Outstanding on all levels

This cruise was spectacular. The ship itself is gorgeous. I don't care how "old" it is for the cruise snobs, if you don't find this ship magnificent, you will never be satisfied in life. What is amazing about Celebrity is how - you make of it what you will, and I like that. You can always find quiet solitude - in a corner nook in a cozy chair, to sit and have a coffee and read as the sea goes by. Or late at night, up on deck 11...just taking in the moonlight and stars and sound of the sea. On the other hand, there was always something going on, and if you want to affiliate and be part of the action, no shortage. Great pool area, nice bar on deck 10 aft, and a super-cool Martini Bar, that they freeze and it becomes an ice bar. Activities are pretty subdued - if you need family action and craziness, this is not the cruise for you. The cruisers were of all walks of life - mainly couples, or groups of friends, from about 25 on up. Plus a fairly good portion of families. There was a group of Germans on the ship, and also a pretty nice contingent of the LGBT community. The food - unbelievable. Delicious, and abundant. Everything was so good, from the fresh made omelettes, to the fresh sushi, to the stir fry bar, the late night pasta or pizza stations, the regular buffet which encompassed international cuisine, salads, carved meats, and just a lot of great options. Plus the rotating "chef specialties" at the back of the ship. One night they were making fresh panini's, and another, grilling your selection of chicken, pork, beef or shrimp. The pastries and cakes and donuts and ice cream were all top-notch. The Cosmopolitan Restaurant had 2 seatings and for us (my Mom and I) this was the only area that was at times not up to par. A dry chicken breast, flavorless corn chowder, some tough flank steak. But 90% of what we dined on there was delicious. Just not all of it. Finally, the coffee was truly excellent. The process of getting on and off at ports was simple and usually took only a few minutes. The staff were uniformly friendly yet unobtrusive. The Captain made announcements daily as we left port, and even he suggested a warmth and sincerity that added a nice touch. The islands were a great mix as well. Deep down at Grenada the history and beauty of that island and its beaches, to Dominica - spectacularly clear water for snorkeling and incredible inland forests and rivers, to St. Kitts - also great beaches and a unique vista from the top of the peninsula to see both the Atlantic and Caribbean sea at the same time. St. Croix is wonderfully subdued and the color of the water there is so magical. St. Thomas is wonderful because it offers so very much, and you can pretty much pick what you want to do - from beaches to ziplines to helicopter tours to snorkeling or diving to shopping. I have been on 4 other cruises, and only with Celebrity. So I cannot compare to other cruise lines. But if you love exquisite quality, quietly professional service, fabulous food anytime, and islands bursting with stuff to do, this is a great cruise. How expensive you make it, beyond the base cost, is up to you. Drinks are like they would be at a nice bar on land - 6-9 bucks. Or you can get one of several drink plans and get that done right away. I love Celebrity, and I loved this cruise. Bon Voyage!