Celebrity Millenium --- what I thought

[Raycruise2010]

You may not want to read all of this, but this is one man's opinion.

My wife and I did the 10-night Caribbean cruise that left San Juan on Oct. 22 and returned Nov. 1. Here's what I thought:

 

Room: we had a royal suite. Very spacious. Comfortable. Probably won't get one again. The balcony and sky suites are large enough for us. But: If you want a room with a separate bedroom, living area, dining area and walk-in closet, this one's for you. Butler service was nice but nothing you can't get from a steward.

 

The ship: It was fine, but not as nice as the Emerald Princess, the last ship I was on. decor seemed a little out of date. But not a big deal.

 

Drinks: Mixed bag. Wine by the glass were wretched, so if you're a wine drinker, forget it. Wine by the bottle was hideously priced, with markups three to four times retail. $53 for a Chateau st. Michelle is way out of line. But on the other hand: Celebrity had more high-end spirits, a real plus for me. I'm a bourbon drinker, and the Millenium had Bookers, Bakers, Knob Creek to name a few. The boat also had a bourbon sampling for $16.95 that was a steal.

 

Food: Not as good as the Emerald Princess, but still good. Lots of variety in the dining room each night. Celebrity did steaks very, very well, but the salmon was dry each evening and the chicken moist but bland. The buffet was good for breakfast, fruit and sandwiches, but dinner was routinely tasteless. We dined at the Olympic (the specialty restaurant) and it was okay. Worth doing once. The grill on Deck 10 was a lifesaver ... fantastic burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, salmon and steak. Fries, onion rings, chili and nachos, too. that's the place to get a really good lunch. Millenium has pizza, but it's barely better than frozen fare.

 

Entertainment: better than the Princess. Lots of trivia during the day. Comedians, shows, magicians, singers were all first class. You won't lck for something to do.

 

Staff: The best customer service I've ever seen anywhere. staff would always say hello, smile, and ask if your were having fun. Amazing. Manuel, Holly and Maxine --- all of the cruise entertainment staff --- were incredible.

 

Overall grade: B.

[d4m]

Thanks for your impressions!

[luv2camp04]

Nice to read your review as we are going on this cruise next April. Since we have nothing to compare it with (never having been on a cruise before), I'm not too concerned about your downsides. The only issue you brought up that might be an issue with me is the fact that they charged $53 for a bottle of Chateau Ste. Michelle wine. That is only because I can drive about a mile from my office to the winery and buy whatever I want from them. But then again, I'm used to restaraunts marking up wine by crazy amounts. And actually Chateau Ste. Michelle really isn't one of the better Washington wines so $53 is really crazy!!!

 

Anyway, thanks for the review and I really am looking forward to the cruise.

 

Kelly

[ellbon]

I was on this ship in july in an Ss cabin next ot the RS. my butler was great and i would never get the service i got from a mere room steward. i did find the food jsut ok but the wonderful venison etc was so worth going ot a speciality restaurant.. i have been on Princess and find most things are better on Celebrity.

[Babr]

Raycruise 2010

 

Did you get any Elite perks for being in a Royal Suite?

 

I've read that sometimes people in full suites get coupons for free laundry and internet as well as invitations to Michael's Club and other special events even though they are not Elite status on Celebrity.

 

Did you get complimenatry dining in the Olympic?

 

What time did you board?

 

Was your suite ready so that you could drop off carry-ons before lunch?

 

Did you go back to Old San Juan after checking in? Any problems getting a taxi?

[Redtravel]

Thanks for your comments. It sounds just fine. Everyone has different tastes. I like the food on Celebrity better than Princess. Just my opinion. Both are good.

[KLV2cruz]

This was our first time on Celebrity and we were not impressed at all. The ship was ok, the staff fair. I really felt it was a step below Royal Caribbean and Carnival.. Much more to offer for your money and staff and food is great. This was a port intensive cruise and for some too much. We have seen some of the ports so we didn't get off on many. Yet ship goes silent when in port. Activities are minimal and at times I felt lacking even while at sea. Connection party was timed for 10am port day. Nobody on ship. Wouldn't change it.

 

Select dining was very confusing for the staff, tables crowded and took to long to finish. Not efficient in this area. Beverage waiter only came around once to each table. 5 star service it was not.

 

I also felt on the last sea day things started shutting down to get ready for the next sailing and we had to leave our room by 8am and sit around for over 2 hrs before disembarking.

 

We did meet a lot of friendly fellow cruisers and enjoyed their company. Our favs for islands was Aruba and Curacao. BVI was loved by many as it has the best snorkeling.

 

We have sailed alot and all over the world. We both will be staying with Royal and Carnival from now on.

[ORV]

I really felt it was a step below Royal Caribbean and Carnival.

