rccl-majesty10

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Gibson Lao
Email: glao@usa.net
Age: 28
Occupation: Network Administrator/Webmaster
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: June 20, 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 99
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService: 91
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 92
DeckService: 99
ShoreExcValue: 89
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 99
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 99
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 82
ExerciseFacilities: 89
EntertShowLounge: 94
OverallPortsofCall: 93
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 92
EmbarkDisembark: 91
DiscoNightclubs: 92
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Jul 1999
Time: 12:08:14
Remote Name: 204.246.202.101
Remote User:

Comments

Before I write this review, let me preface this by saying that this was my first cruise (OK not exactly, I went on a cruise with
my parents when I was around 10, don't remember the ship, the itinerary. Only thing I remember was spending the entire
cruise at the arcade and trying to sneak into the casino.) This cruise was also my honeymoon with my lovely new wife.
Since I have nothing really to compare this cruise to, I am not qualified to say this cruise was better or worse than another
one, but I will try my best to point out the positives as well as the very few negatives that we experienced on the Majesty of
the Seas.

I shopped around for our cruise about 7 months before the sailing date and got several quotes; although, it wasn't the
cheapest rate, I ended up booking with my local travel agent because I was sure she would take care of us. We did not
purchase the Air-Sea package from the cruise line since booking them ourselves, again thru the TA, was cheaper and I had
more control of what airline and the time of departure of the flights.

We flew into Miami the same day as the sailing date (I know from reading the other reviews that it is highly recommended
to arrive a day in advance, but for us it was not an option.) We got into Miami around 1:30 almost 2 in the afternoon, flight
was delayed a little bit which made me slightly nervous. At the terminal as well as the baggage claim area I saw RCI reps
holding up signs and pointing the Air-Sea passengers toward the shuttles to the pier. We found our suitcases, attached our
luggage tags, and hopped on a taxi cab for a 15 minute, $18 ride to the Port of Miami. There were 3 other cruise ships in
port when we got there: the Enchantment of the Seas, and 2 Carnival ships, the Destiny & Celebration. Porters are there to
take your bags for you, we gave him a buck per suitcase (I don't think it was required but visions of seeing our suitcases
floating out into the Atlantic Ocean made that decision easy for me.) Here was when I was glad we arrived at the pier a little
later, It was close to 3 pm when we got in line to check in, therefore we missed most of the crowd, 5 minutes later we took
our embarkation photo and we were on the ship.

We were so amazed at the Centrum when we first walked onto Deck 4, just like everyone else had said, it looked like a
hotel with brass and glass everywhere. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that we have been upgraded from a Deck 2
outside stateroom to Deck 8, the Mariner Deck. The room appeared to be the same size but now we had a window instead
of the porthole on the lower deck. . We got our SuperCharge cards along with the room key from tables set up on each
deck. The blue SuperCharge cards were what we used to purchase anything on the ship, they kept a running total of our
account and give us a statement at the end of the cruise. Yes, the staterooms were on the smallish side as well as the
bathroom but it was clean & comfortable for the amount of time we spent in there. Hangers were plentiful and our suitcases
fit nicely underneath the bed. The bed consisted of 2 twin bunk beds put together to form a queen size bed. Our luggage did
not arrive at our stateroom until after dinner. I was concerned that they would have trouble getting us our suitcases since we
changed staterooms but I was assured by the helpful people at the purser's desk that they have all the necessary
information.

It was easy to get lost around the ship the first day because it was huge but there were layouts of the ship everywhere and
by the second day we began to find our way around with little problem. A welcome aboard buffet was set up at the
Windjammer Café until around 4, we were too excited just to be on board that we skipped food for now. At around 4:30pm
we went to the mandatory muster drill, where we had to put on our life vests and check in with a crew member assigned to
that area. I don't know what the problem is with some people refusing to go to these drills, anything to do with my personal
safety, I'll gladly participate in regardless of how stupid it may seem. After the drill it was off to one of the upper decks to
watch the other cruise ships leave. We were the last ship to leave Miami at around 5:30pm.

THE SHIP - is magnificent. The Centrum area looks like the lobby of a hotel. Crew is seen polishing brass and glass round
the clock. One time as the ship was leaving port, we were on the upper deck looking down at the bow of the ship where
several of the crew were working to raise the anchor; as soon as that anchor was in place, a crewman with a paint brush
was painting over scratches left by the chain. When we stepped off the ship, more crewmen were painting the hull of the
ship right at the waterline. RCI seemed very intent to give passengers a good impression. On Deck 4 where we boarded the
ship was the purser's desk as well as the shore excursion desk. The next deck up housed the shops and boutiques along
with the casino. For a ship that carried 2,500+ passengers along with about 800+ crew, I was pretty impressed with the
overall upkeep of the ship. The Majesty of the Seas is considered to be an older ship now but we couldn't tell especially
comparing it to the newer Carnival Destiny.

DINING ROOM FOOD & SERVICE - We ate all our dinners and breakfast once at the dining room. There were 2 dining
rooms: the Mikado & the Maytime. We were on a table for 6 at the main seating in the Mikado Dining Room. The food was
always excellent, if you did not like what you originally asked for, they are quick to bring you another entrée. There was
always a grilled chicken meal as well as a grilled steak meal for the less adventurous types. Some nights I couldn't decide
between 2 different entrées so the waiter simply brought both of them to our table. Desserts were consistently good and
visually presentable. Safe to say I 'pigged out' during dinner (hey, I'm on vacation). Our waiter Ted from Romania was just
awesome, he did his job professionally, efficiently, and quickly. Anybody that would ask if he could peel my shrimp for me
gets an A+ rating from me any day. He also had the personality to go with it, the people sitting in the three tables that he
served were always there early and left the latest because we had the most fun with him. Our assistant waiter Antonio from
Portugal did not say much, but he tried very hard to fulfill everything requested of him. He was always running around filling
glasses, bringing more bread, etc. He would remember what everybody at the table had to drink the previous night and bring
it to us the next night without us even asking for it. The last night we tried to confuse him when everybody asked for
different drinks than usual, he still served us with a smile. The Headwaiter came to our table every couple of nights to ask if
everything was satisfactory and to see if Ted & Antonio were serving us well. Just for grins we asked him if our servers will
end up being dishwashers or window cleaners if we complained about them, the headwaiter gave us a serious look and
simply said 'You will be surprised.' Of course we gave Ted & Antonio glowing comments after that. Our tablemates were 2
other honeymoon couples, so we got along with them just fine. It's amazing how going on a cruise can put you in a mood,
that complete strangers become great friends by the end of the week. My question after experiencing this on the Majesty is
how come I can't get this type of service in a land-based restaurant?

