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November 17 to 20, 2006
Miami – Nassau – Miami
Submitted by: Leon Banossian
I
recently returned from a 3-night cruise onboard RCCL’s Majesty of
the Seas. This was my first time on this ship so I was excited to
see what she had to offer. The ship was built in 1992 and is a
sister to the Monarch and Sovereign of the Seas. At 2350 double
occupancy, this is a large ship but not of the Voyager or Freedom
class.
The Ship
 This
ship, having
been built in 1992, is slightly different from most RCCL ships. No
ice rinks or four deck promenades ala Voyager Class ships but still
there is a charm to the pre “mega ship” designs. Don’t get me
wrong, this is still a large ship but it is laid out smartly – you
never feel overwhelmed. The ship is due for a major refit shortly
and it does need it. Not that the ship was dirty or untidy,
conversely the ship was very clean. The décor however is a bit
dated and will do well to see a new face during the refit. The
enhancements planned for this nearly month long dry-dock (Jan 12 –
Feb 9, 2007) include: New bedding and flat screen TVs in
staterooms, remodeled Centrum, dining rooms, and pool deck,
refurbished casino, theatre and entertainment areas and the addition
of RCCL staples Latte-tudes Coffee Shop, Johnny Rockets and the
alternative dining restaurant Sorrento, Boleros Latin Lounge and
expanded conference facilities.
The Staterooms
This
is an area where the Majesty falls a bit short, or should I say
small. I sailed in a Category H ocean-view stateroom and these are
small, I would guess just less than 120 sq. feet. The cabin is
well appointed, however, and after unpacking I realized that there
was enough room to store luggage and clothing and remain
comfortable. Another thing is that all ocean-view staterooms on
deck 2 and 3 have portholes rather than picture windows but that
isn’t uncommon for ships built in the late 80s/early 90s. Ocean
view cabins on decks 6, 7, and 8 are identical but have picture
windows. Category SO staterooms on deck 9 are more comfortable as
they are larger. Above that are the suite categories, all featuring
balconies. All staterooms do feature a lit vanity, hair dryers,
electronic safes, ship phones, and televisions. The bathrooms are
serviceable with nice storage and smart use of space. With all this
said, it is important to remember that the Majesty of the Seas is in
the 3 and 4 day cruise market where stateroom size is less important
because you are rarely there.
The Public Areas
This
ship has plenty of lounges, bars and theatres. The Schooner Bar on
deck 5 is a nightly hot spot, located just outside the casino and
featuring a sing along pianist or guitarist. They also broadcast
sports here and that gets quite busy.
 It
is a walk through bar so it is not conducive for private events. It
is a great gathering spot for pre dinner drinks or casual get
togethers, however. The Blue Skies Lounge on deck 7 is another walk
though lounge with a bandstand and dance floor and there is
entertainment here nightly. Of those areas suited from private
events, you have the Paint Your Wagon Lounge (675 capacity), On Your
Toes Disco (350 capacity), A Chorus Line Theatre (1050 Capacity),
the Viking Crown Lounge (275 capacity), and Conference Center (80
capacity).
The Spa, Salon and Shops
The
Majesty of the Seas features RCCL’s ShipShape fitness center and
Spa as well as a hair/beauty salon. Both are concessioned through
Steiners and feature many choices for the spa or salon enthusiast.
The shops onboard are centrally located on deck 5 just forward of
the casino and are split into a center kiosk and separate
surrounding shops for jewelry, perfumes, duty free tobacco and
spirits, furs and evening gowns, fashion accessories and logo
merchandise, and photo shop.
The Dining
Currently the ship offers two options for dining which are the main
dining rooms or the Windjammer Café. The Windjammer is the casual
alternative and features breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. The
breakfasts are enhanced with omelet and waffle stations while
lunches and dinners feature carving stations and made to order
salads and pastas. After the refit, this ship will add Johnny
Rockets and Sorrento for further options.
I
found the food to be good - better than my last cruise on the RCCL’s
Enchantment of the Seas. The menus were the same but the
preparation, presentation and taste in the Mikado Dining Room on the
Majesty was just better. The service was very good an our dining
team of waiter, assistant waiter and head waiter were omnipresent
and saw to it that we were enjoying our dining experience nightly.
The food in the Windjammer Café is a good option for lunch, but I
suggest the main dining room for breakfasts and dinners. While I
didn’t sample it myself, I was told that the room service was
efficient and good.
The Experience
This
is a great ship for an active crowd. There is a lot to do in 3
nights and the ship does a great job of having many choices for your
entertainment. Whether it’s relaxing in one of the quiet areas,
taking in a production show, singing along in the Schooner Bar,
enjoying the Calypso and Soca from the deck band, trying your luck
in the casino, or partying late night in the disco – the Majesty of
the Seas accommodates. I suggest you consider the Majesty of the
Seas for the short cruise market – it is a tremendous value for the
cost and guests will be satisfied. |
