Jewel Of The Seas

The 2004-built Jewel of the Seas cruise ship is the 4th/last Radiance-class Royal Caribbean liner, with sisterships Brilliance OTS, Serenade OTS and Radiance OTS.

The vessel (IMO number 9228356) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311583000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is a US passenger shipping company, trademarked travel brand, and subsidiary owned by Royal Caribbean Group (RCG/shipowner). RCI was established in 1968 and currently has over 1/5 of the worldwide cruise market. RCI also has RCG's largest fleet by both vessel number and GT tonnage (ship sizes and capacities).

All RCI liners have names ending with "of the Seas".

With GT tonnage 90090 tons (making it the largest of the medium-sized vessels), the 2500-passenger ship Jewel OTS has just enough space for some of the storied Royal Caribbean innovations, such as wonderful alternative dining venues, superb solarium pool, a rock-climbing wall and expansive Adventure Ocean children amenities.

The ship feels practically petite in comparison to the newer and bigger Oasis- and Voyager-class fleetmates. However, Jewel is big enough to offer a variety of dining options and entertainment, yet small enough to offer more immersive itineraries than bigger Royal Caribbean vessels. Like all Radiance-class cruise ships, Jewel of the Seas features glass throughout its interior, thus granting passengers plenty of ocean views.

During refurbishment 2016 were added new restaurants - Izumi (Asian), Giovanni’s Table (Italian), new bar, poolside outdoor theater, shipwide Wi-Fi coverage with VOOM Internet, new digital signage boards, cabin renovations (smart HDTVs in all cabins).

Decks and Cabins

Jewel Of The Seas staterooms (1072 total, in 32 grades) include 61 Suites, 529 Balcony, 241 Oceanviews, 241 Inside (3 single). Most cabins are sized 165-190 ft2 (15-18 m2). Most cabin balconies are sized 45 ft2 (4 m2). The smallest is Studio Interior (110 ft2 / 10 m2). The largest is Royal Suite (1000 ft2 / 93 m2 plus 105 ft2 / 10 m2 terrace). Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 19.

The boat has 13 decks, of which 12 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The main dining venue, especially at dinner, is where nearly half the cruise liner is ordering and eating simultaneously. The service is first-class in all zones. The Tides Dining Room is the 2-floor main restaurant, decorated with a moonlight and tide romantic theme. Food is nicely presented and well prepared. The elegant room features tables on two levels and wonderful views of the vessel's wake. The menu offers several choices of salads, starters, soups, main courses, cheese, and desserts.

The Windjammer Cafe is the main buffet venue. It is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and informal dinner. Numerous stations serve up pasta, burgers, salads, and sweets. Portofino and Chops Grille are ship's alternative restaurants. Chops is a steakhouse venue with an open kitchen. Enjoyable as Chops is, the real highlight of Jewel's onboard dining is Portofino with favorites including tiger shrimp risotto and spaghetti with lobster sauce. Both Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Table levy a per-person service fee.

Follows the complete list of Jewel of the Seas restaurants and food bars.

• Tides Restaurant (1112-seat aft Dining Room has a small private dining room (Shoreside).
• Windjammer Cafe Lido buffet restaurant (680-seat, offers Early Breakfast at 6:30 a.m., Breakfast between 7-11:30 am, Lunch 11.30-3:30 pm, and Dinner 6.30-9 pm)
• Chops Grille (86-seat specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Portofino (95-seat Italian restaurant) during refurbishment 2016 was replaced by Giovanni’s Table (Italian specialty restaurant).
• Seaview Cafe (104-seat complimentary fast food and coffee bar) during refurbishment 2016 was replaced by Izumi (Asian specialty restaurant).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The midship-located Centrum Atrim serves as a central spot for most activities. During the evenings, its Lobby Bar is the hottest spot on Jewel for after-dinner dancing. The lavish, 3-deck Coral Theater hosts the production shows and games. The ship has a real modern feel and does a fine job in incorporating some of the best facilities that have become Royal Caribbean trademarks.

