Matthew Collins

Age: 31
Occupation: Youth pastor
Number of Cruises: 1
Cruise Line: Norwegian
Ship: Majesty
Sailing Date: April 9th, 2005
Itinerary: Bermuda

We were first time cruisers and went on the trip with two other couples. One was first timers as well and the other couple had been on two previous cruises. The nice thing about being first timers is that you do not know what to expect.

We sailed out of Charleston N.C. our choice for this was that it was within a day and a bit drive so it made it a little more affordable to drive and park rather than fly.

Arrival: We arrived at 12 and they parked us at the onsite lot quickly. Boarding the boat was quick and painless. A small line and wait but to be expected in my eyes when boarding 1500 people.

Rooms: We arrived at our room to find that it had to singles that could not be pushed together. We went to the main desk and asked about a switch. They looked into it and about 3 hours later we were upgraded from an inside cabin to an outside cabin with a queen. The rooms were small but clean. There was more than enough room for our luggage and the reality is you are not there a whole lot. The bathroom was fine enough room for one to be in there at a time. Overall I was pleased. The staff were great, they cleaned our room and placed fresh towels each morning returning each night to turn down the sheets and replace any towels used in the day.

Meals: The food was great. No complaints here and I am someone who enjoys to eat. We ate our first breakfast in the buffet and it was fine. However the rest of the time we ate in the dining room. All of our lunches and dinners were spent in the dinning rooms as well. The service was friendly and efficient. The portions were just right and it was always easy to get more. The food arrived warmed and lived up to the description in the menu. The outdoor Pizza bar was great and we enjoyed late night snacks there often.

Entertainment: The entertainment was ok, the ships host made the time he was funny and engaging. With all of these I am sure it is hit and miss. The comedian had his moments and the singers were so so. They did have an entertainer that did a bit of everything and he was well worth it. The theme times in the disco were a lot of fun.

Activities: We went to a number of different activities and had fun at all of them. The trivia times were fun and we made it a game within the group of us that went.

The Ship: Yes the ship is a little older than others out there so the décor is a little dated. Oh well it was always clean so it is no big deal to me. It was easy to get around, areas were labeled clearly and the elevators and stairs were easy to access.

Destinations: Our stops were all great. The first was grand Caymans. There we did the snorkeling and Sting ray city tour. I booked ahead of time through the internet with Captain Bryan. This is the way to go. Much cheaper than going through the cruise ship. He had a catamaran boat that was great and could hold about 20/25. This was nice because when we arrived at Sting Ray city some of the cruise ones were large boats jammed with people, this was quiet and comfortable. Next we went to Cozumel, here again we avoided the cruise tours, we found a local and negotiated a good rate for some scoters. We toured the island at our pace stopping along the way for drinks and a swim. Finally Key West, it was beautiful, we simply walked around exploring the town.

Overall: It was a great time, the staff of the ship were excellent, and I would go again. The others that were with us enjoyed as much as we did. The one recommendation I would have is that you cruise with friends. That’s what made it for us. We roomed at different places on the ship and the boat was big enough that you didn’t feel you were with each other all the time. All in all I would recommend the Majesty and the Charleston port. It was a fun time full of great memories.

 

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