rccl-majesty16

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: John Kidwell
Email: cruiseguide@earthlink.net
Age: 54
Occupation: Tree Farmer and Cruise Agent
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 11/03/00
Itinerary: 3 Day Bahamas
Cabin: 1584/C
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 75
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 50
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff: 70
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 75
BeautySalonStaff: 50
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 75
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon: 50
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 75
AirSeaProgram: 75
MedicalFacilities: 80
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 09 Feb 2001
Time: 13:16:17
Remote Name: 1cust246.tnt4.canton.tx.da.uu.net
Remote User:

Comments

A weekend cruise in November can do wonders for 'cruise fever'. We spent a wonderful three days on the
Majesty of the Seas the weekend before Election Day. What a great way to get away from the political ads
and media mania! A mid-afternoon arrival at Miami International Airport was great, in that there were no
crowds and the RCCL Representative met us and only a few other passengers. We were led directly to the
bus as Royal Caribbean took care of claiming our luggage.

For those of you who loathe the 'multi-switchback-snakes-back-and-forth-forever' embarkation line, we
strongly recommend arriving at the pier after 3:00 PM. No line! We boarded and soon found, to our surprise,
that we had been upgraded from a category F guarantee to a Category C Superior Ocean View with a
balcony!

After the lifeboat drill, while we unpacked, we found all kinds of neat little extras in cabin 1584. A handy
refrigerator tucked under the television, a safe in the closet that you program with your own code and a bottle
opener in the bathroom by the tub for the ale we just brought back from the Schooner Bar. There was plenty
of closet and drawer space and a nice vanity for the lady.

The ship is fairly easy to get around, even though only the amidships bank of elevators traverse all decks.
The Centrum is a multi-deck free flowing hub containing entrances to both dining rooms, a bevy of boutiques,
the purser and shore excursion desks, casino and photo gallery.

A note about the boutiques and shops: There is a tuxedo and ladies formal wear rental shop, logo sportswear
shop and the usual fragrance, jewelry and expensive figurine shops. On several occasions during the cruise a
flea market style bazaar was set up in the Centrum offering everything from watches to duty free liquor. We
bought two liters of Swedish Vodka on the first night out and they boxed it and allowed us to take it back to
our cabins. On the ships we have sailed before you could buy the liquor but they would hold it until the last
day before debarkation. We don't know if this is a new trend or something that Royal Caribbean does all the
time.

While we're on the cocktail subject, we'll critique the three main cocktail lounges. Of course, we rate the Viking
Crown Lounge 'highest' for more reasons than just elevation. The service here was friendly and fast and the
twelve to fifteen variations on the martini were inventive. We especially liked the choice between the regular
size and the jumbo ten-and-a-half ounce! We can't understand why, but this lounge was never crowded
during the early evening cocktail hour.

While the Viking Crown is best for a martini at sunset, the Schooner Bar with Al Escobar at the piano is much
more suited to an after dinner aperitif and sing along till you drop. You must sit at the piano bar to fully
appreciate Al and his '20 piece (portable) orchestra'. Believe us, Jimmy Durante never sounded so good!

The last is a very quiet and cozy space at the top of the Centrum. The Touch of Class Champagne Bar offers
the acceptable champagne we had last New Years, to the Dom Pérignon, which we may never have. A good
selection of wines is available here as well. Choose this spot when you want a quiet place to get close and
whisper sweet nothings into your lover's ear.

It is hard to give a fair appraisal of the cuisine aboard the Majesty of the Seas on a three-day cruise. We
booked this cruise only two weeks prior to departure so were not surprised when assigned to the Main
Seating. Since we boarded late, we decided not to rush to dinner on Friday evening. Instead, we enjoyed a
libation in the Viking Crown and dined in the Windjammer Restaurant. The Windjammer is the open and airy
Lido dining choice during the day but in the evenings they bring out the white table cloths and serve the same
cuisine that is served in the main dining rooms until 9:00pm. Friday night was 'Italian night' and we were
almost lonely at our next-to-the-window table for two. The salad bar offered several pasta salads and very
nice Minestrone soup. Servings of fettuccini or vermicelli were tossed in a skillet at a hot pasta station where
you could choose a variety of condiments and sauces.

We felt the breakfast served in the Mikado Dining Room was far superior to the cafeteria fare of the
Windjammer. We really didn't think those cafeteria scrambled eggs were related to a chicken, but the
Windjammer did attract the larger crowds so it must have been pleasing to many.

