Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Beth Leech
Email: theleechsare@home.com
Age: 35
Occupation: Supervisor
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: April 22,2000
Itinerary: Panama Canal Repositioning
Cabin: 1094
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff: 
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 May 2000
Time: 08:18:59
Remote Name: c314397-a.crvlls1.or.home.com
Remote User: 

Comments

This was our very first cruise. My husband's stepmother's son arranged for a family cruise on the
Galaxy. We were actually able to get all six children (three of his, three of hers) and their significant
others on the same ship at the same time for two weeks. Anyway, I'll start with the flight over and give a
day to day account of our cruise. 

Day 1: Flying, flying and more flying 

We took a one way flight from San Diego to San Juan, Puerto Rico to begin the cruise. American airlines
flights went well. We connected in Dallas and both flights were actually early! But, all did not go well and I
will explain later. The celebrity rep. met us at the airport and took us immediately to a bus (no
identification of checked baggage, big mistake). It was 8pm by this time so we did not get to see any of
San Juan. We were the last group to get on the ship. The first look was very impressive. Checkin was
quick and security was lax. Now for our first little problem. The travel agent that the group worked with
had assured us our prescribed cabin on deck 8 was a standard inside cabin with two twin beds that
converted to a king. The brochure said that this cabin had a double bed and a couch bed. Well, the
brochure was correct and the travel agent was wrong. We immediately went to guest relations who sent
us back out to the pier. We were able to change cabins and actually got upgraded to deck 10. By this
time it was about 9:30pm, just enough time to do a little unpacking of our carry ons and off to the safety
talk at 10:15pm. We finally hooked up with the rest of the family group at the talk. By now we are starving
having missed dinner. Off to the sail away buffet, Carribean music and off we go at 11:30pm! Cruising is
going to be addicting, I can tell already. By 12:30am we are exhausted and head back to the cabin for
our first night's sleep. Well, we may have been upgraded to a category 9, but this room was next to
some kind of room service staging area. Pots banging, carts moving around much of the day and night.
But, we got used to it and were happy to have an almost King sized bed. The cabin was very comfortable
and we never felt strange being in an inside cabin. 

Day 2: St. Thomas 

We did not take a ship's tour in St. Thomas. It was our intention to take the ferry to St. Johns and go
snorkeling, but we were still tired from the plane flight and ended up doing a little shopping in town and
relaxing on the ship. The island was very nice, but I didn't think the prices were that great in the shops. A
few people came back with some jewlery purchases that they were happy with. We lazed around the pool
and decided this was most definitely 'the life'. My husband got a massage and spent some time in the
thallasotherapy pool. He said it was heaven! This evening we finally made it to the dining room for
dinner. The family group had 3 tables so we all sat together. We met some friends of family, but already
knew most of our dining companions. Dinner was wonderful and the service was excellent. I was
immediately impressed with our waiter Darius and his assistant Gyorgy. They proved to be quite
entertaining as the weeks went by. The comments about the vibration in the dining room were very true.
We were at late seating upstairs. If there was any motion from the sea it was exaggerated back here.
The vibration was very strong all the time. The restaurant is in the wrong part of the ship. I was very
surprised to get a little sea sick during dinner. I had to leave just before the entree! I put on the 'bands'
and we walked around a bit. We didn't go to the show this evening, but heard from others that the
comedian was very good. We did go to the casino and my husband came out ahead. Back at the cabin
we are missing a garment bag. Guest relations says that it is now definite that it is not on the ship. They
are waiting for word from the Miami office about the bag. Unfortunately this bag contains most of my
husband's button down shirts and long pants. Guest Relations was very nice, gave us a fruit basket,
offered to give my husband a tuxedo for tomorrow night (we had already made rental arrangements) and
provided us with free laundry service for the rest of the cruise. My husband had to wear shorts to dinner
and yes, the Maitre D did try to stop him. He was, of course, very apologetic after hearing the
explaination. We are crossing our fingers that the bag will be in Aruba when we arrive there! 

Day 3: At sea 

Now well rested, we were able to explore the ship a little. I was very surprised that I couldn't tell which
direction we were traveling, therefore had a difficult time deciding which side was port and which side
was starboard most of the time! The seas were a little rough and the ship was constantly moving from
side to side. After last night I decided not to take any chances and took some Bonine and wore the
bands all day. I thought these big ships were more stable! We toured the ship some, finding out where
things were and visited the shops. We weren't too impressed with the shops, but did check out the
specials each day. We were really able to see how much food is always available today. The breakfast
and lunch buffets are large and provide a reasonable variety. I liked the eggs! I can already see the
pounds going on. This was our first formal night. It took a while, but I was able to talk my husband into
wearing a tux all three nights (I didn't even get him in a tux for our wedding). It arrived in the cabin this
afternoon. He looked very handsome! We got our picture taken but didn't buy this one because we
didn't really like it. Dinner was great again and our waiter and his assistant are starting to loosen up. We
are getting some tricks and jokes now! I'm not sure, but this may have been a production show night. If
so, it was not very good. The toons are weak and the choreography is also. We have decided to stick to
the comedians and musicians and skip the variety shows from now on. 

Day 4: Aruba 

Well, the bag did not arrive. We have to buy clothes in Aruba. But first, we went on the Atlantis
submarine tour. Very interesting. Loved seeing the coral, the ship wrecks and all the fish. Other family
members saved $8 by walking off the boat, to the Atlantis ticket office, and buying the tickets
themselves. We will remember this next time. Off to the mall for men's clothing. I won at the casino last
night so we took the winnings and bought 2 pair of pants and three shirts. Somewhat expensive but not
too bad. We bought a few souvenirs and called it a day. The island is pretty as is the town. It's incredible
that the ships can get into the tiny little channel! Another ship arrived in the afternoon named 'Aida'. No
one knew what cruise line it was from. Another excellent dinner and I am not getting queasy anymore.
Must have my sea legs now. 

Day 5: Cartagena Colombia 

We didn't go ashore here. It just seemed too scary. Some of the family did and they said it was alright,
but the cab drivers tried to stiff them. Not much english spoken here. I was surprised at how big a city it
is. It was very hot and humid today! The show this evening (I think) was a lady comedian. She was very
good. 

Day 6: Panama Canal 

Ok, the day started wonderfully. Going into the canal was amazing. But, it was very difficult to be outside
in the sun. Very hot and humid, the worst day yet. Everyone crowded up on the bow or in the
Stratosphere. Tempers were high and there were a few 'spats'. I wasn't impressed with my fellow
passengers this day. One of the crew said the best place to watch was at the back of deck 7. So, back I
go to a open but covered area with a nice breeze and almost no people!! Great spot to watch us go
through. Instead of seeing us enter the locks, I watched us leave each one. It's just amazing to see how
far up the ship is going to go and then a few hours later actually be there. As we travelled through the
lake I ate lunch at the buffet. This is where things started going very wrong. A couple of hours after
lunch I went down to the cabin to rest. I wasn't feeling very well and soon was throwing up about every
45 minutes. One of the family group is a nurse practitioner. She said it was likely I had food poisoning,
not the flu because of the symptoms. I had to get it on the ship. After 8 (yes 8) trips to the bathroom,
things got better and I was able to sleep. I missed the rest of the canal and stayed in bed most of the
next day at sea. This was also our next formal night. My husband went (he actually seemed to be
enjoying putting on the tux ) but I didn't. This was definitely the low point of the cruise. Interestingly
enough, during that second day Guest Relations called to say our bag had been found at would meet us
in Costa Rica. Amazing! 

Day 8: Costa Rica 

We had already cancelled our cloud forrest shore excursion because of my sickness. I did not go ashore
here. My husband and his brother and girlfriend went to a ranch about a half an hour away. They rode
horses through the rain forrest for about 3 hours then swam in the hotel pool. They had a great time and
I'm glad my husband was able to go do something. I took it easy aboard ship. I spent alot of time
watching people come and go on the pier. I also watched the tour busses back all the way down the pier,
some times 3 or 4 at a time, to let people off. Another cruise ship was across the pier from us (The
Victoria from the P and O line). She was to depart before us, but apparently had some kind of trouble
because they only made it about 100 feet away from the dock before returning. I hope everything
worked out. This was tropical night. We all dressed up at dinner and onto the midnight buffet. There was
an ice carving demonstration. Just amazing to watch a block of ice become a dolfin in about 10 minutes
time! Lots of music and dancing and a fruit buffet. As this was my first day back up and about, I didn't eat
anything at the buffet, but was told it was very good. The watermelons were all carved with flowers and
faces. Two men do all the carvings of ice, fruit and vegetables for the whole ship. 

Day 9 and 10: At sea 

Two at sea days in a row. We got up late each day and did alot of nothing. I'm not sure, but I think one of
these days we went to play bingo. Kind of expensive, $20 for 3 cards for 4 games, but I won $96 so it
was ok!! We watched a movie in the theater one of these nights. It was very nice. Another comedian
show, but this one also juggled! Next was a piano player that also told jokes. He was very good. 

