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Norwegian Cruise Line

MS Norwegian Majesty

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Steve Frimer
# previous cruises: 5
Date of Trip: January 21, 2001
Itinerary: Caribbean

I have to disagree with many other reviews. I was not impressed. The ship was beautiful and the staff very friendly, but the amenities that make or break my vacation were lacking. First, our premium outside cabin ended up being about 90% obstructed by bright orange lifeboats. Every entry to our cabin felt like walking into a nuclear reactor from the orange radiating into the cabin. The food was average and very commercial. The service was definitely a step down; something I attribute to the new "Freestyle Cruising" which guarantees the staff their tips regardless of service.

The public areas were nicely decorated and elegant to the extent possible on this mid-sized ship. The promenade had several dark spots that were dangerously dark to be walking at night. The sun decks were great, but as ships get larger and larger it becomes more and more difficult to find lounge chairs if you head out after 9 am.

Food and Service was nothing better than average. One of the highlites of cruising for me is the dining experience. This ship left me disappointed. The food was commercial at best, with flavor often being bland. Presentation was above average, but not to the level of other ships we have sailed prior. The service was pitifull due, in our opinion, to the "Freestyle Cruising" guaranteeing the staff their tips. Silverware was left from one course to the next, often pieces were missing, water refills were few and far between, and then only at our request. Generally a less-than-cruiseworthy experience. We had heard the same comments from other passengers and that the fee-based "Bistro" was a 100% turnaround, but we never did make it there to dine.

The cabin was fair. We had out two children with us, so we were 4 in the cabin. We were pleasantly surprised that it really did not feel cramped in the least. Suitcases fit easily under the beds, and the upper berths fold away during the day for an ample feeling. Closet space was tight, but there seemed to be enough drawer space to make up for the tight closet.

We attended some of the shows, and the entertainment was very good. The Broadway shows, although very good, were outshadowed by the various comics the ship had on board at the time. They really stole the show. Furthermore, the cruise director was among the best I have seen yet, and had the perfect combination of a serious side and a humorous side at the same time.

Our cruise took us to Aruba, Curacao, Tortola, and St. Thomas. The islands of Aruba and Curacao are definitely worth visiting. Many of the caribbean islands seem to look the same after a while, but these two really stand out. Aruba has among the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean, equal to those of Barbados and St. Maarten. Aruba has a Dutch influence so great and spectacular it will leave you dumbfounded. I have those two cities on my list of future visit cities, but next time to spend several days. We did diving in Aruba and Tortola. Aruba was great, and Tortola was a bust due to the incredible currents at the famous dive sites. Our children attended the "Ice-Breaking" meeting at the "Kids Klub" the first day on ship. The Kids Klub staff was comprised of kids that appeared to be between 20 and 25, but were SUPER. They know how to relate so well with all the kids. The kids were so impressed that first day they did not go anywhere without their Kids Klub schedule and attended EVERY event available to them. Super program.

Because NCL has become an "affordable" cruise company, you really will see a little of everything. Some passengers were definitely low-income first-timers, others were older veterans, and the remaining passengers were everthing in between. We, as a mid-30's couple, prefer the quieter ships filled with the "older" generation crowd, but mostly enjoyed our experience from this aspect nonetheless.