 

Good Lord I hope not, While we haven't cruised RC our last Carnival cruise was, well, our last Carnival cruise.

[BroncosFan2010]

Thanks for your thoughts. I wonder if things will be better on the Millie after the dry dock and referb.

[Spanky My]

We will be going on our FIRST cruise with Celebrity on the millinneum in February. Although we have been on MANY of the other lines . You Said..."I also felt on the last sea day things started shutting down to get ready for the next sailing and we had to leave our room by 8am and sit around for over 2 hrs before disembarking". On ALL of the many cruises we have taken that is normal. Why would that confuse you? We have been on Carnival and RCCL and that is how they operate. They must on the last night get ready for a turnaround and the next cruise.

Sorry you felt that was some how not normal but not to us ! I am looking forward to TRYING celebrity cruises as it is one of the few we have NOT traveled on yet. But based on your post and complaints We still look forward to our cruise in February. Happy sailing in the future......

[srpilo]

You may not want to read all of this, but this is one man's opinion.

My wife and I did the 10-night Caribbean cruise that left San Juan on Oct. 22 and returned Nov. 1. Here's what I thought:

 

Room: we had a royal suite. Very spacious. Comfortable. Probably won't get one again. The balcony and sky suites are large enough for us. But: If you want a room with a separate bedroom, living area, dining area and walk-in closet, this one's for you. Butler service was nice but nothing you can't get from a steward.

 

The ship: It was fine, but not as nice as the Emerald Princess, the last ship I was on. decor seemed a little out of date. But not a big deal.

 

Drinks: Mixed bag. Wine by the glass were wretched, so if you're a wine drinker, forget it. Wine by the bottle was hideously priced, with markups three to four times retail. $53 for a Chateau st. Michelle is way out of line. But on the other hand: Celebrity had more high-end spirits, a real plus for me. I'm a bourbon drinker, and the Millenium had Bookers, Bakers, Knob Creek to name a few. The boat also had a bourbon sampling for $16.95 that was a steal.

 

Food: Not as good as the Emerald Princess, but still good. Lots of variety in the dining room each night. Celebrity did steaks very, very well, but the salmon was dry each evening and the chicken moist but bland. The buffet was good for breakfast, fruit and sandwiches, but dinner was routinely tasteless. We dined at the Olympic (the specialty restaurant) and it was okay. Worth doing once. The grill on Deck 10 was a lifesaver ... fantastic burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, salmon and steak. Fries, onion rings, chili and nachos, too. that's the place to get a really good lunch. Millenium has pizza, but it's barely better than frozen fare.

 

Entertainment: better than the Princess. Lots of trivia during the day. Comedians, shows, magicians, singers were all first class. You won't lck for something to do.

 

Staff: The best customer service I've ever seen anywhere. staff would always say hello, smile, and ask if your were having fun. Amazing. Manuel, Holly and Maxine --- all of the cruise entertainment staff --- were incredible.

 

Overall grade: B.

 

Thanks for taking the time to check in...

 

 

Srpilo

[NnJ2010]

We will be going on our FIRST cruise with Celebrity on the millinneum in February. Although we have been on MANY of the other lines . You Said..."I also felt on the last sea day things started shutting down to get ready for the next sailing and we had to leave our room by 8am and sit around for over 2 hrs before disembarking". On ALL of the many cruises we have taken that is normal. Why would that confuse you? We have been on Carnival and RCCL and that is how they operate. They must on the last night get ready for a turnaround and the next cruise.

Sorry you felt that was some how not normal but not to us ! I am looking forward to TRYING celebrity cruises as it is one of the few we have NOT traveled on yet. But based on your post and complaints We still look forward to our cruise in February. Happy sailing in the future......

Different strokes for different folks. Good attitude you have :) If you go on looking to have a good time there's a darn good chance you will. :)

----

But everyone's different has different opinions and things that catch their eye (positive or negative). For example I thought it was kind of funny that the OP thought the food in the Olympic (where we had a PHENOMENAL meal - goat cheese souffles, steak diane and goodness knows what else, souffles for dessert, cheese course etc - it was so good we ended up booking a second time to go) but the OP thought the Grill was great and they had great nachos, burgers, etc.. and that's not an area that I'd bother much with on a cruise. :) But hey he found something he was happy with so kudos and hopefully he had a great vacation! It's just a great way to point out that whenever someone mentions bad food on a cruise to take it with a serious grain of salt.

[Smmessineo]

I have to post a counterpoint to KLV2's criticisms. I think all reviews are subjective, based on your expectations and needs. I sailed on Celebrity once before, a short cruise that left a bad impression. I'm glad I gave them another chance. My husband and I loved the fact that it was port-intensive. We liked the relative quiet of the public areas, especially when there was no constant push to entertain us, no cabin announcements. If I wanted loud music I could go to certain venues such as Cosmos for parties. Our level of cabin service was great, we did not see a decline in stocking items or reclaiming our fridge the last full day. Select dining had tables too close, but we never had an order done incorrectly, by 4 different sets of waiters, and our one concern...that we'd be rushed through dinner, was not the case. I like the leisurely pace of the MDR, whether set dining or select.

