celebrity-zenith4

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: R. W. Froelich
Email: RWMerry@JUNO.com
Age: 74
Occupation: Physician, M.D., retired
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: Dec. 7, 1998
Itinerary: San Juan/Panama Canal/Acupulco & others
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 70
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 65
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 50
MedicalFacilities: 80
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 70
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Jan 1999
Time: 16:46:13
Remote Name: 162.42.205.149
Remote User:

Comments

My wife and I were booked by Grand Circle Tours for Celebrity Cruise Line's Panama Canal Cruise starting at
San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 7th and disembarking at Acapulco, Mexico December 18th , 1998. Our
travel experiences have included land tours with Grand Circle in the past (England/Scotland/Wales '94,the Alps
'95, Turkey '96, Australia/New Zealand/Fiji '97, east Europe '98). All of them have been very good. In addition, we
have cruised from Alaska returning to Vancouver in 1990 and a 1938 sailing to and from Europe., traveled to
Lebanon in 1955, Japan/Thialand in 1968, Russia and Iron Curtain countries in 1970 and China in 1982 with
People to People and did a tented camp safari in Kenya with the director of The Zoo in Gulf Breeze Florida in
1984.

The arrangements made by Celebrity for pre and post cruise travel to and from our home were not as we would
have desired. Our original booking made plans to arrive in Puerto Rico two days before the cruise so that we
could see some of that country and not just arrive and board the ship. The flight arrangements not received until
two weeks prior to departure were as follows: Depart Phoenix at 12:04 midnight Arrive Atlanta at 5:21 a.m. Depart
Atlanta at 7:00 a.m. Arrive San Juan at 11:18 a.m. Calls to Grand Circle resulted in Celebrity telling Grand Circle
that no other arrangements were possible. Cancellation of the trip would result in a 50% loss.

We accepted the scheduled flights and arrived in San Juan exhausted. Tours of Puerto Rico the next day could
not be arranged by personnel at Celebrity's Condado Plaza Hotel since it was a holiday. We were able to arrange
a 2 hour taxi tour of Old San Juan with the doorman for $60.00. That was a very nice capsule view of the old town
and its 16th century fortresses.

We boarded the Zenith at 3:00 the next afternoon after strolling the streets around the hotel in the morning.
Arrangements made by Celebrity for our transport from the airport to the hotel and to the ship from the hotel were
good. We were met at the airport with our bags arriving in our room in the hotel shortly after we entered. The
same was true of bag arrival on board ship. The stateroom was very impressive with very modern bath facilities,
wonderful Celebrity bath robes in the closet and a nice view from a large port hole. The cabin was 5062, located
midship on the starboard side and close to the ship's bank, cabin desk and shore excursion desk. The dining
room and main theater were two decks above. Entering the ship and departure for shore excursions was two
decks below. I was not impressed that the stateroom was different from other rooms which were three scales
lower in cost.

Nightly entertainment was unbelievably good. The band, a seven member group, was composed of excellent
musicians who played the lead and rhythm parts along with full orchestra recorded music for the production
numbers. The leader, a huge trumpet player, was a graduate of the Ontario School of Music and wrote many of
the fine arrangements that the group played for other than the production numbers. The lead alto had recently
graduated from Berklee School of Music and played up to, or above that school's standards. The pianist joined
the band at the same time we boarded in San Juan. His ability to read new music on site was astounding. The
drummer never missed a beat and also had to be an excellent reader. I make these comments as an amateur
musician who plays in three 17 member dance bands here in Mesa. The dancers and other headline performers
were all Broadway quality professionals. We looked forward to every nightly performance.

Food service was excellent in the cafeterias and dining room. Anything requested was available. On one
occasion I asked in the cafeteria where I might get a ham sandwich. About 5 minutes later one of the waiter
arrived with one. The quality of the food was superior. I would have like more seasoning, particularly in the
excellent quality meats ....but that is probably personal.

I don't know how the cabin attendant managed to make up our room each morning and before bedtime each
night without us ever being aware that she was on board. The room was kept immaculate with fresh towels soon
after they were used.

Prices for drinks, photo processing and sundry items were excessive. A roll of 24 color prints cost $12.65. Drink
costs were similar to those in a five star hotel. That was not unexpected, however.

