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| Member Cruise Review |
Chopin Place- I got this 5* hotel on Priceline for $90 by bidding for 4* downtown. The hotel was lovely, it is a short walk from the Bayside Marketplace, which was the reason I selected it- the Marketplace is ideal for pre cruise nights, a short stroll and you can shop/browse name brand stores and lots of small boutiques, eat at the numerous restaurants and bars. This is all situated around a Marina so you can also sit and watch lots of people pulling their yachts/ boats into the pier, or go for a boat ride around Biscayne Bay. I had a room overlooking the port so could see my ship coming in... The one thing I did not like about the hotel was the surplus of people who put their hands out for a tip every time you turned around. For example, as I arrived, a bellboy lifted my suitcase from the shuttle, handed it to another bellboy who walked it up four steps to the front door and both expected a tip. No biggie...but When I left the following morning, a bellboy grabbed my suitcase as I checked out at the front desk, took it to the front door, handed it to the other bellboy to take it down the steps, where the bell captain lifted it into the taxi... now I am a generous tipper but I felt there were a couple of people who really weren't needed there and it was a minor irritation. I usually stay at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami and I think I'll stick with that place in future. In the am I got a taxi for $8 over to the port and was soon onboard Majesty. The Private Departure Lounge was where I was headed,but the line there was longer than at the regular desk,so having all my docs done online I proceeded over to that counter and minutes later I was heading for the Windjammer. Majesty is one of the smallest RCCL ships at 73,000 tons and she carries 2,356 passengers. She is 15 yrs old but recently underwent a major facelift and is quite beautiful. The Centrum is the focal point of the ship and is a lovely area full of glass. My cabin was an oceanview on deck 5- a bit further forward than I would have liked, but this was a last minute purchase..... so it was OK. My steward was Jeanette and she was a very warm and friendly lady who greeted me every time she saw me and took good care of me and my cabin. She made the usual towel menagerie for me. Cabin was standard issue.. When they opened the halls at 1pm for us to have access to our cabins my luggage was waiting outside my room... now that's good. The facelift included a new flat screen TV which was nice. The bedding was WONDERFUL. If you wake up in the exact position that you fell asleep in you know you have been comfortable! The pool deck had the most noticeable makeover, it looks lovely. They also added a Johnny Rockets, Sorrento's Pizza and a Deli bar up above the Windjammer, so a good selection of casual foods always available. I was traveling alone on this cruise, so I went off to the Starlight dining room at 6pm..... I had asked to be placed on a large table so I would have some companions- well I was on a large table- it would seat 12, but I was the only one..... it felt quite lonely..... I ate at the Windjammer every other time, which was fine with me as I hate to be restricted to time and place on vacation. Our first port of call was Nassau in the Bahamas- I have been there numerous times and when we arrived this time I was in two minds whether to go ashore or take advantage of the port day Spa Specials- as it happened the skies opened up and stayed wet and dreary most of the day, so the decision was easy. Our second port of call was the Royal Caribbean Private Island called Coco Cay, which is one of my favorite stops- it's your typical Bahamian island, white sands,clear turquoise seas,palm trees- in addition RCCL has hammocks under the trees, lots of loungers and floats, all the water toys you could wish for- sea trampoline, snorkeling, pedalos, banana boats, kayaks, jetskis and parasailing. They cook a wonderful BBQ and of course waiters are bringing all those wonderful frozen drinks around all day. If it has an umbrella in it I want it! Make mine a Coco Loco today please! I lounged, ate, read,swam a little and people watched all day and then we tendered back to the ship. There is a small straw market on the island, T-shirts, straw hats, tourist souvenirs etc. A small staff of RCCL employees stays on the island year round to keep it maintained. Next day we were in Key West, one of the best stops. From the pier you just walk out of the harbor and you're on Duval St which is the main st in Key West. The essential tourist pilgrimage is to go to (1)Sloppy Joe's (2) Hog's Breath Saloon and (3)Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. I did manage to go to all 3 and also make some purchases at Margaritaville. Key West is VERY hot, all the stores have their front doors open and cold air blasting down in the doorway to attract you inside.... it works for me! There is never enough time at Key West to see all you want to-but the Conch Train Tour is a narrated ride around town that will give you a quick history of this quirky place. I bought my daughter a silver coin necklace- the coin was part of treasure trove recovered from the ocean bottom over several years in the 1980's. It was part of a cargo being carried to Spain from the new world in 1622 on the galleon Atocha which was sunk in a hurricane off Key West. Mel Fisher and his family spent years searching for this and finally did locate it. He has an excellent Maritime Museum in Key West,which houses lots of artifacts from the ship. Another place everyone has to go and have their photo taken is the 0 mile marker- US Highway 1 ends there (like Land's End) and the next land, 90 miles away is Cuba. Up on deck for sailaway and in time to see one of Key West's famous sunsets, which are stunning. The sun just suddenly drops into the ocean All too soon we are headed back to Miami and the real world. The crew, especially the Entertainment staff made this a a very fun week, the smaller ships make up for their lack of size with the personalities you get to know. I felt like I knew half the staff within days I went to a variety of Trivia competitions at some time every day and had lots of fun doing that. My favorite spot on the ship the new Boleros Bar, where I enjoyed watching all the beautiful people dancing the Salsa and Merengue, I loved the Cuban group. On the day of disembarkation I did the self-assist, which means you just keep your luggage and haul it off yourself . I was off the ship at 0720 and in the airport heading to the gate for my flight before 0800. I was nervous booking a flight at 1000 but it was no problem. I LOVE Majesty of the Seas- it felt like seeing a dear old friend again. |
Royal Caribbean International Majesty of the Seas September 2007 by Cruise Fairy Caribbean |
| Cabin: Outside View |
| Cruise Line = Royal Caribbean Ship Name = Majesty of the Seas Date of Sailing = September 24, 2007 How many cruises have you done = 9 Ship Facilities = 4 Entertainment = 5 Dining Room Service = 4 Food = 4 Cabin Layout = 5 Bars & Lounges = 4 Ports of Call = 4 Cabin Number = 5 Cabin location = 4 Type of Cabin = OV Cabin Steward = 5 Overall cruise rating out of 5 = 5 |