NCL Majesty Bermuda 9/30-10/07 Review in Parts

[Writeratsea]

Part One:

First day, Sunday 9/30. Leaving our house South of Boston, we drove up to the pier. The traffic was non-existant and it was a leisurely ride. We went around the end of the pier to approach the Majesty and another ship was docked in front of her. It was the Queen Mary 2. We just gawked at the size of her, especially her height. I dropped off my wife and luggage and parked at the municipal garage accross the street. It was a very reasonable charge of $98 for the week (prepaid of course). Walked back to my wife and there was a luggage handler waiting for us. Since there was three bags, I tipped him $6 and we were off.

The wait inside the terminal was very short, as there were lots of reps to help expedite you. I don't think there was any distinction as to whether or not you were Latitudes or not. Perhaps the lines were short enough that it didn't matter. I had preprinted my edocs and of course couldn't find them and couldn't remember my NCL password to access the site again. Major panic coming. Thankfully thinking outside the box, I just signed up my wife and created a new NCL account, accessed our reservations and printed new edocs.

We were onboard very quickly as they had the room key cards waiting as we went up the escalators and through the metal detectors. Like other people have previously mentioned we were directed to the buffet on the top deck 10. I wanted to go to the dinning room but my wife was not in a hurry and we just grabbed a quick snack before meeting up with friends.

I have to mention that this cruise is the fourth year in a row that we have gone, so it really did feel like we were comfortably home again.

The food at the buffet was fine and as some have commented on, no trays. I did notice that people were taking a lot less food as compared to prior years, so maybe this new policy will eliminate some of the waste.

When we went up to the bow to take pictures of the Queen Mary 2, a third ship came in and docked in between. It was the Victory and looked small next to the Queen Mary 2, although it is a big ship in its own right. So we had some nice pictures of the two ships as the Victory passed the Queen and docked.

Sailing out of Boston was always a pleasure. So picturesque with all the islands in the inner harbor and pleasure craft darting all over the ocean in front of you. We were so happy to be back aboard the Majesty and sailing to our favorite destination, Bermuda. But also sad as we knew this would be the last trip out of Boston on the Majesty.

We had a coupon book courtesy of our TA and used the Le Bistro coupon. It was a two for one, only good on Sunday. For $15, why not. Even though we went to the restaurant desk early, we could only get either 5:30 or 9:30 times as our options. I guess we should have gone to the desk as soon as we boarded. It was a little earlier than we prefered, but we took the 5:30 time.

Inside Le Bistro the tables are small, much smaller than the dinning rooms. And with plates, silverware, glasses etc, the table was pretty much covered. There was a water glass and a large wine glass at least twice as large on the table. As I reached for the bread, I knocked over the wine glass. Halfway from the table to the floor, I grabbed the glass by its stem and placed it back on the table, hoping noone would notice. I looked up and the maitre'd Jay stared at me with his mouth open. Opps. I just smiled and said "martial arts, I have quick hands."

Of course I constantly bumped into him at lunch or breakfast and each time he laughed and shook his head. He also teased me and said he would have charged me $5.50 if I hadn't caught the glass. I wonder if he was serious? Nothing like a little adventure to start the trip.

I went to the casino and lost some money but it was still fun. I later learned that the young couple betting so heavy next to me won $1100 that night. I was happy to contribute to their winnings. Now I know where my money went.

We were tired so just simply read and went to bed early.

I write another part later.

Thank you for reading.:)

[Maddie444]

We were on the same cruise! Had a great time. She's showing some wear and tear but we love cruising her!

I can't wait to hear the rest of your reviews.

Maddie

[angeljt]

Happy to hear you were able to sail the last cruise to and from Boston. Thanks for writing your review and helping to keep the Majesty alive for us.

Maybe we'll see you on the Gem in December...

[Writeratsea]

We were on the same cruise! Had a great time. She's showing some wear and tear but we love cruising her!

I can't wait to hear the rest of your reviews.

Maddie

We missed you at the meet and greet. I am not surprised that about half the people showed up. The seas were so rough on the way over that many passengers were not feeling well at all. Some even left midway through the meet and greet, apologizing. What was amazing was how calm the seas were on the way back, like glass. Very strange.:)

[Writeratsea]

Happy to hear you were able to sail the last cruise to and from Boston. Thanks for writing your review and helping to keep the Majesty alive for us.

Maybe we'll see you on the Gem in December...

