Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Benjamin Smith
Email: benjs@ix.netcom.com
Age: 39
Occupation: Desktop publishing
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: June 25-July 2
Itinerary: Alaska Inside Passage
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 98
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 99
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 94
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 88
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 86
LoungeService: 98
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 96
WheelchairAccess: 98
ExerciseFacilities: 98
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 96
BeautySalon: 96
EntertainmentPoolside: 96
CruiseActivities: 96
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 98
DeckSpace: 96
Stabilization: 91
ShopsOnBoard: 99
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 09 Jul 1999
Time: 19:46:55
Remote Name: nyc-ny63-22.ix.netcom.com
Remote User:

Comments

Embarkation: Wasn't painful. Ship sailed 5:30 PM. We arrived at Canada Place about 2:30 PM and realized that most
people had received embarkation numbers. Large room with plenty of seats and people. Celebrity staff were about directing
people and handing out a pleasant tasting fruit drink. When our number was called, which took about 45 minutes, we
preceded to a short line, checked in, received our boarding passes, and were on the ship.

Stateroom and room steward: We were booked in a Cat. 5 Stateroom with large picture window. Excellent, comfortable,
well maintained room. Huge closets and plenty of space for clothing, some full length mirrors, a nice leather Galaxy binder
loaded with all the information needed to know about the Galaxy. The bathroom is large, shower huge for a ship and totally
immaculate. Provided are Francis Denney soap and shower cap, a fine lotion within a dispenser, shampoo within the
bathroom dispenser (took a while to realize it was shampoo). This room was kept at a comfortable temperature because
the temperature control actually was the temperature indicated of the room. The hot water in the shower was quite hot. The
blow dryer was weak. Nice terry cloth robes were provided. Excellent 20 inch Sony television provided and minibar (we did
not use the minibar). The interactive TV is superb. The first day it was painfully slow but having worked on databases for 9
years I realized that new data was being loaded and access would be very slow. So, we waited until 3:00 AM and it was
fine, it truly is superb. Shore excursions can be booked, videos of tours previewed, without having to call the front office.
Shopping and gambling are also available (we left that alone :) ) Most appreciated is that we could get our up to date
shipboard account from the screen. Room key is electronic and is the ID card for getting back aboard the ship.

Our room steward, Mariano, is a strong, burly fellow who was very accommodating. He furnished us with extra Galaxy
postcards, always had the second pillow for my wife, and did a nice job keeping our stateroom appearing neat and tidy
during the cruise. His assistant was also very helpful, one night taking wine from our cabin to our dining table. Both were
polite and friendly.

Galaxy's decor:

I spend a lot of attention on decor. It is of paramount importance to my wife and me. We live in a very congested, noisy
city, my wife is a nostalgia buff to some degree, I'm an ‘atmosphere/environment’ type of person. We are looking not for
how ‘pretty’ the decor is but how rich the furnishings are that will determine how premium the ship is, any type of special
atmosphere represented or anything evocative of a certain period in time or certain place on the globe. With this said I offer
a fairly lengthy description of some of the Galaxy's decor.

I will not describe this ship as beautiful, as is often done in reviews. If all ships inevitably are described as beautiful they will
not be distinguished in any way. I found the Galaxy chic, stylish, upscale, with nostalgic tones and flavors. What I will
attempt to do here is describe the themes of the decor and Celebrity style, unique aspects of Galaxy's decor compared to
her sister ship or other ships in the Celebrity fleet, the quality of the furnishings and types of atmospheres and ambiance I
feel the interior decor evokes.

Celebrity ships, in general, do not offer the level of brass and glass, or comparable level of glitz, one finds in some modern
ships. If you look for this you WILL be disappointed. I think Celebrity signatures one will find aboard every Celebrity ship are
the use of wood paneled walls and ceiling beams, and what I call panes. Many areas of the ship have illuminated panes
which imitate natural light. Celebrity uses many rectangular panes which resemble picture windows and this gives some of
these areas a ‘homey’ feeling. Some of the wood cabinets, like those found in the Cova cafe area of the ship have a
handcrafted look to them. On Celebrity's Century class ships panes of television screens are placed on some walls of each
ship. Celebrity tends to offer large public areas that are sectioned off into smaller, more intimate areas with consistent
decor furnishings. Most of the ships decor, especially the larger ones, seem to be deco inspired, or period inspired rooms
offering a modern interpretation of the spirit of past eras. Two of these types of rooms on the Galaxy are the Rendezvous
Lounge and the impressive Savoy Night Club.

Entrance to ship: Those looking for a mall or hotel like Grand Atrium or Centrum, Carnival or Royal Caribbean style will not
find it aboard this ship. The Galaxy presents a four story, intimately sized foyer which presents some of the style and
presentation of materials used aboard this ship. The setting is light and airy and one hears the soothing sound of a waterfall
down the white marble wall that is the back of the atrium. Elements such as Sony screens, 'floating' staircases, look of
wood paneled areas and deco treatment define the area. Traditional Roman columns span the entire 4 decks. The bottom of
the columns has nice etched glass encircling them. There is a huge colorful traditional painting of a girl on a swing in front
of the waterfall that retracts at night to reveal screens displaying random active images. Use of faux picture windows framed
in wood veneers are on both sides.There is a real compass topping the area off on the ceiling. It is a nice foyer, nice open
space, because it is 4 stories it does not separate the passengers too far from each other. No brass, no glitz, no forced
sheen. I very much prefer this to what I feel are the overrated Grand atriums on other lines. I like nautical cues. Galaxy has
them. There are 'portholes' in Michael's club, in the Restaurant, in the revolving doors that the waiters use to go into the
gallies, in the aft doors at the end of stateroom corridors. These help make a ship feel like a ship, and I feel Galaxy feels
like a ship.

Some other points: more use of contrasting environments and variety in decor than all other ships I've been aboard. What I
found most interesting and striking is the decor flow of some of the major rooms. The most important spaces for me inside
of a ship are the restaurants and lounges. Galaxy does something quite interesting and nice. Just forward of the two level
Orion restaurant is a nook, at the lower level a champagne bar for guest to mingle and enjoy nicely presented aperitifs
before dining. The wall of the two level open foyer is a large mural done in vibrant yellows, blues and oranges. Forward of
this area is the signature Rendezvous lounge, a large area for mingling, entertainment, relaxation, ballroom type dancing
and activities such as karaoke and trivia contests. This one is done in a period 50s New York night club with colorful
murals, primarily black and red, of dancers and musicians adorning the curved walls. What is really thoughtful and makes
this a special ship is that it flows right into the foyer area and into the dining area. The main central area uses blue seats
and yellow seats, the outer area uses orange seats with a bumpy texture. Don't be discouraged by the description of
bumpy as these are quite comfortable chairs. These are mostly individual semi-circular seating with a few benches, some
curved alongside of the mural area. Some of the separators are a rose colored marble as are the tables. The Orion Foyer
maintains the blue and yellow seating and the use of rose colored marble for the separators but the Orion Dining Room has
armless elegant seating, some tables with blue seats, some with the same shade of orange found in those of the
Rendezvous Lounge. But not only the same colors, also the same texture. Fine attention to detail and flow and this is
pleasant and pleasing to my eyes. The carpeting throughout the area is a very vibrant confetti like patterned carpet using
most of the same vibrant colors and alternating patterns in sections. Another decor flow element is the ceiling from the
Rendezvous lounge uses a curved sections with a blue tinge. Exactly the same thing is done by different means in the
Orion Restaurant.

Some rooms vary a great deal. Fortunes Casino is a very rich area, the casino is almost palatial using very high quality
curtains with a floral design in reds and greens and above using a gold striped curved frame. All fabrics are of a very high
quality. Seats have a checkerboard back and have deep velour red facing. Lots of brass bright work, some of it braided but
not heavy handed. There are beautiful Italian style murals in the aft end of the casino. The flooring is a rose designed carpet
incorporating most of the colors of the curtain. The ceiling is also complex and striking offering a curved version of the
Celebrity panes in some areas and being 'cut' into geometric shapes in other areas. Aft of this room is a very contrasting
room and one of the most evocative and striking and just, for me anyway, 'right' rooms that I've been in: The Savoy Club.

