celebrity-mercury15

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Marilyn & Chris Fraser
Email: silver@pathcom.com
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired / Writer
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Mercury
SailingDate: Feb. 6, 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 9042 Cat. 9
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 99
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 99
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 99
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 99
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService:
TenderService: 99
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness:
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace:
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 99
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Feb 2000
Time: 22:40:43
Remote Name: cache01.tor.pathcom.com
Remote User:

Comments

My son and I returned from cruising on Celebrity's Mercury on February 13. We had a fantastic time and I
cannot add anything more to the accolades already given re the food and meals and marvelous
Caribbean Night buffet. The transfer from the airport and the boarding procedures were quick, efficient
and painless. I strongly recommend a passport because those who had to leave a photo ID driver's license
did not have it if they wanted to rent a vehicle in port.

I did not find it necessary to use any seasickness medication or the seabands on my wrists. The inside
cabin on Vista deck 9 was roomy with plenty of closet and drawer space and our cabin attendant and his
assistant, John and Sugar, could not have been any more attentive! If we used a face cloth and step out
of the cabin for a minute when we came back it was replaced with a clean one! If we drank any of the ice
water always fresh on a tray, and stepped out for a minute, when we returned there were fresh glasses
and fresh ice water.

The bathroom shower was good and plenty hot; a dispenser for shampoo conditioner was on the wall
beside the shower. Bathrobes and shower caps were provided; the soap was lovely; and the body lotion in
the dispenser was excellent. The hair dryer worked just fine with plenty of heat. In fact I used it to help
speed the drying of T-shirts after a swim with the sting rays.

The beds were excellent, being firm and comfortable, and there was the delicious good-night chocolate
each night. We were not charged extra for any room service when we requested glasses and an ice
bucket to chill a bottle of champagne for a farewell drink with friends made on board.

We enjoyed the band Onyx, both my 30-something son and his 65+ mother. We both found most of the
entertainment very entertaining. The stage shows with the cruise staff were really very good, most
especially the technical effects.

Service in the dining room was quite remarkable. Our waiter was Owen and no one could be more
considerate or attentive. He told us he had been cruising for 14 years I believe. Saturday was my son's
birthday and at dinner the charming Maitre d' brought the richest chocolate cake I have ever eaten,
complete with candle and ice cream and the waiter and assistants stood around and sang Happy Birthday
for him. Our dinner companions from Long Island, NY were great company and enjoyed the birthday cake
as well.

The excursions we took were: - The conch trolley in Key West; an entertaining way to see a large part of
Key West and hear some of the history in a very limited time. - At Cozumel we went on more of a shopping
spree than intended when I went looking for a Mexican cotton blouse and ended with a T-shirt dress, some
jewelry and a mask (I didn't buy the puppets or maracas or the tequila or...) - At Calica my son went on the
Coba Mayan ruins tour and found it very interesting; took lots of photos and recorded the guide's
commentary. - At Calica I went to Xcaret park and bought the Interactive Experience with the dolphins
(US$55 made me gasp, but it is for the park's benefit too). It was a marvelous experience learning about
dolphins. Much better than just going in the surf with them I think. - At Grand Cayman I went on the
research sub 800-ft dive. It is not in the Cayman Trench as the pilot explained the Trench is 30 or 40 miles
distant. The island of Cayman is all coral and has been uplifted so that there is a very deep steep wall
down the side of it. - Both my son and I went on the last sting ray swim excursion (for us) at 12:30 pm. He
had purchased a disposable underwater camera and did get some good shots and missed a few. It is very
difficult to take pictures of a moving fish while wearing a dive mask!

Disembarkation was efficient and as timely as could be expected. We had an early flight and were
processed and transported in plenty of time without undue rush or panic.

All in all, it was a marvelous holiday that I can recommend without reservation to anyone. Now we need to
go again so we can take the excursions we missed!

