The Magic of Majesty. August 19, 2019 5 Nights, Bahamas

[Merion_Mom]

2 hours ago, twangster said:

 

The forward half is blocked off for the nightly Diamond event, the aft section is open to the public.

 

Twangster, have you met Roger and Martin and their adorable son, Brandon, yet?

[twangster]

2 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

Twangster, have you met Roger and Martin and their adorable son, Brandon, yet?

 

I assume that was them a few tables over last night.  I'll have to say high if they are back tonight.

[Biker19]

36 minutes ago, twangster said:

I tested Voom on CocoCay and once again the speeds were very good for satellite internet.

I still think that will get throttled soon. 

[Tree_skier]

Fantastic pictures and live report Twangster.  I hooked on your reviews and you have sold me trying out one of these two ships in 2021 when the new itineraries come out.  So far do you prefer Majesty or Empress?

Edited August 21, 2019 by Tree_skier

[YlangYlangF9PB3E]

On 8/20/2019 at 3:38 PM, tcmagnum said:

 

Same room, but looks so much larger...

We always do that!  

 

[YlangYlangF9PB3E]

Thank you so much for your terrific review and for so many clear, pretty pictures! We'll be aboard in  October and are more excited than ever!! 

 

[twangster]

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

Fantastic pictures and live report Twangster.  I hooked on your reviews and you have sold me trying out one of these two ships in 2021 when the new itineraries come out.  So far do you prefer Majesty or Empress?

 

I can’t answer this question.  I have a “no bad cruise” philosophy.  What ever ship I’m on is my favorite, right now.  

 

I honestly believe everyone can have a great cruise on any ship with the proper expectations.   

 

Random musings...

 

Majesty is dated in places.  However it’s also less expensive but suites cost more on Majesty.  Empress received some serious TLC before coming back into the fleet. Majesty feels like a bigger ship than Empress.  Spoiler alert, it is a bigger ship. 

 

The nightly Diamond event is great on Majesty.   The downside is that people form groups much like in DLs across the fleet.  You are either in or you are out.  It was easier to meet people on Empress during happy hour.  Note to self: Just go to the Schooner Bar tomorrow during happy hour.        

 

There is something about Empress that is very appealing if you can get past the smallest cabins in the fleet.  

 

O3b internet on Majesty is a win.  If Empress had O3b this would make her very appealing.  

 

No specialty dining on Majesty.  Saving money this week.  

 

Smokey casino on Majesty vs. smoke free on Empress.  Saving more money this week.  

 

Empress is easier to navigate. Majesty is disjointed but not bad, you just need to think about it before just going somewhere.  

 

Have I lost you yet?

Edited August 21, 2019 by twangster

[Ourusualbeach]

3 hours ago, brookmill18 said:

Don't want to pull this off course, but how do you book Pullmantur in the US?  I can't seem to find a website to quote itineraries and prices in US $.

Google Pullmantur cruise vacation.  You should find something in the top 5 or 10 results in US pricing.  

 

Even as a TA in Canada I can’t book this direct.  I’m looking at these itineraries for myself and will have to use a US TA.

[bobmacliberty]

Great to see you (and your camera) on yet another cruise twangster.  Between you and @John&LaLa, we're in continuous cruise mode.

[Tree_skier]

59 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

I can’t answer this question.  I have a “no bad cruise” philosophy.  What ever ship I’m on is my favorite, right now.  

 

I honestly believe everyone can have a great cruise on any ship with the proper expectations.   

 

Random musings...

 

Majesty is dated in places.  However it’s also less expensive but suites cost more on Majesty.  Empress received some serious TLC before coming back into the fleet. Majesty feels like a bigger ship than Empress.  Spoiler alert, it is a bigger ship. 

 

The nightly Diamond event is great on Majesty.   The downside is that people form groups much like in DLs across the fleet.  You are either in or you are out.  It was easier to meet people on Empress during happy hour.  Note to self: Just go to the Schooner Bar tomorrow during happy hour.        

 

There is something about Empress that is very appealing if you can get past the smallest cabins in the fleet.  

 

O3b internet on Majesty is a win.  If Empress had O3b this would make her very appealing.  

 

No specialty dining on Majesty.  Saving money this week.  

 

Smokey casino on Majesty vs. smoke free on Empress.  Saving more money this week.  

 

Empress is easier to navigate. Majesty is disjointed but not bad, you just need to think about it before just going somewhere.  