Day 11: Acapulco 

18 of us got into two vans for a city tour, cliff diving and shopping. I am learning that the cruise ship tours
are too expensive. We paid $12 per person and saw at least as much as those who took the shore
excursion that cost $36 per person. Acapulco is a nice city, very picturesque. The guides took us to
some great viewing spots and to the really big hotels over the hill, the Acapulco Princess and the Mayan,
wow!! We barely made it to the cliff divers in time because of traffic. Those guys are crazy!! I can't
believe they dive from those heights into almost no water. We saw our waiter here being a tourist. He
took our picture!! One of the vans went back to the ship, but we went on to the flea market. It was a
typical Mexican crafty touristy shopping area. We bought a few sourvenirs and then went back to the
ship. We had a great day! There was a Tex-Mex midnight buffet tonight. The carribean band Xtascy (not
sure about the spelling) were dressed like cowboys and played country music (sort of). I learned some
new line dances. That was fun. We sampled a little bit of the food, but when you eat at late seating there
isn't much room for the midnight buffet! 

Day 12: At sea 

This cruise is going to be over too soon. This is our last formal night. I finally got to wear the floor length
black sequin dress I bought for this cruise. I never get to be so elegant at home. This time the formal
pictures came out great and we bought two of them. The show was 'Cirque De Galaxy'. We thought it
would be just another variety show and were prepared to leave if we didn't like it. It started out weak
(who writes these songs?), but got much better. Finally the dancers were able to 'show their stuff'. We
also finally got to see the Chinese acrobats in action instead of as a side line. The show turned out to be
very good, probably the best of the cruise. About a 15 minute break and then onto the Grand Buffet. It
was incredible. They pulled out all the stops for this one. The presentation was so wonderful that you
didn't really want to eat any of it. There were about six ice carvings. We went through first for pictures
then to eat a little bit of it. The 120 chefs aboard did an excellent job. What a night! 

Day 13: Cabo San Lucas 

This is the only port at which we had to anchor. We tendered into the town. Frankly as a person with
boating experience, I was not impressed with the tendering process. Whoever was steering didn't know
how to dock very well. But we made it over in one piece. We walked around town and then out to a time
share that one of the family members had recently bought time at. Nice place. We ate lunch and played
on the beach. The water was very nice, but the waves are sneaky. Cabo is a smaller place that is still
developing. I hope it stays small. The site of the ship out in the bay framed by 'land's end' was
impressive (I'm using that word alot). I watched some parasailers from the ship. I was on deck 12 and
they were at about my height. This ship is huge! We got some great pictures of the rock formations at
land's end as we left Cabo. We were on the bow as we rounded the corner. The wind hit us and the ship
went over! It was kinda scary but exhilerating as the wind hit us so hard you could hardly walk. 

Day 14: At sea 

Well, this is it. The weather has turned cold and no one is out by the pool. We spent the day in last
conversations with family and taking video and pictures around the ship. Tonight was tip night and we
were very glad to give the recommended amount, plus a little more. I got some great pictures of Darius
and Gyorgy. They seem like family now and I'm going to miss them. The last show was a little of each of
the performers that were left on the ship. The female comedian, a singer and a guitar player. A nice
enough ending to the cruise. 

Day 15: Disembarkation 

We were told the day before that the authorities in San Diego can make disembarkation difficult. They
were right. We were out of our cabin by 8am and through with breakfast by 8:45am. We didn't have a
flight as our car was parked at the cruise terminal, so we were in the last few groups to get off. We didn't
leave the ship until 11am. The first groups didn't leave until almost 10am. Some people missed flights.
But, this was not the fault of the cruise ship, they did everything to get us out on time. Well, ten months
of planning is now over and it's all I can do not to cry! 

Final Thoughts: If I disregard the two days I missed being sick, this was an incredible adventure. The
Galaxy is a wonderful ship with a wonderful crew. We couldn't ever afford a restaurant or hotel on land
that would give us the kind of service we had on this ship. I would definitely sail on her again. The ports
of call were interesting, but now that we have some experience, I would arrange for my own tours and
not use the shore excursions provided. Celebrity still has some work to do with their production shows.
The Orion restaurant is beautiful but the engine vibration really takes away from the enjoyment. An
inside cabin is just fine! I love cruising and can't wait to go again!

Name: Bob McGee
Email: robert.mcgee@wscc.cc.tnus
Age: 53
Occupation: College Professor
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 05/06/00
Itinerary: 13-night Pacific Coastal - Alaska Repositioning
Cabin: 8155/5
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 60
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 70
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 
CabinSteward: 60
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 100
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 
PrivateIsland: 
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff: 100
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 80
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities: 80
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 70
DiscoNightclubs: 
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 50
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 02 Jun 2000
Time: 12:36:43
Remote Name: red.wscc.cc.tn.us
Remote User: 

Comments

This is a review of the 13-night Pacific Coast/Alaskan repositioning cruise aboard the Celebrity Galaxy from
05/06/00 to 05/19/00. Be advised that this review is offered by two first-time cruisers. 

Pre-planning/Booking - I had worked for 15 years to convince my wife on taking a cruise since everyone I had
talked to about a cruise was very positive about their experiences. We were planning on a week walking tour
of Cornwall in England but when I compared the prices of a two-week repositioning cruise and the walking
tour, I made the case that the cruise was cheaper and offered a lot more. We both were interested in going to
Alaska since my wife's father had been on a fishing trip there several years ago and said we would love the
scenery. We are not gamblers, drinkers or all night partyers so we thought an Alaskan cruise was just the
thing. I researched the cruises available, read all the discussion group comments, and then interviewed three
travel agents in our area. We then selected the one that best answered our interview questions and booked
the cruise last September. We requested a cabin aboard the Galaxy on the Panorama deck, just about
amidships, #8155. It was a deluxe outside cabin with a sitting area but no veranda. From September until the
day before we left, I was an active member of the various discussion groups and gained a lot on valuable
information. It also raised our expectations about various things we were to experience. We certainly used the
packing/preparation lists and were ready to leave for San Diego as well-prepared cruisers. 

We requested an air deviation so we could leave a day earlier than the embarkation date. We flew Delta from
Knoxville to San Diego without a hitch. I have to admit even the in-flight lunch was good. We arrived in San
Diego early in the afternoon and checked into the Holiday Inn on the Bay which was directly across the street
from the cruise terminal. In fact, as the airport shuttle was pulling into the hotel, the HAL Volendam was just
pulling out. We're we excited seeing a real cruise ship close up for the first time. We were certainly impressed
with its size and all the people waving as the ship slowly pulled out of its berth. We checked into the hotel and
walked down to Seaport Village (overrated). We then returned to the hotel and walked across the street to
Anthony's Fish Grotto and had dinner. Definitely order the cole slaw if you visit, it's great. We returned to our
room and finally put our official Galaxy baggage tags on our luggage. We now really felt that we were ready
for the cruise to begin. Can't say we slept much that night but with the time change from Knoxville we were up
at 6:00 a.m. to see if the Galaxy had arrived yet. It hadn't so we made coffee and sat on our porch and waited
for her to pull in. Sure enough, at 6:45 she made the turn in the harbor and headed for the berth across the
street. Soon she towered over the hotel and our porch. We laughed and giggled just like kids on Christmas
when the lines went over and she was finally tied up. We used our binoculars to look at the sad faces of those
few people lining the rail. We just wanted to say, 'Get off so we can get on!' Our check-out time was noon so
we had the hotel shuttle take us and our luggage to the cruise terminal. Then the fun began. 