Name: Margie Serri
Email: nrsgazelle@aol.com
Age: 44
Occupation: registered nurse
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: Celebrity-Mercury
SailingDate: 2/20
Itinerary: Western Carrib.
Cabin: 4003/7
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 100
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 50
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 100
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 50
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Feb 2000
Time: 10:54:39
Remote Name: spider-wc024.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

We cruised with another couple, our age. No children. First of all, I was dreading the embarkation process
because of reviews I had read before we went. Either Celebrity listened to and changed all these
complaints or we were very lucky. It was the smoothest embarkation I have had in all four of my cruises.
The only waiting we had was while pictures were being taken. We were taken to our room promplty and
because our luggage had not yet arrived, we met Manuel our steward and went to explore the ship. I
wanted to use the AquaSpa and from these reviews knew to book that first so I went up there; the staff
wanted to give me a tour and I was very glad I took it. I was planning on a massage or facial but they
showed everything else and I ended up booking a Ionotherapy treatment which I thoroughly enjoyed. (The
girl doing it even came in an hour early because my treatment conflicted with something else I chose to
do...and without me asking). I do suggest you do this first as it does book quickly and you can't book from
your room till the ship sails. We decided on main seating and had a nice table for four on the upper level
with the most enjoyable waiter I have ever had. Lorenzo was just a marvel; friendly, professional and with a
great sense of humor. We have even asked him to let us know where he will be in June when we cruise
again so that we can see him and have him as our waiter. The only complaint I have about dining service
is that the assistant waiter had too much to do and often we didn't get water glasses filled or dressing for
salads until later. And since the bar service in the dining room was always late, sometimes we had nothing
to drink until well into the first course. We never got our coffee until dessert was ordered, and eaten.
These little things were the result of too much work for one person, not the server. They were always
apologetic. And the food was WONDERFUL, all of it...dining room, buffet and poolside. It was very difficult
to get the free stuff...lemonade, tea, punch...they closed that down quite often.

Shore excursions are cheaper and easier to do by yourself. We went to Xcaret in Calica. Left the ship at
8:45, took a taxi 6.00 for four, paid the 39.00 admission then took a taxi back for the same amount. We
were one of the first to arrive virtually having the underground river to ourselves, our pick of places to sun,
etc. And we could leave when we wanted to. The shore excursion planned by the ship took a bus, so the
bus had to be full before they left, then you had to be back on the bus at their stated time. Their cost was
44.00/person, we paid 43.00/person and had the freedom of coming and going as we wished. And that
place is not to be missed; it was gorgeous.

We didn't do any of the snorkeling, touring things...we just wanted to relax on the beaches. In cozumel, we
took a taxi to Playa del Sol which was very nice. In Key west, we just got off the ship and wandered around
downtown for awhile. And in Grand Caymen, we went to a beach resort to spend the day in the sun. It cost
13.00 per person and that only included use of beach chair and free drink. it didn't include transportation.
And it was so crowded! I would have been mad had I been paying to stay at that resort to have the
cruisers come take over their beach. And at lunch, they found tables for people staying there first, then
found tables for the cruisers. But it was still a gorgeous day, the water so blue and clear.

A few more things I noticed on board. People certainly did not follow the dress code...I'm talking barefeet
and no shirts in the buffet in the restaurant. All they ask is for a coverup and shoes. It even said on our
daily newsletter that if correct attire was not worn you would not be allowed to go in. But no one enforced
that. Also, they request you not save lounge chairs with towels but even though we were up by 8:00 am on
at sea days, we could only get up on the third floor. Which was fine with us, we had no kids to watch in the
pool. But a 'towel-less' chair couldn't be found on either the pool deck or the second deck by 8:00am. But
there were plenty for all on the third deck. It wouldn't be too good for a family with kids. I only mention a
few of these things which by no means effected our cruise. We had a wonderful time, outstanding food.
Tender service to Grand Caymen was very well organized and went quickly. Please feel free to contact me
with a question. I would sail Celebrity again.

Name: Scott Shelton
Email: sshelton@mpinet.net
Age: 47
Occupation: LAN Administrator
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: Celebrity-Mercury
SailingDate: January 30, 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 9090
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 89
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 98
DiningRoomService: 82
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 99
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 89
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 89
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 97
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Mar 2000
Time: 07:16:06
Remote Name: daecfp02.sprint.com
Remote User:

Comments

This is our second cruise, first one with Celebrity. Travelers are Me and My wife, Gail and my 16 year old
son, Tyler.

