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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Craig & Diane Couturier
Email: playback@webtv.net
Age: 47
Occupation: State Gov't
NumberOfCruises: 01
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 11Apr99
Itinerary: western carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 98
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 100
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 100
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 13 Jun 1999
Time: 13:36:45
Remote Name: proxy-314.public.rwc.webtv.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise and the most enjoyable vacation we have ever been on! We arrived
in Miami the
day before and enjoyed many different and wonderful places! We boarded quickly, ate lunch
and went to
our cabin, which was wonderful, the views from the balcony were terrific! At sea, we
quickly unpacked and
went exploring! Had a wonderful dining experience, first of many to come! Did some
shopping, which was
good while the selection was best! (T-shirt sizes run out quickly) Hit the casino and the
show and went club
hopping until early morning, took a walk under the stars and marveled at how calm the seas
were! Could
barely sleep due to excitement! Woke at dawn and enjoyed breakfast on the balcony, this
was the most
wonderful experience we have ever had! Bring binoculars to watch the shipping channel! A
full day of
activities await us. Sign up early to tour the bridge! Limited number of folks can go but
it was very
interesting to see today's technology at work! We had decided very quickly on our shore
excursions
before boarding and this was a big help. Space is limited so get your excursions planned
ahead of time.
The Shore Excursion Briefing & Shopping Talks & even the shows are played back in
your room on TV so
don't worry about missing something. The key is to be there though! You might win
something! I won a
Huge Rum Cake at the shopping talk so that was FUN! Also, volunteer for assorted things
they will always
reward you!! As far as the formal pictures go and all the shore pictures they will take of
you, the best
advice is to wait until the last night, they will keep all pictures of all guests in the
photo gallery, then you
can look over all the different shots and then decide which ones you like best! This
advice came in very
handy because you can't possibly remember which pose you had when, formal, informal,
etc.....Also,
everywhere you go ask other folks to take your picture & then take their pictures for
them! The very best
shots I have were these kind! A underwater camera is a good thing to have, if you sign up
for river rafting,
falls climbing, snorkeling, jetskiing, or other assorted outdoor activities.
On-board they have them for sale
for $17 but I brought 2 along I had bought at home and used them on every rough excursion
instead of my
good camera! On board, we had a great night and we recommend playing the games the cruise
staff sets
up in various clubs at night! We met many great people every night and had so much FUN!
Their private
island Labadee, is truly a tropical paradise! We boarded the train and went to the far end
of the island, set
up camp at the snorkeling beach then went climbing at the Dragon's Rock while it was still
cool! There are
trails everywhere and some great photo ops with the ship in the background up at Hattie's
BellTower! We
brought our own gear to snorkel and enjoyed it very much, there is a tour also for
beginners and we
overheard about the plane wreck sites which were fabulous! H
ad a great lunch at Dragon's Rock, not as
crowded as the buffet closest to pier then boarded the train to the jet ski area. Went on
a wild ride!!! Took
train back to our camp, relaxed in a hammock, went snorkeling, and floating and swimming
and before we
knew it, it was time to go. We walked through the shopping area and this is good training
for Jamaica. Just
be firm and polite and they are very willing to negoiate good prices on many styles of
mahogany things!
Back on board, for another full night of fine dining, shows, games and FUN! Jamaica, we
went snorkeling
first off! Everyone says it is not too good here and we did see coral boneyards but they
had a beauty of
their own. Beware of black sea urchins, this really made it more exciting! There are some
good coral & sea
life areas and the guys were terrific in teaching us all the local gossip, look for the
white house with the
many balconies, they said it is Barbra Streisand's and Mick Jaggars' former house was
hidden in the trees
off to the right.
We then took a boat ride to Dunn River's Falls, this was fantastic! Take a waterproof
camera! We only had time to run down to the shops by the pier and get some rum and
trinkets. Later on
board, folks said the stores had very agressive shopkeepers and the street people were
something else,
too. Another great night of fine dining, a show, and fun! Will we ever get any sleep??
