Detailed Review of Majesty 4-Night Cruise

[pjlee3333]

So nice to see your picture of top officers with hotel director Michael Landry in it. We sailed with him several times when he was on Enchantment out of Baltimore. He's a really nice gentleman.

[EmpressofPurple]

I've been debating whether or not I would get off the ship while in Nassau, but after reading your post about the People to People program I think I'll give Nassau a shot. I hope to get paired up with an ambassador that is just as friendly and knowledgeable as yours.

 

I think they have a good list of volunteers, and they will try to match you by interests, religious affiliation, etc. Have a great time!

[EmpressofPurple]

Great Nassau list. Which beach do you like better, Junkaoo or Cable? And do they both have beach chairs available?

 

Junkanoo and cable are literally opposite ends of the spectrum. Junkanoo used to be for locals, and is still a bit chaotic with all the vendors, stands, sales, food, drinks, etc. I love it because it's so convenient; you can just walk over from the ship, buy some take-away food (or now, from a beach vendor) and enjoy the view of ships at dock... without having to pay for a day pass at the Hilton. I believe that there are vendors who will rent you a beach chair -- not sure of the price, as I usually just lay a pareo on the sand!

 

Cable is a much more upscale experience, with high-end hotels on the beach (last time I was there I snuck into the Melia hotel beach, usually has a pricey day pass... couldn't get towels or drinks or anything, but I enjoyed the locale, and chairs are everywhere). I'm pretty sure there's public access to the beach somewhere (I believe all Bahamas waterfront is public by law) but I don't know where it is; it certainly is not clearly marked when you exit the #10 bus, you just see the big hotels.

 

There's always Cabbage Beach, which is the free beach on Paradise Island, next to the Atlantis beach (again, they do charge for beach chairs there)... beware, I read that it has strong surf/undertow, which is not true at either Junkanoo or Cable beach.

[EmpressofPurple]

So nice to see your picture of top officers with hotel director Michael Landry in it. We sailed with him several times when he was on Enchantment out of Baltimore. He's a really nice gentleman.

 

It's so nice to get to know some of these professionals who provide such a wonderful cruising experience for us, isn't it? I loved getting a picture with the one female captain in the fleet, so proud of her accomplishment. She is very personable, as well as tall and authoritative and humorous! Did a great job introducing the rest of the cruise staff and officers.

[Yorkvillain]

Junkanoo and cable are literally opposite ends of the spectrum. Junkanoo used to be for locals, and is still a bit chaotic with all the vendors, stands, sales, food, drinks, etc. I love it because it's so convenient; you can just walk over from the ship, buy some take-away food (or now, from a beach vendor) and enjoy the view of ships at dock... without having to pay for a day pass at the Hilton. I believe that there are vendors who will rent you a beach chair -- not sure of the price, as I usually just lay a pareo on the sand!

 

Cable is a much more upscale experience, with high-end hotels on the beach (last time I was there I snuck into the Melia hotel beach, usually has a pricey day pass... couldn't get towels or drinks or anything, but I enjoyed the locale, and chairs are everywhere). I'm pretty sure there's public access to the beach somewhere (I believe all Bahamas waterfront is public by law) but I don't know where it is; it certainly is not clearly marked when you exit the #10 bus, you just see the big hotels.

 

There's always Cabbage Beach, which is the free beach on Paradise Island, next to the Atlantis beach (again, they do charge for beach chairs there)... beware, I read that it has strong surf/undertow, which is not true at either Junkanoo or Cable beach.

 

Wow, this is great. Thanks!

[Coralc]

[quote=EmpressofPurple;45627455Towel Animal #1

 

 

We've always called that one the "muscle-bound swan." I've never been quite sure what it is actually supposed to be. :D

Edited February 15, 2015 by Coralc

[laedw]

Thank you so much for sharing information about this program. We may sign up for this activity for our cruise next month.

[EmpressofPurple]

I looked back at my last post and realized I didn't post my dinner menu. Alas, no photos, but it was the formal night menu that provide both filet of beef and roast duck (I had both, unbelievably, even after that feast of fruit and cheese after my day ashore)... plus a lovely light melon appetizer, and my favorite coffee ice cream for dessert, which the waiters manage to get for me every night even though it's not on that day's ice cream list!

 

Aha, searched the RCI menu list, I think it's the Saffron menu (has both roast duck and filet):

 

[Pumbaamd]

How formal was Formal Night? Lots of guests dressed up? Did the Captain have a table that night? Hope the t-shirt and ball cap crowd stayed away from the MDR that night.

