This 2026 cruise began April 18th and lasted till April 25th. It was on one of Royal Caribbean's older ships, Jewel of the Seas (Radiance Class). The ship was built in 2004 and refurbished in 2021. Statistics of the ship: length 962 feet, width (beam) 106 feet, gross tonnage 90,090 GT, passenger decks 12, passenger capacity 2,191 double occupancy, passenger capacity 2,700 with 3rd and 4th berths booked, and crew 852 to 859. My cabin was on the port side of the Deck 8, 8056.
The Jewel of the Seas has a beautiful Centrum. The Centrum is the main atrium or central atrium. It extended from Deck 4 to Deck 12. Lots of activities took place on Deck 4 of the Centrum. Also on Deck 4 were Guest Services, Excursions, etc. The art and photo gallery and shops were on Deck 5.
The cruise began/ended in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I spent a few hours with a relative in Hato Rey before boarding the ship. The ship was docked at the Pan American Pier, located in Isla Grande. There is a small airport next to the pier. The Jewel visited St. Thomas (April 19th), St. Maarten (April 20th), St. Croix (April 21st), Dominica (April 22nd), Barbados (April 23rd), and finally a day at sea (April 24th) before returning to San Juan. I really enjoy the days at sea. Very relaxing.
I turned 75 between Dominica and Barbados!!!
After the ship docked in San Juan, I headed to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to fly to St. Croix on JetBlue. I stayed at The Fred in Frederiksted from April 25th to May 1st.
All photos taken with Samsung Galaxy S-26 Ultra, except for the one photo purchased from the ship's photographer.
April 18, 2026
Found in a slot on my cabin door. Inside was card below.
Card was used to enter cabin, make purchases and leave/enter ship. The gifts, cakes, etc. on the right of card was to alert staff I was celebrating a birthday. Though card indicates my DINING was MyTime - Deck 4, I kept eating on Deck 5. Nothing was said. Tides, the main dining room, was on Decks 4 and 5. For safety reasons only the last 3 digits of stateroom was shown, 056. I was in cabin 8056. The card was the size of a credit card, though it looks bigger here.
Centrum - Jewel of the Seas April 18, 2026
Centrum. On each deck, there was a "balcony" that passengers could stand, look over and enjoy what was taking place on Deck 4.
Another view. The partying began early!!
All the way to Deck 12. My scheduled time to arrive at the pier was 4 p.m. but got there a lot earlier. No problems boarding.
Some of the balconies. Elevators on right.
A metal artwork hung in the middle. Balconies can be seen on right and left.
The green staircase, Deck 5 to 4
More of the metal artwork.
April 18th continued
April 18, 2026
Cabin 8056. King bed (2), sofa bed (twin, 1, to left of bed), above bed, visible in next photo, is bunk bed. Cabin could hold 4 passengers.
Bunk bed is above photo on wall, rectangular metal. In cabin was a TV, writing desk, safe, bathroom and lots of storage. On balcony were 2 chairs and table.
More of Centrum, with glimpse of metal artwork in the center.
Green staicase from Deck 4 to 5
Artwork, Deck 6.
Explanation of artwork on left.
Pool Deck
Another view of pool. (To the left/right of bar, was the Solarium, an area with pool and bar just for adults.)
Airport next to pier. Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport
El Capitolio
Did the guy with ball have a name??? I was surprised at how many children were on this cruise!! Lifeguard(s) always present when pool open.
Guys having fun next to the ship
Guide similar to this one was on each deck next to elevator bank, letting passengers know where they were and how to get to other locations on the ship.
View from Deck 12
Catedral San Juan Bautista
Sunset
Sunset
Windjammer Cafe, buffet - conch fritters, fish sticks, Jello-O, etc. plus key lime pie.
Pool & hot tubs at night.
San Juan at night
Another view of pool and hot tubs at night.
A different view
Leaving Pan American Pier
April 18, 2026
Capitolio all dressed up. Ship had started leaving port.
A closer view
And still another view.
Leaving port
El Morro
El Morro, closer view
Another view of El Morro
Looking back at San Juan
I decided to hire a taxi to take me places where I wanted to go. I was not interested in the excursions offered by the Jewel. I wanted to see the 99 Steps (more like 102), which I had never seen during my many trips/cruises to the island, Mountain Top, take photos of the harbor, etc. I was given the tour I wanted by Ms. Joyce Rogers. Ms. Rogers was an excellent tour guide and a very good listener. I forgot to take a photo of Ms. Joyce Rogers and her beautiful vehicle. (If you ever visit St. Thomas, contact: Joyce Taxi Service LLC, TP1238, 340-244-9044, j-rogers@hotmail.com.) By the way, the Jewel docked in Crown Bay. It appears Royal Caribbean will be making changes and upgrades to the area.
St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
April 19, 2026
Sunrise
Another view of sunrise from my balcony.
A closer view of sunrise
On our way to the pier
Brown spots? Seaweed. Seen all over the Caribbean.
Docking
Few of the stores at the port.