One of the design features of the Zenith was quite surprising for a ship that was built in 1992. We had several
days of rain while cruising and some rough seas which resulted in water spraying onto the decks. The decks
were perfectly flat and did not drain into the scuppers along the outboard edge of the decks. Water stood on the
decks about 1/4th inch deep making our shoes quite sodden. The fine hair dryer in the room did a fair job of
drying them each night.

Shore excursions were satisfactory, but not outstanding. There were 'shopping stops' which used up too much of
the brief time available to see the people and the ports of call. They were otherwise done in an expeditious
fashion with experienced guides who presented interesting narration. The guide at Huatulco did his best to
make a rather uninteresting Mexican community interesting. The other ports of call had much more of interest to
learn about and see.

Transit through the canal went as scheduled. Description of the locks and their operation broadcast over the
ship's public address system was very complete and good, a high light of the trip for me.

Daily publication of the ship's THE ZENITH DAILY contained timely and informative information.

Our return flight to Phoenix after spending the morning sightseeing in Acupulco was another unreasonable
scheduling by Celebrity. Our flights took us to Houston before returning west to Phoenix. Others on board went
directly to Phoenix.

Sonya Bertsch, Grand Circles' tour director who accompanied us, gave us additional daily bulletins about things
of interest and did every thing she could to make our cruise enjoyable and pleasant. She arranged a very
interesting visit to the ship's bridge and a tour of the kitchen that other passengers were not afforded. Sonya was
equally unimpressed and displeased with Celebrity's pre and post cruise travel arrangements.

In summation, this was a trip which I am very glad that I made, but one I would not make again. Before booking
again with Celebrity Cruise Line I would most definitely want clarification of how they would plan pre and post trip
travel. Once on board, they provide very good accommodations, food and entertainment. Some of the land visits I
might do on my own.

Name: Bob Weltman
Email: bob.weltman@eds.com
Age: 41
Occupation: computer programmer
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: 01/08/1999
Itinerary: Panama Canal
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 96
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 94
DeckService: 97
ShoreExcValue: 88
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 96
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 77
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Jan 1999
Time: 16:41:33
Remote Name: 199.228.142.8
Remote User:

Comments

Overall, an excellent cruise experience. My wife (age 39) and I (age 41) expected that on this post-holiday cruise
there wouldn't be a lot of passengers under the age of 50. Boy, were we ever correct. I would say that the average
age was 70. There were a handful of couples under 40, but not many. And, there were only 10 kids on board. For
my wife and I, who were looking for a relaxing time, this was a big plus. It also made it easy to find a deck chair
near the pool. (The older crowd preferred the deck chairs that were in the shade). I understand that on Zenith’s
winter break/spring break/summer cruises, there are mobs of children on board and we were purposely avoiding
that.

The ship: The ship was spotless. It was large enough to have all the amenities, but small enough to get around
easily. There never seemed to be enough elevators, though. For those who energetic, this was extra incentive to
take the stairs everywhere. But for those who have to take the elevator, there were long waits involved. The main
showroom was a perfect size. Even if you sat in the back, you were not too far away. The two pools were nice,
although they were both salt water and pretty deep. The exercise facilities seemed adequate. There was a
so-called jogging track on the top deck. It was fairly narrow in places though and was more conducive for
walking, not jogging. It was also very windy up there when we were at sea. The atmosphere on this ship was very
laid back. Other than the elevators and occasional food lines at the Windsurf cafe, it never felt crowded, even
though the ship was full. The décor was beautiful and all members of the staff were always dressed impeccably,
providing a touch of elegance. Also, on other cruises we’ve taken we’ve often felt like cattle being herded along.
On this ship, we rarely experienced that sensation.

The cabins: The cabins were fairly spacious and well designed. The bathroom in the cabin was also larger than
on most ships. The plush bathrobes provided were a nice touch. We saw more than a few people wearing them
in the public areas around the ship. We also really liked that there was a safe in the room. I don't understand why
all ships don't provide this. The walls of the cabin were thin, but if anyone has found a cruise ship where the
walls are not thin, I would like to know about it. Luckily, we had quiet neighbors.

The ports of call: Most were beautiful (Costa Rica, Panama Canal, Aruba, St. Thomas) and/or historically
interesting (Panama Canal, Cartegena, San Juan). The only stop that we felt was virtually worthless was
Hualtuco, Mexico.

