GALAXY Review: Just back from Panama Canal L O N G

[poetic license]

Just had a memorable 12 days aboard GALAXY. My review is pretty comprehensive, so be forewarned! It will probably take a couple of pages to post. If anyone has any questions or wants more information, please feel free to email me; I'm happy to help!

 

1/09/06 – 1/21/06

12 Day Panama Canal – Western Caribbean

Ports of Call: Cozumel, Costa Maya, Puerto Limon, Panama Canal (Gatun Lake, Cristobal), Montego Bay, Grand Cayman

Celebrity GALAXY

Cabin 4041

nicki.miller@gmail.com

 

This will be my first time cruising as a solo passenger, and will review the ship from this perspective. Additionally, it was a last-minute booking, less than a week from sailing date. I also have to disclose that I am an avowed Celebrity fan, especially CENTURY, and love the intimate scale.

 

GETTING TO THE PORT OF GALVESTON

It was an easy four hour post-rush morning drive from Austin to the Port of Galveston. My original plan was to park at the Port terminal. A block from I-45 past the exit for the port I noticed a sign for the 81st Dolphin Parking and Shuttle. What a find! Not only was parking half as much as it would be at the port, but they also loaded my luggage directly from my car to their van, and the lot was protected by a tall fence and security cameras 24 hours a day. The shuttle to the terminal was less than 10 minutes. It couldn’t have been easier. Score: A+

 

EMBARKATION

The terminal is directly across the street from the historic Galveston Strand area, and there are several restaurants and shops nearby which set it apart from the usual working port. The terminal itself is new and clean, and Celebrity representatives were stationed everywhere greeting and assisting passengers. There were three couples ahead of me in line, and with many check-in stations open, it was less than a minute before I stood at the counter with my pre-printed XPress pass. In less than five minutes I was walking toward the escalator leading to the ship, and once aboard, I was greeted with a glass of champagne and a smiling steward who took my carry on bag and escorted me to my cabin. It couldn’t have been easier or more pleasant. Score: A+

 

CABIN

This was a spur-of-the-moment adventure, and the inside cabin a bargain. I don’t spend any time in my cabin, so I decided to give it a try. Cabin 4041 (Continental Deck) was very clean, and a few feet in length shorter than the balcony cabins and probably the same size as the oceanview cabins I have had on other Celebrity ships, and larger than the oceanview cabins on Costa, MSC, and NCL. A carafe of water and bucket of ice on a tray with two glasses were already in place when I arrived at 12:45 p.m. The bedspread was a coral and blue print, with the bedskirt a complementary print in warm blue tones. Two chairs upholstered in coral fabric and a small glass topped table as well as two nightstands complete the cabin. The upholstery fabric was slightly worn at stress points such as corners, but overall that did not detract from a cozy interior scheme. It didn’t take me long to assess that the mattresses on GALAXY are in dire need of replacement: There is little in the way of cushioning or comfort in them, and I immediately called my cabin steward to request an egg crate mattress pad and two feather/down pillows. Carla arrived fifteen minutes later, introducing herself as my steward, with the requested pillows in hand. She promised to have the mattress pad for me later that afternoon, and was true to her word.

 

The closet corridor is spacious: There is plenty of storage, with 10 drawers, two large open bin spaces, 30” of shirt hanging area, and approximately 7’ of full length hanging space. My two 28” extra thick suitcases stowed under the bed with ease. Additional storage and a safe were conveniently placed behind the mirror at the desk. It’s a great place for evening bags, cameras, binoculars, and other smallish items you want to access quickly.

 

In the bathroom, there were several deep shelves behind doors beneath the sink, as well as a built-in tip-out wastecan. The shower was as large as you would find in a tub shower, not tiny and square as on some other lines. I loved the shower hardware with the hand held sprayhead, which was also adjustable on the wall either up or down for height. Wish I had the same at home! Everything was spotlessly clean, and there were two sets of towels hung for me, which was a nice touch, since I was traveling alone.

 

By the time I had finished unpacking, it was close to 2:30 p.m., and I was more than ready for lunch and exploring the rest of the ship. Score A-

 

 

EXPLORING THE SHIP

 

Oasis Café

Deck 11. Soothing tones of blue-green dominated the scheme. Again, there are some signs of wear in the soft goods and chair frames, but nothing that was distracting or tacky. Everything is very clean and well maintained. Hand sanitizing stations are placed at the head of every serving line, and most guests were religious about using them. Traffic flow was good, never seeming to get jammed up. Score: A-

 

Aft Oasis Pool and Solarium

Deck 11. Behind the Café is a lovely small solarium and a small pool with table seating flanking two sides, which I immediately decided would be the ideal place for breakfast most mornings. There is a bar on the port side, and a small servery on the starboard side which serves made-to-order pancakes and waffles in the morning, pasta and pizza at noon and beyond. It is completely glass enclosed, leading to a wonderful and relaxing outdoor space in the fantail of the ship. Score: A

 

Fantail Deck Area

Deck 11. This is the most relaxing place on the ship to view and photograph sunsets. There are dozens of tables and chairs scattered across its width, where you may take in the panoramic view and hear the mesmerizing wake of the ship. It’s a great place for cards or board games, connecting with friends, or to read and relax. Finding a spot to sit was never a problem. Although it was popular, it was never overcrowded, and I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of chair-savers here and at either of the pools. Waitstaff circulated regularly, offering drinks from the bar in the solarium. Score: A+

 