I have been trying to set up a meet and greet for the 12/15 sailing of the Gem. I am still waiting for a another response from the group services director. Perhaps because it is such a new ship, it may take time to arrange this one, but I will keep on trying.:)

[angeljt]

I have been trying to set up a meet and greet for the 12/15 sailing of the Gem. I am still waiting for a another response from the group services director. Perhaps because it is such a new ship, it may take time to arrange this one, but I will keep on trying.:)

 

Good luck! I'll join the roll call if we book it. :)

I believe I read a group coordinator had just recently been assigned for the Gem on one of the other threads.

[Writeratsea]

Good luck! I'll join the roll call if we book it. :)

I believe I read a group coordinator had just recently been assigned for the Gem on one of the other threads.

I know that the group services coordintors seem to move around. Originally I was contacted and told that Luciana would help us for our recent Majesty meet and greet. Yet, it ended up that Rochelle helped us and she did a great job. Perhaps that is why I haven't received a folow up. I guess I will just contact Miami and try again.:)

[angeljt]

I know that the group services coordintors seem to move around. Originally I was contacted and told that Luciana would help us for our recent Majesty meet and greet. Yet, it ended up that Rochelle helped us and she did a great job. Perhaps that is why I haven't received a folow up. I guess I will just contact Miami and try again.:)

 

I set up the M & G with the coordinator in June 06, and the boardroom was set up like a classroom. It was not good for a M & G, and many of the people left. She did call to apologize and asked if we wanted to schedule another one. We did have some officers and the Cruise Director show up, and we all stood in the doorway.

 

This was from part of my review.

We arrived to an empty room set up for a classroom meeting with two pitchers of water. The rep had called me the day before to firm things up, but she hadn't arrived yet. A few people started showing up, and there really wasn't any room to sit in a way conducive to a get together of this type. We ended up moving a bunch of tables and chairs so we could fit, sit and chat. We ended up with about 10 or 12 of us staying after people saw how little room there was. We stayed until 11:30 AM when it was time for the Martini tasting.

[Writeratsea]

We woke up early Monday morning and headed to breakfast in the Seven Seas dining room. They asked if we minded being seated with other passengers. Sure why not. We we seated with two other couples. It was the first time in Bermuda for each of them and they had plenty of questions. We invited them to the meet and greet for later. One couple had lived in Jamaica for 14 years during the 70's, and owned a manufacturing company making instuments. Bob explained that at time Jamaica was self sufficient with lots of manufacturing such as shoes and other necessities. When the socialist government came to power and started to nationalize the economy, they and thousands others simply left. At the time the Jamaican dollar was worth $1.03 US, it is now 3 cents. That was an illuminating conversation.

The seas were very rough and even I felt a little bit queasy which was very unusual for me. Later we found out the seas were 12 to 15 feet and a lot of people got sick. Our friends Stan and Sharlyn joined us and we just wandered around. We had lunch at the buffet to keep it light and hopefully down. A very quiet day, while we waited for the meet and greet. I had spoken to Rochelle, the group services coordinator on Sunday to confirm that everything was all set.

My wife and I went to the House of Lords to check on the room. They had moved all the leather seats and sofas around the walls to give plenty of open area. NCL also provided coffee, tea, cookies etc. I noticed an NCL maintainence person mopping the floor. I later learned someone had gotten sick and they cleaned it up before our meeting. Oh well. We had great attendence despite the rolling of the ship. About 20 people showed up including the two couples from breakfast. I had nametags and people seemed to be having a good time talking to each other. I remember Cruiserssandr (Susan and Richard), Billfish (Bill and Joanne), Grandness (Bob and Kay), CLBS (Louella and Ed), New cruisers07 (Naomi and Nevil). Of course our friends Stan and Sharlyn, who we met on the Majesty three years ago and have been best friends since. If I have forgotten anyone, I apologize.

 

We were joined by the NCL staff: the hotel director Matt Penhale, the food and beverage director Errol Bailey from Jamaica, the cruise director Soozy Atkins who has a terrific voice and personality and our group services coordinator who set it all up, Rochelle Brown from South Africa. A thank you for all the NCL staff who generously gave their time to attend the meet and greet. Everyone had a good time talking with them and asking questions. Their attendence certainly made the meet and greet more interesting and vibrant. This was the best meet and greet that I have been to so far and I hope everyone who attended had as great a time.

My wife had to leave early as she did not feel well at all. She was too ill to go to dinner. Of course it was lobster night and I couldn't leave her alone in the cabin. I tried to get her to go three times, but she said she wasn't moving, oh well. I ordered room service instead and the order taker laughed when I asked if lobster was available. No, only in the dining room. The turky sandwiches were delicious and light. I had to go upstairs to the desk and get the pills for me and my wife so we could sleep.

Part 3 will be Bermuda, the best part. Sometimes we just endure the rough trip over to get there, but it is worth the trip.:)