Day 1 – Sunday Arrival at the Cruise Terminal and Boarding the Ship Sunny 70s We drove to the
terminal in Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale from Orlando and arrived at 11am. The port is relatively new
and easy to get to. By check-in standards, we arrived a little early and so when we went to receive our
priority number, we got number 1. At 12:30, we began the boarding process and by 1pm we were aboard
and eating a wonderful buffet lunch in the Palm Springs Café. After that, we went to the see the Matrade'
to confirm our seating in the formal dinning room for the evening meals. Then we checked out the rest of
the ship and it’s facilities. There was a basketball court, ping pong, darts, fitness center, movie theater,
swimming pools, volleyball, shuffle board, and virtual golf, to mention a few. The weather that afternoon
was sunny and 70s, so Gail and I ended up catching some sun, while Tyler continued to investigate the
ship's facilities. Our bags arrived at our cabin (9090), at around 4pm, so we changed and got ready for
the evening activities. The ship departed at 5:30pm and we were now underway to our first port, Calica,
Mexico. This was Superbowl Sunday, so Tyler and I went to the Celebrity Theater to watch it on the big
screen .There was pizza and other food available during the game. Gail decided to go to the formal
dinning room and eat with the other guests at our assigned table of eight. After the game was over, Gail
joined us in the theater where there was a live show put on by the Celebrity entertainment staff, which
highlighted the upcoming week’s performers. So as you can see our first day on the ship was action
packed and it was nice to settle down in our comfortable and spacious stateroom for a good night’s
sleep, as we did not get much sleep the night before.

Day 2 – Monday Day at Sea Sunny 80s Today was an easy, quiet day at sea which we spend lying in the
sun and relaxing on the upper deck of the ship. Tyler and I entered into a ping pong tournament. Didn’t
make it to the finals, but had fun anyway. Then we went and played the virtual golf. This was kinda cool,
you hit the ball into a screen which has pictures projected on it from a course of your selection. It detects
how your ball is hit and places you in the fairway or the green accordingly. The evening dinner was
formal attire in the Manhattan dining room. The meals served in the evenings were very nicely prepared
and very rich. There was a vegetarian menu available as well. Our tablemates were very pleasant and
personable. We all had a good time together every evening that we met for dinner. The waiter who was
from Mexico and busboy from India, were quiet and the waiters efficiency was lacking at times. We skip
the evening show and went to bed to rest up for our first day in port on Tuesday.

Day 3 – Tuesday Calica, Mexico Overcast/showers (am),Sunny (pm) 80s We awoke to cloudy skies with
rain showers on the horizon. But we were optimistic that the day would still be a good one and it was!
There was a delay getting ashore as we had to take a tender boat due to another ship docked in our
spot at the pier in Calica. We finally got ashore at 11am, bought a ticket for transportation and admission
to the Xcaret Park ($44pp). This was a beautiful ecological park with a lot of nature, with both aquatic and
land creatures. After entering the gates, we walked through the rain forest and then visited the orchid
and mushroom farm. In route to the beach area, we saw Mayan ruins, swim with the dolphins area, a
turtle sanctuary, and aquarium. When we reached the beach area, the water was a beautiful blue color
and the water was 79 degrees. Tyler and I went snorkeling and saw a lot of beautiful fish amongst the
reefs. Also retrieved a huge conk shell with the live conk still in it! Snorkeling over near the boat docks,
we saw huge numbers of silver colored fish of different sizes swarming all around us. God’s creatures
really brought a blessing to us throughout this whole trip. We all finally settled down on the nice sandy
beach area and had some lunch. The sun came out, so we sat in the sun and floated on the air cushions
provided by the park. Returned to the ship by 4:30pm and opted for the Casual Dinning area on the 11th
deck. After dinner we went to the evening show, which was hilarious. The Ladder Guy performed
balancing, juggling and some unbelievable acts on a ladder. He was quite a comedian as well.