Midship Pool Area

Deck 11. Two saltwater pools and six hot tubs highlight the area, which are flanked on either side with comfortable padded loungers. The age of the ship was evident in the condition of the pools, but nothing to detract from the overall ambience. This was the first cruise I had ever taken where even during peak times I could find a lounger without any problem. For once, the chair hogs must have stayed home! Pool butlers vigilantly patrolled the area for litter, used towels, and empty glasses, so it was a pleasure to enjoy time here. Score: A-

 

AquaSpa

Deck 11, forward. This is tucked away from the noise and traffic of the rest of the ship. There’s a well-equipped gym, and the spa suite was quiet and soothing, making for a relaxing massage or hydrotherapy. Madalaina is an excellent massage therapist; I highly recommend her. The thalassotherapy pool area is wonderful; don’t miss out! Unlike the M class Celebrity ships, there is a fee for use, which cuts down on high traffic and noise, adding to the tranquil experience it is meant to impart. Score: A

 

Stratosphere Lounge

Deck 12, forward. The official sailaway party took place in this area, but it was disappointingly underattended, and most people drifted out a few minutes after we had left the pier. The widely reported foggy windows are indeed a distraction to what would be a fabulous place to spend time on sea days. Most daytime hours it was used by the activities staff for board game and trivia events. I went up a couple of evenings after the late seating dinner, but it was usually empty and forlorn. Celebrity needs to do something about making this wonderful space a happening place. Score: B-

 

Celebrity Theater

Deck 7. A wonderful theater space, with balcony seating more like traditional opera boxes. It is the nicest theatre I’ve seen, with an intimate feel to it. Done in tones of cream and gold, the banked seating makes every seat in the house a good one. Score: A

 

Cova Café/Tastings

Deck 7, midship. I love the Cova Cafes, but this one was small, cramped, and not as inviting as on other ships. Also, it’s in the direct flow of traffic from the shops and theater to the casino. Still, the cappuccinos are great with the free pastries offered. Good place to take a short break between activities. Score: B

 

Savoy Nightclub

Deck 7. A beautiful understatedly elegant space, decorated in rich ivory cream and black. Unfortunately, there is a wide screen large format TV installed here, so it becomes the unlikeliest sports bar on the planet. On this cruise, Monday night football was broadcast here. During the day, there were several cooking demonstrations held here, as well as an occasional trivia game. Although a band would play a few of the evenings for pre-dinner cocktails, this lovely space was not used to it’s potential either, which is a huge pity. Score: A-

 

Rendez-Vous Square

Deck 6. The most popular meeting place for pre-dinner cocktails on the ship. Unfortunately, the band Black and White Trio usually provided the music. They were the worst band I’ve heard on a ship, but were the only band offering pre and post dinner dancing, so I tuned them out and enjoyed myself anyway. The space lends itself easily as a gathering place, and with its large-ish dance floor, it was a natural gathering spot near the entrance to the Orian Restaurant. Score A; the band gets an F!

 

Orian Restaurant

This lovely formal restaurant has a beautiful sweeping double staircase opening out to a dramatic top to bottom bank of windows at the rearmost part of the ship. Tables were not crowded into the space, and the dining experience was always a gracious one, whether at the open seating at lunch or the traditional seating at dinner. Hand sanitizing stations are also by each of the entry doors here as well. Score: A

 

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[poetic license]

DINING EXPERIENCE

After an initial favorable impression on embarkation day in the Oasis Café, I found the food there not as good or as varied as expected, which was a little disconcerting. The traditional American full breakfast items were offered every day, which is too heavy for me. Early on, I decided to skip breakfast (except for a couple of times having waffles made to order at the servery area in the solarium: they were EXCELLENT), and after a couple of disappointing lunchtime forays, I made it a point to go to the Orian Restaurant for the open seating lunch, which was very good. Hot food arrived hot and cold dishes cold. The iced tea here is the best on the ship, and always delicious. A lot of desserts offered here at lunch are not offered anywhere else or at any other time on ship, too. Sitting with a different group of people each day proved fascinating, fun, and was invaluable for meeting new people that otherwise I may not have met. Add in the gracious waitstaff to pamper us, and it was too hard to resist.

 

Casual afternoon tea in the Oasis Café is one of the best events on the ship, especially on port days. After a full day of sightseeing, it’s great to come back to a wide assortment of lovely tea sandwiches, fresh pastries, cookies, fresh fruit, and ice cream (not to mention tea!) from 4 to 5 p.m. Perfect for anyone with late seating dinner, which is hours off.

 

Formal tea was offered once on this cruise. It was an elegant repast in the Orian Restaurant, where most everyone in attendance dressed up and put on their best manners. Don’t miss the little ham mousse cornucopias; they are delicious as are the blue cheese bites, fruit tarts, and shortbread.

 

Dinner in the Orian Restaurant was a highlight each evening, and we had a lively table of six: a California couple traveling with their 21 year old daughter, a honeymooning couple from southern Indiana, and me. We were usually the last to clear the room! Our waitstaff, Quintas and Isik, were wonderful and accommodating. We had only to ask for something once, and they remembered it perfectly every evening afterward. The quality of meat was very good, especially the rack of lamb. I ordered everything medium rare, and it arrived exactly as ordered. The only disappointment was the lobster on the last formal night. The tail I received was mushy; Quintas rapidly replaced it with another, which was firm and meaty, but tasteless. It wasn’t enough of a disappointment to mar all the other wonderful evenings or dishes, though. Vegetables were delicious, well prepared, and interesting. I especially loved the rutabaga timbale, a great surprise. We were a table of dessert lovers, and Quintas always set additional desserts in the middle of the table for us to try. Favorites were the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Cream, and crème brulee. Most diners complied with the dress codes suggested, and on formal nights, about 40% of the men wore tuxes and about 55% wore the alternative dark suit and tie; 85% of the women wore long elegant dresses at the late seating. I didn’t see shorts or inappropriate casual wear in the dining room in the evening as others have reported. Overall Score: A-

