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Name: D. Portalla
Email: tcher164@aol.com
Age: 51
Occupation: teacher
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Mercury
SailingDate: 4/19/98
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 99
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Apr 1998
Time: 00:03:52
Remote Name: 152.163.195.240
Remote User:
Comments
Celebrity Mercury Cruise, 4/19/98-4/26/98 This was our second Celebrity cruise, our first
being last year on the Century. We went along with my sister and
brother-in-law, who were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. Also traveling with
us were 2 old air force buddies of my husbands who shared our
first cruise with us. We decided on the Mercury after having a wonderful experience on the
Century. We found the Mercury to be a wonderful ship which
possesed the Celebrity charm and distiction. She was set up as Century but was unique
enough to make us feel that we were not sailing on a carbon copy.
I enjoyed the many small groupings of chairs and couches in the meeting places and every
night the eight members of our group met in Tastings for a pre
dinner drink. We then made the walk to the Manhattan Dining room past Rendez-Vous Square
where Casanova played nightly. This duo had a wide range,
from country to 60's twist. Several nights we stopped there for one quick swing around the
floor. Casanova represented Celebrity's effort to supply
entertainment for all. The hit for our group was Grand Slam, an acapella group who
strolled through the Grand Foyer or Tastings several nights during the
cruise. But I found that if you didn't like what you heard in one lounge all you had to do
was go to another because there was something for everyone.
Also greatly improved were the shows in the Celebrity Theater. Noodles Levenstein was very
funny and everyday I remember another joke and smile. Our
group went to see Duke Daniels. He was entertaining but not the star of the cruise. We had
a Class 2 cabin with a small verandah. This was up from a class
7 outside cabin last year. Despite the same room size, the configuration of the bed due to
the door to the verandah made the room appear smaller, but
the use of the floor to ceiling mirror made it seem bigger. We are pleased we opted for
the verandah. Each morning we had our juice and coffee on it and
each night we again sat out their with a coffee or tea or wine to just enjoy the ocean and
the wonderful day we had had. It was not that big when you put 2
lounge chairs on it, but it was all we had hoped. We often left the door open to just
listen to the sounds of the ocean. We did not watch tv that much, but
my husband did try gambling on it. He had never played blackjack before and this way he
had the luxury of time to decide whether to stand or hit. It must
have helped because he broke even. We also used it to sign up for StingRay city once we
got on board since the excursion desk wasn't open. This allowed
us to get the first trip which we wanted. I was aware of the lack of a good hairdryer and
had brought my own. I also brought a short extension cord so I
could plug in my curling iron and dryer at the same time at the desk area. I found that
with the drawers and closets there was more than enough room for
everything we had brought. I was not able to fit my large rolling piece of luggage under
our bed this year. These beds must have been lower. It did fit in
the closet fine though. I found our stewardess Dorotka to be very helpful. I don't know
how they do it. Each morning there she was delivering our coffee
and she was frequently there late at night with our evening snack. I wish the room service
menu would be expanded. I did find that the clam chowder was
fantastic. Being a New Englander, I love to try out various chowders and I found this to
be one of the best I've ever had. The chocolate cookies were as
good as I had read on line. Our favorite was the fruit and cheese plate which was great as
a snack after a day ashore. We had late seating again this
year. The food was wonderful-I don't know how anyone could ever complain. One couple who
traveled with us found that eating at 8:30 was too late for
them though. Where we saw not being able to eat at the late buffet as a benefit, they
would have liked to. Our waiter Sammy and busboy Wilson were ever
attentive. Sammy was always able to find the extra dessert that someone decided they now
wanted. He also was able to get everyone lobster and prime
rib, a coupe from what some passengers said. We also saw our last year's waiter Archie who
was just wonderful. Archie always had a new trick for us and
even though we weren't at his table, he came over with a table and chair he makes out of
the champagne cork and wire top for me and my sister-in-law
and for my grandaughter as well.I don't know how he does it, but he remembered us all and
made us feel as if we had just been on the Century despite it
being a year ago. That is just another way you are made to feel so special on Celebrity.
We ate our breakfast and lunch in the Palm Springs Cafe. Here
you had excellent choices and always a waiter to carry your tray to your table. We found
the area behind the indoor pool to be seldom crowded and with a
nice breeze.
The ports of call were a repeat for us with the exception of Calica. In Key West we went
to Jimmy Buffet's for a margarita and then to the Keno sandle
factory and then back to the boat. We signed up only for the StingRay city excursion, a
repeat from last year. In Cozumel we rented a van which was a
great idea for us. Our entire group were able to go together in air conditioned comfort.
With all of us chipping in, it was very reasonable. We got to see the
entire island. We stopped at a few beaches along the way and had a great time. We also
went to Chankanab park. At Xcaret we by passed Xcaret, but
heard that we shouldn't had. My husband and I went into Playa del Carmen while everyone
else stayed on the ship. We heard that they are returning to
Jamaica next year. That does give you more variety. Another big change we heard about is
that Century will be in the Mediterranean in the summer of
99-Great idea.
I had read much about the cruise director Alan King. We found him to be very good and
quite funny. He also was very visable around the boat and often
stopped to say hello and ask about our cruise. Glad to see that everyone has their own
opinion.
Another change over Century was the shopping. I found many more shops on the Mercury with
a far greater range of choices.
The only negative for this cruise was the air/sea arrangement. We learned that Celebrity
only books the air two to three weeks before the cruise, so
connections were not great. I called at least 3 times to ask for a seat belt extension for
my husband. I also verified it again as we checked in. There was no
seat belt extension at his seat. He flew all the way down and back unbuckled. What
bothered me most was everyone saying it would be there and viole-it
wasn't. We also didn't get on board until 4:30. Next year we will make our own reservation
so that I can take advantage of being a captain's club member.
We also were told at our connecting flight that we could not take our carry on but they
would have it at the door when we landed in Ft. Lauderdale. I was
concerned since there were medicines and breakables in it, but they assured me it would be
there as we got off. Guess what got put with the luggage?
When I asked at the gate as the stewadess told me I was very rudely told to go to the
baggage claim for it. I'm so glad I put the extra cruise tag on it at the
last minute. Everyting arrived at our cabin withing a half hour of getting on board, but
it did start everything off on a negative note. Flying is not a fun
experience any more.
Finally-sailing with celebrity is wonderful. I know we have not tried any other lines, but
why change when you have all you want right there.
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