(Too much stuff
going on, we just couldn't miss a thing!) GeorgeTown, Grand Caymen Loved this place! A
little expensive
but there is a tshirt shop upstairs right by the tender pier with some good deals! We went
snorkeling here
and it was the very best! We viewed a ship wreck and we didn't want to leave this
fascinating view or the 6
foot Tarpons hanging around! Now we know for sure we must learn to dive! The reefs and the
sea life
were wonderful(the schools of fish were plentiful) and the water clarity was the best.
Didn't have time to
swim with the Sting Rays but plan on coming back one day!
Cozumel, Mexico was okay. We went
snorkeling first thing but didn't enjoy the tour too much. We covered a mile and half of a
reef but wasn't
that exciting, of sea life, coral formations or water clarity. We heard later on that the
best snorkeling sites
were right by the piers where there was a ship wreck, airplane and lots of sealife. If
only we had known, we
could have just went right there! In town we caught a taxi to the far end and worked our
way back, we had
lunch in Panchos Backyard and the courtyard was cool and green and so very nice! The salsa
was to DIE
FOR! Los Cinco Soles was the nicest store and all the prices were the same from one end of
the strip to
the other. You can pick up the chess sets same price at the stores right by the pier, and
not have to haul it
so far! They are heavy but a great deal for a large Onyx Chess Set (price ranged from
15-25) We found
matching Checker Stones for just a couple bucks more.
Everyone talks about bargains here but I couldn't
find any. Most of the prices were set too high and they didn't bargain at all. It was very
puzzling, we have
been to Mexico Inland and have found much better deals in the small towns and people
willing to deal.
Last day and night at sea and everyone is sad. We are trying to find ways to stowaway so
we can go
again! Pick out your favorite pictures and pack up when you can. They pick up bags in the
night so of
course we had to run up to our room and madly pack right before the deadline! But then we
continued with
the fun! Next morning,find a comfortable place to wait for disembarking, meet up with new
friends and then
comes the only hassle of the whole trip, finding your luggage in the warehouse and
leaving, knowing all
the way home you can plan the next adventure of your life!!
Name: Susan Doss
Email: jsdoss@dixie-net.com
Age: 42
Occupation: assistant teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 05-16-99
Itinerary: Labadee,Ocho Rios,Georgetown,Cozumel
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 99
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 99
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 96
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 13 Jun 1999
Time: 14:31:34
Remote Name: p025.dixie-grenada.dixie-net.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise. We had planned it for 11 months. The anticipation was well
worth it. We were with
a large group, many had cruised before. Embarkation: We were some of the first to get
aboard because
our flight was at 5:20 am. We had a small wait to get aboard the Majesty. Checking in went
very smooth
and faster than I expected. The ship was huge and beautiful. People can tell you how nice
it is, but you
really can't imagine. Our luggage came quickly. We had an inside room on the second floor.
Our daughter
and niece also had a room for two. So did our son and daughter-in-law and 2 more
relatives. We were all
on the same deck but apart.
We were free to do our own thing and meet up later in the day or at dinner.
We all sat at the same table in the evenings. We had the late seating for dinner. I didn't
know how I'd like
that, but it works out for the best. You don't have to rush aboard and start getting ready
for dinner. You
can relax on deck for a few hours, then go get ready for dinner. Not any sun wasted for
the suntanner.
Our cabin steward was George. He was great. I very rarely saw him, but if I needed
anything, he was
there. Our room was always kept neat and tidy. Our dining room waiter was Serdar and
assistant waiter
was Modjant. They were very efficient and eager to serve.
The only bad thing was that Modjant
understood very little English (except the menu). Sometimes we had a hard time getting
what we wanted,
like more rolls,water etc. We always had to point or hold up what we wanted. It added a
little laughter with
our meals. The food was always excellent. Not always what you expected, but very well
presented and
served! They will bring you all that you want. So don't hesitate to ask for more of
something. Labadee: I
loved this port because we got to do what I enjoy most of all. Lying on the beach. We
rented floats. Got
some great pictures here with the ship in the background. The picnic was very good. We
loved the
atmosphere here. Time went by too quick. Ocho Rios: If you do anything here, do it through
the ship. My
daughter, neice and I decided to go on our own. Big mistake!