 

ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT

 

There are the usual cruise activities: bingo, shuffleboard, art auctions, shopping talks, bridge and the like, as well as a higher than average number of trivia and board games, ballroom dancing lessons, cooking demonstrations, and wine/food pair tastings. Enrichment Series lecturer was Dick Underwood, space photographer for NASA, whose photos provided sobering evidence over the past 40 years of the effects of global warming, as well as a peek into what it takes to make pictures from outer space. Chef Marc Cummings presented cooking demonstrations on sea days. Cruise Director Shawn Cavanaugh was everywhere and clearly enjoys his job. We also had a Cruise Critic Connections party that he graciously hosted, even though fewer than half of those who had signed up came to it. The Captains Club cocktail party was elegant with all the ships officers in attendance in a reception line to meet and greet past Celebrity guests, which was a nice touch. It was the loveliest, most cordial Captains Club party I’ve attended, held in the Savoy Nightclub, the perfect venue for it. Movies were offered four or five times daily in the Cinema, and there were alternative medicine/wellness/acupuncture lectures, floral arranging classes, craft activities, and informal card game groups. Beauty seminars were offered in the Aquaspa. For the sports-minded, there were golf, basketball, and volleyball events, and an informal jogging/walking group that met every morning. Additionally, there were two Big Band evenings on the ship after theater events, and five karaoke nights for aspiring and/or tipsy closet entertainers at heart. The Grand Buffet at midnight was the last formal night, but I wondered who could eat another bite after the wonderful dinner only an hour and a half earlier. It was beautiful to behold, though. Score: B+

 

As I noted before, the Black and White Trio were sorely lacking as musical entertainment, but fortunately, the Celebrity Orchestra playing Big Band nights and the Allegro String Quartet at dinner and early evenings more than made up for them. Celebrity provided Dance Hosts for women who needed a dance partner, which was nice. No one need sit out, and the Hosts are adept conversationalists as well. There was also a party band, Fusion, who played short, occasional sets by the pool. I was surprised by a lack of live music overall; recorded music was used extensively, which doesn’t make sense, given as many musicians as there were aboard. Score: B+; Black and White Trio: F

 

Evening shows in the theater were the typical cruise variety: A pianist two evenings, a comedian, vocal artists another evening, aerialists, and an odd marionette show. The remaining shows featured the Celebrity Singers and Dancers: Dance they could. Singing is another matter. Overall score: B-

 

PORTS AND EXCURSIONS

Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel, our first stop, has a long way to go after Hurricane Wilma. Frankly, I don’t know why ships stop here right now. Cozumel needs to recover a bit more before she is truly fit to receive visitors.

 

Costa Maya, Mexico

You must get away from the port area completely. Although the state of Quintana Roo has only had electricity for four years, there is already a port area ‘mall’ with all the usual tourist detritus: Diamonds International, Senor Frogs, etc. etc. The little fishing village of Mahahual is a $3 cab ride and 2 miles away. There are several little restaurants and shops there, and a shallow, pretty beach just across the street. I opted to take a privately contracted tour of the recent partially excavated Chaccoben ruins, an hour and fifteen minute ride from the pier. The Native One, a local tour company owned by David and Ivan, offered an outstanding tour and experience. It doesn’t get better than this! Contact them at: www.chacchobenruins.com/wst_page8.html. Overall, Costa Maya offers a lot to anyone who desires a more unspoiled place to explore. Better hurry, though: A 3,500 room resort and casino are slated to begin construction later this year, and there are ‘land for sale’ signs everywhere.

 

Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

Again, it’s essential to get out of the port area to appreciate this gorgeous, geographically diverse country. I’m a coffee lover, and the ship’s Grano d’ Oro Coffee Planatation Tour excursion sounded good, so off I went. Our guide Phillipe, a former national park ranger, was very familiar with the climate zones, flora and fauna. He painted a diverse picture of Costa Rica and was one of the most knowledgeable, interesting persons I have ever met. About 35 of us took the two and a half hour bus ride up on a narrow, winding road to the Hacienda Real plantation where Don Jesus, the owner, and his three adult sons personally escorted us on our tour and answered questions. After the tour, we were able to purchase freshly roasted coffee before boarding the bus for the return trip. On the way back to the ship, lunch was provided at a tiny resort hotel in Turrialba at Hotel Casa Turire, nestled in a valley overlooking Lake Angostura and the surrounding mountains. The grounds and hotel are gorgeous, and lunch was delicious. It was a fantastic day! Costa Rica is definitely on my list of places to return for further exploration.

 

Panama Canal – Gatun Lake – Cristobal

We were set to enter the Gatun Locks at 6:15 a.m., so I requested a 5 a.m. wake up call in order to get a good spot on Deck 11. Too late! The ship was humming by the time I arrived, even though we were still a good half hour from entering the locks. I resigned myself to stand behind a fenced area that was already four persons deep and waited. It was worth the wait: The locks don’t fail to impress. Then consider that these are the ORIGINAL locks and equipment still in use 100 years later and it blows you away. GALAXY is 106.5 feet wide; the canal is 110 feet wide! It’s a tight fit, and you can touch the canal walls passing through the locks. The captain relinquishes all control of the ship while small gauge trains called mules pull the ship along and position it for raising or lowering within the lock.