Embarkation - There were still people waiting to leave the terminal and their luggage lined the walkways.
People were milling about everywhere but finally a porter arrived and took our bags. He told us to go to door
#2 and get in line. We thought we had seen the last of the bags but as soon as we were inside the porter
dropped the bags on the floor and said that we should keep them with us until we check in. About this time
another porter started putting our bags on another cart which resulted in a Spanish shouting match with the
result that the original porter whom I had already tipped picked up our bags and disappeared with them. I
smiled and told my wife Carol that it will be all right, the bags will show up in the room eventually. As far as
checking in we stood in a line for about thirty minutes before someone came by to see if we had all our
paperwork filled out and to tell us it would be about an hour before check-in would begin. I asked in there was
anyplace to sit and was told that we could sit outside but we would lose our place in line. There was none of
the embarkation number stuff I had read about. We were just lined up in two lines; one for the Captain's
Club/Suite check-in and the 'other' people like us. Anyway, 15 minutes later the check-in counter was manned
by fifteen agents and the line moved very rapidly. The agent was very courteous and checked all of our
papers, validated the cruise card, and told us to head over to the next line. The next line was for the
embarkation photo which was taken in the terminal, I had thought it would have been taken when you stepped
on board, I guess not. When we bought the picture later, we noticed that the Celebrity sign included in the
photo said it was for the Caribbean cruise 2000 season, another lack of attention to detail we would deal with
for the next thirteen days and something we never thought we would have to be concerned with on Celebrity.
As we were passing this line we crossed the Captain's Club check-in line which hadn't even begun moving.
That's when we heard our first complaint that they should be going first since they were members. Had to
laugh. Next we went through security and started up the gangway. At the head of the gangway, a crew
member took our carry-ons and led us to our room. He was very friendly in the elevator and said that he
hoped we would enjoy our cruise and that he and everyone on board was there to help us enjoy our cruise.
He opened our door and said that our room stewardess would be by shortly to introduce herself and show us
how things worked in the room. Our room was an outside cabin and we were both pleased that it was bigger
than we thought it would be. It was laid out well and the window was very large. We sat down and had some
water while we waited. The big book on the desk describing the shipboard services was very helpful. We
checked out the closets, bathroom and the TV. The system to book shore excursions was not operating. We
expected this from the discussion group so we weren't too upset. After 45 minutes, we decided to leave and
go exploring. We went to the Stratosphere Lounge where a tour was scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. When we
sat down, a waitress immediately came over and asked us if we wanted something to drink and we said no we
were waiting for the tour. She did not understand what 'tour' meant and called someone else over to interpret.
We finally just ended up saying we were there to look out the windows. I was impressed how quickly everyone
was approached for drinks that day and everyday thereafter whenever and wherever you sat down. If there
was a cocktail waiter or waitress they were ready to take you order. Anyway about 2:10 a member of the
cruise staff showed up and stated that he would be doing the tour. He was none too excited about it since he
said that most people never take a tour. His name was Kevin and he said that he had been aboard the
Galaxy for two months. He looked tired and his clothing needed a press. He was unenthusiastic throughout
the whole 45 minutes it took to take us around the ship. We finished outside the Orion restaurant after he
said that since there were no questions, we could finish on our own and he left. Not a good first impression for
the ship. So we took off and headed for the welcome aboard buffet in the Oasis Café . There were four
stations you could enter at and none seemed to have long lines. We got in line and we immediately became
aware of what we would humorously call the 'feeding frenzy.' Carol and I had absolutely no sense of urgency
once we arrived on board, we were there to relax and be pampered. But it seemed that many if not most of
the others on board were trying to set some sort of time-record in who could get through the buffet line the
fastest with the mostest. People would stand behind us and moan and sigh and humpf ,etc if the line didn't
move fast enough. I still have bruises on my hand where people, especially women, would shove their tray
into my hand as they tried to move things along quicker. I have to say I just turned around and said they
could go ahead if they were in such a hurry. I was taken up on that many times. Anyway, the lunch was okay,
nothing to shout about, but it was presented nicely. A waiter took my wife's tray and found us a nice table in
the Oasis Café. We sat down and had a nice lunch and left for a tour of the Spa. The Spa tour was fun. I
know they were trying to sell bookings and products but at least these people seemed somewhat interested in
what they were doing. After the Spa tour we decided to take our own tour. We went to each of the public
rooms and were impressed with the cleanliness and layout of each room. We returned to our cabin to see
that our bags were already there. We brought them inside and decided to unpack after we pulled out. Our
dinner reservation card was there telling us we got our requested late seating on the lower level of the Orion
restaurant. A nice touch was that a plastic cover had been put on out bed for our suitcases. But still no sign
of the room stewardess. Her name plate was in the room informing us that Gemma would be our attendant for
the cruise and feel free to ask her about anything. I'll give away the story - we didn't she her until the second
night out. This was my first indication that things might not go as well as I had been told. About this time we
got out our life jackets and practiced putting them on. We had no sooner done this than the general alarm
sounded and we went to our muster station in the casino. Of course the old-timers were complaining about
the drill but Carol and I took it seriously and listened carefully. We were led to our lifeboat station were the
women and men were separated. Guess that tradition hasn't died. Within 20 minutes the drill was over. We
then experienced the rush for the elevators. After seeing the confusion and fighting over who would get on
first, we decided to explore and take the first set of stairs we came to. We returned to the cabin and put away
our vests, still no sign of the stewardess. So we headed up to the pool level to be part of the sail away doings.
Right about then I thought I'd shout for joy after waiting for so many years, we were actually starting the
cruise. We both got a drink in the collector glass complete with paper umbrella and toasted everyone as the
ship pulled out so ever slowly. We made this a tradition and never missed this sail-away time together for the
rest of the two week cruise. Of course, everyone who waited until the last minute tried to push us out of the
way so they could stand by the rail also. We kept smiling and moved up to the Sky Deck and some quiet. I
was surprised when one of the crew came over the PA system and started describing the San Diego harbor
highlights. I had been told that there were few if any announcements on Celebrity cruises. But this person
kept on talking for 45 minutes during which time she never got port and starboard figured out, called the USS
Constellation the USS Stennis, said that Lindbergh started his around the world flight from North Field. After a
while it was funny listening to her gaffs. Unfortunately she didn't improve until we left Seattle. By the time we
reached Point Loma and entered the Pacific, most of the crowd had moved below preparing for the first
dinner seating. We enjoyed the solitude topside and watched the porpoises follow us out. It was about at this
time the ship gathered some speed and a great degree of roll. As an ex-Navy man, I was surprised by the
degree of roll on this big of a ship. Since this was my only real fear for my wife, I watched as her eyes got
bigger and bigger as we moved out into open ocean. We already had her put on the patch the day before,
had her take prescription strength Meclizine that morning so we thought we were prepared. We walked
around a little bit outside before it was time for us to get ready for dinner. 

We chose the late seating because we typically eat late at home and that we would have more time for the
shore excursions we wanted. Our TA said that there is really no difference for most things so we made those
reservations. We were to find out in the next twelve days that if you even think you are going to be
motion-sick, get the first seating since the captain always seemed to go slow for the first hour after clearing
the harbor and there was less motion, while the late seating seemed to bring out the speed demon in the
bridge and they really laid on the speed. The first night was casual so we didn't have much to do to get ready
so we stumbled down to Deck 6 and the Orion Restaurant. Now the restaurant is divided into two levels, one
on 6 and the other on 5. There are two doors on each deck that open into the dining room. We knew from
this discussion group that you could tell which deck you are on by looking at the table number. We had table
#508 which meant we were on deck 5. While we are lining up to get in an enormous crush of people started
shoving us early arrivals against the dining room door. The only reason we didn't hang back was that I
wanted to get Carol seated as soon as possible because by now the ship was really rolling. Just before the
doors open one of the dining room managers yells out that everyone in the lower level will have to enter on
the lower level, those with odd numbers use the port door, etc. As you can imagine the stampede started and
I just led Carol back to the Rendez-vous lounge behind the dining room and we sat down and waited for the
dust to settle. So after five minutes we could see the doors open and no one standing so we went to the
proper door and were led to our table. It was the last table for six at the extreme rear of the dining room. Had
great view out the windows of the waves crashing against the side, but of course you couldn't have gone back
any further to increased the amount of rolling that was taking place. We really lucked out with most of our
tablemates. A couple at our table was from Tennessee, the other couple would have been two gentlemen but
as we discovered one had some type of medical problems and didn't come while the other roommate did. He
was from California and constantly reminded us that he was experimenting with Celebrity because he was
more familiar with the 'boutique boats' like Seaborn and Crystal. We got to hear how the Celebrity never
measured up to these from the next twelve nights. By the time the first week was up I had collected enough
from our table to buy him a ticket on one of those just so we could shut him up. It was about this time our
waiter Carlos appeared with menus. He was a delight and made Carol and I very comfortable with all the
trappings of a formal type dinner. We always listened to his advice about what was better on a particular
night. He was friendly but not pushy. He was attentive but not demanding. After the first couple of nights he
knew our likes/dislikes and accomplished them without any fanfare. The asst. waiter was Pedro and he was
also friendly and attentive. He had a good sense of humor and let it show. When it was time to order I
watched how the experienced people did and tried to follow suit. Sometime after, our appetizers appeared
and we began to eat. Carol had said that she wanted shrimp cocktails each night and I had told her that
maybe she could but not to be disappointed if she couldn't get one. One the first night she got her wish. As
she began to eat the first shrimp I saw her eyes and it told me she would never finish the meal. The ship was
rolling more than ever and she just put her fork down and said she couldn't take it and got up. I excused us
from the table and said I'd be back. I led her to the room where she collapsed on the bed in tears. She was so
sick and disappointed that she didn't even make it through the first dinner. On the way back to the dinning
room I passed an officer with four stripes (later to discover he was the hotel manager). I politely asked if I
could ask him a question. He never said yes but stopped and looked at me. I simply asked if the stabilizers
were on since the ship was rolling so much. He gave me a dirty look and said 'Stabilizers fine, ship not rolling.'
I said the dining room at the end of the ship was moving quite badly and is this what I could expect for the rest
of the trip? He laughed and said 'It's like lake outside, ocean not rough.' And then he turned and walked
away. So much for the personal touch on Celebrity. I had been told on the discussion groups that the crew
was not friendly with the passengers but I thought this was a bit ridiculous. Now I was mad and hungry. I made
it back to the dining room and Carlos appeared very worried about Carol and asked if he could get her a pill,
etc. I told them the story about the patch/pill combo and they all said that the ship was rolling pretty well. The
rest of the dinner was fine and I left quickly to see how Carol was doing. By now she had changed clothes and
said that sleeping might just be the best thing. I went out on deck to look a the ocean and we were certainly
making waves. I only hoped that the rest of the cruise would see calmer seas. 

