celebrity-galaxy15

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: k fried
Email: creatability4u@hotmail.com
Age: 40
Occupation: writer
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 12/23/00 to 12/30/00
Itinerary: San Juan, St Croix, St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua,
Cabin: 4050
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 99
CabinComfort: 75
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 50
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 70
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 99
CabinSteward: 60
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 100
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 88
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 65
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 40
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization:
ShopsOnBoard: 50
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 02 Jan 2001
Time: 12:20:12
Remote Name: 63.88.108.34
Remote User:

Comments

Our Background: This was our third Celebrity Cruise - Previously had been on the Century and the Mercury.
We had also tried Royal Caribbean once, and returned to Celebrity. We traveled with two senior citizens, my
parents. (Overall the Century won hands down when comparing the three ships.)

Overall Impression We felt it was a very enjoyable cruise. Because we had been on others, we were able to
compare it - If it had been our first cruise, the ship and all that was part of the cruise would have been a
100%.

The islands were interesting...each offering something unique. We all strongly suggest the excursions - they
are easy to book and well worth the money. If you want to see Buck Island - register as soon as you get on
the ship. There are only enough places for about 70 people - we tried the first day at about 7 p.m. and it was
already sold out. If that is sold out, I recommend the catamaran sail and snorkeling - lovely and fun. If you
have your own gear, I rec'd taking it for comfort and to ensure it fits!

On Barbados, if you have never seen a cave - go see it! We had been to Marvel Cave, the third largest in the
U.S., and it did not compare to this cave- but get ready for at least a 45-minute wait - it is in demand, but
worth it.

St. Lucia's high point is the Pitons and volcano - you got to see the bubbling lava - if you've never seen a live
volcano- We opted to go back to the ship via catamaran - and it was well worth it - a lovely escape and a
thoroughly beautiful site along St. Lucia's beaches. Drinks included along with the usual rum punch.

There were only a few negatives, which we would not have realized if we had never cruised before - The most
obvious was our dinner waiter and his staff. They were so rushed; there was no time for a pleasant hello. We
could never figure out if it was that this particular group was inexperienced or just confused...In the past, the
waiter has entertained the children at the table with animals made from folded napkins, and funny kids jokes.
Although brief, this helped the table get off to a fun atmosphere each evening. On this cruise, that never
occurred. We were at a horrible location with an over hurried and exhausted waiter. Table 512 - watch out. It
was against the wall - in a corner, by the kitchen - so there was no view of the flaming Bananas Foster - since
we had seen that a few times before, it didn't bother us, but it did upset the children and others. It was so
crowded against the wall; we had to pass plates from the waiter....

The other negative was the children's program - Or, as our tablemates from Pittsburgh said, "What kids
program?" It was unorganized and basically not a program. However, when we did bump into the counselors
they were extremely friendly and seem happy to be with the small group of children they had along with them.

Overall I would say this is a great cruise for all ages - especially if you've already seen most of the islands in
the east and west - this southern itinerary is super!

My last words of advise:

Take a big glass for soda or juice or drinks - with a lid - for the pool or to carry around Take a hat - even if
you look funny - people that were burnt were miserable Take a blow dryer - the one in the bathrooms is very
weak and the cord becomes extremely hot - we had to wrap a towel around ours Take Shampoo - the stuff
they give you toughens up your hair Take along a great attitude and you'll have an absolute ball!

Please feel free to e-mail questions: creatability4u@hotmail.com

Name: Jenn Wooster
Email: wooster@innercite.com
Age: 29
Occupation: Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: Jan 20th
Itinerary: So. Caribbean
Cabin: 1114
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 87
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 82
DiningRoomService: 92
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 98
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 89
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 92
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 82
DeckSpace:
Stabilization: 92
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 91
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Jan 2001
Time: 22:19:39
Remote Name: host-44-95.dsl.innercite.com
Remote User:

Comments

We sailed the Galaxy at the end of January and the weather was perfect. Since we had taken a few cruises
before we knew that we did not want to use the shore excursions for the most part and did not use all of the
ships facilities. We chose this ship/cruise line since the food was supposed to be great and it had the itinerary
we wanted.

