Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Gary McBain
Email: gmcbain@hfcc.net
Age: 44
Occupation: College administrator
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: July 25,1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: Deck 7 outside
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 06 Aug 1999
Time: 15:49:12
Remote Name: border3.henryford.cc.mi.us
Remote User:

Comments

This cruise was a 20 year wedding anniversary present to ourselves and we could not have had a better time. We
booked the air/sea program and were very satisfied. We flew into Miami at approx. 10:30 AM on the Sunday
departure. We were met at the gate escorted to check in and boarded the bus to the dock by 11:15. We boarded
the ship by noon. Very easy check-in procedure, much easier than our last cruise 5 years ago. Picking up our
supercharge card on our deck, we checked out our small cabin and then went to the lunch buffet in the
Windjammer Lounge. The lunch was fantastic, not a fish stick in sight, though the smoked salmon was very good.
After exploring the ship, participating in the life boat drill, we set sail at approx. 5:20 PM.

Our overall impression of the ship was that is was well maintained though showed some wear such as
stained/worn carpet. The chairs/seating in most of the lounges were awful. More like fabric covered wood boxes,
very hard and uncomfortable. On the other hand, we thoroughly enjoyed the food, from the dinners in the dinning
room to the personaly made omlets in the Windjammer. Service was outstanding where ever we went. Staff was
very helpful and geniunely friendly. Entertainment was very good except for the first night show. The first show
was a Las Vegas style review about a wizard and dancing Indians. It was so convoluted and ridiculous that it
became a running joke the rest of the week. The rest of the entertainment consisted of comedians, singers,
jugglers and combinations of all three. They also brought in some comedians from the Evening at the Inprove TV
show. The cruise director was also very funny. We also enjoyed watching the Newly/Not So Newlywed game and
participating in the Majesty Quest game. We had a great waiter, assistant waiter, and room steward. We made
many friends and were treated like royalty. There were lots of things to do and participate in and we did many of
them including many of the ship activities.

We did most of the shore excursions on our own. Labadee was great and very relaxing. We lounged on the beach
and in the hammocks as well as going snorkling. We took the advice of others on this forum and brought our own
snorkling gear. This allowed us to snorkle without expense at Labadee. I would not recommend doing the
snorkling at Labadee through the ship as there is not much marine life to see. However, even if one does the ship
snorkling excursions, bringing your own gear offers a pretty good discount. I think it was $10/person discount. Next
stop was Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We did the Dunn's River bus tour through the ship. Interestingly enough, we ran
into a family on our bus who had booked the same tour directly with the tour company and saved at least
$10/person. Something to consider. They walked off the boat, walked up to the tour bus that we were getting on,
paid their money directly and got on with us. Some of our table mates took the party boat tour to the falls and said
they had a good time. They avoided the native shop gauntlet that one has to pass through to get back to the
busses. DO NOT MISS the Dunn's River Falls climb, it was great. Expect to tip your guide when you are done. We
did not shop at Ocho Rios. We booked our own snorkling tour to Stingray City on Grand Cayman. Instead of
standing in waist deep water while the stingrays swam around you, our tour took us out on a reef in 10 foot deep
water where we dove and swam with the rays. We had a great time at about $20/person. Our tablemates did the
ship tour to stingray city and said it was fantastic. We bought some rum cakes, but not much else. Grand Cayman
is a beautiful island and Georgetown is a very clean city. The natives were English speaking and polite. Last stop
was Cozumel. Again, we booked our own snorkle tour with Native Way Tours who we learned about in another
review. We were not disappointed. We paid $25/person which included pop and beer, and a guide who went into
the water with us. We went to three reefs and spent about 3 hours. The guide and skipper of the glass bottom
boat were very nice.

It had been five years since our last cruise and we had forgotten what an wonderful experience a cruise it. This
cruise exceeded our expectations. Hopefully, we won't wait another 5 years before we go again. We were told that
RCCL's new mega-ship the Voyager was taking over this itineray starting in October of this year (1999). The
Majesty is moving to San Juan. While the Voyager is much larger, almost a shopping mall that floats, I will regret to
see the Majesty replaced.

Name: Daniel Bonham
Email: dan@cyberinfinity.com
Age: 38
Occupation: Computer Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: August 1, 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 1550 Category C
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 97
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 97
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 70
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 97
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 96
ShoreExcValue: 97
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 96
PrivateIsland: 70
GoodForFamilies: 98
LoungeService: 98
TenderService: 94
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 70
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 97
BeautySalon: 70
EntertainmentPoolside: 97
CruiseActivities: 97
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 96
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 97
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Aug 1999
Time: 11:32:17
Remote Name: port-2-17.sei.one.net
Remote User:

Comments

Sunday, August 1, 1999

We awoke at 6:00 am (like anyone really got any sleep) and prepared to leave for the airport. We arrived at the
Greater Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport at 8:00 am for our 9:15 flight to Miami. We were
somewhat surprised to see so many travelers that early on Sunday morning. We were even more surprised to find
that more than half of the passengers on our flight were cruise passengers. Check in took abut 15 minutes. Our
flight was delayed some 15 minutes but it was a non-stop flight to Miami so there was really no rush. We arrived at
Miami International Airport at 11:55 am.