The vendors are very pushy and we were a
little intimidated...Quickly took a taxi back to the boat. We were going to go to Dunn's
Falls, But since we
were a small group, and all women, we decided we'd better not. Our son and his wife did
the excursion
through the ship and were never worried. That's what we should have done, but we really
just wanted to
shop and look around. The others in our party stayed onboard. One was feeling bad, one was
wanting the
pool all to himself and the other wanted to read. Grand Cayman: We opted to go shopping
again. This was
a very clean and nice place to shop. Some places were more expensive than others, but we
enjoyed
ourselves. We walked around alot, shopped for people back home and returned back to thje
ship early, to
enjoy some time around the pool while it wasn't so crowded. Cozumel: One of our favorite
stops. This is
what we had been waiting for. Everyone had told us how cheap things were here and about
the good food.
They were right. We did lots of shopping. Very reasonable.
Went to the famous Carlos & Charlies. This is
a must! If you don't like loud music and the party scene...don't go. Their food was very
good. Don't know if
it was a good price or not. It was in pesos and we don't really know what we paid. It was
eight of us and our
bill was $98. Several of us got the drinks by the yard which were about $5 each. Great
place for young
and old (young at heart) We had our 71 year old grandmother with us. She loved it! We
found most of
what we wanted to buy right off the pier at the shopping center. Just need to go into town
for Carlos &
Charlies or some place to eat. Days at Sea: Lots of fun! Plenty of chairs to sun in.
Around the pool it is
very crowded, but we found out that it was lots better up a couple of decks from the pool.
The breeze was
always great up there and more room. You could easily fall asleep while working on that
tan! We had
perfect weather the whole week.
On the last day, we got a few sprinkles, but the sun never stopped
shining. It just cooled us off a bit. We only experienced rough sailing on a couple of
nights. I think the wind
was high and we were sailing fast to reach our destination on time. We quickly got out the
Dramamine and
went up on deck. Don't stay in your room if you feel sick, it's the worst place to be. Go
out and get fresh
air. That's the only experience we had. Shows: The cruise staff always gave good shows.
Very funny and
entertaining. There were 2 brothers who did a tumbling comedy act, they were very funny. I
forget their
names. The best show we saw was a group called Renaissance. A young college group that
performed
popular music. We heard lots of people comment that that was the best show on the ship. I
guess we're a
little prejudiced because... our son is in that group! Debarkation: It went very well.
Better than I was
expecting. We had the air/sea package through our travel agency. That the only way I would
go. You don't
have anything much to worry about. Except picking out your luggage and getting it to the
right place.
Which is very easy. They get it and you to your plane. I know I've rattled on and on, but
I have only
covered the top of the surface. I can't tell you how much we enjoyed it. We are already
planning on
another cruise. It's a dream come true. Royal Caribbean is a great cruise line. We don't
have anything to
compare it to, but I can't imagine anything any nicer. Happy Cruising!
Name: Cheryl Piper
Email: jpiper@inwave.com
Age: 39
Occupation: Speech Pathologist
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: June 6, 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff:
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService:
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward:
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness:
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace:
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Jun 1999
Time: 08:27:02
Remote Name: usrpri-4-77.inwave.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our second cruise, our first with RCCL. We will definitely sail with RCCL again!.
The Majesty is a
beautiful ship and offers a wide variety of activities and entertainment for all ages and
tastes. We went to
the same ports of call on our last cruise so we were able to go off and explore a little
on our own rather
than just book the cruise ship excursions. We enjoyed our stop at Labadee much more than
we expected.
We rented a mat for $6 and spent most of the day just floating and relaxing. It was a nice
layed back day,
especially compared to the other ports of call which can become pretty hectic.
I would recommend leaving
at least an hour before the last tender leaves for the ship unless you like standing in a
very long, hot line.
In Jamaica we decided to get a taxi rather than pay for a ship excursion. We got a taxi
driver that took very
good care of us all day long. He drove us to Dunn's River Falls (very fun!), returned us
to the ship to
change clothes and eat lunch, drove us to one of the shopping centers, then took us to a
great open air
market that the ship excursions would NEVER go to. We had a blast bartering with the
locals and did most
of our souvenir shopping there. We paid $20 dollars each (including tip)for this all day
service which we
felt was better than paying for an excursion where you are kept together like cattle. At
Grand Cayman we
followed the suggestion of so many others and took the Stingray City snorkeling excursion.
