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Royal Caribbean International

MV Jewel of the Seas

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Reviewed by: Johan Thibaut
# previous cruises: 3
Date of Trip: April 27, 2007
Itinerary: Europe

It was a four-day cruise from Amsterdam to Oslo, by Copenhagen, and two seas. Although end April, the weather in the North Sea was glorious. Three wonderful northern cities combined with a beautiful sea on a very sea-friendly ship. Absolutely worthwhile.

The check in in Amsterdam was bad and absolutely chaotic. On the time of departure, when the ships horn was blowing, we were still queuing with hundreds of fellow passengers. By this we missed the Boat drill, which i found a minus point.

There is a big atrium, with one side totally of glass, almost 5 decks high, which is really a plus, as the sea and light is always near, as you always pass through this area.

The dining room is clearly a reference to the Liners Golden age, with two decks high, and a grande descente.

Especially nice was the cocktail bar in the Atrium, which has wide windows at the side of the ship. Pleasant for lunch was the Aft terrace of the Windjammer Cafi, on the aft deck, just above the wake of the ship. Pleasant in the sun, under the blue sky.

There is a covered pool, which is nice, but unfortunately it is the only kitsch decor, which has to resemble something from Thailand. If the plants and the decor weren't plastic, it could have been handsome, but not now.

Still it is a pleasant pool to swim when outdoors is too chilly. THe Safari Club is a very nice and cozy lounge at the aft of the ship, with also some lovely views of the wake of the ship.

The theatre was comfortable, and big.

There is a walk around promenade, and you can get from the tip of the bow (where there is a helicopter pad) to the fantail. It wasn't used much. More in use where the open top decks, with the pools, golf course, climbing wall etc.

The Food in the main dining room was good and varied. The service was very attentive, the wine list was rather diverse.

Dining in the evening in the Main Dining room is quite spectacular, especially with the Grande Descente stairs.

There was also the Windjammer Cafe, where the buffet was, with lots of indoor seating, and some outdoor seating. Indoors there are lots of windows. The food was diverse and good. Really no complaints.

You could also have burgers and so on a cafe on top of the ship, and pizza and pancakes in the indoor pool (but this was inconveniently closed, especially after day excursion)

We had an indoor cabin on 8 Deck, which was quite big enough, a small but complete bathroom - no complaints here either.

The entertainment was a pleasant surprise. There were four entertainments, a musical on the first evening, which was quite good, a marvelous tango presentation, on the second, acrobats on the third, which was the least interesting, and a Beatle cover group, which could really bring some ambiance.

The theatre was big and comfortable, better than some theatres here on land. All by all, we would have been sorry if we would have missed it.

It was a cruise from Amsterdam to Oslo by Copenhagen. We were early enough in Amsterdam to have a nice walk there (we had been there before). Copenhagen is a wonderful capital. THe ship docks rather close to the city centre so you can walk, along the Little Mermaid to the Royal Palace and so further in town. It was sunday so much was closed. The visit to the Royal Palace Amalienborg interiors, the royal museum, was not very interesting, but the Glyptothek, which is free on sundays was quite stunning. The pastry in the cafi is made by the best Danish pastry chef of the country. The Antique statuary is quite good. Copenhagen is a must in the Baltic.

In Oslo we were the first from the ship, it was a short walk to the station where we could deposit the luggage, and we could walk from there through the main street to the Royal Palace, where we took the tram to the Vigeland PArk, with all his statuary/ Back in the old port, we took a tramboat to the Vikign ship museum = three original viking drakkars, which were dug out some time ago and restored, which is quite interesting. Oslo is a nice capital, but I have the feeling that we have seen most of it in these good half day. Luckily in all these cities we had good weather, with lots of sunshine.

During the two sea days, we could relax on board the ship : the days flew by. The last day there was a technical talk in the theatre, and as this was a cruise to Norway, and most passengers (ca 55%) were Norwegian, this was most in norwegian, something which the senior crew clearly enjoyed.

The ship wa full. Clearly lots of families, with grandchildren, children grand parents. More than half of the passengers were Norwegian. Dutch and Belgians were together a quarter, and the rest was very diverse.

Our table mates were another Belgian couple of middle age, and an Amsterdam architect couple of our age.