Tony VanAmeyden

Cruise Line: NCL
Majesty
Sailing Date: December 6th, 2002

Pre-cruise events:
A couple of months before the cruise I was looking for a vacation/honeymoon for my wife and I in the latter part of December. Airline bookings were pretty much closed so I looked for something around our Anniversary. Cruise ship vacations caught my eye and I explored the many cruise lines for package deals, prices, etc. Being a first time cruiser, I opted for the 3 day package with NCL aboard the Majesty. The look on my wife's face when I announced a Bahamas cruise for our 32nd Anniversary was worth it! A quick trip to our local travel agency and the package deal was sealed. The travel agent advised us that NCL provides all transportation to and from the ship to the airport, free! Well, this is a good idea, I thought.

The trip:
The air flight was slightly less than tragic due to weather problems during the blizzard so our "fill" in flight on board a commuter jet was most uncomfortable. That all changed once we arrived at Miami-Dade airport. NCL representatives were right there at the gate and directed us right to their charter bus to the pier. They even provided a wheel chair for my wife who had suffered a knee injury on the commuter jet. We arrived at the ship in good time and a crew member brought us a ship's wheelchair and escorted us aboard. No hassles or extended waiting! Every one was friendly, cordial and willing to help in any way! I was completely impressed.

Being a first time cruiser, I cannot give a fair comparison to what other cruise lines offer, however, NCL's "freestyle" cruises convinced me to return to NCL. The ship handled well in rough seas and our accommodations were more than adequate for our purposes. We were here to see the sights and enjoy the experiences of the Bahama cruise, not spend it in our room, so the apportionments were just fine. I cannot say enough good things about the crew! Our room steward found out about our 1st honeymoon in 32 years of marriage and passed that info on to the cruise director. When we went to the Seven Seas Captain's dinner, we were met by the Matre D' and escorted to a table next to the Captain's table. We were presented with a honeymoon cake and our waiters (including Michael) serenaded us during our dinner. Unfortunately, the Captain could not attend due to the rough seas and his need to stay on the bridge. A shame, I truly wanted to compliment him on a fine ship and crew.

In conclusion:
I found that the entire trip was worth every penny spent! The members of the crew were friendly, cordial, and professional. I feel that after chatting with many crew privately that they all take a great pride in their jobs and their ship. I feel it shows in the cleanliness of the ship and how the crew presents theirselves.

I highly recommend NCL as a cruise line, and if one would prefer a less crowded vessel, the Norwegian Majesty as well. A truly wonderful honeymoon trip!