Since our expectations were very high so we were disappointed. The food was of the same quality as our
cruise on the Monarch (RCL) the previous year. The staff seemed serious and a little sad: there was no joking
with waiters or towel folding in the rooms. The age group was much older than we had expected. More than
75% of the boat were over 50. There were still plenty of other couples in our age group to chat with. This was
not a party boat atmosphere, but I will say that there was still plenty to do. The evening activities were geared
towards this age group, but we enjoyed this as well. There were loads of areas we did not use like the cigar
bar, champagne bar or caviar bar. These were very elegant.

On the postive side, it was quiet and easy to sleep on this boat. Our room was upgraded and we paid less on
this cruise than on our others so we felt it was an excellent value. The room was well-designed and we
appreciated the thick robes and the hair dryer. The food in the late afternoon and high tea were great.

The islands were great. I have a few recommendations: Antigua has some incredible beaches and Nelson's
Dockyard was amazing. Barbados has lots of plantations, nature areas, caves, etc. St. Thomas and St. John
have everything! St. Croix was a little sleepy, but cute all the same, recommend gettting a rental car here,
only $38 a day with no surcharges for licenses, etc. Can't remember the name of the rental place, but ask
anyone when you get off to point you to the way. You can't book it easily head of time, it is a local place not
well advertised. St. Lucia was beautiful and there were several good tours for this.

If I wanted a quiet time or if I were retired, I would try Celebrity again. I'm sure there would have been more
families during vacation times.I think for us, we would travel with them again if the price is right and the itinary
is right, but for the money would prefer a different line.

Name: Mike Kauffman
Email: Kauffman6214@prodigy.net
Age: 47
Occupation: Financial Analyst
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 2-3-01
Itinerary: Southern Caribbean
Cabin: 8269/3
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 50
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 0
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Feb 2001
Time: 19:34:50
Remote Name: a010-0876.hrbg.splitrock.net
Remote User:

Comments

OVERALL

My wife and I had the pleasure of vacationing on the February 3, 2001 sailing of the Celebrity Galaxy
Southern Caribbean itinerary. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary on the cruise.

This was our fifth cruise overall, but the first on Celebrity. We have also cruised on Carnival (twice),
NCL, and Royal Caribbean. Of our five cruises, this was definitely the best one. We felt that the food,
service, and the entertainment were superior to any of our previous cruises. We feel that Celebrity’s
reputation of having better food compared to the other mass-market lines is well deserved.

FLIGHTS

We did not book our trip until after Christmas, as we also considering going to a land resort in Mexico,
Jamaica, or Aruba. When we made the reservations for the trip, we had originally booked an air/sea
package thru Celebrity, flying out of Harrisburg, PA into San Juan. Since we booked only six weeks
before the cruise, we made full payment at the time of the booking. We received a great rate of $699
per person for a Category 9 inside cabin on the ninth deck, with an additional $517 for the airfare.

A few weeks before our sailing date, I called my travel agent to check to see if the flights for the cruse
had been assigned yet. She checked with Celebrity and called me back, saying she had some "good
news and bad news". The bad news was that Celebrity had canceled our original reservation and
could not secure bulk airfare out of Harrisburg for us. When the credit card was given to Celebrity for
final payment, the Celebrity agent failed to perform a final step to accept the payment, and the
reservation was automatically canceled after one week. The good news was that Celebrity realized that
it was their mistake, and would be upgrading us to a Category 3 outside cabin, and would include
transfers from the airport to the ship and the return trip to the airport without charge.

Since Celebrity could not acquire bulk airfare on such short notice between Harrisburg and San Juan,
our travel agent checked the fares and found it would be about $750 from Harrisburg. Since airfares
are more expensive out of a small airport such as Harrisburg, we booked nonstop flights from
Washington Dulles (about 100 miles from our house) on United for $572. The flights to and from San
Juan were uneventful and on time during both legs, with the return flight into Dulles arriving 30 minutes
early. The flight to San Juan was 100% full, while the flight back to Dulles had a few empty seats. Each
flight featured a full length movie, and choice of a hot entree for meals.

