Last weekend, the girls and I drove down to Miami, hopped on Majesty of the Seas, and headed for the Bahamas. This was my first cruise. I don’t like touristy things when traveling and I don’t like being stuck in one place with limited options on what I can do. A friend told me I wouldn’t mind being “stuck” on a boat that size because it’s a floating city.
Photos are below.
MY FAVORITE PARTS
- The people we were with. Our future daughter-in-law, Mary, has an awesome, cool and fun mom (Kathi) and very fun and friendly friends. The good news is…nobody got arrested! 😉
- The water color! Oh my! Every shade of blue, from almost-clear-aqua to deep, dark blue. The water was breathtaking!
- Snorkeling! I hadn’t snorkeled since I was a teenager (in the Cayman Islands) and it was absolutely magical! I never wanted to leave the water. And, I now want to take scuba lessons!
- The people watching. Boy oh boy…
- The service. Every employee treated us like queens. Even the service at the cruise line’s private island (Coco Cay) and at the restaurants in Nassau (Bahamas) were beyond compare.
- The nightlife. The fake Village People were very entertaining. Karaoke, adult game shows, the casino, dancing and more. It really was an adult playground and we all had a blast. I think I got 12 hours of sleep the entire 3 nights!
MY LEAST FAVORITE PARTS
- The food. I know it’s difficult cooking that many meals a day but serving ice cold escargot can be extremely dangerous. The person in our party who ate all of theirs did not feel well that night. The scallop dish on the first night was also cold. Almost all of the desserts had a gelatinous consistency (gag). The lamb and pork were good. The garlic tiger shrimp was amazing. The rest was…blah. I expected better food from a cruise but I was mistaken.
- Nassau. I was NOT impressed with Nassau. The people were nice but the town is dirty, run-down, and just gave me a bad vibe. Lots of homeless people shouted out at us as we walked, most of it unintelligible. I suspect some of them were strung out on drugs. Some places were downright scary. I found myself wishing Richard had come with us on the cruise for protection. Again, the people we talked to were nice (including a police officer we asked about a lunch recommendation). We saw one person being arrested. Others in our party who were not near us saw an arrest as well (a different one). I guess I assumed if large cruise ships stop at a place that it’s nice and clean and safe. Nassau (at least the part near the coast where the cruise ships come in) was not pleasant and we will not be returning there.
We arrived back on Monday afternoon and, after telling Richard and the boys of our adventures, I crawled into bed and slept like a rock for several hours. Despite the yucky Nassau excursion, we had an awesome weekend! And, I would go on another cruise…as long as it isn’t stopping in Nassau and as long as it has an excellent reputation for food.
Below are some photos from our cruise.
Ali and I had a lot of fun playing slots and blackjack!
At one point, Ali and I got separated. I found her…rocking out on the poolside dance floor. So much fun!!
I could have happily and peacefully stared at those multiple and impossibly beautiful layers of aqua blue for the rest of my life…
The fake “Village People” were awesome! It was so cute when the shirtless, sweaty ones went down and danced with grandmothers.
The ship. Very old and soon to be retired. The interior looked like it dated back to the 70’s. When we stepped on board, we felt we’d stepped back in time. The disco theme that night fit right in!
One example of a “gelatinous” dessert. This one had what I call a “poop smear” as well. Why do restaurants do that with chocolate syrup? Yucko!! 😉
THIS WEEK’S MASONISM
“I saw the barber shaving someone’s eyebrows.”
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You might have thought you sailed back to the 70s, but your ship was launched in April 1992. Try the CruiseCritic website for lengthy details on ships, ports, itineraries, etc. I’ve been on maybe 30 cruises, including NCL, and loved almost all.
I did a carnival cruise when my brother got married and thought it was fabulous! The food was amazing and always available. I didn’t really like the island either and ended up going back to the boat instead of exploring. One bright spot, the governors wife had died (not the bright spot), and the funeral was going on. It was very similar to the festivities in New Orleans during a funeral. Dancing in the streets, Junkanoo bands, bright colors, and singing. Otherwise, the rest was as you described. I would definitely go again.
I am about to head on my 30th cruise in June to the Norwegian fjords on Holland America’s newest ship the MS Koningsdam. I have tried 8 cruise lines and each have their own flavor. You have to try for a match. There are several lines I will never travel again which can be a great product form someone else. Not all ships are for all people. I am picky with food and Celebrity and Holland America are standouts. Other lines such as RCCL and NCL tend to be exceptional only in their specialty venues and pretty average or below par in their main dining facilities.
Sounds like a fun trip, in spite of the cold food, questionable smears on your dessert plate, and nasty Nassau. The fact that you are willing to give cruising another go indicates an overall positive view of cruising. I have always shared your misgivings, but maybe I’ll follow your example and give it a go: as long as it’s not to Nassau!
Pamela Allegretto
Bridge of Sighs and Dreams
http://booklocker.com/books/8228.html
Nazi-occupied Rome sets the stage for Bridge of Sighs and Dreams, where the lives of two women collide in an arena of deception, greed, and sacrifice…
What a great adventure! I served 21 years in the U.S. Navy with most of that time at sea. I can relate to some of your experiences, especially visiting less-than-desirable ports. My memory is a bit hazy, but if I recall correctly we were usually the ones getting arrested in those wild bygone days, not so much the locals!
Jack Macfarlane
Instructor Training Outcomes: The Missing Link in Instructor Development
http://booklocker.com/books/8361.html
How to define clear goals for the development of faculty.
I’ve always heard that RC is one of the better cruise lines. I’ve only been on Carnival ships, and I have to say, the food was magnificent from day one!! And, the desserts on Carnival are absolutely amazing – especially the chocolate lava cake with ice cream!! There were nights when I would order double everything!! The only thing I don’t like is the smoking in the casinos because it leaks out to the deck area around it …. nasty.