What's in the Library

[hvsteve1]

My most recent two cruises were on HAL and, as others have reported on this forum, their library is very nice. While I could take the book and read it anywhere, my question involves what is available in the library. HAL had a pretty good selection of recent books. Is Celebrity the same? I'll be on Silhouette.

[varoo]

My most recent two cruises were on HAL and, as others have reported on this forum, their library is very nice. While I could take the book and read it anywhere, my question involves what is available in the library. HAL had a pretty good selection of recent books. Is Celebrity the same? I'll be on Silhouette.

If there is a book you want to read on your cruise, my advice would be to bring it with you.

 

We love Celebrity cruises, but libraries are not one of their strong points. I am afraid you will find Celebrity's shipboard libraries very disappointing compared to HAL's.

 

[neverbeenhere]

The library space is a waste. Bring your tablet loaded with all your needs. Celebrity how about a mid ship bar???

[MicCanberra]

We regularly bring books (as do many others) and leave them in the libraries so they will always be a constantly changing amount and variety of books. I hope they always keep an area /shelving for this purpose.:D

[Boatharbour]

The library is a real disappointment. On our Solstice and Equinox cruises we found the collection woeful. Not much to choose from and uninspiring. I made a point of leaving behind the books I had brought on board, which were current best sellers.

 

Such a shame to have a beautiful looking library and not spend any money putting decent books in it.

[Nebr.cruiser]

I usually can't find much in any ship libraries, but I always check them out. Some of the book selections are very odd. The worst ever was the Navigator of the Seas--I can only think that they bought odd lots of remanded books from warehouse outlets or something because they had multiple copies of some of the strangest titles--Mushrooms of North America, any one?

 

Celebrity is just so-so, but I can usually find something to at least try. E-books make travel reading so much easier.

[MicCanberra]

Perhaps the library suffers because people do not borrow the books but take them instead.

Edited February 15, 2015 by MicCanberra

[The_Big_M]

Their library used to be excellent. However, after they brought the Solstice class ships in they scaled them down, and now it's more a token selection with anything new coming in from passengers recycling.

[The_Big_M]

Perhaps the library suffers because people do not borrow the books but take them instead.

 

No, not really. They leave it there as a facility, but scaled them down and don't put anything into maintaining it now.

[Adammara]

IMO not a proper libary, just a poor selection of books, and every chair has a guard, fast asleep!

[morbihan]

Depends what you like. I found books to read.

 

Always read before going to sleep but I don't go on holiday to read all day.

 

Don't laugh but this year I am taking an anti-stress book. It is a colouring in book! I have even bought some new crayons!

 

More stressfull as keep going over the lines:eek:

[jveevers]

Equinox (in the Med) library was sad. Lots of non-english language. I couldnt find anything fiction that I wanted to read. I did them a favour and left behind some that I brought with me.

[Caribbean Chris]

Go there on embarkation day if you want to find something to read like recent paperbacks left behind from past passengers.

 

I love the atmosphere at HAL's Explorations Cafe combining their coffee bar, library, comfortable chairs, tables and computer terminals. Some have views of the sea and large tables where people can look at big maps, very nice on some itineraries. The only thing we didn't love on our last HAL cruise was strong odor of smoke coming in from the casino next door, alas.

[cruisestitch]

I always find something there because I'm willing to try an author I night not be familiar with. The current selection on Eclipse includes several new purchases of literary classics from Jane Austen to Charles Dickens. You won't find many best sellers but you will find an interesting variety of books.

[wallie5446]

Looks only, oh wait, I forgot the main reason for it. So people can get a book to save a lounger by the pool!:D

 

Another vote to bring your own.

[Caribbean Chris]

Looks only, oh wait, I forgot the main reason for it. So people can get a book to save a lounger by the pool!:D

 

"From here to eternity?"

[heidik]

What's in the library? A mishmash selection of books with stickers all over the spines so you cannot even tell the name and author from perusing the stacks -- oh, and most of the books are on shelves that you cannot even reach......awful library in my opinion and shouldn't even be called a library IMO - no organization, definitely no oversight as to selection. Definitely bring your own.

[cruisestitch]

The books which are too high to reach are decorative only. Look at them from the deck above and you'll see that quite a few are hollow!

[DYKWIA]

The books which are too high to reach are decorative only. Look at them from the deck above and you'll see that quite a few are hollow!

 

Or what appears to be old law books and guides to taxation - excellent holiday reading:D

[ECCruise]

Like so many things, a sign of changes.

 

Celebrity used to have one of the better libraries at sea. Had a full time Librarian which meant everything was neat and orderly (and properly checked out). For a variety of reasons, among them $$$ and e-books, those days are over. We've done nothing but e-books for years so it has not affected us, but I can see someone who expects a even moderately extensive facility would be disappointed.

[ClaudiaB]

It will change from cruise to cruise because those who read real books (not e-books) often leave theirs. I was a bit of a hold-out to e-readers because I love to turn a page. Well when I bought my first Kindle I got into the story about page 7 and then it was just the same as reading a "real" book. And flipping back to the page before - just as easy.

If it concerns you that you won't find anything, either pack your own or get something electronic and you can carry your favorite 3800 books and magazines wherever you go in about 6 ounces. I don't find a comparison at all. They're MADE for us travelers. For the price of a few drinks at the martini bar you can buy a Kindle Fire and get some free books on Book Bub and be on your way!

[ClaudiaB]

I don't think of it as a waste of space, however good or bad the books are.

It's a lovely place to sit mid-ship and watch the elevators, do some knitting or needlework, read a book, play solitaire...I love it. It's relaxing and relatively quiet, albeit the ping-ping of the two banks of elevators and the occasional conversations. It's airy and open and I'd hate to see it turned into yet another bar.

[MicCanberra]

I don't think of it as a waste of space, however good or bad the books are.

It's a lovely place to sit mid-ship and watch the elevators, do some knitting or needlework, read a book, play solitaire...I love it. It's relaxing and relatively quiet, albeit the ping-ping of the two banks of elevators and the occasional conversations. It's airy and open and I'd hate to see it turned into yet another bar.

 

Agreed, :D

[The_Big_M]

I wouldn't be surprised if it's done at some point. RCL did the same with theirs (practically getting rid of them) and Celebrity already did it in part when they cut the libraries in half on Millennium class.

[hcat]

Agree that the space is nice but the books seem like yard sale cast offs...very poor selection

 

on S class many shelves unreachable..books seem more like props...