The tours: We took the Poas Volcano tour in Costa Rica. We felt that (at $85 per person) it was over-priced. If the
volcano had been visible that day, we might have felt differently. When we were there, it was pouring down with a
chilly rain. We later learned that the odds of actually seeing the volcano (i.e. having a somewhat clear day in the
cloud forest) are little better than 50-50. Some other people on the boat rented a taxi for an entire day for $160
($40 each) to take them anywhere they wished to go in Costa Rica, including the Poas Volcano. This seems to
be a good way to explore the country if you don’t mind missing out on a tour guide’s commentary. Regardless of
how you see the country, see it. It is beautiful. I don't like to shop, but even I enjoyed the shopping in the quaint
town of Sarchi. We took the city tour in Cartegena (the only tour offered through the boat). It was well worth the
money, especially if you get a good tour guide. Cartegena has a reputation as a very dangerous city, but we were
never nervous on the tour. There were 'tourist police' at every place we stopped. The vendors were plentiful and
annoying, but a polite 'no thanks' usually would allow you to escape. There is a fair amount of walking on this
tour. It was hot and muggy the day we took it. An elderly gentleman on our bus fainted. The tour guide and tourist
police quickly revived him and hailed a taxi to get him and his wife back to the ship. We took the Bicardi rum
factory tour in San Juan when we disembarked. This was a nice tour as it also included a stop at a historic fort in
addition to the Bicardi rum factory. The tour dropped us off at the airport. If you have a late flight (after 3 pm), then I
would definitely recommend this tour.

The food: In the dining room the food ranged from very good to excellent. The presentation was beautiful. The
portions were rather small but this was o.k., especially for those trying not to gain too much weight. There was a
good variety of choices. The service was excellent. The food in the Windsurf café was also very good. I liked that
at lunch a lot of the same food choices that were being served in the dining room were also being served buffet
style in the Windsurf café. The hamburgers and hot dogs off the grill at lunch was also a nice option to have. And
the french fries there were delicious. Frozen yogurt, with the choice of a few toppings, along with cookies and
finger sandwiches were available in the Windsurf café beginning at 4 pm. However, for those with main seating
(6 pm), this was a little too close to dinner. Pizza was also available at various times in the afternoon and evening
from the Windsurf café, but unfortunately, the pizza was pretty bad. We never ate breakfast in the dining room, but
breakfast in the Windsurf café was good. We only hit one midnight buffet (the Tex-Mex) and it was good. We
heard that the other buffets were good but not great.

The entertainment: Most of the entertainment was excellent with just a couple of weak spots. The singer, Steve
Fowler, was terrific. The 3 production shows were fantastic. The choreography and costumes were the best I
have ever seen on a cruise ship. The magician was also excellent. They had a puppeteer one night that was
excellent as well (if you are into that kind of thing). There was also a juggler who was not very good (or was
having a very off night) and a multi-instrumentalist who was good at what he did but was not very entertaining.
Also, I could not believe that on a 10 day cruise that there was not a comedian performing. The band, Prodigy that
played out by the pool was terrific, as was the singer, Marilyn Woods, who sang and played piano in various
lounges in the evening. There were some other acts in some other lounges that we never saw.

The staff: I think that the main complaint that we heard most from our fellow passengers was that some of the
staff in the guest relations office, shore excursion office, bank and shops were not very helpful and/or were
downright surly. I believe that this is the area in which Celebrity has the most room for improvement. However, I
heard no complaints about any of the waiters, cabin stewards, or bar staff. The ship photographers were
blissfully unobtrusive. And the barstaff did not push drinks incessantly, unlike our experience on other ships. The
cruise director seemed like a very nice guy, but he had no charisma and this lack of pizzazz was evident in some
of his staff as well.

Activities: There could have been improvement in this area. For those who enjoy group or individual game playing
competition (trivia, Scattegories, Pictionary, etc…) the choices were few. Also, we were disappointed that there
were no tours of the bridge or kitchen offered. There also weren’t many pool activities offered, but I think this
might have been in response to the demographics onboard the ship. On the plus side, there was a ping-pong
tournament almost every day. There was also some sort of aerobics class offered either once or twice a day. It is
my opinion that on a cruise there should never be a dead period when there is not at least one activity offered.
However, on this ship there were quite a few times (especially in the evening before the shows started) when
nothing was going on. However, for those who like to stay up late, there were some activities after the nightly
shows. The Tex-Mex party at night out by the pool was a highlight of the trip.