We were met just outside the gate by three Royal Caribbean Representatives and ask to form a small group just off
of the gate area. We waited in the group for about 5 minutes and one of the representatives gave a small talk on
what was about to happen. We were led to the baggage claim area in the airport where stations were set up for
registration. Our little group was joined by several other groups and we were now some three hundred strong.
Another representative separated us into U.S. citizens and Non U.S. citizens. We were put on line and the whole
process took about 5 minutes. When I reached the desk, I was ask for my ticket booklet and identification papers
then RCI did the rest. They did not look at my custody papers for my daughter or the notarized note from her mother.
This will not deter me from bringing them on future cruises in case it is asked for.

We were given boarding passes and told that we would receive our supercharge cards when we boarded. We were
then sent to a small (very small) area beside a luggage carousel to wait for the bus. This was the worst part of the
entire trip but considering the large volume of passengers being processed we felt it was handled as well as could be
expected. The wait was about 15 minutes and then we were lead to the bus. It was a very comfortable bus and well
cooled. The driver was very pleasant and gave us a tour of Miami on the way to the pier.

One of my fondest recollections of this ride was the feeling of euphoria that enveloped us as we crested the bridge
to the pier to see the Majesty of the Seas docked just in front of Enchantment of the Seas (our July 30, 2000
booking). Nothing we had read or seen had prepared us for this marvelous and breathtaking sight! We were
unloaded at the main entrance to Royal Caribbean's facility and escorted past hundreds and hundreds of cruise only
passengers waiting to register at the pier. We were treated as Air/Sea passengers because we purchased the
transfers from RCI. This also meant we did not see our luggage from the time it left Cincinnati until we received it
later in the day at our cabin. We had the obligatory Boarding Photo taken which was a waste of time as we looked a
fright from our travel. Up the gangway and finally we were at the threshold of our six month long dream.

At 1:30 pm we took our first steps onto the beautiful Majesty of the Seas. We boarded on deck 4 and found
ourselves in the elegant Centrum. This is one of the most dazzling parts of the ship. It is decorated in brass and
wood trimming and contains the ships two glass elevators. We were greeted there by a member of the cruise staff
and directed to the welcome desk that was set up on deck 10 (Bridge Deck). Here we received our already activated
Supercharge cards and rooms key cards. We took three steps beyond the welcome desk and there was our cabin.
We stayed in cabin 1550 which is a category C Superior Ocean View Stateroom with a private balcony.

The cabin was a lot larger than I had been lead to believe by other reviews but it certainly was not a suite. More than
enough room for the three of us. Just inside the cabin door was a small foyer with hanging closets to the right which
housed the safe and the life vests. The bathroom was off to the left. The bathroom was well appointed in soft pastel
tile and wall covering. There was a large bathtub with shower on the right side of the bathroom and the commode on
the left. Just above the commode was a large shelf that had ample space for all of our toiletries. The back wall of the
bathroom housed the sink and counter top. Next to the bathroom entrance was a corner cabinet unit with a top to
hold the ice bucket and some beverages which could be consumed for a charge. Below the counter top was several
drawers and shelves on the side.

Just past the foyer was the living area with a large queen size bed to the left with night stands on either side. The
bed had a 10 inch clearance under it to store the luggage which fit perfectly. Just past the bed on the left was a small
sofa which was also the third passenger's bed. In front of the sofa was a glass top table which was large enough for
2 to eat on. There was a cushioned foot stool on both sides of the table. On the right side of the living area was a
desk with lots of drawer space. Just past the desk was an entertainment center type shelving unit with the television
on the counter even with the desk. Below the television was the cabins refrigerator and a cabinet for champagne
glasses. There were three large shelves above the television which was a great place to store our commonly used
items. Just beyond the entertainment center was a nice easy chair which received a lot of use, along with the sofa,
when entertaining our new found friends.

The back wall of the cabin had sliding glass doors to a very spacious private balcony. The balcony had 2 lounge
chairs with a glass top table between them and two upright chairs on the other side of the balcony. The view from
this lofty perch was nothing short of inspirational! I was so taken with the balcony that I spent the majority of the wee
hours first night sitting and watch a thunderstorm we passed through. It was quite an impressive display of nature.
Back inside the cabin next to the ice bucket we found a second ice bucket chilling a bottle of Dom Perignon. The
cabin was decorated for our anniversary and we were very pleased with the accommodations. After situating the
carry on luggage we were off to explore our new home for seven days. Our first stop was to check our dinning
arrangements and book our excursions. Then it was off to the Viking Crown Lounge. We found this spot to be a
great escape to just sit and watch the ocean roll by. Next was some more exploring and then back to the cabin at 4
pm.

Upon our return we found a beautiful spray of roses laced with babies breath in a nice vase. On the bed were two
embroidered bathrobes which were ours to keep. We also found that all of our luggage had been delivered outside
our cabin. The tux that I had rented was hanging in the closet with 2 shirts. A nice gift card from our travel agent was
laying on the table with a very thoughtful gift. Thanks Ray!!! We found that the television in our cabin was not the
interactive kind that I understand are on some of the newer ships. It did have a nice channel to keep us informed of
all of the activities available to us.