It was as
awesome as everyone said it was.
They take you out to a sandbar (about a 30 minute boat ride) where
there are lots of other excursion boats and people feeding the stingrays. You get out in
waist deep water
and the water is so clear and the sand so fine that you can just stand there and let them
swim around your
legs. I chose to use the snorkeling gear to watch them from above and take pictures.
Definitely take a
waterproof camera along. Our pictures turned out great! On our way back to shore we asked
our guide
how to get to 7-mile beach and it was only a 2 block walk from there, so while everyone
else boarded the
bus, we took the short walk to the Beach Club resort where for $5 you can get on the beach
and use their
facilities (bathroom, changing rooms, bar, etc.). There were three cruise ships in port
that day, so there
were MANY people at the Beach Club beach, however we knew from our last cruise that once
you are on
the beach you can walk anywhere along it, so we found a quiet spot where we could be
alone. The 7-mile
beach is a MUST. It is the most beautiful beach (one of the top rated in the world).
Unfortunately we could
only spend about an hour there because we wanted to get some shopping in before leaving.
That was a
mistake because with 3 ships docked it was almost impossible to get in and out of the
stores. Once I had
my Tortuga rum and my rum cakes in hand, we got out of there fast! At Cozumel we decided
to take the
snorkeling excursion since none of us had ever snorkeled before. It was a great
experience. The guides
that they have for this are very friendly and helpful. My husband doesn't swim and isn't
fond of water, so
one of the guides stayed with him and helped him the whole time. I know he wouldn't have
gone out to the
deep water where the best snorkeling was if it wasn't for the guide. Having never
snorkeled before, I can't
compare this to other areas, but thought it was fantastic. Again, bring your waterproof
camera because we
got some awesome pictures. I will definitely snorkel again if I get the chance. After
snorkeling we returned
to the ship to change clothes and then took a taxi ($5 one-way) to do some shopping. Stick
to the
ship-endorsed stores for quality, but take the side streets if you like bartering. As far
as the ship goes, the
service was excellent in all areas. The food and service in the dining room is
outstanding. We had a waiter
that brought everyone the desert they ordered, but then brought out all of the other
deserts for us to try
also. We usually ate at the Windjammer for breakfast and lunch and found the food to be
quite good
considering it's cafeteria style. If you can't find something you like then you are WAY
too picky and should
consider staying home! We enjoyed the music in all of the lounges but were not as
impressed by the acts
in the showroom, especially their own dancers and singers. We had fun at the gameshows
such as
Majesty Quest and Not-so-Newlywed game. Overall, it was the best vacation we've been on
and can't wait
to do it again!
Name: Veronica and Ted Kelley
Email: vkelley@peacehealth.org
Age: 47/59
Occupation: Information Technology/programmer
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 5/16/99
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 5
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 80
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Jun 1999
Time: 11:07:37
Remote Name: ns.peacehealth.org
Remote User:
Comments
This cruise was for our 25th wedding anniversary, so we put in a lot of time planning and
saving for it. We
used previous reviews to help get ready for our cruise, just as others have done. The
reviews were very
helpful and gave us some hints that prepared us for several situations we hadn't thought
of. We will try to
make this review as valuable. First we will give our general impressions of cruising on
the Majesty and
then will follow with specifics.
Our over all impressions are that we love cruising and will do it again and again. We have
no complaints
with RCL employees. RCL has excellent and friendly staff members from the painters on deck
to the cruise
director. Their food and service are great and the ship itself is beautiful, clean and
easy to move around
in. Although there are over 2500 passengers, there are many times and places throughout
the ship where
a couple can be totally alone. (One afternoon, I walked through a lounge and found a band
playing for just
two couples.) There are more than enough activities to keep even the most active person
busy. Expect to
be encouraged to buy the ship’s drinks and products. It is done in an amiable, soft
key way, but is ever
present. Drinks and merchandise are big money makers for the cruise line and they are
constantly being
offered. Also, expect to have your picture taken at least once every day by the cruise
photographers.