The hills of St. Thomas
Modified flag of USVI painted on dock
A marina and homes and hill
Sky Bar
Next to Sky Bar
Centrum
Centrum - Metal artwork, balconies
Another view of metal artwork and balconies
The Jewel docked
Front portion of ship
Almost entire ship. The gangway was on Deck 2.
USVI sign as we left security area
Another view of USVI sign
99 Steps
From Main Street. These stairs lead to the 99 Steps, which are slightly to the right. I think I counted 22 steps here.
99 Steps. I counted 102 to the top. Some say 103
Another view. It should be noted that while I took photos, anyone on the stairs would move to the side. I thought that was nice.
From the top down
A view of the Ninety-nine steps
Greater Tower Street, Ninety-Nine Steps
Hotel 1829, next to 99 Steps
Another view
Another view of 99 Steps
View of the street
Hotel sign
Just in case you get lost
Photo taken on my way back to the van. Harbor area
US Post Office
Emancipation Park July 3, 1848
Replica of Liberty Bell
Views of Charlotte Amalie from stop made.
Another view. Have no idea what's the name of area I am in.
Crown Bay in the background
Another view of Crown Bay
Crown Bay
Havensight Dock
Another view of Havensight Dock. White building in the distance, Frenchman's Reef
Water Island, etc.
A little of everything.
Downtown St. Thomas.
Another view of Havensite
Where was I??
Another stop we made. (Forgot the name.)
Another view
Cyril E. King Airport Runway starts in the sea
Plane landing with ship sailing by
Cyril E. King Airport
A closer view of terminal
List of islands that can be seen from Mountain Top. But then, it started to rain.
Magens Bay
Another view of Magens Bay
Tortola????
Another view of Magens Bay
A closer view of Magens Bay
Mountain Top
Mountain Top
Iguanas of Crown Bay
April 19, 2026
Back on the dock
Jewel of the Seas
Partial view of ship docked next to Jewel
The Jewel of the Seas
USVI sign
USVI sign that everyone posed in front of.
Towel animal on bed. Dog?
Across from Crown Bay
Balcony. 2 chairs, table and a smaller table on the side.
Bar in Centrum, Deck 4.
Centrum
Another view
And yet another view
Ship getting ready to leave Crown Bay
Another view
Royal Caribbean promises "Big Thrills Ahead".
Another view of dock and stores in Crown Bay
One of the many plants on the pier
Closer view of pot
The beautiful art work on the pot. Sexy
Damn, am I really that wrinkled? Maybe too much sun? Leaving Crown Bay
Bye to Crown Bay, St. Thomas
Front of ship. Accessed from Deck 5
Leaving Crown Bay
Crown Bay in the distance
A close-up view
Front of ship. Heliport.
Sub Bay
Sunset
Another view
Bye to St. Thomas
More seaweed
Sunset over St. Thomas
St. Thomas as we sail away
Before the waiters sang for us.
Deck 4 of the main dining room, Tides
St. Thomas all lit up as we sail away.
St. Thomas all lit up as we sail to St. Maarten
St. Maarten/St. Martin
April 20, 2026
Anguilla or Sint Maarten?? On our way to the dock - A.C. Whatey
A closer view. I doubt it's Anguilla
Sunrise
More of sunrise
On our way to pier
Sint Maarten from my balcony?
Is this Sint Maarten?
Even closer view
Residences
Another view
From my balcony
Ship approaching pier
More of St. Maarten. Dutch side.
Statia and/or St. Kitts
Jewel is turning around to then reverse and enter backwards to pier.
Sister ship, Brilliance of the Seas, getting ready to dock.
Brilliance of the Sea reversing to tie up at dock.
Brilliance of the Seas, sister ship
More of the Brilliance
We will be docked side by side
A yatch at the next dock?
View of Philipsburg
The stores, etc., in port
Another view
The area around the pier
Another view of pier area with back of Brilliance visible
A view of the two ships docked next to each other.
The two ships from Deck 12 of Jewel
Elevator area of the Brilliance
A closer view
The Centrum, possibly view from Deck 11.
Another view of Centrum
Pieter Stuyvesant
Plaque by statue's feet
Across the Court House, colorful umbrellas. Area where taxis can be hired. It was not easy getting one. Taxi drivers only wanted to do tours.
The Court House
Views as I walked up and down the boardwalk in Philipsburg
April 20, 2026
Ships from Boardwalk
Another view
Chaises waiting for tourists
Another view
View from the pier for smaller boats
The many buildings on the beach
Another view of beach with all the colorful umbrellas. There is a fee to rent chaise/umbrella.
View of area close to where Jewel & Brilliance are docked
See sign on right
See statue on the left
Court House from Boardwalk
Court House in the distance
Sand and beach by the boardwalk. The ships in the distance.
Part of the boardwalk
Another view of the boardwalk
This is the hotel I stayed in when I flew to St. Maarten. How many years ago? What was the name? It is now just an abandoned shell. Sad.
Sint/St. Maarten continues on Cruises - M-2
The last time this page was updated was... La última vez que actualice esta página fue... May 28, 2026 - el 28 de mayo de 2026