Onboard cruisers will find classics like Schooner Bar and Windjammer Cafe, as well as a climbing wall up to the smokestack, tiny golf, and a waterslide. Other additions include the pretty Seaview Cafe, and the rather avant-garde Vortex disco.

Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Youth program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of Jewel of the Seas lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Coral Theatre (features grand production shows with dance, acrobatics, comedy, and games)
• Vortex Disco and Nightclub (126-seat, with a revolving bar)
• Photo Gallery and Shop; Art Gallery
• The Centrum (social hub, offers aerial acrobatics entertainment); Serengeti Club (40-seat card room); Safari Club Lounge (320-seat; hosts art auctions, karaoke, religious services); Zanzibar Lounge (52-seat); Next Cruise Lounge; Concierge Club (196-seat suite and past guests only); Yacht Club Lounge; Viking Crown Lounge & Bar, Crown Lounge (fka Diamond Club Lounge & Bar for past guests only)
• Lobby Bar (47-seat atrium bar); Champagne Bar (52-seat wine bar); Game Reserves Bar (15-seat); Cafe Latte-tudes Bar (46-seat specialty coffee bar, Starbucks Coffee); The Pit Stop Bar (102-seat sports bar); Schooner Bar (134-seat piano bar); The Congo Bar; Sky Bar
• Vintages (wine bar)
• Centrum Boutiques (duty-free; clothes, perfumes, accessories, jewelry, logo souvenirs, General Store/alcohol, and cigarettes)
• Casino Royale (258-seat)
• Royal Caribbean Online Center (Internet computers room; 24-hour)
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center; 3 jacuzzis; 2 pools
• Solarium lounge (includes Cafe Bar, pool bar and adults-only pool area)
• Cinema (57-seat)
• Video Games Arcade; Fuel Teen Disco Club; Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• Adventure Beach; Adventure Ocean kids lounge area
• Sports Court (golf simulator, table tennis, basketball court); Jogging Track; Rock-climbing Wall; Fairways of Jewel Golf Course.

During the ship's 2016 refurbishment were added digital signage boards (numerous touch-screens throughout the ship), also Wi-Fi coverage was upgraded (to shipwide) and fast-speed VOOM Internet is now available.

Itineraries

Jewel of the Seas itinerary program is based on Caribbean voyages (roundtrips from homeports San Juan Puerto Rico and Galveston Texas USA) and European itineraries based on homeporting in Amsterdam Netherlands and Haifa Israel. The homeporting in Holland provides Northern European itineraries (UK and Iceland, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords/Arctic Europe) while the homeporting in Israel is for voyages in the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean) visiting the Greek Isles (Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, with Piraeus-Athens) and also 3-night/short-breaks to Cyprus (Limassol, and the premium seaside resort Ayia Napa).

Following the Coronavirus crisis, Jewel OTS restarted operations in the Eastern Mediterranean (July 7 through October 23, 2021) with 7-day "Greek Isles" itineraries roundtrip from Limassol, Cyprus Greece.

The Caribbean itineraries out of Puerto Rico visit island destinations like Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, St Maarten. The roundtrips from Texas visit Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Maya, Progreso), Belize City, Roatan Island Honduras, the Netherlands Atiles (Curacao, Aruba), and Grand Cayman.

Jewel OTS is Royal Caribbean's last Radiance-class liner, with sisterships Brilliance, Radiance, Serenade. Radiance-class vessels are built in accordance with Panamax standards allowing them to transit through Panama Canal.

The vessel was delivered by Meyer Werft (Papenburg Germany) on April 22nd, 2004.

