Positive things about Celebrity!

[BrendaJ]

I love:

 

• the excellent service, from the cruise director all the way to the friendly guy cleaning the stairs
  
• the great food - there is unfortunately no way I will ever lose weight on a Celebrity cruise unless things change drastically. I still dream about the bread, the chocolate croissants, the lobster, the beef tenderloin . . . and on and on and on
  
• the art. On our first Celebrity cruise on the Infinity, I thought "what the heck?" when seeing some of the art, but now I look forward to seeing what unusual and thought-provoking art they have in store for us on the Solstice and Equinox. I've never been in any other vacation environment where I remember the art on the walls - Celebrity is the exception
  
• the wonderful people we've met through Cruise Critic; now I feel like we're always going on vacation with friends, even if I haven't met the friends yet.
  

[RickandAnne]

Great Thread! We just came off of Connie's Transatlantic a couple of month's ago and the product is still good. I think everyone can find some little thing not always excellent (for me the library has suffered from no librarian), but the overall experience remains terrific. And I think the new menus are even better. The biggest negative for me this trip.....I never timed it right to get those wonderful almond croissants which I love. First time I ever misses having some.

 

I think the only thing I'd add to all the great amenities listed by others are the terrific aft cabins with monster verandas on M class. Nothing better than enjoying those great waffles while watching the wake (or life go by while in port) and not having to scout out a table on deck 10.

 

Can't wait for our Equinox transatlantic next year to see what new surprises await.

[flamingo21401]

the art. On our first Celebrity cruise on the Infinity, I thought "what the heck?" when seeing some of the art, but now I look forward to seeing what unusual and thought-provoking art they have in store for us on the Solstice and Equinox. I've never been in any other vacation environment where I remember the art on the walls - Celebrity is the exception

 

I agree. I remember more of the art on Celebrity that any other ship. I remember the 'Red Man', the gold painted potatoes, the glass sea gulls, the R2D2 made out of paper and the geode chair. The unusual art work really helps me navigate around the ship.

[gmcrow]

Simply put, X is not Carnival nor NCL, nor even RCCL. It's X, and the difference lies in all of those positives everyone has stated here! Bravo for all of you willing to stand up to the nay sayers and see the good stuff.

[Strumsong]

We also are impressed by the Chihuly glass art. I don't mean to be picky, picky :D, but I believe this is on the Constellation, located just outside the large lounge on deck 11. It is only one chandelier, but Chihuly is undoubtedly the most renowned glass artist in the world. The Bellagio in Las Vegas has a large portion of the lobby ceiling covered with his art.

 

It has been a couple of years since our last Celebrity cruise, We have sailed with HAL and Royal Caribbean since. However, we are about to sail with Celebrity again on the Summit November 29 Transatlantic.

 

Thank all of you for your positive comments about Celebrity. I had begun to wonder, given all the negative posts about the food. We don't eat large quantities, but we really enjoy truly good food. We can hardly wait.

 

We always enjoyed the Cova Cafe and the good music there. The music has typically been from a string quartet, as I recall. They play semi-classical and an occasional classical piece.

 

The theater entertainment was always good. The individual artists, pianists, violinists, and singers have all been good. The production shows are first class. I don't believe I have ever seen and heard lip sync on Celebrity. The theater is well designed. Every seat in the house has good vision of the stage.

 

We think the overall ship architecture of the Millennium class ships is the best by far. The location and design of the bars and lounges is classic.

 

Gee whiz, this has made the two week wait difficult. :rolleyes:

 

Bob :cool:

 

The performers we have enjoyed include the string quartet who also play jazz sometimes, the guitar/singer, harpist and acapella group. Sometimes we go to the piano bar as well.

Betsey

[spkinva]

All this talk about the Solstice made me make a reservation with Celebrity on the Equinox. Can't wait!

[Dabu17]

Can't wait to take our upcoming 4th Cruise with Celebrity. From start to finish, it's always a class act; a wonderful and relaxing experience that leaves me looking forward to the next one. As a matter of fact, we're already scheduled for January 2010!!!

[KenM]

We are on the Constellation next week. I booked three concierge cabins and am taking the adult children . Last year at Thanksgiving - I said let's cruise next year and avoid the hassle of everyone coming into town.

 

What do I like:

 

The smell of the sea, the coast in the distance.

The excellent service in the dining room

A good wine with dinner, and a relaxed dinner with good food/family

The peace and quiet to read by the pool or on the balconey

To do what I want when I want...

[Sky Sweet]

We are on the Constellation next week. I booked three concierge cabins and am taking the adult children . Last year at Thanksgiving - I said let's cruise next year and avoid the hassle of everyone coming into town.