ALTERNATE DINING ACCOMODATIONS - The Windjammer Café is located on Deck11 on the same deck as the pools. It
had an outdoor section as well as an indoor air-conditioned section. Food was served buffet style. We ate most of our
breakfasts here as well as our lunches when we were not in port. Breakfast had pretty much the same food everyday along
with an omelette station but it was fine for us. Lunches were very good with various meat, vegetable, chicken, & seafood
dishes as well as a carving station. There were also several ice cream machines that were used pretty extensively due to
the hot caribbean weather.

STATEROOM SERVICE - As I mentioned before, we were on Deck 8. Our stateroom was on the port side just below the
lifeboats. We could see the bottoms of the lifeboats from our window but it did not block our view, I could see this as being
a problem on the deck above ours though. Our cabin attendant was Toby, a very nice guy who seems to know just when we
left out cabin so he can sneak in there to clean up after us. He would always arrange the pillows on the bed into some sort
of design, some nights he would leave animal creations on our bed using towels and our sunglasses. The next day's
Compass (a daily schedule of events put out by RCI so you can plan your day) as well as other important notices were
always sitting on our bed when we get back in the cabin at night. We ordered room service once for breakfast by hanging a
card on our door the night before. Food came at the requested time and it was all good. Heard from others that you could
order room service and get the exact same selections as the dining room for dinner.

ENTERTAINMENT & ACTIVITIES - Every night except once we went to the shows at the Chorus Line Lounge after dinner
(second seating sometimes had their shows before their meals). The cruise director, Jeffery Arpin, served as MC for the
shows and he was great. They had a stand-up comic several nights, a comic juggler, as well as a comic magician. All were
great in performing their acts and incredibly funny. We also had the Coasters (Yakity Yak) perform one night. The Wave
Revue singers and dancers didn't do much for me and neither did the female vocalist. The last night the cruise staff
performed their own little skit which was really dumb but I could not stop laughing. There were more than enough lounges
around the ship that you are bound to find one that suited your taste. I thought the Crown Viking lounge at the very top of
the ship was neat but was rarely used by every body. The pool deck was always teeming with people especially during the
sea days, and yes people put towels down on the chairs to save them which was annoying but we did not really have
problems finding a spot. The pools were salt water but there were fresh water showers by the pool to wash off in. The pool
areas were the focal point of some of the shipboard activities like horse racing, the belly-flop contest, etc. There were
enough bar servers running around that a nice frozen drink was always available. Note that the drinks including pop (soft
drinks or soda - depending on where you're from) are a tad more pricey than a regular bar or restaurant plus they add an
automatic 15% gratuity charge to each drink, but order the drinks without the souvenir glasses or get the drink special of
the day and you can save a few bucks. We went to the Battle of the Sexes game as well as the Not-so-Newlywed game
and had a blast. Missed the Majesty Quest game but our tablemates said it was great. Bingo was offered at different times,
we didn't participate in it but observed a session and it looked pretty well attended, especially the last day when the jackpot
$ figures got pretty big. Art auctions were held at the Centrum on several ocassions. We hit the casino on a few ocassions,
didn't win anything but unfortunately succeeded in getting the wife hooked to gambling. Photographers set up stations
around the ship to take formal portraits on several days. These photos were displayed and are available to purchase from a
specific area on Deck 3 the following day. There were many other activities available that it is impossible for me to list them
all in this review.