Things I wish I had known before I took this cruise: 1) There is no clock in the cabin. You can arrange for a wake
up call, but if you are in an inside cabin (where it is pitch black when the lights are out) there is no way of knowing
what time it is without turning on a light. Had I known, I would have brought an illuminated clock with me. 2)
Always put on the luggage tags that Celebrity provides you even if you have not bought the transfers from them.
The Celebrity brochure was emphatic that if you did not buy transfers from them, then don’t put on your Celebrity
luggage tags until after you claim your bags at the Acapulco airport. Unfortunately, I took their advice. And, our
luggage got accidentally routed on a later flight from the one we were on. We didn’t feel like hanging around for 3
hours in the Acapulco airport waiting for the later flight to arrive, and we were assured by Delta and the Zenith
officials that our luggage would make it to the ship before we sailed and would be delivered to our stateroom.
Well, the luggage did make it to the ship before we sailed, but it took us until 9:30 pm the first night to track it all
down, since it didn’t have Celebrity tags on it with our stateroom. (We also had some items stolen out of our
luggage but we assume that someone in customs did that). 3) Transfers. If you are arranging your own air, then
don’t purchase the transfers from Celebrity. It is cheaper to take your own taxi. When you disembark, you can
check your luggage with airline representatives as you get off the ship and they will take your luggage to the
airport for you regardless of whether you have purchased transfers from Celebrity or not. 4) The cliff-divers in
Acapulco do not perform in the afternoon. Because of the tides, they only perform in the morning and noon hours.
So, don’t get into Acapulco in the early afternoon expecting to see the cliff-divers.

Don’t hesitate to Email me with any questions.

Name: Amanda Riley
Email: aevr@hotmail.com
Age: 22
Occupation: Graduate Student
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: August 15, 1998
Itinerary: New York - Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Jan 1999
Time: 14:22:12
Remote Name: 199.183.44.195
Remote User:

Comments

As first-time cruisers, my friends and I expected so much from our trip to Bermuda on Celebrity Cruise’s ship, the
Zenith. Not only did it live up to our expectations, it exceeded them. I would recommend this cruise to couples
and families with older children. As a woman in her twenties, I would not recommend it for small children. There
weren’t many of them on the ship, and those who were seemed bored. The service is impeccable! We had a
wonderful waiter who not only served us with the utmost respect, but took the time out to perform magic tricks as
well! After one day on the ship, he found out that I had an appetite for chocolate and made the extra effort to have
special desserts prepared just for me on a nightly basis.

Our cabin steward made sure that our room was
cleaned at least three times a day. If we left things a mess, we found our clothes folded neatly in a pile on the
dresser. The bar staff was amazing in the way they learned our names after about two days. On our last day in
Bermuda, my boyfriend and I were late for an excursion. The excursion director actually flagged down the boat
and made it return for us. In fact, everyone just seemed friendly, helpful, and at our service on a constant basis.
The food on the ship is incredible. Breakfast includes an omelet station, buffet, and fresh fruit. Our waiter saw us
waiting on line for an omelet one morning and told us to go sit outside. He waited on line for us and brought our
breakfast to us, complete with coffee and juice! If one prefers to have breakfast in bed, a huge continental
breakfast with coffee, tea, and juice is brought at the time of your choice. Room service is available 24 hours and
is absolutely delicious.

The presentation of the room service meals were comparable to those in a nice
restaurant. Every afternoon there is a tea with finger sandwiches and pizza. The outdoor grill offers great hot dogs
and hamburgers with french fries, onion rings, and complete toppings. You normally don’t have to serve yourself
because the waiters spend the afternoons at the buffets so that people don’t have to wait on line. If one prefers a
sit-down lunch, the dining room is open. My only complaint was that they make you sit with strangers and when
you want to be alone, you have to make a special request. Dinner was an event in itself! Each night, every person
is presented with a huge five course meal which consists of soup, salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert. Entrees
range from stuffed chicken breasts to surf and turf. They offer a wide selection in each category. I noticed that
there was always a vegetarian selection on the menu as well.

The soups were some of the best I have ever
tasted. The meals were delightful in taste and presentation. The food was definitely five-star cuisine. The
restaurant also has a large selection of wines, which the sommelier was extremely helpful The midnight buffets
were incredible. Each night had a different theme. On one formal night, they had what seemed like hundreds of
bar staff dressed up in tuxedos serving elegantly prepared hors d’oeuvres with white gloves. The service was
endless. They kept bringing out more and more trays. Other nights included Oriental, Tex-Mex, and Italian foods.
Special nights included Island Night and La Grande Buffet. Island Night is like one big festival where the
specialty is tropical fruit and drinks. There is tons of entertainment such as people making ice sculptures, . La
Grande Buffet is the most lavish midnight buffet.

