Conference abbott::cruise_travel

    re: 0
    
    Thanks for the info.  Do you know how many people the ship holds?
    Trying to get a feel for the size of the ship.
    
    Thanks

Here are the stats for the Royal Majesty:

Built			1992
Country of Registry	Panama
Gross Tonnage		32,400 tons
Length			568 feet
Passenger Capacity	1,056 (based on double occupancy)
Crew Size		500
Nationality of Crew
	Officers	Greek
	Hotel Staff	International
	Cruise Staff	International

Staterooms
	71% are outside staterooms
	25% (132 out of 528) of all staterooms are designated non-smoking
	All staterooms have deluxe Royal Majesty signature robes, color tv,
	five channels of music, direct dial ship-to-shore telphones, hair
	dryers in the bathrooms, full air conditioning, security safes and
	ironing board.

Dining Room - totally non-smoking 

Public Rooms
	Palace Showroom, dining room, lounge, Piano Bar, casino, disco, 
	meeting room, conference room, card room, library, outdoor cafe/
	buffet & breakfast area, pizza/ice cream parlor, childrens play
	room, beauty salon, swimming pool with two whirlpools, bodywaves spa,
	gift shop, jogging track, medical facilities.

    We went on the Royal Majesty for our honeymoon this past September.
    Originally we had booked Majesty of the Seas (RCCL) but ended up 
    switching to RM because it was quite a bit cheaper, though it
    wasn't as long.  We were in the process of buying a piece of 
    property and were looking to save some money but still go on a
    nice trip.
    
    We really enjoyed this ship, it was new, clean, and the staff was
    excellent, but since it was our first cruise, we had nothing to compare
    it with!!  Our Cruise left from Miami on Monday at 4:30, tuesday
    was at sea,  wednesday was at Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, thursday
    was in Key West and back to port friday morning.  
    
    I would recommend this cruiseline, and we have already decided that
    we will be going on another cruise at some point, but not until after
    our house is built!

    I just booked on the ship for the week of July 4.  I'll let you all
    know what's it's like when I return.  I would also like to hear more
    stories about the ship if anyone in noteland has been on it.
    
    Can someone also tell me what's the difference in atmosphere between
    Hamilton and St George and/or is there a Burmuda conference that I can
    log into?
    
    				Thanks,
    
    				Bart

    NACAD::HOLIDAY_TRAVEL has some notes on Bermuda
    
    

	We just returned from the Royal Majesty's 4 day cruise.The ship left
the Port of Miami on Monday 4/18 at 4:30pm and returned on Friday 4/22 7:00am. 
We went to Playa-del-Carmen, Cozumel and Key West. 
	
	This was our first cruise so we have nothing to compare it to, but 
everything was excellent, the ship, crew, food and the entertainment. We had
excellent cabins, one with 2 uppers and 2 lowers and 2 Sea View picture windows,
and the other had one upper and a douple with one Sea View Picture window. We also 
had one of the best tables in the dinning room. However the next time we take a cruise 
we will choose the second seating for meals. We choose the first one this time because 
a friend said that it would be best. It was good, but I felt we were always rushed to
get ready for dinner. At least we were hungry enough to eat at the midnight buffet.

	While in Playa del Carmen we went on a tour to the Mayan ruin of Tulum and
then snorkeling at Xelha<sp> pronounced "Shelha" which means clear water. The tour
was provided by Majesty Cruise Lines on a air conditioned bus with a tour guide.
While traveling we had Mexican beer and or Coca-Cola and for lunch the ship had 
provided a box lunch and towels when we got to Xelha<sp>. Both parts of the tour
were very good, but I wish we had mode time to snorkel.

	We only had 2 to 3 hours in Cozumel after returning from the tour, but those
that didn't take the tour had all day in Cozumel. Cozumel was very crowded and hectic
for us because as we got to the pier from the tour the Carnival Cruise ship the Ecstasy 
which holds 2200 people arrived and were letting people off at the same time and trying 
to get a taxi not pretty. Cozumel was nice and we got to buy tee shirts and silver jewelry.

	Key West is fun and plenty to do. We were the only ship there so it wasn't very 
crowded. You could do anything you wanted. some went snorkeling, some went swimming, some 
went shopping and some stayed on the ship. We took the Conch train tour pronounced "conk" 
around Key West which takes about one hour and gives you a good view and idea about Key 
West. Then we had the rest of the time to do whatever. I went to Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville,
and you guessed it I had the best margaritas around.