 

Have I lost you yet?

Not at all, that was great.  I'm leaning towards Empress but you never know I could be swayed by the rest of your live review.

[Coralc]

On 8/20/2019 at 7:16 AM, twangster said:

Noted yesterday the Deluxe beverage package was $74 plus 18% but they did offer the day 1 BOGO 50% offer.

 

$74 dollars! Even with a BOGO50 it is still $55. That's outrageous. They had a small planner sale for Majesty yesterday at $48. 

 

As always, very much enjoying your review. We will be onboard in Feb. 

[soremekun]

Absolutely stunning photography. 

 

However, the ship is not for me.

[zencruisers]

Great review and pictures. I am looking forward to reading more.

[twangster]

Here is the aft section of the Viking Crown Lounge that's open to the public while the forward half is used for Diamond happy hour.  A rain storm was just moving off so the ship and any guests who didn't see it coming while on CocoCay had the salt washed off them.

 

 

Navigator arrived first and left first to the two ships following along on their whistles.  Shortly after it was our turn to depart.  

 

 

Having been sitting for a while enjoying bottomless drinks at the Diamond event I was motivated to get up and move.  I saw a hint of a sunset so decided to check it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again not much of a sunset but there is always tomorrow.

 

 

[twangster]

There is a lot going on around the ship but I'll be back soon enough so I'm not doing the ship's entertainment staff justice.  I'll post the Cruise Compasses once I get home to scan them in properly.

 

Outside for a walk on the Promenade deck there were a lot of stars visible.  That made me pull out my night sky photography app and see where the Milky Way might be tonight. Sure enough...

 

Majesty has these shelves along the forward section of the Promenade deck that worked great for my little tripod.

 

 

While we were well past sunset the long exposure catches enough light coming over the horizon to make it look like a sunset.  The lights of a city were on the horizon to starboard.

 

The big dipper was very prominent tonight.  It stood out more with the naked eye compared to this 10 second exposure.

 

 

In this one I caught a passing airplane with it's strobe light flashing every second.

 

 

For this one I setup on the floor of the deck trying to get into the shade of those Windjammer lights.  In the darkness of the forward deck I got some strange looks as random guests walking past were wondering what I was doing crouched down low in the dark.  Oh well, all in the name of taking a picture.

 

 

All in all not bad.  Majesty like Empress is also a good ship for stargazing with it's dark forward Promenade deck.

Edited August 22, 2019 by twangster

[zencruisers]

Amazing pictures! Thanks for sharing.

[Sea Dog]

2 hours ago, twangster said:

this 10 second exposure.

I assume you were using a tripod? Awesome pictures!

[twangster]

On my way to my cabin after taking the stargazing pictures I came in off of deck 7 and saw...

 

So which way is the exit?  Maybe it's just me in my happy hour induced state that found this humorous.

 

Speaking of drinking, they're multiplying.  Jorge the GSM who followed me over from Empress sent me a bottle of wine.  Combined with the two from Crown and Anchor I've got a lot of drinking to do starting tomorrow, day 4 of a 5 night cruise.  

 

[Tree_skier]

😱

 

[Biker19]

4 minutes ago, twangster said:

Combined with the two from Crown and Anchor I've got a lot of drinking to do starting tomorrow, day 4 of a 5 night cruise.  

Take one to the MDR and share with the next table over at dinner.

[soremekun]

They should make you the official photographer of Royal Caribbean and send you on each ship.

[twangster]

Day 4 - Sea Day

 

On our way to Key West tomorrow.  First an Ocean View sunrise.

 

 

Bridge tour this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridge wing.

 

 

 

 

 

Not a bad break room.

 

 

 

 

Best view on the ship.

 

[twangster]

6 minutes ago, soremekun said:

They should make you the official photographer of Royal Caribbean and send you on each ship.

 

I like the way you think!

[Clarea]

8 minutes ago, soremekun said:

They should make you the official photographer of Royal Caribbean and send you on each ship.

 

+1

 

 

[twangster]

Fernando my cabin attendant dropped off a letter this morning.  We have to be processed by CBP tomorrow morning in Key West.

 

A disadvantage of not having Key West as our first stop like I had on Empress recently is that this marks our return to the U.S. after being out of the country at foreign ports so the whole ship has to be processed.  Based on our muster stations we all have a designated lounge to visit to see a CBP agent.  

 

Mine is the Spectrum Lounge at 8:15am.