Judy

Age: 62
Occupation: Executive Director - Chamber of Commerce
Number of Cruises: 1
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
Ship: Majesty of the Seas
Sailing Date: January 24th, 2005
Itinerary: Bahamas

This was our first cruise and we were very much looking forward to it.

1st Day: Monday - 1/26. The weather was quite cool just under 48 degrees and we arrived at the port of Miami at about 10:30 AM. We parked the car across the street in the parking garage. Check in was quite easy as we had pre completed all the necessary forms. By 11:00 AM we were allowed to board and we went directly to the Windjammer on the 11th deck for lunch. We met a delightful couple from Canada. We sat and talked for about an hour. Unfortunately, they had the early sitting for dinner at the Mikado and we had second sitting in the Mayfair. By the time we finished lunch our luggage was at our cabin. We had been afraid that the cabin would be small as well as the bathroom for my husband who is 6'4", but it was quite roomy. We were on the 9th deck in a superior outside cabin. From our porthole we were above the lifeboats so we had an unobstructed view. Put our clothes away and proceeded to tour the ship. We opted for the drink package which included unlimited sodas and juices which worked out well for us. We joined the first time cruise talk and it really was great. We toured the ship from 1st deck to 14th. The guide was wonderful, she was one of the entertainment staff and we really got to know her all week as she was everywhere. At 4:30 PM we put our lifebelts on and proceeded to the 5th deck for the lifeboat drill. This took about an hour. At the pool deck, we had a mixer as we watched the ship leave port and the sun set. It had warmed up a bit. Went down to change for dinner and to watch the first show at 7:15 PM. The ship was really "rocking and rolling" I had put on a Dramamine patch and was not bothered too much. The show was great. At dinner, we were disappointed because we were the only people at table for 8. Our waiter Amit was from India and very attentive as was the assistant waiter. The choices for dinner were okay, I had the salmon. After dinner we went to see the shops which had just opened and the casino.

Tuesday: Nassau - 1/25 we got up and dressed and went up to the 12th deck to watch the sunrise as we docked in Nassau. It was quite chilly and we went directly to breakfast at the Windjammer. The rocking had stopped during the night. We had been told by several crew members that it has been like that for several weeks coming out of Miami. We took a regular taxi to the Atlantis, it was only $4.00 a piece. We toured the hotel and bought a guided tour of the Aquarium. we were joined by three elderly ladies from our ship. It lasted about an hour. The Atlantis is so big and expensive. Paradise Island is very touristy and built up, but the rest of Nassau was quite rundown. It time to get used to driving on the other side of the road. The bridge between the city and the Island is absolutely breathtaking. Took a taxi back to the ship and had lunch. We ran into the couple we had met the day before and sat together. I was beginning to feel a bit queasy. We disembarked again and strolled along the streets to the "straw market". The native Bahamians were freezing. We ended up buying some magnets and polo shirts for our grand children (each stall had exactly the same merchandise, you almost felt sorry for the women at each booth) and bought some liquor and went back to the ship. We dressed for the captains reception. We took a picture with the captain, and all of a sudden I felt nauseous, ran into the bathroom and threw up. Felt a bit better and we went to see the entertainment, but I could not sit very long. Went to lie down for a while and we went into dinner. Again we were alone at the table. I ordered tea and toast, took one bite and had to leave the dining room. I stopped off at the pursers desk to see if they had anything to settle my stomach, they did not and the medical office was closed. (I usually travel with pepto bismol, but l left it at home) They offered to call the doctor, but I went back to the cabin undressed and proceeded to be sick several more times in the next few hours. My husband went to see the midnight buffet and entertainment alone.

Wednesday, 1/26 Coco Cay. In the morning I was still not feeling well. Went down to the Medical Office and bought a bottle of Pepto-Bismol for $10.00. There were several crew waiting to see the MD, but not too many passengers. I went back to the cabin and slept until around 2:00 PM. We never got to see Coco Cay. It was still quite cool. I tried to eat and had some bread and Jell-O. Was feeling a bit better. Sat by the pool for a while. We changed for dinner and the show. The shows were fantastic, such talent and energy. Tried our hand at the casino, but it was much too Smokey. At dinner, we asked to changed tables. We moved to a nearby table with three young girls around 30"s who were at a table for 6 from Detroit. I guess everyone is assigned a seating, but we saw that many passengers never came to the dining room and opted to eat all their meals at the Windjammer. We went to the crazy couple scavenger hunt. We joined with a younger couple and became team 12. It was really fun. But I was too tired and still did not feel right and we skipped the chocolate buffet that evening.

Thursday, January 27 - Key West. It was finally a warm day. We had breakfast in the dining room. Everyone had to go through customs before we could leave the ship. It took about an hour, until every passenger was accounted for. We took the trolley car tour around Key West. Our guide was really informative. Then we toured the "Truman White House". Again had a great tour guide. We walked back to the ship had lunch. We changed into bathing suits and sat by the pool. The sun was really warm, and we had to get out of the sun after around 20 minutes. We changed for dinner and began packing. The entertainer for the show was an Impressionist who was great, and at dinner, we gave out our tips to the waiter, assistant and Head waiter. I must say they were very concerned about how I felt as was our room attendant. We went back to the cabin and finished packing leaving clothes out for the morning and put our bags outside the room. Went to the one of the lounges to see karaoke and met "Team 12" again. Went to the casino tried our luck and then to see the midnight show. Went back to the cabin by 1:00 AM.

Friday, January 28. We were up early to watch as we docked at the Port of Miami. It was overcast and cool. We had breakfast with a lovely bunch of people from Ireland, Chicago and the Mayor of Porto Gourdo and wished we had been able to connect with other couples during our other dining times. Never did get to see the couple we had met on Monday or Tuesday. Our color "grey" for disembarking were the last to be called. We had been told to wait in one of the lounges, but it was too smoke filled. The one major complaint I had for the entire cruise was the amount of smoking and how it impeded my enjoyment, simply getting to the main theater etc, was also either through the casino or the bar. My husband who had had a bad cough all week, was really affected by it (as an aside), on Monday he was hospitalized with pneumonia, and I am sure the smoke did not help.

Customs was a breeze and with the help of a porter who helped with the luggage he walked with us to pick up our car.

The entire staff and crew aboard the Majesty were wonderful. The only criticism again was the amount of smoking aboard. If we cruise again, we will go with another couple.

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