PORTS OF CALL - Labadee, Haiti was the first stop, it is RCI's private island resort. We did not sign up for any shore
excursions here and just treated the day as a beach day. The first beach had jet skis, banana boats, etc. and most people
ended up staying at this beach. We walked to the third beach down where the snorkeling area was. Hammocks were
abundant as well as beach chairs. Most people rented floating mats and just floated all day. We brought our own snorkeling
gear but they were readily available for rent at the equipment shops. They marked off 2 areas with bouys for snorkeling, I
saw some reefs at the first site and a sunken plane at the further site. Not much fish to see and the reefs were not colorful.
The water was also pretty cloudy. Went to Dragon's Rock after lunch, and enjoyed hearing the rocks 'roar' as the tide
came. Labadee had a lot of Haitians selling their wares, they were pretty persistent in trying to get us to look at their stuff.
A polite no and we were on our way. - Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We had a 12 noon shore excursion so we had time in the
morning to do whatever. I was a little apprehensive going out into town by ourselves because of everything I've heard about
the place, but it's just like any big city here in the US, use common sense and you'll be OK. We took a cab to Soni's one
of the shopping places in town. Bargain with the vendors, it is very much expected, they will have a heart attack if you
decide to pay for something with the original price they gave you. All the shops seemed to have the same exact stuff in
them, so just go to the store that gave you the best prices. We decided to walk back to the pier since it was only a 10
minute walk, we were asked by taxi drivers on every block if we needed a ride, I found it quite humorous. We took the
beach horseback riding excursion and it was a great experience. We rode through some countryside and by a polo field
owned by some very rich folks in Jamaica up to a beach area. There the guides told us to change into our swimwear and
we took our horses out into the water. It was a very refreshing ride. Our behinds were sore for a couple of days but it was
well worth it. Tried Jamaican rum on the way back to the pier, loved it, bought it, still enjoying it. - Georgetown, Grand
Cayman. It is a tender port just like Labadee, so we needed to stand in line waiting to get on the tender. Originally we did
not sign up for any shore excursions because I knew we could sign up for them cheaper at the shore. Unfortunately Grand
Cayman was our shortest stop and I didn't want to waste time so I broke down and signed up for the Stingray City
snorkeling tour. We were not disappointed, it was such a scary yet thrilling experience to swim, pet, and feed these gentle
southern stingrays. We were the first boat out there and that's when the stingrays are the most active, we saw about 50-80
of them follow the boat to the sandbar. We got some awesome pictures with our underwater camera. It was definitely an
experience that I will never forget. Shopping at Georgetown was more expensive than the other ports, because their
currency is valued more than US$. Bought rum cakes that made great gifts to relatives back home. I heard 7 mile beach
was beautiful and the scuba diving was out of this world. - Cozumel, Mexico was our last port of call. The ship stopped at
Playa del Carmen first to drop off some passengers, only those on the Tulum, Xcaret, & Cancun shore excursions were
allowed to get off. Assuming we wouldn't get to Cozumel until after 11am (the scheduled time), we slept in that morning
because we were so tired from the previous days and nights' activities. The ship got to Cozumel around 10:30am but us
sleepy heads got off an hour later. We did not book any excursions here, but rather we just hopped on a cab for
Chankanaab National Park. This park had an archeological site which showed some Mayan stuff (sorry I'm not really up on
their proper terminology), it also had a botanical park in which we saw quite a few iguanas as well as several colonies of
leaf-cutter ants going about their business. The park also had the dolphin adventure where you pet, swim, and play with the
dolphins, but cost some $$$ to participate in. There was a beach area as well as some snorkeling sites as well as a scuba
diving site. The snorkeling was great, the water is so clear fish can be seen from shore. It is also a beach entry site so
novices can get a chance to try snorkeling without too much problems. I brought a small box of Rice Crispies from the ship
with me to feed the fish, we saw hundreds of fish flock around me when I did this. I really don't know if this was allowed or
not but apparently the multitude of fish scared some Mexican woman and she started yelling at me in spanish. Later that
afternoon we went shopping at downtown San Miguel, prices on blankets were better at the park gift shop. Saw Carlos &
Charlie's but did not go in, wanted to stay sober and make it back to the ship in time. Make sure to grab a cab early
enough to get back to the pier on time, later in the afternoon the traffic was pretty congested on San Miguel's only
throughway. The cab driver told us this was nothing since there were only 2 ships in port, but during the winter months
when there are 8-10 ships in, it is a madhouse. Fat Tuesday's was at the pier and saw some of the cruise staff playing
volleyball and having a good time in the area.

DEBARKATION - We had breakfast at the Windjammer then waited at the Schooner Bar for our color to be called. They
bring all your suitcases to a warehouse and arrange them by colored tags. We found our bags quickly thanks to the advice
I received from other cruisers of putting obvious, distinguishing marks or ribbons on our bags the night before. It was raining
cats & dogs in Miami when we got there, great way to finish a vacation after a whole week of perfect weather. Then began
the airport marathon to get us back home, but that is not the cruise line's fault so I will not dwell on it.

MISC COMMENTS - There were facilities and activities for children called Adventure Ocean which looked very organized
and fun. There was a half court basketball area, ping-pong tables, & shuffleboard areas. A movie cinema was available in
Deck 2 but I heard people were talking loudly in there while the movie was playing. String bands played in the Centrum area
as well as in the dining rooms. We only made it to 2 midnight buffets, I just could not stuff that much food in me. The gala
buffet was a sight to behold, I did not know food can be assembled, carved, arranged that way. The crew was generally
friendly and greeted us whenever we met them. All the so-called talks that are held on the ship: shore excursions,
shopping, debarkation, etc. were all replayed on our room TV. The spa was run by Steiner; my wife & I had a massage on
the last sea day, it was OK but quite pricey and they did not get all my knots out. Book your spa appointments for sea
days as well as the shore excursions you plan to participate in early, as soon as you board if possible, since they fill up or
sell out fast.

My wife & I really enjoyed this cruise and would not hesitate to recommend the Majesty of the Seas to anyone or go on her
again in the future. I apologize if this is a bit long winded, but I got valuable insight on this cruise from reviews like this one
during the months previous to our trip. It's only right for me to return the favor. Email me at glao@usa.net for any questions.

Name: Bruce Powell
Email: Powell_Bruce@Promina.org
Age: 40
Occupation: Safety Director
NumberOfCruises: 7
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 04 July to 11 July 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 4551
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 89
CabinComfort: 79
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 79
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 79
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 89
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 99
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 79
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 79
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 88
DiscoNightclubs: 79
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 89
ShopsOnBoard: 79
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Jul 1999
Time: 15:11:25
Remote Name: homer.promina.org
Remote User:

Comments

Each year my wife, daughters (ages 7 and 12) and I spend a great deal of time in planning our cruise. In previous
years we have sailed on the other lines and have always wanted to try RCCL. Also, since we would be travelling
with my wife's parents we took their advice and selected the Majesty of the Seas. My inlaws have been on the
Majesty before, as well as two sister ships to the Majesty. They cruise 3-4 times each year and have
accummulated over 52 cruises. As you can see, we have something to compare this trip to.

The Majesty is a very pretty ship from the outside and the inside is just as impressive. The moment you enter the
centrum you can see the crew takes great pride in maintaining the ship. Enough of the fluff, here are the
highlights, and a couple of lowlights.

