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Name: Jeremy Williams
Email: RickW@IOLINC.NET
Age: 16
Occupation: Student
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Century
SailingDate: August 8,1998
Itinerary: Western Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 96
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 96
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets: 89
CabinSteward: 97
ShoreExcVariety: 96
FoodVariety: 94
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 93
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 96
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService:
TenderService: 94
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 97
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities: 96
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 94
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 97
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 97
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Aug 1998
Time: 22:41:04
Remote Name: 206.102.129.92
Remote User:
Comments
First of all, I would like to tell everyone not to take a Delta
flight unless it is completely impossible not to. We were delayed
in Pittsburgh on a Delta flight
and missed TWO connecting flights to Ft. Lauderdale, one of which
we made in time but they had given the seats away to stand-by
passengers already.
When we told them we had to make a cruise that left at 4:30, they
told us it was ‘not their problem.' Luckily we ran into two
travel agents during our
complaining and they contacted Celebrity. Celebrity actually held
the Century in port for one hour after it was time to debark for
just FOUR people. These
travel agents were our lifesavers because Delta was only going to
fly us to Jamaica on Monday. Although we had no luggage on the
ship until Monday,
we were happy to have made the boat in the first place. Celebrity
gave us eight shirts to wear on the two days without luggage.
They gave my dad,
brother, and me tuxedos to wear to the formal night on Sunday.
Celebrity was a life saver in Guest relations. Embarkation and
Debarkation: We cannot
tell you about embarkation because we did not go through the
number process because we were late. During debarkation we were
number fifteen so we
had a while to wait. They play CNN in the theater, but we sat in
the lounge chairs around the pool where there was nobody. When
they finally reached
fifteen (which wasn't too long no more than an hour I would say)
We got off the ship to find the Delta and another airline had not
sent a baggage car to
pickup the luggage and tag it. Therefore we had to stand in line
while all these people put luggage onto a bus, and then we had to
wait for the luggage to
be unloaded after we got to the airport. Food: I ate breakfast in
the buffet one time. The food was ok but nothing to die for. The
breakfasts in the dining
room was the same thing with service but the eggs were not as bad
in the dining room as in the buffet where they were runny. Lunch
I only ate at the
buffets. The hot dogs and hamburgers were good better than a
McDonald's hamburger. They had ribs in this buffet once or twice.
The indoor buffet had
more food adults like salads and meats etc... The pizza between
lunch and dinner was not as good as Domino's but it was good. The
ice cream just
before dinner was good (vanilla, chocolate or a mix). Then you
had to go to dinner as if after eating all day you could eat any
more. I had read so much
about their five star cuisine I expected something you would die
for ( don't get me wrong the food was good and I have never eaten
in a five star
restaurant so I don't know if right but it seemed more four star
to me). Our waiter and busboy were excellent and our waiter
always announced dessert
as ‘the best part of dinner' (which was cute). My mother
asked for a surprise one night for dessert and received a banana
split which was not on the
menu. My lobster tail was tough but I don't think it was the
chefs fault because the waiter had a hard time getting it out the
tail. My advice for dinner is try
anything once especially here since you get it for free and can
always change if you don't like it. The one bad thing about
dinner was they did not have
any Ranch dressing for the salads. The midnight buffets were
nothing to write home to mother about. We only attended two
(Mexican and Grand) on the
Norway the displays were always spectacular but here they were
just mediocre even on the grand buffet night. Also when you into
the Grand Buffet to
take pictures they tell you how much food is usually eaten on a
normal cruise (like you needed or even wanted to know that.)
Rooms: Our room steward
George was nice. The room was always nice and clean (but if you
get a surprise in your room around Wednesday (like clothes that
aren't yours) don't be
worried they just cleaned behind the drawers and found it and
thought it was yours. We found this unusual and funny but at
least we had something to
tell our table-mates at dinner that evening. Excursions and
Ports-of-Call: Jamaica - We went snorkeling which was a tour from
the boat and it was
excellent. The person in charge allowed us to hold a white sea
urchin and feed the fish with it. This was very neat. I would
recommend this everyone who
loves to see corral and pretty fish. Yet our day was not over. We
had decided the night before that we had to go climb the falls
(Dunn's River Falls) this is
a must for everyone. Take your camera the guide will take
pictures of you ( it doesn't have to be a waterproof camera, ours
wasn't) We loved Jamaica but
be careful the natives are pushy and want to sell you anything.
They will even tell you off if they it will get you to buy their
item. I would recommend doing
these excursions to everyone.
