Returned from Majesty 1/15 - 1/22

[NorthCarolina_Cindy]

Hard to believe our long awaited vacation has come and gone. :( Waited a few days to post as I wanted all the excitement and/or disappointment to subside, so I could be more objective in giving my review. I will say that although we had a good time, it wasn't the greatest. Let me say first that this was our first time on a cruise and it is something we probably won't do again. We just don't think it is the type of vacation for us. We loved the Majesty and Freestyle Cruising. I thought that the crew was absolutely wonderful and they do a fantastic job. Like I said, this was a first for us so I have nothing to compare with, but, this group of people do a GREAT job taking care of things IMO.

 

EMBARKATION and DEBARKATION:

These poccesses went much smoother than I had imagined. On Saturday when we checked out of our hotel we got in line about 11am and were onboard a few minutes after 12. We decided to go ahead and get in line early because it was quite chilly in Charleston that day and we had no desire be out walking around. my best advise to you here is to follow the route clearly marked out to the terminal. The Port-of-Charleston has a website with all the info posted http://www.port-of-charleston.com/.

 

This is all a very smooth check-in proccess. Before we knew it, key card in hand, pictures taken, we were onboard. We were escorted to our cabin, dropped our things there and were ready to roam around for awhile. You are given a Freestyle Daily just before boarding and it has all the info you need in it. At 3:30, All Guests on Board and you have a mandatory emergency boat drill. Direction to your muster station are on the back of your cabin door, life jackets in the closet. Please be sure to check in upon arriving at your station. They need to know your cabin number and how many persons. We witnessed passengers actually being rude as this info was trying to collected. I wonder how rude they would be in the event of an actual emergency.

 

Upon arriving in Key West everyone must present themselves to Customs & Border Protection Passport Control whether or not you are going ashore. You need to have your key card, photo ID and passport or birth certificate.

 

We were in Charleston when we got up Saturday morning. After having breakfast on the ship and getting through customs we were on I-26 headed home by 10am. You leave the ship according to your deck, top to bottom, we were on 6.

 

FOOD and DINING:

Read alot about this too. I can honestly say that eveything that we had to eat in all the dining rooms, buffets and grill were very tasty. We ate breakfast at the buffet every morning. We found that is suited our breakfast needs just fine. Read alot about "runny eggs" and "burnt bacon", must have gotten rid of that cook!! because it just wasn't the case. DH enjoyed the omelets!!

 

Most days we had lunch at either Piazza San Marco (grill deck 10) or the buffet. We did have a nice lunch in Seven Seas, the day they served conch fritters. Much easier to have lunch on upper deck especially if you are lying in the sun or lounging around the pool. Believe me, the days that this was possible we took full advantage of it!!

 

We liked dinner in the Seven Seas dining room best, even though it is a bit noisier (ship noise) and has more ship movement, the first night we watched the pictures rocking back and forth in the walls. For some reason we just liked the service and atmosphere better, seemed more relaxed to us.

 

Only ate in the Four Seasons dining room once. Service was just fine, but, it seems a bit to uptight in there, could have just been that particular evening, I don't know.

 

We also enjoyed a wonderful meal at Le Bistro on Wednesday evening (skipped President's Dinner). We had the Surf and Turf, which you do pay an additional $5 surcharge over the $15. It was GREAT, the filet was tender and the lobster was much better than that in the regular dining rooms, served on Formal night (Sunday). We had purchased the Anniversary package that included dinner and a bottle of wine at Le Bistro.

 

You can literally just eat yourself to death (saw some folks I thought just might do that). By Friday night we just had snacks in the Rendezvous and later grabbed a burger.

 

There are nice small afternoon buffets set up on deck 10 in the afternoons 11:30 to 2:30:

Sundays: Taco and Fajita Bar/Oriental Soup Bar

Mondays: Pasta Bar

Tuesday: Potato Bar

Wednesday: Majesty Deli (sandwiches) and from 1:00 to 3:00 a Sail Away BBQ (leaving Cozumel) weather permitting

Thursday:

Friday: Stir-Fry Bar/Exotic Fruit Bar

 

Check Freestyle Daily for these. Soooo much food!!

 

CABIN:

We had an inside superior cabin, 145 Sq ft, small, but, just fine. I got some great advice before leaving and that was to take an over the door hanging clear shoe bag for the bathroom. This was the BEST, without it we would have had no where to put anything in the bathroom, small counter space around basin and small narrow shelf underneath. If I should take another cruise I would definately go with a window. Cabin was always clean, twice a day. Ice bucket was filled twice a day too, but, it melts really quick!! Clean towels and a very clean bathroom evertime that it was needed.