Day 4 – Wednesday Cozumel, Mexico Mostly Sunny 80s First thing in the morning, I went up on deck with
my binoculars to check out the coastline. As we pulled closer to the dock, a big stingray jumped right out
of the water, just as to tell me you are going to have a great day and we did! The boat tied up to pier at
7am and after eating breakfast, Tyler and I had an appointment to meet a Divemaster Antonio from
EagleRay Dive shop, at La Caleta marina. We had made arrangements over the Internet for Tyler to
complete his scuba diving certification, which required two deep water dives. We arrived at the marina
one hour before we were suppose to, cause I forgot about the time difference. But we had fun talking to
one of the local boat captains, testing out our Spanish speaking skills, while we were waiting. Antonio and
the his boat captain took us out to the first dive spot, Punta Punich reef area. Tyler got right into the
water, equalized pressure and was on the bottom before I knew it. I floated above with my snorkeling gear
and followed the group. The visibility was at least 100ft and was just an unbelievable experience seeing
all the creatures of the sea as I drifted above the divers. Tyler was ecstatic! I watch him as he swam
about 50 feet below me, checking out the reefs and all its inhabitants. This is one of his greatest loves,
marine biology. The second dive was north a ways, at Paradise reef. Again, just a beautiful environment.
The boat driver took me closer into shore, were the water over the reef was shallow (about 10ft) where I
took some pictures with my underwater camera while Tyler and Antonio went through some skills that
were needed for his certification. If you are ever in Cozumel, call Antonio or Chellie at EagleRay . Their
services and friendliness were top notch. We got back to the dock at about 2:30pm and took a cab to the
Chankanaab Beach Park where we were to meet my wife, Gail. Through out the trip, we used some
walkie-talkies from Wal-Mart, to communicate while we were apart, both on and off the ship. So when I got
there, I called her on it and found her right away. This park is very tropical and beautiful. Seven dollars to
get in and well worth it. Gail and I went snorkeling and saw a lot of neat fish. Got back by 5pm and the
ship departed this wonderful diving paradise of the Caribbean. It is said to be second best in the world
next to the Great Barrier Reefs of Australia .We had dinner in the Manhattan Restaurant and then saw
the movie, Patch Adams, in the ship’s cinema. What a day!!

Day 5 –Thursday Grand Cayman Islands Mostly Sunny 80s The ship anchored just off shore of
Georgetown, GC at 10am. We tendered ashore at 11:30am. After taking some pictures and shopping, we
met the tour group for Stingray City. Took the bus over to the dock and then a boat out to the sand bar.
About a 45-minute ride. I noticed that locals at the pier, were offering tours for $25.00 . I will have to
remember that next time. We paid $14 bucks more through the ship. We arrive at the sand bar, which
ranges 3-5 feet deep, and got right into the water with our snorkel and mask. No fins allow around the
stingrays. The boat drive put a floating bucket of squid pieces out in the water. The stingrays, ranging in
size from 2 to 4 feet across, converged on everyone in the water, especially if you had squid in your
hand. Tyler could not stop laughing, as the rays rubbed up against him like kitty cats. This was a very
memorable experience for us all. We stayed there for about 45 minutes and then returned to the dock.
The bus driver dropped Tyler and I off at the main road where we caught a minibus to go to the beach at
Cemetery Reef, to do some snorkeling. We swam out to a really cool reef about 150 yards off shore and
found a lot of sea life. I took some underwater pictures. Got back to the ship at 5pm, had dinner in
tropical attire and then went to another movie-Entrapment. Again, another wonderful day in paradise!

Day 6 – Friday Day at Sea Mostly Sunny (am) , Rain (pm) 80s Relaxed around the ship, sat in the sun in
the morning. Tyler and I played Ping-Pong. In the afternoon, Tyler went to the Golf room for a 30-minute
golf lesson and evaluation using a video machine. They gave him the video evaluation of his swing at the
end of the session. He really enjoyed that. Formal dinning that night, and early to bed.

Day 7 – Saturday Key West Sunny 60s The ship had originally scheduled to stop here in the beginning of
the cruise, but change the itinerary just before departure. We are Seventh-day Adventists and it was the
Lord’s Sabbath, so we went ashore at 8:30am and took the shuttle bus to the visitors center to locate an
Adventist church. There was one within walking distance and we had a wonderful time of fellowship and
worship at the Southernmost Seventh-day Adventist Church. It was a small, but loving congregation.
They had beautiful stain glass work in the church. After church, one of the parishioners kindly gave us a
ride back to the ship. We had the buffet lunch and then Tyler and I took the shuttle back into town and
went to the aquarium. Tyler pointed out all the fish that he had seen when he went on his dive in
Cozumel. The aquarium guide fed the sting rays, the sharks and the other fish as well as a general
guided tour and explanation of the habits of the sea creatures they had there. It was a wonderful way to
spend the day and a great blessing for us. We had dinner that night,(it was also my birthday), in the
Manhattan and said a tearful goodbye to our tablemate friends and exchanged email addresses. We
returned to our cabin, put our suitcases in the hallway, then took in a movie and hit the sack, trying not to
think about this wonderful vacation coming to an end.

