The Louis Majesty is a clean, well-run, informal ship offering uniquely varied Mediterranean itineraries, good food and friendly service.
It ups the ante for Cyprus-based Louis Cruises and is an excellent value for the money for those seeking a European cruise experience in much the same spirit and style of Costa Cruises or MSC.
While just half the size of most Panamax ships, the 40,876-ton, 1,674-passenger vessel is by far the largest in the family-owned and -operated line's fleet. Built in 1992 as Crown Cruise Line's Crown Majesty, it was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line in 1997, renamed the Norwegian Majesty and lengthened with a 110-foot midsection in 1999. Lacking the balconies and myriad dining venues required for NCL's Freestyle cruising, it was sold to Louis in 2008 but chartered back to NCL to complete itineraries until November 2009. It began sailing for Louis in December.
The Louis Majesty features nine passenger decks, two outdoor pools, two whirlpools and a wrap-around promenade. Although many of the attractive, tastefully decorated public spaces have been refreshed with new soft fittings and furniture, the ship remains largely unchanged since its transfer from NCL.
The casino on midship Deck 6, the ship's only indoor smoking venue, has been modified with more seating and less gaming equipment. It is adjoined by the Polo Club piano bar and a photo gallery, which lead aft on either side to the 520-seat Palace Theater.
A full level of public rooms begins on Deck 5 with the semicircular Royal Fireworks cabaret lounge, the V-shaped Rendezvous Bar, a duty-free shopping area, video game room, library, Internet center and card room. A domed, marble reception lobby leads to the Arcade Coffee Bar on the ship's port side. Two large dining rooms include the autumn-hued, 240-seat Four Seasons on the starboard side and the cooler-toned, 540-seat Seven Seas in the stern. There is also the intimate Le Bistro dining venue tucked into an alcove on aft/port Deck 5.
Cabins are comfortable and modern, averaging 160 square feet, most equipped with twin beds that can be converted to queens. Some have third and fourth berths, and all feature individually controlled air conditioning, end tables with drawers, a writing desk, safe, full-length closets, bathroom with shower and TV with 12 multinational channels. Twenty junior suites have bathtubs and refrigerated minibars and sofa beds, and two 400-square-foot suites feature separate bedrooms and living rooms.
The passenger mix on our eight-night Iberian Coasts cruise included about 800 French and 400 Italians, with the remaining 300 passengers hailing from Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia and the U.K.
Back-to-back calls at Genoa, Italy, and Marseille, France, were used as embarkation points on a port-intensive itinerary that visited Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga and Almeria in Spain and Tangiers and Casablanca in Morocco. Highlights were exploring the picturesque seaside resort of Alicante on foot and a half-day bus and walking tour of Tangiers, including time for shopping and a glass of steamy mint tea in the city's maze-like casbah.
In Casablanca, a full-day excursion was offered, including a visit to Rabat, Morocco's capital. There was also an overland trip to palatial Alhambra that departed the ship in Malaga and rejoined it later the same day in Almeria.
Cruising the Mediterranean in the winter means lower fares and fewer crowds, but the weather can be challenging. On our mid-February voyage, a scheduled call at Gibraltar was scrubbed due to high winds, and there were a couple of bumpy nights of gale-force winds and high seas.
Two assigned dinner seatings at 6:30 and 8:45 comprise seven courses (appetizers, soups, salad, side orders, main courses, desserts and fruit and cheese), most including light and healthy options. Overall, food quality and variety was impressive.
As an alternative, there is the casual, open-seating Cafe Royal buffet on Deck 10, which overflows into the handsome, wood-paneled Royal Observatory, on Deck 9.
Unique to the Louis fleet is the reservations-only Le Bistro, which is well worth its 14.95 euro (about $20) cover. Its French-influenced menu includes escargot, fresh Caesar salad, French onion soup, lobster and prime cuts.
Breakfast and lunch are open seating with buffet breakfast service when the ship is in port and menu service in addition to the buffet on sea days.
Full-service tea is provided in the Cafe Royal at 4 p.m. with an assortment of cookies, sandwiches and cakes. Snacks (pizza, fried chicken, hot dogs, etc.) are served between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the al fresco Piazza San Marco.
In-cabin continental breakfast service is available but at a small service charge (about $3).
Louis also offers a Drinks Unlimited card at about $38 per day, including house wines, beer, soft drinks, coffee and sparkling mineral water.
Nightly main stage shows were offered for both dinner seatings, ranging from ABBA tributes to Broadway-style fare. Live music was also featured in several lounges, including an excellent duo called the Chordettes in the Polo Club.
With the ship in port most days, onboard activities were limited but during the one sea day, there were diversions ranging from a fashion show, magic tricks, quizzes, games, dance lessons, a Wii contest and bingo to arts and crafts classes.
Dress was elegantly casual, aside from two gala evenings when suit and tie and evening gowns were suggested.
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