Apparently the food takes over one or two days to prepare and it
truly is amazing. Guests are allowed to take pictures of it a full hour before they allow people to start eating. It truly
is a sight to see a piano made of chocolate! The casino was not too packed, which was nice. Lots of people,
including me, won money. The entertainment was decent; however, we spent most of our time in ‘The Rainbow
Room’, where guests can find elegant dancing. The disco was perfect for late night entertainment. ‘The Fleet
Bar’ was a wonderful place to sip Dom Perignon and eat elegantly served caviar (both not included in the cost),
while listening to covers of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Bermuda was lovely! The beaches were some of the
most beautiful I have ever seen and the shopping was top-notch. Be advised that it is extremely hot in August. I
would recommend going at a time when temperatures are a bit cooler. The ship is kept very cool so one might
want to bring a sweater if he or she plans to remain indoors. The cabins are quite large and are kept
immaculate. There is plenty of light and storage space. Each room is equipped with a safe to store valuables.
The bathrooms are large and well lit and are kept with an endless supply of towels and soaps. The elevators are
overcrowded and take to long to reach the top floors. If you are staying on a lower deck, be prepared to climb the
stairs! This isn’t such a bad thing because one needs exercise after eating all day and all night! Overall, my
experience on the Zenith was a memorable and enjoyable one. I was impressed with the service and food. I
don’t think I’ll need to find another cruise line because I feel as if I have already found the best.

Name: Barbara & John Balestrieri
Email: jon47@frontiernet.net
Age: 48 & 51
Occupation: Teacher & Accountant
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: September 5, 1998
Itinerary: Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 88
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 97
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Jan 1999
Time: 20:28:39
Remote Name: 209.130.140.216
Remote User:

Comments

I had been on two cruises in the '70s on HAL and my memory of the outside stateroom was of a very small room
and a smaller bathroom. When we entered our inside stateroom on Europa deck we were very pleasantly
surprised. The room was of a size that two people could be comfortable. There was a total of 21 drawers--different
sizes, but enough to accomodate all my things, including make-up, hair dryer, etc. There were two closets--one with
a full length mirror, and full length closet space for long dresses. The other was suitable for shirts, men's jackets,
etc. The bottom of this closet had drawers. The safe was also in this closet. The bathroom had a mirror the width of
the room, with a shelf in front of it for toiletries. There was a bar in front to keep everything in place. It was roomy
enough under the bed for your luggage. All of what I have just written was a real plus for me--made me feel settled
in to enjoy the seven days ahead.

The inter-active TV was great, one channel had a camera positioned to show the front of the ship and the ocean in
front. Great way to order that wake-up cup of coffee thru room service for the next morning. That wake-up phone call
to say your coffee was on the way was a great way to wake up each morning. (Remember an inside cabin is very
dark--easy to sleep!)

Buffet breakfast was great--there was a made-to-order Omelet Station, excellent. Buffet lunch was delicious too, but
my favorite was the Pasta Station - always a speciality pasta but there was also regular marinara sauce. Loved it!!!

We were impressed with the crew--every single person we encountered was pleasant, friendly and willing to
accomodate your every need. Pool was great--it was salt water and had waves. I don't know if it was from the motion
of the ship or otherwise but it was awesome!

Bermuda was incredible. We rented a scooter and hit all the beaches for snorkeling. Again, we loved it! The water is
beautiful and so are the fish. The people are very friendly. It was fun on the scooter, which was a lot more sustantial
than scooters we have rented here in the US. We were in Bermuda on Labor Day which is a big holiday there,
complete with fireworks.

Negatives? Three disappointments--the margaritas weren't that great. But..that made me try a Mexican Martini which
then became my new cruise drink. Secondly, the Baked Alaska didn't have the sparklers on them I was expecting.
Oh well! Lastly, the cruise was not long enough...we wanted more!

My husband and I loved it and would highly recommend the Zenith. We have just booked for September 4th this
year, again to Bermuda. One last thing that would make everyting more perfect would be a cruise to Bermuda for 12
days!!