Embarkation was very easy, with no lines at check-in. No more than five minutes after stepping off of
the bus, we were on the ship and heading towards our cabin.

CABIN

As previously mentioned, we ended up with a Category 3 cabin on the 8th deck aft, cabin 8269.
Celebrity calls this cabin a 'Deluxe Ocean View with Picture Window'. It is much larger than a standard
outside cabin, and features two bedrooms, one with a queen size bed (not two twins pushed together),
plus three single beds in the other bedroom. It also has a large window overlooking the back of the
ship.

This was a great cabin in a terrible location. The additional room in the cabin was very nice. However,
the cabin is located at the very back of the ship, directly above the Savoy nightclub. At night, we could
hear the group playing in the nightclub below us. This was not a major drawback, as most nights we
were in the nightclub enjoying the music and dancing. By the time we went to the cabin to go to bed,
we were so tired we would fall asleep almost immediately.

The problem with the cabin was that it was located above the aft thrusters used to position the ship
when entering or leaving a port. I had read about this in other reviews, and the claims were not
exaggerated. When these thrusters were in use, the rear of the ship and our cabin vibrated violently.
The drawers in the dressers and the sliding door between the bedrooms would open, and our toiletries
on the bathroom shelves would be knocked over. It would also awaken us each morning earlier than
we had planned. Since we only paid $699 each for the cabin for the week, it wasn’t enough to ruin the
trip. I pity the passengers who pay the premium price for a Category 3 cabin and have the same
experience that we did. The Orion Dining Room, which also is located in the rear of the ship,
experienced the same vibrations, with glasses and silverware vibrating and rattling on the tables.

Our cabin steward was very efficient. Towels were replenished at least twice per day, and our water
pitcher and ice bucket were always full.

MEALS

The meals on the Galaxy were the best we have ever had on a cruise. The dinners in the Orion Dining
Room were all excellent. Each night there was a choice of three or four appetizers, three soups, two
salads, five entrees, and several deserts. The entrees would always include a seafood dish, a pasta
entree, and some type of beef. The other two choices would vary among other choices including pork,
veal, chicken, and turkey. Lobster Tails were on the menu on the second formal night, and they were
large tails. Many passengers ordered two of the tails for their entree. For an appetizer, Shrimp Cocktail
of some variation was offered three or four different nights.

Service in the main dining room was good. Our waiter and assistant were both thorough and
competent.

The meals in the Oasis Cafe were also very good. We ate all of our breakfasts and lunches in this
area. The breakfasts would include several hot items served buffet style, a large array of fresh fruits,
baked goods, and hot and cold cereals. Each morning there also was a station preparing either fresh
omelets or waffles. Lunch choices included many hot items, a large choice of salads, fresh soup, and
fruit. The outdoor grill by the swimming pool also offered hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, and pizza
for lunch. Service in the cafe was very good. Waiters would carry the trays of the female passengers
and anyone else who needed assistance. Waiters would also circulate the cafe during breakfast
refilling coffee mugs. When we were finished with breakfast or lunch, our trays and plates would be
promptly removed from the table.

ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment on this cruise was excellent. The shows in the Celebrity Theater were all very good to
excellent. The band in the Savoy Nightclub, Xtasea, was the best Caribbean style band we have heard
on a cruise, and they also played on the pool deck many times.

The Celebrity Theater is well designed. The are no support poles obstructing views. The theater has
two levels, and we never had trouble finding two or four seats in the center of the first level. Three
production shows were presented during the week. The set designs and costumes were very
attractive. The singers and dancers were all first-rate.

The shows on two separate nights featured Garin Bader and David Lucas. Bader is a pianist and
magician. His first show was much better than I expected with a good mix of classical and contemporary
music. His second show featured his magic and illusions, along with a few musical numbers. Lucas is
juggler and comedian. His comedy routines had the audience laughing and his juggling ability was
second to none.