 

DO take the ferry excursion! Passengers are tendered ashore once GALAXY enters Gatun Lake, and dropped off at a pier where busses haul passengers to the ferry near the entrance of the Pedro Miguel locks near Balboa. We traversed the rest of the locks to the Pacific, where the busses meet passengers near Panama City for the return trip to Cristobal to rejoin GALAXY. It is fantastic to see the locks on an intimate scale, and best of all, you will go through all of them as if on a transcanal voyage. The ferry provided sub sandwiches, a muffin and soft drinks for lunch.

 

The port area around Cristobal is a very rough area, and passengers are not advised to go on their own. The terminal area is secure, and once you pass through the main hall and all the usual souvenir places, exit the other end as if heading to the ship and keep walking to the flea market – where you will find locals selling Panamanian handcrafts.

 

Montego Bay, Jamaica

The locals are very aggressive pursuing passengers, so stick to a tour or book your own tour before leaving home with a firmly set price. I wanted a beach day, so an $8 taxi ride to Doctor’s Cave Beach was perfect for me. My driver agreed to pick me up three hours later, and was true to his word. Again, if you want to shop, there are plenty of the usual places close to the pier that will happily separate you from your money.

 

Grand Cayman

The weather was taking a turn for the worse, so our time at Grand Cayman was cut short by four hours, so some excursions were cancelled. As expected, some people were outraged. Who can control the weather? I for one am glad the Captain places safety above inconvenience. The island has made significant headway in recovering from Hurricane Ivan two years ago. I prefer to steer clear of the shopping area which is crowded with dozens of jewelry stores and T shirt shops. Stingray City is a trolley ride away, as is Seven Mile Beach.

 

SUMMARY

The age demographic aboard this cruise tended mainly to couples in their 60s, though there were a fair amount of those in their 50s, a few multigeneration families, and several groups of women friends traveling together. I recommend this for anyone traveling solo, and in fact, I met about a dozen women like myself doing just that. You will never feel as though you are alone, and will meet a lot of interesting people and have a great deal of fun both on and off the ship. Don’t be shy! Just introduce yourself around and you’re off to a great vacation. I was a little worried about the condition of GALAXY from a few of the Cruise Critic board reports, but she is well maintained with a warm, wonderful, thoroughly professional crew whose few blemishes will not mar your experience in any way. The crew is constantly cleaning, painting and grooming her. Take the plunge and sail on this lovely, more intimately scaled ship. You won’t be disappointed. Happy Sailing!

Overall Cruise Score: A-

[lysolqn]

Super review - informative, well-written and well-balanced. Thanks!

[suznf]

Nicki...Thank you for an excellent and informative review-you answered questions I didn't even know I had!

 

But what is a "Dance Host" and what type of dancing do they do....ballroom or nightclub? How do you find them? Do you tip them? Do they have other roles on the ship? How old are they? Sorry for all the questions, but I am curious!

[DonLou]

Great report, Nicki. :) Nice to hear that the Galaxy is still doing well (rumors notwithstanding). On our cruise last year they moved Bingo to the Savoy several times. Did they also move it around on your cruise?

[canderson]

Stratosphere Lounge

...The widely reported foggy windows are indeed a distraction to what would be a fabulous place to spend time on sea days. Score: B-

Would agree with the assessment and the score.

 

Celebrity Theater

Deck 7. A wonderful theater space, with balcony seating more like traditional opera boxes. It is the nicest theatre I’ve seen, with an intimate feel to it. Done in tones of cream and gold, the banked seating makes every seat in the house a good one. Score: A

Agree 100%. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but I've always thought the Galaxy's main theater has a far nicer decor than any of the M-Class ships. I hope they look at what they've done, figure it out, and include whatever makes it "right" on the new Challenger class ships.

 

Cova Café/Tastings

Deck 7, midship. I love the Cova Cafes, but this one was small, cramped, and not as inviting as on other ships. Also, it’s in the direct flow of traffic from the shops and theater to the casino. Still, the cappuccinos are great with the free pastries offered. Good place to take a short break between activities. Score: B

I don't know if you'd noticed, but the Cova on Galaxy isn't where it used to be. Did you see the old Cova sign in the arcade area, above whatever they were selling in the middle of the ship?

 

Savoy Nightclub

Deck 7. A beautiful understatedly elegant space, decorated in rich ivory cream and black. Unfortunately, there is a wide screen large format TV installed here, so it becomes the unlikeliest sports bar on the planet. On this cruise, Monday night football was broadcast here.

Interesting. It must be brought out and removed periodically. When we were aboard in December, the only wide-screens were at the little sports bar in the aft section of the Stratosphere.

 

Rendez-Vous Square

Deck 6. The most popular meeting place for pre-dinner cocktails on the ship. Unfortunately, the band Black and White Trio usually provided the music. They were the worst band I’ve heard on a ship, but were the only band offering pre and post dinner dancing, so I tuned them out and enjoyed myself anyway. The space lends itself easily as a gathering place, and with its large-ish dance floor, it was a natural gathering spot near the entrance to the Orian Restaurant. Score A; the band gets an F!

AMEN! Not that country is my favorite to begin with, but these guys were really BAD ... it would have helped if the guy singing had been able to keep it on key:p Hope they don't have a long contract!

[canderson]

Great review, Nicki.

 

How was your disembarkation? What was your scheduled "meeting" time, when did you actually get off the ship, and what sort of transportation had you arranged?

