New Cruising family- Looking at Majesty

[merreh]

Hello everyone-

 

I and my immediate family are considering the Key West/Nassau/Coco Cay cruise in January. However, we're all entirely brand new to cruising, and entirely brand new to the Caribbean, so a lot of this has been overwhelming. My family consists of two parents (one who isn't a big beach person, but will put up with places such as Coco Cay to accommodate the rest of us), and two college students. We're not used to the entire cruise lifestyle, and are concerned about a few things.

 

FIrst, I've been reading reviews around the internet and am getting entirely different impressions from people on the exact same cruise. I have a feeling part of this is due to what each person is used to on vacation. We're the type of family who will usually stay at a holiday inn, not the Ritz or anything. I'm wondering if some of the folks who had the more negative experiences are possibly used to more upscale accommodations than we are?

 

I'm also worried about the weather. I understand that it can be unpredictable, especially in this part of the world, but being from Chicago, we'd like to be able to swim while we're down there without it being 60 degrees. I'm worried about reviews I've been reading where it sounds like a lot of the December/January days on Coco Cay have been cancelled due to rough weather. Are we really taking our chances by going this time of year?

 

Finally, we're not used to resort-style vacations either. Due to one of our family members not liking the beach, tropical vacations have not been a big thing for us. We're used to staying at multiple hotels rather than the whole being stuck on a ship thing( in a manner of speaking). Were any of you in our boat (pardon the pun) when you began cruising? Will we go stir crazy?

 

Any relevant advice anyone could give on this would be great, because we really feel in the dark and are worried about putting down so much money on a type of vacation that we dont know much about, and the reviews seem to vary so widely.

 

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

[TrentS]

First of all you need to take all reviews with a grain of salt. You can ask 10 different people on the same cruise about it and will get 10 totally different "reviews". Too many people let one little thing that goes wrong ruin their entire cruise, and many people have unrealistic expectations. Others just love to complain!

 

Yes, the weather that time of year can be chilly in the Bahamas if there's a cold front that has gone through. Not Chicago cold, but perhaps too cold to properly enjoy a beach or swimming. There's really no way to predict that though, as it can also be very nice and warm. You do take a bit of a chance with that.

 

While the Majesty is a nice ship with many fans, it's an older, smaller ship (by today's standards) that no longer has the "wow" factor that the new ones have. Many people prefer the smaller ships over the bigger ones, but I think for a first cruise you should go on one that has "everything" so you can learn what you like and what you don't. It's a lot easier then to evaluate whether the smaller one has enough to keep you busy or not.

 

Personally I would suggest you go on a 7 day cruise on a "Voyager class" ship (Voyager, Explorer, Adventure, Navigator, Mariner). Trust me, 7 days will go by in about 5 minutes! ;)

 

The Voyager class ships are the most spectacular ships at sea and literally have something for everyone, of all ages. From the gorgeous "Royal Promenade" to the ice skating rink and ice shows to the rock climbing walls, roller blading track, basketball court, pools, hot tubs, spectacular spa, casino, disco, the wonderful shows, cruise comics, all the FOOD, food and more food, and almost non-stop activities to keep you busy, you will NOT get bored on them. They have so many things to do on them that you can't see and do everything in a week! They're also very stable, and smooth riding due to their massive size. They're twice the size of the Majesty, but are very well laid out and don't feel at all crowded.

 

The Voyager class ship's 7 day cruises go to either the Eastern or Western Caribbean, far enough south that you will get nice warm weather. Personally I love the Eastern Caribbean, particularly San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. December and January is absolutely spectacular down there, the temperatures are perfect and the humidity is down. While the beaches there are spectacular, there are also many things to do in those ports for those who don't love the beach, more so than in the Western Caribbean IMO.

 

I know the prices have gone up lately, but it's still cheaper than a land based vacation when you add in all the food that's included. On a cruise too, you don't have to pack up and move to another hotel, and deal with all that like you would if you did multiple hotels.

 

While the balconies are absolutely wonderful, to save a lot of money go with inside cabins as most people really aren't in the cabins that much anyway, and the Voyager class ship's insides are very well designed.

 

I can't imagine you would consider being "stuck" on one of those ships. I would imagine after a week you'll be "hooked" and planning your NEXT cruise! :)

 

One last piece of advise when going on a cruise - DO NOT FLY TO THE PORT OF EMBARKATION ON THE DAY OF THE CRUISE! ALWAYS fly in at least a day early as there are just too many problems with flight delays, missed connections, delayed baggage, and especially in the winter, weather delays! It's so much better to fly in early, spend the night in a local hotel, then get on the ship early and well rested, and fully enjoy that first day on board that you have paid for!

[merreh]

TrentS-

 

I really appreciate your advice on this. The only thing I probably should have mentioned in my first post is that we have a bit of a cost issue with this- a 7 night cruise looks to be out of our price range, even though we'd much rather go on a longer trip. We were looking to pay as a family of four for the cruise and airfare, not including excursions or alcohol or anything, for about $2000-$2400 dollars(1 interior and 1 exterior room), which was why we were looking to either this cruise or a three day Carnival cruise that hits Key West and Mexico. I was advised by some folks that we'd probably enjoy RCCL over Carnival however.