One of the evenings featured the violinist Dominique Starosta. Much like Garin Bader, I enjoyed her
much more than I expected. She also performed a wide variety of music from classical to country to the
theme song from the Harlem Globetrotters, Sweet Georgia Brown.

The production shows and the music of Garin Bader and Dominique Starosta featured Louis Lemay &
the Celebrity Orchestra as backup. This orchestra performed flawlessly and was a welcome addition to
the shows.

The ship also featured musical duos in the Stratosphere and Rendezvous Lounges. However, I cannot
comment on these, as we did not visit these lounges when they were performing.

ITINERARY

This was a Southern Caribbean itinerary, beginning and ending in San Juan. Ports-of-Call were St.
Croix, St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, and St. Thomas. There was only one day at sea.

The first stop was St. Croix. We chose the ship’s excursion to Buck Island for snorkeling. When I first
received the cruise documents, I noticed this shore excursion was priced at $55. I immediately thought
I could get a tour to Buck Island locally for less cost. However, after researching information about St.
Croix, I realized that the National Park Service controlled access to the island, and only a select few
tour operators were permitted to take customers to the island, and times of the independent tour
operators did not match the ship’s arrival and/or departure time. The tour was well worth the money.
The snorkeling was the best we have ever experienced. The reef was large and colorful. We saw more
fish around this reef than any other previous locations. The guides were very experienced and helpful.
The 30 minute boat ride to and from the island was relaxing.

The second stop was St. Lucia. We took the 7 hour Land & Sea Tour, which cost $70. One other
reviewer said it was the best excursion he had ever taken, and we agree with his comments. The tour
was a combination catamaran ride and bus trip. The first three or four hours were spent sailing on the
catamaran, including stopping at a cove for one hour to swim, snorkel, or lounge on the beach. The
trip on the catamaran included complimentary fresh fruit, soft drinks, and a wicked rum punch called
"Jungle Juice". The catamaran ride included impressive views of the twin Pitons. After sadly leaving the
catamaran, we boarded buses for the return trip back to the ship. The buses made stops at an active
volcano, a botanical gardens, and a plantation for a delicious native lunch.

The following day was spent in Barbados. My wife had read about a wildlife preserve that had rare
green monkeys roaming throughout it. We decided to take a taxi to the preserve. We found a cab
outside of the terminal, and agreed upon a price of $40 for the round-trip. The cab ride to the
preserve took 30-45 minutes, and the admission price was $23 for the two of us. However, there were
no monkeys to be found, as they leave the preserve in the morning and head into the jungle for the
day, returning about 4:00 for their feeding. Although there were no monkeys, there was lots of other
wildlife, including deer, peacocks, flamingos, turtles, and iguanas freely roaming about. After we spent
about 90 minutes in the preserve, our cab driver took us on an island tour back to the ship, including
stops along the Atlantic Ocean side of the island, where the surf is very rough and at St. Johns church,
which is the oldest church on the island and sits on a hill overlooking the Caribbean. Barbados also
had a small shopping mall across the street from the terminal that featured a store full of pay
telephones. Several of the phones were direct connections to AT&T, which allowed us to use our
calling card to phone home to check in with our daughter.

The next day was a relaxing day at sea. The weather in the morning was cloudy with one or two brief
showers. I think the captain noticed bad weather ahead of us, as he stopped the ship in the middle of
the sea for about an hour while some dark clouds passed in front of the ship. The afternoon turned out
sunny and hot, with great music by Xtasea by the pool.

Thursday was spent in Antigua. We spent the day at the beach located at the Royal Antiguan Hotel,
which was gorgeous. The resort is definitely the nicest we have seen. The cab ride was $12 each way.
There was no admission charge to use the beach, as the hotel is located on a public beach. There
were jet skis, parasailing, and water skiing available for rentals. The hotel had a nice beach bar and
restaurant, and lounge chairs were available for non-hotel guests for $5 each.