This is a 1930s period room, aptly named, and it is a wonderfully rich environment. Continuity and balance of the elements
combine with choices of materials appropriate for creating this type of room has created an illusion of a room from another
era. Yes the materials are new but the environment and atmosphere is reminiscent of that associated with Bogey, Astaire
and Rogers. The flow begins with the signage. The words Savoy Club are placed above a specific pattern. This pattern is
then found in the railings separating the sections, the etched glass around the center circular area of the club and also
framing the stage where the musical group performs. Zebra patterns are also used. The zebra patterns are seen in the
semi-circular bench areas around the edges of the club. Within a corner of the club the martini bar is found in a small open
circular nook. The zebra pattern is used to adorn the walls. The main chairs appear grey but have a nice pattern with red
highlights. Red striped high quality silk or silk like couches are sprinkled in the room for highlights. The zebra motif is also
present in the use of the bar chairs in the martini bar and in a larger bar in the center area. These are in the form of large
vertical stripes where the zebra stripes on the bench seats are horizontal and wavy. Continuing with this jungle theme is a
mural for the bar's back wall of a nicely painted jungle theme with several animals shown in a forest. Along the walls the
curtains and shades here are exquisite, tan, suede, subtly striped, and are pulled down low on the window creating a
wonderful intimate ambiance. The room also has beautiful circular chandeliers in a circular pattern with finely detailed
crystal illuminating this special room. Of course, the entrance to this room should be exquisite and it is. The main doors
handles are silver and curved and are heavily padded, diamond shaped patterned black leather with silver studs. The carpet
contains almost all of the colors in the room, sans red, and has almost a black and white zebra splash pattern. Another
detail is that the martini bar's menu picture is done in the style of the room. This is the special touch I look for to distinguish
very good from outstanding. This is a wonderful ship's room and I understand that the Century's Crystal room has a room
with a similar layout and nostalgic evocative feeling. I will sail aboard the Century in August and look forward to absorbing
the experience of the Crystal room.

It really would take reams of pages to discuss some of the other areas. Quite attractive are the Stratosphere Lounge
located forward and high with huge picture windows for viewing scenery, high ceilings, and a very stylish bar area. The
interlude bar, Galaxy's Cova area, is a wonderful haven between shops. Tastings is another wonderful area with a very deco
feeling and evocative with its use of stylish lamps, tables and treatment. Carts are set up on both sides displaying pastries
for the passengers enjoyment. Michael's club is consistent with Galaxy, warm and nicely furnished within. The Celebrity
theater is gold with harlequin patterned bench seating with fine thigh support that is absolutely comfortable, great sightlines,
and the above balcony area are in the form of 'boxes'. Some fine beige seats with shimmering gold stripes are on the upper
level.

Television screens are used in areas displaying varying images. I though I would not like these but they work extremely well
within the Galaxy's context.

There is some vary humorous art aboard the Galaxy, and some creative art, but I did not find much of it that compelling.
The ship has a 13 page letter as a piece of art and lots of photographs.

Cruise aspects: Well Celebrity says they will exceed expectations. I've talked to people about Celebrity, read reviews both
positive and negative, thought I was very prepared for the cruise. Well I was and my expectations of Celebrity were not met.
They were not exceeded. They were shattered. This Galaxy experience was much more rich, much more pleasant, much
more 'right' for my wife and me than expected and we were thoroughly impressed with the Celebrity presentation and
execution. It's more than service, quality and variety of food and drink which were terrific. It is an attention to service detail
and a variety and richness of personality that the ship and cruise absolutely exude. Celebrity does not hit you over the head
with these refinements. These are subtle and cumulative and I feel synergistic in creating a most satisfactory experience.
Presentation is an overriding aspect, style as a manner of how things are presented. Staff is polished, and at least on this
particular Celebrity cruise ship at this particular time all staff members, without exception, regardless of position, were
polite, courteous and gracious. Celebrity does some things with polished flair. The expert way the wine steward pours the
wine or picks up the bottle of wine, the presentation of the tray that holds fresh pastries or fine liquor on carts set up
throughout areas of the ship, the carriage and poise of the well trained waiters.

The staff is also quite knowledgeable. The maitre d’ informed our table of the logistics of food preparation, the waiters hours
and responsibilities, how they are trained, where and what each staff member eats, even that waiters wear back braces and
frequently develop back trouble due to carrying over a dozen trays at a time almost every night. The wine steward described
each bottle of wine before pouring it and put on a wonderful, informative wine tasting demonstration early in the cruise. The
cigar connoisseur in Michael's pub informed me in great detail of the different regions tobacco is grown, different types of
wrappers and their treatment, and many of the elements and aspects that go into creating and judging cigars.

Our waiter, Ali from Turkey, addressed the woman at the table as 'Madame', always served the women first, always served
from the right side and never across anyone, always was polite, personable and professional. Our tablemates, veteran
cruisers who have sailed Crystal and Cunard, and like us were sailing Celebrity for the first time, found Celebrity to be a
very service oriented line. Waiters carry trays in the lido deck for elderly, disabled, children, and often woman pax and the
passenger leads the way to the table.

What surprised me most was the level of personal treatment on board. The cruise featured an excellent accapella group
called Double Play. These are 4 men who sing doo wap style, roaming the ship from room to room and entertaining and
interacting with the pax. What made them excellent was not only their singing but their whole production which at times
involved guests on the ship. I videotaped some of the activities on the ship and caught them during their act and one of the
fellows in the group caught on to this and went right up to the camera and screamed right into the camera. People
identifying themselves as hostesses, cruise director assistants, people in charge of service people would come to my wife
and me or one of us and ask us how we were being treated and if we were comfortable. The piano/accordion quartet in the
dining room played for each table after playing their set for the dining hour. The cruise director, Julian, was ebullient,
humorous, professional, involving but not pushy. His assistants were also excellent. During almost each activity we
attended Julian or one of his assistants came over to see how we were. This was unexpected on a ship carrying over 1800
passengers.

No, the Captain did not mingle with passengers and I do not believe that any senior officer, or any officer, for that manner
did. I don’t mind this and I rather expected this from a Greek run ship. In Alaska the Inside Passage is rather tricky
navigation and the Captain spent many hours at his station on the bridge. Much of his time away from the helm he is
receiving faxes, meeting with officers and certain passengers. My heartfelt appreciation to Peg and Derek in enabling us to
meet the Captain and his wonderful wife on the Galaxy and inviting us to the bridge. They were very accommodating and
gracious.

Very obvious is the high crew to passenger ratio, I often commented to my wife that the ship has a large amount of crew
members. Space ratio also is excellent. One thing I think is important to state. The next Celebrity new ship, the
Millennium, will be 91,000 tons. The Galaxy at 77,714 tons carries 1850 people. The new ship will carry only 1950 people
(based on double occupancy). This yields more space for passengers and results in a higher space ratio. So space ratio,
already excellent in the Century class ship, will be improved in the Millennium class ships.

Maintenance and cleanliness: It's almost fanatical. One hears vacuum cleaners almost all of the time. It is almost like they
have a kill the dirt brigade out to keep the ship as clean as possible. My wife noticed that they clean meticulously,
including corners of carpeted areas. They brush the carpet everywhere. The only problem I have with the Galaxy's
cleanliness are the upper outside deck flooring. It is made of a somewhat grippy material, but is a light color that really
shows the dirt. So, deck areas that have this surface really were not up to the cleanliness standard of the rest of the ship.

Wear of furnishings: is not a problem. There is little discernible wear of the upholstery, shipwide. An occasional minor tear,
a few nicks and scratches to wood surfaces, all very minor. Much of the surfaces almost appear brand new. An extremely
high standard throughout the ship. Fading of some surfaces is also minor. Choices made in upholstery and fabrics
obviously were made to withstand constant cleaning with minimal fading.

There are some areas of upholstery that had cleaned up spills (discoloration). Not much Celebrity can do about that. It's
most obvious in the Celebrity theater which has tan and gold colored carpets and upholstery and in the Oasis Restaurant.
But even these were constantly being treated by the cleaning staff. I witnessed this plenty of times during night hours.
Ultimately areas of discolored carpeting are replaced on an ongoing basis.

Activities: trivia contests, intellectual scavenger hunt, bingo, art auctions, karaoke. This is not a ship for knobby knee
contests, hairy chest contests, jousting or the like. Activities are consistent with this type of ship. Do not sail Celebrity for
'fun' activities or you will be disappointed.

Entertainment: Excellent bands. The previously mentioned do wap group Double Play. The Savoy lounge frequently featured
the very versatile, very talented Onyx. Mastered all of the styles. These were a favorite of our tablemates. These are 4
fellows, all sing, keyboards, drums, one played trumpet. Involved folks in line dancing and all sorts of fun. Celebrity
Orchestra handled the big band request night.

Show Room Entertainment: High tech facility and large stage affords pretty elaborate production shows. Celebrity dancers
were very good, Cirque du Galaxy, Celebrity's version of Cirque du Soleil, was a very good production. They had a good
singer, good comedian, fair singer/saxophonist. Entertainment was enjoyable and of reasonably high quality.

Food: A Celebrity strength. Buffet and lido food was mostly average to good with good variety. My wife and I and our
tablemates found the dining room food absolutely superb. Presentation the same as gourmet restaurants. Many folks took
pictures of their main dishes. Quality of food is high, correct temperature, rich tasty sauces, fish, pork, and beef dishes all
were cooked to correct doneness. Fresh ingredients. It's banquet food of high quality, beautifully presented. Deserts were
excellent and freshly prepared, also beautifully presented.

