JonathanR442784 Cruise Review on Celebrity Galaxy on

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 27

Review summary

Quite simply, 'Galaxy' was the best wheelchair experience I have ever had on vacation either on land or at sea. I went on the September round trip from Baltimore to Canada and New England. I hired an electric wheelchair for the occasion - a must because of all the carpet - unless you have a tireless pusher! Check-in was a breeze. We were taken down the 'Captain's Club' priority line (neither of us are members) and, in spite of the complication of having 'foreign' (British) passports, we were on board within five minutes of arriving at the terminal building. The 'ordinary' line was, I am told, an hour and a half long at the time! Thus started 12 idyllic days during which absolutely nothing was too much forCelebrity's staff to do to make my life as easy as possible. Our cabin, no. 5056 on Plaza Deck, was enormous (at standard outside cabin rate). There was enough space to turn a stretch limo, let alone a wheelchair; the bathroom had every conceivable rail - and several inconceivable ones which I never worked out -a shower seat and plenty of turning space. The tilting shaving mirror is a touch of genius! The cabin had enough cupboards for a large family to store all their clothes for a round the world cruise. One was even big enough to stow my manual folding wheelchair! We were given a great table near the upper door of the dining-room so that I didn't have to run the gauntlet of chairs and tables and they made sure that they kept me a space in the theatre for shows. AsI said at the beginning, nothing was too much trouble. Although the ship was full, there was never any real wait for the elevators which were large enough to turn round in a Jazzy Powerchair inside. In the bars and buffets, there was always someone to carry my tray or drink for me. There are accessible washrooms dotted around the ship. Only the vey top deck is inaccessible and it is so small, all it boasts is a funnel and the golf-driving net! At ports of call, the crew made sure that I was escorted on and off the ship. At one stage, when a flight of steps was involved, they transferred me to one of their chairs and carried me down then went backand carried my powerchair down. The food and service were all that Celebrity's reputation leads you to expect. The whole experience was an object lesson in what can be done for wheelchair travellers.I would unhesitatingly recommend Celebrity Cruises and Galaxy in particular to anyone who cares about service style and old fashioned good taste.