Excellent w Exceptions.
by lil91
Overall favorites; Food, Cleanliness, Furnishings and Ship Quality and Condition, Mediterranean Itinerary, Ease of Disembarkation/Embarkation at all ports, Housekeeping twice a day and Complimentary Room Dining/Service 24 hours.
Food - good quality of food in main dining for dinner (complimentary), breakfast lunch and dinner buffet (complimentary), and specialty restaurants (e.g. Murano, Tuscan Grille, Qsine, Lawn Grill) with some exceptions. The spread in buffet at all meals were very good - had there been fresh seafood (e.g. oysters, shrimps, etc) - I would have given excellent ratings.
Overall service was good but there were some appalling exceptions. As an example, toilets in the staterooms were not well cleaned (smelled), balconies above our stateroom were washed/hosed down without warning wreaking our breakfast on the balcony and morning one day, and further causing delays to our disembarkation at port, long wait times at Guest Relations on many occasions, and execution of policy (by various crew and staff) on what's included in various optional packages (e.g. classic beverage) and our cruise ticket (complimentary dining, meals, and items vs. additional fee/charges) were very confusing and sucked up a lot of time to ironed out throughout cruise. As one of many examples a certain bottled ice tea was offered complimentary at the bar in OceanView Cafe buffet but on the next day, a different bar attendant/server wanted to charge for it. Service is commendable at the Murano, Qsine, Sushi on Five restaurants. Servers Goran, Loreto, and Abraham were excellent. Service at Logo Gift Store & Register, OceanCafe, Future Cruises and Opus were amongst the worst - select staff were lazy, uninterested and not at all helpful. A cashier at Logo Gift Store couldn't understand basic English. Attempts by Guest Relations to address problems when reported are acceptable - some go above and beyond like the crew member Avis.
Ship Décor, Layout & Furnishings – Overall - Ship plan was well designed with good layout. Furnishings were good quality (equivalent of 4 to 5 star chain hotels like Hampton Inn, Marriott chains) and in great condition. Staterooms, bathrooms in staterooms and pools were likely the poorest quality (e.g. cheap flooring and vinyl shower walls). Quality of common areas furnishings range from excellent to luxurious. So when Celebrity promotes 'Modern Luxury' - its mostly true in common areas only. Layout wise - our biggest complain would be that the Sunset Bar should bar smokers or divide the section in two; smoking and non-smoking. Most days and evenings, the winds were strong, and smokers plentiful hanging out at Sunset Bar – causing unavoidable wafts of smoke permeating in the entire section, making it extremely unpleasant for non-smokers. This inevitably discriminates against non-smokers as although we would like very much to enjoy this very nice bar, the smoking atmosphere makes it impossible. The basketball court is a waste of prime real estate. Suggest replace it with another nice bar, and perhaps we wouldn’t have the overcrowded with smokers at Sunset Bar. Mast Bar is uninviting and also a waste of space. Suggest redesign to be more inviting or remove it. There are hardly any patrons on most evenings.
Other Comments:
Sushi on Five also a waste of space – bring back Creperie Brasserie. Café Bacio is excellent – service, ambience, snack quality. Opus dining is nice – but tables placed so close to each other and shared tables (with other diners) can make it unpleasant for private conversations. Service is very spotty.
Pools (indoor and outdoor) are too small and uninviting.
Lounges and sundecks are plentiful and excellent.
For rent cabanas are a waste of prime real estate space.
Guest Relations – could use more staff during peak times.
Stateroom Attendant – pleasant, friendly and helpful. Attention to detail needed – housekeeping lacks the quality of good five star hotels like JW Marriott or Westin. As an example, dirty cups are not replaced or washed. Deck remains dirty after wash. They do a superb job with bed linen. Fresh towels replace can smell. What gives? Toiletries not always replenished. Little things that annoy. Do not anticipate needs well despite opportunity to get to know guests on long cruises.
WIFI speed and availability acceptable, available in all sections of ship and fast most times.
Coffee/tea stations on decks 7 and others – extend hours beyond 5PM. Make available real milk, not creamers, and replenish mugs often
Entertainment – on the days that we did do some of the complimentary entertainment in Reflection Theatre and other common areas (e.g. bars/Deck 3 in front of guest relations) – overall ok but music and DJs blasting on Deck 3 and other common areas (e.g. Pool) way toooooo loud and can be very distasteful especially in the late evenings.
Embarkation/Disembarkation – the process at all ports is off the charts efficient. Keep up the outstanding job – very grateful for this efficiency particularly on the short days we have at select ports.