Embarkation: This has to be the smoothest process we have seen, and certainly the earliest boarding of any of
the lines. We got to the pier by 11:00am and waited in a very short line to check-in. Our boarding passes were
stamped and we were shuffeled into another short line where we waited only 20 minutes. As a matter of fact, I
think we were one of the first ten people to board the ship by 11:40. Our cabin was right on Main Deck and was
easy to find.

The cabin: Very small for a family of four, but our Cabin Steward Cornielius did a great job in making it seem big.
(Nothing like travelling with three females and their 40 pairs of shoes!) Storage space is a little problem in the
cabins on the Majesty.

Food: Breakfast, lunch and the afternoon snack were eaten in the Windjammer Cafe on the Pool Deck. The food
was good and there was a wide variety of items each day plus the cheeseburger and fries. There were never any
long lines waiting to eat and you could always find a seat to accommodate the 6 of us. We had second seating the
the Maytime Dining Room. The space is very comfortable and elegant looking. The food is very good and each
night was some type of theme, featuring foods from that particular region. Also, this was the first time we have
ever had a female server. She (Jurgita, pronounced Yurgita) was excellent, and very personable. Her assistant,
Lorenzo, and Jurgita, really went out of their way to take special care of our girls. They didn't want for anything
during the cruise.

Entertainment: The ship's dance troupe was mediocre at best, but they tried real hard. We have seen better, and
we certainly have seen worse. The other headliner entertainers they brought on for the shows were outstanding.
These acts generally are. The poolside band was good, but by the second day they had played everything they
know. Some of the songs are still running through my mind as I type this.

Ports of call: Labadee, Haiti has to be one of the most beautiful and secluded places I have ever seen. What a
tropical paradise! This was our first trip to this island and it certainly will not be the last. Everything after this just
could not compare. Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel paled after this.

The lowlights: RCCL really needs to address the smoking problem. People are allowed to smoke everywhere
except the dining room and the show lounge. Any other place is fair game. If you are a non-smoker this is a very
long week of inhaling second-hand smoke. The other low light. Our video camera was taken on the sixth day of
the trip. The Purser's desk personnel were very sympathetic but they would do nothing beyond this. They would
not announce a reward for the return of the tape alone. I was committed to losing the camera but offered money
for the return of the tape. They did not want to publicize the fact that something was stolen aboard the ship.

Debarkation: This is done on a colored tag system like all other ships. Since we did not have flights to catch, we
were the last group off the ship. No big deal.

All things considered, we would travel on RCCL again, but we would like to try one of the newer ships, the
Enchantment, or the ships that are being built right now.

Happy sailing.

Name: J. D. Stone
Email: mjdstone@AOL.com
Age: 41
Occupation: CPA
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: July 4, 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 8580/I
FoodDiningRoom: 89
CruiseDirector: 99
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 99
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 99
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 99
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 31 Jul 1999
Time: 10:39:07
Remote Name: spider-we041.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

This cruise, our first, was in celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary. We purchased the air/sea package with
the extra night hotel package and arrived in Miami the day before our cruise. On Saturday night, we went over to
the Bayside shops and took a short cruise of the Miami Beach area. We were able to check in for the Majesty
Sunday morning at our hotel, and we were in our stateroom by 1:30 Sunday afternoon. Everything went very
smoothly, and we heartily recommend this arrangement if you have the time. We paid for an outside cabin on
Deck 3 and were upgraded to an outside cabin on Deck 8. We were a little worried because we knew the view was
going to be partly obstructed by lifeboats, but we could still see out just fine. We were glad we took extra hangers,
because the closet space seemed more generous than the drawer space.

The cabin and bath were small, but the
space was utilized well; for 2 people, it was fine. However, it would be quite cramped for any more people. We
appreciated all of the tips we got from past cruisers on this website. Be sure to book your excursions as soon as
possible. We turned our form in Sunday afternoon, and we got everything we requested (at the times we wanted).
We did not hear of anyone not getting a requested excursion, but some people did not get the times they
requested. An interesting tour of the bridge is offered on Monday to those who sign up, so look for information on
when and where to sign up. You really don’t need to bother to go to the Sunday afternoon Bon Voyage show or
any of the informational shows (ports of call, shopping, debarkation) because these shows are played repeatedly
on the television in your cabin.

The Majesty was full (2600+), but the crowds were handled well, for the most part.
Contrary to what we had read, we never had a problem getting a deck chair. Several decks overlook the pool, and
there were always chairs available. We decided early on that it was faster to take the stairs instead of waiting for
an elevator—that way, we didn’t feel too guilty eating an extra dessert or two! We ate most of our breakfasts, a
few lunches, and some snacks in the Windjammer Café. I know some people complain about the quality of the
food, but we thought it was okay. There was always fresh fruit, which I especially enjoyed. We ate some lunches
and all of our dinners in the dining room.

The food was usually good (and sometimes excellent), but it was not as
fabulous as we expected. When you consider how many people are served in a short amount of time, though, they
do a good job. The presentation was attractive, and we could get as many appetizers, desserts, etc. as we
wanted. We had the late seating, which gave us time to clean up after shore excursions. If we were hungry, we
sometimes got a snack when we got back on board at the Windjammer to tide us over. Also, some of the lounges
served chips and dips. We never felt like we missed any shows because of our late seating, because there were
two performances of the headline shows. Since we are both in our early forties, we were a little surprised to be
seated with 3 newlywed couples. We wondered if we would find anything to talk about, but we really enjoyed them.
We took in most of the entertainment offered each evening, and we enjoyed most of the shows. Both the Tokens
and the Class of ’57 Reunion Show were really fun!. The Wave Review performers were talented, but their first
show, Dreamaway, was in poor taste.