Name: Jonathan Golaner
Email: golaner@umbi.umd.edu
Age: 39
Occupation: Accounting Manager
NumberOfCruises: 17
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: 01/24/99
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 70
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Feb 1999
Time: 23:14:24
Remote Name: 209.122.214.130
Remote User:

Comments

This was my 17th cruise, 3rd with Celebrity and one of the best! I have also sailed on RCCI, Princess, NCL, and
Costa. Previously Princess was by far my favorite cruise line, but after sailing on the Mercury, I would say it is
much closer between the two lines. Upon boarding the Mercury you immediately notice the modern decor and
extreme cleanliness of this near new ship. During the entire cruise I received nothing but flawless service from
every staff member. The food in the dining room was not only delicious to the taste but also delicious to the eye.
Food served in the Palm Spring's Buffet was also very good with exception to the undercooked scrambled eggs
at breakfast. Why are the scrambled eggs at the beffet area on ships ALWAYS undercooked??? I recommend
having one of the omlettes made to order, they were all very tasty. Even if you are not hungry atleast visit the
Grand Midnight Buffet on the second formal evening in the Manhattan Restaurant. This was by far the most
lavish buffet presented I have ever seen on a ship. Most everyone appeared to enjoy the shows performed in the
Celebrity Theater. I thought Stephen Kane (singer), Michael James (the ladder guy), and Four Score (acapella
singers), and the last evenings Broadway stye show were superior. I thought the other shows performed in the
Celebrity Theater were only fair, because of poor stage performance and low budget looking costumes. The only
other area that needs improvement on this ship are the hot tubs, they were all only luke warm.

Conclusion - Great cruise, great value, I would highly recommend this ship! One last item - The average age of
the passengers on this ship was considerably older than any other ship I have sailed. Happy Crusing!

Name: John Porter
Email: jcporter50@aol.com
Age: 49
Occupation: Property Manager
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: February 8, 1999
Itinerary: Panama Canal
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 85
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 Feb 1999
Time: 07:53:09
Remote Name: 152.163.213.79
Remote User:

Comments

This was our first cruise experience, and my wife and I were very satisfied. The cruise we took was an 11 day
Panama Canal trip which originated in San Juan and ended in Acapulco, with stops in St. Thomas, Curacao,
Aruba, Cartagena, Costa Rica, and Huatulco Mexico. The areas we saw were diverse and varied. Although we
enjoyed the cruise experience there is to little time to really enjoy the destinations. At best there is only enough
time at each stop to do one shore excursion so you must choose wisely when you sign up for your adventure.
There is much incentive to sign up for the Ships excursions which offer the 'guarante' that they will get you back
to the ship before it sails or will make arrangements at their expense to have you ajoin your ship at the next port.
If you plan an excursion on your own and you miss the ship, you are on your own to catch up to it. I was very
impressed with the way the ship is maintained. The crew and staff worked 24 hours a day to keep the ship clean
and maintained. I never saw a crew member who was not working hard. Every time we left are stateroom the
Steward would enter the room and and re-clean it. We toured the galley and it too was spotless. I have been in
many restaurant kitchens, but never anything as clean as this. Because of the nature of this cruise and the time
of the year, the guests were older than I would suspect would be on a 7 day Caribbean cruise. With the median
age being about 45 to 50. There were only 5 children on the ship and I would guess they were pretty bored. All
the meals we had were very good and often very special. I regret being unable to try everything they had to
offer! We had a late dinner seating which made it difficult to do 'justice' to the midnight buffet! So much food, so
little time and appetite! Next Time!

Name: Scott Lane
Email: slane@laneassoc.com
Age: 33
Occupation: Professional
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: 5/30/98
Itinerary: New York - Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 82
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 88
CabinAmenities: 82
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 98
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs: 87
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Feb 1999
Time: 14:05:51
Remote Name: 209.195.24.66
Remote User:

Comments

This was our first cruise and I must say it was totally amazing. Having heard of other people’s experiences, there
were a great deal of expectations that needed to be met. The crew aboard the Zenith were more than ready to
meet those challenges. Everything was perfect. The food, service, night life, island stops, etc. The were very few
negatives, and these are only minor issues. The first was the price of soft drinks. They were as much as beer.
My advise is to bring your own. The other was the disembarkment. It seemed to take forever. However, I imagine
most ships are like that. Overall, a great time should be had by all. One last tip. If you plan on renting mopeds
(and I suggest you do), then get the multi-day rental. They will transfer the mopeds to the other side of the Island
for you. The best moped rentals are in Hamilton. That’s all. Hope you have as much fun as I did.

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