They are everywhere. There is no obligation to purchase and some of the pictures turn out
quite well.
(Actually, we really appreciated the opportunity to have formal shots taken and purchased
several of them
as souvenirs of our cruise.) If you are on a tight budget, be cautious with the use of the
cruise line credit
card. The cruise line will not let you use cash while on board and it is very easy to just
keep signing for all
your purchases and then get a startling surprise at the end of the cruise. (We were very
conservative and
yet were amazed how our bill totaled up.) The one frustrating problem that will make us
think seriously
before trying RCL again is the line’s tendering process for ports of call. On this
cruise, tendering is used
for three out of the four ports (if you get off at Playa Del Carmen) and the process is
disorganized and
time wasting. By the third time we had encountered poor tendering processes, we were ready
to try
another cruise line. Be prepared to wait in line quite a long time getting on and off the
ship if you take
early tours or get back from a tour late. Every time we had a first tour of the morning,
we were late getting
off the ship even though we had been in the designated area long before the time to meet
the tender. The
only time we didn’t have much of a wait was when we didn’t take a tour and got
off the ship after 10:00
a.m. We have heard that other cruise lines do not have this problem and we easily thought
of some ideas
of our own to make the process run smoother which we noted in the comments card all
passengers
receive. We can only hope that improvements will occur. We also found that the cruise line
was reluctant
to give out bad news. The Majesty had engine trouble the evening before we were to arrive
in Jamaica
and the captain did not announce that the ship would be arriving two hours late until 8:00
a.m. the
following morning. (which was when the ship was supposed to be in Jamaica.) Everyone was
up early
waiting to get off the ship and found there was no where to go. It would have been much
better to know the
night before. We certainly would have slept in. Now for some specifics.
Embarkation/debarkation - expect some waiting, but if you use the cruise line transfers,
you will have less
stress. On our first cruise, we arranged all our own transportation and found it
worrisome. For this cruise,
we purchased the transfers offered by RCL. We were met at our airline gate and escorted to
a cruise
check-in area at the airport. Checking in there, meant that once we arrived at the port,
we were able to
just walk right on the ship. The process was a little like moving cattle, but
‘moving’ was the keyword. Once
onboard, we were ‘quickly’ directed to an area to pick up our room keys, and
within five minutes of
boarding were in our room. On debarkation day, the process was similar. There was waiting
involved, but
getting off the ship, finding our luggage, and getting to the bus to take us to the
airport was simple and
without stress. We got to the airport in plenty of time for our flight. We would highly
recommend using the
cruise line transfers, if you are booking your own flight.
Service - we can’t say enough about the service. This is where RCL shines. They hire
the best customer
oriented people. Every RCL employee that we came in contact with was cordial, helpful, and
efficient. Our
room was always clean and our steward Carlos met all our special requests quickly and with
a smile. Our
waiter Ercan and assistant waiter Jose were very attentive and friendly. They treated us
like we were their
only guests, although they had several other tables to take care of as well. We watched
them and they
treated each table in the same manner. We have nothing but praise and admiration for their
abilities.
Stateroom - Our outside stateroom was on deck four (Main). It was not large, but had more
than enough
room for the two of us. We had plenty of storage, drawer and hanging space. We never heard
our
neighbors. The window was full size, not a port hole, and that added to the ambiance. The
toilet/shower
area was adequate. The only thing missing was an area/table to sit for room service. For
that reason, we
only used room service once. If room service is important to you and you don’t want
to eat on the bed, you
might need to opt for a much larger room.
Amenities - RCL offers different occasion/food packages along with other services such as
tuxedo rental
and spa treatments. We purchased the royal occasions package and the anniversary
decoration package
along with some finger foods for our bon voyage party. We also used their tuxedo rental.