Our last day was spent in St. Thomas. We are not big shoppers, and therefore not big fans of St.
Thomas. If the cruise ships did not stop in the port, we would not be at all disappointed. In the morning,
we walked the mile or so into town and spent a few minutes walking along the streets. For the
afternoon, we went snorkeling at Coki Beach, since we have been to Megan’s Bay in the past. The
snorkeling was good at Coki Beach, but not as good as Buck Island. The beach itself was
disappointing, as is was small, rocky, and not very clean. My wife and I decided the next time we are in
St. Thomas, we will make the walk into town for the exercise, and spend the rest of the day on the
deserted ship.

SUMMARY

Overall, this was an excellent cruise, the best we have had. Even though every room in the ship was
occupied, it did not seem crowded. There was always plenty of areas to go for quiet and solitude

Name: Brian Kimsey
Email: jbkimsey@excite.com
Age: 47
Occupation: architect
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: February 3, 2001
Itinerary: Southern Caribbean
Cabin: 1138 / 2
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 93
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 88
CabinAmenities: 93
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 92
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 75
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 75
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 93
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Mar 2001
Time: 16:50:30
Remote Name: host.159-142-40-177.gsa.gov
Remote User:

Comments

The food was good, on a par with Princess and other main line cruise lines. However, it was not the
gourmet fare that Celebrity touts in their advertisements. The lack of seasoning is understandable
when cooking for 2000 passengers, I suppose, but it is difficult to excite one's taste buds without
spices.

The dining room service was slightly less impressive than the services we experienced recently on the
Sun Princess. However, the section supervisors in the dining room were very involved with their
guests, and we found this to be a nice aspect of the service.

Our cabin steward got off to a slow start when we could not find him on our first day. Then, it took two
days for us to switch the bottle of white wine our travel agent sent us for a bottle of red. It took another
full day to get a corkscrew!

The ship itself was very attractive and upscale. The public rooms were tastefully furnished.

Overall the shore excursions were well planned - with one notable exception. The Power Catamaran
snorkeling trip off of Antigua proved to be a visit to a sand spit right outside of the harbor. We could
almost have swum there! The tour was billed as a way to see some of the island, and reach an
out-of-the-way snorkeling spot, but ended up being a Jolly Roger cruise in disguise.

Overall, we had a nice time, and the deep southern Caribbean itinerary gave us a taste of several
islands we had not seen before.

Name: Dean R. Dvorak
Email: drd0712@aol.com
Age: 41
Occupation: Software Developer
NumberOfCruises: 0
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 3/10/01
Itinerary: Southern Carribean
Cabin: 1163/Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
FoodDiningRoom: 93
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 75
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 60
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 15:45:23
Remote Name: 12.17.95.132
Remote User:

Comments

Cruising on Galaxy with my wife and two teenage children was an incredible and valuable experience. We
sailed with other couples that seemed to enjoy the nightlife, which we tended to avoid, being early risers. And
in the aft-cabins, sleeping-in is not an option. The ship vibrates tremendously when entering and leaving port,
even at the level on which our cabin was located (Deck 10). This, however, is not a problem for cabins more
amidships.

The cabin window was of limited value, as the deck is lit at night, preventing a night sky view, while during the
day, darkness was desired for afternoon naps. The extra bunks were comfortable for the teenagers, as well
as adults.

One of the children required medical care for extreme nausea on the first day of the cruise and we were
pleasantly surprised by the expertise and price of the care provided. (She was fine by the second day and
thoroughly enjoyed her first cruise.)

Breakfast and lunch buffets contained a great variety of food - catering to the culinary extremes of
vegetarians and carnivores alike, as well as everyone in between. Evening meal selections were varied,
tasteful and well presented. Service was inconsistent, depending on the assigned waiter. Our table
sometimes was just being cleared of the main course dishes while other diners were already leaving.
However, this was partially due to our excessive banter with our entertaining waiter.

Two of the islands on this cruise, St. Croix and St. Lucia probably are better experienced via organized shore
excursions. The locals were uncomfortably aggressive in their desire to sell trinkets and taxi rides. On St.
Lucia, others in our party were almost defrauded at the end of their $5.00 per hour taxi island tour. Insistence
on the previously agreed upon terms and the involvement of the local police, saved them over $150.00. Be
warned. The other islands, Antique, Barbados and St. Thomas were much friendlier and the citizens more
genuine.