 

ENTERTAINMENT:

The band, Caribbean Wave, that played on deck 10 was good, even when they had to wear their hooded sweat shirts, hoods up!! We enjoyed listening to them. We watched several of the shows. Really enjoyed Rudi, funny guy!! so was Jeff Harms!! The production shows were good also, they really do their best to entertain you. Denny Anderson, the cruise director, does a wonderful job.

 

CREW:

All I can say here is that they do their best IMO. A very GREAT group of people. I manage a restaurant and I would love for my waitstaff to see these guys in action. We had just the best service any and everywhere we went on the ship. We did single out a few that we tipped extra. I did not see where the automatic gratuity caused any lax sevice. Be sure and fill out the comment cards on the tables, these are used for promotions and such.

 

SMOKING and NON-SMOKING:

I read alot of things here about smoking before leaving on this cruise. I did not mention it then, but, yes I am a smoker. Smoking, as it should be, is NOT permited in any of the dining rooms. Smoking is permited on both port and starboard sides of the open decks and with the constant breeze blowing I do not believe that it would bother most people. No smoking in hallways. Smoking is allowed in Frame 52 (disco), the Rendezvous Lounge (also have non-smoking area), casino and we went into the Royal Observatory one evening to check out karaoke and we could also smoke there, although I do not believe that you can always smoke in there, as it is a dining area for the buffet and I hope I have that info correct. No pipe or cigar smoking inside the vessel. There are great places along the starboard side of deck 5, where you can sit for a drink, read or just look out of these nice windows, great window seats too and there is NO smoking permited. I am sure these became prime pieces of real estate, although the sun was shining the weather was not ideal on our trip. And finally, yes, we did smoke in our cabin. Smoking and non-smoking areas are clearly marked and I did not see anyone smoking where they should not. Contrary to popular belief there are smokers that do respect the non-smoker. Just for the record, I do not throw butts out the window or onto the ground, even if I have to snuff them out and put the butt in my pocket.

 

GENERAL COMMENTS:

Guys, there is TV in the Rendezvous Lounge and they do have sporting events!! There is one on the smoking side and another on the non-smoking side.

 

The first night is more casual because alot of folks don't get their luggage until after dinner has started.

 

We had a great day on the beach in Cozumel. We took a taxi to Paradise Beach, nice place. Got in more time than we expexted with the itinerary change. Arrived early Tuesday and left Wednesday afternoon.

 

We also arrived earlier in Key West having left Cozumel earlier than scheduled. We took advantage of the day and did lots of walking. Had a nice lunch at Crabby Bill's and just had to have a beer or two or three at Sloppy Joe's. Enjoyed the sunset at Mallory Square.

 

Hate we missed the stingrays in Grand Cayman.

 

We found nothing wrong with the Majesty. She is kept clean and in good order. Someone was always cleaning something somewhere and their efforts show. Since I don't have another cruise to compare with, not much else I could say here.

 

We were able on several nights to walk into the dining room and get a table for two, no wait. We uaually ate after 7, but, on no set schedule. Now that I think about it we only ate with others in the dining rooms on the first night and the lunch we had in the Seven Seas second afternoon. On both those occaisions we met nice people that we spent time with off and on throughout the cruise.

 

Towels and chairs seemed plentiful. In our case, plenty for the souls who were willing to brave the wind, some times you just had to give it up!!

 

Hot tubs and pool looked good, but, we never got in. There again the wind came into play. The adults only pool was closed the first few days for some repairs. Sure they took advantage of the weather to get that done. After that though it only had water in it for maybe two days, I think it sloshed out onto the deck to much!!

 

Our biggest disappointment was not getting to go to Grand Cayman. Wish the weather had been better. Couldn't be helped though and was no ones fault, just the way it turned out.

 

The one thing that bothered us alot on the cruise was the constant emphasis on spending money, or so it seemed to us. Seems to me cruiselines are really geared up on making money and as much as they can of it, get this special, get that special. Even in port, shop here, shop there, buy this, get that. We received a note one evening that started out "Dear Valued Customer", oops we thought we were passengers!!

 

All in all it was a nice trip

[LenaDaLlama]

Nice review NC-Cindy...shame the weather wasn't better for you...I am hoping it will be good for us...don't usually go on winter vacations. But either way, I know we will have a great time. We love cruising, for the money it's the way to go, IMO....

 

As far as the emphasis on spending money....it's totally understandable on the islands, as tourism is their main livelihood. We are going on our second cruise, but have flown to many islands, and that's just a fact of life. As far as the ship, maybe you can understand the "smuggling" threads!! lol, sorry

 

Again, nice review...

[salty dingo]

Thanks so much for the lengthy and thoughtful review. I know I learned some things, especially the menu for the special lunchtime goodies up on deck.