Many people said they left during it, and we decided not to go to their other
show, but we heard it was much better. The Not So Newly Wed Game was funny, and they picked 3 couples who
had been married from 1 year up to 35 years. A warning, though: a few of the questions were pretty
embarrassing, especially to the couple whose children and other family members were in the audience! There was
a Battle of the Sexes game one night (sort of a Family Feud game) that was hotly contested and involved the
whole audience. The night of country dancing was fun, because the cruise staff taught everyone line dances. One
night at the pool deck, we participated in a conga line that was hundreds of people long. Even though we are
pretty poor dancers, a cruise is a time to relax, try things you don’t usually do, and don’t worry if you look silly,
because nobody cares! PORTS OF CALL: Labadee looked like a Gilligan’s Island paradise. We rented the mats
and floated around. We actually found the sales people at the local craft area to be more aggressive here than
anywhere else, although they were not rude. To avoid standing in line in the sun for a tender back to the ship, you
might consider leaving a little early. In Jamaica, we took the Dunn’s River Falls excursion to climb the Falls. It was
great! Be sure to bring watershoes from home. Some of the negative things we had heard about Jamaica worried
us a little, but we encountered nothing unpleasant. However, we did not really venture out on our own. In Grand
Cayman, we took the boat to Stingray City and really enjoyed it. We had brought our own snorkel equipment,
including life jackets and flippers, but we did not need the life jackets, and flippers are not allowed, so we definitely
could have left them at home, if we had known. The water at the sandbar that we stood in to see the stingrays was
only about chest deep. Be sure to bring several underwater cameras with you on the cruise. The Tortuga rum
cakes make wonderful souvenirs.

We took the Tulum ruins excursion, and even though it rained some, we liked it.
Actually the rain probably helped with the heat, but be sure to bring bug spray, because there were lots of
mosquitoes. Again, we’d read complaints about the box lunch, but it was adequate—mainly bread products. For
the most part, we did not find any great buys on this cruise. We weren’t shopping for any jewelry, but if you are,
the shopping consultant from the ship can give you information. We mainly bought some shirts and a few other
souvenirs.

Here are a few other things that might help other new cruisers: 1) The tips for the cabin steward, waiter,
etc. are paid in cash the last night of the cruise, so you might want to save some for that reason. In addition, when
you go on the shore excursions, you are expected to tip those guides, also. 2) The charges on your Super
Charge card can add up, with purchases in the shops, health club, drinks, bingo, photos, and so on. Some people
have complained that Royal Caribbean spends the whole week trying so sell additional products and services to
people who have already paid quite a bit to cruise with them. Although we were always offered drinks, if we said
no, there was never a problem. (Also, just so you will know, you can drink unlimited soft drinks in the dining room
during lunch and dinner, at no additional charge.) 3) My husband had a massage in the health club, and he didn’t
rate it very highly, for the price—over $100, with tip, for less than an hour. 4) Don’t feel that you have to wear a
long dress or a tux on formal nights. We saw everything from nice street length dresses to fancy ball gowns.
Maybe about ¼ of the men wore tuxes. 5) Even with the large number of people on board, we could always find
places that were almost deserted. Some of lounges had only a few people in them, even when a good band was
playing. The Viking Crown Lounge at the very top of the ship was a beautiful, secluded place to watch the sun set.
6) The first night out we hunted for the fancy midnight buffet, and found out that only one gala midnight buffet is
offered during the cruise. Other nights there is food at the Windjammer, but it is not anything special. The gala
buffet, which is set up in the dining rooms, is a sight to behold, even if you don’t eat a thing.

We really enjoyed the cruise, but we personally chose to participate in so many of the activities offered, that we
were glad to come home to rest! We appreciated the first day at sea in order to get familiar with the ship, and the
last day at sea to hang out by the pool and to do anything else we hadn’t had time to do. We thought the cruise
staff, which led activities all during the week, were enthusiastic and professional. It was hard to tell from their
attitudes that they did this over and over each week, because they really seemed to enjoy their jobs.

Name: Terri Solecki
Email: terry-bob.solecki@worldnet.att.net
Age: 46
Occupation: Administrative Assistant
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: July 11, 1999
Itinerary: Labadee, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel
Cabin: 3036/H
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 31 Jul 1999
Time: 13:31:23
Remote Name: 251.newark-38-39rs.nj.dial-access.att.net
Remote User:

Comments

Majesty of the Seas was our choice for our vacation with our sons and friends, who were celebrating their wedding
anniversary. This was our third cruise and the second on Royal Caribbean. The boarding process was quick.
Within a half-hour of our arrival, we were aboard the ship. This was impressive.

Although Majesty of the Seas is 7 years old, the ship is well maintained. As you enter the Centrum, you feel as if
you walked into an elaborate hotel lobby. My husband and I had an outside cabin on the A deck. Although smaller
than the same cabin on the Grandeur of the Seas (prior cruise), it was adequate. Our sons had an inside cabin
around the corner. It was very tight with less closet and drawer space for three. For the time they spent in the
room, they survived.

After the lunch buffet, we explored the ship before the muster drill and sail away. Majesty promptly left port on time
at 5 p.m.

From here, I will describe activities, ports of call, and the ship.

SHIP: Although Majesty is an older ship, it is well taken care of. The rugs in the hallways are a bit faded but in
good condition. The lounges, dining rooms, and pool areas are spotless.

CREW: We found the crew quite friendly. Our waiter was efficient and our bus boy was very attentive. He knew
what everyone wanted to drink and was always getting whatever we asked for. You hardly ever see the cabin
stewards, but our room was always made up quickly. At night, we found stingrays, turtles, and other animals made
from towels. When I left my nightgown on the bed, I found it made into a heart with two chocolates, a turtle, and a
flower.

