Do we want to spend 10 days on the Galaxy for our honeymoon???

[shayelle]

We have cruised 5 times, all with RCCL. We are looking for a 10 day and an exciting itinerary for our honeymoon in March. RCCL doesn't have anything exciting that time of year. The 10 day on Galaxy leaving March 7 looks great. I have read that the Galaxy is old and needs refurbed. How bad is it? Would we be disappointed spending our honeymoon on it? Recently we have sailed the Voyager class ships on RCCL (Voyager and Navigator), which was great with the kids - but no kids this time! We have also sailed the Enchantment, Monarch, and Majesty so we have sailed on smaller ships.

 

Any info would help make this decision easier!

 

Thanks!

Shannon

[Schasz]

Shannon,

We are booked on the March 17th Galaxy cruise with some friends of ours who have cruised on Celebrity before. It will be our first Celebrity cruise. We have been on the Adventure, Liberty, Grandeur, and Enchantment on RCI.

 

The reason we chose this cruise was partly due to our friends and the rest due to the itinerary. We will be going to six new ports which was attractive to us. I have read some nice things about the Galaxy so we are looking forward to the cruise.

 

John & Shari

[Lois R]

We have cruised 5 times, all with RCCL. We are looking for a 10 day and an exciting itinerary for our honeymoon in March. RCCL doesn't have anything exciting that time of year. The 10 day on Galaxy leaving March 7 looks great. I have read that the Galaxy is old and needs refurbed. How bad is it? Would we be disappointed spending our honeymoon on it? Recently we have sailed the Voyager class ships on RCCL (Voyager and Navigator), which was great with the kids - but no kids this time! We have also sailed the Enchantment, Monarch, and Majesty so we have sailed on smaller ships.

 

Any info would help make this decision easier!

 

Thanks!

Shannon

 

Hi Shannon, we have a roll call started for this cruise:)

We would love to have have you and your future hubby join

us:D

Galaxy is about 10 years old...depends on what you

consider old;). It will be my first time sailing her but by

I have been on the other Celebrity ships in the same size class

and love it very much. Not too big and not too small!

Never been on any of the ships you mentioned but I do know

she is much smaller than the Voyager Class of Royal.

I know many people love her while others not so much.

I think that is probably how people feel about every ship

on every line.

Each ship has the pros and cons.

I can't wait for this cruise....celebrating my 50th birthday on

her:)

[Lois R]

oops the boards are acting up again:eek:

[Ships R Great]

Any ten day honeymoon on a cruise would be great! Seriously, Galaxy is a good ship. Not as good as Century, because of her refurb, but she is still a nice litle ship. You will be pampered by the crew and you will find the food to be better than RCCL. Galaxy is easy to get around on so you won't spend the first three days getting lost. (Whoops, just thought that you would probably like to get lost together!) I vote a yes, go for it!

[Donnaluv2cruise]

I'm also on the March 7th Galaxy. I chose this cruise for several reasons. I have cruised RCCL twice, and Celebrity in between. But never on the Voyager class. Those ships don't really interest me because it's almost like they're too big, and we really wouldn't take advantage of the different things they offer. When we cruise we like to relax a lot on our balcony, get dressed up for nice dinners in the dining room, go to the casino at night, and hang out by the pool during the day. So this ship fits us quite well. We did sail on The Constellation 4 years ago and really enjoyed that. Our last cruise was on The Serenade of the Seas, and although we had a nice time and the ship was beautiful, we felt that our Celebrity cruise was just a notch above as far as service and food goes. Also if you can, check out the Sky Suites on deck twelve. They would be perfect for a honeymoon. They have a huge balcony. You can have full meals served to you out there if you desire. Also your butler would bring you afternoon tea service every afternoon, not to mention other suite perks. Come join us! :) :)

[Bride2Be]

My DH and I were married on the Galaxy in the Port of Baltimore in May 2003. We are booked on her for the March 28, 2008 sailing to celebrate our 5-year anniversary. Celebrity was the 1st cruise line we sailed (on the Zenith) and we have compared every line to them ever since - no one compares when it comes to pampering (in this price range). The ship may be a little old, but the service you receive will certainly make up for it! We are extremely excited to be back on the Galaxy to celebrate our 5 years! I hope your honeymoon is as great as ours was!

[Jack1]

Shannon

Our son and daughter-in-law got married on the Galaxy last Jan (2007) and 16 of us were there with them. They of course honeymooned on the ship afterwards. I know they had a great time and they have enjoyed Celebrity many times before. It is a great smaller ship with the friendliest staff we have encountered in a long time. Yes, the ship is tired in some areas but we honestly didn't really see all that much to complain about. In fact, nothing really. We weren't on the ship that much as it is a port intensive itinerary and we spent lots of time at each island.