Dining ambiance: The Orion Dining room is elegant in a modern way. As mentioned earlier piano/accordion quartet usually
played and roamed from table to table. Each night the dining area seem to take on a different mood, sometimes of a quiet
nature, sometimes more festive.

Passenger distribution and diversity: Very diverse group. Pax were from several regions of the States, a large group of
teens, a large group of children, about 14 babies. Some Asian, some Latin , a few Brits, Canadians, Germans, Eastern and
Western Europeans, Indians. Most pax were between ages 35-60. About 20 percent were seniors.

Passenger style: a mixture of what I think are the usual Celebrity pax and some of the 90s style cruisers. Atmosphere was
usually a ‘reserved liveliness’. Passengers dressed very well during formal nights, I guess 45 percent or more of the men
wore tuxes for the late seating. I was delighted to see that. Saw kilts and some traditional Asian and Indian dress also
some formal nights which was delightful. Most stayed in their dress attire for the entire evening.

Nightlife: was strong. Disco had usually at least 20-25 people, usually much more. Savoy Club had Onyx going strong until
at least 1 AM with many people dancing. Casino was usually active.

Aquaspa: wife and I just did the pool. Very relaxing saltwater superjacuzzi. Japanese decor. Gym had virtual bikes and
some Nautilus machines that needed servicing.

Frequency of activity: I would not describe Celebrity as an activity line. There are activities through the day but there are
some hours where the lounges are quiet and there is not much to do. For those that need to have plenty of activity Celebrity
may seem bland. I found the quiet time perfect for sitting in a lounge and staring out of a window, shopping, talking to staff,
writing notes/postcards/letters, going to the gym or aquaspa, eating, or taking in the magnificent slowly moving Alaskan
scenery.

Announcements: Minimal: lifeboat, port debarkation availability, weather conditions. Announcements are made the first day
about the lifeboat drill. Once it is over some announcements of shipboard activity was made but never repeated. When
reaching port an announcement is made that the ship has been cleared and that passengers can disembark at the
designated deck (in 6 languages) and the air temperature of the port. Disembarkation announcements were made and the
customary calling of customers to settle their accounts on the last day. That’s it.

For Alaska, narration of scenic areas, were made. So you hear the announcement chimes but these were to narrate
interesting scenery. I thought the narrator, although well informed, was a poor speaker. Narrations were done in English
only. These do not count as announcements.

Areas that need improvement: I did not mention the lifeboat exercise. Overall unimpressive. A general announcement is
made that participation in the lifeboat exercise is mandatory. Because of the huge diversity of passengers boarding in
Alaska all announcements were made in 6 languages. This proved problematic. Passengers are assigned a lounge to
assemble in with their lifejackets from their staterooms. The lounge becomes very crowded and only a few crew members
demonstrate how to correctly put on the vest. Unfortunately every step is done in a different language, English, French,
German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and people begin to talk when their language is not being spoken. After this long,
drawn out procedure pax are escorted outside and the usual lining up on the promenade is done. The Galaxy’s promenade
is wide enough to make this not too painful, but there was never a room number call, like I experienced on other lines. So,
overall, I’d rate Celebrity’s lifeboat drill as marginal.

A supervisor publicly reprimanded a bar server for not cleaning up a table one morning in front of a few passengers. Not
professional, should not have occurred.

Michael’s Club does not have a roller stationed rolling cigars as depicted in brochures and videos. Celebrity should not
advertise as such.

A line of this stature does not need to sell souvenir drinks/glasses. These are not pushed at all but they are suggested and
I find it inconsistent with this fine 5 star product.

The lido’s scrambled eggs are the same eggbeaters I tried on another line and are not good. The lido also served powdered
potatoes. At times the orange juice was a bit watery.

The ship has a design flaw which is being addressed. The two level Orion Foyer is supposed to be a quiet foyer before
dinner or a quiet nook of the ship. However, right above, are the sounds of the casino machines disturbing the peace. This
is planned to be changed, the back area of the casino will be removed and replaced with a quiet art gallery. (This also
applies to the Mercury but not the Century).

The other premium lines, HAL and Princess, provide bowls of fresh fruit at night. For some reason Celebrity does not and
perhaps should. Some mainstream lines also offer fresh fruit at night. Celebrity does offer robes for all passengers where
HAL only offers them for suite passengers.

Overall: almost felt like the ship and crew design the cruise around my wife and me. The ship has plenty of standard 90s
cruise features. Yes there are the Park West art auctions, there were the customary next to last day sales, Steiner’s
health promotions (which did not seem as heavy handed aboard this ship for some reason). Yet, despite this, Celebrity’s
style within the necessary format for cruising, and high standards of delivery of service with proper presentation and
hardware was consistent with that of premium products.

I spent time in the Westin Bayshore hotel in Vancouver, and all matters that distinguish this product were present in
Celebrity within a ship context . I spent much time before my cruise going around to highly rated restaurants and hotels,
observing the staff, observing the environment provided, the standards of presentation, the general atmosphere, and found
Celebrity to be consistent with these establishments without the exorbitant prices they charge. Celebrity, rates, in my
assessment, as a tremendous value.

What distinguishes the Galaxy? First there is no other ship like her. The other Century class ships have their own style,
decor, evocative treatment, all with strong Celebrity decor signatures that I mentioned above. Do not believe any stories you
hear of Mercury and Galaxy being twins. I toured the Mercury in Skagway. She’s her own ship, her own world. She has her
own identity, her own decor in major areas of the ship. They FEEL very different from within. I do not feel Mercury is
anywhere near as nice a ship as the Galaxy, although she should provide the same high cruise standards and she has
some very stylish areas. She certainly is a very clean ship. But Galaxy and Mercury only look alike from without.

My wife and I think of cruising as something of an illusion. We favor modern ships that have traditional ties and minimizes
or moderates 90s formulas. Much of the Galaxy plays piped music in her public areas from various eras, mostly vintage.
This works for us only if the environment is right and the evocation of the environment is right because the decor touches
were carefully chosen and done well. It’s a harmony of sorts, nothing glaringly wrong with the picture, incongruous. You
take this environment of sound, you add a very well trained international staff some of which are experts in their field, you
give passengers enough room to breathe, you provide personal attention at times, you provide a wide range of different
types of staff, fine foods/pastries/confections seemingly always available, and you have the type of recipe that appeals to
us. On this cruise it all gelled marvelously.

Yes, we feel we experienced all of the gems with virtually none of the warts that Celebrity has to offer and hope that this
Celebrity cruise did not spoil us and raise expectations to unrealistic levels for future Celebrity cruises. We’ll found out as
we are on the Century in Europe, August 28th.

Ports:

Sailing the inside passage of Alaska is one of the most scenic cruises one can take. The backdrop for the entire cruise are
beautiful rock formations, snow capped mountains and glaciers. At times the water is a beautiful aquamarine color. Night
comes late in Alaska, usually darkness falls after 11:00 PM. At certain times, early morning, the scenery takes on an eerie
illumination, between night and day.

Juneau: we did the flightsee which was marvelous from Juneau. Juneau is a nice town with plenty of shops. Right by the
port is a tram that goes way up a mountain. Juneau was nice and sunny when we arrived and taking the tram up to the
lounge afforded truly fantastic views. There are plenty of trails for the brave but it gets a bit cold and there are signs stating
beware of bears and traveling into certain areas is at one’s own risk. We did a nice, easy, circular trail which had a few nice
lookouts.

We flew in a Coastal helicopter on a magnificently clear day and landed on the Taku glacier. Indescribable beauty, glacier
had beautiful blue areas, plenty of streams. It was cold on the glacier and slippery and quite exhilarating.

Skagway: is where the train comes right up to the pier. We were scheduled for the early train but missed it. So we toured
the Mercury which was docked right behind the Galaxy. We were able to get the later White Pass train. These vintage cars
are in great shape and this is one of the world’s best train rides. The train goes continually up mountains, through tunnels
cut in the rock and over a few bridges until it reaches the summit. Along the way are streams, great views of snow capped
mountains, and other such wonderful scenery. The tour is fully narrated and drinks and snacks are available for purchasing.
The town offers shopping options.

Ketchikan: rained in Ketchikan and this canceled are planned Misty Fjords floatplane flysee. Ketchikan is an attractive town
but Creek Street is disappointing. It is a few blocks full of average touristy shops.

Haines: stopped in Haines but we stayed on the ship. We heard this had some of the best scenery available of all of the
towns.

Glacier Bay: we viewed Glacier Bay from the bridge. The highlight of Glacier Bay is Marjorie Glacier. It calved twice before
us and we tried to record it on our camcorder. We got some of it. Weather was magnificently clear, water unbelievably still,
a river gushed out of the bottom of the glacier, glacier consisted of different hues of blues. It was interesting hearing the
Master of the ship call out the different commands as the ship did a 360 twice. Might be the highlight of the whole trip.

