Majesty of the Seas

Overall description

The Worst Cruise

The condition of the ship was probably our biggest complaint.

The carpet in our hallway seemed to be constantly wet, and there was an unpleasant smell that we jokingly compared to a gas-station bathroom. It wasn't an occasional issue—it became one of the things we most strongly associated with walking back to our cabin.

We've sailed on plenty of ships since then, including older ones, and this experience still stands out for all the wrong reasons.

Food

The Worst Cruise

Food became one of the most memorable parts of this cruise, unfortunately not for a good reason.

Hellen became extremely sick during the trip, and we suspected something she'd eaten onboard was responsible. We can't know for certain what caused it, but the experience was bad enough that it helped create one of our family's lasting cruise rules:

Be very selective at the buffet.

We've eaten at plenty of cruise buffets since then, but that experience permanently changed how we approach them. We don't eat raw or uncooked vegetables from the buffet, and that includes pre-cut fruit. We stick with cooked vegetables, and if we want fresh fruit, we prefer something we can wash ourselves or peel, such as a banana or orange.

Is that more cautious than everyone needs to be? Probably. But after spending part of a vacation extremely sick once, it's a simple rule we're happy to follow—and one we've carried with us on every cruise since.

Cabins

The Worst Cruise: Cabin with window.

Entertainment

The Worst Cruise

We really didn't take advantage of much of the entertainment on this cruise, so it wouldn't be fair for us to judge it.

At this stage of our cruising lives, especially while traveling with an 11-month-old, shows and nighttime entertainment simply weren't a major part of our vacation.

Kids & family activities

The Worst Cruise

This was easily one of the highlights.

Ollie absolutely loved the splash pad.

At only 11 months old, he didn't need elaborate activities or a packed schedule. He wanted to play in the water—and once he discovered the splash pad, he would have happily stayed there all day.

Considering how negatively we remember much of this cruise, watching Ollie have such a great time there is one of the memories that still makes us smile.

Service

The Worst Cruise

Ironically, one of my strongest positive memories from one of our least-favorite cruises was the service.

We've taken many cruises since this trip, with countless room stewards along the way, and I can still remember our room steward from this ship.

That says a lot.

Whatever problems we had with the ship itself, the person taking care of our cabin made a lasting impression and remains one of the bright spots we remember from the trip.

Who we think this ship is best for

Readers interested in how an early experience changed the way we plan family cruises. This historical review should not be used to judge Royal Caribbean’s current ships.