It was a great first cruise. And likely the best way to see these parts of Alaska.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
A little something to recognize first time cruisers (a little extra time/explanation) would have been even better!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
I had heard stories of how good cruise food was but I didn't find a lot of amazing food on this cruise.
Cafe al Bacio and Gelateria
4 out of 5
Good cafe that we found ourselves lounging at several times during the cruise. You feel like you're getting a sense of a lot that's going on because of the inner atrium like connection between this cafe on Deck 5 and all the other things happening on Decks 4 and 3. And when there's live music, even better!
Tuscan Grille
5 out of 5
The food was excellent and the view...excellenter! Yep, we saw whales breach while we ate delicious Italian fare. This is the one additional cost restaurant that we would recommend.
Mast Grill and Bar
4 out of 5
Good burger place. A nice break from the buffet but a bit of a challenge to find a place to sit to enjoy your meal.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Entertainment
4 out of 5
There was a lot going on so we obviously couldn't experience it all but what we did experience was good. We had heard stories of amazing cruise entertainment but what we experienced wasn't quite amazing. It may be because we're New Yorkers and have such a supply of amazing entertainment that we found the entertainment to be just fine on the ship.
Sky Observation Lounge
5 out of 5
Just lay down at the front of the ship and stare off into the horizon through all the windows. The music, whether live or not, sets the ambiance for enjoying life the way you are.
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
Our son absolutely loved the variety and excitement of the teen activities, while our daughter did not enjoy always having to do what the group did in the younger kid's club group.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff was excellent. Special compliments to Director of Food & Beverage, Cemal Ozcelik for his welcoming nature and generosity, Captain Zisis Taramas for his humor and his pleasant personality, and our Somelier, Tetiana, for her smile and friendliness, and for keeping the wine flowing.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
It's amazing that these beautiful buildings can float!
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Ship tip
Just one piece of advice?....Read your daily schedules as soon as you receive them, even on the embarkation day at check-in. You'll fair better if you see all that's going on so you can manage your schedule.
Ketchikan is a beautiful Alaskan city. It's what I would expect given the description of this part of Alaska and the wonders of nature that we were told about beforehand. We took a float plan excursion, separate from Celebrity, and saw brown bears. We ate tons of salmon and explored the town. Creek Street is a must.
As Alaska's capital, and second most populous city (although way lower than Anchorage), Juneau didn't have the charm of Ketchikan but was a nice city. We took a kayaking and glacier walking excursion, separate from Celebrity, and really enjoyed it. We were the few who chose to walk on a glacier instead of just viewing it. The excursion was excellent. The city had things to do, and we wished we had time to take the Mount Roberts Tramway.
Skagway seems to exist solely for the tourists. It's a nice town but doesn't seem to be "local" at all. We took the White Pass Train excursion and enjoyed the long ride through the mountains. We loved meeting the sled dogs and the puppies and learning about the iditarod.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