We pulled into Los Angeles the next morning. We got up in time to see the breakwater as we came into the
San Pedro harbor. It was calm and we made it to the open breakfast seating. Carol was bright and was
enjoying breakfast when the aft thrusters kicked in and all the silver/crystal made a dance across the table.
She didn't get sick but the noise and vibration were pretty bad as we maneuvered into the dock. We met a
couple from Australia who were on their 18th cruise. Across from us was a couple from New Jersey who were
on their 10th cruise and were a riot. Breakfast was good and by the time we were done, we had pulled in to
the cruise terminal and were tied up. We didn't plan on doing anything in LA, so we spent the day by the pool.
Carol got a head-to-toe massage in the spa and had to be poured into the cabin afterward. I enjoyed the
Jacuzzi on deck. In the afternoon, we did more touring of the ship and found little places that we came to
enjoy. I think we were the only ones to pull up a lounge chair on the promenade deck on the whole cruise. We
loved it. No one around, we put on blankets and pretended that we were on an Atlantic crossing in the old
days. We found a little corner on the Sky deck with a sheltered cove where we spent a lot of time on the
blustery days. We pulled out that afternoon and again the first seating got a smooth ride and the late seating
got the speed/rolling version. I never understood that the small seas we were experiencing could not have
been compensated somewhat by the stabilizers. I know even in the Caribbean you have 3-5 seas and the
stabilizers supposedly work. I think they were getting us ready for the storms we would encounter. Carol didn't
even attempt the first formal dinner that night and we ordered from the room. The guide in the room said to
call room service and place an order. So I hit the right button and room service came on and I wanted to
place an order. She said fine she would call our room stewardess. Five minutes later our room stewardess
appeared (first time) and said we would have to order from her. So she went and got the dinner menu and we
made our selections and called room service again and placed the order. Five minutes later there she was
with a order form and took our order. Ten minutes later, our dinner arrived and we had a nice cozy dinner in
our room. The hot food was hot and the cold food was cold. What more could you ask for? We tried to get the
TV to work but since we had not been given any instructions or had a list of channels we surfed until we found
a movie. 

The next morning the sea was moderate but cold and foggy. We went to the breakfast buffet in the Oasis
Café and it was okay, again nothing special. We figured out how the stewardess knew we had left the room
when we found a 'do not disturb' sign on our door turned upside down. Seems that when you left the sign
would fall into proper placement indicating that you had opened the door. The problem with this was that I
always went out of the room earlier than my wife to get morning coffee on deck. They assumed we had both
left the room and was constantly coming into the room while she was either asleep or putting her clothes on.
We felt bad for a few days ruining their schedule but then we got to thinking, let them wait for us to leave the
room, it's our cruise. This was especially bad on a day in Alaska when Carol was ill and they came in her
room four times to clean in spite of our putting do not disturb sign on the door and asking the assistant
steward not to come in. We stopped by the Library to get our daily quiz and work on the answers. This was a
fun part of our day and we enjoyed trying to decipher the quiz. We never won but at least the entertainment
staff that manned the library were at least friendly and seemed to enjoy talking with the guests. We then went
out onto the promenade deck and got blankets and chairs and watched the ocean go by. The fog got worse
the closer we got to San Francisco. Since there was no announcement, we anticipated our coming under the
Golden Gate bridge by getting our camera and going up to the Sky Deck. Just about the time we ship passed
under a fog-shrouded Golden Gate, the announcement/description began. It was really exciting going under
the bridge and seeing Alcatraz slip by. We had vacationed in San Francisco two years ago and were really
looking forward to seeing the city again. As was our custom we stood up on deck and watched the captain
bring the ship in ever so slowly. We always enjoyed watching the line handlers perform their act but this time it
was even better, as there was some argument between the ship and the pier workers about where to place
the bow lines. After a particularly long time the ship was tied up and the announcement abut disembarking
began stressing not to crowd the main foyer or the stairs leading to the foyer. We waited on deck until we saw
the first people crossing the gangway and then walked down to deck seven above the foyer. The stairs, foyer
were totally clogged. We kept our sense of humor and returned to the outside deck for another twenty
minutes. We finally went down and joined the pushing, shoving mob that was trying to get off. Almost 90
minutes after the last line was tied, we reached the terminal. We walked around Fisherman's Wharf a while
but then walked up to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. It was one of the few sights we did not take in when we
visited previously. The day was gorgeous and the view of the Galaxy and the Crystal Harmony alongside was
beautiful. We then began a slow walk back and returned in time for afternoon tea. Tea time was casual on all
but one day when a formal tea was held in the Orion restaurant. The staff had a selection of small
sandwiches, cookies, cakes, ice cream, etc. For most days it was really relaxing since the Oasis Café was not
crowded. We normally had a cup of tea and some sweets and enjoyed the view. This day was particular nice
since we seemed to have the café almost to ourselves. We finished and went up to the Sky Deck to get ready
for our departure. Soon enough the Crystal harmony pulled out and then we noticed a SF fireboat spraying
as both ships pulled out. It was pretty neat. By now the skies were cloudless and the Bay very smooth with the
winds freshening. We again passed under the Golden Gate but this time we waved our heads off to the
people on the bridge. We soon cleared the Marin Headlands and turned north. Again the ship moved slowly
for the first seating but by the time we had put on our formal clothes the ship was rolling again. As we went to
the Rendez-vous Lounge to wait our seating, Carol said she probably would not be able to make it. So
instead of trying to start dinner we returned to the room and changed to our informal-cabin attire. By now the
motion even at midships was pronounced. We ordered some sandwiches from room service and the meal was
delivered very rapidly. The food was good and Carol took another Meclizine and went to sleep. I got up and
went out on deck making sure I didn’t go to a public areas since the informal dress code was in effect all
evening. I went up to the Sky Deck and watched closely as the seas built considerably. I finally went back to
the cabin to find Carol asleep. I read for awhile thanks to a well-stocked shipboard library. 

I awoke the next morning to find us in twenty-foot waves. This was to be our first full day at sea, transiting
from San Francisco to Seattle. I went up to Oasis Café to get my morning coffee and then went out to the pool
deck. I was met by about four other guys were watching the water in both pools being violently thrown out
because of the ships motion. We found out that we all were ex-Navy men and began telling stories about the
worst seas we ever saw. For three out of four of us these were the roughest we had ever seen. Moving
around was hard since the pitch and roll often took the deck from out under you. I went down to the
promenade deck (Deck 6) and saw a wave crash over the deck thus eliminating the thought of bringing Carol
down later. I went back to the cabin just in time to see the assistant steward coming in the room. I stopped him
and said Carol was still in there. He said okay but he needed to clean the room. I told him to forget it for
awhile and leave her alone. Sure enough she was feeling pretty bad. I did coax her out of the room to try to
get her some hot tea and maybe a pastry. She did drink the tea and did nibble at a croissant. We went up to
our cove on the Sky Deck and tried to stay our of the steward's way until the room was cleaned. We went to
the Oasis Grill for lunch and while trying to get a hamburger we watched the chaise lounges with people
aboard slide over the solarium. Carol again tried to be a real sailor and we went out on the stern at the Deck
8 level. The waves were tremendous and perfectly blue. The wake was huge and it was obvious the captain
had made the decision to move rapidly through the huge seas. Carol went back to the cabin and napped. I
went to the cinema and watched a good movie, in spite of the rolling. The theater was very comfortable with
leather chairs a big screens and several monitors for those sitting farther back. As I walked around I noticed
that the lounges seemed busy and the shops crowded. When I went to afternoon tea the place was packed
and tempers inflamed. There was a particularly bad scene at the ice cream station when they temporarily ran
out of chocolate sauce. I mean this guy freaked out and started yelling at the server about the sauce. I was
sitting fifteen feet away and heard all of the derogatory comments the man made. After the tantrum quieted
down, the sauce was restocked and things seemed to calm down. But the tension was very high. The waiters
and servers all seemed to scowl and the smiles of the previous two days disappeared. Perhaps the crew was
feeling the stress of the repositioning, maybe it was because the weather was bad and everyone seemed in a
foul mood. There was something tangible but I could feel no one was enjoying themselves. I went to dinner
alone that night since I knew Carol wasn't going to make it. Carlos was again concerned about her and asked
if he could do anything. Looking back now, I wished he and the maitre'd would have suggested moving us to
the front of the dinning room. At least the motion there was decreased. I asked about it the first night and I
was never contacted about it. It may have helped but then again, it probably wouldn't have. But with the
service that I was expecting on Celebrity, I would have thought that after her missing two out of the first three
nights, there would have been some effort at helping two first-time cruisers. I guess not. That evening I went
to one of the shows and the found that the entertainment was fine. Yes, it was directed at an older crowd but
it was very good. The signers, dancers were great. All of the acts were very good, some better than others.
The Cirque du Galaxy was excellent. The Celebrity Theater was very nice. It was comfortable and had good
sight lines. I did enjoy the escalator that went up to the upper floor of the theater. I had been warned of this
through he discussion group. It seems that the escalator will start only after someone steps onto it. The other
times it does not run. I sat and watched for days the people who would looked at the escalator and say it's still
not working and climb the stairs. Okay so I have a terrible sense of humor. 