The Connections party was poorly scheduled, and the MDR desserts could have been better. Other than that, I've already booked another S. Carib cruise on Celebrity for next year, so I guess I liked it.

[debsea]

Thanks for your review. We are sailing on the December 3 - 10 day Southern Carribean on the Millennium, also in a Royal Suite. This will be our first Celebrity Cruise after several cruises on Holland America. We are looking forward to something different. We've never been too keen on the barbecue scene, much preferring the MDR or the specialty restaurant. The quality of food has varied on each HAL cruise we've taken, but I've never been disappointed. I agree, just from my research so far, that mark-ups on beverages on Celebrity are where they make their $$$.

[reklawr]

Thanks for the review RayCruise! I'm betting we'll enjoy our Constellation cruise much more than you enjoyed the Millie.

[2-4-cruisin]

Different strokes for different folks. Good attitude you have :) If you go on looking to have a good time there's a darn good chance you will. :)

----

But everyone's different has different opinions and things that catch their eye (positive or negative). For example I thought it was kind of funny that the OP thought the food in the Olympic (where we had a PHENOMENAL meal - goat cheese souffles, steak diane and goodness knows what else, souffles for dessert, cheese course etc - it was so good we ended up booking a second time to go) but the OP thought the Grill was great and they had great nachos, burgers, etc.. and that's not an area that I'd bother much with on a cruise. :) But hey he found something he was happy with so kudos and hopefully he had a great vacation! It's just a great way to point out that whenever someone mentions bad food on a cruise to take it with a serious grain of salt.

 

I'm with you - our dinner in the Olympic was fantastic! Food in the MDR was always great - I really had a great time on our cruise on the Millenium in October and we are so looking forward to our next cruise on the Millie!

[NnJ2010]

I'm with you - our dinner in the Olympic was fantastic! Food in the MDR was always great - I really had a great time on our cruise on the Millenium in October and we are so looking forward to our next cruise on the Millie!

We ended up eating at the olympic and normandie at least twice on each cruise. (one at least was an 11 day cruise so we weren't total gluttons) ;)

 

It's been a few years since our last cruise with celebrity and a few years since our last cruise in general (very last one was RC). So I'm REALLY looking forward to our Dec cruise on the Equinox. I'm sure I'll love it and then I'll have a very difficult time choosing between an M Class or S Class for the next one (which I'm hoping to book while on board! :)

 

I'm sure you'll enjoy your next cruise on the Millie! It's great that there are a multitude of ships and cruiselines so people can find the ones that fit them best!

[sanjim]

A cruise is a cruise, I have been on good ones, and not so good ones. but no matter what I have had a great time on all of them. This one on Millie, well it was ok, The food on cruise ships well its cruise ship food, some good some bad, Millies food like the rest some good some bad. The bad was a fish dinner the whole table ordered and 6 people sent there food back, it was bad. The deserts I thought were better than most cruise lines. The service in the main dinning room was bellow par, really slow, sellect dinning, but over 2 and one half hours is a little much. One night no desert, got tired of waiting and just got up and left, with the waiter running after us come back come back he said. That night it was a table for 2,

 

The entertainment was really good as far as the singers and dancers, 16 in all where probably the best I have seen in 16 cusies. The jugular and comedy guys where below normal have seen much better on NCL and Carnival.

 

House keeping staff, was really good and a bit better than other lines. The bed was great also.

 

My biggest complaint if I really had one, is the ship itself. My CC balcony cabin on deck 7 overlooked the suites on deck six. I either looked at the people down below, or a canvas cover that was quite dirty. For that reason and that reason only I will not go on the M class celebrity ships again. S class maybe, depens on ports of call, If I had a suite I would think people above me where looking at me.

[sandyh422]

We have taken 2 Alaska cruises on the Millenium and will be taking our 3rd next May. We have stayed in a balcony and a suite and service was top notch in both. The food in the MDR was always to our liking and if something was not, the waiter replaced it. The Olympic is spectacular with outstanding service and wonderful food. There was always something to do during the day, Name that Tune, WII games, family feud, etc. At night we had many choices of what to do. The parties in the Cosmos lounge are outstanding. We also like the piano player at Michaels, as well as the nightly entertainment and the casino. We have also cruised on Carnival and RC but find the Millie heads above either of those cruises.