Alaskan air: fresh, refreshing, much nicer than the city air that I usually breathe.

Alaska is one of the most marvelously scenic areas of the world. I like viewing it by ship because the landscape slowly
moves and it is quite mesmerizing.

Name: Patrick D. Merryman
Email: pmerryman@usasac-emh2.army.mil
Age: 49
Occupation: Federal Worker
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 21 Jun 99
Itinerary: Inside Passage
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 93
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 89
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 92
FoodVariety: 94
DeckService: 92
ShoreExcValue: 92
GoodForHoneymoon: 99
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 93
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 96
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 92
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 92
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 94
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 09 Jul 1999
Time: 06:42:48
Remote Name: 199.122.46.218
Remote User:

Comments

To celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, my wife and I decided to cruise the inside passage of Alaska. The date of our
anniversary dictated a departure date of 21 Jun 99 from Vancouver. The following is a synopsis of comments about the
cruise.

Homework: Like most things in life, preparation is a key element to success. And since this was our first cruise and first
vacation from children, family, and friends in 25 years, we wanted to ensure all the bases were covered. We chose Celebrity
Cruise lines based on guidance from a great travel agent, comments from friends and reading numerous reviews from
cruiseopinion.com. We began making plans for the cruise nine months before departure. By the time the magic day arrived, the
only thing left unchecked was the anticipation. We had identified all the excursions we wanted to take through the cruise
line and independently. We knew what to pack, read about the cities we would visit, and reconfirmed and re-reconfirmed our
travel plans. The homework paid off and we had a wonderful time!

Travel: We made our own travel plans to fly from Washington D.C. to Seattle and drive to Vancouver. The thought of using
the air/cruise package meant waking up at 4:30AM, long waits at the airport, the stress of making connecting flights, three
hour bus ride from Seattle to Vancouver, trudging through the embarkation process, time zone differences, and the
excitement of boarding ship all the same day. Even as a veteran overseas traveler, I found that process daunting. Plus I did
not want to subject my wife to all that stress. While waiting to board ship, I heard comments from people from other east
coast cities who utilized the air/cruise package about how tired they were. They looked like zombies and I'm sure they
didn't enjoy their first evening on ship. We flew non-stop from D.C. to Seattle and stayed overnight at a local hotel. The next
day we rented a car and had a leisurely ride to Vancouver. Except for a one-hour delay at Canadian customs, things went
smoothly.

Embarkation: Given the horror stories I read about the embarkation process, i.e, delays, mob scenes, rude cruise staff, I
expected the worse. But embarkation at Canada Place went smoothly. Our bags were loaded onto a cart when we arrived.
We where handed a boarding number as we walked in the door and waited less than 45 minutes before our number was
called to board ship. I found all the Celebrity staff helpful and courteous. As requested, make sure you fill out you luggage
tags and paperwork ahead of time. Many people didn't which only added to their frustration and delayed others.

Galaxy/Cabin: The Galaxy is a beautiful ship. Since it was built in 1996 it showed few signs of wear and tear. There was
always someone cleaning something. A very clean ship! I have to agree with other comments I read about the décor and art
work. It's rather modern and leaves one scratching their head as to why it was selected and the meaning. But I wasn't on
the cruise to admire paintings and sculptures! The ship was laid out very well with few bottlenecks. It only takes a few
moments to figure out where things are located and the elevators and signs easily direct you to the right place. A
white-gloved steward escorted us to our cabin. We were pleasantly surprised to find two of three pieces of luggage at the
door. The other piece showed up within an hour. Another concern dispelled! We were in a Category 2 room with a veranda,
room 9088, just forward of midship. Having only a brochure to look at for nine months, my first impression was the room
was smaller than I anticipated. It turned out the cabin was totally functional and storage of clothes and luggage was not a
problem. The veranda is a 'must have' for a cruise to Alaska and the additional expense is affordable. I logged some major
time on the veranda with my binoculars. A big advantage was there is no fighting for deck space and you're generally out of
the elements. There were two negatives about the room. They deal with the climate control and bathroom. Even with the
climate control at its lowest setting the room was always too warm. Not hot, but warm enough to be noticeable and
somewhat uncomfortable at night. Our cabin attendant was only able to lend a sympathetic ear. So, after the first night and
for the rest of the cruise, we left the veranda door open a few inches to let in some cool air. Secondly, the bathroom would
occasionally emit a distinct odor of sewer gas. With the toilets using a vacuum system, I'm not sure how the odor was
entering the bathroom. But when you're seasick, sewer gas is the last thing you want to smell! Speaking of seasick, yes,
the boat does rock and roll while in the open sea. Even in moderate seas, the motion was not pleasant. Pills are available,
free of charge, at the guest relations desk. We found that out after spending $7.00 for Dramamine in the ship's store. We
were only sick once and only for a brief time. Another concern I read about was engine noise. We only heard the engine
and felt vibrations one time, while dining in the Orion restaurant. But it was enough to vibrate the dishes and stop
conversation. The cabin was generally quite but we could hear the television from the adjoining room when it was turned up
really loud. Thank goodness the neighbors were usually quiet.

Food: Another reason we chose Celebrity was the many positive comments about the food. Celebrity did not disappoint.
Food in the Orion restaurant was top notch. I was amazed at their ability to serve quality meals to that many people for two
seatings. I've read reviews from others who downplayed the quality of Celebrity's food. I'm not sure what or where these
people are used to eating but their restaurant bills must be tremendous. We requested and received a table for two for the
second seating. We were also seated close to the windows. Sitting together, we were able to get reacquainted and enjoy
the spectacular views. Our waiter was very professional, not much of a personality, but he did his job well. The busboy
more then compensated for any social deficiencies the waiter may have lacked. The young man was a character! It was
amazing how hard these people worked! I have to give a plug for second seating. Second seating was a great way to wind
down from a busy day. The big advantage is you don't have to rush back to the ship from an excursion or walk around the
town. Even with a 6:00PM docking at Haines, we were able to have a nice tour around the town in a horse drawn carriage
and get back to the ship to celebrate our anniversary. Of course second seating means participation in the late night buffet
is out of the question, unless you have some type of eating disorder. If you are really into grazing, the Oasis restaurant is to
place to go. As buffet food goes, it was very good. I like the fact that there were people who put the food on your plate. This
helps eliminate the mess associated with normal 'serve yourself' buffets which after a period of time look like the remnants
of a food fight. One nice touch that Celebrity does is carrying the ladies tray to a table. We ate breakfast and lunch in the
Oasis the first few days, but found breakfast in the Orion more relaxing. I have one complaint about the Oasis restaurant.
What's with the four ounce juice cups provided for drinking? One would think we were embarking on an extended cruise with
only limited water, which must be rationed! Come on Celebrity! This smacks of being cheap, money hungry (soft drinks are
close to $3.00 a can), and caused long lines at the tiny drink dispensers. For a cruise line that promotes itself as upscale,
this is a rather petty way to make a buck! On the positive side again, mid-day pizza, hot dogs, and hamburgers were good.
Finally, having read the many 'must eat' comments about Celebrity's french toast, I must say I find my wife's version much
better! Note: I haven't been married for twenty-five years by letting valor exceed discretion.

Ports/Excursions: Like food, ports of call and excursions are a personal thing! We had two big advantages during the whole
cruise. Except for Ketchekan, we were the only cruise ship in port. I can't imagine what Juneau or some of the other even
smaller towns would be like with four or five mega ships docked at one time. It worked out well for us, but you could see the
disappointment in some of the merchants. Additionally, except for Ketchekan, which gets 150-200 inches of rain a year, the
weather was generally quite good. Since we had done our homework on what excursions we wanted, we used the
interactive television to reserve all our excursions less than two hours after boarding ship. Those who waited for the ship's
lecture the next day and subsequent queuing to actually reserve their excursions were at the mercy of seat availability. Not
a big deal with only one ship at port, but desirable excursions would be at a premium with two or more ships docked at the
same time. By pulling information off the internet ahead of time, you can find information/descriptions of every excursion
Celebrity offers. Additionally, you can find and book most of the excursions independently and save a few bucks. All of the
excursion companies will send you brochures if you email them. In Juneau, we rode the tram to the top of Mt. Roberts and
took the flightseeing tour to Tagu lodge. Both were excellent and wild life was abundant! In fact at Tagu Lodge, a black bear
was less than twenty feet away licking barbecue sauce from the bottom of a grill. I also learned the hard way the state bird
of Alaska is the mosquito. The scenery and glaciers in the area were beyond description. In Skagway, we went on the
White Pass railroad and city tour/gold panning excursions. The scenery along the White Pass railroad was magnificent.
The city tour and gold panning excursion left a little to be desired. Skagway is only 5 blocks wide and 18 blocks long so
you won't sunburn the roof of your mouth looking at the tall buildings. And since there is no gold in Skagway, the gold in
your pan was obviously planted. But it was kind of fun! Haines was just a nice, peaceful town! It really doesn't cater too
much to the tourists which I found refreshing. It has an interesting history that includes Ft. Steward. As mentioned before,
we docked at 6:00pm and celebrated our anniversary that evening so we didn't take advantage of the excursions. My wife
and I would love to live in Haines. Only the hand of God could create Glacier Bay. It was like the Rockies surrounded by
water, only a thousand times more magnificent. Totally indescribable! We saw whales, bald eagles, seals, dolphins, grizzly
bears, mountain goats, glaciers, mountains, and the sound of tons of glacier ice falling 180 feet into the water was like a
cannon firing. A pristine wilderness! Ketchekan on the other hand reminded me of an old dumpy, seaport, fishing, logging
town. The fact that it rained most of the day didn't help. Our flightseeing excursion to Mysty Fjords was cancelled due to
the weather. The only other option for staying dry was to do the city tour/totem pole display. Save your money on this one.
The bus driver's microphone didn't work (no doubt from all the rain), the town was not that great and the totem pole display
not much better. The totem poles are mostly replicas of the originals. One thing Ketchekan does have is a visitor center
where you can book most of the same excursions Celebrity offers, but at a cheaper price. Our highlight in Ketchekan was
milk shakes from Baskin Robbins, although the shops and Dolly's house on Creek Street offered some diversion.

