MAJESTIC PRINCESS - 24th August - Shanghai to Sydney

[MMDown Under]

We awoke to a smooth sea that rippled like deep blue satin, no white caps, just blue sky and sunshine. Gone is the hazy fog and greyish skies of the Asian typhhoon/ monsoon weather.

 

We didn't feel like breakfast as we were having 12pm lunch with friends, so ordered a pot of tea through room service, how spoilt are we?

Managed to leave the cabin about 10am for a takeway coffee at Gong Cha, then found a table in Le Mer " pop up" cafe.

A sale was happening in the area between the shops, so i managed to squeeze my way through there to the Cosmetic/perfume place and bought some more OPI nail polish $15 AUD for those interested, I can't buy these in our hometown and i like the brand, less my 10% discount, not bad.

 

Back in our cabin we read on the balcony for a while and hadn't realised the steward was cleaning our room!!

 

We met up for lunch in the dining room with our friends from Hawaii, our second lunch with them....two hours later we continued in Crooners which is empty during the day.

This couple were on Majestic before it went to Asia, so notice the changes made for Australia.

They agree Crooners would make a great Crown Grill and that Le Mer and the three large shops are wasted where they are.

They are on for the next two cruises to the South Pacific an NZ.

 

Back in our cabin i sat reading on the balcony, there was a bit of sun left......but it's hard to concentrate, as the sea is mesmerising, so calm and yachts with white sails in the distance float by, i keep glancing up so as not to miss anything!!

A much different sea than that of shipping containers and fishing boats.

 

As you can see, our seadays are filled with lazing, walking, reading and chatting!!

The AFL is on in the Princess Live and NRL on the big screen out side tonight.

Just waiting for the Princess patter tonight to see where the two NRL games tomorrow are on at. I think our first buffet dinner may happen tomorrow night!!

 

Ok,update, watched a bit of the Melbourne Rabbitohs game, the pads they put on the lounges for movies under the stars are great, so there are padded lounges but only at night! It was packed out there. OMG, such a beautiful sunset, it set aft of the ship, so while looking at the big screen, the sky was lit in orange and purple, should have had the camera.......we saw an elderly couple struggling to get some loungers off a pile, we had nabbed a couple of the padded ones, but as we were not watching all the game i went over and asked if she would like our two chairs, we didnt mind leaving early to give them a seat, she was so thankful.

Patter tonight says both games tomorrow are on the big screen, the buffet it is!!

 

Well, the Majestic will make her first visit to an Australian port tomorrow. I have heard that Darwin is pretty excited and are putting on a big welcome.

We will be up early, might watch sail in from up front, we are due to dock at 7am, picking up the pilot about 5.30am.

Australia here we come!

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Welcome back to Australia. I have enjoyed your thread, even though I have no intention of cruising on Majestic Princess. Lots of valuable information for those about to cruise on her, from Australia.

 

Hope you have an enjoyable day in Darwin.

[MicCanberra]

Welcome back and have a great day in the NT today.

[cheznandy]

Thanks all.....yay i can use my own internet and not have to count minutes.

They are just putting up the gangways below our balcony. Its going to be steep this morning and arvo due to tides.

Warm outside about 33c today.

 

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[jaydee1]

Yes welcome back into Australia Chez n Andy, Marg n Grahame and glad the sky has cleared for your day in Darwin.

Just love our good Aussie sunshine n clear days.

 

Question...do you feel much movement from the seas when you are up on the top decks or in the Hollywood area?

Do any of you have a cabin on a high deck?

[S&D]

Beautiful review Cheznandy, so glad you have had a lovely time...and welcome back to Oz!..have a great day in Darwin.... cheers S&D:):)

[MMDown Under]

Thanks all.....yay i can use my own internet and not have to count minutes.

They are just putting up the gangways below our balcony. Its going to be steep this morning and arvo due to tides.

Warm outside about 33c today.

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Got to love winter/spring in Darwin. One day the cruise lines will wake up and provide cruises to and from Darwin in winter. Just think how many extra Aussie passengers, without passports, who they could attract, if they don't visit an overseas port.

[rabbit1971]

I have plenty of internet left, havent even started on Andy's 500 minutes, but sometimes the wifi just drops out, so will post when i can.

To answer a few questions,

re the accessible cabin,

We looked at B303 and it was huge and lovely and spacious. I am positive it had a sofa bed, but didn't look up to see re a pullman. The bathroom was huge, it had a long regular width balcony, with a small ramp to gain access. It was in a great location near the lift, and they are extremely happy with it.