The cruise director, Jeffrey Arpin, was excellent. He always had you laughing. He called the horse races just as if
you were at a racetrack. He is slated to be the cruise director of RCCL's new ship Voyager of the Seas. The
people who worked along with him were also friendly and helpful

The interactive crew, which consists of three guys and a girl, were the most interesting group. They are relatively
new to RCCL. When we boarded the ship, one of them was walking around the Centrum dressed in scuba gear.
Others were on the pool deck with objects to juggle. This group of people performed five of the nights before the
dinner shows. One night, they dressed like greasers and were bothering nerds. Another night, two guys marched
down an aisle and took a man from the audience for their act. All they said was, hut hut, and proceeded to do
something with the chair. Without spoiling the skit, the whole audience roared with laughter. We looked forward
each night to their performances. Unfortunately, this group is being transferred to the Voyager in November.
RCCL plans to add a new group early next year.

FOOD: The food is decent on this ship. The dinner menu has a pleasing selection each night. Who is going to
complain about prime rib, filet minion, and lobster tail? We were disappointed that our headwaiter hardly came to
our table. Last cruise, our headwaiter placed napkins on our laps and prepared our meals in front of us. However,
RCCL has replaced most of the midnight buffets with Food in Motion. Waiters rove around the casino and several
lounges with trays of food, which they have found to be less wasteful. The food was alright but nothing
spectacular.

The Captain's cocktail party had mediocre hors d'oeuvres and plenty to drink. Majesty's captain is very pleasant
and loves to tell jokes. We went to the Repeater's cocktail party. Hors d-oeuvres served included shrimp,
meatballs, chocolate covered strawberries, fruit, and caviar.

PORTS OF CALL: Majesty has a good itinerary particularly if you are a first time cruiser. You have to tender onto
Labadee, Haiti, which is RCCL's private area where you can really relax or do water sports. There are three beach
areas. We chose one further away from the dock under trees with hammocks. It is better for snorkeling, and there
is a lot less activity. Hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs are served at two BBQ areas. Don't forget a few small bills to
tip the attendants.

When we docked In Jamaica, we chose to climb Dunn's River Falls on our own. Heed the advice of the ship if you
choose to tour this way. Some taxis are not honest, and there have been stories about robberies. Taxi fare is $22
for 4 people. It costs $6 to climb the falls and $8 for a locker ($5 is returned when you bring back the key). We told
a pesty guide that we climbed the falls before (which was true). There is some shopping within walking distance of
the ship. People are very pushy when trying to sell you something. Someone selling something illegal approached
one of our sons.

You must tender off the ship in Grand Cayman. If you want a great memory, make sure you book an excursion to
Stingray City. We booked the Stingray City Snorkel tour. You are taken to a sandbar in the middle of a bay. The
water is about 4 feet deep. The tour guide tells you a little history of the area and will give you instructions how to
feed or just touch the stingrays. It's really an experience of a lifetime! Seven-mile beach is supposed to have some
good snorkeling. If you are a bargain shopper, there is plenty of duty-free shopping near the port.

We booked a snorkel adventure off the ship in Cozumel. It was the first small booth at the dock. The price was $20
per person with all the beer, soda, and water you wanted. A glass-bottom boat took us to three different places in
the national park not far from the docks. These three guys were great. Many fish were all around us at each of the
stops. One place, the boat stopped, and one guide brought up a large starfish for us to hold and take pictures. I
would recommend them to anyone. At another place, he showed us where a moray eel calls its home. This tour
was better than the tour we took off a different cruise ship a few years ago.

ENTERTAINMENT: We were afraid there would not be much to do for our sons, 23, 19, 18. Prior reviews panned
this area. But fun is what you make it. By the second day, they were joining in the adult games during the day and
in the evening. One of our sons came in second in the belly flop contest. They joined the Mr. Sexy Legs contest
poolside. We took line-dancing lessons and enjoyed Country Western night. The dinner shows on Majesty are
great. The comedians keep you laughing, and their Friday headliner was a true entertainer.

Each cruise has been a great experience. We've gotten hooked on cruises quickly. It is a good value for the
money. If you can e-mail us with any questions you have about this ship and itinerary.

Name: Eddie Brittain
Email: EBritt4136@aol.com
Age: 44
Occupation: Youth Minister
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: July 11, 1999
Itinerary: Western Carribean
Cabin: 2667/B
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 69
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 99
Casino: 99
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Aug 1999
Time: 17:07:53
Remote Name: spider-tn052.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

This was our 25th anniversary Cruise and the first cruise we have ever taken. Comparing to others will be hard
but I can tell you what we did and enjoyed. We cruised with a couple (family) also celebrating their 25th. We will
comment on three areas of the trip; travel to and from Miami, on board, and ports of call.

Travel: We were disappointed to find that we flew into Ft. Lauderdale rather than Miami and that we arrived late
afternoon. This gave us no time to check out the ship & relax before setting sail. Our relatives arrived around
noon and were able to enjoy becoming acquainted with the ship before we set sail. Upon arrival in Ft. Lauderdale,
the proceedures getting us from there to the ship were very easy and comfortable, including the 45 minute bus
ride. The embarkation was uneventful and easy except they forgot to stamp my wife's ticket which they quickly
solved while we waited to have our boarding pictures taken. Due to our late arrival, we almost missed the lunch
buffet at the Windjammer. We were both very hungry since we had no time to eat during travel, due to tight flight
schedules. Debarkation was easy and we recommend marking your luggage with something that makes it stand
out in a warehouse full of thousands of pieces. We recommend you call ahead for your seat assignments on your
flights, as the airline had overbooked 30 people and some were left waiting for other flights and groups were even
split up trying to get home. Our flights were booked through the cruiseline and we don't know who was responsible
for these delays. Due to the delay our flight had in leaving Ft. Lauderdale we ended up running through the
airport in Atlanta and came close to missing the connecting flight. Recommendation: Book your travel through the
cruiseline since the ship is guaranteed not to leave without you and always call ahead to make sure you have
assigned seats on your flight.