The next morning we were entering the Straits of San Juan de Fucha as we approached Seattle. Since the
ship was very stable we decided to go to our seating for breakfast. As Carol and I sat down a waiter
approached and asked if we were sitting at the right table. I said yes but he got between us and the table and
asked again. I said yes, we have table #508. He reluctantly 'let' us sit at the table. He still asked us about our
sitting there and we finally explained that this was the first morning we had made our regular breakfast
seating. He smiled and then gave us our menus. This was very strange since our regular waiter did not serve
breakfast in the dining room but was up in the Oasis Café carrying trays for the breakfast buffet. We were to
find out that this same waiter also served us at our regular lunch seating. We had a pleasant breakfast and
were finishing in time for us to go on deck and watch as we pulled into Seattle. There was a little rain but the
view of the city was great. After letting the mad crowd get off, we leisurely left the ship and headed for the
Pike Street Market. It was a short walk and an elevator ride up to the street level of the market. It was fun
exploring the Market and we soon discovered that the market consists of about five levels which contains
everything from the fresh fish to antiques. We then thought about a walk downtown and maybe a trip on the
monorail. But we soon discovered that the number of homeless men and pan-handlers made walking the
street somewhat uncomfortable. We made it a couple of blocks to a few nice bookstores but we soon decided
to head back to the ship. We got back in time for open seating lunch. We were seated at a table for eight and
quickly struck up a conversation with two older English shipmates from Salisbury. They were great as lunch
partners and discussed their cruise experiences. As seated at the table were an older couple from Australia.
They didn't have much good to say about most anything, especially English visitors to Australia. Well, that
caused a bit of quiet around the table but our friends from England handled it well. Obviously no love lost
between England and its colony in Australia. Carol decided to get a manicure and soon left for the spa. I
jumped in the jacuzzi for awhile and discovered that regardless of the weather, the jacuzzis were busy
throughout the entire trip. There were a very hardy fools that jumped in the pools. But they quickly returned
to the jacuzzis. The afternoon passed by quickly and carol joined me on the Sky Deck as we pulled out from
Settle headed to Victoria. In straight line distance Victoria is about 45 miles from Seattle but it was to take the
rest of the afternoon, evening and morning getting there. We were about to discover that most of the miles
put on the voyage came in the lines' effort to obey the 12-mile or 3-mile limit so the casino could open. I'm not
opposed to other people gambling but the efforts to get the casino opened as soon as possible certainly
made the voyage strangely charted. Anyway the evening was calm as we cruised around Vancouver Island.
We went up on deck before dinner and saw our first whale. It was magnificent. Couldn't tell you what kind, but
it was one of the high points for us. Dinner was very good that night and the waiter, assistant waiter and
maitre'd presented us with an anniversary cake and song. They were very nice and it was the ending of a fine
day. 

The next morning we were up early for arrival into Victoria. Our old friend the Crystal Harmony was at the
other pier as we pulled in. Soon the ship was cleared and we watched as those leaving from the Harmony
were greeted by costumed residents and a bagpiper. We got a moveable, plastic street lamp with a basket of
artificial flowers at the end of our gangway. We had to buy a shuttle bus ticket from the pier to the downtown
area for $5. It was good for the entire day so it was a pretty good deal since we soon discovered that walking
to downtown would be quiet a stretch-of-the-legs. The driver gave us a little tour before we were let off next to
the Empress hotel. As we got off the bus we soon found out that Victoria is not the quaint little British enclave
that was touted in the tour books. Traffic was terrible. Many pan-handlers, teenagers with an attitude and an
endless row of T-shirt shops changed my opinion about this port. But there were several good points. First as
we exited the bus I noticed a gathering over in front of the provincial capital building . there were soldiers,
sailors, military band lined up around their war memorial. We crossed the street in time for a military
ceremony complete with military music and speeches. It seems that each province was sending some of its
soil to Ottawa for inclusion in a tomb of an unknown Canadian soldier. The ceremony was very moving.
Especially when the band began to play 'God Save the Queen,' and 'Oh, Canada.' I was very disappointed at
many of our fellow American, foreign cruisers who did not remove their hats during the playing of these two
anthems. And people wonder why many countries think Americans are uncivilized. Anyway, after that we
toured the Empress hotel , passed on the $32 high tea, and then began our trip down the shopping streets.
There were several interesting ones, especially a tea shop were we purchased several teas for home. We
then went to antique row and while tempted to buy we decided to look only. We decided to have lunch in town
and went to a place for fish and chips. It was very good and the price wasn't too bad. Found out that most
stores will take American dollars and give change in Canadian currency. This came in handy when we kept
out two $10 Canadian bills so we could pay the departure tax at the Vancouver airport. Soon our legs gave
out and we went back to our bus stop. There was a huge line for transport back and the dispatcher was
looking very uncomfortable talking on the two-way radio trying to get some buses back downtown for our
pickup. After about thirty minutes, the crowd was getting ugly. Soon two buses pulled up. One was for the
Harmony and one for the Galaxy. The Galaxy crowd shoved their way onto both buses as we hung back. After
the majority of people were aboard, I asked the dispatcher again which bus was which. He pointed to the first
bus as for the Galaxy and as we started to board, I told him that I thought that about half of the Harmony bus
consisted of Galaxy passengers. He rolled his eyes and went aboard the harmony bus and coaxed the Galaxy
people out. Of course, when they got on our bus they were mad about the dispatcher throwing them off. I felt
like telling them all to stop acting like spoiled children and begin listening to what people told them. I kept my
mouth shut and enjoyed the ride back. The sun had come out and when we returned to the ship we had time
for afternoon tea and then to the Sky Deck for departure. We soon pulled out of our berth and headed out
the Straits toward Sitka. We soon resumed the rolling that was now expected. Carol made it through dinner
but only because the captain was obviously in no hurry. The ship's speed was very slow early in the evening.
By the time the late seating show was over, he had really put some speed on. 

