Sailing Away It may not be the Enterprise, but designers of the future would do well to study the Star/Ship Majestic, a fine example of the kind of delights that can be offered by a modern-day cruise ship. The Majestic (nicknamed "The Big Red Boat") is one of a small fleet of cruisers owned by Premier Cruise Lines, catering to a younger, less affluent audience with little time and possibly a family to tend. Their success is good news to those who seek that perfect vacation at moderate costs. There are three- and four-day cruises from Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida. We took the Majestic for a four-day cruise out of Lauderdale. For a few hundred dollars, we were subjected to a non-stop hedonistic experience on bo ard, and a couple of unusual fun stopovers in Key West and Port Lucaya. We were, frankly, surprised at the value. This is a well-managed, comfortable ship with every possible amenity. Families, single parents, and singles are especially catered to, as we' ll see. Physically, the ship is relatively small, since it is aimed at the islands trade. Things start happening immediately--we spent an interesting two hours exploring the ship, which served to walk off the beautifully rendered welcoming buffet. Layouts of the ship are posted at every staircase with a big "You Are Here" pinpointing the location. Music and munchies are served from one o'clock until after four, during which time parents and kids attend an orientation talk outlining programs (from tots to teens) and babysitting availability. A lifeboat drill is also an excellent opportunity to meet fellow passengers who all then head en masse for the bon voyage party (in blissful peace--there are separate parties for children and for teens) and then on to a welco me aboard travel talk and slide show. By now the ship starts to come to life--the shops are open, the casino begins its long day (closes at 4 am), and the piano man starts warming the ivories. The rest of the evening is taken up with a variety of events from bingo to shows, dancing, a single s get-together, movies, and other events and contests. If that isn't enough, there is plenty of after-hours activity to sate even the most determined: pizza time, followed by a midnight buffet with a different theme every night, more entertainment, the ca sino, all-night happy hour specials. Dining aboard the Big Red Ship deserves some praise of its own. This is one of the best galleys on the Bahama circuit. The line is a member of the Confrerie de "La Chaine Des Rotisseurs," the world's oldest gourmet society. Each evening meal features a d ifferent cuisine--Caribbean, Italian, American, French. And we are not talking tomato-sauced spaghetti or frankfurters and beans here. These are "large menu" gourmet pickings such as you would find in the best restaurants of a good-sized city. And there a re several choices for each course--more than half a dozen entrees. The ship also offers low fat, low cholesterol dishes as a regular part of the menu and may be able to accommodate special diets if you call ahead. Destinations on the four-day cruise are as slickly packaged as the cruise itself. No surprise, I guess, since The Big Red Boat is Disney's "official cruise line," and some cruises include visits to DisneyWorld. Port Lucaya, the first stop on our trip, is a self-contained new town built on the leeward side of Grand Bahama Island--no sand scouring your sunglasses--where The Big Red Boat has its own private strand of white sand beach. The town has an outdoor market, fine shops, restaurants, water sports of all kinds, horseback riding, golf, even a local Junkanoo carnival at night, and a Vegas-type casino. If you really want to, you can check out Freeport and the more depressing parts of Grand Bahama. Taxis are available. But instead, visit the Underwater Explorers Society, one of the best dive facilities in the world. They have a deal with The Big Red Boa t, and will give you dive lessons--including first dive--take you snorkeling, shark feeding, or out to the coral reef, or give you a course in underwater photography. You can even take a fun swim with bottlenose dolphins. Key West is the next port of call. The town has become a refined tourist attraction, but there is a determined effort to retain the laid-back air that attracted Papa Hemingway, even if New Orleans and San Francisco are being thrown into the mix. There is an on-going street fair of musicians, jugglers and magicians, and plenty of colorful bars and night spots, as well as family attractions such as the aquarium, trolley tours, Spanish treasure museum, and the glass-bottom boat. In short, a cruise on The Big Red Boat is a lesson in how to do it right. For a moderate sum--from as little as $205 for each of several guests on a three-day cruise to Nassau and the Bahamas, to $629 for a four-night suite--you get big-ticket value--and somebody else takes care of the kids! For free brochure, call (800) 473-3262.