On Board: This was the best part of the trip. You could literally never leave the ship and have a great vacation!
My wife was concerned about sea sickness since she is prone to motion sickness, however she never felt the
need to take medication and did not experience any nausousness. We rarely felt the ship move at all. The public
facilities are beautiful, clean, comfortable & spacious. The dining rooms however, were extremely cold and I would
recommend a sweater or shawl for ladies. One evening, our waiter offered to get my wife a table cloth to wrap up
in. The food was exceptional at dinner, including the menu choices, presentation and quality. Don't be afraid to try
new things because if you don't like it, they will bring you something else. We had 2nd seating at dinner, but found
we could have easily made an earlier seating since we usually returned from ports in time to do so. The service at
dinner was also exceptional and you can really become attached to your waiters. Our team included, Pablo, the
head waiter who visited with us each night and provided all the extras to go along with our anniversary
celebrations. We also were served by Benjamin and Anita who seemed like part of our family by the end of the
week. We enjoyed breakfasts in the dining rooms rather than in the Windjammer, even though the menu was the
same each morning. There were also a couple of mornings we felt rushed to order and finish our meal. We
purchased a package that included a champagne breakfast in our room and we were extremely disappointed in it.
The food was cold, the eggs were runny, and it was difficult to eat on the bed. Our lunches were excellent whether
in the dining room or the Windjammer. We chose to return to the ship for lunch rather than eating in port. This was
convenient and due to the serving hours in the Windjammer, we were able to eat late lunches when necessary.
We only attended the midnight buffet once, due to our late dinners. The Captain's Gala Buffet is not to be missed,
it was incredible to see and to taste! Most of the entertainment was great, however we did not enjoy the Wave
Revue Singers & Dancers first show very much. Recommendations: We will choose the earlier seating next time
and have a longer evening to enjoy on board activities.

Ports of call: Labadee was beautiful, relaxing and fun. The beach is full of shade trees which makes it great for
staying cool and avoiding sunburn. Don't miss the walk to Dragon's Breath Rock, it is a fun experience for adults
and kids. Be aware of the locals at the marketplace...don't hold anything that you don't want to buy and give them
the exact amount of purchase, they don't like to give change but will make you a deal instead. The food provided
on the island was good and the local entertainment was fun. The Banana Boat ride is rough, expect to hang on so
you don't fall in! I had two ladies who lost their balance and laid on my leg for the majority of the trip and therefore
I was unable to move. Jamaica was fun and we recommend Dunn's River Falls. Bring aqua-shoes with
you($5.99)-they cost $19.00 on the ship and you could rent them there for almost as much. My wife, who is afraid
of heights was able to complete the trip and would do it again. Some of the rocks were slippery but everyone helps
everyone else. Plan to bond with the person on each side of you, your safety depends on each other. If there is a
part of the excursion you don't wish to participate in such as falling backwards into a swimming area, just say
no...it's ok. Expect to be nervous while riding on buses and taxi's, the driving is freeform. We saw two accidents
while on the bus trip to and from the falls. This was the place we made the best deals on watches and gold. Don't
be afraid to barter, they expect it! Hint: if you walk away and they let you leave the store, that is the bottom price.
Grand Cayman was beautiful, similar in landscaping and architecture to Florida but expensive in merchandise and
the use of facilities. The Stingray City excursion is a must...the highlight of our excursions. The boatride out and
back is 45 minutes and you spend about 30 minutes in the water with the rays. It is intimidating at first as they will
brush up against you like cats, however they are tame. It is difficult to take pictures underwater because of the
waves. However, we used a disposable underwater camera and got some good shots. Due to time restraints in
this port, we were unable to parasail in addition to the excursion and we were on the earliest scheduled excursion.
Cozumel: We did the glass bottom boat trip to the coral reef. It was fun but the pictures did not turn out good. This
was the only place my wife experienced any seasickness and was glad to get off the boat. On this boat we got
some good deals on T-shirts also. We shopped for souveniers and found some great deals on silver.
Warning...the women's restroom at the end of the pier had little toilet paper, missing toilet seats and a lock that
stuck...my sister had to climb over the stall wall(only about 4 ft. tall) to get out! Recommendations: Take plenty of
film and dress comfortably. Plan your shopping budget or you will be tempted by the great deals. Make a list of
who you want to buy souveniers for.

Name: Kevin & Colleen Buckley
Email: buckley@writeme.com
Age: 30 & 27
Occupation: Consultant & Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 6/27/99
Itinerary: Caribbean
Cabin: F
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 70
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 99
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Aug 1999
Time: 20:01:23
Remote Name: chippy.visi.com
Remote User:

Comments

My wife and I went on the Majesty of the Seas for our honeymoon, departing 6/27/99. I read many of the reviews
from www.cruiseopinion.com and wish to contribute ours.

We picked the flight package from Milwaukee. Things went smoothly and we arrived in Miami by 2pm and got on
the ship shortly thereafter without difficulty. Before getting on the ship, we received our SuperCharge cards, and
did present our credit card but the woman in charge wasn't very friendly and didn't inform us that indeed, our
cards were 'activated', which would have saved us a trip to the Purser.

Our luggage arrived at our door and we toured the ship, along with 2400 other new cruisers, all with that vacant,
lost look in their eye, just as college freshmen might look on their first day in a dormitory!

Our cabin was small, and at first glance made us wonder how we would survive in cramped quarters for 7 days.
After a day or two, you realized the cabin was just big enough for two people. It was relatively comfortable, and to
my amazement, I slept well on the pushed-together beds. We had a nice sized window, which was great. There's a
TV, with ESPN, CNN, and a couple of movie channels. After returning from shore, we'd wait for dinner in our cabin,
so the TV came in handy.