Debarkation/Trip Home: Just like boarding ship, the debarkation process was rather painless. Again you are given a number
and when that number was called you left the magic ship behind. Your bill, tips, and luggage were taken care of the evening
before. Celebrity gives a good briefing on the debarkation process. One comment concerning tipping. It would be easier if
you could use your cashless card to assign tips rather than leaving envelops full of money. The process of getting cash,
along with the right denominations, while not difficult, was time consuming. Finding our luggage was not hard. As before,
we had rented a car for our return trip to Seattle. Not too sure why Hertz doesn't have a courtesy car from Canada Place to
their in town location like Budget and Avis. But the process of getting a cab and doing the U.S./Canadian money conversion
thing, then getting reimbursed by Hertz for the cab ride was not customer friendly. We stayed overnight in Seattle. We
wrapped up our vacation by surviving the 5.5 earthquake Seattle had that same evening. An exciting experience! Our
nonstop flight back to Washington D.C. the next day was uneventful.

Random Comments: We can't really comment of the quality of on board productions/shows since we only viewed limited
portions of them. The cruise staff were all gracious and helpful. The Celebrity honeymoon/anniversary party was a nice
touch as was the anniversary recognition during the evening dining. There was never any pressure to buy drinks or to use
the spas facilities or for that matter, much of anything. You could spend all your time on the ship just filling your day with
massages, spa activities, auctions, games, etc., if you wanted. We really couldn't find much time beyond excursions,
meals, and a few hours in the casino to do much of anything else. The internet was a great source of information about
Alaska and really helped us optimize our time. In addition to researching the various ports visited, you can check the
extended weather forecast to help you decide what to pack. You can also pull up the local newspapers. Information on the
Seattle airport helped us get around, along with directions to the hotel. Formal nights on board ship did not seem that
formal. Men wearing tuxedos were the exception rather than the rule. Most men did dust off their old dark suites and made
the attempt. A number of people, to include ladies, didn't bother. The ship was a cross section of society, so expect all
types and don't let others ruin your good time.

Conclusions: Would I cruise with Celebrity again? Definitely! But I think I would rather use the nearly three days of sea
travel for more land excursions. Though the ocean is interesting, it doesn't compare to the vistas of Alaska. Maybe next
time we'll take a Denali trip followed by a cruise south. Then again maybe we'll just move to Haines!

Name: Patti Hays
Email: libby1@ipa.net
Age: 48
Occupation: Federal Employee
NumberOfCruises: 01
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 05/28/99
Itinerary: Inside Passage--Alaska
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 100
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 98
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 98
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 99
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 100
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 99
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Jun 1999
Time: 20:14:16
Remote Name: pool-73.hs.ipa.net
Remote User:

Comments

As you can probably tell from my ratings, I loved the Galaxy! Being a first-time cruiser, I don't have any
other cruise to compare it to; but we have been on a guided European tour, road trips and Hawaii. We had
considered a cruise for several years but thought it probably wasn't for us. We are just plain old ordinary
people who don't dress formally but, maybe, once a year. We do like nice restaurants and good food. We
know nothing about wine and do not have time to socialize. The main reason we took this cruise was
because we wanted to see some of Alaska, and a cruise seemed to be the easiest way to accomplish that.
We found out very quickly that cruising was for us, and I bet it is for most people. Before deciding which
cruise line and ship to take, I spent much time reading reviews on this site and others, talking to people
and reading cruise review books. I decided this ship sounded the most like us; or, at least, what I think we
may be. I also noticed the food and service was very highly rated and that was very important to me. I
would like to start with the air/sea program as that was how our cruise began. I have read many reviews
where cruisers were unhappy. We found it excellent. We usually fly American (when we do fly, which is not
very often). We did not pay the air deviation fee, and we got American. We received our flight itinerary
about 3 1/2 weeks before the cruise. Our flight left at 7:00 a.m. Central time and arrived in Vancouver,
B.C., at 11:50 a.m. Pacific time. Perfect! As soon as we arrived in Vancouver, Celebrity was waiting there
for us. We got on a bus and were taken directly to Canada Place for embarkation. Okay, so there was a
low spot--embarkation. We had to wait about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to board the ship. They did have a drink for
us (it tasted like Kool-Aid). American had only served as a small breakfast snack, and we were starving
(the last time we felt that way for 7 days). It would have been nice if they could have provided us with a
small snack or, at least, snacks for purchase. At any rate, we finally made it to the ship! We were met by
the staff (dressed in white gloves). At first, I was a little dismayed. I did not think the ship was so grand and
spacious. After getting a short rest, I did find everything to be of the very best quality and very
spacious--and people were cleaning all the time. I did find, however, some of the windows in need of a
wash. However, I noticed they were washed daily and I guess seaspray streaked them. A staff member led
us to our cabin and introduced us to our steward. I walked in the cabin and thought it was very small. I
thought there is no way we can get all this stuff (2 large suitcases, 2 garment bags, 2 carry-ons, 2
cameras, a Camcorder) in this small cabin. We waited about 2-3 hours before all our luggage finally made
it to our cabin. I found out very quickly I was wrong about storing all our 'stuff'. There was plenty of storage
and plenty of room for us. Plus, our travel agent had surprised us with not one, but two bottles of wine!
Our cabin was a Cat2 on the Penthouse deck. We had booked a Cat5 9 months earlier, and Celebrity had
upgraded it. Our number was 1134 (aft). We did have a little noise in the morning from the Oasis Grill
(above), but it was not bad--we just considered it our wake-up call. We found the room very comfortable
and clean. It is true! Your steward(ess) does keep your room sparkling. He never made the little animals
out of the washcloths or our nightclothes (which I found a plus). I would suggest you always put your do
not disturb sign out when in the cabin and, that way, he/she wil always know if you are there. He/she will
clean up about every time you leave the cabin, so it would be helpful if he knows if you are there or not. I
did not figure that out until about the fifth day. He was not overly friendly, but he did provide very good
service. We never used the extension cord I had taken but did need my own hair dryer. The hair dryer in
the bathroom never got very hot. The bathroom was a very welcome surprise. I have heard horror stories
about bathrooms on ships--you cannot turn around in the shower, etc. The Galaxy is the opposite of that.
The shower was very large with great water pressure. I do not have that much pressure at home. There
were lotion and shampoo dispensers in the bathroom. My husband loved the shampoo. However, I found it
turned the color of mine (which is blonde highlighted) slightly. However, if you do not have a favorite
shampoo, do not bother to pack one. Also, if you are not partial to a particular lotion, the one provided is
great! There is a computerized wake-up on your phone. I even discovered you could put two different
wake-up times on the phone and use it like you do your snooze buttom at home. So you may, also, leave
the clock at home. You will need to ask your steward to open your mini-bar as soon as you get there. If
you drink a lot of soft drinks, you might ask him rather early to go ahead and put a six-pack in. If you stow
any of your own beer or soft drinks in the mini-bar, be sure to drink anything you have sneaked in before
the last night as the steward will lock it up that night.

You will also find a safe in one of the closets where
you may set your own code. I assume these are very safe. We had no problem nor was anything ever
gone through by our steward or his helper while we were out. Was there food? Oh, yes, there was food
everywhere and all the time. I had visions of people staying up at night (while I was sleeping away) slicing
the grapefruit up for me, molding the butter into the pretty little shapes, preparing all those delicious
desserts. The food was extremely good and our service was great. I had a couple of entrees that were not
my favorites, but on both occasions, our waiter sensed it and came over and asked if I wanted something
else. There was nothing wrong with the food, I just did not care for it. I was trying things I had never eaten;
hey, it was free, wasn't it?? Our waiter was so attentive that we have already written to Celebrity to
acknowledge him (Allen David). The Orion Dining Room is extremely romantic (especially the nights when
the turn the lights down low and light up the stars in the top of the ceiling). I do not think they consider
ages when pairing up tablemates, however. I was 47 and my husband 61, and they sat us with a
honeymoon couple in their 20's who spoke mainly Spanish.