We put signs and balloons of our own on their cabin door and the head housekeeper came by and gave the kids a bottle of wine for their special day. It was a very special occasion made even more special by being on a cruise.

We have sailed Enchantment too and found the Galaxy to be more our taste because of its smaller size. In fact we liked it so much we sailed her in July 2007 in Europe. Staff can be found painting, and repairing all the time. Not that it needs it much but just for general maintenance.

Hope this helps. I don't think you can go wrong with this ship or itinerary IMHO.

Faye

[shayelle]

I think we will book it. It sounds just right for us. We like to dress for dinner, we like to have a nice cocktail before dinner, we like to hang by the pool with our pool drinks and just relax. I think this will be perfect. As long as the ship is clean I don't mind a little wear and tear.

 

Thanks again! Once it's booked maybe I will join the roll call.

[Compass Rose Monica]

...As long as the ship is clean I don't mind a little wear and tear...

 

That's how I feel about ships: a little wear and tear doesn't bother me as long as I'm on a ship with great service, great food, and wonderful itineraries. I've read on other postings that the Galaxy is in good shape, and with new bedding. I know there are people out there that seem to look over a ship with a magnifying glass. Relax and have a great honeymoon!

 

Monica

[Arubalisa]

If you like the itinerary, and do not expect new and glitzy you will be just fine. The ship is clean with wonderful food and the service of the entire staff cannot be beat.

[D&L]

Great ship! Three years in a row speaks of how we love it!

[Arubalisa]

In light of the ongoing controversary in this forum regarding the condition of the Galaxy since well before mid- 2005, I took a good long look at the Galaxy over the period of 11 nights. I still stand by my words today.

 

 

From my review of our cruise aboard the Galaxy 12/22/06 -1/2/07:

The condition of the Galaxy was fine. Maybe a tad more worn than last year, but I hardly say anything which would "ruin" a cruise. That is, unless as we all know, you are someone who is sailing her for the first time and expecting gleaming, shiny, newness all around you. With the exception of some rust needing paint touch up, the ship is clean. One night I was walking across the pool deck to get to the spa and they were out pressure washing and scrubbing the pool deck which many complain is so old and worn, and thought to myself perhaps that is one reason why it is so worn! And no they have not replaced the windows in the Stratosphere! Yes, they do look like hell from the outside, but for me personally, I never go up there so they do not bother me :-)

[Donnaluv2cruise]

I know everyone complains about the Stratosphere windows. But when you're in the Carribean, who sits inside and looks out the window?

 

I was debating on whether or not we would miss the specialty dining. But after thinking about it decided we really do enjoy the regular dining room just as much.

 

And I'm happy to be in a martini bar wherever it is. Don't worry, I'll find it! :D

[chessbriar]

We were on her in February and the pool deck has been replaced and they were working hard to replace soft goods, carpeting, upholstery, and things of that sort.

 

She was originally scheduled for drydock last spring, but with Mercury going down under she took Galaxy's drydock. Once they announced the delay of the dry dock, they began doing all kinds of repairs.

 

Go to the reviews section and read the reviews from the last 6 months. It's best to read current reviews.

 

That being said, I've sailed on Galaxy 4 times and she is far from my favorite ship, but I have never seen her in the condition I read on these boards. I would sail on her anytime.

 

Also, keep in mind, most of you time will be spent in port. With only 2 days at sea, how much time are you really going to have onboard.

 

We did this itinerary in Feb, and loved it. The service was top notch.

 

If you are looking for nightlife, it's probably not the ship for you.

[chessbriar]

Posted by nevis92 on the Galaxy drydock thread

 

" Wouldn't hesitate to sail Galaxy again

 

Last March aboard Galaxy, I experienced the best food, service, and fellow passengers of any of my previous 13 cruises. The ship is in beautiful condition and the talk of "long overdue drydock" is way overblown. We had sailed aboard HAL's almost new Westerdam a year prior to sailing Galaxy and my wife couldn't tell me which ship is older. She was shocked to learn that Galaxy was older than Westerdam."

[Lois R]

Hi Dale, no flames from me....I gather you don't like Galaxy?;)

 

The layout, the age, from everything you typed I am under

the assumption you think she is old and not a nice ship.

And you are correct, we all have our own opinions.

Different strokes for different folks!

 

I have never sailed her but I am still looking forward to it:)

 

Donna, meet you for drinks:D

[Dale Jr]

Hi Dale, no flames from me....I gather you don't like Galaxy?

 

The layout, the age, from everything you typed I am under

the assumption you think she is old and not a nice ship.