Day 8 – Sunday Port Everglades and Debarkation Sunny – high 60s Docked at 6am. Up at 7:30 and had
our last breakfast. Our debarkation color was blue, which was called around 9:30am. We had heard that
they were some that were staying on board for the next cruise departure that afternoon to the Eastern
Caribbean. Two cruises, back to back! What a life. But, its back to home, work and school for the
Sheltons. As we drove home to Orlando, the past week’s memories flashed into our minds of the
wonderful people, ports and ocean creatures we saw and met. This week’s experiences will be with us for
years to come. Thank you western Caribbean, maybe we will see you again next year!! And thank you all
for reading our review!! For a colorful and pictoral review of this trip , I created a web site -
http://home.mpinet.net/sshelton/sshelton

Positives- Abundance of deck space, great ports of call, spacious inside stateroom.

Negatives- Interior decor was not the best, Manhattan food was too rich, service was average to less than
average, the fitness center manager would not let my 16 year old son use the facilities due to liability, but
what I couldn't understand is what would happen if he broke an ankle playing basketball on the ships
court. My son works out on more dangerous equipment at home, than what was on the ship. Couldn't
figure out the policy on this one. I did not see the room steward until the second day and could never find
him when I needed him. Port itinerary was changed at the last minute and had to cancel our catamaran
trip at the Cayman Islands. We arrived there on Thursday instead of Friday. And Key West was moved to
Saturday. But things worked out despite the change. We were looking forward to the catamaran though.

Overall- If you could take this itinerary and sail on the RCCL Enchantment of the Seas and you would
have the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, that combination is not available presently. We sailed the
Enchantment last year(see posting) and the Mercury did not surpass our experience on that ship. We will
most likely go back to RCCL next time.

Scott, Gail & Tyler Shelton

Name: Kathy Dahms
Email: kdahms1@maine.rr.com
Age: 45
Occupation: RN
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Mercury
SailingDate: 2/20/2000
Itinerary: Western Carribean
Cabin: 4033
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 70
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 70
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 70
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 85
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 88
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities: 85
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Mar 2000
Time: 08:50:48
Remote Name: dt055nce.maine.rr.com
Remote User:

Comments

We boarded the Mercury on February 20,2000 from Fort Lauderdale. We knew going into this that it was
school vacation week and the flights to and from and ship would be full.Going down our three children got
first class seats and we were in coach(I guess a perk of the air/sea package) We had one stopover in
Pittsburgh and arrived in Fort Lauderdale about an hour late(plane problems). The embarkation went
smoothly and we were on the ship in record time. Our inside stateroom was very very snug. For the five
of us we had two single beds,two pulldown beds and a rollaway cot.It was very cramped to say the least.
We did this to save some money- but I would not do it again. Our reasoning initially was that we wouldn't
be spending much time in our room. I had forgotten that teenagers like to sleep late and our room
steward was not pleased with that. Which brings me to the only big negative part of the cruise, and that
was our cabin steward and his work. Granted a room with five can be difficult to clean, but he never
replaced the shampoo in the dispenser, we were not given the standard amenities that other rooms
received. It seemed to me that he was always outside our door asking when we would be leaving. I still left
him a generous tip(because I know this is their main source of income)but he never once thanked me or
said goodbye. I just know that this has not been the case with room stewards on other cruises. The food
was generally very good. Our first night we had a wonderfully social waiter and busboy. The second night
they were replaced by a not so social waiter and busboy. It seems our first waiter and busboy were
needed at other tables because they spoke Russian. I did notice that the bar and wait staff was primarily
Eastern European as opposed to the Galaxy that had a big contingent of help from Samoa and
Indonesia.The food was different from the Galaxy.

One thing I noticed was the lack of caviar for an
appetizer- which our waiter later explained was because of the large number of children on board that
week. My overall impression was that the food was good, but not as good as we had on the Galaxy.Room
service had a varied menu which my children took advantage of. There were several choices for
breakfast and lunch,which broke up our routine. One thing that stood out on this cruise was the
disrespect for the dress code. The gentleman who sat at the next table never wore a suit and tie,nor did
his three sons. To me this is one of the fun parts of going on a cruise, you get to dress up. We rented
tuxedos for the men and I enjoyed seeing our family dressed up. My husband rationalized that this man
probably wears a suit and tie everyday and didn't want to spend his vacation dressed up. I felt it was
disrespectful to the cruiseline and the other passengers. As far as I know, nothing was ever said to him.
The midnight buffets were good(according to my teenagers)but they did tire of pizza, which is served
often on Celebrity. The itinerary was acceptable for our family. I had never been to the Western
Carribean so this was all new for us.