Grand Cayman - My dad and I went to swim with the stingrays which
we had to book off the boat because we were too late getting to
it on the boat. I think
our tour was probably better than the boats tour. We actually got
to snorkel but the pictures on the boat showed waste deep water.
My mom and brother
went to the Seven Mile Beach. They absolutely hated it. They also
did not get to it on the boat and had to take a taxi. They said
the water was so crowded
there was standing room only. I guess that is why there is a
limit on the boat to how many people get to go. Then they went to
Hell. My brother wanted to
send his girlfriend a postcard from Hell. They said it was only a
Post Office and a gift shop ( and of course the rock formation
that got it its name, but they
didn't take any pictures so I don't know what it looked like.) I
guess I would have to recommend booking the Seven Mile Beach
early or not at all. I don't
know if the spot where they went was any better than where my mom
and brother went. Snorkeling with the stingrays I can definitely
encourage people to
go there . It was excellent. Take a waterproof camera or nobody
will believe you swam with them.
Cozumel - In Cozumel we didn't have any excursions in mind so we
decided to do some shopping. It was interesting at times but a
lot stores were boring.
We bought some wool rugs, hot sauce, and an onyx chess set in
Cozumel. After we did this, we went back to the boat, changed and
went to Chankanab
Lagoon (I think that is the name. It is on the map they give
you.) We were unfortunate enough to get a cab driver that spoke
NO English. We talked by
pointing at the place on the map and then he showed us a sign to
tell us how much it would cost. That was the end of our
discussion. We went snorkeling
and saw a lot of pretty fish and a statue of the Virgin Mary on
the ground of the ocean in the snorkelling area. It was a pretty
place and my mother and I
walked through the Botanical Garden there. None of the flowers
were in season but it was still a very pretty place. We saw very
large iguanas while we
there. I had the worst of luck and bit about fifteen times while
we were in the Garden by flies of some sort and had to by
hydrocortisone on the boat for
five dollars. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys nature
and swimming. There is also a little hut in the middle of the
Garden telling the history of
the Lagoon. Our table-mates toured the ruins while they were in
Cozumel. They must not have been very exciting because they said
the tour guide could
not hold the groups attention long enough to tell them anything.
Key West - I enjoyed Key West but it was nothing exciting maybe
they should do this one first instead of Jamaica because then
Cozumel would be last and
the last day of the cruise would be at sea instead in port. Key
West is a pretty city and it has an interesting history but it
was not the most exciting place in
the world.
Well I guess I should tell about the children's program on the
boat. For teens it is pretty lenient. We were supposed to go
watch a show the first night, but
nobody wanted to so the guy that was supposed to lead us left us
alone in a bar. Well after that night of sitting by myself, I did
not attend another
teenager get together. On our previous cruise there was a dance
every night for teenagers.
The casino staff that is supposed to keep kids out is not very
strict. I was told to leave one time but I think it was only
because a really young kid was
sitting beside me. Then another time I was leaving and was told
that I was not supposed to be in there. Luckily I hadn't won
anything that time. My mother
and I over doubled our money one time. We started with $12 and
ended up with $28. They have slot tournaments which I had never
heard of until this
cruise. The winner of the tournament had won over $1000 on her
machine ( I don't know how much she started with).
The shows in the evenings are fine. We only watched the On
Broadway musical but it was entertaining with some interesting
twists to some musicals I
have seen before. The singer in the lounge before dinner is
awful. She sounds like she is singing for the first time. One
night I think she forgot the words
to one of the songs because she just kept saying the same line
over and over. The music at the pools isn't good. It is too loud
and no good music.
Well I guess I am finished now, although I want to tell you that
the pools are not as crowded on this boat as they were on the
Norway (our Previous
cruise) and the pools are filled with salt water as they are on
most boats. I would recommend this boat the same as the Norway.
The Century is a prettier
boat and has more elegance than the Norway. There are things I
liked about both boats and things I disliked about both boats.
However I guess that in
our position with all the crazy things that happened some people
would have harped on these factors and not enjoyed themselves but
you can't live life
like that.
As with the Norway the people on the boat are very nice. I have
not ran into anyone that felt he/she was better than anyone else.
I love cruising and my
family plans to take another cruise in a couple of years to the
Southern Carribean.
If I have left something out or you any questions please do not
hesitate to email me at RickW@IOLINC.NET. I hope this has helped
answered some
questions and not scared anyone out of taking this marvelous
cruise . However I will again stress do NOT fly Delta. Enjoy your
cruise.
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