We relaxed for a bit and then the announcement for the mandatory life boat drill. We grabbed our life vests and
headed for our muster station on deck 7 at lifeboat #2. I had been lead to believe that no head counts were taken
during these drills. This was not the case on this cruise. They lined the women and children up in the front and men
in the back. We stayed this way for some 20 minutes while head counts were taken and retaken and retaken. No one
could leave until all were present and accounted for. Many passengers did not seem to mind leaving us to bake in
the hot sun while they decided if they should bother with the drill. This was another negative on the cruise but at no
fault of RCI. This was the certain few that is in every crowd that have no consideration for rules or the safety and
comfort of those around them. Once everyone arrived at their stations, Captain Ole Johan Grønhaug gave us our
safety talk. Seven short blasts followed by one long blast of the ships horn sounded and then the drill was over.

We went back to the cabin and took our seat on the balcony. Suddenly there was a long blast of the ship's horn and
we uncorked the bubbly! Enchantment lead the parade followed by Carnival's Destiny followed by Majesty. Another
Carnival ship was behind us but I did not see which one it was. The parade of ships eased its way down the
causeway and before long we were at sea! It was really neat to watch all the cars on the roadway stopping to wave at
us and wish us well. If any words can describe our feelings as everyone waved goodbye, it would be pure bliss.

Just after we left the causeway our room steward arrived to introduce himself and let us know his hours. His name is
Raymond Whint and he is from the island of Grenada. The entire cruise he was very personable every time we saw
him, which was not very often. He never let us leave the cabin and come back to a mess. It was spotless every time
we came back in it. He even memorized our nap schedule and did not disturb us during that time. Every evening
when he turned down the beds we found a new creation laying on them. Returning from dinner to photograph his art
work became a daily ritual for us.

Once out to sea we set off for the Mikado Dinning Room for our first seating dinner. We were assigned table 163
which was a table for 10. There were three other couples at the table and one couple had a ten year old daughter.
Top marks to RCI for this seating arrangement. We had a good variety of ages and my daughter had someone she
could talk with during dinner. We met our waiter and his assistant and the pampering began. Our waiter was Ilyas
Gures from Turkey and his assistant was Essals Collis from St. Vincent. Both of these gentlemen provided excellent
service to us and had some fun joking with us along the way.

I had been told that your table mates can either make or break your cruise experience and I must say I agree with
that statement. For privacy, I will not give last names but I want to mention each of them. Gregory and Maria
(newlyweds) from Michigan, Tony and Cora from New York, Lynn & Charlotte and daughter Elizabeth (10) from
Virginia. Night after night these wonderful people provided great company and pleasant conversation. They are
fantastic folks and, in no small part, made our first cruise a very memorable one and we thank them from the bottom
of our hearts.

After dinner we found ourselves physically drained and returned to our cabin. Our chocolate covered strawberries
and canapes had been delivered which was the case on every night of the cruise. We also had a bottle of Moet
waiting for us when we returned. We watched the welcome aboard show on television. During this show we were
introduced to our cruise director Mr. Jeffrey Arpin. Jeffrey is a very friendly and personable fellow with moments of
spontaneous humor. He was always entertaining and always had a smile on his face. The show was good but not
excellent. We did enjoy it but the best entertainment was yet to come. After the welcome aboard show I went out on
the balcony in the dark and watched as we cruised through a two hour thunderstorm. I waited for our daughter to
return from the teen activities and go to bed then I spent another hour and a half just watching as the skies cleared
and the moon danced across the ocean. This was to be the last bad weather we would have on the entire cruise.
The remainder was sunny days and calm clear nights.

Because of the death of my wife's grandmother, we made several family related calls from the ship. The cost was
$7.95 per minute. Basically it is a good idea to make that mid week call home from a port which is so much cheaper.
But in this circumstance, the high cost was unavoidable.

Monday, August 2, 1999 - At Sea

We were up at the crack of dawn and went to breakfast in the Mikado Dinning Room. Then Cyndi was off to the teen
activities. We checked in with that group now and then just to see how she was behaving and the staff seem to have
a firm grasp of the situation. We learned that there were some 300+ teens and children onboard and with the
exception of the pool deck, we saw very little of them unless they had a presentation. I will let Cyndi's review describe
the type of activities they took part in. I will say that with very few exceptions, the children and teens we saw on the
pool deck were well behaved and no one seemed troubled by their presence. From a parents perspective, I think
RCI's youth programs are top notch.

After breakfast we did some strolling through the shops onboard and spent a little time in the casino. We went to the
first day of Bingo and played. It was fun but we didn't win anything. Next we tried lunch in the Maytime Dinning Room.
We were a little disappointed with the service here but decided we would give it another shot during the week. After
lunch we took a leisurely stroll on the pool deck and soaked up some beautiful sunshine. It was certainly warm but
nothing like the heat we experience in the Ohio River Valley. There was a very nice breeze blowing which made
weather conditions ideal! Finished up our stroll with some time in the Viking Crown Lounge. Back to the cabin for a
nice nap and then we had to dress for the Captain's Gala Reception and formal photos. We had our photo taken
and then went to the Captain's Reception. This event was labeled as Open Bar but the only drinks available were
Rum Punch and Long Island Iced Tea. We had regular punch and a few canapes. Then it was off to dinner. We
made it a point to try one or two new things at every meal. We found many new dishes that we liked doing this! We
strolled the upper decks after dinner until time for the evening show in A Chorus Line Lounge. The entertainment
featured a recording artist by the name of Delores Park. She is a wonderful and energetic singer and gave a very
good performance consisting of a tribute to Patsy Kline and Barbara Streisand. Each show during the cruise was
opened by two performers know as "Interactive Entertainment". These guys kept everyone in stitches with their
slapstick comedy all week long!