On the negative side,I felt that the times in port were too short. I
remember other cruises where we were in port until 10 pm. This time around we always seemed in a rush
to get back to the ship. Our first port, Key West was a short port. We had time to take the train/bus into
town and shop for two hours. The boat docked at 7 a.m. but the stores don't open until 9 a.m.We left Key
West at 1 p.m.so it was short and sweet. None of the shore excursions sounded like we'd have time to
enjoy them, so we did it on our own. The next port was Cozumel which was a change from the itinerary we
were sent with our tickets. This probably wouldn't have been a problem if I hadn't made reservations for
horseback riding in Calica on that day. I had done quite a bit of online research about places to go and
things to do in each port- so I was prepared. What I have learned on the last two Celebrity cruises, is that
you can generally get a better deal on tours if you book them yourself at the dock. We rented Jeeps and
went to Chakanaab National Park, around the island and shopping in Cozumel center. It was much
cheaper than if we had taken tours or paid taxi fares.

In Cozumel we took the kids to Carlos and Charlies
which was indeed like a frat party. There is no real drinking age in Cozumel- so be prepared. We had a
wonderful time and the food was great. For shopping, the one thing that hit me in Mexico is that they want
cash or travelers checks. I assumed I would use my credit card- but they are not accepted by many
places. We went to the recommended shops, they were pretty pricey. The best place we found was Los
Cinquos Sols, which had the best deals without bartering. We got an onyx chess set for $15, and three
Mexican blankets for $11. From Cozumel we went 12 nautical miles to Calica. However, as close as that
is, the ship went out to sea and came back in at Calica the next morning. This made absolutely no sense
to me. Calica is a dusty little port and we went to XCaret a beautiful eco-park.It cost us $45 each to go-
the bus picked us up at the boat and took us to the park. We snorkeled ($9 for equipment)underground
and above ground which was incredible.

There is alot to see in this beautiful place and I feel like we only
scratched the tip of it.We had made horseback riding reservations for the day before, but a nice
gentleman- Alvarado-honored them on this day. It was wonderful to ride through the forests and then
onto the beach. We did this instead of swimming with the dolphins, and I'm glad we did($30 pp for an
hour). We swam in the inlet with its crystal clear water and sandy bottom. It was heaven- but alas we
needed to leave too soon to get back to the ship.The next port was Grand Cayman and this is a tendered
port. We got off the ship at 9 a.m. and signed up for a Stringray City snorkeling tour for $25 p.p. We went
out on a very nice boat and the weather was beautiful. It was fun to swim with the stringrays and then to
snorkel on a coral reef. We went to the Royal Palms(I believe this is just a place for cruise ship guests to
swim)which was very crowded. My youngest son wanted to try a jet ski so this is where we stopped. It was
$50 for 30 minutes but he enjoyed himself. We then went into town and shopped, probably the best buy
here was the famous rum cakes. Again, it was time to go and we got the last tender back to the ship. The
ship activities were varied. I enjoyed the trivia challenge and cooking activities. My children enjoyed the
kareoke and dance activities. Because it was school vacation week, the ship had extra security guards
who made sure the kids cleared out of the lounges by 11 p.m. and that no underage drinking or gambling
went on. Needless to say, it did go on, parents who bought drinks for their kids and who let them in the
casino. My youngest son particularly enjoyed the vegetable carving and arrived at our stateroom with a
carved watermelon which he proceeded to eat!The shows were fairly good,there was a
comedian/magician who was excellant.The cruise staff was friendly and I enjoyed being able to watch
several talks on my stateroom television. Apparently several families were unaware of the inroom gaming
channel, and their kids ran up a hefty bill before it was discovered.(you can lockout the channel if you
desire)We also requested that the minibar stay locked,I didn't want to pay for $2 bags of peanuts or
candy. They did offer a good deal for parents with children. For $4.50 a day, your child could get
unlimited soda. At a cost of $1.50 per soda this was a good deal.