 

What do I like:

 

The smell of the sea, the coast in the distance.

The excellent service in the dining room

A good wine with dinner, and a relaxed dinner with good food/family

The peace and quiet to read by the pool or on the balconey

To do what I want when I want...

 

Hi Ken M :)

 

I agree with you about Thanksgiving Cruises. We did a Thanksgiving Cruise on Constellation in 2006 and on Holland America's Westerdam in 2007. This year, however, our out of town children will be staying at our house because our daughter is currently pregnant with their second child.

[JRarey]

I also love that you can order off the dining room menu for dinner in your room or balcony.

 

Not all cruise lines do this!

 

Just trying to keep this positive thread going!

 

Jan

[Cruiser Susie]

Being on board one of the Celebrity ships is a special experience to me. The people who work for Celebrity are an amazing crew... from the laundry workers (who even managed to get out an OLD stain on a workout shirt) to the Hotel Directors, Food and Beverage Managers, and Captains who will take time out of their busy schedule to chat and answer questions.

 

The Martini Bar is a wonderful place to meet friends for drinks and to just relax and enjoy people watching as you sip those amazing martinis (which, by the way, I had never had one prior to our first trip on the Summit in March of 2004!)... or have a glass of lovely bubbly from the Champagne bar.

 

Being on deck for sailaway just makes me grin from ear to ear... while meeting up with new and old friends (met and made here on these boards) and sharing the adventure of each cruise together.

 

Asking your waiter a question, and getting the reply , "But of course, Madame, you have only to ask!" with a warm smile.

The Aqua spa food is just wonderful... and so is the food in the Specialty restaurant... and generally, so is the food in the dining room... and the ambience in the last two is really lovely to me.

 

I love the aft cabins on the M class ships... having a get together with friends out on those huge balconies or just having a cup of coffee in the morning... waving at those you know and smiling at those you don't...

 

The breadsticks in the Martini bar... and the lattes in the Cova... listening to a guitar player on the aft deck at sunset with a glass of wine... traipsing up and down the stairs so you don't gain too much weight... I even like that!

 

Being able to cruise is a privilege to me, one we worked hard for for many years, and I honestly treasure each trip...and just being back on a Celebrity ship is special for me, period.

[Rouge Wave]

Yes, I agree lets only say nice things, lets not lets not let the reality of what has been occurring with Celebrity influence ones point of view.

So, I’ll say something positive. I am absolutely positive much of the reality regarding Celebrity that some seem unhappy with is posted for just cause.

I am also positive until Celebrity makes some changes I’ll not spend one more dime with them.

[firstplacechef]

Yes, I agree lets only say nice things, lets not lets not let the reality of what has been occurring with Celebrity influence ones point of view. WHAT?

So, I’ll say something positive. I am absolutely positive much of the reality regarding Celebrity that some seem unhappy with is posted for just cause.

I am also positive until Celebrity makes some changes I’ll not spend one more dime with them.

Isn't it great you have a choice if you do not like them? Personally, each of our 3 cruises on X the past three years have each surpassed the previous ones. We have also cruised, Carnival, Hal and Princess. Were they all perfect, no, but much better than my day to day routine in the service industry and X still provides us, IMHO, a better over-all product.

[Peregrina651]

Asking your waiter a question, and getting the reply , "But of course, Madame, you have only to ask!" with a warm smile.

 

And never having to ask again because it is there waiting for you every night there after.

[Denny01]

On M-class, love the T-Spa so much we have our next cabin just below it. We throw on our robes and enjoy the hot moving waters and love the steel rods to lay on and feel the bubbles coming up. Fantastic.

 

Love the Cova Cafe with the specialty coffees and snacks, and the string quartets - can sit and people-watch, and play cards.

 

Love the numerous sitting areas that make even the larger M-Class intimate.

 

We enjoy the set seating where your waiter and a real wine steward knows your palate, and you get to know new people - doesn't feel like a land restaurant that an open-sitting venue has.

 

love the special art-work, especially in the stairwells.

 

The best is always the service - top of any cruise line we've taken.

 

Denny

[CruisingTheWaves]

Amongst other things, I love the pitchers of ice water in the staterooms, the stateroom attendants that provide great service without hanging around the door chatting all day, and the midnight munchies around the ship.

 

ditto. my mom said she seriously missed that on RCCL. we have taken 2 cruises with them since we started sailing celebrity and each time we always wished we were on a celebrity ship!

[CruisingTheWaves]

i love how more than once i get the whole "you look very familiar..." line from a staff member or two. then they ask me if i was on the century 2 years ago, or the infinity a year ago...

