Conference abbott::cruise_travel

    It just geography, the southern route has one more island stop
    than the western route. The stops are listed in the brochure and
    there are lots of references to almost all of the stops if
    you search through the notes. If I remember correctly Majesty on
    Western Carribean has two full days at sea, Monarch on Southern
    has one full day. Generally in recent experience the Southern
    route on Monarch was a little more expensive, not that book rates
    are that much different but discounts on Western are a little better.
    The ships themselves are nearly identical, both sister ships to
    Sovereign of Seas. Study the literature on islands, see which
    you might like better ?? Want more island stops or additional
    day at sea?  Also I believe Majesty sails from Miami, Monarch
    sails from San Juan because of it's deep southern route. Both
    places are fine to sail from. Some people will say San Juan is
    better because you are already in very warm weather. The practical
    thing is Miami is not as warm but is warm and after you get on,
    settle in, go to dinner, go to the shows, go out later, midnight
    buffet, finally sleep, when you wake up next day you are cruising
    off coast of Cuba in beatiful warm waters out of Miami. The last
    day of any cruise they kick you off bright and early.
    The San Juan cruise will probably leave later in evening, say 9 Pm
    or later, to allow all flights down. Miami departures are almost
    always around 5 PM. 
    
    I believe Majesty (Western) stops at Jamaica, Cozumel, Grand Caymen, and
    RCCL's CocoCay beach island. I know Monarch stops at St Thomas,
    and four other deep southern islands. It's listed here somewhere
    but definitely in your brochure.
    
    				harold c.
    

    I've been on several western cruises, one "hybrid" (and am going on a
    10-day RCCL southern carib cruise on SOA in ***just another 18 days***)
    so will add just a point or two to .1 Soem things may have changed in
    the last couple a years but...
    
    Jamaica - very nice beaches, great weather, some **cruise escorted
    tours** (like Dunns river falls) are good.  I wouldn't advocate
    unescorted "walkabouts" tho.
    
    Grand Cayman - Cant go wrong.  Lovely beaches, safe/friedly residents,
    some fun/interesting places to see and shop, great snorkeling, etc
    
    Cancun and/or Cozumel - Cancun has great beaches, MANY folks like the
    Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza and Tulum (sp?), shopping can be ok (beware
    of silver ripoffs) and, of course, if in Cozumel for an overnight (or a
    late night) there's Carlos 'n Charlies.
    
    Haven't been to CocoCay, but assuming it's similar in style to NCL's
    private Island, it should provide a nice, relaxing day at the beach...
    secluded with just you and the other ~2,000 passengers.
    
    Regards,
    
    Steve
    
    

    My husband and I took our (then) 3.5 year old son on the RCCL Majesty
    of the Seas last September and it was great.  I does go to the places
    that .1 said and they are all beautiful islands.  Our favorite was
    CocoCay in the Bahamas, second was Cozemel.  Ocho Rios was extremly
    poverty(sp) stricken and dirty but Dunns River Falls was nice and so was 
    the working plantation tour we took.
    
    If I was the basenoter I would go on the Majesty as it is only a couple
    of years old and an extremly beautiful ship and the largest of the RCCL
    line.
    
    Liz

    the difference in age between the Monarch and Majesty is only about
    6 months. the ships themselves are almost identical, they are the 2nd
    and 3rd ships based on the Sovereign. They are both different from
    the Sovereign in a few areas but almost identical to each other.
    
    Any decision here would be based mostly on choice of itinerary and 
    to some degree price. Even though the base price for these
    cruises is almost identical the Southern Carribean route on
    the Monarch normally is more expensive because it is discounted the
    least normally.
    
    Generally Sovereign has the best deals, price wise, Majesty is next
    then Monarch.
    
      Sovereign provides 3 full days at sea.
      Majesty provides   2 full days at sea.
      Monarch provides   1 full day  at sea.
    
    I only mention this because my wife and I generally enjoy the peaceful
    full days at sea better than the island stops. We like stopping at
    islands, but not if it is almost every day. That is just a personal
    choice.
    
    RCCL along with other good quality cruise lines keep there ships in
    good condition, I would not put a ship at the top of a selection
    least because it is almost new. Where you want to go, price, 
    island stops etc. are much more important. The most important is
    picking the correct line that is both a good quality line and
    also meets your style.
    
    I've gone on cruises a few years ago on ships built in the 50's and
    they were just fine. There are also some low budget outfits that
    buy left over ships from other lines then do not take care of the
    ships, this is where people get a bad taste for cruising on some
    older ships.
    
    					Harold 
    
    
    
    				Harold C.