The inaugural cruise (maiden voyage) started on May 8, 2004, following the christening ceremony on April 7th, held in Southampton England. The 7-day roundtrip itinerary visited destinations in Iberia (Vigo, Lisbon), France (La Rochelle) and the UK (Guernsey Island's St Peter Port). Then the ship was relocated to Harwich (homeport) for voyages in Northern Europe/Baltic. The 12-night ex-UK roundtrips visited ports in Scandinavia and Russia, the British Isles and Norway's Fjords. Following the inaugural summer 2004 season in Europe, Jewel OTS was repositioned to North America and homeported in Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale Florida USA. The 6- and 8-night roundtrip itineraries visited island destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

The ship's godmother was Kathy Mellor - winner of the "2004 National Teacher of the Year" prize. Kathy lives in Rhode Island (USA) and teaches English as a second language. The prize was given to her by President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush.

Like on all RCI ships, Jewel's Atrium is called "Centrum". The 9-deck high Atrium features floor-ceiling windows and vast interior spaces, allowing Jewel OTS to offer fantastic sea views. Ship's shopping area includes a premium jewelry store and also designer-branded boutiques.

ex-Cyprus cruises 2021

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in 2021 Jewel OTS had a Baltic program based on homeporting in Copenhagen Denmark and Stockholm Sweden with 7-night Baltic-Scandinavia-Russia itineraries.

In late-March 2021, RCI rescheduled the ship for a mini-season (July 10 thru October 23) based on 7-night "Greece and Greek Islands" itineraries (in the Aegean Sea/Eastern Mediterranean) leaving roundtrip from Limassol Cyprus (homeport/first-time for RCI). Bookings opened on April 7, 2021.

Prices were in the range USD 800-2000 per person with double occupancy.

Jewel OTS refurbishments review

Jewel OTS's last drydock was in 2024 (April-May) conducted at Damen Shiprepair Brest (Brest France). The 3-week project was also routine and included technical overhaul, hotel upkeep, safety inspections and classification works. Machinery overhauls included the electrical systems, the propulsion system (Azipods, bow thrusters), and also the fin stabilizers. The entire hull and superstructure were cleaned and repainted. All exterior windows were replaced.

The ship's drydock in 2021 (May) was at Navantia Shipyard (Cadiz Spain) and for routine maintenance and classification works (done usually every 5 years). The drydocking project included technical works (hull painting, checking the propellers and both stabilizers) and class inspections.

The list of deckplan changes after the drydock refurbishment in 2016 (March 21 - April 6) included:

• New passenger accommodations were added - one 2-Bedroom Family Suite (category TS) plus a total of 24 oceanview and balcony cabins (on decks 2, 4, 9, 10, 11).
• On deck 6, the Portofino restaurant was replaced by Giovanni's Table (Italian specialty restaurant).
• On deck 12, the Seaview Cafe (104 seats, complimentary fast-food diner, and coffee bar with waiter service) was replaced by Izumi (Asian specialty restaurant).
• On deck 6, Vintages (wine bar) replaced the Champagne Bar.
• On deck 4, the Seaside private dining room (starboard, 102 seats) was replaced by inside cabins.
• On deck 8, Explorer's Court (small relaxation area) was replaced with 1 inside cabin.
• On deck 12, the RCI's Nursery (Royal Babies & Tots) was added.
• RCI's digital signage boards were installed (numerous touch screens throughout the ship). The Wi-Fi coverage was upgraded to ship-wide. The fast-speed VOOM Internet is now available.
• Cabin renovations included new TVs in all passenger staterooms.
• On Lido deck 11, a poolside outdoor theater (Jumbotron movie screen) was installed.
• On deck 13, the Hollywood Odyssey (70 seats Cigar Club & Lounge) was replaced by Concierge Club.
• Chops Grille, the Spa and retail shopping areas were redesigned and refreshed.

Jewel OTS refurbishment project's total cost was ~USD 30 million. The vessel is among the last RCI liners to benefit from RCI's expensive fleet revitalization program for implementing OASIS-class features (facilities and amenities) fleetwide.