The outstanding mid-day meal was the barbeque buffet served on Royal Caribbean's private island,
CocoCay. The food was wonderful. The only down side here were the long and very slow lines. Either get in
line early or loll around until everyone else is full. Or do as we did and send one to stand in the line while the
other guards his or her seat at the bar. (Phyllis was in line - John was at the bar).

On a three-day cruise, the ports-of-call are really not the most important attractions. We tend not to go with
the ship sponsored shore excursions, opting instead to strike out on our own to see if we can find something
unique. Such was the case at Nassau. We had a late breakfast and avoided the rush to go ashore until
around 11:00am. Walking through the crowded streets near the pier we slowly worked our way out of the
crowds into the business district. We found several photo opportunities, as Nassau is very picturesque. Our
wanderings led us to Frederick St. where we found the Maritime House, an office complex that lends space to
The Brussels Brasserie. This is one of those small French bistros that only offer a few small tables. Owner,
Chef Renaud Hendrickx, is the sole conductor and musician in his kitchen. We opted for the curried chicken
salad on fresh baked bread and Scottish smoked salmon. After lunch, Chef Hendrickx insisted that we visit his
breadbasket to put our noses in his fresh baked six-grain bread, fresh from the oven. Chef Hendrickx, we will
return. We got back to the ship for the mandatory Saturday afternoon nap.

We really can't judge the showroom entertainment aboard because we weren't able to tear ourselves away
from Al Escobar's piano. However, we did speak with other passengers that enjoyed the venues. We enjoyed
dancing at the Captain's Gala on Saturday night. Held after the main seating, but before the late seating, the
whole ship is in attendance. It really wasn't that crowded and the free drinks were readily available.

Of the nine cruises that we have experienced, two of them were three-day itineraries. These two cruises, one
on Carnival's Fantasy and this one on Majesty of the Seas, are as memorable, if not more so, than the other
weeklong itineraries. This may be because we booked them in a cavalier, 'why not two weeks from now?'
manner or maybe the shorter cruise urges us to magnify the moments. We are going to do it
again……...spontaneously!

'We do not remember days, we remember moments.' - Cesare Pavese.

Name: Sandy Belanger
Email: sbjbkb@mint.net
Age: 35
Occupation: teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 2-19-01
Itinerary: Nassau, coco cay and Key West
Cabin: 6522/F
FoodDiningRoom: 93
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 97
ShoreExcVariety: 94
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService: 98
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 97
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 96
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 94
Casino: 75
AirSeaProgram: 88
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 88
EmbarkDisembark: 96
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 88
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Feb 2001
Time: 20:58:39
Remote Name: dialup-a-21.mint.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was my first cruise experience and it was great! I went with 4 other friends and no kids or
husbands. It was fun to just get away and hang out with good friends. We did go 1 day early and
stayed at the Radisson. I would highly recommend this option because we were exhausted from our
flights and it just added to the excitement. On Monday morning we woke up eary because our notes
said the bus would pick us up at 9:00 in the lobby. . . it didn't show until 10:00! That was a bit annoying
but we got over it quickly. We made it to the pier by 10:30ish and we were walking on the ship by
11:00. The process was so smooth we couldn't believe it. EASY! There was a buffet lunch being
served with a nice variety. We sat by the pool and started in on our tans! This whole day felt like a
bonus to us. By the time we went to the mandatory lifeboat drill we had already been on board for
about 5 hours. I will go early again if I cruise. We had the first dinner seating at 6:00 and it was
fabulous. I am a person who does not like to eat too late , this way we went to the shows and had a
nice after dinner drink. The service is amazing! Even though our waiter did not speak English all that
well he was wonderful. Often times if we could not decide on a menu item he would bring us both! We
oftern lingered over dessert and found that he would bring us extra desserts - not that we needed
them of course but it was fun sampling. It does not take you long to realize the staff works their tails off,
they deserve every bit of the tip you give them!