There will be plenty of room for three of you.

If i see Marj i will ask re the pullman, but since you are in a different room it may be a different set up for three.

Re our cabin crawl, i have been stopped and thanked by so many people, saying how they enjoyed it and were so amazed at the different categories, but the best part was to talk to those staying in the cabins as they were able to find out about noise, access and all the other positives or negatives. Even seeing how others set up their cabins with storage and magnetic hooks etc.

Every cabin we went into looked* like a show home haha, it was lovely to see photos, and teddy bears, and colourful magnets, we just had our hats hanging up and the beer and wine on ice......typical!!

Everyone was so thankful and respectful, so great!!

 

Re the liqour prices, i will get the latest price list today, as they re stocked in Singapore and let you know.

Re dancing everyone dances in the piazza, only other dance floor would be Vista, havent had a good look at it, but there is always something else going on there.

 

Heres my thoughts on the set up of this ship now we have been on for two weeks.

Le Mer could go, three specialty restaurants are too much, it's never full, thankfully they are using it for coffee during the day, it could be a Crooners bar, piano, cocktails, nice seating where people can sit and watch and can be an overflow for coffee during the day.

Crowngrill restaurant/bar could become a Wheelhouse type bar/pub, there is no where like this on the ship, have an entertainer and a dance floor, quiet spot during the day for a drink and a read.

The Crooners they hastily made out of the Casino side annexe could be the Steakhouse, i would pay to eat there, quiet and intimate.

We walked to the Kareoke rooms last night, all locked but two they have made into computer rooms, what a waste of space that area is, i realise the ship was built for the Chinese bla bla but if Princess are bringing this ship here for half of the year and want it to be full, improvements could be made.

Now, there are the huge three shops taking up prime real estate on deck 7, Chopard, Cartier and i dont even know the othername, Bvulgari perhaps? never anyone in there, i havent set foot in there, prime real estate that is, mmmmm...perhaps a Crooners there??

 

Anyway, that is my take, and most people i have spoken to are of the same thoughts.

It is a beautiful ship, handles the sea amazingly, staff and Princess are wonderful as usual, the layout just doesnt seem right.

 

Oh, and move all the partitioning of cabanas in the Conservatory, put some nice comfy loungers around and let everyone use it!!

Mic, Andy and i thought it might be people sharing cabins sleeping there, one guy had his all set up for a good sleep with lots of blue n white stripe towels haha

 

To those that mentioned not going to the Crown Grill, please have a look when you are onboard, these are our thoughts only, and i am just saying it as it is for us, would hate for you to miss out on a special night, but i really cant see them stopping entertainment there all night as there is no where else, so stop by one night and see if it to your liking.

We have Harmony booked for next week, but we are so loving the Dining room that we cant justify paying for an eating experience that is less enjoyable!

 

 

 

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Thankyou so much for your feedback, your review has been amazing. We are booked in accessible 304 so good to know plenty of space and balcony is accessible too. The other option we were considering was the chefs table, do you know of anyone who had tried it on the majestic? we have done one on carnival and it was amazing.

Again thankyou for taking the time out to answer our questions, I have loved hearing about the ship and your experience on her.

Cheers Maree

[NSWP]

I heard people talking about bridge tours or the ultimate tour today over lunch.

I heard them say there are three tours of 13 people each tour.

Not sure of cost.

 

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The Ultimate Tour was US$150 on Royal Princess in June, albeit birthday pressie from the 'Boss. I did it because it was the newer class of vessel.:halo: So on Majestic in AUD I reckon AU$200 ?

 

Enjoy Darwin Chez and Andy.

[luv2cruisin]

I saw on the first page where it was mentioned that the ship was not selling the wine packages. Did that change once the ship sailed? Are they now offering the 12 bottle wine package? Thanks :)

[KETCRUISERS]

HI Chez, I am enjoying your blog so much it is full of so much info, I have tried to answer a couple of times but God only knows where they went, I was using the Ipad!!! You know where you said their was wine at $29 btl do they Have Sauvignon

Blanc, or maybe just do what we talked about.

I am so looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, xx

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Welcome to Darwin :D

 

[MMDown Under]

The Ultimate Tour was US$150 on Royal Princess in June, albeit birthday pressie from the 'Boss. I did it because it was the newer class of vessel.:halo: So on Majestic in AUD I reckon AU$200 ?