Another stroll on the upper decks after the show and a brief stop in the Flashes Disco "Teen Zone". Then we went
up to the Viking Crown Lounge. We made another brief stop in the Schooner Lounge for some piano music before
calling it a night. Back to the cabin and out to the balcony to enjoy the moonlit ocean while waiting for Cyndi to return
and go to bed. We set the alarm for 5:30 am to catch the sunrise and watch as the ship dropped anchor at Labadee
Haiti.

Tuesday, August 3, 1999 - Labadee Haiti

We awoke early to catch the sunrise but mist on the horizon took much away from the sight. We watched as the ship
sailed up to the island and dropped anchor. We saw a number of jellyfish swimming (if that is what you call that
motion) around the ship. Later in the day we would see some dolphins having fun off the island. We ordered
breakfast from room service. Breakfast was the only meal that the Windjammer Cafe and room service could not
seem to manage well. The eggs were powdered and not well cooked. Bacon and sausage were eatable but not much
more. We finished breakfast and it was off to deck 1 where we caught our tender to Labadee. This is a beautiful
Island as you view it from the ship. In our opinion, the ship was the best place to see Labadee. Our tender docked at
the pier and we were once again on land.

Immediately surrounding the tender pier was a huge market area but the locals here were not aggressive. We
walked past the pier and started up the fairly long road to the beaches. This road walks you right past the markets
near the beach. In this market, the locals would grab you and swarm all over you shoving things in your hands so
you would buy them. We remained polite and bought only the three hats were went to get. If we encountered any
place on our cruise where we felt threatened, this was the place. We were very uncomfortable (safety wise) while we
were ashore at Labadee. This stop is a Supercharge Card stop. The markets required money but any of the beach
equipment such as mats and dive equipment was charged to you shipboard account. The waters here were okay but
much better waters were to come. Connie actually went playing in the ocean for the very first time.

At the swimming beaches there were locals who were RCI staff. These guys would go and get you beach lounges
and take them where ever you wanted them placed. They knew the best places to be if you wanted all day shade or
all day sun. Once they had moved the chairs, they would wipe them down for the people to sit or lay in them. I felt
that a $2.00 tip was appropriate and so I gave it to him. He seemed very pleased with that amount. One of the
activities I did there was people watching. I watched as these guys carted fairly heavy chairs stacked 4 high all
around the beach while people picked spots, changed their minds and picked other spots. Many people (too many)
would do this to these guys and then not even say thank you to them not to mention the fact that they gave no tip. I
was deeply saddened by this. There are three swimming beaches in the RCI compound here and all of them were
very small. Lifeguards were on duty at all of them.

We stayed on Labadee for the morning and then Cyndi had a beach volleyball activity that she went to. While we
were lounging on the beach we bought some drinks called passion punch. I am not sure what was in them but as the
vendor yelled, they were "So Nice". The drinks came in a nice beach cup made of plastic with Labadee on them. We
paid $4.95 for the drinks and $3.95 for the virgin version for Cyndi. I wanted to try Parasailing but the boat was broke
down and waiting on parts so I could not do it here. After the volleyball activity we tendered back to the ship.

When we got back to the ship we ordered room service for lunch which was very good. Then we took our daily nap.
After we woke up we did some more shopping in the shipboard stores. We made a quick stop at the excursions desk
to make a change and then off to dinner. Each night we learned more and more about our table mates and enjoyed
their wonderful company. Our wine stewards name was John and he was an extremely pleasant individual. He never
hassled us when we say no thank you. He just smiled and say "as you wish" and went about his business. Next was
the evening show with James Stephens III. He is a Comedy Impressionist and the show was hilarious. Next stop was
the Casino Royale where lady luck had taken the night off. Off to the cabin and out on the balcony to wait for Cyndi
to return.

Wednesday, August 4, 1999 - Ocho Rios Jamaica

A 6:00 am wake up to get ready for the day and then off to the Windjammer Cafe for breakfast. After breakfast we
went down to deck 1 to leave the ship at the pier. Before leaving the pier we boarded the Sun dancer Yacht to go to
the falls. After a ten minute ride we arrived at the falls. Cyndi had her hair braided on the yacht and we enjoyed
some fruit punch on the way. We walked up the steps next to the falls and got some great photos. Back down the
steps and onto the beach where I had a personal encounter with the Jamaican Police. I went to buy a Pepsi at the
Tiki bar and then went over to the picnic tables where Connie and Cyndi were waiting. I sat on the top portion of the
table to poor the Pepsi and was told to get off the table in no uncertain terms. We boarded the yacht and back to the
pier. There was a very flexible and small Jamaican putting on a show on the upper deck of the yacht. He twirled
sticks and danced. Finally he came over to us and grabbed Cyndi by the hand. He took her to the middle of the
deck, turn her around and kneeled down behind her. He put the back part or her waistband in his teeth and lifted my
150lb daughter all the way up with his teeth. When we reached the pier we went onboard the ship to eat lunch and
then headed into Ocho Rios.