[Cruiser Susie]

This was our first time on Celebrity and we were not impressed at all. The ship was ok, the staff fair. I really felt it was a step below Royal Caribbean and Carnival.. Much more to offer for your money and staff and food is great. This was a port intensive cruise and for some too much. We have seen some of the ports so we didn't get off on many. Yet ship goes silent when in port. Activities are minimal and at times I felt lacking even while at sea. Connection party was timed for 10am port day. Nobody on ship. Wouldn't change it.

 

Select dining was very confusing for the staff, tables crowded and took to long to finish. Not efficient in this area. Beverage waiter only came around once to each table. 5 star service it was not.

 

I also felt on the last sea day things started shutting down to get ready for the next sailing and we had to leave our room by 8am and sit around for over 2 hrs before disembarking.

 

We did meet a lot of friendly fellow cruisers and enjoyed their company. Our favs for islands was Aruba and Curacao. BVI was loved by many as it has the best snorkeling.

 

We have sailed alot and all over the world. We both will be staying with Royal and Carnival from now on.

 

I am sorry you felt the way you did about the Millennium. We have also sailed on Carnival (once; it was fun and we enjoyed it, but really disliked the announcements, the overall ambience of it and the so-so food) and RCCL (we liked the Chops restaurant; found the food overall to be okay, but we ate at Chops more than once on a seven day cruise, which means the MDR food was not too much to OUR taste; didn't care too much for the layout of the ship, and found the staff to be okay but not too friendly or outgoing); on our Carnival cruise, we ended up sitting in the stairwell as the WHOLE ship was pretty much off limits that morning; not much of a breakfast at all, only cold cereal and sweet rolls were offered; on our RCCL cruise, we waited in the atrium area of our deck for an extremely long time before we disembarked... and again, only cold breakfast was offered. On our Millennium trip, an admittedly, Celebrity has become our line of choice, we had breakfast in the dining room with table service, then went to the Olympic restaurant, where coffee, tea, juice and sweet rolls were available until it was time to disembark... much more comfortable and civilized. We also found the staff on the Millennium to be very, very good and the ship to be in good condition; our stateroom had recently been refurbished and was very nice. Loved, loved our meals at the Olympic; had a fantastic meal at the Wine Dinner that was amazing. The ship this year was actually in better shape than it was when we sailed her back in 2007. I would sail again on the Millennium in a heartbeat.

 

Had to put my two cents in here... isn't it great that there are different cruise lines to choose from so that we can sail with the ones we like the best?! Happy cruising on whatever ship and line you choose.

[Woobstr112G]

OP;

 

Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts.....:):):)

 

Bob

[digital_curator]

 

I'm a bourbon drinker, and the Millenium had Bookers, Bakers, Knob Creek to name a few. The boat also had a bourbon sampling for $16.95 that was a steal.

 

 

Thank you for your review, which I thought was very balanced and provided me with some valuable information.

 

We will be sailing on the Millenium in January and I was wondering about the bourbon sampling: Is this an event or a regular offering at one or more of the bars? If the former, do you have to sign up in advance? What were the bourbons?

 

Cheers,

[Raycruise2010]

Raycruise 2010

 

Did you get any Elite perks for being in a Royal Suite?

 

Yes. we were allowed access to the captain's club from 4 to 6 pm. Free drinks and snacks.

 

I've read that sometimes people in full suites get coupons for free laundry and internet as well as invitations to Michael's Club and other special events even though they are not Elite status on Celebrity.

 

we got a few free invites --- we got the visit the navigational bridge --- but that was it

 

Did you get complimenatry dining in the Olympic?

 

That wasn't in the plan, but when we checked in, they offered us a night at the Olympic for $10 to cover tips. We took it

 

What time did you board?

 

About Noon. we got there early, got on, and had no wait. Those that tried to board at 1:30 pm had a long wait

 

Was your suite ready so that you could drop off carry-ons before lunch?

 

No. No rooms were avialable until 1:30 pm

 

Did you go back to Old San Juan after checking in? Any problems getting a taxii?

 

No problems. Cabs are lined up outside the ship.

 

Hope that helps!!!

[Babr]

Thanks for your help. I'm really looking forward to sailing with Celebrity for the first time. We have sailed with Princess and Holland America, but Celebrity has a chance to win me over if this suite thing works out - especially with a few extras thrown in.

[djhsolara]

Thanks for your review. We are sailing on the December 3 - 10 day Southern Carribean on the Millennium, also in a Royal Suite. This will be our first Celebrity Cruise after several cruises on Holland America. We are looking forward to something different. We've never been too keen on the barbecue scene, much preferring the MDR or the specialty restaurant. The quality of food has varied on each HAL cruise we've taken, but I've never been disappointed. I agree, just from my research so far, that mark-ups on beverages on Celebrity are where they make their $$$.

 

Do you have any photos of the Royal Suite that you would be willing to share?

 

Thank you!!