Enjoy Darwin Chez and Andy.

 

Do you reckon the tour was worth the cost, if it wasn't for a birthday present?

 

To think I have done several tours, in the past, at no cost.

[MMDown Under]

Welcome to Darwin :D

 

 

Darwin 23 - 32 partly cloudy, with 56% humidity. Nice day!

[MicCanberra]

Thanks for the pic of Darwin Stu.

[Mulgagirl]

The other option we were considering was the chefs table, do you know of anyone who had tried it on the majestic? we have done one on carnival and it was amazing.

 

 

Hey Maree, you must have been reading my mind! Chez, have you heard anything of a Chef's Table? We've done them on our last few cruises and always enjoy the evening.

 

What date do you dock in Brissie? Might try to get out to the port to have a close-up look before our cruise on 18th Dec.

 

Thanks

Meryl

[NSWP]

Do you reckon the tour was worth the cost, if it wasn't for a birthday present?

 

To think I have done several tours, in the past, at no cost.

 

Marion....I probably would not have purchased it myself. Bit overpriced, probably not worth US$150, but enjoyable. Although the Americans in the tour thought it was not overpriced, it was booked out on embarkation day in Southampton for Royal Princess. I have done a couple of other Ultimate Tours, one on Crown Princess and one on Oriana. Yes in the old days, did a couple of bridge visits for no cost, pre 9/11. At the end of the day Ship's Tours are all part of the money making thing, common to most cruise lines these days.:hearteyes:

[cheznandy]

A couple of shots from our cabin, a beautiful day in Darwin

 

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[cheznandy]

HI Chez, I am enjoying your blog so much it is full of so much info, I have tried to answer a couple of times but God only knows where they went, I was using the Ipad!!! You know where you said their was wine at $29 btl do they Have Sauvignon

Blanc, or maybe just do what we talked about.

I am so looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, xx

Elsie, yes they have sav blanc, but they are also restocking in Sydney, they have run out of heaps off the list, we just bought two bottles back on here in Darwin.

I am sure they will have a great selection from Sydney onwards.

Yes, you could still buy a few in Sydney and pay the corkage when boarding if there is a brand you like.

See you Saturday!!

 

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[OzKiwiJJ]

Thanks for the update again, glad you are enjoying yourselves.

On the last formal night, what sort of percentage of the men are actually tuxing it up and how many are just a suit jacket or not even. Wondering if I should bring my Tux for my cruise in November, I like dressing up and also like to use it but don't want to be the odd duck.

 

You won't be the odd duck, Mic. DH will be wearing his tux.

[Dobby_The_Ship_Elf]

A couple of shots from our cabin, a beautiful day in Darwin

 

So did you smile at the crocodiles??

 

;p

[OzKiwiJJ]

Thanks for all the useful info, Chez. Very happy to hear they have reinstated Crooners even if it isn't in its usual place. I had a feeling they would make that VIP gaming area into a bar for the Aussie cruises.

 

I'm looking forward to trying Majestic in November. We were on Royal last year in the Med so have already experienced the advantages and disadvantages of that class of ship.

 

Great to hear Dino Sagani is the current captain. We were on Golden a couple of years ago with him as captain when it was announced he would be getting command of Majestic. He's a nice guy.

 

Re your comments on the noise levels at the Crown Grill - we heard similar comments on Royal. I think we'll give that restaurant a miss on Majestic but I do want to try La Mer and Harmony - and now I know to book online for those. But I suspect La Mer could also have noise level issues since it's in the Atrium, certainly Alfredos did the night we went there on Royal.

[MMDown Under]

A couple of shots from our cabin, a beautiful day in Darwin

 

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Does look like a beautiful sunny day in Darwin, with the clouds all gone.

[MicCanberra]

Great shots.

[MicCanberra]

You won't be the odd duck, Mic. DH will be wearing his tux.

Great to hear.

[Mitte]

Thanks again Chez for your info. Could I ask if you have any feedback on the food offerings in Harmony Restaurant.. I am planning to go to Harmony and Crown Grill. Was thinking about La Mer but have decided against going as I have now seen a few posts from others mentioning the noise from the Piazza impacting on the amenity of La Mer.

Will need to book before our sailing as advised.. When is Majestic expected to arrive at the Port of Brisbane Grain Terminal as I would like to go have a look at the ship when it docks.

 

 

Cheers !