The next day was to be our second full day at sea. I was worried about Carol but the seas were very calm. We
went to the buffet breakfast and lingered over coffee and watched the show. People were so funny. It was not
unusual to see people arrive at a table by the window which was occupied and ask the people seated there to
move since 'they always sat there.' Of course, it worked for these pushy people most of the time. Then again I
think I did hear a few tell them to 'bugger off,' and find somewhere else to sit. We also watched as people
piled their trays high with food they seldom ate. As far as the breakfast buffets, the menu really didn't vary
over the two weeks. There was an omelet station with omelets and eggs to order. The fruit was plentiful and
delicious. There was sausage, ham, corned beef hash, bacon everyday. French toast was available as were
pancakes. The croissants were perfect. Very delicate and so fresh each day. The coffee was pretty robust
and some had to add a little hot water to their cups to make it more palatable. You could only get tomato
juice/V8 juice in the dining room and I thought that was a misstep for the buffet. But it was okay, since we had
plenty of other things to eat/drink. I can't think of any meal where I was actually disappointed with the entire
time. After breakfast we were determined to take part in some activities during the day since Carol's
seasickness seemed under control at last. We went to a trivia contest, a cooking demonstration. Carol went to
a fitness analysis and reflexology class. I went up to the golf simulator and found out it was broken and would
not be repaired during the entire trip. So I had some quality jacuzzi time. We did the lunch buffet and the
hamburger/hot dog bar because I wanted to try their bratwurst. Over the whole cruise we sampled the Oasis
grill and all the food was good. Now you couldn't get a custom cooked hamburger like at a Friday's ashore but
they were grilled, the hot dogs were very good and the bratwurst with sauerkraut was excellent. We also tried
the pizza from the grill later in the afternoons and it was spotty in quality. Some days it was very good but
other days the dough was soggy and the toppings either scanty or almost non-existent. As I have said before
the service from the food people was always good. For example, one day I got in line for a hamburger.
Normally there was someone to give you a plate and put whatever kind of bun on it for you. This day there
was no one there so you had to reach in and get a plate, put a bun on it and then hand it to the person who
was doling out the burgers and hot dogs. Just about the time I reach for a plate, one of the food managers
comes into the serving area. He went up to the one server and in a language I didn't understand had a loud
talk with the server. I could tell the manager asked where the other server was and he only got a shrug of the
shoulders for an answer. Obviously this wasn't the right answer. For he quickly made the server switch to the
bun station while he put your hamburger on the bun. He apologized to me for an problems and said he hoped
I enjoyed my lunch. By the time I put my condiments on my burger, a server appeared and quickly replaced
the manager. But not before he was read the riot act. There was obviously a pecking order going on here
and this food manager wanted no problems in his line. And that's something we saw for the entire two weeks.
Food managers, dining room managers, maitre-ds all going around making sure things were moving along
smoothly. I just appreciated the fact that I wasn't down the chain of command on that ship as a food
handler/server. By the early evening we had seen several more whales which continually delighted us. That
evening's formal night was great. Carol was wearing a gown that I had bought her for Christmas in
anticipation of the cruise. We posed for a formal portrait before dinner. While it was a little pricey, it's a great
memory to have. I noticed that the dining room was about 50/50 in tuxedos vs. dark suits. I chose the dark
suit since I had a couple already for work. I never felt out of place with my suits but one of our dinner table
companions wore a tux each of the three formal nights. The only thing that marred the evening was the
behavior of this tablemate. The previous evening he was told that his travel agent had given him a bottle of
wine by the table's wine steward. He inquired about the wine and said he would like to replace it (upgrade it)
the next night. So when the wine stewardess arrived this evening she asked about what he wanted to do. He
took the wine list and said he wanted a particular wine and that he would pay the difference since he wanted
a more expensive wine. She told him that since the wine was not ordered through Celebrity she would do him
a favor and give him the wine he wanted with a $3.50 difference. He then got into an argument with her about
the prices. He did this at the top of his lungs and certainly gave the impression that his was being screwed by
Celebrity over this deal. The wine stewardess tried to calm him down but by now he was really agitated. The
other four of us at the table wanted to collectively dive under the table since he was embarrassing all of us. I
thought Carlos the waiter was going to have a stroke. He said some pretty ugly things to the stewardess and
she finally said she would get the head wine steward over to try to resolve the matter. So few minutes later
here comes an obviously non-American head sommelier over. He began very deferentially to explain that
since the bottle was delivered from outside the ship and not ordered from the cellars aboard, Celebrity was
doing him a favor of even suggesting a change. He then showed him the price of the travel agent's wine if he
purchased a bottle for dinner and then the price of the bottle this jerk wanted. The price difference was
$3.50. Well, he thought it was too much. Then the sommelier had to explain that there would be a 15%
charge added to the price (just like any other wine you would order). Well, this set off the final explosion. He
said he wasn't going to be robbed by anyone, especially Celebrity. He said it was his 'American' dollars
paying this guy's salary and the wine stewardess' salary and they better know that he knows a vice-president
of line and has his phone number right in his pocket. The head sommelier continued to apologize for this
guy's unhappiness but said that is the best he can do. He offered his name and cabin phone number. This
jerk had him write it out and then they left. Our part of the dining room was completely silent. He continued to
bellow that this isn't what he expected for an upscale line and he would never sail on anything other than
Crystal or Seabourn again. Let me remind you this was an argument over about $5. This is the same guy that
would drink four martinis with dinner each night, and I never saw him without a drink at the show/casino later.
It was also the same guy who was is taking a Crystal cruise next spring to Australia. He told us this story five
times over the two weeks, that the cruise was going to cost $8,000 but since he was a repeat customer the
second person would be free, so that reduced the price to $4,00 for a 29-day cruise which works out to
$137/day. He then would say he loses that much down the seat of his Mercedes each week, so the cruise
would be a bargain. We just couldn't believe he was that nasty over $5 bucks. I just think he was looking at
something to complain about so he could put Celebrity down. He vowed that evening to never drink any more
wine aboard. He kept his promise but I purposely ordered a glass of wine from the wine stewardess for the
next few nights just to rile him. He would always warn me about the cost since I let her recommend the wine.
He would say that she will pick the most expensive one. Well, he was wrong and she did a great job of
matching wine and food without getting me the most expensive. And she maintained her professionalism each
evening when she approached our table although he would stare her down each night. I didn't get her name
but she earned her 15% gratuity. We hoped each night afterwards that he would take his dinner in his suite
but unfortunately he latched onto us so he could protect us first-timers from Celebrity. It's amazing how much
talk can go in one ear and right out the other side. 

The next morning we reached Sitka. I had purchased a walking tour book of Alaskan ports so we were
prepared for the sights. The previous evening the ship was told we would have to tender into Sitka so this
morning would be another new experience. We went to the Celebrity Theater to get a tender number. By the
time we got breakfast, we only had to wait about thirty minutes to board the tender. It was cold and drizzly as
the tender went ashore. We had arrived the same day as a Princess ship. They had arrived earlier and their
tenders were landing downtown while ours landed near the bridge. We got off and went up the hill where the
American flag was first raised when Alaska became a state. We then went to the Alaska Pioneer's Home. The
tour book explained its history and that a gift shop was inside. What they didn't tell you is that it is a active
nursing home. We certainly felt out of place there and the gift shop was pitiful. Carol and I felt that we were
coming uninvited to their home and the tour books should really make you aware of this. When you cross the
street from there the shops begin. It seems that there are either jewelry stores or t-shirt/souvenir shops in
abundance at all the Alaskan ports. We were overwhelmed by the number of jewelry stores. What really blew
our minds was how much jewelry was being bought by cruise passengers. While there were some bargains,
the prices were just as high in the states, but people packed these stores. The souvenir places I can
understand. But after three or four blocks in all the ports, 'shopping' got old. We visited St. Michael's
Orthodox Church which asks for a donation to enter. One of the parish priests gave us a tour. The place was
very interesting and unique. Don't miss it. We walked around a little more and decided to have lunch in town.
We went into a fairly modern building and ate at the Bayview Café which overlooked the harbor. The servers
were friendly and I had the best taco salad ever. Carol got a halibut sandwich which she devoured. We
bought a couple of Sitka sweatshirts and then walked back to the dock. By now the sun had disappeared and
the wind was picking up. We got cold waiting in line for a tender but we were back aboard within thirty
minutes. We both took a hot shower to arm up and then headed up to the Stratosphere Lounge. 

It's a good time to talk about our cabin. We were on the Panorama Deck just about midships. The room was
very quiet and we only heard our next door neighbors once in two weeks and then only heard the room above
us once when the moved their chair on their veranda. We were only about four doors down from the elevator
bank but we never were bothered by that noise. We never heard people slamming their cabin doors as we
had be warned. The shower was great with plenty of hot water and pressure. The toilet wasn’t as noisy as we
thought it would be. There was plenty of closet space. Our three large suitcases easily fit under the bed. The
small sofa was great for watching out the window and TV. Carol loved to take her naps on the couch since it
was pretty cozy. The shampoo and lotion in the bathroom were a nice touch and we both used them. There
was a pitcher of water and ice on our desk. They were both filled in the morning clean-up but never refilled
until we went for late seating dinner. Also the ice bucket was very small, just enough for two glasses of ice.
The fridge was adequate since we bought twelve cans of ginger ale for the trip. We didn't use any of the
items in the honor bar although there was a good selection of wines, beers, soda. What was nice about the
cabin was that we never felt cramped. Did we make a mistake not getting a veranda? No, but I think I would
get one if I were going to a warmer climate where you can sit on deck most days/evenings. I talked to other
people who said they only had used their verandas on the day we went into Hubbard Bay to see the glacier.
We found other spots to be outdoors that didn't cost extra. I guess it's a personal thing so we didn't worry
about having one or not. We were in the Stratosphere Lounge when the ship left Sitka and had a nice
afternoon cruising through the small islands on our way to Skagway. That night's entertainment was a
production called 'The Hollywood Years.' It was pretty good with various special effects. The singers and
dancers were very good. We particularly liked the Celebrity orchestra who managed to play just about any
style throughout the cruise. Turnout for most of the shows with the exception of the Cirque du Galaxy was
light on most nights. Following the show we walked back through the casino and watched some serious
money being wagered. We ended up in the Savoy Night Club to listen to Xtasea. They were very good and
had a lot of nice songs for easy listening and dancing. One of the waiters in the Savoy was especially friendly
and made sure we had a good table each time we came in. He knew we wanted to be towards the back away
from any smokers so he always showed up when we walked in and led us to an ideal table. Again, there were
a few crew how actually seemed to enjoy taking care of the people aboard. 

When we awoke the next morning we were making the final miles to Skagway up the Lynn Canal. We pulled in
promptly at 7:00 a.m. to find the Mercury already there. The skies were threatening and a light rain was
falling. We chose the breakfast buffet and then returned to the room to 'layer up' for the rain and cold. We
had purchased the White Pass Railroad excursion and were due on the pier at 8:15 a.m. Surprisingly the big
crowd of people had already left and we walked off essentially alone. As soon as we hit the end of the
gangway an entertainment staff member was there to direct us to the train car which was located right on the
pier. We noted it was raining pretty well by now but we took the time to walk down and view the Mercury which
was berthed just ahead of us. It certainly is the twin of the Galaxy. By this time people were boarding the train.
We really enjoyed this excursion. When time came for the train to start up the weather had improved to where
the sun was out and the rain had disappeared. There were two trains moving up to the pass, one for the
Mercury and one for the Galaxy. This gave us some great photos as we moved higher and higher. The
narrator did a good job and constantly keep us informed. Snacks were serve on the way up and we all
enjoyed the big, clean windows. The cars were heated and were very comfortable. The round trip took about
three hours and we were soon deposited back at the ship. We paid $89 each but the trip was well worth it. I've
heard people saying to get the tickets on your own. You will save only about $8 and have to take the
afternoon train from the station in town. So go ahead and buy the excursion through the ship. We made it in
time for lunch and then got a free shuttle into town. There's not much to Skagway except a couple of older
buildings and a huge number of shops. We explored for a couple of hours and then returned to the ship. We
were up on deck for the remainder of the afternoon and watched one of the Alaskan ferries pull in. Soon the
ship's whistle sounded and we were backing out of our berth. We swung around and headed down the Lynn
Canal and then watched the Mercury do the same ballet. But to our surprise, the Mercury charged ahead of
us and moved down the Canal. By dusk we were passing some great scenery. We also saw our first orcas
during the afternoon. As we passed St. Edmund's lighthouse the rain began and the wind picked up. But we
were having a great time viewing the scenery. We passed a huge glacier in the mountains and continued to
see orcas the rest of the night. Since we were stayed on deck late, we missed our late seating dinner. We
ordered room service and got two very good sandwiches, soup, chips, cookies and coffee. The confusion on
ordering was still there but by now we knew the routine. It was very nice sitting in our room having a private
meal together. 

