Five Things to Know About Royal Caribbean International's Jewel of the Seas Cruise Ship

Many passengers automatically think “megaship” when they think Royal Caribbean. But fans of mid-size ships will find plenty to love about the line’s Radiance class vessels, each of which carry fewer than half the passengers than the line’s Quantum- and Oasis-class vessels, allowing it to stop at ports the bigger ships can’t go.

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If you had to pick one thing that distinguishes a Radiance class ship from the rest of the Royal Caribbean fleet, you’d probably say “all that glass.” From glass elevators to huge floor-to-ceiling windows to the glass-enclosed atrium, passengers have a view to the outdoors from almost everywhere in the ship.

Jewel of the Seas may have the feel of a traditional cruise ship, but it still offers many of Royal Caribbean’s signature activities, such as a rock-climbing wall, a basketball court, mini golf, a video arcade, and a kids’ pool with a waterslide. And if you’re in the mood for a workout, you can always hit the fitness center where you’ll find lots of classes (yoga, Pilates) to help you burn off that buffet.

If chilling by the pool with a book is your idea of a good time, this is the ship for you. There are three pools onboard, including the adults-only Solarium pool, which has a retractable glass roof. De-stress even more at the Vitality Spa, which offers everything from body wraps and massage to acupuncture and Botox.

When you’re not sampling the local cuisine onshore, you’ll have several onboard options to choose from. For dinner, do the main dining room or pay an extra fee to eat steak at Chops Grille, Japanese at Izumi, or Italian at Giovanni’s Table. After, head to Vintages wine bar to finish off the night with a glass of port.