We thought they were great but did not feel
they were given a fair shake being sat with 'old folks' who spoke only English. We had asked for a table for
8 and got a table for 4. We could have asked to be changed, but was very happy with the place where our
table was--Table 635. It was on the second floor of the dining room overlooking the lower floor. The
midnight buffet (the last formal night) was spectacular. They give you a chance to take photos before you
actually eat the food. We had the late seating, so didn't eat, just admired! The food in the Oasis Cafe was
good but not outstanding. It was better, however, than any other buffet meal I have eaten. The room
service for breakfast was very good. We ordered room service off the menu one night (filet mignon) and
found it not to be as good as we would have had in the dining room but the view from our balcony more
than made up for that. Yes, I did have a disappointment. I had my heart set on the dog sled/helicopter ride
in Juneau. I knew we could book excursions on our interactive tv soon after we boarded. I kept checking it
and was finally able to book the Skagway train ride (loved it, by the way).

I could not get any of the
helicopter trips to book, however. At 9:30 a.m. our first morning, we were to meet at the Celebrity Theatre
to get our number to book excursions. I got there about 9:15 and got number 5. That meant my time to
book was 12:00 noon. When I got there, no dog sled left. I was so disappointed, I did not book anything
else except the deluxe flightseeing in Juneau. Our first day at Skagway, we did the Whitepass train ride
and just walked around the small town. We could have booked the train in town for a little less money, but
we were assured of a place by booking on the ship. In addition, we boarded the train ride where the ship
docked. The town was really interesting with beautiful mountains in the background. We did not go into
Haines that evening. Our next day was Juneau. We had to be tendered as there were three other ships
docked that day. Actually, I thought that was all right as it gave us another aspect of cruising. they had the
tendering process worked out quite well. Just don't try to be the first group out and it wil not take long at
all. We booked a helicopter tour with Coastal tours at the pier in Juneau.

I had forgotten to see if there was
a dog sled ride. However, our tour with Coastal was great. We had a great pilot. The landing on the glacier
is well worth ignoring your fear of helicopters! We then had lunch at the Red Dog Saloon and shopped at
Galligaskins. We found it to be the best quality for T-shirts, etc. They were slightly more expensive, but not
much. Ketchikan--our favorite port. Eagles everywhere! We saw between 20-40 at one time less than 100
yeards from us sitting on a pier. Also, Celebrity arranged for our weather to be beautiful--no rain in
Ketchikan and no need for even a coat. We took an independent tour of the city and the Saxman village
for $20 per person from the double-decked bus company (cannot remember the name). Our guide was a
Scottish guy named Carn McGregor (he is a writer working on a novel now, which I plan to buy when
published). He was a great story teller and his stories alone were worth the $40 we spent. We also got a
free trip to Dolly's with this tour, which my husband took. (Dolly was a madam in Ketchikan.) He loved
Dolly's. They have made it into a museum. He took videos, and I found it interesting as well.

We then took
the flightseeing seaplane tour that landed in the middle of Misty Fjords National Park. Worth the money
(and we even saw a bear from the air). My husband stepped out on the floats while we were landed. It was
very quiet and beautiful! We visited Glacier Bay the second full day at sea. It is very beautiful. That
particular day was rainy and cold, so we made really good use of our balcony. Entertainment: We went to
four of the shows in the Celebrity Theatre: J.J. Downs, The Hollywood Years, Dick Lord, Cirque Du Galaxy.
They were all superb! We did not go to any of the lounges except for the Stratosphere where we listened
to the harpist Collette--very relaxing. She also sang some (her voice is not the greatest, however). The
stage set for the Cirque du Galaxy was unbelievable. Cruise Activites: Everything from daily church
services to casinos. I cannot imagine anyone not finding something he did not enjoy. The only activity I
participated in was the bad hair day seminar and found the beauty salon staff to be very friendly and
helpful. My husband visited the gym and found it to be excellent, but he did not have time to use it as we
were always eating!

Children Activites: We had no children with us but the couple who sat next to us at
dinner had an 8-year-old son. She was extremely pleased. She said she popped in about 10-15 times per
day and always found her son to be very happy and busy. Disembarkation: Very organized. The stairways
and Ground Foyer were full of people. We waited in the Savoy Night Club along with only about 6-8 other
people. It was very quiet and relaxing there and had time to think of the wonderful times we had had the
previous week. We had to leave our luggage in the hallway the night before where it was taken by the
crew. We then had to claim it at the pier and checked in with American Airlines at the pier and given our
boarding passes. We took our luggage to a van outside where it was loaded in a truck and did not have to
see it again until our home airport. We were whisked away by bus to the airport and waited for our flight.
Stabilization: The first morning, I felt some rocking in the Celebrity Theatre; but after donning my
Seabands, no problems. Since you are usually inland, there is not much seasickness. Overall: A great
experience. We have already booked a cruise on the Galaxy for December 4 and requesting the same
waiter (and hope that Celebrity will grant that request). If you have any questions, please feel free to
e-mail me. (My daughter is sick of hearing of the cruise and I want to tell everyone how great it was.)

Name: Misty Revere
Email: reveret001@hawaii.rr.com
Age: 29
Occupation: CPA
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: May 21, 1999
Itinerary: Alaska - Inside Passage
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 70
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Jun 1999
Time: 16:09:44
Remote Name: bhxrr1.flpk.pwcglobal.com
Remote User:

Comments

My husband and I traveled on Celebrity’s Galaxy for its first full Alaskan cruise of the season. We did a round-trip
Vancouver inside passage route, with stops in Skagway, Haines, Juneau and Ketchikan.

Embarkation

Unfortunately the only two frustrations we really had with Celebrity came right at the beginning and right at the end.
Embarkation was really a mess. We arrived at Canada Place around 1:00pm. The whole situation was very unorganized
and crowded. We got our embarkation ticket, dropped off our bags and then went to get something to eat. We came back
around 3:00pm and they were starting to board our number. This sounded good but just meant we could get into a very long
line and wait while everyone filed out their information cards (the ones that come with your tickets.) After about 30 minutes
in that line, they took our paperwork and we got into an even longer line. Here we waited 35-45 minutes to board the ship.
After arriving at the pier at 1:00pm, we were finally in our cabins at 4:30pm…just time to freshen up before the life boat drill.

The Ship

Things greatly improved once we got on board. I was really impressed with the look of the Galaxy. She’s sleek and
contemporary and very well kept. All areas were very clean and still look new. I particularly liked the look of the dining room,
the Celebrity Theater, and the Stratosphere Lounge. There was plenty of open deck space although the LOW temperature
might have contributed to that. I appreciated that they provided blankets on all the outside decks. Certain areas felt crowded
from time to time, mainly the public areas near the dining room. All cabins on our sailing were full. The Spa was nice and
they had some good workout facilities. I opted for a special they were running one of the days we were in port and for $69 I
got a 30 minute massage and a 30 minute facial. I thought this was well worth the money. Although the Celebrity Theater is
a great room, I was not terribly thrilled with the entertainment. I guess it just depends on what your taste is. The casino was
pretty smoky and they took my money but it is a fun way to pass some time. The shops, library and cigar room are also
nice and overall we really liked the ship.

Our Cabin

We selected a category 9 inside cabin on the top deck, Sky Deck, cabin #1239. The cabin was great. Lots of closet and
drawer space. The cabin was not large by any means but very it was well designed. I used a previous cruiseopinion
suggestion and brought my own extension cord, which was useful when I needed to recharge my video camera battery, etc.
The interactive TV was good and I booked my shore excursions without having to wait in line. Note to sports fans…we did
not receive ESPN reception as advertised. CNN and two movie channels, along with a ship information channel and one
channel showing live pictures from the deck were available. Terry cloth robes are provided but be aware there are no alarm
clocks in the cabin. We opted for the Anniversary package, which for $134 was a good deal. We got to order room service
off the suite menu for breakfast one morning, had fresh flowers in the cabin and got two new plush robes to take home.
During the night the room was totally dark and we never heard any outside noises. Perfect for sleeping.