Rick and Deirdra

[EmpressofPurple]

Thank you so much for sharing information about this program. We may sign up for this activity for our cruise next month.

 

Happy to share my experience. I've wanted to try this for years, so glad I finally did, it was really special!

[EmpressofPurple]

How formal was Formal Night? Lots of guests dressed up? Did the Captain have a table that night? Hope the t-shirt and ball cap crowd stayed away from the MDR that night.

Rick and Deirdra

 

Hmm, if you read my review, I fell into a food coma from devouring the D+ snacks in my room and barely had time to throw on my own formal duds, put up my hair, etc.!! So I didn't have my usual relaxed pre-dinner drink to watch the formal (or not-so-formal) dress of the rest of the passengers, one of my favorite activities... but I will say, nothing jumped out at me as being totally out of place, and when I went to the after-dinner Captain's reception folks seemed appropriately dressed, so I guess at least the majority were looking good or I would have noticed!!

 

I didn't see if there was a Captain's table, but again, I was late to dinner :o

[WinksCruises]

I love the long, rambling reviews with illustrative photos... they allow me to cruise vicariously, and see aspects of cruising I might never have on my own (and possibly introduce me to new ideas, ways to plan, things to pack,etc.)

 

Yes, this!

[Susie51]

Your review is fantastic. I especially like your pictures. Thank you for posting so many details.

[EmpressofPurple]

Given this comment, I dived into your contemporaneous Vision cruise review and was very pleasantly surprised! Love your tongue-in-cheek humor, great photos (wow, catching Mrs. Winks' cannonball midair in Little French Key!), enjoyment of adventure and getting off the beaten path, generous descriptions and photos of the suite life... you and Mrs. Winks seem like fun people, hope our cruise paths cross one day.

 

I haven't been on the Vision class yet, but I'm looking forward to it, especially because of the comments about the visibility and personality of the officers and senior staff onboard... and I appreciate your promoting use of the VCL, one of my favorite spots, I'm appalled that it's been dropped from new ship designs!!

 

I also haven't experienced the "upgrades" such as the outdoor movie screen (what we called "MUTS" on Princess for "Movies Under the Sun/Stars") or the aerial shows in the Centrum (having been on Brilliance pre-renovation I'm sorry that space lost the vertiginous experience of standing in the Crown & Anchor office at the top of that space since it's now filled with the rigging for the aerial shows... and I've heard the space is a bit small for good views of the shows for enough people onboard... all I saw there was music performances or cooking demos)

 

I look forward to reading through your other cruise reviews when I'm hankering for a vicarious cruise experience. I love the way you combine photos into a single image to share multiple views without having your review scroll on and on (as mine do). I know how long it takes just to post the picture links straight from the site; you clearly invest some time and attention in your reviews. Thank you for sharing!!:)

[pjlee3333]

It's so nice to get to know some of these professionals who provide such a wonderful cruising experience for us, isn't it? I loved getting a picture with the one female captain in the fleet, so proud of her accomplishment. She is very personable, as well as tall and authoritative and humorous! Did a great job introducing the rest of the cruise staff and officers.

 

I love getting to know the staff and seeing them each time I come back onboard. It's one advantage of sailing the same ship frequently - have lots of friends onboard.

[EmpressofPurple]

Wed. Jan14 –CocoCay

 

OMG!! I did not write up this day onboard!! I will attempt to reconstruct from my personal journal.

 

Up at 8:00 am -- very late for me, even on a cruise; as noted above, I’m usually up by 6:45 latest to attend the 7:00am stretch class, so this is a luxurious, relaxing cruise indeed. I dressed and packed for a day on Cococay, wearing water shoes rather than flip-flops so I could walk/run on the beach, and carrying a thermos-type water bottle so I could have cool water after my run.

 

I headed to the Diamond Breakfast and met up with Donald again, and shared my stories about People to People in Nassau. We also chatted with Debby and Barry at the next table (I kept running into them throughout the rest of the cruise, as often happens). After breakfast I headed up to the Windjammer to fill my water bottle with ice and water. The CD came on the public address system to say the tenders were open, so I headed down and got right on a tender that was about to leave.

 

Quick transfer to the island, and I walked down along to the beach until just before the “Cabanette” area… dropped my bag, water bottle, etc. on a beach chair, and headed out to walk the last half of the nature trail to the end of the beach.

