Hands down one of the most fun cruises we can remember. The ship is beautiful, the service was excellent, the food was outstanding and while the itinerary was one of the worst ones in the Caribbean, it really didn’t matter because the ship was the destination. It was interesting going on a cruise that was not even half filled with passengers. It was a double edged sword. While it was more difficult for the activities staff to get the energy going and keep it going, it was also so nice to not have to wait in line for anything or hunt for deck chairs or be jostling around in the buffet with fellow passengers. We’re probably spoiled now. Lol.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was the slickest and fastest process I have ever experienced on any cruise. Maybe it’s because of the limited capacity of passengers. But the processes I observed would most likely be able to process hundreds if not thousands more passengers in record time. Having the passengers do most of the required documentation online prior to arriving at the terminal makes a huge difference. We stayed in a hotel on the beach right near the port. Our boarding time slot was between 11:30am-12pm. We got an Uber at 11:30, arrived at the port at 11:40, and we were in our stateroom (after checking in for muster, I might add) dropping our carry-on bags at 11:52. It was amazing!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
This was the best food quality and options I have experienced by far on any Celebrity cruise. Loving the fact that they have 4 “main dining rooms” instead of just one. Between the 4 main included restaurant options as well as a multitude of reasonably priced specialty restaurants, which can be paid for with the included on-board credit, we were able to dine in a different venue every night of the cruise. We opted for anytime dining rather than having to sign up for and commit to a particular time and we only had to wait for a table once. We chose to partake in each restaurant’s exclusive offerings. But the regular classic menu items are offered in each restaurant as well. The tomahawk steak for 2 in Fine Cut is a must and the Eden dining experience is out of this world. The Oceanview cafe was always clean with a great variety of items and plenty of seating.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Celebrity is not known for adventure sport on-board activities, water slides, bowling alleys, billiard tables, etc. But that’s why we like it. It’s our go to cruise line for upscale service, sleek interiors and exteriors, and relaxation. Some people may find it boring, especially children. But other great cruise lines cater to the active on the go market. If you’re looking more to decompress from life back home, leisurely enjoy the day at your own pace, and not feel compelled to take part in a jam-packed activities itinerary, Celebrity will probably be a good fit for you. By the way, their fitness center and thermal suite on the Edge are absolutely stunning.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Let’s start with the area that needs improvement….the DJs. I’m sorry, but they were awful. Disengaged, lethargic, and a very limited and predictable playlist, to say the least. It seemed like the DJs in all venues shared the same 10 song playlist which they played out for the entire week. There’s no excuse for playing the same song in different remixes 3 or 5 times over the course of a few hours. I felt bad for the activities staff because they worked so hard to get the energy going and get people pumped up, then one of the DJs would play a song that cleared the floor. They really need to expand their playlists and be able to read the crowd.
That being said, the in-house/production staff were absolutely amazing. They performed their hearts out. With their high energy and choreography, they got the crowd excited and pumped up wherever they went. Keep it up!!!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Service was excellent all around. Not one bad experience the entire cruise. During our dinner in Cosmopolitan, my partner got the fish and I got the steak filet. He took a bite of fish and it was rather dry and he started looking at my steak with food envy. When the waiter asked us how everything is was, he took one look at my partners plate and asked what was wrong. When my partner told him the fish was dry and he wished he had gotten the steak instead, the waiter offered to get him a steak. My partner said he didn’t want me to have to wait and we would rather eat together, the waiter whisked his plate away and, really, within 5 minutes had a perfect steak in front of him so we finished dinner without skipping a beat.
Also, special shout out to our stateroom attendant, Nolan. He was terrific. Always available but not intrusive, always asking if we needed anything and the room was always spotless.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship was immaculate. In service since the end of 2018. But with the pandemic, it had really only been sailing for about about a year in total. So it was like being on a new ship. Compared to the Solstice class ships, there are aspects which are better and some which are not as good. The main drawbacks are that the areas are a little choppy and some features not readily accessible without going up or down a few flights of stairs. For example, the hot tubs are located two stories above the pool deck. But that made them actually more free and private. With the placement of the Retreat, Kids Club and other services, there are areas which you cannot directly walk through to the other side. So you need to familiarize yourself with the best ways to get somewhere, especially via the forward elevators. The Club is a much better venue in size, utility, and location than the Quasar clubs on Soltice class. The poolside cabanas seem like a disjointed afterthought.
The improvements are the large figure eight multistory jogging track with hills, the Magic Carpet is fantastic and usually underused, and again, the 4 separate main dining rooms are an excellent way to break up the monotony of one venue. The Eden complex is terrific. Can’t say enough good things about that. And there are lots of private, intimate hidden books and crannies around the ship to explore.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We booked a porthole veranda cabin with the idea that we would bid to upgrade to a sunset veranda or aqua class. While the upgrade didn’t come through, I have to say we were not disappointed with our stateroom. In fact, we would probably book it again! While a lot of people we talked to were having a love/hate relationship with their infinite veranda rooms, we thoroughly enjoyed ours. It is more of a traditional stateroom with an open-air balcony and sliding door, making the balcony a much more distinctive area. We chose one at the forward end of the ship. Yes, it was farther away from the venues and restaurants, but the advantage is that being at the very front of the ship, it was also very quiet. The room was spacious, clean, amazing storage space compared to older shops, and a very nice well laid out bathroom.
Ship tip
Explore the entire ship. There are so many venues and hidden away spots within those venues. For example, Eden has multiple floors where most of the intimate spots cannot be readily seen, along with an outdoor patio on the port side.
Cozumel is a good port. Lots of shops, hotels, and beaches within walking distance. This time we took a cab with a few other friends we met on the ship and went to the Buccanos Beach Club. Every local we talked to or anyone familiar with the Mayan coast assured us this was the best one. It was a $16 cab ride for the four of us. Entry to the beach club and facilities was only $10 each and that was credited towards food and drink. So it was a cheap day. The beach was beautiful, the chairs were abundant, and the facilities were clean. The food was actually very good too with huge portions. Cozumel also does not get the piled up smelly seaweed that is prone to washing up on the mainland. We were all glad we went.
A purpose-built port carved out of the jungle. Lots of shops and a pool/beach area. Nicer than some of the other Mexican ports. But unless you have an excursion booked or like to barter with shop owners, there’s not much to do.
If coming in the day before and/or staying the day after, book a hotel along the beach. It’s a quick Uber ride to and from the port and will help get your cruise off to a good start or ease you into the end.
Disembarkation was just as easy and streamlined as embarkation. We had to be out of our stateroom by 8am. However breakfast was available in a few different venues and we were able to freely roam the ship one last time before disembarking. Once they called our group number, exiting the ship was quick and easy. Our luggage was already waiting in the assigned area. Instead of dealing with a line to talk with a customs and immigration agent, facial recognition was used. All we had to do was lower our masks while walking toward the camera. We got the green light and we were on our way. From the time we stepped on the gangway to the time we were outside with our luggage waiting for our Uber was less than 10 minutes. I wish every process was so easy!
That is what a true review should be, we were able to see her last December when we were flying back from 10 night stay in St Thomas and she was awesome and the side of the ship that moved up and down was cool!
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