We were warned that an early start was both necessary and predictable when The Majesty of The Seas docked in Nassau Port. (its home or flag port) The Norwegian Captain is Anders Ingebrigtsen hailing originally from the island of Senja in Norway. At age 17 he joined the Merchant Marines as a junior seaman later becoming a ordinary seaman,able body seaman and boatswain. After leaving the Merchant Marines he joined the Navy of Norway and the Norwegian Coast Guard. In 1997 he joined Royal Caribbean as a first Officer. In 2004 he obtained the rank of Captain and took this role on Rhapsody of The Seas.He currently is the Captain of Majesty of The Seas the ship we are sailing on.
So an often asked questions on cruise ships is tips. The official policy of Royal Caribbean ships is stated as follows:
All prices are in US$ A daily fee sorry gratuity of 413.50 is charged sorry added to your bill for distribution amongst services,stateroom staff and house keepers. Suite guest are charged sorry see added to the bill an addition $16.50 per day.An addition 18% is charged on your behalf automatically for beverages ie a Starbucks coffee,soft drinks,beer & spirits also any on board services eg Spa. However they do qualify the statement as follows ' In the unlikely event that a guest on-board being charged automatic gratuities did not receive satisfactory service note satisfactory not outstanding or above standard.,the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services desk prior to departure. Gee now I know why its always so busy at Guest Services - only kidding- its the daily reprogramming of electronic room keys that causes the long line.
However knowing the ship is one thing knowing what happens on board is far more interesting take today as an example.
Shortly as first why would it be a early start. In the Cruise Directors briefing the night before he warned, if you thought the auto flush toilets were bad then wait for the thrusters to be used at 6am to bring the ship along side the Nassau dock. Come 7.10am and awoken by the alarm one look out the Starboard window in the cabin had the ship stationary already at the dock. So no disturbance from the thrusters. The toilet on the other hand isn't quiet well its real quiet as the beads of perspiration form as once continues the search for the flush button. No cistern so cant be on the top or side,maybe a fancy floor mount NO well a push button on the wall like in aircraft NO. Could one be totally embrassed and have to find the purser and ask them to come flush. Gee that's looking likely better lower the lid and hey presto an automatic flush No not on this ship but carefully hidden at the back of the toilet lid is a very small button. Does t turn left or right No neither! Panic sets in could the toilet be used again well no as its still not flushed. Punch the button in desperation and suddenly wind blows a giant vacuum noise come up from the floor and the toilet is clean. So great is the suction that it only operates once the lid is closed as so many towels were sucked into the sewerage pipes and men became...that's another story in ships folklore. Actually the resident comic does a great impersonation and every night relates more toilet humor. Talking of toilet humor "Why wont men vote for Hillary Clinton in the upcoming US Presidential elections? Because even Bill wouldn't suck up to her (boom boom).
In Nassau it was our first chance to leave the entertainment behind and go onto Terra Firma.
Customs & Immigration are largely handled on our ship well fully on the off side and on return they look at your ships passenger card and one form of government ID only.
So emergency No one occurred before even leaving the ship. Afire was reported in Guest Relations (could that have been a guest debating the gratuities issue?) duly ships crew arrived ( I was in the area naturally as passengers weren't really restricted) and saw the fire crew arrive in various states of "battle" dress most seemly unaware of how to put on their breathing gear. The young lady in charge was excellent barking out command after command. "You flaming idiots get a hose out" "Where is the back up hose" "What are you doing on your mobile phone" "are you just standing around or can you do your job and stop people" "well is the fire going to put it self out or are you going to attack it" "back up crew do something as I have lost radio contact with the main crew inside the building" "well could I suggest you put your hose on the outside of the room to stop the fire breaking into the main lobby""what you don't know how to turn your air on ' Anyway all was good and everyone survived this practise and hopefully in a real situation they would do better.