And you are correct, we all have our own opinions.

Different strokes for different folks!

 

I have never sailed her but I am still looking forward to it

 

 

It is the layout that I don't like and the age of the ship really has nothing to do with it. I have been on older ships that have a nicer layout and flow to them than Galaxy does.

 

With respect to the Stratosphere Lounge - all ships today have some lounge or public facility at the bow of the ship on one of the upper levels that is primarily windows. Be it in the Caribbean or elsewhere they are all fantastic gathering places for coming into and leaving port. On every ship I have been on (many) this type area has always been packed at those particular times. Not so on Galaxy for the simple reason you can't see out and that is why people don't go there. Don't let anybody kid you when they say they don't go there as they don't care to sit indoors - doesn't seem to effect them gathering in any of the other bars.

 

With respect to drydock: The primary reason for any drydock is not to complete the repairs that are listed elsewhere in a different thread. Any of those can be completed at any time during the course of any cruise. Drydocks are required periodically for routine engine maintenance that cannot be performed while in water and primarily for scraping and repainting of the hull. By my calculations Galaxy is way overdue for this.

[Lois R]

It is the layout that I don't like and the age of the ship really has nothing to do with it. I have been on older ships that have a nicer layout and flow to them than Galaxy does.

 

With respect to the Stratosphere Lounge - all ships today have some lounge or public facility at the bow of the ship on one of the upper levels that is primarily windows. Be it in the Caribbean or elsewhere they are all fantastic gathering places for coming into and leaving port. On every ship I have been on (many) this type area has always been packed at those particular times. Not so on Galaxy for the simple reason you can't see out and that is why people don't go there. Don't let anybody kid you when they say they don't go there as they don't care to sit indoors - doesn't seem to effect them gathering in any of the other bars.

 

With respect to drydock: The primary reason for any drydock is not to complete the repairs that are listed elsewhere in a different thread. Any of those can be completed at any time during the course of any cruise. Drydocks are required periodically for routine engine maintenance that cannot be performed while in water and primarily for scraping and repainting of the hull. By my calculations Galaxy is way overdue for this.

 

...Your points are taken....you don't like the layout and

you think Galaxy is overdue for drydock.

As for your comment about not letting anyone kid me;) well....

there might be some folks who really don't sit there. I am not saying

new windows should not be installed.....I have not seen them

so I cannot give an educated reply on them...but.....playing

devil's advocate.....maybe there really folks who don't sit inside.

(running for cover)......

[Ships R Great]

Hi, Lois. You can hide behind me.

 

We sailed Gaxay in the Med in "06. Re the physical aspects of Galaxy: she was a very nice ship---not glitzy, which we don't like anyway---not shiny new, but few ships are. We did not find the layout to be inconvenient---she is not so large that it is difficult to find your way anywhere.

 

But the true charm of the ship is her crew. They want you to be happy and they do all they can for that to happen. (Hard to please people cannot be easily pleased but they try there, too.)

 

The food isvery good to excellent. We found the buffet to be fine. (We had pasta every day for lunch.)

 

Go with a positive attitude, expecting to have a wonderful cruise and, more than likely, you will. People with negative attitudes will have a negative experience. Take your pick. I choose to have a good time and I always do, even when "stuff" happens!

[chesterh]

I can't think of many places I'd rather spend 10 days than on board Galaxy - for a honeymoon or any old reason. It has been a few years, but our 10-day trip in 2002 (25th anniversary) was the highlight of a lifetime. The laid-back and toned-down atmosphere was perfect, and the staff was exceptional. Can we go with you?

 

All the best,

chesterh

[Donnaluv2cruise]

Chester,

 

We would love to have you! Book it! :)

[djsinric]

Hey Chester - your review is the reason we booked the 10 day Galaxy Cruise in October 2003. I gave my husband that cruise for Christmas and included a print out of your entire review. We had a wonderful time. We are now booked to sail on Galaxy in February 2008.

[chesterh]

Hey, DJ - Long time, no see. We'd sure love to take another trip on Galaxy. Son Wells just informed us that he thinks he can finish school over the summer, so maybe we can start thinking a little more seriously about the next cruise. Please give the old Gal(axy) our best, and Bon Voyage!

 

chesterh

[tom_uk]

We've done a couple of cruises on Galaxy (10 night Mediterranean) and we had good times. Here's a link to some pictures I took on the first of them:

 

http://www.*****/travelpage/aspgallery/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=2512

 

Have a look and make up your own mind about her condition. (They were taken in summer 2006; in my opinion she was a even cleaner & fitter in summer 2007.)

 

And here are a few of Galaxy from ashore:

http://www.*****/travelpage/aspgallery/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=2546