Jest Can't Wait!!!!

[HF Nut]

Only 5 more days before I sail on the Celebration (May 16)!!! Yay!!! The wait is killing me (Pity they won't let you board early, like 5 days;)) ! I just found this site a few days ago and I have been reading the reviews about this ship most of which have been very good. I am not hard to please, so I am certain I will have a great time! I spent my last vacation (Nov. 2004) backpacking through Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras), so staying on any cruise ship is going to be pure luxury!:)

 

Does anyone know if you can walk around on the bow of this ship? I've searched and I can't find anything on it (other than a few pics that show the some chains and cables up there). I've always wanted to do this but the ship's design doesn't seem to allow this. Anyone know?

 

Thanks everyone who wrote reviews on this ship, You have been a tremendous help to me!

 

Real Cuban cigars here I come!!! Let's see...98 hours and.....

 

Ron

[kdickers]

HF Nut,

 

Welcome to CruiseCritic and enjoy your cruise on the celebration. I'm sorry that you've just now found us because there is LOTS of great information here!!!

 

I too am a newbie (new cruiser) and will be sailing on the celebration in a few days (just a few more :( than you though) so I can't be too much help but whatever information you need just ask and some past cruisers will gladly help out!!!!!!

 

ENJOY YOURSELF!!!!!

 

PS . . . I'm SO JEALOUS!!!! Wish I were leaving in 5 days but . . . then again . . . I'm not packed yet :eek:

[TSoccer5]

I will be on her a week or so after you.

I have not found out the answer to your question either though.

We are very excited for our trip on the 30th!

Have fun, and let us know how it was when you get back!

[bbiggar]

We sailed on the Celebration twice. Once in 94 and in 96. They have the bow of the ship blocked off only crew are allowed up there. As I remember many of the working parts (chains and ropes) are up there for when the ship pulls into port so it would be very dangerous for passengers to sneak up there. You can however look over the front of the ship from upper decks of the ship. :) Have a great cruise. I remember this ship being HUGE after sailing on the Mardi Gras and the Dolphin Sea Breeze. Now she is so small and intimate.

[crookedhalo]

Came of the Celebration in March. No, you can't walk out on the bow of the ship, but if you go to the life boat deck (lido?) and walk to the bow and go up the stairs there, you wind up in front of the bridge area on a large deck. We watched Freeport come into view from there and it was great (watch out it was real windy - dont wear a hat!). Enjoy her, she's an older ship but as a first time cruiser she was just perfect! Not too big, not too small! My DH loved the casino! Shows were good and food was very well prepared and presented. We were in the Horizon DR for late seating (worked best with excursions). Oh yeah, and about those Cubans.... don't buy more than you can smoke!! You can't bring them back into the states!:cool:

 

Karen

[HF Nut]

Thanks for all the replies everyone!! This site is just super!!! Well, if I can't walk up to the bow at least I can stand on the deck above the bow and watch the salt spray come over it! (If the sea becomes that rough, one can only hope! Yeah, I'm a little different!;) ) Thanks Karen!

 

Kentucky Kim and TSoccer5: I'll let you all know how things go and get you all primed up for your cruises! Hang in there, you're just behind me! I promise not to mess up the ship too badly while I'm there!;)

 

BTW: you CAN bring Cubans back with you as long as you throw away any purchase receipts, cigar boxes, and remove/discard the cigar bands. Hey you didn't hear that from me!:)

 

Ron

[HF Nut]

One other question everyone:

I was talking with a friend of mine last night and he told me that you didn't need to smuggle any booze aboard as you can wait until the ship gets into international waters then go to the duty-free store and buy a bottle there and drink it on the ship. Is this true? This doesn't sound quite right to me given the fact that a lot of people take booze aboard with them.

 

Ron

[crookedhalo]

Yeah you can buy booze as soon as the ship leaves local water - BUT they'll keep it and deliver it to you on last night!! DH and I brought a bottle of rum and a bottle of tequila on with us (packed in checked bags) and a 12 pack of cokes (in carryon). Also brought water bottles that we would put rum etc. in while in cabin then go up to lido deck and fill with ice and fruit punch to make our own version of Bahama Mamas!! Boy did it make wandering on the deck during the sea day interesting!!:rolleyes:

 

Word to the wise - pack your liquor carefully - we wrapped in towels and then in ziplock bags (okay okay, I'm anal retentive!). Everything got to cabin in one piece :D

 

Karen

[HF Nut]

I like your idea Karen. I am going to go ahead and buy my party supplies before I go and wrap them as you said. I may use bubblewrap also as the stuff I usually drink only comes in glass bottles. I have already bought 2 twelve-packs of Diet Coke (Hey, I can't help it! I just gotta have my fix!;) ). I wonder if the cruise line will think that is too much! Not for me it isn't!

 

Thanks a million!!!

Ron