[jperkin1]

What a wonderful review! We're going on February 13th & I think I'll copy your notes & take them with me!! One question, how much did you pay for the parking in Galveston? We have made reservations at EZ Cruise Parking on Sante Fe Place. We haven't used them before, but it does sound convenient & cheaper than port parking ($75 for the 12 days). Hadn't heard of Dolphin Parking before! Okay, two questions! What time did you end up getting to the pier? We're thinking of getting there around noon'ish.

 

Thanks for your help!

[poetic license]

Lysolqn,

Thank you for your kind words. It was fantastic trip!

 

Suznf,

The Dance Hosts are Celebrity contractors. You don't tip them, they are having as much fun as you are, trust me. There were Dance Hosts on CONSTELLATION in November, and on this cruise as well. The men are single or widowed guys in their 50s and 60s. I am 50, so it worked well for me; they draw conversation from you and are relatively good ballroom dancers. Even if you can't dance a lick, they will help get you through it.

 

They will find you, so don't worry. If you are sitting alone, or with a group of women, or are just obviously unconnected, they will approach your table and graciously ask you to dance. It's that straightforward and simple. This is their only role on the ship, too. They often are at the ballroom dance lessons, and you can spend a little more time talking to them then.

 

DonLou,

Thank you for your kind words. I, too was relieved that reports of the ships demise were greatly exaggerated.;) Bingo was in the Celebrity Theater for all the events. The place was packed, too: I only went once, when they were offering a free cruise to Bermuda to the winner (my California tablemates won the cruise, BTW) but there were always lines down the hall before the game started, so I know they were very well attended.

 

Canderson,

I really was impressed by the theater.... just as you say, there is sometthing about it that makes it a cut above, even though I can't put my finger on what that is. Now they just need to get some real singers to make magic! Celebrity does far too many shows with its own mediocre singers and dancers. They don't do justice to the beautiful theater space on GALAXY.

 

I don't know how Celebrity got bamboozled into hiring Black and White Trio, but as I said, they were horrible. Not only could the singer not carry a tune, but he couldn't get the lyrics right, so he just invented his own. Pretty tacky. Surely with as many musicians as there are who are GOOD and would love a gig like that, there is no excuse for having them. I was embarrassed for Celebrity, and also ticked off as a guest.

 

I didn't notice the old Cova sign, but there must be a better way to incorporate Cova than is presently configured. It's tough relax when there is a constant flow of traffic whizzing by a foot away from your elbow ... not conducive to leisurely savoring those yummy cappuccinos or iced chocolate drinks!

 

I am so sorry that I neglected to address disembarkation. I have heard horror stories about Galveston, but I don't have one of my own, thankfully. :) I was late for my disembarkation time by 15 minutes, so I just went directly to deck 5 midship and got off. There was no one ahead of me, and I walked alone all the way until I got to the long hall that enters the terminal, where there was a line about 100' long. It moved slowly, but steadily. When I made it into the luggage area, a port agent asked each of us if we wanted a porter. I said yes, so he directed me to a line on the right where everyone queued up for a porter. It was very orderly, and I didn't have to go to the luggage area until I had an assigned porter. The wait was about 5 minutes, I'd say. Once I identified my bags, the porter told me to get in line for customs and he would meet me when I was called in. That worked out perfectly, and was only about a 5 minute wait. During embarkation, 81st Dolphin Shuttle and Parking directed me to exit the terminal and they would be immediately to the left. They were there and waiting, and took the bags directly from the porter. Another 10 minute ride back to the lot, and the driver loaded my bags into my car. I never touched my bags during the entire disembarkation process, and was on my way home in a flash. My departure time was scheduled for 9:20, and though I was late, was in my car by 10:15. After my disembarkation experience in San Juan in November, this was heaven. No traffic to speak of, so I was home by midafernoon.

 

Jperkin1,

Thanks for the nice words. Parking with 81st Dolphin was $75. I arrived at the pier about 12:25. Was in my cabin by 12:45. It was the quickest embarkation ever. There seemed to be a lot of folks already on ship, so I bet noon would be a very busy time to arrive. One thing I heard from several people who elected to use the port parking was that you had to collect your luggage first, then leave your luggage in the terminal to go and get your car, retrieve your car, and load it. Seems like a duplication of effort for twice the price!The port parking is $12 a day, which works out to $144 for the trip. I can think of a lot better ways to use that extra $69, and I bet you can too.:D

 

BTW, Celebrity is pulling out of Galveston after the current run ends in April of this year. After it does the summer route in the Mediterranean, they are moving GALAXY to San Juan to do southern Caribbean routes. So if you want to experience a Panama Canal itinerary on this smaller, more intimate ship, the time is NOW. It's why I went when I did, and I am so glad I did.

 

Happy Sailing!

[Live_2_cruise05]

Great review! I am glad you had a good time!

[CaribbeanBound]

Nicely done!

[trcori]

Thanks so much for the review. We are booked on this sailing April 1 (and I am already counting the minutes). I have to laugh at the Black & White Trio thing; I swear we have encountered them on at least two of our six previous X cruises, and they've always been hysterically horrible. But then again, I'm in the camp of "who needs onboard entertainment at all" ... when it comes to party bands and their repertoires, for example, I think "Red Red Wine" and "Electric Slide" among other things should be banned ...

 

FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS:

(1) In Costa Maya, you had that same tight 7 am-noon schedule, right? Did David & Ivan cut it close in terms of getting you back to the pier? I would love to book with them but I am terrified of missing the boat ... we try to avoid ship-booked excursions at all costs but I *was* going to book the Galaxy's ruins tour in CM because of that early departure -- unless you're telling me it'll be OK :)

 

(2) Costa Rica coffee tour -- was the "narrow, winding road" something likely to give acrophobics a near-coronary? As in, no barriers, views out the windows that it's a LONG WAY DOWN, etc.? This may sound like an odd question, but I need to know before I book!