We had two birthdays at our table and they deliver a
cute little cake and sing to you-nice touch. The shows were good. We especially enjoyed the jugglers
on day 1 -hysterical. The wild west show could be skipped, we thought it was boring. Make sure you go
early and get a comfortable seat. Some seats are terrible. We found it nice to hang out waiting for the
show with a nice drink. We also played a few games which were fun. Do NOT miss the majesty quest
game it is a riot!!! You must have a team with men and ladies - we borrowed a man for a few quest
items. The Not so Newlywed game is funny, too. As far as ports of call. . .Nassau is really not that
great. I found it dirty and a bit scary. The 5 of us took a taxi to Paradise Island and stayed on the
beach all day($4per personfor the taxi) . It is beautiful and so many people there you can sort of blend
in with the many guests. We were able to use the pools and showers. The waves were incredible that
day and actually quite dangerous.. We played in them anyway and took a couple of 'diggers' so to
speak. This was a good place to get your hair braided and reasonable. We all thought the straw
market was a big fat waste of time - just a bunch of cheap souvenirs and rude people.

We LOVED
coco cay! Go early to get a prime spot and a beach chair. Many people wandered around and around
looking for chairs - that would have really irritated me. The water was beautiful and this is a great place
to try snorkeling. I wouldn't bother signing up to snorkel until that day because there was plenty of
equipment there and if the weather is not so hot on that day you can not get your money back. Our
day happened to be 90 degrees with a nice warm breeze - AWESOME! The lunch was OK but the lines
are long. The coco loco drinks were watered down or something and we felt the bar service on this
island was rude and obnoxious. Don't wait until the last minute to take the tender back the line is very
long. We went back and sat by the pool. We loved Key West, too. 3 of us went on a snorkeling trip and
2 went bar hopping and shopping. I wish I had gone with the 2!! Snorkeling was great but I guess it
wasn't my favorite thing of all. I felt sort of sick from all the salt water and couldn't begin to think about
drinking the free beer. Sitting on a bar stool sipping margaritas sounded more fun. We would have
loved being in Key West longer but the ship left at 5:30. Again, there are plenty of opportunities to do
shore excursion activities when you get there especially if it is a weather dependent type of thing. What
we didn't like: We really have few complaints. It's more what would we do different kinds of things -
bring a 6 pack of soda with you if that's what you like, it's $1.50 a can. We bought beer in Nassua @$2
each -better than the $5 on the ship. Also I would bring a travel mug for water and coffee.. They do not
have cold water everywhere and they sell bottles for $2.50 each. (I like water) wow few complaints I
guess. We did feel a bit woozy on night one but the pursors desk gives out dramamine free and it
helped. Lindon was a fantastic bar waiter - look him up. Have a fun time! This site helped me a lot so I
thought I would return the favor to someone else.

Name: Kara O'Donnell
Email: lawyerkara@aol.com
Age: 30
Occupation: attorney
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: Sept 23
Itinerary: nassau-coco cay
Cabin: outside
FoodDiningRoom: 70
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 75
FoodRoomService: 10
CruiseStaff: 75
CabinAmenities: 50
FoodLidoDeck: 40
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 10
CabinSteward: 75
ShoreExcVariety: 40
FoodVariety: 45
DeckService: 70
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 60
CasinoStaff: 45
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 60
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 50
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 40
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 30
CruiseActivities: 40
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 60
ShipCleanliness: 70
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs: 30
DeckSpace:
Stabilization:
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 50
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Feb 2001
Time: 18:31:28
Remote Name: spider-ta033.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

RCL Majesty was substandard. There were NO midnight buffets. Just waiters with plates of tiny hors
d'oeuvres as we exited the disco. The discos closed at 2:00am-way too early. Almost all the other bars
shut down at 6pm. Leaving us bored until our 8pm dinner. Lunch times were strict-with NO food
available from 2 until dinner. My friend ordered room service one night then was told the other night it
too was closed. We seemed to spend the entire cruise SEARCHING for drinks or food. I DID"T PAY
GOOD MONEY TO BE ON SURVIVOR ISLAND, RCL. The lunch was BLAND and lousy. Not even
restaurant-quality food. Dinner was acceptable, but only ONE night offered seafood - fishy tasting
shrimp but very nice escargot. It's hard to screw up garlicky snails though. The dinner portions were
TINY. Not a problem for me, but one man at my table had to order FOUR portions of steak just to make
a medium-sized man's portion. I also did not appreciate the sewage smell that permeated the boat on
the second/third nights. Private island in Coco cay was beautiful but Nassau is a DUMP. We were
continually haunted by Bahamians trying to sell us pot or cocaine. I will NEVER go onshore if in
Bahamas again.

