We just got back from an Eastern Med cruise (left July 16th) and I was shocked to read negative reviews of a great cruise. We are a family of 4 with two kids 11 and 16, and we can be a fussy bunch, but I can only reign down praise on Royal Caribbean.
First I read from someone on the same cruise "the ship is too small and too old". Previously we had been on the Explorer of the Seas, which had been newly refitted to hold over 4,029 passengers, replacing open areas such as bars with cabins. It was a nightmare - it was nearly impossible to find chairs to sit down in the evenings as there were too many passengers for the size of the communal areas. Conversely the Jewel of the Seas has only 2,501 passengers and had not suffered from a greedy refit ruining the cabin to communal area ratio. We were easily able to find seats in the bars!
Someone said "The musical shows were not good" - and I will concur. The shows seemed to cater to people in their 70s and 80s with a classical Italian singer and a Beatles cover band - the latter was quite good. But the actual passenger demographic was more 30s, 40s and 50s. So the entertainment seemed wholly out of step.
Our cabins 7088 and 7086 were fairly near the "Centrum" area - the center area of the ship. They had parties STARTING at 11:45pm in this area so be warned and try to avoid being less than 5 cabins away from Centrum unless you are a deep sleeper. That said we did sleep OK.
Book a local tour. We used Andrew Stathopoulos and paid 154 Euros for a day trip for four to Olympia, a winery and the beach. Olympia tickets, wine and food are extra.
Don't waste money on the excursion. We ended up at the same winery as the excursion, paid less and got more personal service!
Be careful taxi drivers hard selling day tours at the cruise terminal. Stick to your guns and 25 Euros each way should get you to Athens. Less on a meter outside rush hour.
Amazing place but beware lines to get tender tickets start early.
Go to 218 degrees in Oia (turn left at the church) thank me later. Drink the local white wine. Great food and service. Plus the million dollar view. Thank me later.
Rome is amazing and is covered more than adequately elsewhere
Chaos reigns at the bus/taxi lot. Don't waste time waiting for the taxis, there aren't enough by far. Take a bus, buy a ticket and go to Paradise.