 

(3) Those windows in the forward obs lounge ... Did you ask anyone if they are going to be fixed any time soon? I just can't believe they can't be fixed in the course of one of those long (arrive 7 am, depart 6 pm) home-port days. Every review I've read spanning back MONTHS has mentioned them, which is sad because that's one of my favorite places on any ship.

 

thanks -- TR

[Texed]

Nicky,

 

Excellent review.

[poetic license]

 

FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS:

(1) In Costa Maya, you had that same tight 7 am-noon schedule, right? Did David & Ivan cut it close in terms of getting you back to the pier? I would love to book with them but I am terrified of missing the boat ... we try to avoid ship-booked excursions at all costs but I *was* going to book the Galaxy's ruins tour in CM because of that early departure -- unless you're telling me it'll be OK :)

 

(2) Costa Rica coffee tour -- was the "narrow, winding road" something likely to give acrophobics a near-coronary? As in, no barriers, views out the windows that it's a LONG WAY DOWN, etc.? This may sound like an odd question, but I need to know before I book!

 

(3) Those windows in the forward obs lounge ... Did you ask anyone if they are going to be fixed any time soon? I just can't believe they can't be fixed in the course of one of those long (arrive 7 am, depart 6 pm) home-port days. Every review I've read spanning back MONTHS has mentioned them, which is sad because that's one of my favorite places on any ship.

 

thanks -- TR

David and Ivan are well aware of our time in port, but you can remind them in your email should you decide to reserve. We were back in plenty of time to make the ship. In fact, the couple that I went with shopped for a short time in that dratted port mall area before returning to the ship. I am a slow walker, and they caught up with me on the long pier walk. Ivan was our guide for the tour. I can say I have NEVER had a better guide in all my travels. He is a native to Chaccoben, and was raised in the Mayan religion. You will get a perspective that will deeply move you, I promise. By the way, all transactions are in cash, which they will collect when you get there. No credit card holds or anything like that. They are as good as gold. If for some reason the ship needs to leave port early, you can be sure you will get back, just speak up. While you have to go to the village of Mahahual for pickup, it is a simple $3 cab ride to the village, and waiting in front of the Cat's Meow Restaurant by the beach is no hardship. They will drop you off right by the gates to the port on the way back, so you don't have to worry about making it back on time.

 

We did see a couple of busloads from the ships excursion leave ... but we got there before they did and had a lot more time and explored the site more extensively. There is a shop at the ruins to buy handcrafts and souvenirs, though you won't have a lot of time to shop. I don't know why the ship leaves at noon ... heck, Costa Rica is only 160 miles away. Costa Maya is one port where I wish there was double the time allowed.

 

The road to the coffee plantation was indeed winding .. but the road was well paved, not a rutty, bumpy cowtrail. It took over two hours to get to the plantation even though it was only about 75 miles because Tony, our driver, was very careful ... and very good at what he does. I don't think it would give anyone a near coronary, but I thought I should mention the interesting terrain to emphasize that you are indeed going through volcanic mountains, not rolling along a flat coastal plain. No, there are no huge drop-offs, but just a lot of twisty, up and down sections. The vistas are breathtaking ... take your camera and binoculars.

 

One thing I didn't mention was that at one point on the return trip, Tony pulled off the road suddenly and came back to announce there was a sloth in a tree to our right ... sure enough, there was .... and everyone would have missed it if he hadn't pointed it out. Both Tony and Phillipe were great. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

GALAXY is supposed to go into drydock late in the year. That is straight from the cruise director, when asked at our CC party. I guess they will address the window problem then.

 

Happy Sailing-

[nightnurse]

WOW. Great review, so helpful!!! I am going to print it and take it with me when we do the same itinerary in April. Funny about the trio. My only real complaint about Celebrity is the music they hire! Celebrity orchestra is excellent, but the rest leaves much to be desired. Anyway, still agreat cruise as you said. What did you think of having an inside cabin? Would you do it again?

[canderson]

 

GALAXY is supposed to go into drydock late in the year. That is straight from the cruise director, when asked at our CC party. I guess they will address the window problem then.

 

Happy Sailing-

There will be a good many disappointed cruisers if that happens. Galaxy's time is booked 100% (for cruises, not a dry dock) through all of 2006 and into 2007 (April?). That's not to say that Celebrity wouldn't cancel a cruise, but ...

[thomasale]

that is exactly why this board is sooooo enjoyable. You must be a writer based upon your name and style. Thank you for your review

[mostofus]

Thank you so much for this amazing review. My one simple question since you seem to be so detail oriented is this, can you remember which juices are offered in the buffet area for free all the time? My dh and I cannot have any carbonated sodas. I was going to bring some different flavored juices with us, but if they have them at the buffet, I won't bother. Thanks again for your reveiw! I will be copying it and taking it with us when we sail on Feb. 25th!

[Robrph]

Nicki: SUPER review- after reading, we thought we were right there with you!

 

mostofus: can't speak about the juices, but Celebrity always has lemonade available- 24/7 in the dispensers near the pool areas and in the buffet. Lemonade was one thing I missed on our recent Princess cruise- with them, it's complimentary coffee, water or iced tea ONLY.