Name: Monica Schnitzer
Email: mschnitzer@mediaone.net
Age: 32
Occupation: Recruiter
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 2/23/01
Itinerary: Bahamas
Cabin: 2059 / category N
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 70
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 75
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization:
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Mar 2001
Time: 23:29:13
Remote Name: rr-26-69-7.atl.mediaone.net
Remote User:

Comments

INTRODUCTION: I was on the Majesty’s 3-day Bahamas cruise on 2/23/01. Some background
information: I’ve cruised on this itinerary on the Sovereign a few years ago, and I also cruised on
Majesty last year when she was doing a southern Caribbean itinerary. I was with a group of 14 friends
and co-workers for this trip. I'm not going to go into information on the ship, because it seems to be
well-covered in other reviews. If you have any questions, please email me.

EMBARKATION: We arranged our own air to Miami and decided to take taxis to the pier. We arrived at
the pier around 11am. We were early, and there were no lines. They checked us right in and allowed
us on the ship at 11:30 am. They said that our cabin wouldn’t be ready until 1:30 p.m. and asked us to
stay in the public areas until then. Luckily, we checked on our cabin anyway, and it was ready and
waiting for us. The cabin stewards were busy trying to get the cabins ready, so there was trash in the
hallways and it was a bit chaotic, but it was nice to check into our cabin so quickly. The pool bar was
open, so we immediately went up for a fruity drink while we waited for the lunch buffet to open at 12:30
p.m.

CABINS: By far, this is the smallest cabin we’ve ever had. It was an inside cabin, mid-ship, on deck 2.
The outside cabins are a few square feet larger, and they look it. However, the cabin was functional
and there was enough space for everything. There is NO safe, NO hairdryer, NO clock, and NO lotion
or conditioner in the rooms. You can expect sodas and bottled water (there is a charge if you use
these), shampoo, soap, and ample drawer & closet space.

FOOD & FOOD SERVICE: We only ate breakfast in the dining room once. The food wasn’t hot and the
service was even worse. After that, we had breakfast in the Windjammer Café. They had a pretty good
selection. We were too late for lunch in the dining room, and again we had no complaints about the
buffet for lunch. Dinner in the dining room each night was about what you would expect. The food was
good, not superb, and the waiters tried to give us good service. With a table of 14, it was difficult for
them, but they did their best. Bar and wine service was a bit slow on each night. I thought the room
service 24-hour menu was better than most (try the nachos). They offered a midnight buffet only one
night – in the Windjammer Café – but we missed it. One night, they had “roaming canapés” that met up
with us in the casino, and the third night, there was nothing but room service.

CASINO: The casino tables were crowded every time we were up there. The slots were virtually empty.
I had one outstanding (friendly and helpful) blackjack dealer; I thought the rest were a bit surly. Our
entire group, with the exception of two, had bad luck in the casino. It didn’t seem to be the most
cruiser-friendly casino I’ve ever been in… or maybe it was just us!

ENTERTAINMENT: Get to the shows in the Chorus Line Lounge early. The balconies have poor lines
of vision. We saw two comedians (one good, one not so good), and one singing/dancing show. My
husband and friend loved the show – it was one of those famous-songs-from-the-last-three-decades
shows. I thought it was just okay. The calypso band at the pool was pretty good. We didn’t make it to
any of the other entertainment venues, although there were plenty to choose from. The MAJESTY
QUEST game and NOT-SO-NEWLYWED game are hilarious!

DISCO: The disco was hopping every night. Many members of our group closed it down at 3 am. I’ve
never seen a dance club on a cruise ship that was as fun as this one. The party was non stop.

NEGATIVES: We had a bad experience with photograph services. We looked forward to getting our
picture taken on formal night, and they lost the roll of film we were on! We were very disappointed. The
other problem is that the pool was closed two out of our three days. Maintenance, someone said.

NASSAU: This was my third time to Nassau, so we decided not to take any of the tours. We found a
splendid, quiet beach near Paradise Paradise. It was a peninsula of white sand with two crescent
beaches, one on each side. There was supposed to be good snorkeling, but we couldn’t get around
the point to where it was. We saw some colorful fish, but it was nothing compared to CocoCay. Email
me for directions on how to get to this beach if you’re interested. It was heaven. After the beach, we
took our obligatory trip to the Straw Market. We got excellent deals on souvenirs INSIDE of the Straw
Market. The vendors say that business is slow because tourists are buying from the vendors on the
street. Try going into the building and see if the deals are better inside. I was constantly asked if I
wanted my hair braided, and my husband received many offers for Cuban cigars, but we gave
everyone a firm ‘no thanks.’ We did not have a single problem with any of the vendors. We found
pretty good prices on watches and excellent prices on duty-free liquor.

