I was very impressed with Celebrity as I am a Loyal Royal customer and might have to make the change. The staff and food were amazing and even though they come in a little pricier than the others, the upgrade in service is worth the price!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Getting into the Port at Seattle has been a nightmare both times I have been there with regards to traffic as two ships disembark at the same time the next cruise embarks and its just HELL! Arriving later in the day after 2 might be the answer but you always want to get on ship as fast as you can to start your vacation so just remember the suffering in the traffic will be made up by the staff and cruise! Breathe!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We mainly ate at the buffet with enjoying the dining room one night in the beginning and then of course on lobster night which is NOT TO BE MISSED! The buffet was so awesome we chose to eat there mostly as the quality and selection of the food was amazing and very tasty!
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
I didn't seem to find a lot to do on the ship other than the typical "buy more crap to pack" stuff like sales and informative meetings that lead to more sales.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The entertainment on board was awesome and the tribute to the Beatles was by far our favorite. The nightly singers in the Ensemble was always enjoyable.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Imade was by far our favorite waiter and bartender and always made our drinks correctly and with a smile. He was always attentive to us and we were amazed how well he was with guests names and drinks which made everyone feel special.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our cabin was awesome and spacious. We were given Canapes every night and was bummed that the room attendant would take them before we could enjoy them.
Ship tip
Make sure to read the daily itinerary the night before as there are a lot of hidden hints for things to do the next day and is a great way to space out your day. Book early on the excursions as the good ones booked fast.
Ketchikan was our favorite port as the town was quaint and the people were super friendly. Since this was the first port of the trip, we had the town to ourselves while everyone went off whale watching and stuff.
Juneau was the least favorite of our ports and found the people to be quite rude and pushy. Granted there were four other ships in port and with us being the last, it might have caused for some bitterness but they sucked none the less. There was one jewelry store that sold Alex and Ani bracelets of which I buy 3 in every port. The owner handed me a bear charm and asked me to come in. I told him we were going across the street to eat first and would be back. The wife then chimed in and demanded I come in the store and I told her we would be right back. She then DEMANDED the charm back! Seriously! This cheap little charm that lost them a $200 sale was ripped from my hands. I was in total shock and want to warn others from this store. The store is called Omni Royal Jewelers and just be aware they suck!
We always love Victoria and enjoy it via pedi-cab as its an up close and personal kind of town. Depending on how much time you have, try to get to Chinatown and also the park to meet the peacocks. If you do take a pedi-cab, make sure to ask for the ones with power assist as you will go further and see more.
We disembarked in Vancouver and stayed their for another day to enjoy the city. There is quite a lot to do there on your own just walking around but be very careful when walking the main drag of Hastings as the closer you get to where the east and west side meet up, the more dangerous it gets. We found ourselves smack in the middle of skid row and had it have not been daylight, I don't know that something might not have happened. Very scary stuff! Chinatown here was amazing, colorful and very flavorful. By a day pass for the train as it will make getting around much easier. If you can, go into Stevenson and go to Fisherman's Wharf for a great day of sightseeing!
As always, the same people that you thought were amazing become asses on disembarkation so we tend to take it our time as did everyone else. The buffet was jammed and people weren't so happy to share their tables as they were throughout the cruise. You are kicked out of your room by 8 and off the ship quite soon after that. I get it but didn't feel it was enough time to not be on top of each other. Getting a cab was quite easy and the staff was quite pleasant.
I am unsure if the educational offerings that we attended are only available in July, when we sailed. We had an internationally known naturalist, cultural expert and active duty Mountie onboard. Each gave at least three presentations aimed at better understanding of and benefit from our times in various ports. The port shopping presentations were also offered but not advertised as education. I agree that reading the daily itenerary is important for making a plan to best enjoy the day.
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