Name: Gregory Styif
Email: hotbaby_k@hotmail.com
Age: 35
Occupation: Orthodontist
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Mercury
SailingDate: January 2, 2000
Itinerary: 7-night Western Caribean
Cabin: Cat. 5
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 100
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 98
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 98
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 96
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 98
ShoreExcValue: 96
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 99
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 99
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff: 97
EntertainmentLounges: 99
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon: 99
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 99
AirSeaProgram: 99
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 99
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 100
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 09 Mar 2000
Time: 17:51:59
Remote Name: overflow-203.pool.northpro.net
Remote User:

Comments

Carribean in Luxury

The memories from our recent cruise aboard the Celebrity Cruises Mercury will never be forgotten.
Aboard an elegant ship of the Celebrity Cruise fleet you will know you are somewhere special from the
second you step aboard.

You are greeted by a String quartet and piano playing softly in the backround. Then as if by magic you
are wisked to your room by a white-gloved attendant. He then showed us the room and its features and
how to use the Celebrity Network TV where you can order just about anything you wish from Room
Service to things in the Ships Boutiques. We were in a category 5 room that was equipped with everthing
one would need. The color scheme was very relaxing with deep blues and light blond woods. The
bathroom was gleaming white and was very spacious for a cruise ship. The toiletry items were a very nice
touch. After we got aqainted with the room we meandered around the ship.

The Ship--

The Mercury is a stunning ship, both inside and out. She is rather blocky looking and also very
streamlined at the same time. Clever exterior painting separates the ship to not make it look like one big
block. Upon entering this ship you are excorted into the Grand Foyer. It is a lot smaller than most ship
atriums but it is the most stunning atrium I have ever seen. Attention to detail are apparent everywhere.
Fine quality fabrics and materials were obviously used. At many hours of the day there is a pianist
playing the grand piano on the second level next to the Tastings. On the formal nights there is a string
quartet. Overall the decor of this atrium is exquisite and the most tastefully decorated atrium I have ever
seen.

Rendezvous Sqaure is a popular area to meet before and after dinner. It is a rather dark room done in
burgundy and Navy Blue. Many nights there is a live band and people can dance. Before that there is a
quiz game that I always attended.

The Navigator Club is the ships observation loung during the day and Disco at night. It is a wonderful
room to be in as the ship is pulling into port. Many days my wife and I would sit in there for hours looking
into the great expanse of the ocean. It truly is a special room.

The Celebrity Theatre is done in a deep red shade and it is quite the room. The chairs are quite
comfortable and there isn't a bad seat in the house. There were always more than enough chairs, and we
never had a problem getting a good seat.

The Pavillion night club was nice. It was a very modern room that has a huge dance floor and plenty of
chairs for people that just wanted to soak up the ambiance of the great room.

The Casino was a crowded room at night and was filled with laughter and smiles. It had a feeling of
sophistication that added to the festive atmosphere.

The La Playa Pool area was nice. It was usually filled with loud people and music, but on the very top
deck it was quiet and relaxing. There were plenty of deck chairs. Some of which were padded were quite
comfortable. There were always fresh towels and it was a nice setting for the great weather we had on
our cruise.

The Mannhattan Restaurant is truly breathtaking. Celebrity sure knows how to decorate ships. It is truly
stunning. It was wondeful to make grand entrances down the staircase. The carpeting is stunning in a
geometric French-blue pattern. There are red chairs running down the middle of the 2 story dining room
and I think that conveys a certain energy that gives the room a special feel. The rest of the chairs are
deep blue. Everthing was top notch and the room had a feeling of a richness that comes from quality
materials. The String quartet that played at night complimented the elegance of the restaurant. The
tables were immaculately set with silver and china. There were fresh flowers everywhere. The huge
bouquets on the waiters servings stations were absolutely beatiful. It turned an eye-sore into something
pleasing to the eye. The usual crowding before and after dinner on most ships was obsolete on this ship.
With 4 entrances to the room and the Rendevous Square outside, there was absolutely no lines to get in.
I thought that was nice touch that only adds to peoples satisfaction.

The Service--

Food is served in style in the ships Manhattan Restaurant located at the stern. The service was
Impeccable with a capital 'I'. It was truly outstanding. It was correct and friendly. Elegant yet totally
relaxed. It isn't how you are just another customer. It is how your waiter greets you by name, treats you
like an honored guest, and truly cares if you are having a wonderful time. It is how your waiter wisks your
elegantly folded napkin onto your lap and hands you an outstanding menu which has made Celebrity
Cruises the shining star of the contemporary cruise lines. It is much more than that. Until you have
experienced it is something magical, something undescribable.