The ship is spacious, with plenty of hideaways for those who are less gregarious. For the sun-loving
socialites, the main pool area was always hopping, while the aft pool area was generally quiet.

Overall, our experience was tremendous on the Galaxy and I highly recommend it.

Name: Glenn ONeill
Email: iriemon@tconl.com
Age: 52
Occupation: Management
NumberOfCruises: 16
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 3/10/01
Itinerary: Deep Caribbean
Cabin: 5038
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 91
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Mar 2001
Time: 21:43:38
Remote Name: tconl78196.tconl.com
Remote User:

Comments

This was our 16th cruise and second one on Celebrity. We have also sailed on Carnival, NCL, RCL and
Holland. Of all of our cruises Celebrity is at the top of our list of being most satisfied As usual everything
was top notch and if you had any requests they were taken care of immediately. I won't go into all the
ports of call if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them via email. We would
have liked it if we had maybe one less port since we really enjoy the time at sea, and on this cruise we
only had one of these. They do offer a wide variety of excursions and we did the ones on BArbados, St.
Lucia and Antigua. All of them were very good and worth the money that it cost The food in the dinning
room and at the buffets were wonderful good selection and tasted great. I can not say that there was
one thing that I ate that I did not like. If you like food and great service this is the line to be on. THe
shows were just OK, nothing spectacular, skipped some of them. THis line is not noted for its shows The
cruise director and staff were great, lots to do, but not overpowering. They let you go at your own pace.
We enjoyed the cruise so much that we booked another cruise for the first week in June on the Century
to the Eastern Caribbean. We have been to all the island before but the cruise will be worth it just to be
treated like a King and Queen! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via
email.

Name: Thurman Smith
Email: roy.smith@checksol.com
Age: 55
Occupation: Systems Programmer
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 3/10/01
Itinerary: Southern Carribean
Cabin: 1132/Premium Ocean View w/veranda
FoodDiningRoom: 70
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 50
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 70
DeckService: 70
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 50
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 20
LoungeService: 70
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Apr 2001
Time: 14:09:29
Remote Name: 64.214.224.90
Remote User:

Comments

This was our 3rd cruise and we enjoyed it very much. The ship was well maintained and the crew
courteous and helpful. They did seem to always be in a rush and acted like they were under a lot of
pressure. The cabin steward was excellent, but the waiter in the main dining room was always in a rush
and did not seem very friendly.

Speaking of the dining room, we were very disappointed in the food and atmosphere. It was crowded
and so noisy that a conversation with tablemates could not be carried on. After hearing how great the
food was on Celebrity ships, we were really surprised that is was no better, and in some cases, worse
than other cruise lines we have used. We were so disappointed that we only ate there three times.

The ports of call were very good. At St. Lucia, take the catamaran and bus combination tour. It is worth
it. We took the caves and flower forest tour at Barbados and it was OK, but not impressive. There is not
much at St. Croix, but shopping for island type clothes is good. St. Thomas is very nice with many things
to do.

We might take a Celebrity cruise again, but I think we will try another cruise line next time.

Name: Lara Roy
Email: lroy@prodigy.net
Age: 26
Occupation: Production Coordinator
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: February 2, 2001
Itinerary: Carribean
Cabin: Inside State Room
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 75
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 75
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 100
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: na
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 75
TenderService: 75
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff: na
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess: na
ExerciseFacilities: na
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon: na
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 75
AirSeaProgram: na
MedicalFacilities: na
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs: 75
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 70
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Apr 2001
Time: 22:55:16
Remote Name: a020-0677.kscy.splitrock.net
Remote User:

