Majestic Dinner Cruises

Kevin's Activity Tips:

NOTE: This activity tip was written prior to the advent of the Covid pandemic ... at this time the Majestic is operating as a Cocktail Cruise and is not currently serving dinner. Comments here about food do not currently apply, but the overall review will give you a sense of the boat's character and the views that you get out on the ocean on their Sunset Cocktail Cruise.

Oahu is our favorite place to do a dinner cruise because it combines Hawaii's natural scenic beauty with the Honolulu city lights at sunset. When we boarded the Majestic we were escorted to our table which is on the lower deck. Guests who boarded before us were already heading to the buffet line. At first it felt a little odd ... I had never seen a dinner cruise where people start to eat before the boat even leaves the dock, but there is a logic to this. First, it minimizes the line going through the buffet. Second, starting to eat while the vessel is docked means you will have more time to wander around and enjoy the view after dinner. Just plan on eating brunch instead of lunch earlier in the day, so you are hungry for dinner when you first get on board.

The buffet itself was a nice upgrade from our experience on the Navatek a few years ago ... both in terms of the quantity of choices and the quality of the food. You can also order a Lobster upgrade for $20 or a Steak and Lobster upgrade for $27 which we sprung for (hey, it's a tough job ... but I needed to get the full experience ... I ate steak and lobster because I'm looking out for YOU!). Our friends thought the buffet was pretty good and they said they wouldn't bother spending money on the steak and lobster upgrade. At any rate, it's a decision you can make onboard.

The dining room itself looks very nice ... three rows of round tables with huge nearly floor-to-ceiling windows gives everyone a great view. They aren't selling "window seat upgrades" because it isn't really necessary. If you are in the middle row of tables that isn't right along the window, you'll actually have a better view than someone sitting right next to the window (since the tables are round and their back would be turned to the view). And because you eat early your best views are going to be from the upper decks while you are walking around anyway. The second deck features a cocktail lounge with attractive and comfy leather sofas, a dance floor, live entertainment, and more nearly floor-to-ceiling windows like those on the lower deck. There is also an open-air bow area in front of the bar on this second level. The third and uppermost deck is an open-air viewing area with a covered roof. We really liked the ability to wander anywhere on the ship ... this is NOT a dinner cruise where you are stuck at your table all night.

The entertainment was small ... one hula dancer, one singer, one band-in-a-box musician playing the guitar ... but they sounded great and did an admirable job of attracting people's interest. I thought it looked a little like a "tough crowd" when we first started the evening; by the end of the show everyone in the lounge was laughing and smiling. And here's the nice thing ... if you don't WANT to watch the show you don't have to ... you can go outside to the bow and enjoy the view, or head to the upper deck. It's your choice whether you want to have fun with the crowd in the lounge or go outside in search of a romantic spot to enjoy the night air.

One final note about the seating during dinner ... tables seat 6 and 8 in the dining room, so couples will likely be seated with other couples during dinner ... much like a typical cruise ship dining room. Some people look at this as an invasion of their privacy; others look at it as a chance to meet new people and talk about what you and they have been doing on vacation. It's not uncommon to make new friends, and to have your vacation improved with the insight you've gained from someone else. And on this cruise you won't be stuck at that table all night anyway!