We caught a Red Tag cab just off the pier and we paid $40.00 for a three hour shopping and sightseeing tour. He
took us to a flea market where we got some great t-shirt deals. We saw Mick Jagger's house, Fern Gully and the
Mayor's Mansion. During one stop I was even offered a great deal on Marijuana which I politely refused. The only
reply to this was "No Problem Mon". Our cabbie was Keith and we ask him to take us and show us where the average
Jamaican's live. We toured several areas and saw a lot of the local culture. I need to add here that we did not lower
our guard but at no time during our visit to Jamaica did we feel the least bit fearful or uncomfortable. These were
some of the friendliest people we have ever met and they seemed genuine in the effort to show us a great time and
teach us about their people. Our cabbie even told us if we were not happy with his tour we should not pay him
anything. He wanted to try one of my cigarettes and I gave him a couple. He said he liked them so when he dropped
us at the pier, I paid his fee and gave him a full pack to enjoy. We shook hands, and we took his picture. The only
warning I would put in here is that a taxi tour of the city is not for the faint hearted. Very narrow roads at very high
speeds! The same was true in Cozumel. Everyone in the family agrees that this was the best port we had during the
cruise. Ya Mon, No Problem!

Once we were back aboard Majesty of the Seas we attended the 4:00 pm Ice Carving demonstration. This was very
interesting to watch. The sculpture made a marvelous fish sculpture in less than 13 minutes. Rested a bit and then
dressed for dinner. Here the wait staff had an international parade and sang O Solo Mio. We attended the evening
show after dinner which featured Ralph Achilles. This comedian appeared in the welcome aboard show and he was
pretty good for that show. The same was not the case on this night. Very old jokes and he drew very few laughs. We
stopped in at the Schooner Lounge for some piano music and drinks with our table mates. Then it was off to the
balcony to wait for Cyndi. In case you have been keeping track we had been getting around four hours sleep per
night with a small nap in the day. This would soon take its toll. Remember to allow plenty of sleep time!

Thursday, August 5, 1999 - George Town Grand Cayman

Awoke at 7:00 and had a "Happy Anniversary" White Star Champagne breakfast in bed. This was without a doubt the
best breakfast we had on the entire cruise! We got dressed and went down to deck 1 to tender to the pier. Here we
did the Seaworld Explorer tour and the Grand Caymans Highlight tour. The Seaworld Explorer was outstanding!!!
This would have to be our number one recommendation for shore excursions on this itinerary. We saw numerous
types of fish, a sea turtle, a barracuda, two ship wrecks, cheeseburger reef and as a special treat, the underside of
the Majesty of the Seas as she was anchored. What an awesome sight that was. Once we arrived back at the pier we
had a little time for shopping before the highlight tour. Next we boarded an air conditioned tour bus for a tour of the
Island. We toured the downtown George Town area and then drove out along side the beautiful seven mile beach. A
quick stop was made on the beach for photos and then off to our next stop.

The driver started the bus and told us all to go to hell and proceeded to take us there! We made a fifteen minute
stop at the Post Office of Hell where we mailed numerous post cards to our family and friends. Stamps were $ 0.20
each. We bought some t-shirts and post cards etc... before leaving. Next was a tour of the turtle farm. This was very
educational and extremely HOT! The aroma made Connie and Cyndi sick to their stomachs. We started back toward
the pier and stopped in front of the Conch House for pictures and then off to a nice Rum Cake store for a sample. It
was very good. We were getting close to the deadline for tendering so we headed back to the pier.

We arrived at the pier with 20 minutes left to tender and found ourselves in a line that had to be a half a mile long to
get on the tenders. We gradually made our way to the tenders while watching that certain few I mentioned earlier
jumping to the front of the line. We spent the time in line getting to know some of the cruisers we were in line with.
The time went by very quickly but we did over shoot the deadline as did hundreds of folks. The ship of course waited
because it was excursions they were pushing that caused us to cut it so close. After we started to sail, the captain
called our attention to a rare occurrence in Grand Cayman. Off the port side in the distance was a twister which
touched and formed a water spout. He said that this only happens 3 or 4 times a year and we were fortunate to get
to see it "at a distance".

Next we took a nap and then it was time to dress for the Captain's Gala Dinner. At dinner, our appetizers were
delivered and Connie found a very special one on her plate. Our waiter had delivered her anniversary gift to her as I
had previously arranged. I offered him a $20.00 tip for handling this "out of the ordinary" task for me and he refused
it. He said it was his pleasure to make one of his cruisers happy. I only mention this because much has been said
about waiters being tip happy. There were several times when the tip extended was declined. I insisted they take it
any way. There are many ways to justify not tipping the staff on a cruise ship but in my humble opinion, not one of
them are valid. These men and women earn every penny of the suggested tips and I even added a bit extra because
they were excellent!

After dinner it was off to A Chorus Line Lounge to catch the Wave Review Show. "Doo Wop and Bop" made its debut
on the Majesty of the Seas this sailing and suffice to say it needed work. We left the show and went to the Schooner
Lounge for some piano music and drinks. A little latter we attended the Not So Newly Wed Game. Of all of the small
cruise staff activities during the week, this was far and away our favorite. One lady was ask the standard question
"Where is the weirdest place you have ever done it?" Her mother in-law was in the audience and I don't believe I
have ever seen that shade of RED before! After this we went to the Blue Skies Lounge for some Karioke. Another
side splitter! Then it was off to the balcony to wait for Cyndi. In case you have not noticed, we saw very little of our
daughter during this cruise.

