It was our first cruise ever, and aside from the first night's rough waters and subsequent queasiness, we plan on doing it again. I can't say I'll choose such a tiny cabin again, though. We had an oceanview cabin, but it was a miniscule 122 square feet! I think my bathroom/closet area at home is bigger. I understand that other ships have larger cabins - that "Majesty" and her sisters have some of the smallest cabins in the genre today, so we'll be looking for one of her bigger sisters, or a different cruise line entirely.
The service aboard ship was impeccable. The crew members really are there to ensure that your stay in their floating city is a pleasant one. Activities were happening all the time, and there was no pressure to join in if you didn't want to. We relaxed in our cabin and watched a couple movies during our trip - neither of us is an extrovert - and we never felt bad about doing so.
Shore excursions were of a wide enough variety that there was something for everyone. Being more brain than brawn, my husband and I opted for the historical tours of forts, old homes and museums. We had a lot of fun and learned a bit about Nassau and Key West that we hadn't known before.
Key West....ah! I fell in love, taking almost 300 photos while we were there. The Caribbean Colonial architecture, the tropical foliage...it is paradise. A very laid back place to spend the day, and neither of us wanted to leave. We plan to make Key West a stop in future cruises, just to experience more of that wondrous atmosphere.
If you go to Key West, be sure to stop by Kelly's restaurant. You'll find it next to Heritage House & Robert Frost cottage, and they make the best damned cheeseburger I've ever had in my life! You can eat out on the lush patio (photo) that feels more like a tropical garden, thick with shade and an atmosphere that makes you just drop your shoulders and say "ahhh".Nassau was our first stop, and it was pleasant. The people were friendly, though it seemed that every time we turned around, they were asking for tips. Everyone who did anything at all for you, including tour guides, asked for a tip. It got a little laughable when the guide at Fort Fincastle asked for a tip - his 'tour' consisted of very little about the fort and his pointing out various buildings in hurried fashion from a platform. The whole thing lasted five minutes and left us with no more information about the fort than that the cannons were replicas, as Britain had reclaimed the originals.
Riding through Nassau in our little air-conditioned tour bus (whose driver was a wonderful storyteller and was worth a tip even without asking for one), we could see just how poor these people really are. Homes that had been burned were left that way, cheek to jowl with other small hovels. How the cry of "fire!" must stop their hearts! Conditions were pitiful in many residential areas. By contrast, those who live well there really live well. Such stark contrast prompted one of our group to comment on it, and our driver explained that the island is 85% black and 15% white, and that 85% of the wealth is held by 15% of the people. A very unbalanced situation no matter how they slice it.
The Straw Market was an experience not to be missed. It was an odd mixture of heartbreak and annoyance, since every woman we passed asked us to buy something from her. Some merely asked, others cajoled and called me "pretty girl", as in "Pretty girl, you need a pretty bag!", trying to sell her stock of designer or knock-off purses. Poor things, they didn't know how little I care about brands... In any case, these women were spaced about four feet apart - so one has to traverse the cramped space where 600 vendors are all trying so hard to get your dollar. It got difficult to keep saying no, and they likely capitalize on that, figuring if one doesn't get the sale, you might buckle under the strain by the time you reach her sister's spot, or her aunt's or cousin's, for that matter. I did purchase an item - it's a wooden box that is the perfect size for my tarot cards. Beautiful woodwork, and it was $20 after I hesitated at $25. Shrewd dealers, these women.
One of the more touching things in the Straw Market was a stall that had been covered in black fabric. A large framed photo of a woman rested there, and there were cards and such - she had died, and the other women turned her stall into a memorial for her. I wanted to take a photo, but didn't; I felt they might take it as a sign of disrespect.
Cococay was the second stop on our cruise (it went Nassau, Cococay, Key West), and we never set foot on the island. The waters were deemed too rough for the tenders to safely transport guests, so after waiting a couple hours to see if conditions improved, we pulled up anchor and sailed for Key West. I was a little disappointed; my main objective at Cococay was photography. I wanted to fill a camera card with the lush tropical beach scenery. I know others were sad to miss out on things like parasailing, snorkeling and more. Maybe next time!
If anyone has any doubts about whether or not to cruise, I offer this advice. Do it! A short cruise, like the one we took, can give you a great sampling of what there is to offer, and you'll know by the end of the week if you love it or hate it. For our part, we found we love it. The only thing I'd do differently would be to use a cruise line that serves Pepsi products, since I can't drink Coke (causes me great pain). But life is far too short to sit on the fence and wonder. As Royal Caribbean says..."Get out there!".