The next morning we woke up with the ship already tied up to the dock in Juneau. As we looked out the
window, we saw directly across from us, a huge eagle sitting in a tree looking back at us. What a neat
experience. We began looking around and saw many of these eagles sitting in the pines on the sides of Mt.
Roberts. We ate breakfast at the open seating avoiding the feeding frenzy in the Oasis Café. This was
especially nice this morning since there were no crowds and we were the only ones at our table. Carol had an
omelet which she said was very good. I had the eggs Benedict which were also good. There's a waiter who
circulates constantly with pastries and he overheard me saying how great this one apple pastry was. He soon
returned with three more for me. When I told him I couldn't eat them he said he would put them in a napkin for
me to take back to the room. Like I said before, there were some of the staff who really tried to make us feel
special and he was one of them. Since we had bought the afternoon excursion to the Mendenhall Glacier we
weren't in any hurry to leave the ship. So we got our rain gear on since there was a slight drizzle coming down
as we left the ship. We went directly across the street to start going through the shops. Again, the shop
keepers were friendly and took time with the customers. Carol collects 'Cats Meow' items and was looking for
something Alaskan in the Cats Meow line. All the stores we asked said they didn't carry them but thought that
someone else did. We finally went in a store and the lady was great. She said she knew all about them but no
one in Juneau handled them but she thought someone in Ketchikan did. She got out a Ketchikan phone
directly and found the shop. She wrote it all out for us and was just overall very nice. Carol bought a
lighthouse hooked rug and some prints from her. Packing the hooked rug for the return was a real trip.
Anyway we explored the rest of downtown Juneau. Lots of shops but not much of anything else. We soon
were queuing up for the 1:30 p.m. bus trip of Juneau and the Mendenhall Glacier. Our drive was Jason who
was in his second season of doing tours. He was really fun and informative. He took us to the salmon
hatchery, the campus of The University of Alaska Southeast, and pointed out many fascinating facts about
Juneau. We finally arrived at the Mendenhall Glacier Park. We went to the visitor center and then out onto the
scenic walkway. In spite of the glacier's recent regression it still was awe inspiring. There was a lot of ice in
the lake below the glacier showing its deep blue color. The glacier was pretty dirty, emphasizing its ability to
carve its way down the mountain. We were soon headed back to the ship and departure. The Princess ship
had already pulled out along with the Mercury. We moved down the inland waters and we had a nice dinner
followed by the Cirque du Galaxy. The singers and dancers again did a wonderful job along with the flyers
and tumblers. This show created the loudest applause of the whole cruise. Following the show we spent a
little time in the Savoy lounge and then were able to bundle up and walk outside. We were unable to see the
almost full moon because of the clouds but the silence of the shop moving through the dark waters was great.

We awoke the next morning to find the ship rolling severely. I went outside to see what was going on and
instead of being in the Inside Passage we were out at sea. I returned to the room to find Carol very sick. She
just kept saying, 'Inside Passage, like a lake, huh.' By now I was pretty upset. I started walking around the
ship looking for an officer our staff member. I finally ran into an officer with two stripes on his arm. He paused
long enough for me to ask why we were not calmer waters. He shrugged his shoulders and said there's a rain
storm and it will be a little rocky for a couple of hours. I asked if the stabilizers were working. He said he
thought they were. Then without any further explanation, he turned and walked away. I could have strangled
him. Here I was on a ship that was supposedly 'simply the best' and I couldn't get a civil answer about
something that was ruining our expensive vacation that I had taken 15 years to convince my wife to get on.
Now she was up in the cabin ready to puke her guts out. I knew it was useless going to the Customer Service
desk so I just went back to the cabin. As I was approaching the door, the stewardess came up next to me and
asked if we were headed for breakfast. I said no Carol was sick and for them to please not disturb us. She
said okay. I put the 'do not disturb' sign on the door and went in. Carol had taken her morning Meclizine pill
and we made sure the patch was in place. She told me to go on to breakfast she would be okay. The ship
was scheduled to reach Ketchikan at 11:00 a.m. so it was only a couple of more hours to put up with the
motion. So I left for breakfast. Following that I went to the library to do the morning quiz and after about an
hour I returned to the room. Carol was on the sofa and she proceeded to tell me the stewardess and
assistant steward had come into the room four time since I left to clean up. By now I was irate. I went out to
find them, of course, futile. I found another steward and asked for the head room steward. I knew there was
someone like this since we had received a note that he was to receive a tip at the end of the cruise. Well this
little fellow went looking for him. Thirty minutes later no head steward. I saw the first steward again and asked
if the head steward was coming up. He said no, he would call us later. Again, so much for the great service.
Perhaps I should have been like the rest of the passengers and gone down to the Guest relations desk and
created a scene. But no, I just went back and held carol's hand. Thank the Lord we pulled up to the dock 45
minutes later. As soon as the gangway was in place Carol said she had to get off the ship. We literally ran
down to the gangway and exited out into a real rainstorm. Carol didn't care, the ground wasn't moving. We
soon had walked the length of Ketchikan, gone over to Creek Street and then found the Cats Meow Shop.
Carol was feeling much better by now and she bought a couple of collectors pieces and finally felt that her
shopping was complete. We always buy a Cats Meow piece on all of our trips. When the clerk was ringing up
our purchases Carol asked about a good place in town for lunch. The lady told her about several places and
types of restaurants. Carol explained all she wanted was a good hamburger. The clerk said there was a
hole-in-the-wall place directly across from the cruise dock next to the viaduct tunnel called 'Burger Queen.'
They supposedly had the biggest hamburger in town and the onion rings were to die for. Well, we walked
back from downtown past the ship and found this place. It was clean, the waitress was friendly and the
burgers and onion rings tasted like a dream. We pigged out and Carol laughed for the first time that day
when we realized that we were sitting in a cheap hamburger place looking at the ship we paid over$5,000 for
a cruise which supposedly had the best food of any cruise line, enjoying a basic hamburger. I had to laugh
too. We goofed around for another hour going back through some of the shops but didn't buy anything. We
reboarded and went up to the Sky Deck again to watch the ship pull out. Ketchikan I think is a little overrated
as a cruise stop unless you were to take some of the flying excursions. Most of those had been cancelled that
day because of the weather so that left walking around town the only activity. We went below and began
readying ourselves for the third and last formal evening. This was the prime rib, lobster tail entrée night. I had
the lobster tail and it was very good. Carol ordered the prime rib and she complained that it was mostly fat.
Carlos the waiter sensed she was unhappy and asked if he could get her another piece of prime rib. The
other lady at the table also said hers was pretty bad. He got them another piece and that prime rib was a little
better. I was tempted to get another lobster tail but I talked myself out of it. I was satisfied and comfortable
and didn't want to stuff myself. I notice several other tables enjoying several lobster tails, so I could have.
When the entrees had been served and cleaned up, the waiters disappeared. We soon understood why.
There was a big production of introducing the dining room staff, chefs, maitre'ds , etc. After this
uncomfortable show which most of us understood it was getting time for us to think about tips, the baked
Alaska was served. It was very good and the first time for Carol and I. Carlos gave us bigger pieces than the
others and smiled that he hoped we enjoyed it. Of course, our buddy at the table had to explain that the only
reason Carlos did it was to get a bigger tip. Love it when someone tries to ruin a good mood. So after dinner,
Carlos gave us the info about the Grand Buffet at midnight. Now on previous nights, the were 'Gourmet Bits'
each night were different foods were distributed throughout the ships public rooms. We never got to any of
these so I can't say they were good or bad. We took the tour before the actually buffet began. The dining was
very beautiful and things looked great but we just weren't hungry enough to stand in line again to get in. So
we turned in with the pledge to get up and pack early. 