Friday, August 6, 1999 - Cozumel Mexico

Cyndi and I slept late but Connie was due for a facial and massage at 8:00 am. I spent some time in the casino after
waking until she was done with her spa treatments. As usual, I did note do very well. Connie returned just before
10:00 and had bruises on her legs and back from the deep massage they gave her. One of our table mates had a
similar experience in the spa. She had to take Advil for three days to manage to pain. If you are planning to have a
massage onboard the ship, I would suggest you find a better use for $83.00.

We went down to deck 2 to go out on the pier. We took a taxi from the pier to Rachet and Ramero which was the
Cruise Line's recommended drop off point. This was a three mile trip which took about 25 seconds. At least they
drove on the right side of the road here (most of the time). The cab ride was $5.00 as was the return trip. We walked
several blocks to eat at Poncho's Backyard. The food was delightful and the waiter was very friendly. The bill came
to $39 for the three of us which included appetizers and drinks. Then we did some shopping and bought some
jewelry and throws. Then it was back to the ship. Still had time for our daily nap and then it was off to dinner.

After dinner we stopped in the cabin to change. On the bed was our debarkation pass, luggage color tags, customs
form and tipping envelopes. After changing we headed out to A Chorus Line Lounge for the best show of the week.
A spectacular performance by The 5th Dimension. We went to the Blue Skies Lounge after the show and did some
dancing. Next stop was the Casino where Lady Luck had caught a ferry and finally caught up with the ship! I
managed to recoup most of my loses from the week. Then it was off to the balcony to wait for Cyndi to return and
then off to bed.

Saturday, August 7, 1999 - At Sea

We all slept in until I had to get up for the Debarkation Talk. Next we had lunch in the Mikado Dinning Room. We
missed our daily nap this day because of our bridge tour which was at 2:00 pm. The tour was hosted by the Ship's
1st Officer. It was an extremely interesting and educational tour. After this we just strolled around and shopped a bit
until dinner time. We went to the cabin and got our tipping envelopes and left the cabin stewards tip envelope on the
bed. The we went to the Mikado Dinning Room for our final evening meal. During the evening in the dinning room we
exchanged names and addresses, got last minute photos of everyone and said our goodbyes. Tipping envelopes
were handed out to the Wine Steward, Head Waiter, Our Waiter and his Assistant. All received over the
recommended amount. The meal was completed by a farewell parade by the wait staff. This was a very sad evening.

We went to the Farewell Show after dinner which was a few laughs but nothing spectacular. Then back to our cabin
to visit a bit with the honeymooners from our table. Then we went down to the Schooner Lounge for piano music and
drinks with another couple from our table. We spent the remainder of the evening finishing the packing and setting

Name: Wendy & Roy Bento
Email: wenroy@hotmail.com
Age: 21/23
Occupation: receptionist/sfd plant manager
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: Apr. 25, 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: H
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService: 92
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 99
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 100
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 99
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 92
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 92
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 88
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Sep 1999
Time: 15:43:04
Remote Name: www.therobbinsco.com
Remote User:

Comments

This was my honeymoon cruise. My husband and I were looking forward to the cruise, more than the actual
wedding itself. And we had the best time of our lives. Everything was great. (everything that really mattered
anyway)

Two biggest complaints- 1. room was unusually small and 2. it too soo long to get off the boat. My husband and I
had to wait in line for 2 hours just to get his green card back. There were many families in line with small children
also waiting. I thought it was cruel.

Other than that we loved everything. Faustino and Jose at the Maytime dining room, all the couples that had
dinner with us, and of course all the cute towel creatures our steward prepared for us on a daily basis.

The ports were great. My husband is an unexperienced swimmer, so I was really suprised me with the snorkel
equip. That must've been the most relaxing 2 hours of our lives. To this day, everytime we go swimming we
remember that.

Jamica- reminded me of a bad part of NYC. The taxi drivers were persistant along with the hairbraiders.

Unfortunately, we chose not to debark when we got to Grand Caymen. We opted to stay poolside, considering it
would not be swamped with people.

Cozumel- WOW. We took a Jeep Safari tour. It lead us thru sand dunes to the most beautiful beach I have ever
seen. Again, my husband surprised me-He tried conquering the incredible waves - and for the most part
succeeded.

Overall, the best time of my life... Can't wait for the Voyager- maybe for my one year anniversary. RCCL really is
the royalty of the seas...

Name: Michelle Genatempo
Email: Michelle.Genatempo@phschool.com
Age: 32
Occupation: Sales Administrator
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 8/29/99
Itinerary: Western
Cabin: 5548 / F
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 98
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 89
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Sep 1999
Time: 13:52:21
Remote Name: ns1.prenhall.com
Remote User:

Comments

I just returned 3 days ago from sailing on the Majesty and wanted to include a fresh review in this database since it
helped me so much. I wanted to return the favor! So here it goes...

We (hubby and I) had a wonderful time. We had sailed on the Monarch 7 years ago for our honeymoon, and finally
decided to book another cruise. I will try to be as straightforward as possible here and tell you exactly what we found to
be the truth on the ship.

