Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
Sailing Date: September 13th, 2002

Since this was my first cruise, I thought of it as a learning experience. I went with three friends, and we all stayed in the same cabin, which I would not recommend. We saved money this way, but it was a bit close when the four of us were in the room together, other than when we were sleeping.

This was a minor complaint, though, since we just didn't spend that much time in the cabin.

We went to the Windjammer everyday for breakfast and lunch. The food was always and there was a variety to choose from. The food in the dining room was excellent, and the only reason that we opted for the buffet for most meals was that we were in a rush. The service in the dining room required that we actually take our time to enjoy the food and service. We were treated royally! The waitstaff was superb!

We had to choose between the shopping lecture and the first timers tour of the ship, so we selected shopping. We all won prizes during the talk, in addition to learning where to find some bargains (and a few freebies).

The lifeboat muster was hot, crowded and uncomfortable, but it is necessary and it did not last that long.

The live shows were thoroughly enjoyable, as were the bands. We watched some of the games and played others and we had a good time with those (our team won a Royal Caribbean shoulder pack playing "Majority Rules").

One night, my friends decided to play Bingo, but I decided to attend the art auction instead. They served complementary champagne, while I learned about some well-known artists. The paintings sold at prices less than half of their market value, and I won a set of pearls at the end of the auction, and another passenger won $500 worth of art.

The cabin was cleaned twice daily, and it was nice to come in and find fresh towels each time.

Two of us decided to take part in the morning stretch offered in the fitness center. It was a nice way to loosen up and start the day. We were given "Shipshape Dollars" which we traded for gifts on the last day.

The staff was pleasant. They were one of the best things about the cruise.

But the absolute best was Coco Cay. The barbeque on the beach was fun, with lots of good food (even vegetarian burgers for me!). The white sand beach had ample lounge chairs available, and when it got too warm, the it was only a few steps away from the water. The water was clear and clean. And every few minutes, a vendor came by with a tray of Coco Locos, with or without alcohol. I had set a limit for myself of two drinks a day, but I ended up drinking four of these!

I will change a few things the next time that I cruise (for example, we selected early dining and we missed every sunset), but I will go again. I would not hesitate to recommend Royal Caribbean or the Majesty of the Seas.