General Comments about the ship: The Majesty is a fine ship, but needs new carpeting in many areas. It was
disconcerting that there were water stains all over. It looked like the ship was flooded at one time, leaning on its
left side, because the stains were on the left of the hallways, with staining coming out of cross hallways. Other
than that, it has many nice lounges and public areas. Too many lounges, in fact, which are underused throughout
the trip.

Motion-Sickness: Neither my wife nor I have strong stomachs, so were concerned that we would get sick. While we
had a few hours of not feeling perfect, we managed well. We had been given the fable that you can't feel waves in
such a big ship. You can. -- Although, we heard gossip that our cruise was one of the roughest, and that many of
the crew had not experienced waves like this and became ill.

Food: The food quality was always quite good, and the dinner selections always had many interesting items. If
none interested you, a chicken or steak item was always at your request. Dinner is 7 courses, with 3-4 appetizers,
2-3 soups, a salad, 5-7 main courses, a cheese course, and 5-7 desserts. The main course would be items such
as rack of lamb, filet minion, shrimp scampi, prime rib, lobster tail, etc. Each night had a theme, like International
food, American, Captain's Gala, Italian food, etc. The service is also excellent. If you want 3 lobster tails and some
prime rib, they'll eagerly get it for you.

Our only problem with food was timing and selection. Breakfast was fine and normal, but you usually missed lunch
because you were off the ship. So you'd come back hungry, and there'd be little to eat. There was a snack service
from 4-6pm, that had little finger sandwiches and cookies, but we'd really have preferred some normal snacks, like
chips, chicken wings, and hors d'oeurve type eats. We couldn't believe there wasn't a salad bar on the ship. While
the food selection was, perhaps, extravagant, there were many staples that we dearly missed, like pizza, salad,
and other normal food. I'd guess that children have a hard time eating on the ship.

Unfortunately, our travel agent convinced us that the 8:30 dinner seating was where we would 'meet people more
like us'. We were always starving by 8:30, and didn't like finishing up our 7 course meal at near 11pm every night.
We watched the 6pm seating, and it looked like the same type of crowd ate then. Moral of the story: pick the
seating time that you like to eat dinner.

Packing: Two nights are 'formal' with 10% of men wearing tuxes, 80% wearing suits, and 10% getting by with sport
coats. Two nights are 'smart casual' which garners a wide range of attire. Mostly sport coats and ties, but some
bozos wearing shorts. The remaining nights are 'casual' with people wearing pants and polo shirts. Basically, for
men, pack 1 suit with two ties, a sport coat, and a pair of khakis and some nice shirts. Women wear 2 nice
dresses, and 5 casual dress type thingies. What do I know, I'm a guy.

Packing mistakes: We packed more 'nice' clothes than every-day wear, which was a mistake. Pack for 7 nights of
dinner, and fill your suitcase with t-shirts, shorts, and swimsuits. DO NOT BRING BEACH TOWELS. Beach towels
are readily available on ship, and you can take them off to the shore as well. The ship provides soap, shampoo
and conditioner in your cabin. There are 2-3 electrical outlets for whatever you might bring.

Weather: We were worried that taking a July trip to the Caribbean would be deathly hot. It was not. Sure, it was
warm and humid, in the high 80s each day. But it's usually breezy, and the ship is throughly air conditioned.

Ports of Call: Labadee: Your basic day at the beach. Quiet beach, drinks, food. Nothing special.

Jamaica: We went on the Dunn's River Falls tour, which was quite entertaining. Most people are wearing
watershoes or sandals to climb the raging falls. It's a slow climb, but I was still surprised no one fell. Bring a water
camera.

Grand Cayman: We went on the Stingray City tour, which is pretty cool. It's a 30 minute boat trip to a sand bar
where you get into chest deep water and feed the stingrays. Don't bother bringing watershoes, because they don't
want you wearing any shoes in case you step on a 'ray. Do the earliest tour, because the ship leaves at 2:30pm, if
you want to see anything else in the city.

Cozumel: We decided not to do any ship tours, and instead went to the Chankunab nature park. It's $8 for a cab,
and $5 to enter the park. Real nice place. Has some botanical gardens with ancient statues and plenty of novice
snorkeling, plus a very picturesque beach with little trees to sit under, and no one asking for money. Cozumel did
have some decent 'trinket' shopping, with a great variety of Mexican wares from $1-$50. Since it's the last stop on
your cruise, it's a good time to buy.

Shopping: You'll be bombarded with lectures on how great the shopping is at these ports. Sure, if you're looking to
drop another $500+, you may find 'deals' on watches and jewelry. They hype the 'tanzinite' gem quite a bit, but we
couldn't find anything less than $300. There was store that advertised $5 earrings, but the tanzinite was so tiny, it
was silly. We asked if they had anything between $5 and $300. NOPE. In the end, we were quite happy buying a 3
carat Tanzinque (fake) necklace for $60 on the ship!

Customs: We had bought some Jerk Seasoning and decided to 'smuggle' it into the US. Supposedly, all food items
are banned from import, but we thought we'd risk it. We packed it deep in our suitcase and crossed our fingers.
Turns out, all you did when you left the ship is hand a Customs guy a piece of paper and exit the ship.

Debarkation: We had read that this was a hassle. We were the earliest bunch to leave our ship, and were
befuddled by waiting for 45 minutes in a lounge with no one giving us any information. Once we were cleared to
leave, we moved like cattle off the ship. We had heard that finding your luggage was problematic, but found ours
immediately. What was really cool, was that all the major airlines were there, and ALREADY HAD OUR BOARDING
PASSES! We grabbed our tickets and got on a bus and went to our gate.

Summary: It was a great honeymoon, and I'd cruise again, for a special occasion with the same cruise line, but at
$650 per day, it was an expensive vacation that you don't casually embark upon. Given the occasion, I'd certainly
take Royal Caribbean again.

Back to RCCL Majesty