Comments

To begin, this is the first cruise my boyfriend and I had ever been on. Of course we wanted everything to
be perfect, so we did everything we could to make sure we didn't forget anything and we did all the
research we could on cruises. Reading cruise opinions really helped in our decision upon Celebrity and
helped in our choices of shore excursions. Anyway, getting to the ship was easy. We were completely
taken care of. The first thing to do is to sign up for your excursions. It's a good idea to figure out what
you want to do before the cruise. The ship set out after dark on the first night. It was absolutely
beautiful. I have to say, however, I am glad I brought dramamine. There were nights where the ship
rocked so badly you could see the pictures moving on the walls. There are also little patches you can
buy to put behind your ear that are very helpful. I wished I had bought one. My boyfriend and I, being 26
and 29 could have gotten a prize for being the youngest couple on the ship. There were couples that
were our age, but they were few and far between.

There were alot of elderly couples and alot of families.
We decided that the next cruise we would go on a cruise designed for middle age couples. Anyway, the
drinks on the ship were reasonably priced and the bartenders were so good. Every meal in the dining
room was a five course meal. We never sat by ourselves, which led us to simply ordering room service
every night. The only problem we had was the first night. The first night there was no room service and
they weren't serving dinner until 9:00. When you have been traveling since 7:a.m. without hardly eating
all day, that is frustrating. You don't eat until they feed you. The dining area was completely full and we
were herded into a different, but just as nice, dining area. It was so crowded and we were so tired. I kept
thinking, when do we relax? On top of that, our bags didn't get to our room until 11:00. This was a little
bit of a problem because my boyfriend and I were unable to dress properly for dinner. The did have a
nice buffet and party on the deck starting at 10:00p.m. This leads me to the midnight buffets. They were
incredible. They served everything. Pasta, steak, 20 different deserts, etc. It's worth checking out. Each
island was absolutely beautiful. The first island we hit was St. Croix. If you smoke, don't buy cigarettes
before you go. A carton of Marlboro Lights on the islands were $15. If you bought alcohol on the
islands, they give you a special cardboard case that holds 6 bottles of alcohol. St. Croix was the only
island that had a working ATM. All the other islands would not take my card, which was frustrating.
There is an ATM on the boat, but it won't work over half the time. It was out of service everyday I
checked. The only ATM is in the casino and you are unable to get to it until the casino opens at
6:00p.m.

Many nights I had to put money on my account through the casino cashiers. All of the
excursions were incredible. We highly recommend the Jolly Roger party cruise in Antigua. That was fun.
There were free drinks for three hours, dancing, and awesome music. It sailed around Antigua and
landed us on a beach for an hour or two. We had so much fun on that one that we decided to go on a
party cruise in St. Thomas and it wasn't nearly as fun. You had to pay for drinks and it wasn't as lively.
We went on a sightseeing tour in St. Thomas to Magens Bay that was incredible. Unfortunately St.
Thomas is the very last island, but I would set aside alot of time for shopping. I wish I did. They did have
some good shopping and we didn't have any problems using the ATMs either. In St. Croix, we got out of
the port area and we took a taxi to Christiansted. There wasn't a whole lot to see on this island and we
thought it was well worth our money to take a tour of our own. The beach is amazing in Christiansted
and peaceful. We did alot of relaxing here. In Barbados we decided to wonder around a little, so we went
to Bridgetown. It was really congested here and drivers don't stop for pedestrians.

The most shocking
thing we saw was on this island. We saw some guy bleed to death on the sidewalk after getting stabbed
in the neck. The strangest thing about this incident wasn't only that there were no police, it was the
reaction of the surrounding audience. The locals simply shrugged it off and some even snickered. It was
as if this happened all the time and it didn't surprise anyone. After this we caught the nearest cab and
headed for the beach. I would seriously recommend that tanning is a necessity before you go, so you
don't get burned. Bring beachtowels too. The towels on the ship are not good for the beach. Bring a
backpack so you can keep everything out of the way. Men should bring at least one suit and ladies
should bring several nice dresses. At night was when people would dress up mostly. Especially if you
plan on attending the shows and ship socials. All in all we didn't want to leave. Everything was awesome
and I am glad we brought lots of film. We took some incredible pictures. Have Fun! It's well worth it!

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