First of all, I had read many reviews that the Majesty was getting kind of old and a bit dirty. I did not find that to be the
case. I consistently saw the crew with vacuums or paint brushes in their hands (depending on their job!lol). The only
thing I did notice was that the carpeting in many areas was stained. This led to the overall impression that the ship
needed a good make-over, but upon closer inspection it really was only the carpeting that needs a good shampooing.
I'm not the type of person to be truly bothered by this type of thing, so I was OK with it.

As far as the food goes...it was great! Again, I'm not the type of person who is extremely picky when it comes to food,
but I was expecting good food at dinner, and I wasn't disappointed. I had read reviews that stated that the Windjammer
food was cafeteria style and not too great. Well, the ship offers full dining room service at every meal, so if someone
didn't like the cafeteria style food, they always had the option of sitting down formally. And personally, I thought it was
just fine. I stuffed myself at every meal! I just loved our waiter in the dining room (hi, Mustafa!) and I ate 5 lobsters on
lobster night! I'm still stuffed!

I will start at the beginning, and try not to forget anything, but I still have pina coladas on the brain! We did not do the
air/sea program, so I can't say anything about that. We arranged our own air travel and arrived the day before, which I
would highly recommend to anyone who arranges their own air travel. We were a bit threatened by Hurricane Dennis,
and having the extra day to be sure we made it to Miami really took alot off our minds. The ship won't wait for you if
you don't book through them, so the peace of mind was well worth it. As it was, we landed in Miami on time and had all
day to play at the Airport Hilton, which RCCL set us up at (we did the day prior program). I wasn't too impressed with
the Hilton, but hey, its just an airport hotel. And we were well rested for the big day...boarding the Majesty! RCCL
handled the transfers from the hotel with great efficiency, and we bypassed the LONG line at the pier because we had
already registered at the hotel. So it was maybe 10 minutes from the time we arrived at the pier to the time we were
checking out our stateroom. You've gotta love that! It was a very long line at the pier. I wouldn't have wanted to wait on
it.

First day at sea was filled with sun, pool games, and Red Stripe beer. What more can I say? We went to dinner and
met our table mates. They were all great (hi, Dale and Pat, Todd and Janet, and Keith and Sandi!). It makes me
wonder how RCCL puts people together at the tables. Do they look at you when you register and guess your age and
put people with you who seem to be about your age? I don't know, but whatever it was, it worked! We closed the dining
room every night and left smiling.

The first island was Labadee. Very nice, although they were doing some construction to accomodate the bigger, newer
ship that will be taking over the itinerary in November. Actually, every island we went to had some construction going
on. You can tell that cruising is gaining in popularity. They are expanding all over the place to accomodate all those
cruisers! Back to Labadee. I thought the beaches were crowded. I'm the type of person that likes to get off a crowded
ship and find peace and solace on the beach. If you want to swim, you won't find this in Labadee. The swimming
beaches were packed. But Jim and I took a walk after the lunch (bbq style, just fine for a few munchies...hotdogs,
chicken, salad, that type of thing) and found that the beach by Dragon's Breath rock was sparse. I guess because you
are not allowed to swim on that side due to the reefs and surf. So we just hung out in one of the many hammocks
provided and watched the surf. The locals at the craft market were pushy, but if you are going to the Caribbean you
have to put up with that kind of stuff. Just say no and keep walking or they will pounce all over you. Jim was looking for
a walking cane, and it was like word got out that he was looking for one, because they swarmed us trying to sell us
theirs! He did find a nice one and bargained down for it.

Jamaica...what can I say? I wouldn't want to go back for a vacation. It was a beautiful island, but aren't they all? We
didn't go into town, but others at our table did and said that they were a bit nervous and 2 couples said they felt that
they were being followed! The cruise director (great guy, and funny!) said that Labadee was childs play compared to
the market in Jamaica. I just wanted no part of it, and am glad we didn't go near it. We got off the ship and got a cab,
and asked the cabbie (MusicMan) to take us to a nice quiet beach with a bar. I've found this usually works, as cabbies
know it all! He took us to a great place called Shaw Beach. It was a beautiful old hotel in a private cove. MusicMan then
picked us up at the requested time, and gave us a tour of the real Jamaica. Took us back in the hills and really
showed us around. Took us to Fern Gully, which was closed for road repair but he got us in. I can honestly say that I
was nervous, what with all the stories you hear about Jamaica, but it worked out OK. Just bring lots of dollar bills with
you, as everyone is looking for tips for just about everything. We didn't do the Falls, but I can say that no one on that
ship saw Jamaica as we did! I sincerely doubt anyone else was up in the hills like we were! As I said, I was nervous, but
it all worked out, and we paid MusicMan $50 for the day. Not bad for a personal tour and chauffer!