The next day was supposedly a day cruising the Inside Passage. Of course, morning found us far out at sea.
It took until almost 3:00 for us to enter into the sheltered areas of the passage. I gave up asking about our
course. This brings about another idea for Celebrity. With the fancy TV Celebrity System, it would be nice to
be able to dial up a station which gave the weather forecast for the day, current temperature and position of
the ship. We really never knew where we were most of the time. Carol ignored the rolling with a determined
effort as we started to pack. Without requiring a new piece of luggage we got everything back into the
suitcases and remembered to leave out clothes for the next day. I went to the morning disembarkation lecture
in the Celebrity Theater. The Cruise Director, Todd Ferguson, was giving the talk. Surprisingly, the Theater
was full. The first part of the talk involved a detailed description of the suggested tipping policy, filling out the
rating cards for the overall cruise and the entertainment rating. Todd made it very clear that unless we put
down and 'excellent' for each area on the overall cruise experience, 'Celebrity has failed.' Well, Todd, old
buddy, I can't say the ship got an excellent in most areas. He then asked everyone who wasn’t a member of
the Captain's Club to consider joining before leaving tomorrow. He explained what this program provided:
room upgrades, repeat cruiser cocktail party, priority embarkation/disembarkation, etc. Remember this for a
little later. Anyway, he then explained the disembarkation procedure. Basically we would receive luggage
tags, disembarkation numbers in our rooms later in the day. He said the numbers went up to around 30 but
they didn't necessarily call them in order. He also said Captain's Club members wouldn't necessarily get off
before anyone else since disembarkation didn't work that way. Remember he just said that we ought to buy
into the Club for priority disembarkation. Do I smell rip-off here? He finally described where we should
assemble in the morning making sure we understood that we needed to be out of the room by 8:00 a.m. He
then said he would be available after the talk to answer specific questions. Well, with that he said the talk was
over. I was still unclear if we had to get our luggage on the pier and make sure it got onto the bus for the
airport or not since he was unclear about this. So I went in got in line. There were about 20 people would
gathered at the front of the theater to, ask him a question. Along with him was the Asst. cruise Director named
Chris. Once the line had formed I began to hear the questions most people were asking. It had to do with the
same concern I had. Anyway, this guy is blowing off many of the questions. His non-verbal signs were
showing he was done with us and we were someone else's problem now that our cruise was mostly over. I
heard over and over again, 'Celebrity doesn't control that, If you are unhappy I guess you can contact our
home office, Sorry but I can't help you, etc.' After thirty minutes, I had about five people ahead of me and
about the same number behind me. About this time they wanted to start the bingo game in the Theater. So he
stood up and said that we needed to move to the back of the theater where he would continue to ask
questions. So being the good cruiser I dutifully followed the people ahead of me led by the Asst. cruise
director toward the back of the theater. As we looked back the people behind us had stopped Todd and he
was staying there and answering their questions. Now I know some of you will think this is petty but this
behavior just set me off. I wasn't alone in this sentiment as the people ahead of me looked around and saw
him doing this. One gentleman ahead of me asked the other asst. cruise director what this was all about. He
replied that 'Todd will be right with you, what's your hurry?' Finally after answering the other people's
questions, here comes Todd. By now you can tell he is totally disinterested. The first thing he says is that he
only has a few minutes, so make it quick, he has another appointment. Well, The guy ahead of me says to
hell with you, I don't need this and walks away. Todd never blinks an eye and asks me 'What's your problem?'
I told him I was sorry I was causing him a problem being there but I wanted to know about the luggage on the
pier. He draws in a deep breath and says I'm have answered that same question ten times already. I told him
in that case you must realize you didn't do too good of a job during the talk explaining that important fact. He
they gave me the answer I had now waited almost an hour to hear. I started to walk away but turned and
asked him if he thought his actions during the last hour were 'excellent.' He rolled his eyes and didn't answer.
I went back to the cabin and filled out the rating cards, put the luggage tags on and walked around the decks
to cool off. Hey, I would expect to be treated that way by the night porter in a Motel 8, but a cruise director
talking to a passenger like this? Sorry, guys, Celebrity surely lost my vote on that morning. Carol and I finally
went up on deck and tried to enjoy our last day. The ship was fairly stable once we re-entered the Inside
Passage. We took a nice afternoon nap and then Carol started working on the tips. Well, Carlos and Pedro,
got good tips. The room stewardess got 50% of the recommended tip and we put a 410 bill in for the maitre'd
for his anniversary celebration he did for us. The head room steward got zip for his failure to appear on the
day I needed to talk to him. So with our tip envelopes dutifully stuffed. We went to our last dinner. Sure
enough we had only been seated a few minutes when the maitre'd appeared for his envelope. We were the
only ones who tipped him at our table. It was uncomfortable watching him stand around to see if anyone else
was going to slip him an envelope, finally he took off. Then we gave Carlos and Pedro their envelops between
courses. I think they were both generally thankful even without looking to see what they got. With that done
we made one last walk on deck to see the lights of Victoria in the distance. Our luggage was in the hallway by
10:00 p.m. We went to bed early knowing that the next day would be a strain; little did we know. 

We got up at 6:00 a.m. and prepared to leave. We went to the breakfast buffet and had a light breakfast and
watched our fellow cruisers get one last stuffing. There were lots of pastries disappearing into handbags. We
went back to the cabin and arrived at the Celebrity Theater at 8:00 a.m. At 8:45 the first number was called.
As we were warned there was no rhythm or reason about how the numbers were called. We had lucky
number 22. Finally at 10:45 our number was called. You know it would have been nice if they would have had
coffee/juice available for those who were waiting. And I don't want to be told they were getting ready for the
new passengers. As we were exiting the ship, we saw them sitting up coffee for those waiting to board.
Anyway, we left the ship into the Ballantrye terminal. We then stood in a line with two other disembarkation
number groups. We had our Celebrity transfer vouchers collected and were told that things were running a
little behind since the number of buses were not enough because both the Mercury and Galaxy pulled in at
the same time. Now I was beginning to get a little agitated. I was standing in a very long line that moved ahead
every ten minutes as a bus arrived. Our flight left Vancouver at 1:00 p.m. It was now 11:00 a.m. We finally got
on the bus, our luggage was supposedly already at the airport waiting for us to pick it up. The buss pulled out
at 11:15. The driver said it would take 45 minutes to get to the airport. I swear he avoided any expressways
on the way to the airport. We were on a main street through all of Vancouver. We were going so slow that the
regular city transit buses were going faster than we were. We pulled into the airport and were told to go to a
certain area and claim our luggage. It was now, 12:10 p.m. I will say the luggage was all there in the proper
place. We got a luggage cart and raced to the American Airlines check-in. Things were going smooth as we
went through US customs, immigration and paid the departure tax. We then were just a few gates away from
where our flight was to leave. Since this is a cruise review I won't go into the flight home and all the problems
we encountered with the bad weather in Dallas/Fort Worth. Suffice it to say we were supposed to leave
Vancouver at 1:00 p.m. and get into Knoxville, TN at 11:00 p.m. local time. We got in at 6:00 a.m. the next
morning and considered ourselves lucky to get out of DFW even at that late hour. Surprisingly our luggage
kept up with us all the way back. We got into the car and headed home. We had been travelling home for 24
hours. Not a good ending for our cruise review. 

In summary, most of the cruise and our experiences were good and about what we expected. The food,
entertainment, excursions were great. We ignored for the most part those who wanted to constantly complain
and had a lot of fun laughing at them. We gritted our teeth when they made us feel we were in their way, etc.
The majority of the cruise staff was either unfriendly or just appeared uninterested in helping us have a good
time. This was especially true for the cruise director and the ship's officers I encountered. And this was not
what we expected. True, we did not expect 'The Love Boat' type crew, but we did expect to see a smile once
in awhile and maybe a 'good Morning. ' the cabin and ship were truly beautiful, well-maintained and constantly
being cleaned. The room stewardess was nothing like we expected. We thought she would have been
someone to help us out and make sure things were going okay. Like I said before we didn't see her for two
days. She also made us feel we slowed her day down by not getting out of the cabin by 7:30 am each
morning. The stabilization for the whole cruise was unsatisfactory. I suspect that either they weren't using it or
it was broken. And that single factor ruined the cruise for my wife and therefore myself. In retrospect, I have to
say that if you are even somewhat bothered by motion-sickness in a car/plane, seriously think twice about a
cruise. I know many of you will say that a cruise in the Pacific is going to be rough and Caribbean cruises are
better to go on. Yes, that may be the case but even with the patch, prescription strength drugs, the ship
rocked entirely too much even when we were in fairly calm seas. And maybe a repositioning cruise in the
Pacific should not have been the cruise we took. Okay, but when we chose this cruise we wanted to see
Alaska not the Caribbean. This whole problem while it is one of a personal nature, I still think someone would
have asked if they could really do something to help. A change of dining room position or even a shift to first
seating should have been something that was offered, but the staff obviously had other fish to fry. 

I'm sorry if I haven't given Celebrity a great review. I have been honest without exaggeration. It just seems that
our experience must have been a minority opinion since I had only heard great things about the Celebrity
experience. I am not saying that I wouldn't recommend others to sail on Celebrity but I will say be very careful
of this repositioning cruise next year. It was a great bargain but saving a little money isn't the only thing. 

Back to Celebrity Galaxy

Want to book your cruise at a great rate? Click here.
Questions or comments? Mail to webmaster@cruiseopinion.com.
Copyright ©1996-2001 CruiseOpinion.com. Last modified: June 05, 2000.