The Food

I had several reasons for choosing Celebrity, one of which was their reputation for great food. The food really was quite
good. I am a fairly picky eater and I was never unhappy with my selections. The rack of lamb was excellent, as was the
lobster. The soups were also very good. I appreciated that the portions were not overwhelming considering the numbers of
courses involved. The highlight of the dining experience was our table location, which was on the lower level right next to the
captain’s table and the large two-story rear windows. We had a great view each evening. The vibration talked about by
previous cruisers was noticeable, although I didn’t find it terribly annoying; it never lasted very long. Our waiter, Nelson and
busboy, Mario, were pleasant and efficient. I’d rate the wine guy a little lower. The maitre D’s are around more than I’ve
seen on other cruises but they create a slightly stressful environment for the servers. There’s a definite, and somewhat
uncomfortable, hierarchy among the dining room staff.

The Ports of Call

We left out of Vancouver. The first full day of sailing, along Vancouver Island is beautiful and calm. Later on the first day we
got into less calm waters. I was actually a little surprised with the amount of motion at some times, although I never got ill.

The next day we spent sailing in Glacier Bay which was probably the highlight of the actual cruise. We got to see and hear
glaciers calving and it was like thunder. Our traveling companions had a category 2 cabin with a veranda that was
especially nice on Glacier Bay day.

Next up was Skagway. Our original itinerary told us we would be in Skagway until 9:00pm, but upon arriving on the ship we
found out we would be leaving at 4:30pm and adding an unscheduled stop at Haines from 6:00 – 11:00pm. This was the
only port day where we had any sunshine. We opted for a small bus tour of WhitePass instead of the train in Skagway. We
bought a tour from someone right on the pier. It was $30/person and lasted about 2 ˝ hours. It was really quite good. We
actually saw quite a bit of the train and got some nice pictures. The bus held about 15 people and the driver narrated along
the way. He was a very nice guy with some interesting perspectives on local life. We crossed over the border into Canada,
visited the cemetery were the famous men & women of the goldrush are buried, saw several waterfalls and made several
photo stops along the way. It gave us plenty of time to walk around the town before going back to the ship. I must say that,
although I really enjoyed every port, it felt wonderful each time we returned to the warm ship after touring in the cold rainy
weather.

On to Haines… Haines is a very scenic little town from the water. Once you dock there isn’t too much to see but it sure is
pretty pulling into port. This time we selected a shore excursion arranged by Celebrity. We chose a jet boat tour of the bald
eagle preserve on the Chilkat River ($90/pp). This tour was advertised as a 2 ˝ hour tour but actually lasted about four
hours from the time we got on the initial bus. We were bused out to the river where we put on life vests, parkas, hats,
gloves and everything else they offered. The told us we couldn’t get too warm and they were right. Then our group boarded
three jet boats, each holding about 10 people. We spent over two hours on the boat, stopping at times to look at eagles
nests and actual eagles. We saw about ten eagles. We didn’t spot any other wildlife. I’m not an eagle fanatic and I was
absolutely freezing, however, the sun decided to peek out around 7:00pm and the sunset against the mountains in the
preserve made the whole tour worth it. Some gorgeous scenes and some of our best pictures came from this outing.

The next day we arrived in Juneau. Again we opted to book an excursion through Celebrity. This time we choose a wildlife
cruise ($90/pp). This tour was excellent. We took a short busride to our boat, which was a stark contrast to the jet boats
from the night before. This boat must have held about 100-125 people, although we only had about 30-45 on our tour. The
inside was brand new with reclining seats and it was well heated and very comfortable. When wildlife was spotted you could
step out onto the deck for a closer look. We had a very rainy, cold day but were still able to see sea lines, porpoise, otters,
bald eagles and numerous humpback whales. During the approximately three hour tour, we were served a light lunch and
beverages were always available. They had an excellent naturalist onboard who provided informative commentary. We didn’t
spend too much time in Juneau itself do to the nasty weather but we did make a quick stop in to the Red Dog Saloon
before heading back to the ship.

Our last port of call was Ketchikan. Again we selected an excursion arranged by Celebrity. This time we choose a
floatplane trip to Misty Fjords along with a scenic wildlife cruise ($225 pp). Well, the weather wouldn’t cooperate and our
tour was canceled. Although we were disappointed it is comforting to know that they are not willing to fly in unsafe
conditions. Our money was credited back to our shipboard account later that day. So instead of the flightseeing we just
walked around the town. It was very cold, wet and windy and we went back to the ship early. Hopefully, you all will have
nice weather.

The final day at sea is gorgeous once you start cruising along Vancouver Island. The weather seems to be clearer and
warmer here as well.

Disembarkation

I joined the Captains Club the first day, thinking that would give me a low disembarkation number. Unfortunately, it doesn’t
work in Vancouver. We got number 24 (I think they said 26 was the highest.) Anyway, I called down to guest relations and
they said that in Vancouver, when they have so many people that need to get to the airport, some of whom are flying out of
Seattle, they do not honor the Captains Club priority and look only at your flight times. Since we were staying an additional
day in Vancouver, we were not able to disembark until 11:00am. Frustrating because they make you get up early since
they stop serving breakfast at 8:30am. Once they called our number we got off the ship and retrieved our bags and got in a
very long line to wait for a taxi. The whole process was rather disorganized and left us with a bad feeling. After forty minutes
of standing in line we were finally on our way to the hotel.

All in all though, it was a great trip. I was happy with Celebrity, the Galaxy, and Alaska as a cruise destination. Hope you
all enjoy your travels!

Name: Don Leebow
Email: doleyl@aol.com
Age: 40
Occupation: corp. VP
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 6/25/99
Itinerary: vancouver to alaska
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 60
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff: 85
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 65
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon: 100
EntertainmentPoolside: 65
CruiseActivities: 40
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram: 65
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Jul 1999
Time: 23:28:52
Remote Name: spider-wo051.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

3 days of the 7 days are out at sea. The cruise did not provide enough entertainment and activities to cover these days. The
food was outstanding and i'm not referring to quantity even though anytime you wanted it, it was accessable. The foods
quality was outstanding. I eat in 5 star restaurants all the time and I'm telling you, the food was great. Our cabin stewart,
waiter, busboy and the entire staff couldn't do enough for you. The crowd was old. I would say 2/3 was over 55 and 1/3 was
under. This is not a cruise for families. Children will be bored. There is a lot of 'down' time. The excursions are a must but
Celebrity charges a lot for them. I was told by 2 excursion employees that Celebrity retains 1/2 of the shore excursion
money. Book the excursions with the in room tv service. I did and got everything I wanted. These excursions sell out fast
and the lines are long on Saturday to get them. The whale watching in Juneau is a must see. Also if you plan on using the
spa, make that your first stop on the ship and book what you want. Appointments in the spa fill fast on days the ship
doesnt stop at port. Lastly, if you can afford it, get a cabin with a balcony. We had one and it was fantastic. On the day you
cruise glacier bay, everyone is fighting for a spot on the deck or by a window. We enjoyed the confort of our stateroom and
saw the breathtaking glaciers without fighting the crowds. I did my homework before choosing Celebrity. You will have the
time of your life. Lastly, bring a camara not only for the sites, but the ship overcharges for pictures and the photographers
were lousy. Take your own, its a hell of a lot cheaper and they will come out just as good.

Name: Kathryn Dailey
Email: kdailey@mindspring.com
Age: 41
Occupation: Nurse-not currently working
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: 7/16/99
Itinerary: Alaska-Inside Passage
Cabin: 1203/Sky Suite
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 88
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 80
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 80
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 50
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 89
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Jul 1999
Time: 01:00:20
Remote Name: user-37kacgu.dialup.mindspring.com
Remote User:

Comments

We enjoyed this trip! The Galaxy is a beautiful ship. We sailed with a full ship, but never felt crowded. All our
cruises have previously been in the Caribbean, so the Alaska trip was very different.

Our main negative comment was the air/sea package. We flew out of Atlanta airport, which is a major international
airport. We felt certain that we would be flown into Vancouver, but were flown into Seattle and were taken to
Vancouver by bus. After a 5+ hour flight to Seattle, we were greeted by Celebrity staff and taken to baggage claim
where we claimed our luggage and turned it over to Celebrity. We were given a box lunch and told that our bus
would be there 'shortly'. After about 45 minutes, we were finally loaded on our bus. This delay made us get into
Vancouver at rush hour. Our '3 1/2 hour' bus trip took us 4 1/2 hours. The life boat drill had already occurred and
we sailed within 15 minutes of boarding the ship.

Our cabin was great. The butler service was a real plus. We had the option of ordering from the dining room
menus in our cabin with the butler serving the meal. He also delivered tea every afternoon. The suites included
complimentary use of the thalassotherapy pool in the spa. Any passenger can use this huge salt water whirlpool
for $10 per person per day. I would definitely recommend it.

The food in the dining room was always excellent. The service was great. The waiters and busboys learned your
names and preferences in the first 5 minutes and never forgot them. We asked for iced tea on the first night, and
always had it at every meal after that. The busboy remembered that I wanted decaf every night with dessert, and I
never had to ask. The fish was always fresh. The beef cuts were excellent and huge. Lobster tails and crab legs
were not only on the dinner menu, but also on the midnight buffet.