 

Photo of post at the end of the nature trail:

 

Then I walked up the hill to the jogging trail, and did my usual run/walk/run all the way back to the beginning, stopping for photos at the various exercise stations.

 

Sights along the jogging path:

 

 

 

 

 

[EmpressofPurple]

Then I walked the nature trail from the start to the midpoint, and exited to the beach, where my belongings (and my now much-needed water bottle) were waiting for me.

 

Photos from the start to the midpoint of the Nature Trail

 

 

 

Chicken!

 

 

 

[EmpressofPurple]

Enjoyed the sun, the beach, and the water, taking a few photos with my cell phone in its waterproof “Lifeproof” case. Relaxed on the chair, read my kindle (protected in a plastic bag), then walked back towards the tender station, walking in the water along the shoreline the whole way. Picked up an apple from the food stations (I generally avoid the barbecue beach lunch, preferring to return to the ship to eat)… but before I got back on the tender, I relaxed some more in a hammock near the pier!

 

Next to the private "Cabanette" area

 

A lovely beach day

 

Happy feet in the water...

 

...and on the beach...

 

...and in the hammock!

 

Time to tender back to the ship

[EmpressofPurple]

Returning on the 2pm tender, I headed up to the Windjammer for a lite lunch, paying a visit to the unique Compass Deli, only available on the Majesty, a special free dining venue on the upper level of the Windjammer next to Sorrentos (on the opposite side from the for-pay Johnny Rockets). Then it was pool time! I found a lounger by the pool, enjoyed both the pool and the hot tubs.

 

Photos from the Tender

 

 

Vision was tendered at CocoCay, too, so things were a bit crowded onshore.

 

Lovely Majesty

 

Yummy Windjammer Lunch w/iced coffee and roulade for dessert:

 

Today's D+ in-cabin treats: petits fours and more chocolate covered strawberries... plus I brought a little sandwich from the Compass Deli

[EmpressofPurple]

Afterwards I headed down to dress for dinner, then up to the Viking Crown Lounge for a brief visit to the Diamond Event (though I didn’t have a drink, just enjoyed the ambience and the views). Nice dinner menu included lamb and scallops, with apple strudel for dessert (I didn’t have key lime pie since I’d be having the “real thing” tomorrow in Key West).

 

After dinner I stopped by Guest Services to see why I had received a note saying my account was on a cash basis, thinking that I had entered my credit card when I made the reservation for use onboard. Nope, you need to physically show them the card when you board. All of my arguments that I have used this card forever, this is my RCI Visa, etc., etc., were to no avail: without the actual card in hand, the couldn’t use it. I gave up on this endeavor and stopped by RC Online to check my email.

 

Magic Time in the Viking Crown Lounge

 

Dinner Menu

 

The pan-seared sea scallop appetizer and the lamb shank were both amazing!! This is one of my favorite menus.

 

 

The chilled pineapple and lychee soup was really good, too.

[EmpressofPurple]

Then I enjoyed the mainstage show, Signed Sealed & Delivered (which I've seen before, of course)… stopped by the Casino to learn a little bit more about craps from my dining companion Ted (I still don’t understand it, but will probably try playing a few rounds on my next cruise)… then reading and to bed... in the company of towel animal #2.

 

Well, that’s about all I could reconstruct nearly a month after the fact… the photos help too…

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DKNYC]

Hi Denise

You have been busy. Great review so far. Love that people to people thing in Nassau. Glad Royal has a female captain, awesome. Must try that nature trail on Coco Cay or maybe even the running track.

Denise

[EmpressofPurple]

Hi Denise

You have been busy. Great review so far. Love that people to people thing in Nassau. Glad Royal has a female captain, awesome. Must try that nature trail on Coco Cay or maybe even the running track.

Denise

 

Hi Denise! Yep, busy posting... if this four day cruise, which I mostly typed up on the computer, is taking this long, I can't imagine how long it would take me to post my handwritten notes from our two-week repo on the explorer!! That was such a great trip... and it's always a pleasure making new friends onboard, especially when it continues back home;)

 

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[EmpressofPurple]

The nature trail is a treat, shaded and cool, but be sure you wear study footwear, there are coral rocks and tree roots on the uneven path, especially on the second half... The jogging path is pretty brutal, exposed white road in hot sun, but worth walking at least once to see the cool handmade exercise stations... and blackbeard's have!

 

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[EmpressofPurple]

Have = grave (ah, autocorrect...)

 

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