Jewel of the Seas vs Grandeur of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas was built in 2004. It was renovated in 2021. It's 8 years newer than the Grandeur of the Seas, which was built in 1996 and renovated in 2021.

Comparison Overview

Ship Size

The Jewel of the Seas is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 962 feet long and 106 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 12-story building. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas, the Jewel of the Seas is 22% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas holds about the same number of passengers as the Grandeur of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Jewel of the Seas has more space per person compared to the Grandeur of the Seas. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Grandeur of the Seas
ClassRadianceVision
Gross Tonnage90,09073,817
Length962916
Beam/Width106106
Passenger Decks1211
Passengers (double occupancy)2,1911,992
Crew852760
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.62.6
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)4137


Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Jewel of the Seas has thirteen different dining options like Izumi Sushi & Hot Rocks, Giovanni's Table, and Chef's Table. Of those options, seven are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other six options have an additional fee.

The Grandeur of the Seas has one more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Izumi Sushi & Hot Rocks, Giovanni's Table, and Chef's Table. eight of these restaurants are complementary and the other six have an additional fee.

The Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas & Grandeur of the Seas

Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Grandeur of the Seas
Cafe Latte-tudes
Chef's TableLearn More
Chops GrilleLearn More
Giovanni's TableLearn More
Ice Cream Parlor
Izumi Sushi & Hot RocksLearn More
Main Dining RoomLearn More
Park Cafe
WindjammerLearn More

Bars and Drinks

Royal Caribbean's Vintages
Royal Caribbean's Vintages
Royal Caribbean's Schooner Bar
Royal Caribbean's Schooner Bar

The Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas has 4 more bars than the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Grandeur of the Seas
Casino Bar
Island Bar
Lobby Bar
Pool bar
R Bar
Schooner Bar
Sky Bar
Solarium Bar
South Pacific Lounge
The Congo Bar
The Pit Stop
The Safari Club
Viking Crown Lounge
Vintages
Vortex Nightclub
Zanzibar Lounge

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Jewel of the Seas and the Grandeur of the Seas below.



Pools and Hot Tubs

The main pool on Royal Caribbeans Jewel of the Seas
The main pool on Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas
The main pool, 4 hot tubs and giant movie screen on Royal Caribbeans Grandeur of the Seas
The main pool on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas has a total of 2 pools and 3 hot tubs.

The Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas has the same number of pools as the Jewel of the Seas and more hot tubs.

Worried about lots of kids onboard? Visit The Solarium, an adult-only area for guests 18 and older only. Both the Jewel of the Seas and the Grandeur of the Seas have full-depth adult-only pools in The Solarium. Both have adult-only area with a retractable glass roof. They’re both located in the middle of the ship.

Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Grandeur of the Seas
Total Pools22
Pools - General Access11
Pools - Adults Only11
Pools - Exclusive00
Total Hot Tubs36
Hot Tubs - General Access24
Hot Tubs - Adults Only12
Hot Tubs - Exclusive00


cruise coloring book

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Royal Caribbean Edition


Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Jewel of the Seas, 70% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Grandeur of the Seas, only 62% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Grandeur of the Seas
Adult Only Relaxation Area
Arcade
Basketball
Casino
Climbing Wall
Fitness Center
Mini golf
Pool-side Movies
Shows - musical review
Spa
Learn moreLearn more

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas will likely be more expensive than on Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$18.50
Tip added to drinks & services18%
Soda Price$3.50
Domestic Beer Price$8.25
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$77 - $118
Learn more
Internet Plan$19 to $30 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.






About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.