COCOCAY: This was our second time to CocoCay, and it was just as beautiful as I’d remembered. We
headed straight to the snorkeling beach and went snorkeling before it got too crowded. It was
excellent. I highly recommend it. Be sure to go to the left toward the deeper waters to see the most
colorful fish. After our picnic lunch and lounging on the beach, we caught one of the last tenders back.
Tender service was quick, easy, and efficient.

By the way, the weather was outstanding for our entire cruise. Even in February, it was in the low-80s.
The ocean was a little chilly getting in, but then it was perfect. The brochures say to bring a sweater or
jacket for chilly nights on deck, but we didn't need it.

MIAMI: Since we had a late flight, we took the Everglades tour. It was $38 per person, and it was
definitely worth it! We took a bus to the Everglades, and then had an airboat tour, a wildlife
demonstration, and a walk around a park. Then it’s a 20-minute ride back to the airport. I think we
arrived at the airport around 12noon – 1pm.

DEBARKATION: Debarkation was quick and painless. Since we were on a tour, we were off the ship by
8:20am. Breakfast was served in the dining room and in the Windjammer all morning. The only weird
part is that your luggage comes out on carousels, not grouped by colors. I found that this process was
much longer and more tedious than trying to locate my luggage in its group. American Airlines and a
couple others have check-in counters literally steps away from the baggage carousels. Customer
service people were everywhere to help you find the right ground transportation.

SUMMARY: Whether you’re a first time cruiser or a seasoned one, this is an excellent cruise for a
quick weekend getaway. The itinerary is outstanding, the service is good, and the cruise offers a little
bit of everything to everyone. Feel free to email me with questions: mschnitzer@mediaone.net.

Name: Elizabeth Banas
Email: Banasl@hotmail.com
Age: 33
Occupation: Executive Assistant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: February 23, 2001
Itinerary: Naussau, CocoCay Island
Cabin: 5063, I think
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 75
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 100
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 75
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Mar 2001
Time: 15:45:10
Remote Name: psefw-web.pios.com
Remote User:

Comments

This was my first cruise. And, I have to say I enjoyed it far more than any other vacation I have ever taken.
We arrived at the ship from Miami airport at about 12:30 and were sitting by the pool enjoying a very
relaxing drink by 1:30. We were absolutely famished when we arrived on the pool deck. Much to our
pleasant surprise, a very nice fellow offering a huge plate full of a variety of sandwich wraps greeted us.
Everything from veggie to turkey breast was offered. I must say I went back to him several times!

Our luggage arrived at our cabin a great deal earlier than we expected. And, I very much enjoyed myself
as the ship left the port of Miami.

Positives: 1) Our cabin steward (I’m terrible with names!) was extremely friendly and very accommodating.
Each night, as we arrived at our cabin, an animal formed out of our towels was on our bed to greet us. He
was quite creative! The items we had asked to be pressed for the formal night were delivered exactly
when he said they would be. And, the cabin was cleaned to perfection every day.

2) Our wait staff in the dining room was exemplary! However, there was one thing I desperately craved that
wasn’t available: Lobster! Perhaps it was the wrong time of year. Or, maybe it just isn’t a widely requested
meal. But, on the other hand, the food that was available was always fresh, tasty, and cooked to
perfection. Each night featured a different theme: Italian, multi-cultural, etc. And, the best part is, we were
able to choose more than one entrée (or salad, soup, dessert, etc.). That was a perk I did not expect. The
wife of another couple that we traveled with couldn’t decide between the salmon and the steak. She ended
up receiving both and shared with us all! It had to have been the best grilled salmon I had ever laid my
taste buds on! Our food NEVER arrived late or cold or under-cooked (over-cooked either). The wine was
moderately priced at with the least expensive bottle at $25.00. Not much more than what you’d find at the
beer and wine store here at home. And, the servers went out of their way to make sure we had had our fill
of everything. A+!!!!

