Fortunately I have a parking reservation, as in the days just before our departure two of the worlds largest ships, The Oasis of the Seas and the Norwegian Epic boarded over 10,000 passengers at Port Canaveral. Reasonable off site parking is becoming scarce. The owner of the lot where I usually park has already purchased more land to expand his business.
Being only a 4 day cruise my suitcase is barely half full, and I decide to carry my own luggage onto the ship instead of turning it over to the baggage gorillas. They tried to intimidate me into leaving it with them by telling me security would turn me away and I would just have to bring the suitcase back to them. Never happened, the entire process was seamless and I was on the ship enjoying a sandwich for lunch an hour and forty five minutes after I left my house.
The physical structure of the Majesty is identical to the Monarch, but that is where the similarity ends. Cabins and all public spaces have been completely redone and updated. Instead of dark wood, colors are brighter and the furniture has been replaced and updated. Even many of the pool lounge chairs are new. Being a very old ship, the elevators are slow, and there are a few steps to go up and down when going from one end of the ship to the other because of the midship galley and dining room locations. Overall the ship is very clean and in good condition, much beter than I remember the Monarch being.
My cabin is small, but clean, very functional, and probably less than 50 feet from the forward elevators on deck 5. Everything is very accessible due to the small size of the ship.
Change is always happening. Instead of the package of factory made cookies and a bag of almonds I find a plate of fresh cookies in the cabin. Oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip. The first food I don't need.
Skies are cloudy with a few sprinkles of rain in the afternoon. Before departure the muster drill is conducted quickly and efficiently. I return to the cabin to change clothes for the evening. As we leave port we pass another Royal ship, The Grandeur of The Seas that is tied up close to the Port entrance. This is a port of call for her on her itinerary from Baltimore to Nassau and Coco Cay.
80% of the Crown Lounge is used for the Diamond Lounge cocktail hour from 5:00 to 8:30. It is full, but a few seats remain open. John Denton, our hotel director, spent about an hour greeting and socializing with his guests. He has recently returned to work after suffering a heart attack earlier this summer on a ship in England. He was evacuated to the US for surgery and has fully recovered, well fully being defined as recovered enough that he wants to be at work full time. A few non entitled guests try to get free drinks, but they were quickly spotted and asked to leave. The service and appetizers are as the top cruisers have learned to expect.
I decide to forgo the dining room and go to the Windjammer buffet for dinner. I was shocked, when 30 minutes after they opened the room was full. I have a small dinner with no dessert. After dinner I head to the Schooner bar and have an after dinner drink. I intended to attend the show, but never made it. Staying up late is just getting harder and harder. I will see the show on TV later in the week in my room.
Tomorrow we will be in Coco Cay for the day.
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