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Name: Ed Polanco
Email: edpolanco@earthlink.net
Age: 47
Occupation: Accountant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Century
SailingDate: August 22, 1998
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort:
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 92
FoodMidnightBuffets: 88
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 92
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 92
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 92
TenderService: 88
GoodForSeniors: 88
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 88
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 92
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 92
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 92
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Sep 1998
Time: 15:26:52
Remote Name: 209.178.6.208
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise. My wife and I, both 47, decided to join our New York friends,
(we live in California), to celebrate our silver wedding
anniversary. We traveled with our two sons, 23 and 20, and with my older son’s
girlfriend, also 23. Boarding the ship was very smooth for us as we
were among the first to arrive at the terminal. But the earlier you get there, the more
you wait to get aboard. You board the ship based on a
number that you are assigned as you arrive at the terminal. If the paperwork is in order,
all goes well. You must fill out all the forms given to you or
you will be delayed. Our luggage was delivered promptly and we hit the showers right away.
All our clothes fit easily in the closets and space
provided. Everything about the cabin was clean and neat and just the right size without
feeling closed in. (But don’t forget… you are in a ship!)
Our sons’ cabin was a quad and they feel that it was just a bit confining for 3
persons. A fourth person would have definitely made things more
difficult, but they developed a routine in which to allow them enough bathroom time to get
ready. The showers were spacious and provided good
water pressure. Both our cabins were on the eight floor, around mid-ship, and we were
never disturbed by passenger noise or ship noise to any
degree as to make us feel uncomfortable. (We went to bed fairly late every night).
We ran into our friends in the upper deck by the pool just as the ship pulled out. Drinks
were flowing in abundance and the live band was off and
running playing some of the best Caribbean music I have heard in quite a while. The cruise
staff wasted no time in getting things going right away.
They had us dancing and mingling with other passengers in no time. It was a great way to
break the ice and get us under way.
The entertainment in general at poolside was very good. Games, music, pool volleyball and
other` games provided enough variety for everyone.
The drinks were great also. Bahama mamas, pina coladas and good ol’ margaritas were
consumed by us all in great numbers. The food was
always very good throughout the ship. We did enjoy our sit down dinners the most, as the
service was superb and the food was always very tasty.
The midnight buffets were a treat, but we were disappointed with the Mexican buffet, as
the food was missing the flavor and the zest of the typical
Mexican food we find in California. We chose the early sitting for dinner which allowed us
to partake of the midnight buffets, but I don’t think we
could have eaten much at midnight if we had chosen the later sitting. We especially
enjoyed the afternoon treats - cheese pizza and great hot
dogs.
Night life on the ship provided a variety of choices as well. We enjoyed most of the
performances in the theater, gambled in the casino, (and just
like in Las Vegas, we lost, but our sons made out fairly well), the movie theater showed
several movies recently released in video, the lounges had
live entertainment, most notably the Hemisphere lounge where the band Prodigy was a big
hit with us, and judging by the dance floor, a big hit with
most of the people there.
Fortunately the weather was good for sailing as we managed to beat the storms. The ship
was incredibly steady all week. The stabilizers that cut
down 80% of the rocking motion do a great job. Only one night was the ship slightly
swaying as it was fighting heavy winds but not enough to make
anyone sick.
The ports we visited provided their own unique experience. We toured Ocho Rios in Jamaica
by means of a van driven by Mr. Wally Brown, who
took us around the city, (not much to see - very poor and run down, abandoned junk cars
everywhere), took us to climb Dunn’s Falls - (better be
young, healthy and limber for this adventure), finishing with the much awaited (by the
ladies) visit to the shops where we splurged in cigars,
t-shirts, jewelry and souvenirs. The ship has a list of stores to visit in all ports that
they recommend to the passengers, as these shops seem to
have built a good reputation.
Grand Cayman was very enjoyable. The younger generation enjoyed a trip to play with the
stingrays in the ocean. The rest of us made it to the 7
mile beach, bathed in the sun for a while, swam in warm waters and even saw fish around
our legs. On the way back to the ship we stopped in
town to visit more shops. I don’t think you will find too many bargains here. We felt
disappointed at having to board ship earlier than in Ocho Rios,
as we would have enjoyed more time here.
In Cozumel, we chose to visit Xcaret, a water park not too far from Cancun. A great time
was had by all, especially by the kids who had a chance to
play with the dolphins (for an additional fee). Snorkeling was the thing to do, although
the fish were not anywhere as numerous as in other
experiences elsewhere. And yes, the ladies did find time to shop just before boarding
ship. Better prices here than in previous stops.
Key West also had a lot to offer. Some took a parachute ride, others shopped and went
sightseeing, and we all ate at Sloppy Joe’s, a well known
restaurant in town.
And before closing I must mention that the cleanliness that is maintained throughout the
ship is something to be admired. Every day we ran into
several employees who were cleaning mirrors, windows, vacuuming, polishing handrails. Etc.
This cruise was a pleasure for us. We hope that
future cruises will be just as much fun. We will judge them by the standards maintained on
this trip.
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