 

Should we hold off until a better option becomes available? (i.e. kids out of college, more money)

[debg66]

With 2 college age kids I would recommend the Voyager class ships. Our teenage kids loved the Explorer. We just got off the Mariner and loved it. There is so much to do on these ships.

[suzie21]

I found www.cruiseclues.com extremely helpful when I was trying to decide which ship to choose for my first cruise. It has links to lots of reviews but also to lots of photos so you should be able to get a feel for what the ship's like.

 

Hope this helps a bit :)

[robinzhere]

I have indeed been in your "boat". I went on my first cruise in May of 2003 with the very same concerns that you have -- and as you can tell from my list of cruises -- I found I loved it. My latest cruise was on the Majesty with my college-age son, so I also have budget limitations.

 

TrentS is giving you very good advice. The problem is that you do not have a good "fit" between the type of cruise you'd like and the one you are considering. As a result, you are stacking the deck against your chances of having a really good time. That would be a shame for any cruise, but especially for your first cruise.

 

The WOW factor is really important on your first cruise -- and while the Majesty is a lovely, classic, older ship -- it's just not a ship that has much of a WOW factor. There's still plenty to do/see if you look for it, but on your first cruise you shouldn't have to. (Trust me, you'll miss more than you'll be aware of simply because there is so much to do on a cruise at any given moment. That's the beauty of it!)

 

Also the weather you want (swimming temps) are more likely to be had later in the spring than when you are considering going. (It was barely warm enough for us to swim in March!) And yes, statistically speaking, the chances of making it to Coco Cay in Jan/Feb are slim. It you really want to go there, plan your trip when that outcome is more likely.

 

My suggestion (one that has worked for me) is that instead of putting off the cruise until you "have the money" (you never will) you find a way to increase your trip budget just a little bit. I start a special (no fee) savings account. Any savings in my budget or bonus money I get goes in there (for example, sometimes I do PB&J for lunch for a whole week and put in $20 in there. I got a small bonus for a special project at work -- in it went.) Make it a game and enlist your whole family. Once you start to see it build, it gets easier to "find" the money.

 

Adding the extra days (increasing a 4 to a 7 day) may be less expensive than you think. After all, the airfare and other incedentials (taxis, pre-cruise hotel, baggage handling tips) are going be be the same regardless of whether you are going for 3 or 7 days. And the extra days aboard ship include your food, too, so they are really the "cheapest days" you can add!

 

One inside and one outside room is an option, but -- honest -- you are going to find that the only time you are in your room is when you are too exhausted to notice where you are. Economize here as much as you can to extend the number of days of the cruise.

 

One of the biggest savings you can find is flying to an airport that has a lot of route competition (Ft. Lauderdale rather than Miami, for example.) Don't forget some of the West Coast routes, too. You may find a lot of savings by fying to LA and cruising to Mexico out of Long Beach.

 

Compare prices from the different cruise lines carefully -- you can find good deals because there's a lot of competition there, too. There's much less difference between the actual cruising experience on the different cruise lines than you'd think. (I've been on Carnival, Princess and RCCL now.) There is MUCH more difference between when you travel (school vacations or not) and on what class ship (larger/smaller and older/newer) than there is between the different lines anymore.

 

Keep reading these boards, but take any opinions (including mine) with a grain of salt! Make a list of the things your really want/don't want and try to find a cruise that matches that.

 

Hope this helps!

[TNT]

My first cruise in 2000 was on Majesty. We never thought we would like cruising and did land vacations. After our first (4 night) cruise- we were hooked. We just returned from our 8th. I do agree that the Voyager class ships are much better and have more to offer, but it being your first cruise- I think Majesty will be fine. Previous post are correct that it is older and doesn't have the "wow" factor. We have cruised on Voyager, Navigator, etc. After those I still did a three night (weekender) cruise with my mother on Majesty. It was still fun and I wasn't at all diappointed after being on the larger ships. I just don't think you can go wrong with a cruise.

 

I do agree that the shorter cruises seem really short. By the time you get on- it seems like it's time to get off. Leaving at 5:00 the first day, having to pack luggage and have it out in the hall by midnight the last night, it just really seems like you have a very short time. I wouldn't suggest a 3 night at all. A four night minimum.

 

I also agree about getting an inside room. We always get one because we are sleepers and like the darkness. You do spend very little time in the room, except to sleep. We missed Key West in June due to winds- you just never know. We went to a towel folding class and drank bloody mary's, took an exercise class, ate several times more than usual, and just enjoyed the ship. Go- have a good time- whatever you choose to do!

[JerseyGirl23]

We are also a family of 4 on a relatively tight vacation budget. For those that are telling you to take a 7 day cruise, they are probably a couple and not a family. The price for two people with a balcony is about the same as a family of 4 in and inside cabin.