3) There were so many different activities to choose from on the ship that we just didn’t have enough time
to do it all! No one should ever have the excuse of not finding something to do. The comedy-juggling act
we saw the first night was an absolute gas and had me rolling in the aisles the entire time. And, the
Majesty Quest game that we participated in the last night was incredibly hilarious. When in doubt, visit the
casino. I did very well with every game I played. Although, I had a difficult time finding an open black-jack
seat. Perhaps one or two more tables could be added? My favorite was the slots, though. Lady luck smiled
on me the second night, more than doubling the cash brought on-board with me! It’s a nice feeling going
home with more money than you came with.

4) Having little cruising experience, we ate breakfast and lunch every day at The Windjammer, not really
putting it together that both meals were served in the Dining Room at the same time (our fault for not
paying close attention to what was written in the daily news-letter slipped under the door each night).
However, the food at the buffet was very good and plentiful. Ambience in all places we sat was very
appropriate. The Windjammer has your choice of enclosed seating where you can enjoy your meal in a
quiet, conversation-friendly, setting or an open area where you can enjoy the soft breezes coming off the
ocean. We enjoyed both several times. My absolute favorite time, believe it or not, was first thing in the
morning. I awakened at 6:00 a.m. all three mornings (I don’t usually sleep well in un-familiar surroundings)
and went up to the Windjammer to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee (available, also with tea, 24/7). Pulling into
Nassau Saturday morning was exquisite. Not having been there before, I was enthralled at the color of the
many homes along the coastline. It was equally thrilling to watch all of the hustle and bustle along the pier
next to where we docked. If you’ve never cruised before, this is the perfect trip to break into the cruising
world!

5) We visited The Atlantis Resort in the morning and the straw market in the afternoon while in Nassau.
Quite an experience, I must say. If you have an opportunity to go to Atlantis, do! The indoor, underground
aquarium will leave you catching your breath. And, I found quite a few good deals on trinkets to bring
home to friends and family members at the straw market.

6) Unfortunately, I came down with the flu 2 days before we left for the cruise. However, I was determined
not to let it bring me down. I did visit the doctor on-board on Saturday morning because I was starting to
feel a little worse for the wear. He was incredibly helpful. He took a few tests, determined I did not have
any infection and gave me some medicine to battle the symptoms. The Majesty staff was very quick to
point out the cost of such a visit to me up-front (a much-appreciated forethought).

7) The Private Island contained so many activities, we didn’t know what to choose. We opted for a
50-minute jet ski adventure that actually ended up being 90 minutes, much to our pleasure. I had never
been on a jet ski before. Wow! What a ride. Definitely not for the faint at heart. If you love roller coasters,
you’ll love the jet-skis.

8) Disembarking the ship was very painless. I wasn’t too thrilled about having to be out of the cabin so
early in the morning (8:00), but we were able to relax with a cup of coffee up by the pool while we waited
for our color to be called. And, going through customs and getting back to Miami airport was non-eventful.

Not So Positives:

1) Trying to find something to eat later in the evening was impossible. Much to our dismay, the supposed
'midnight buffet' the first night was actually not served until 1:00 a.m. Much too late, as we were exhausted
from traveling all day. We ended up at a disco where the purser’s office informed us that trays of snacks
would be available. And, the snacks were excellent. However, we couldn’t get enough to satisfy our
hunger. We eventually went to bed hungry.

2) I wish I would have known ahead of time what the expected amount of tips should be and that they had
to be paid in cash. It would have been much easier to have them charged to our shipboard account.

3) I very much appreciated the fact that we had a television in our room, however, I was not able to find
out about local news back home in a timely manner. This is a very small negative, but a negative
nonetheless. 4) As is customary, we brought several hundred dollars worth of traveler’s checks. I was very
disappointed that we did not have a safe in our cabin. This meant that we had to carry all of our money
(and any other valuables) with us at all times which I found very inconvenient.

5) All of the shows we attended were very entertaining. However, the cruise director was a little too
‘sugary’ for my taste. Again, not a huge drawback, but obviously one that left an impression.

6) As you can probably guess, I love coffee. I also enjoy tea (especially since I had the flu). However, I
found most times in the mornings, that the cream was completely frozen. It looked like I had dropped a
marshmallow into my coffee. And, trying to find lemon for my tea was next to impossible.

7) I wear contac lenses, and I had forgotten my saline solution. It must have taken us hours to find
someone who knew whether or not they carried saline on the ship. Few staff members even knew what
saline solution was. We finally did find some at the general store, but Wow! What a price! $8.00 for a few
ounces. But, that's what convenience stores are for, right?