	I just couldn't say enough about Majesty Cruise Lines and the Royal Majesty ship and
crew. Everything was so clean and shiny. All in all a near perfect Vacation the only way it
could have been better would be if it was longer and FREE.


	I would also like to say that the travel agents at CruiseDocktors were excellent
especially Janet. Who answered all of our questions and kept me informed all the way. I never
had a vacation plan go so smooth without any problems.

	Cliff 

    Cliff,
    
    You mentioned CruiseDocktors in your note.  Would you mind telling me
    where they are located and a phone number.  My fiance and I would like
    to go on a cruise and have not been lucky in finding a travel agent who
    really knows about cruises.
    
    Thank you!

    Cruise Docktors
    	800 325-2873
    	603 536-2403

    I have booked four cruises through them, and have been 110%
    satisified.  I previously used several agencies that I
    was less than satisified with, so I have some basis for
    comparison.   

    When a minor problem has cropped up (like tickets showing up
    with the wrong dinner seating), they've called me to tell me
    they're already working with the cruise line to fix the
    problem.

    Not like some agencies, where you have to check everything
    they do, and then complain loudly to get them to help.

    Further, they're also a full service travel agency --
    Plymouth Travel (in Plymouth, NH, etc.) so I feel that
    they're less likely to go out of business than the
    1-800-<how-many-aaaaaaa's-do-i-need-to-be-first-in-the-phone-book?>
    kind of places.

    	- Lee

    I've had good luck with Cruise Docktors as well.

    I totally agree.  We just returned this past Sunday (our first cruise)
    and it was Wonderful!  The ship was beautiful, the crew was great, and
    the food was out of this world!
    
    We went from Sunday to Sunday to St. George, Bermuda (arrived Tues. and
    left Fri.).  The trip was worth every penny and we look forward to
    cruising again!
    
    d  

My wife and I went on the Royal Majesty cruise last week...and yes, we were
aboard when the ship went aground on the Nantucket Shoals.  We never felt
in danger and count this as one of our all-time great vacations.  The 24
hour shipwreck party provided a grand finale to our wonderful stay in
Bermuda, and we are giving serious consideration to the cruise line's offer
of a 25% discount on a repeat cruise. 

We took a tour of the bridge during the trip down, and the Greek captain
and crew were especially proud of their "world's most advanced computer
controlled navigation system".  In fact, they were apparently so much in
awe of this high technology that they never looked out the window as the
computer steered the ship straight for Nantucket.  I'm sure the grizzled
old New England sea captains will tell this story for generations. 

The grounding occurred around 11PM after dinner and we noticed that the
ship was maneuvering strangely until thunk, we stopped!  Then the ship
began to tilt until everyone was walking up and downhill.  The next morning
when it got light, we looked out and saw sandbars all around with waves
breaking like on a beach. 

We had some concern when they tried to evacuate the passengers onto two
ferry boats from Hyannis.  Our ship was dead in the water, while the ferry
rose up and down with the swells until finally it was lifted and smashed
against the side of the Royal Majesty.  Windows breaking, glass flying,
door ripped off, and no hope of getting even one passenger transferred, let
alone 1000.  Both ferries headed back to Hyannis as fast as they could go
and we sat there abandoned. 

Then the tugboats started to arrive... *big* tugboats from Delaware, NY,
and RI.  Six of them tied up to one side of the Majesty and they slooowly
started to pull us sideways off the sand.  The ship creaked and groaned for
about 30 minutes until finally we started to bob up and down and everybody
cheered.  The ship was then led by the Coast Guard to deeper water and we
waited till morning when divers could assess the damage.  There was some
damage, but we got the go-ahead to Boston and arrived Monday afternoon to
cheers, circling helicopters and TV cameras.

I can't guarantee that each trip will be this exciting, but it makes for a
great vacation anyway.  Just drive into South Boston, park your car and hop
on the ship.  Dock in downtown St George's and walk off the boat whenever
you please.  The next slip has a public ferry to the Dockyard on the
opposite end of the island and pink busses take you everywhere in between. 
If you book the cruise next year around this time (assuming they are still
in business), come on up to the Royal Fireworks lounge and we'll join you
for a Pina Colada. 

/dave

    We are scheduled to depart on the 25th of June.  The cruise line says
    it will be leaving on schedule this Sunday.  As you are fresh off
    the cruise, I have a couple of questions for you:
    
    Do you have any idea if they are really going to set sail on the 18th?
    
