NCL Cruise - Majesty Ship

I recently went on a cruise out of Charleston, SC through the Norwegian Cruise Line on the Majesty Ship. I was psyched about getting to actually drive to get on the ship and avoid the airport hassle. I was looking forward to visiting Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Key West. NCL's "freestyle cruise" promised to be a relaxing time where I could enjoy being "off the clock" as NCL says.

While I got some great pictures and made some good memories cruising is not what I remembered from the past. Years ago I took a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas and the memories were so much better than the reality of the NCL cruise. Is it that the cruise lines are so different or that everything has become so commercial? It seems as if the whole pitch while on board was to get money out of my pocket.

A bar drink automatically included a 15% tip...a bit much I think since the majority of people don't generally tip 15% for a bar drink. They don't point out the tip is included either so you might end up double tipping until you catch on. While the servers were happy to bring any alocholic beverage for you and constantly try to sell them to you...when asked for a glass of tea they replied, "oh, I can't bring you that".

Four games of Bingo ended up costing me 40 bucks and the cash prize of only 100-150 bucks a game seemed really small. Although this did include a Jackpot game worth 1000 bucks they only allowed you so many numbers to fill your card (they didn't tell you this fact while paying to play). No one won the jackpot.

Every show I attended was preceded with a cruise members trying to sell "crack offs" claming you could win 2000 bucks for the small cost of 20. They sold many of these to the crowd each night. I heard a few people say they won a whole dollar.

In the casino I put 10 bucks in money changer thinking I needed quarters to play the slots. After realizing the slots only took dollars, I cashed in the quarters to be given back $9.95. The change machine shafted me five cents...while it was only a nickel there were countless people using the change machine...the boat operates 7 days a week 10 months a year...you do the math.

The shore excursions were another way NCL made money...Parasailing in the Grand Cayman's costed me 69.00 for a six minute ride that tied up four hours of my time. Although I had a blast, this indicated to me that NCL did not value my time...only my money. The Jeep and Snorkel Adventure at Cozumel also left much to be desired. The jeeps were in bad shape and NCL did not deliver on what the package had promised. The Premier Ball Stroll in Key West proved to be the only shore excursion that was worth the money.

Are all cruise lines this way now? Guess I'll have to book another one on the Carnival so I can judge for myself. It just seems sad that customer service seems to be a thing of the past anymore. I would have rather paid a higher upfront rate and been treated like a valued guest than made to feel my money was the end all for NCL.

Christmas Blessings

When my daughter was just a baby she used to love to have her hair played with. This was a joy she never outgrew. Many times over the years, she has laid her head in my lap and said, “Play with my hair”.

She’s thirteen now and the times are very rare when she asks me to play with hair. Today I was working on getting some holiday baking done and had sat down on the sofa for a moment to take a break. Jessica was watching a movie and said, “Mom, play with my hair”. My first thought was to respond, “I can’t right now, I’m just taking a break…I’ve got things to do”. But thankfully my brain engaged with my heart and I said, “ok, come here”.

As I sat with my daughter’s head in my lap and played with her hair I realized that one day she won’t ask me anymore as the times are far and few between now. Perhaps she will one day have her own little girl who will ask her to play with her hair. As I pondered these thoughts a tear fell as I also reflected on the fact that one day I won’t be here to do this for her. She will look back at this time and remember me playing with her hair and will no longer be able to ask me to do this. She will remember her mother’s hands in her hair.

I closed my eyes and I felt her soft hair between my fingers and I reveled in the moment of having my daughter still want me to do this today and I was thankful. I prayed blessings upon her with my hands in her hair…prayers that God would protect her and love her and help her grow up healthy and whole. I thanked God that I am here today and that in this moment all is right with our world.

May each of you find joy in each moment with your own loved ones during this holiday season. God Bless Each One of You!