CLASSIC CRUISING
cabins on an upper deck, plus two forward facing terrace suites. Food quality veers between average and sometimes very good, and there is certainly no shortage of it. Breakfast and lunch can be taken alfresco, and these op- tions are especially enticing in the Greek Islands or the Med in general in summer. I remember feasting on waffles with
hot chocolate sauce on the Majesty as we passed through the Straits of Gibraltar on a perfect spring morning, with Europe and Africa separated by a scant eight miles. No land-based hotel can offer views even remotely comparable. Lunch and dinner are also served inside in the formal dining rooms, and tradition- ally in two sittings. Dinner is usually 6.30 and 8.30 each evening. The entire fleet operates as a multi- national unit, and any given sailing may have groups of Brits, Italians, Germans and French of varying sizes on board. Our Majesty cruise even had Poles and Slove- nians. The menus on all ships try to cross the culinary boundaries this brings about quite admirably. Midnight snacks are also brought round each evening to popular late-night venues such as the inevitable casino and disco. This diverse human cargo means an- nouncements are naturally made in each of the main languages but, in fairness, loudspeaker usage is admirably restrained. Refreshingly, there is not so much of a hard sell for things such as photographs, drinks and speciality coffees as on the bigger lines. Again, perhaps, this is down to the multi-national clientele on board each ship. Such an eclectic passenger mix makes entertainment more of a hit-and- miss experience as the company tries to deftly navigate the minefield of different humours and tastes. So there are none of the vast, auditorium-style shows with regi- ments of singers, dancers and feather boas on stage. Obviously, the scale of the ships precludes this, as does the diversity of the passenger mix. What you get instead is more intimate cabaret style shows and revues, such as a 70s disco theme night or medleys of Abba hits. While safe and predictable, it plays smartly to a universal common denomina- tor. Plus, the intimacy of the venues allows for better interaction between audience and performers, and some of the shows can be hugely enjoyable. There will always be a piano player
that attracts a late-night crowd, a casino and a late-night disco. Many European passengers seem incapable of following smoking rules, and simply relocate ash trays to wherever seems convenient. Some
“The FOOD QUALITY veers between AVERAGE and VERY GOOD, and there is certainly NO SHORTAGE of it”
of the crews are more active at enforcing the smoking regulations than others but, in general, the casino is regarded as a prime venue for smokers.
casionally chaotic as new groups of friends block passageways as they catch up on their gossip but, on the whole, gregarious and good-natured. As with anywhere, a smile and a bit of common courtesy are a universally understood – and usually recip- rocated – language. Louis cruises have little in the way of formal lecture programmes on board, probably a wise nod to both the port inten- sive destinations and range of languages on board. The ships have a small pool (two in some cases) and, on some ships, outdoor Jacuzzis as well.
T Décor wise, they tend to be pleasing
to the eye, with lots of use of mirrored surfaces and many with bars, restaurants and other public spaces set next to floor- to-ceiling windows. In particular, Majesty
he Louis ships provide a perfect mi- crocosm of the European experience as a whole. Sometimes bustling, oc-
is almost completely unchanged from her NCL days, right down to the name and décor of the public rooms. My cabin even still boasted the NCL bedspreads that I remembered from my Bermuda
DRESS FOR LESS STRESS
In terms of dress on Louis ships, think less. Smart casual about sums it up, and each nationality sets its own boundaries. There will usually be one formal night where many passengers will wear jacket and tie, with the ladies in appropriate matched attire. But these are very informal ships on the whole, all about the destinations and life outdoors under the benign Mediterranean sun.
Autumn 2010 I WORLD OF CRUISING
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