We were very
pleased with the decorations and champagne that awaited us on arrival, but were
disappointed to find that
the pre arranged food and anniversary cake were not available for several hours. We were
given the
impression from the brochures that the food would be brought to our room as soon as we
arrived. When it
did arrive, it was good, but we wouldn’t spend the money again. We felt the same way
about the royal
occasions package. There was not enough value for the price. We enjoyed the complementary
frame/portrait that came with the package, but it could have been purchased separately for
less money. If
you plan on renting a tuxedo for the cruise, we highly recommend the RCL service. A phone
call before
the cruise with the measurements and credit card was all it took. The tuxedo arrived at
our room before 5
p.m. the day we arrived, fit perfectly, looked great, and was picked up again the night
before the cruise
was over. It couldn’t have been simpler.
Shore excursions - There were pros and cons to the shore excursions. They were more
expensive than
going it alone, but offered the convenience of preplanning and ‘group comfort’.
Since neither of us were
that adventurous we opted for the RCL arranged excursions. (we might try adventure next
time.) All of
them gave us a good feel of the islands we visited, but in a several cases they were very
rushed. The ship
arrived two hours late in port at Jamaica because of engine trouble, so all the tours were
behind that day.
Some were even cancelled. The tour we took, Jamaica Wonders Past and Present, included the
beautiful
Coyaba River Gardens. We enjoyed the tour, but were so rushed that we didn’t even
have time to see the
gift shop. This tour was definitely overpriced for the value. In Grand Cayman, we took the
Stingray City
Snorkeling and the Grand Cayman Highlights/Turtle Farm tours. Being in the water with the
stingrays was
an experience not to miss. However, our tour didn’t have enough snorkeling equipment
to go around, so
we would recommend either bringing your own, or going with a non RCL tour. No apologies
were made for
not having enough equipment. The tour operators just kept saying ‘you really
don’t need the equipment’.
Viewing the stingrays was okay without the equipment, but we would have preferred being
able to actually
snorkel. The Highlights tour was interesting, but again it was a little rushed. Our
highlight for the week and
the reason we took this particular cruise was the Tulum Mayan Ruins Tour. We were thrilled
to be able to
actually walk among the ruins. Our tour guide was entertaining and the transportation
organized and
comfortable. The only two downsides to the tour were that there were so many other people
at the site and
the box lunch was below standard. We were told that the cruise line was restricted by the
Mexican
government on what could be included in the lunch, but we know they could have done a
better job.
However, it was only food and did not take away from the wonderful scenery. We would
highly recommend
this tour.
Activities on the ship - There were more than enough activities for everyone. You could
stay as busy or
relaxed as you wanted. From exercise programs to napkin folding, the variety was abundant.
We
participated in many of these activities, and were very entertained. We went to the movie
theater one night
and it was fun. The only thing missing was popcorn. The only concessions were in the shops
two or three
floors up and consisted of candy, nuts, and chips. We thought a popcorn machine would not
have been
that much of an expense and would have added to the experience. The nightly shows in the
main lounge
were very enjoyable, but found that we needed to arrive early for good seats. There were
definitely some
bad seats in the room.
Food - Our favorite time and place for food was the evening meal in the main dining room.
We had early
seating in the Maytime. The food was delicious and the presentation excellent. The
desserts were varied
and scrumptious. Several nights we couldn’t choose, so had two each! We ate in the
Windjammer for
breakfast and lunch. The food there was typical buffet type fare, but good enough. We had
plenty of
choices and were always satisfied. We had planned to eat in the dining room for some of
the daytime
meals, but it always turned out more convenient to use the buffet. We never made it to any
of the midnight
buffets, but heard they were excellent.
Things we would do differently next time - As we stated in the beginning, cruising is
wonderful and we plan
on making it a vacation choice again. The Western Caribbean itinerary offers numerous
islands to visit
and was a great way to find out which island would make a fun land vacation. If we were to
take this
itinerary again, we would probably not take any of the RCL tours. The only one that truly
met our
expectations was the Tulum tour and we took so many tours that we had little time for
shopping. Next time,
we would probably get off the ship at low peak hours to avoid stress and do more looking
around and
shopping on our own. We had anticipated overly aggressive sales people and wanted to avoid
them, but
those we encountered were courteous and a simple no thank you was enough to stop their
sales banter.