[canderson]

Thank you so much for this amazing review. My one simple question since you seem to be so detail oriented is this, can you remember which juices are offered in the buffet area for free all the time? My dh and I cannot have any carbonated sodas. I was going to bring some different flavored juices with us, but if they have them at the buffet, I won't bother. Thanks again for your reveiw! I will be copying it and taking it with us when we sail on Feb. 25th!

There are 4 taps. Two of these are orange and apple when available, but I noted some variability in when they're on/off during non-buffet hours. Beyond that, the other two taps produce lemonade and ice tea.

[Longboysfan]

Thanks - very helpful. Will be on the February 25th run.

[poetic license]

can you remember which juices are offered in the buffet area for free all the time?

mostofus,

Thank you for your nice words; you are way too kind. As Canderson said, they usually have orange juice and apple juice at breakfast, and occasionally grapefruit juice. There is also something called 'passioguava', iced tea, and lemonade. Coffee, hot water for hot tea, and water are dispensed from a different machine.

 

You would think that all the dispensers in the Oasis Cafe would be open all the time, but this isn't the case. Usually you have to hunt around the Cafe to find one that is open and has glasses and cups stocked. The dispensers in the solarium are open all the time, though. They are located on the servery side (starboard) of the ship. It took me a couple of days to figure all of this out.

 

Thank you Live_2_cruise, CaribbeanBound, Texed, thomasale, Robrph, and Longboysfan for your compliments. After reading so many troubling things about GALAXY, I thought a current, up-to-date view was needed. It was a relief that she was not in as dire condition as was reported. I don't know what some folks expect, I guess. The reality is that 1,800 passengers and nearly as many crew use this ship day in and day out nonstop year round. Nothing can be fairy tale perfect, but they sure do try!

[DonLou]

... can you remember which juices are offered in the buffet area for free all the time?

Add to the list fruit punch. I couldn't get enough of this. It was available most of the time.

[floridacruisers]

I have always mixed my lemonaide 2 parts lemonaide to 1 part fruit punch. The fruit punch gets rid of the sometimes extreme tartness of the lemonaide and the lemonaide gets rid of the overpowering sweetness of the fruit punch. Try it.

 

As far as Black and White is concerned, we ran into them on the Millie last year. Celebrity must be cloning them. Please someone get hold of their DNA and get rid of it! They're awful.

[newmexicoNita]

Just had a memorable 12 days aboard GALAXY. My review is pretty comprehensive, so be forewarned! It will probably take a couple of pages to post. If anyone has any questions or wants more information, please feel free to email me; I'm happy to help!

 

1/09/06 – 1/21/06

12 Day Panama Canal – Western Caribbean

Ports of Call: Cozumel, Costa Maya, Puerto Limon, Panama Canal (Gatun Lake, Cristobal), Montego Bay, Grand Cayman

Celebrity GALAXY

Cabin 4041

nicki.miller@gmail.com

 

This will be my first time cruising as a solo passenger, and will review the ship from this perspective. Additionally, it was a last-minute booking, less than a week from sailing date. I also have to disclose that I am an avowed Celebrity fan, especially CENTURY, and love the intimate scale.

 

GETTING TO THE PORT OF GALVESTON

It was an easy four hour post-rush morning drive from Austin to the Port of Galveston. My original plan was to park at the Port terminal. A block from I-45 past the exit for the port I noticed a sign for the 81st Dolphin Parking and Shuttle. What a find! Not only was parking half as much as it would be at the port, but they also loaded my luggage directly from my car to their van, and the lot was protected by a tall fence and security cameras 24 hours a day. The shuttle to the terminal was less than 10 minutes. It couldn’t have been easier. Score: A+

 

EMBARKATION

The terminal is directly across the street from the historic Galveston Strand area, and there are several restaurants and shops nearby which set it apart from the usual working port. The terminal itself is new and clean, and Celebrity representatives were stationed everywhere greeting and assisting passengers. There were three couples ahead of me in line, and with many check-in stations open, it was less than a minute before I stood at the counter with my pre-printed XPress pass. In less than five minutes I was walking toward the escalator leading to the ship, and once aboard, I was greeted with a glass of champagne and a smiling steward who took my carry on bag and escorted me to my cabin. It couldn’t have been easier or more pleasant. Score: A+

 

CABIN

This was a spur-of-the-moment adventure, and the inside cabin a bargain. I don’t spend any time in my cabin, so I decided to give it a try. Cabin 4041 (Continental Deck) was very clean, and a few feet in length shorter than the balcony cabins and probably the same size as the oceanview cabins I have had on other Celebrity ships, and larger than the oceanview cabins on Costa, MSC, and NCL. A carafe of water and bucket of ice on a tray with two glasses were already in place when I arrived at 12:45 p.m. The bedspread was a coral and blue print, with the bedskirt a complementary print in warm blue tones. Two chairs upholstered in coral fabric and a small glass topped table as well as two nightstands complete the cabin. The upholstery fabric was slightly worn at stress points such as corners, but overall that did not detract from a cozy interior scheme. It didn’t take me long to assess that the mattresses on GALAXY are in dire need of replacement: There is little in the way of cushioning or comfort in them, and I immediately called my cabin steward to request an egg crate mattress pad and two feather/down pillows. Carla arrived fifteen minutes later, introducing herself as my steward, with the requested pillows in hand. She promised to have the mattress pad for me later that afternoon, and was true to her word.

 

The closet corridor is spacious: There is plenty of storage, with 10 drawers, two large open bin spaces, 30” of shirt hanging area, and approximately 7’ of full length hanging space. My two 28” extra thick suitcases stowed under the bed with ease. Additional storage and a safe were conveniently placed behind the mirror at the desk. It’s a great place for evening bags, cameras, binoculars, and other smallish items you want to access quickly.