Grand Cayman was beautiful, but expensive (2 Red Stripes cost $11). I did not like the fact that we had to be back on
the ship at 2:30. What kind of day does that leave you? Not much, to be sure. So we went to Seven Mile Beach, and
walked down a ways until it was quiet. We had some great snorkling right off the beach (by the way, no one saw
anything at all in Labadee). We saw schools of fish and coral, and conch shells and star fishes! I would have liked to
go to another beach, as I researched this island quite a bit, but there was just no time to really see the island. And the
cabs that are right outside of the dock just assume that you are going to Seven Mile Beach and pack as many of you
into their mini-vans as is humanly possible (there were 16 people in ours). I don't think we could have gotten a cab to
another beach. They were all mini-vans and were out to get as many fares as possible. The tendering back to the ship
was awful. There were alot of them, but the line was long and hot. Be prepared to wait since it was such a short day,
everyone stayed on the island as long as possible, so at 2:30 it was a long line to get tendered back. But a great
island to be sure, and I would love to go back. Clean town and nice people.

Cozumel was great, also. I kind of wish I realized that it is quite easy to rent scooters or a jeep and to take off on your
own. When you get off the ship, there are plenty of places right in front of you that rent these things. The island is very
easy to get around, so don't be timid and rent those scooters! The people that did looked like they were having a
great time. We hopped in a cab and went to Playa Palancar, which is a very nice, quiet beach about 20 minutes down
the road (only one road!) It was out of the way and secluded. The cabbie said that we can just ask the bartender to
call a cab when we were ready, but they didn't have a radio. So we thought we were going to have to walk back to the
main road and stick our thumbs out for a ride back to the ship! But the bartender took pity on us and gave us a lift (in
an open-air rack truck!! Very Mexican) to a more crowded beach where we were able to get a cab. We had the tastiest
drinks at Playa Palencar! We ordered a coco-loco, and the guy actually went to a palm tree to get the coconut! Then
he then took out a very large machete and chopped it open, added all kinds of liquer, and stuck 2 straws in it. It was
great! But the monkey was the best. They have a resident mascot there named Mona Lisa. She was so sweet, and
actually fell asleep in my lap. I've never been that close-up and personal with a monkey! Again, a beautiful island with
lots of great snorkling. We went to town for a little while, but didn't leave ourselves as much time as I would have liked,
so we went back to the ship. The shopping looked great, and I visited a few shops that the ship recommended (watch
those shopping talks, and all talks, on your TV in your room) and the buys looked very good. But I'm not a big shopper
on vacation. I can go to the mall anytime. I'm looking for good beaches! But of course, Jim had to buy a Cuban cigar.
All the guys were doing it. We went to the Cigar Bar in the library that night, and had a nice time with a glass of
champagne while he puffed away at it.

The last day was at sea, and it was fun. Same thing as the first day. Pool games and such. I went to bingo (snowball
jackpot was $6600), but I didn't win. Dinner that night was fun but sad. We all exchanged addressed and hugged and
said goodbye. It is amazing how quickly people get to know each other on a cruise. Its like you are old friends, and I
very much want to keep in touch with the people we met.

My only gripe about cruising is that everything is on a time schedule. What time to be back on the ship, what time for
dinner, what time for games, etc etc. It wasn't a relaxing trip, as there is just so much to do! But we realized that we
can't do it all, you would just knock yourself out trying. So pick and choose what you want to do, and have fun!! E-mail
me if you want. I'll be sure to get back with you about any questions you may have!

Name: Nicholas Hoagland
Email: nickhoagland@yahoo.com
Age: 31
Occupation: Government
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 9/5/99
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 3062
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 86
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 96
CabinAmenities: 88
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 97
FoodMidnightBuffets: 88
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 75
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 98
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 97
TenderService: 86
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 80
EntertainmentLounges: 92
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 94
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 80
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino: 75
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 97
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 88
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 13 Sep 1999
Time: 00:05:53
Remote Name: nycmb905-16.splitrock.net
Remote User:

Comments

This cruise was our Honeymoon and for the most part we thought it was excellent. The ship was beautiful and was
always being cleaned around the clock. Staff was fabulous, especially our waiter, Ozkan. Entertainment was well varied
and for the most part enjoyable. Ports of call (Labadee,Ochos Rios, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel) were enjoyable.
Tour variety was good although not always a great value. The captain gave us a very smooth trip through the
Caribbean. When we awoke in the morning we needed to open the drape to see if we were sailing or in port ! A very
romantic atmosphere for a honeymoon was felt all cruise long. What would a cruise review be without the negatives
??? There were a few but honestly, the cruise was great and we recommend it highly. A few negatives though... We
were disappointed at the number of dining options considering the size of the ship and number of passengers. Other
than the main dining room there was only the Windjammer buffet which ranged from very good to poor but mostly fair.
Not a great variety available. One thing really annoyed me was the beverage selection. Other than syrup-based ice
tea and fruit punch, no other cold beverages were available complementary. A can of coke went for $1.60 as did a '24
ounce' fountain soda which I figured to be about 8-10 oz's.I'm a big diet coke drinker and that was a big dreawback. I
don't know if thats standard beverage police on most lines or not but it seemed chinsy to me. Kids under 18 could get
an unlimited Coke pass for the cruise for $15 which would have been fine for me but RCCL loves to push the tropical
drinks ($6-7) down the throats of legal age drinkers so I wasn't available to get the cok deal. Also - the 2 small ( 6
bathers semi-comfortably) jacuzzis were supposedly reserved for guests 16 and over. I used the jacuzzis every day
and without exception there were loads of kids splashing around with no crew member to enforce the age limit. Very
annoying. Overall though - a great honeymoon and a great cruise.

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