There were many people on the ship that were unhappy because it was cool and wet in Alaska. I'm not sure what
they expected. The Stratosphere Lounge, which is on the front of the ship on deck 12, was a great place for
watching the scenery go by while staying warm and dry. There were wool blankets available on all the outside
decks. Umbrellas were handed out as passengers were leaving for shore excursions.

We're not big on ship entertainment, but did go to the Cirque de Galaxy show on this ship. We enjoyed it. The
bands that were playing in the lounges were great.

Announcements were kept to a minimum and never invaded the privacy of your room. If you wanted to hear them,
you could listen on channel 69 on the TV.

Embarkation went smoothly since everyone else was on the ship ahead of us. There were no lines.
Disembarkation went very well. We were off the ship at about 8:15 AM.

Our first cruise was on Carnival (never again). Our next cruise was on Dawn Princess. We enjoyed that cruise and
would not hesitate to go with Princess in the future, but Celebrity would be our cruise line of choice.

Name: Fred Foye
Email: flog@flash.net
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Galaxy
SailingDate: Sept 17, 1999
Itinerary: Alaska, Inside Passage
Cabin: 9132 / 2
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 70
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 96
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 88
OverallPortsofCall: 89
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 96
EmbarkDisembark: 60
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Oct 1999
Time: 13:31:45
Remote Name: 209-30-241-72.flash.net
Remote User:

Comments

We had been on three cruises prior to this one, Princess Regal (Alaska), Holland America Nieu Amsterdam
(Caribbean) and Norwegian Sea (Caribbean). My wife’s sister had not been on a cruise and we thought a Alaska
Cruise would give her a good taste of this type of vacation.

We had opted to go with the Celebrity Air/Sea Package as we felt this would be the least stressful. We lucked out as
our flights to and from Vancouver were on American Airlines and we are Advantage American members. Our flights
and connections from Houston to Vancouver were smooth and timely. After we had cleared Canadian Immigration
and Customs we were met by Celebrity representatives who guided us to waiting buses which took us on a 30
minute drive to the Cruise Ship Terminal, Canada Place.

When we arrived at the cruise terminal there was a member of the cruise director’s staff who was yelling into a
portable PA set and could not be understood by the majority of people in the terminal. There were several hundred
people in the terminal most of whom were talking and adding to the confusion. Everyone had to get a boarding
number, check your documents, pick up and fill out a disembarkation info sheet and then wait until your number was
called before you could proceed to the boarding desk. This was a very noisy and frustrating procedure which we
had not encountered on other cruise lines. The whole process took about one hour. When we boarded the ship, we
were met and guided to our cabin by a very pleasant cabin attendant. Celebrity had picked up our baggage at the
airport and it was delivered it to our cabin within two hours of our boarding the ship.

We decided to go for a cabin with a veranda and booked a Cat 2 cabin on the 9th deck (cabin #9132). This cabin
was mid-ship and very close to the elevators, but was very quiet. The cabin floor plan was as shown in the
brochure, a king size bed, a sleeper sofa, dressing table/desk, adequate closet space, great bath with a large
shower (largest of any we have had on other ships), TV, VCR, and a nice veranda. Our cabin attendant was
Angelo, from India, and was the best we have had to date. He was always pleasant, had a good sense of humor and
was always checking to see if there was anything we needed to make our stay more comfortable. Since there were
three of us in the cabin, we were wondering where we would store some of our luggage. No problem: Angelo had a
storage locker for excess baggage and he kept it there until we needed it to pack for our departure. I do not know if
other lines offer this service, but it is just one of the many extras that we found Celebrity provides.

Since it was now mid-afternoon, we were hungry and set out to find the Oasis Café where they were serving a late
lunch. The Oasis Café on the Galaxy had a excellent lay out with great bay windows for viewing both fore and aft.
The decor was warm, pleasant and except for the serving lines was carpeted through out the halls and seating
areas. Here we found a very pleasant surprise: Instead of having only two serving lines, Galaxy had four!! Needless
to say this greatly shortened your time in line. The food was excellent and was presented in a very appealing
manner. Another plus for Celebrity was that when ever possible, a dinning area attendant would carry trays for the
ladies, or for anyone in need of assistance. Also, the attendants would serve coffee at your table so you would not
have to run back and forth to the serving line. Adjacent to the Oasis Café, was a indoor swimming pool and with a
grill serving hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and tacos in the afternoon.

After our delightful light meal we headed out to explore Galaxy and her many beautiful facilities. The Grand Foyer
atrium started on deck 5 and went up thru deck 8. A huge portrait of a girl on a swing was on the aft wall with a
marble waterfall behind the portrait. The Stratosphere Lounge on deck 12 was very well appointed with very large
windows forward and on both sides for relaxed viewing of the scenery. The Lounge also had a bar & dance floor.
The Cinema Theater was roomy, had good seats and screened recent movies. The Celebrity Theater was very nice
and had excellent seating on two levels. The upper levels were actually boxes that extended out over the lower
level. The Savoy Night Club was tastefully decorated and well laid out. The other facilities were equally as roomy,
relaxing and well laid out

The Orion Restaurant is located at the rear of the ship and has two levels. The upper level is on deck 6 and the
lower level is on deck 5. Of the four ships that we have been on , this was the most elegant. We had requested and
been given early seating. Our table was on the upper level and was next to a window on the starboard side of the
ship. It was a great table. Unfortunately, we found that there was a large table of 10 or 12 behind us with four very
unruly children ages 4-10 who would constantly run around their table, our table and in front of the windows. Also
there was another table next to that table at which there was 4 or 5 year old girl, who insisted on beating the lovely
table with her spoon. In both cases, it was obvious that none of the parents of these children were going to do
anything to control them. Immediately following the evening meal I met with our Dining Manager, Christian, and
requested a different table. Christian moved us to a table on the upper level at the head of the port stairway which
went down to the lower level. It was not a window table, but was very nice, quiet and with a good view of the majority
of the restaurant and the huge windows at the stern of the restaurant. Our waiter Victorino and his assistant
Shailesh were from India. Both performed their duties in a outstanding manner and made sure that we wanted for
nothing. The food in the restaurant was the best that we have had on any cruise. Everything had a wonderful taste
and was always presented in a very pleasing manner. The quartet that played during the evening meal was a
pleasant addition to the outstanding restaurant staff.

We attended two of the Celebrity Singers and Dancers shows which were well done. Two other acts were also good,
Ralph Achilles and Max Winfrey both of whom were comedians. The best musical group was Double Play which
were four young men singing Doo-Wop tunes from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

We opted to take the Wildlife Cruise in Juneau as we had been on it before when we cruised with Princess. The
Wildlife Cruise was excellent. The boat was a catamaran with two enclosed decks with large windows. It also had a
snack bar which provided coffee, hot chocolate, cider, sandwiches, and salmon snacks at no extra charge. We saw
humpback whales, orcas, seals and bald eagles. After the cruise we headed for the Red Dog Saloon, which is a
must see landmark in Juneau. In Skagway, my wife and I went on a helicopter tour of the West Creek Glacier. It was
a memorable trip (even though it rained part of the time) and our pilot was very smooth. My sister-in-law took the
narrow gauge railroad trip which was also very scenic and historic. Since we arrived in Haines so late, we did not get
off the ship. But some of those that did were able to take some bear viewing trips which did produce bears. When
we arrived in Ketchikan, it was raining sideways (it was very, very windy) and several of the shore trips were
canceled due to the weather.

Glacier Bay was beautiful as ever and the park ranger that did the commentary on the trip in the bay was very
good. The weather was overcast, but it did not rain, so it was a great day to view the glaciers.

The ship’s Photo people really did a poor job of not only posing people for their photo shoots, but also in their film
processing. We found that they were very lacking in photo composition and their prices were the highest we had
experienced on any cruise. Hopefully this area will be addressed on future cruises.

Unfortunately, our disembarkation experience was again made exasperating by the same person who had handled
the embarkation. We were issued disembarkation numbers the night before and were told to assemble in the
Celebrity Theater to await further instructions. After we were in the Theater, we were told that each person had to
have a number. We had three people in our cabin but had only been issued two numbers. This required a hasty trip
to the Guest Relations Desk to obtain one more number. After getting the number, things in the Theater got more
confusing by the fact that the person in charge of releasing groups to disembark kept calling for groups that were
not in the Theater and were assembled in other areas of the ship. After a one hour stay we were disembarked and
boarded buses for the airport. There we had to wait for the baggage to arrive from the ship so that we could claim it
and proceed to our airline decks to check in for our departure flights. US Immigration and Customs are located in
the terminal and you clear them before proceeding to you departure gate. Oh, yes, you also have to pay $10.00
Canadian per person for the Vancouver Airport Improvements Fund. This little tidbit is not paid by your airline.

All in all it was a wonderful trip and we will definitely sail again on a Celebrity Cruise.

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