All in all, the cruise was well worth the money paid and the hassle of flying (which I hate). I thoroughly
enjoyed myself the entire time. I now have caught the cruising-bug! We’re going on another cruise next
fall. This time, we’re going to Bermuda. I am looking forward to it with great anticipation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at Banasl@hotmail.com

Happy Cruising!

Name: Amy Conwell
Email: amy_conwell@yahoo.com
Age: 32
Occupation: Social Worker
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 2/12/2001-2/17/2001
Itinerary: Bahamas, Key West
Cabin: 4337
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 92
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 92
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 92
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 92
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Mar 2001
Time: 20:33:37
Remote Name: splunge.ne.mediaone.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was a four night cruise that left Miami and went to Nassau, Coco Cay (private island) and then Key
West.

Embarking: We have family in Florida and stayed with them for a week before the cruise so all they had to
do was drop us off. My husband and I arrived before the 1:00 embark time & we weren't sure if we would
have to wait or not. We were pleased that the embarking process was very easy and fast, and we did not
have to wait even though we were early. (Our rooms, however, were not ready yet.) We had lunch at the
Windjammer Cafe, (there was a bit of a line but it moved relatively fast) and the food was decent. I had
been warned that the Windjammer didnt have the best food so my expectations weren't that high.

We chose to save a bit of money and chose an inside cabin. For a four nite cruise we thought we could do
without. As we expected, the cabin was small but seemed to hold all of our clothes. The room and
bathroom showed some sign of wear but was clean and fine for four nights (and I am usually very picky in
this area!) The room was quiet from engine noise but we could periodically hear people in other cabins.

We ate at second seating and were at a table with two other couples, who were perfectly pleasant. They
were a bit older than us but we didn't mind. The meals ranged from good to excellent. The food of course
was beyond plentiful.

Our cruise was the week before school vacation and we were a bit nervous that there would be a ton of
kids on the ship. They weren't and the kids we encountered seemed happy and occupied.

Entertainment: We went to almost all of the shows/entertainment. We especially enjoyed the comdedians.
There was only one show we thought was a bit hokey, a western. The honeymoon game show was funny.
Our one complaint was that in order to get to the shows you had to walk through either a very smokey
lounge or the casino which was smoke filled as well.

The first stop was Nassau. We aren't much into shopping so decided to do one of shore excursions in the
afternoon-- a sailboat that took you snorkeling. It was a very pleasant sail that you gave a feel for the
island and then stopped to snorkle. We are beginner snorklers and the ocean was a bit rougher than I
would have liked. I enjoyed the time I was out in the water but I didn't last all that long before getting on the
boat. My husband, however, loved it and was out exploring the whole time.

In the morning in Nassau we explored on our own. There is a tourist office near by the ship that gave us a
map and some advice what to see. We went to the top of a tower (by the Queen's steps) that provided a
great view of Nassau.

The second day was at Coco Cay. A tender takes you from the ship to the island. There were some lines
to and from for the tender but the lines did move. One word about the weather--- fabulous! We were very
lucky because Jan. had been a cold month and we were told that some weeks it was too rough to go to
Coco Cay. Coco Cay is a nice beach and lots of activities that Royal Carrib. rents out (snorkeling, sailing,
jet skis, etc) One piece of advice, before you settle on your spot in the sand...if you keep walking a bit you
will find that the beach is less crowded and quite beautiful (although the snorkeling spots are by the
closest and most crowded beach). The water was crystal clear with lots of little fish and we even saw
stingrays! They serve a BBQ lunch which was pretty good. Another piece of advice, wear suntan lotion!
The sun is really intense and you don't realize how quickly you can get burned.

The third day was at Key West. Of all the stops we liked Key West the best and wished we could have
spent another day. In the morning we walked to Hemingway's House (about a 20 min walk) took a tour
(cost was $9 per person). Very interesting and glad we did it. Then we went back to the ship for lunch and
then took one of the shore excursions-- this was a bike tour that explored Key West. Definitely took you off
the beaten path. We enjoyed it. It was a lot to pack into one day though, and I would have liked to explore
the cute shops but there wasn't enough time.

Disembark: This process went very quickly and we were off the ship much earlier than we expected.

We definitely enjoyed this cruise and will cruise again! The length of this cruise worked well for us
because we had already spent a week in Florida. However, if my entire vacation was a cruise I'd pick a 7
night cruise.

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