    Did you go the tux route for the two formal nights?  We have taken
    advantage of the $85.00 for the week for my spouse and son.  Just
    checking if this is the "standard".
    
    How many teenagers did you encounter?  We are bringing our 13.5 year
    old and are hoping he will get to socialize with other teens.
    
    Any other helpful suggestions beside the obvious "keep your eye on the
    shoreline" suggestion would be appreciated!
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    Tracy
    
    
      

Tracy,

>> Do you have any idea if they are really going to set sail on the 18th?

There were a number of dents and bruises along the bottom of the ship, but
the power train was undamaged (no bent screw, etc.).  It depends on what
the divers find today and whether there are any fractures around the fuel
tanks.  I'm sure there will be lots of media attention, so you should know 
in the next day or so.
    
> Did you go the tux route for the two formal nights?  We have taken
> advantage of the $85.00 for the week for my spouse and son.  Just
> checking if this is the "standard".

I saw a smattering of tuxes, but the majority of guys wore a suit and I 
felt perfectly comfortable in my blue blazer.  The women wore "fancy" 
dresses, but I don't remember seeing a gown.
    
> How many teenagers did you encounter?  We are bringing our 13.5 year
> old and are hoping he will get to socialize with other teens.

One of the things that made the trip so enjoyable was the variety of
people, young and old.  There were folks of all ages, from 6 months to 90
years including many teenagers, who seemed to spend most of their time in
the arcade or around the pool. 
    
> Any other helpful suggestions beside the obvious "keep your eye on the
> shoreline" suggestion would be appreciated!
    
We chose "second seating" so that we could spend more time on the island
during the day.  Buffet breakfast begins at 7AM, so you can still get an
early start without waiting for the dining room.  We were warned that a
table of four can get dicey if you don't care for the other couple, so we
chose a table of eight and never ran out of chit-chat with the three other
couples.  None of us had ever met before, but we were like old friends by
the end of the cruise. 

I became addicted to the "jogging" track and would walk 1-2 miles each 
morning before breakfast.  Great view (level 7 outside) and lots of fellow 
walkers, interrupted occasionally by a teenager trying to break the olympic 
record.  Five times around the ship = 1 mile.  Tai Chi is also worth a try.

     /dave

    Thanks Dave,
    
    We did hear on the news this morning that the Royal Majesty did get a 
    clean bill of health and will set sail next Sunday.  The travel agent 
    that booked our trip was scheduled to be in Bermuda this week.  She did 
    mention that the cruise lines did not do a good PR job for the passengers
    on shore, but the people on board ship were treated very well.
    
    If the ship was going to be put into dry dock we would have had the
    same options as the passengers scheduled for this week.  The choices
    were full refund, reschedule next year, reschedule this year with a 
    25% reduction in fare.  Unfortunately we would be at the mercy of the 
    crusie line until the ship was found sea worthy.  We couldn't reschedule 
    another trip without the crusie line cancelling us.  We were told they 
    could cancel at the 99th hour leaving us with no time to book an alternate
    trip.      
    
    I'm just happy that we are going to make the trip.  We did request the
    second seating for dinner, however, we are on a waitlist.  We are typically
    late diners and more so when we are on vacation.  The Travel Agent didn't 
    think it would be difficult to get the second seating, if we really 
    insisited.
    
    The walk around the deck in the morning sounds wonderful, I'm sure that 
    will become a routine.  I'm glad there will be plenty of teens on the
    ship.  Although this is a family vacation, at Matt's age he would rather
    have some independence with people his own age.
    
    Thanks for the feed back, we are definitely looking forward to the
    trip.
    
    Tracy
    Tracy
    
    
    

    
    
    	Did anybody hear that the Royal Majesty went out of business???
    
    	Any details??

They own Dolphin and I'm going on Dolphin Nov 19 - Dec 5.  I hope what you've
heard is wrong.  Tell us what you heard and where.

I just got my tickets yesterday from Dolphin.

Brad

I hope not too.  I wanted to use my 25% discount on another cruise next 
spring.

I know that their last cruise to Bermuda this year was Oct 22.  Then they 
go south for the winter.  Maybe they went south for good.

/dave

    Heard that it was Regency Cruise Lines that went out of business, not
  Royal Majesty.  At the time Regency went out of business, they still had
  about 6 ships out at sea, too.


-rob

For details on Regency, see note 52.10