Service in the Palm Springs Cafe was nice as the waiters would take your food to the table you choose. It
was nice that you pick out the food you want and the waiters will dish it out for you. And that kept the
buffets looking fresh and clean. Service around the pool was nice and you were never hustled to buy a
drink. Waitresses would walk around and they wouldnt shout 'DO YOU WANT A DRINK?' No, not on this
ship. She would come over and politely ask "Sir, would you care for a drink?'. I really thought that was a
nice touch.

In the rest of the ship the service is friendly and you will be quite unnasuming that you are on a ship that
carries over a 1,000 passengers. The service is quite personalized and every member of the staff is
polite, courteous and restpectful. It is how the casino staff make you feel like James Bond himself. And it
is the friendly smile you recieve from the receptionist at the Guest Relations counter. I think the service
compliments and embellishes everthing that takes place on this cruise ship.

The Food--

The food was simply put- 'Out of this world' I was impressed every single night by the taste and
presentation night after night. I simply don't know how Celebrity Cruises does it. But they do it beutifully.
The meats were steak house qaulity. I was really impressed with the steaks I had. The presentation was
so exquisite that I took pictures of many of my main courses. The Chilled soups were the best I have ever
had, and make sure to leave room for dessert. The one thing I really liked was that there were No tacky
theme nights. It was different menu everynight and I was really pleased there werent any theme nights. It
was an elegant dining experience, and they theme the midnight buffets which I thought was an excellent
idea. I am in still in awe of how many people they had to cook for as the food had the taste of a small
gourmet restaurant. It was truly outstanding and I applaud Celebrity Cruises for bringing culinary art to
the highest level afloat.

The buffets in the Palm Springs Cafe were excellent and, in fact, much better than most other cruise lines
Dining Room food. It was presented nicely since your waiter dished it for you and it tasted fresh and it
was served at the right temperature. Never room-temperature like most lines. It was of high quality and
prepared correctly. It just doesn't taste like mass produced food like so many other lines.

The midnight buffets were themed as I said before and I thought it was a nice touch to do that. The
Grand Gala Buffet was something I will never forget, it was absolutely unbelievable. The Chefs pull out all
of the stops to produce the most impressive spread of food you have ever imagined. Ice-sculptures,
lobsters, tarts, cakes, breads, exotic fruits, pastries. All were To die for.

You will have fun on this ship too!! Don't get the impression that this is an old persons ship. I think what
Celebrity tries to do is create and upscale cruise product for a younger crowd that wants to have a fun
time and not a party-hardy cruise. I think this Cruise Line does that job beautifully. It gives priveleged
people an elegant week at see aboard a ship of exquisite style. At an affordable price.

Entertainment-- The entertainment in the Celebrity Theater was elegant and it was really good. Most
entertainment on other lines arent that great. I thought this entertainment was pretty good. It was glitzy
and it the costumes were impressive. The singers and dancers really had some talent.

Problems-- We did have one minor problem. The people in the cabin next to us had very little kids that
woke up EARLY kicking and screaming. And we took the problem to the Guest Relations Desk and we
said this was quite annoying. The lady said she would 'see what she could do' and she moved us into a
ROYAL SUITE. We were so excited when we heard the news. They really know how to fix problems and to
treat their customers. We couldn't believe how sympathetic they were. It really made our day. When we
opened the door we were greeted by our new butler who had just brought a bouquet of white lillies and
set them on the dining room table. He showed us around the room and we were so happy with the
change. A few moments later our butler came to our door with 2 first class tickets back to our home. We
were so happy with the way we were treated aboard the ship. It almost seemed like the world revolved
around us.

I hope this review will help you steer in the right direction of your travel vacation. In my opinion Celebrity
Cruises presents a superb cruise product at virtually unbeatable prices. A cruise with this line is very
special. It is the little things that make the big difference. It is how there are so few lines, how the
elevators are always in working order. It is also the mostly European trained crew the makes this cruise
ship so special. It was a terrific week aboard a wonderful ship and I thought it was a true 5 star
experience. All the activities were really good. No smut. It was all tastefull and consistent with the ship. It
was a TRUE 5 star product. I give the MERCURY my highest recommendation.

If you have any questions or comments please e-mail my wife at hotbaby_k@hotmail.com

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