After reading many of the reviews we had very low expectations for the cruise. Needless to say, the trip was nothing like the negative reviews indicated. We left Baltimore for Bermuda and, except for the line at the security screening, had no problems. The first night dinner buffet was an experience, not because of the food or the ship's staff, but rather because of the inconsiderate passengers. People left dishes on tables, dropped trash on the deck and could not go through a buffet line (in fact many passengers tried to go through backwards, pushing upstream against the crowd). After that experience, we ate in the dining rooms for most of the trip. We were only paired with others in the dining room on one occasion. The rest of the time, we were given a table for two. The service was impeccable and the food was excellent. As a part of our "anniversary package", we were given dinner at the Bistro. The service and the food were as good as any top restaurant to which that I have been. The maitre d' remembered us every time we would pass by the Bistro and would greet us.
The times that we ate at the buffet after the first night were more tolerable once we learned the system of when to go (either early or late) and where to sit (the lower deck at the fore of the ship was very nice and not as crowded). We also did not use soda cards because of the availability of iced tea without charge. We simply bought larger cups in the gift shop and used them for iced tea for the rest of the cruise. There was always fresh lemons available.
We were never pestered about drinks from the wait staff and could relax at the theatre or the bars. During the sea days we made extensive use of the library and the board room to play cards and Scrabble. The entertainment was amazing, especially the musical reviews.
In Bermuda, the embarkation process was simple. We only did two shore excursions, the helmet diving and the sunset glass bottom boat cruise. Both lived up to and exceeded their descriptions. Notwithstanding all of the ship board warnings to the contrary, we rented scooters for two days and explored a lot of the islands. It was all very pleasant, except for an unfortunate encounter with a Portuguese man-o-war. But the Bermudian EMTs were very efficient and would not take payment from us.
The only short-coming from the cruise director/shore excursion staff was lack of any information or advertisement of the Tall Ship event that was in Hamilton in connection with the 400th anniversary of the first landing on Bermuda. Luckily we had discovered that it was happening and had the schedule before we boarded the ship.
The cabin staff was very efficient and learned our timings and routine very quickly. If we were missing anything, they brought it the next time that they came to the cabin.
It is sad that we discovered NCL and Baltimore so late since the Majesty goes out of service in October. We would definitely have done it again.