We had one hour of shopping in Cozumel and discovered that it was a fun place to be. Next
time, we would
like to spend the day there, shopping, eating and drinking. Just a word of warning - watch
out for the
Margaritas. One is more than enough unless you are a very experienced drinker. The tequila
strength in
one Margarita must be three times the amount you would get in the states! Happy Cruising,
we know it will
be the vacation you always dreamed of. It was for us!!
Name: Lorie Logan
Email: lorie.m.dennis@us.pwcglobal.com
Age: 23
Occupation: Tax Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: 06/13/99
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 93
CruiseDirector: 94
CabinComfort: 93
FoodRoomService: 88
CruiseStaff: 94
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 96
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 94
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 83
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 93
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 93
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino: 88
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 92
EmbarkDisembark: 91
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 87
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 91
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Jun 1999
Time: 14:31:49
Remote Name: pwc18-bh.us.coopers.com
Remote User:
Comments
As you can see, the overall score for our cruise vacation was high. My husband and I were
married
Saturday night and left Sunday afternoon on our honeymoon cruise. The itinerary for the
cruise included 2
at-sea days, a day at Labadee, Haiti (RCCL's private island); 1 day in Ocho Rios, Jamaica;
1 day in
Georgetown, Grand Cayman; and a day in Cozumel, Mexico.
We had no trouble with the embarkation process. There was no line whatsoever, so things
went quickly.
However, we got to the ship at 4:00, which is cutting it really close. I wouldn't
recommend that to anyone!!
The first day was an at-sea day. We were a little bored, but we hadn't really found out
what all there was to
do. The pool and hottub were way too crowded on the at-sea days. But overall, despite a
little boredom, it
was a nice, relaxing day.
The second day was at Labadee. Another relaxing day. The water is blue, but I heard from
other cruisers
that the snorkeling there was not good. We rented kayaks, which was fun. The banana boat
rides looked
like alot of fun. Some people looked bored on the island, but we had a good time. The
vendors were not
aggressive, but did try to get you to buy their stuff. The island is really beautiful. We
enjoyed just
wandering around and taking it all in.
The third day was at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We signed up for the Dunn's River Falls climb. We
took the
Sundancer Yacht over to the Falls. One guy got sick on the yacht, so watch out for the
smaller boats.
Climbing the Falls was alot of fun. Everyone held hands at first, but then decided it was
more fun to go at
your own pace. We got some really good pictures there. After the Falls, we went in to town
to go shopping.
I thought it was kind of scary. We got offered 'smoke' several times. I didn't find
anything in town worth
shopping for, unless you are planning on spending tons of money on jewelry, watches, etc.
Jamaica is not
a place I would wander around alone in. I think it is wise to take a planned shore
excursion on this day. My
husband wasn't quite as nervous, but I noticed alot of other passengers felt
uncomfortable, too. But the
Dunn's River Falls excursion is a must. Lots of fun!
The next day we were in Grand Cayman. We did the Stingray City snorkeling excursion. This
was really
amazing! (But the sqeamish may want to avoid this one!) You can feed the rays squid. There
are tons of
them and they will surround you if you have squid to give them. You can pet them and they
aren't the least
bit intimidating. Lots of children on this excursion were braver than the adults. It was
funny to watch grown
men and women scream when a ray touched them, while the kids couldn't wait to pet the
rays. The water
was the clearest I've seen anywhere, and the sand was white. It was really beautiful.
After the snorkeling,
we went in to town to look around. This town felt very Americanized. It is a pretty
expensive place, but
really nice, too. This was probably our favorite port of call. Unfortunately, it is the
one we had the least
amount of time in. We had to be back on the ship at 2:30. We would like to have gone to
the Turtle Farm
and to Hell, but there wasn't enough time.
The last port of call was Cozumel. We signed up for the advanced snorkeling.
Unfortunately, when we got
to our snorkel site a storm moved in. The current was way too strong and we had to get out
of the water.
We moved to another site, but the current was even worse there, so our snorkel adventure
got cut short.
(Too bad there was no refund of any kind!) In the short time we did snorkel we saw only a
few small
angelfish. It was really disappointing. I can only assume that the weather had something
to do with the lack
of fish because my friend and her husband did the same snorkel trip last year and saw tons
of marine life.
