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Rob Suchy

Age: 43
Occupation: Analyst
Number of Cruises: 9
Cruise Line: NCL
Ship: Majesty
Sailing Date: May 23rd, 2004
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean

Just returned from subject cruise; to sum it up in as few words as possible...DON'T DO IT...at least not with NCL Majesty.

I made the mistake of booking before having found this website - had I done so beforehand I don't think I would have chosen this line.

Positives: Convenience, no flying required from my residence. Itinerary (although they could have done both Hamilton AND St. George's like the NCL Crown that departed from Philly). Dining at your leisure. Staff for the most part friendly and accommodating (unless you have a complaint).

Negatives: Where do I begin...

Steerage accommodations for top dollar (OMG my master bedroom closet is larger!) I did the Southern Caribbean with Air from NY to San Juan on Carnival and paid $100 less pp, Food quality mediocre at best - selection interesting, execution lackluster. Gym ?... an afterthought or someone's idea of a joke, sauna without lockers one small changing area. Ship itself wasn't what I would have expected for a fairly new ship - small unimaginative public rooms - none of the glitz one would expect in this day and age of cruising. Pervasive smell of cigarette smoke throughout the ship (and I'm a smoker!). And the one thing above all else that perturbed me was being HOUNDED to purchase drinks - seems this is only way the wait staff can garner additional tips above and beyond the "pooled" tips they receive from NCL (assuming they actually get them). All passengers are automatically charged $10 per adult per day. Carnival Cruises does the same but you definitely get the service and special touches one might expect for the money. Drinks average in the neighborhood of $8 to $9 (including the per drink tip of over $1 per). Any alcohol brought on the ship will be confiscated and returned upon your return to port upon which you'll end up paying duty unless you can prove you bought it in the states in the first place - they'll allow you to bring your own wine (which they'll "hold") for a $10 per bottle corkage fee. Never had this happen on Princess or Holland America although they do charge a cork fee if you want your own served in the dining room.

The weather stunk (NCL can't be blamed for that) 2 sunny days out of 7...I did manage to burn through the cloud cover ... at least I look like I went on vacation. Live and Learn...

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