 

If you think you will feel tight having 4 "adults" in one room, try booking 2 inside cabins next door. There is probably less than a $200 difference between 4 of you in one cabin as opposed to 2 of you in 2 cabins. In fact, my travel agent suggested that my husband and I get an oceanview cabin and for an extra $180 (over the cost of 4 of us in the cabin) that we reserve an inside cabin across the hall for our daughters.

 

We are so looking forward to sailing the Majesty in December! ENJOY! :D

[PhinsAndGills]

My mom and dad took me on the Majesty for my college graduation. We stayed in the smallest class of room on the Majesty and had NO problems. I only have good things to say about the ship and the cruises. If you're looking at cost, you really can work out 3 and 4 adults in one room (done both 3 adults, and 4 adults and NEVER had a problem. You just work out "girl" room time and "boy" room time in the mornings and we were all good.)

 

I HIGHLY recommend this cruise, especially because your situation sounds a lot like ours was! :)

 

I'm pretty easy going and having a large, open room isn't as important to me as souvies, adventures, and side trips so we ALWAYS ALWAYS opt for a smaller room so we can have money for what WE feel we'd like to get out of the cruise (memories of our adventures.)

 

GOOD LUCK CHOOSING and have fun! :D

[grvdggr71]

I just thought I would throw in my 2 cents. As a little background, I am a graduate student recently out of my undergraduate studies. Last year, my mother and my girlfriend went on our first cruise on the Majesty. My GF had been previously on Sovereign as her first cruise, so had a little experience and was the one that convinced us to go. We are similar to you - prefer the budget of Holiday Inn over the cost of the Hyatt.

 

A previous poster recommended a 7 day Voyager-class cruise over the 4-night Majesty. I disagree. Although there is more to do on Voyager, the concept of cruising is virtually the same on every ship, and cruising on a budget means a short cruise on Majesty, Sovereign, Monarch, or Empress. Majesty is a "small ship", but dwarfs many other ships in port, including the Carnival Fantasy. It is a beautiful ship and was in great shape when I was in it last June/July. Before cruising on Majesty, I worried about being bored on the ship, or everything would induce claustrophobia. I couldn't have been more wrong. There is always stuff going on, and I never felt as if I was a sardine in a can. Some things I would recommend are attending the shows nightly, participating in "The Quest" (sometimes known as Majesty Quest), and even Bingo (you could win a lot of money, or even another cruise!).

 

This "Wow" factor that people talk about is a little hard to pin down. I was completely new to cruising, and Majesty made me say "wow" when I first saw it. From the exterior to the centrum to the pool deck and the Windjammer Cafe. I thought it was very nice. Dining onboard is excellent. The shows are great. There is always something to do. Nassau and Key West are great ports for first timers, with lots of activities to do (personally, I recommend Atlantis in Nassau). CocoCay is indeed hit-or-miss in the winter, depending on the seas. As a previous poster mentioned, if CocoCay will make or break the trip for you, you may want to cruise sometime in spring/summer before hurricane season, but it will always be a hit-or-miss port that depends entirely on the weather. If you go, CocoCay is paradise. It is a great, relaxing day at a private beach. Don't like beaches? There is a nice long nature trail, and kayaking and jet skiing are great. If you like water nature, go snorkeling here. We saw tons of fish, many rays, and even a shark. It was a great time. If you still aren't interested, there are still many things to do on the ship.

 

To sum it all up, Majesty got me hooked on cruising. I have many memories I will never forget, and the experience was incredible. Within a few months of starting my new position as a graduate student, I booked two more cruises - a 7-nighter on Radiance and another 4-nighter on Majesty. I really feel you will have a great time on this cruise.

 

As one last note, please make sure you are familiar with the "hidden costs" of cruising. The most major of these costs is tips (about $10 pp, per day). You may already be familiar with these costs, but I would hate to leave you in the dark if you didn't know. Just search these forums, or ask a helpful critic!

[PhinsAndGills]

Hello everyone-

 

I'm also worried about the weather. I understand that it can be unpredictable, especially in this part of the world, but being from Chicago, we'd like to be able to swim while we're down there without it being 60 degrees. I'm worried about reviews I've been reading where it sounds like a lot of the December/January days on Coco Cay have been cancelled due to rough weather. Are we really taking our chances by going this time of year?

 

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

 

I forgot to tell you...

 

I'm from Ohio, while I'm no Lake Erie Polar Bear or anything, we were on the SAME cruise on February, and the 3 night Majesty two years later in February and SWAM and snorkled our little hearts out. If they had let me at CocoCay, I would've snorkled back to the ship rather than tendered. We took a kyack trip in Key West and I wore a bikini top and shorts comfortably. You will need capri like pants and maybe a light zip-up type sweatshirt or light windbreaker jacket / sweater at night. I think being from the snowy north HELPS when it comes to this! :) There were Floridians wearing coats when we were in tank tops and shorts going "GOSH IT'S NICE OUT!" knowing good and well it was snowing back home... :D