.

 

The hubby brought his new snorkeling mask with him to try out. He would later use these for scuba and he needed some practice first.

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

We found the spot that looked like it had rocks and in we went.

 

I immediately spotted this little guy and I was super excited

 

 

 

A cute little (well not so little actually) spotted trunk fish.

 

 

Sakari found a cool snail to show me.

 

 

 

 

Daddy and Kari snorkeling