So off the ship and walking downtown I was just crossing the main road when a Police car with lights & sirens came down the road,many Police in their starched white uniforms were around and all did nothing so what else could I do but stop all traffic and wave the Police car on. Guess their Police are related to the fire crew
.What impressions did we gain. Firstly poverty or certainly a low income level for most people .
Then the general lack of infrastructure maintenance with footpaths in need of urgent repairs or more rightly replacement.
The economy is tourism but a lack of enthusiasm outside of verbals to gain your attention.
Your genuine tourist merchandise is "made in China".
People are happy and well nourished no beggars.
So what can one do on a cruise ship. Hundreds of different activities are available during a cruise with the free daily newspaper listing them for you. These may range from ongoing such as the pools,restaurants and casino to quiz shows,live bands, DJ's,cake decorating in a nautical theme,movies,live acts,sales events to towel folding workshops. Well when did you last make a donkey out of a bath towel -it can be done and our room attendant does a different one each night for us and places it on a bed.
The cruise has been so calm your drink doesn't even have a ripple.
Food can only be described as extremely well presented and over adequate a typical example is breakfast where over 100 different foods are available and then if required prepared exactly to your wishes. Yes some is massed produced but your wish as to freshly prepared delivered to your stateroom is also a free option well after 5am. Dinner sees an option of formal seating in a dining room with your own waiter and assistant waiters or the again 100+ self service that runs for over 4 hours. These options are free but one can upgrade at the dining room to say a full lobster but why as your own waiter will bring another dish should the first not meet your full expectations or prove so delicious that you are offered a second one. A third option is Johnny Rocket www.johnnyrocket.com but it comes at the higher price of yes a $6.95 cover charge.Must use that free upgrade I won at the art auction.
Entertainment is the key along of course good company to a cruise and while I have mentioned some of the things available one must not forget the live stage shows repeated twice each night and a different show each night. The show is a full stage production with a live orchestra.A 24/7 casino also caters for the not so rich and the poorer still.
Whether its the World's strongest Men at the poolside or Teen & Adult karaoke competitions the Cruise Activities Director and his talented staff kept everyone busy from 7am-1am (plus the 24/7 activities). As well as the live stage show there were also many different bands or individuals playing around the many venues. The venues themselves were well worth a visit nothing shabby but Centrum for example is 5 stories tall and the Grand theatre is well grand with lush seating full lighting and sound facilities and then the upper levels have many and varied small seating arrangements all with polished brass fittings and plush carpet.
The entertainment takes place off the ship at the smaller ports such as today's visit to Coco Cay (Key). This small island is owned by the Cruise line and as such they have exclusive usage but must also provide the many and varied infrastructure to accommodate the 2300 passengers. This ranges from the land tenders that must shuttle the guest in a small time frame and in different sea conditions from the cruise ship anchored at sea to the island wharf. Food is also served both on the island from the ship and as normal on the ship or for some people they eat both places. Live music comes from the ships entertainment facilities also.
The island of Coco Cay is only 7miles (10.7kms) and at its widest point 3 miles (4.8kms) but most activity takes place at the waters edge and ranges from free swimming to jet ski and glass bottom boat trips. A water adventure land is also set up for the younger clients. Even on the island the service of food kept up with the demand and was freshly served at sufficient locations that the 2000+ guests were not in long cues.
Overall the real defining point has been the staff our Head waiter Iman from Tunisia had 18 guests each of his two seating's for formal meals but immediately called all by their name and along with his assistant by night 2 little in the way of preferences had to be requested. It only took a sideways glance and the reply shot back "Your usual drink Sir (by name)"If a meal wasn't 100% it was not a case of we will do better tomorrow but "here Sir (by name) is a replacement. An overseer head waiter also personally visited each table every night. If you weren't sure which meal or starter you wanted then both were served! Our under waiter soon realised that our table liked the fresh hot cheese rolls so not one but two arrived each night and if requested he would "find"a third.