zackarykeef

Booking: I have a friend who works for Celebrity who was gracious enough to give me some friends/family discount codes, which helped us save a ton. Because of this, we had to book our cabins directly with Celebrity via the website. We booked in March/April prior to our July cruise (I’m pretty last minute always based on my job). I booked our room first (my parents and fiance’s family decided to join later), and at that time, a Concierge guarantee room was cheaper than choosing a standard verandah. Although we didn’t feel we needed the Concierge benefits, we ended up going with that, since all the Concierge rooms are in a good location. I was not willing to risk a guarantee verandah with an obstructed view. We had the always included package as well. My parents booked a guarantee verandah. There was some confusion with the booking and which package they had that required a little back and forth on my part calling X, but they were quick to respond and resolved the issue. They ended up with the Elevate package. My in-laws booked an ocean view guarantee with the always included without issues. Embarkation: This was 100% THE most efficient boarding I have ever experienced on a cruise. Everything is completed in advance in the X app, including photo, vaccination status, and healthcare declaration. We were all tested for COVID-19 48 hours prior with ID Nows (NAATs) at Walgreens, with results emailed within 1-2 hours. Upon arrival, everyone appeared to honor their boarding time…the first boarding slot was 11, and we had 11:30. No people getting there extremely early like I’ve experienced on NCL that I noticed. Bags were quickly taken immediately, and there were multiple queues outside for your check-in times with minimal lines. Vaccine cards, passports, and negative tests were quickly checked, and we walked inside. The terminal is BEAUTIFUL. Up the escalators, through security quickly. There are multiple queues (no lines) where multiple representatives quickly check you in on iPads. There is then a large waiting area with restrooms, but this was not needed. We walked right over to the embarkation doors where they scanned our faces with more iPads, and we were on the ship. Uber drop-off to stepping on the ship was less than 15 minutes. AMAZING. Rooms: On X, your SeaPass cards are in an envelope outside your cabin door. I recommend heading to your room as soon as you board to obtain your cards and start using them. We were also able to use our phones via BlueTooth as room keys, which was convenient! You can also drop any carry-ons in your room, even if they are not ready–there will be a sign in your room indicating they are still readying it. This is a nice touch…many cruises I’ve been on have the doors closed to the hallways before rooms are ready. My parents’ and in-laws’ rooms weren’t completely ready yet, but ours was…maybe because we were Concierge? We were in Concierge verandah 1025, forward port side. Older, but spacious and clean. Bathroom was a nice size for a standard cruise bathroom. The balcony felt slightly bigger than others I have been on, but room was similar. Our bed was near the balcony door (my preferred setup), which was perfect…it always makes the room feel bigger and doesn’t block the closet. The closet had SO MANY hangers…loved that. We also had a bottle of sparkling wine in the room, which our cabin steward said he would chill whenever we requested. Our cabin steward was Jay, who introduced himself promptly–he was wonderful! My parents’ room was a guarantee verandah, and they were assigned 6165, mid port. Same as our room, but noted as “partially obstructed.” However, it wasn’t horrible…the top of the lifeboat was flush with the floor of the balcony, so you could see out perfectly fine. You just couldn’t look straight down. This was perfect for my parents, as my mom enjoys the balcony and my dad hates heights! I mentioned my in-laws booked a guarantee ocean view, but the night before, we noticed their cabin number had changed. They were automatically upgraded to a verandah, which was a nice surprise! (I think their initial room on deck 3 was being used as potential quarantine area, which seems to be happening on many ships. Although a gamble, this could be a way to book cheap and get a free upgrade!) I don’t remember their specific room number, but they were on deck 8 aft starboard. Standard verandah, and there were 3 of them–had no complaints on space for 1 adult and 2 college-age kids. I do think the way Celebrity numbers their cabins is odd…it’s not the standard deck number followed by cabin number. It is like this for the most part on the lower decks, but is slightly confusing when there is a cabin 1210 on deck 10 instead of deck 12. Just a minor thing I noticed that made us think a little bit if we took the aft elevators on deck 10.