Oh well. It rained pretty much the rest of the day, but we took shelter in Carlos 'N
Charlie's. It was a rowdy,
good time. If you don't like drinking and loud music, then this is not the place for you.
The food there was
certainly not worth going for, but the atmosphere is great.
The next day was an at-sea day again. We were so tired this time that we were happy to be
bored! We just
lounged around.
The food in the dining room is excellent, as are the waiters. Very funny and professional.
There was a lot
of variety in food selections. I don't eat meat and found plenty to eat, and my husband is
very picky, but he
managed to come away from every meal stuffed!
We ate breakfasts and lunches in the Windjammer Cafe. The food there is ok, nothing to
rave about.
The nightly shows were good for the most part. The Wave Revue Singers and Dancers were
good, but
that really isn't our kind of thing, so we didn't enjoy that show a whole lot. But the
juggler, Jeff Tavaggia,
was really good and quite funny. The two comedians were also very funny, but I can't
remember their
names. I think one's name was Kelly Monteith, but I am not sure. The magician/comedian was
also very
entertaining. We had a great time at those shows.
Our cabin steward, Leonardo, was excellent. He made stingrays, lobsters, pigs, and hearts
each night with
our towels. He never once disturbed us, but always cleaned after we left. It was like he
was hiding outside
the door. He always knew when were coming and going. And twice he brought us chocolate
covered
strawberries that we hadn't ordered. Yummy! He was great.
The debarkation process was kind of annoying, but there really isn't a much better way to
coordinate
getting 2,500 people off the ship. We had to wait until our luggage tag color was called,
then we exited the
ship. It was not too long of a wait. We were off the ship by 10:15 that morning.
Even though there were 2500 people on board, you could always find a nice, quiet place to
be alone.
There were 162 honeymoon couples on our cruise. All of the couples we met thought, like we
did, that the
cruise was a great way to spend a honeymoon. There was lots of personal time, if you
wanted it, but also
lots to do with other people.
We had a great time and will cruise again in the future. I would recommend RCCL to anyone
wanting to
cruise. The staff was excellent and we had a lot of fun.
Name: Coleta M. Grubbs
Email: grubbs@gnt.net
Age: 35
Occupation: student
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Majesty
SailingDate: June 20
Itinerary: W. Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 89
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 89
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 96
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 89
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 30 Jun 1999
Time: 21:09:23
Remote Name: p135.gnt.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was my first cruise! I thought this cruise line handled everything very well. I
especially liked the waiters and assistant
waiters. They were top notch! The menu selection was very broad and the food was always
excellent. The tour of the bridge
was very informative and I enjoyed it a lot. I felt secure on the ship at all times. The
use of the Chorus Line Lounge for
capacity is necessary, but logistics needs some work to move 'show' guest out and allow
for 'bingo' guest to enter. The
same thing happened after the de-embarkation lecture. The logistics of getting divers off
the ship with gear and to the dive
boat was pretty hard. The equipment is heavy and a long distance to haul it. Also the dive
boats took the passengers back
to their place of business before and after the dive instead of having the equipment on
board. This cut into valuable port
time. I'm not sure how to convey to passengers but keep up with your spending! It makes it
a lot easier when you get ready
for customs. Things that are duty-free are but up to a limit of $400. per person. I saw a
lot of frustrated passengers at
debarkation because they were not prepared! The reason I marked the cabin quietness at 89
was because we were very
forward and on deck 3. We could hear the anchor being lowered and it was pretty noisy. I
did like the inside cabin for
darkness and didn't feel 'boxed' in at all. I found all the ship personnel to be very hard
working and friendly. The salon
service I used was the foot, ankle & calf massage. It was done very well, but the
position I had to sit in was not very
comfortable. The cabin amenities were lacking in storage area. There was plenty of room to
hang things, but only a few
small drawers. I found the bed to very comfortable. The Gala Buffet was the most breath
taking thing I experienced. It was
so beautiful and elegant. It certainly was many works of art. I would for sure use RCCL
again! I visited with many people
who had used other cruise lines and said this was by far superior! Bon Voyage!
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