 

THAT to me is amazing, even when i don't specifically remember that particular crew member!!

[kelmac]

Seems like Celebirty is the only cruise line that treats us special. :rolleyes::)

 

--Six visits to the Captain's table

--Tours of all areas of the ship

--Priority disembarkation

--Special parties and events

--Gifts in the stateroom

--Special service in the Dining Room

 

On other lines we feel like part of the herd.

 

Kel:D

[Sky Sweet]

I think Celebrity does a good job of trying to be all things to all people by having cruise fares that are low enough to be affordable, and offering various enhancements for passengers who are willing to pay more to improve their overall cruise experience.

[BabySis]

It's been probably 6 years since we sailed with X, not because we didn't like them... it just hasn't happened. We LOVED the cruise we took with them... we were impressed with the

 

-white gloves they wore when we boarded and the fact that

 

-they took us to our cabin and we didn't have to wander around... we were pretty new to cruising then and the staff made us feel very comfortable.

 

-The chef at the breakfast buffet would see me coming and have my omelet ready!!!

 

We all know that no matter how full a glass is, some people want it just a little fuller.... and that's all right. My DH's glass has never been full and mine is always overflowing..... that's why we've been married for 33 years.... we compliment each other!

 

Happy sailing!..... and if real estate doesn't pick up in Tulsa, we might just be on a permanent vacation!

 

Dinah

[WNcruiser]

Celebrity is the best overall value for me. With the service, food, size of the ships, itineraries and prices I feel it is the best value in the industry.

 

Oh, AND NO ANNOUNCEMENTS!! A reason alone I love X: Nothing about the daily drink special, spa specials, tours, bingo, casino contests, pool games, you get the idea. Thanks for leaving me alone and letting me enjoy MY vacation.

[cvat]

They have a lot of positive aspekts,but i am not sure if they are aware of it.

[fernem]

Actually, I have a nice photo of the Chihuly chandelier next to the sports bar up top ...deck 11 maybe? on the Millennium. It's all this curly yellow/green glass. The art on the Millennium was wonderful. I have an entire photo collection of the heads from inside the stairwells all over the ship as well as the surfers. I am going on the Constellation this upcoming March and look forward to taking more pics of the art. Perhaps there is also a Chihuly on the Constellation!

 

fern

[flamingo21401]

And never having to ask again because it is there waiting for you every night there after.

I know what you mean. One night I mentioned to my waiter that I really would like a repeat of the night before 'bowl of berries' dessert. The biggest blueberries I had ever seen. Every night after that I had a bowl brought to me. Yumm!

[KarenMR]

These are my favourite things about Celebrity:

 

1. For me, one of the things I look forward most while on an X cruise is the formal nights. I work in jewelry design and production, so my work clothes consist of stretchy athletic pants and whatever shirt I've deemed ruined enough to not care about anymore - generally, I'm better dressed on a weekend grocery run than for work. So, getting to get all dressed up = makeup, hair, nice clothers, best jewelry - just makes the trip so special. I was very nervous that Celebrity was going to do away with formal nights as so many other lines seem to be doing, and was VERY relieved they chose not to.

 

2. Sitting in the Martini bar/lounge during formal nights and watching all the gorgeous or not so wisely chosen outfits parade by!

 

3. I agree - no announcements! On our last cruise, however, the cruise director was unexpectedly ill and they had a fellow come from corporate office to fill in for the week. He's never been a CD on a M class ship, and hit the wrong button for announcing port access, so it piped into EVERY cabin! Twice! A really, really nice fellow and we razzed him about it for days.

 

4. The aft bar behind the buffet. What a great place to have a drink at sunset/sailaway!

 

5. Sushi Cafe!!! What's wrong with a little appetizer before dinner???

 

6. Good sized showers with handheld showerhead! Bliss!

 

7. Real Towels in the public washrooms.

 

8. A dedicated wine steward - a great touch of class and a person we appreciate nightly!

 

9. Set dining times and table. Personally, I like going to the same table with the same waiters and the same people! One of the fun things (especially if you get a good table) is the people you dine with each night, finding out their perspectives on the last ports, lively conversations, and the enjoyment of running into each other in various unexpected places. Same with the waitstaff, they get to know you! You're not just a 'butt in a seat.'

 

10. The beautiful ships. Gorgeous warm woods, polished brass, marble staircases... Michaels Club (now that it's not a cigar bar anymore) Compare that with a Carnival ship (looks like a clown went insane with neon)... right. No comparison!

 

That's all I can think of right now! Going on the Infinity 14-day repositioning cruise from Chile to Ft. Lauderdale in a few months! Wheeee!!!!

 

Karen MR