Hey, y'all! I just returned about two weeks ago from this sailing, and I typically write a quick review afterwards, especially if it was something new for me. As this was my first Celebrity cruise, I felt it appropriate to write one! Hopefully, this will help those trying to decide whether or not to sail this ship or with Celebrity, as reviews are always helpful for me! To give you insight into my review’s perspective: I took this cruise with my parents, my fiance, and some of my fiance’s family. There were 7 of us total with ages ranging from 19 to 74. My fiance and I are right around 30. We departed from the Celebrity terminal at Pier 25 in Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale) for an 8-day cruise to San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Tortola, and Nassau, as well as two sea days. I've done several reviews before (linked in my signature) and will do this one in a similar manner with final thoughts at the end. Feel free to ask any questions...I'm happy to help! Happy cruising!

I definitely like the idea of being able to book Vibe in advance! However…I sure hope after the transition period is done, they start noting if Vibe is available for that cruise before you book. Regardless of when you can purchase Vibe, we often book cruises less than 3 months out due to our work schedules After having Vibe, I don’t want to cruise without it! We’ve been able to successfully score a spot each cruise thereafter, so I would hate to book a cruise only to find out Vibe is already sold out. Maybe just like you can add a search filter for room availability, they can eventually add one for Vibe availability 🤣🤣

This will be me 🤣

Yeahhhhh our reservations are linked. I guess I'll make rough reservations...I just hate making reservations each night, since we don't know when we'll want to eat that day. That's why we chose any time...especially because some nights some of us may want to dine separately. I guess with a big group reservations are more necessary regardless. Thanks for everyone's input!

Wait…sometimes the wait was 2h45m?! I don’t mind a little bit of a wait, which I expected, but that’s a little crazy…

Hi all! Since this will be our first X cruise, just a quick question. There are 7 of us total across 3 rooms, and we all have anytime dining. If we show up to the MDR, will we be able to sit together, or are reservations recommended? It’s just hard since we don’t know what time we’ll eat each night (hence the anytime choice), but if it’s necessary to all sit together, I’ll make reservations. Thanks! Zack

Hi, all! Quick question…I’ve been to St. Maarten before, but can’t quite remember the answer to this. Do they have the carts you can hire to take you from the ship to the end of the pier and back? My mother uses a cane, and her walking gets worse in the heat…I can’t quite remember the length of the pier from ship to port in Philipsburg. I feel most ports have these, but just wanted to make sure. I can’t remember if they’re waiting for you when you get off the ship to take you down to where the tours start. Thank you!

Hi, all! Quick question…I’ve been to Nassau many times, but can’t quite remember the answer to this, as I’ve been fortunate enough not to have to use them. Do they have the carts you can hire to take you from the ship to the port and back? My mother used a cane, and her walking gets worse in the heat…and we all know the walk in Nassau can be looooong depending on the slip the ship gets. I feel most ports have these, but just wanted to make sure. I can’t remember if they’re waiting for you when you get off the ship to take you down to where the tours start. Thank you!

The heights of the ship sides are designed at a height strategically to prevent people from falling overboard. No one is that top-heavy, and the body’s center of balance and gravity would prevent it. Like those mentioned before, there are three options: self-intended, someone else-intended, or “accidentally” while misbehaving.

Hey, y'all! I just returned about a month ago from this sailing, so I wanted to give a quick review. Hopefully, this will help those trying to decide whether or not to sail this ship or with NCL, as reviews are always helpful for me! I took this cruise with my cruise bestie…we actually met on the Getaway seven years ago,and have been going on cruises ever since as our schedules allow. This one worked out best, and although she was on the Encore’s inaugural sailing, I had been wanting to try the ship out. I LOVED the Escape, so this was the next step, and I was really looking forward to the Observation Lounge. I know it was spring break season, but with COVID-19 protocols changing and cruising just ramping back up, I didn’t think it would be as bad as our “1000 kids too many” cruise in March several years ago. We departed from the new NCL terminal in Miami for a 7-day cruise to Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Great Stirrup Cay, as well as two sea days. I've done several reviews before, which are linked in my signature, so I will do this one in a similar manner. Feel free to ask any questions...I'm happy to help! Happy cruising!

Can anyone comment on the angled staterooms on the S-class ships, whether you feel like they are better or worse than a standard verandah? From the deck plans. the room appears angled too, which seem like the room is smaller than the others. On the forward-angled rooms, is wind a problem! Thanks in advance!