 

In the bathroom, there were several deep shelves behind doors beneath the sink, as well as a built-in tip-out wastecan. The shower was as large as you would find in a tub shower, not tiny and square as on some other lines. I loved the shower hardware with the hand held sprayhead, which was also adjustable on the wall either up or down for height. Wish I had the same at home! Everything was spotlessly clean, and there were two sets of towels hung for me, which was a nice touch, since I was traveling alone.

 

By the time I had finished unpacking, it was close to 2:30 p.m., and I was more than ready for lunch and exploring the rest of the ship. Score A-

 

 

EXPLORING THE SHIP

 

Oasis Café

Deck 11. Soothing tones of blue-green dominated the scheme. Again, there are some signs of wear in the soft goods and chair frames, but nothing that was distracting or tacky. Everything is very clean and well maintained. Hand sanitizing stations are placed at the head of every serving line, and most guests were religious about using them. Traffic flow was good, never seeming to get jammed up. Score: A-

 

Aft Oasis Pool and Solarium

Deck 11. Behind the Café is a lovely small solarium and a small pool with table seating flanking two sides, which I immediately decided would be the ideal place for breakfast most mornings. There is a bar on the port side, and a small servery on the starboard side which serves made-to-order pancakes and waffles in the morning, pasta and pizza at noon and beyond. It is completely glass enclosed, leading to a wonderful and relaxing outdoor space in the fantail of the ship. Score: A

 

Fantail Deck Area

Deck 11. This is the most relaxing place on the ship to view and photograph sunsets. There are dozens of tables and chairs scattered across its width, where you may take in the panoramic view and hear the mesmerizing wake of the ship. It’s a great place for cards or board games, connecting with friends, or to read and relax. Finding a spot to sit was never a problem. Although it was popular, it was never overcrowded, and I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of chair-savers here and at either of the pools. Waitstaff circulated regularly, offering drinks from the bar in the solarium. Score: A+

 

Midship Pool Area

Deck 11. Two saltwater pools and six hot tubs highlight the area, which are flanked on either side with comfortable padded loungers. The age of the ship was evident in the condition of the pools, but nothing to detract from the overall ambience. This was the first cruise I had ever taken where even during peak times I could find a lounger without any problem. For once, the chair hogs must have stayed home! Pool butlers vigilantly patrolled the area for litter, used towels, and empty glasses, so it was a pleasure to enjoy time here. Score: A-

 

AquaSpa

Deck 11, forward. This is tucked away from the noise and traffic of the rest of the ship. There’s a well-equipped gym, and the spa suite was quiet and soothing, making for a relaxing massage or hydrotherapy. Madalaina is an excellent massage therapist; I highly recommend her. The thalassotherapy pool area is wonderful; don’t miss out! Unlike the M class Celebrity ships, there is a fee for use, which cuts down on high traffic and noise, adding to the tranquil experience it is meant to impart. Score: A

 

Stratosphere Lounge

Deck 12, forward. The official sailaway party took place in this area, but it was disappointingly underattended, and most people drifted out a few minutes after we had left the pier. The widely reported foggy windows are indeed a distraction to what would be a fabulous place to spend time on sea days. Most daytime hours it was used by the activities staff for board game and trivia events. I went up a couple of evenings after the late seating dinner, but it was usually empty and forlorn. Celebrity needs to do something about making this wonderful space a happening place. Score: B-

 

Celebrity Theater

Deck 7. A wonderful theater space, with balcony seating more like traditional opera boxes. It is the nicest theatre I’ve seen, with an intimate feel to it. Done in tones of cream and gold, the banked seating makes every seat in the house a good one. Score: A

 

Cova Café/Tastings

Deck 7, midship. I love the Cova Cafes, but this one was small, cramped, and not as inviting as on other ships. Also, it’s in the direct flow of traffic from the shops and theater to the casino. Still, the cappuccinos are great with the free pastries offered. Good place to take a short break between activities. Score: B

 

Savoy Nightclub

Deck 7. A beautiful understatedly elegant space, decorated in rich ivory cream and black. Unfortunately, there is a wide screen large format TV installed here, so it becomes the unlikeliest sports bar on the planet. On this cruise, Monday night football was broadcast here. During the day, there were several cooking demonstrations held here, as well as an occasional trivia game. Although a band would play a few of the evenings for pre-dinner cocktails, this lovely space was not used to it’s potential either, which is a huge pity. Score: A-

 

Rendez-Vous Square

Deck 6. The most popular meeting place for pre-dinner cocktails on the ship. Unfortunately, the band Black and White Trio usually provided the music. They were the worst band I’ve heard on a ship, but were the only band offering pre and post dinner dancing, so I tuned them out and enjoyed myself anyway. The space lends itself easily as a gathering place, and with its large-ish dance floor, it was a natural gathering spot near the entrance to the Orian Restaurant. Score A; the band gets an F!

 

Orian Restaurant

This lovely formal restaurant has a beautiful sweeping double staircase opening out to a dramatic top to bottom bank of windows at the rearmost part of the ship. Tables were not crowded into the space, and the dining experience was always a gracious one, whether at the open seating at lunch or the traditional seating at dinner. Hand sanitizing stations are also by each of the entry doors here as well. Score: A

 

--------continued next post ------->

I am glad to hear about the hand sanitizing stations, that was one thing missing from our Zenith cruise last month. It upset DH a little, more than bothering me, it just surprised me. NMNIta